Customer Reviews

Hummingbird

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

After Judith Mcnaught, Spencer has become my second favorite romance writer and that is no easy feat considering my extremely picky taste when it comes to writing exceptional love stories that take you away from our insane world and transport you into the lives of two exceptional individuals who you admire, love, cherish, and with whom you wish their stories never end!!!!

Hummingbird is such an example of a beautiful tale of two souls joined together by chance, laughter, anger, heartache, and perseverance; perseverance of one's heart, mind and soul to not only survive but to live, to live through your emotions and break free of your fears and insecurities and embrace an imperfect love with extreme passion and heart.

For Miss. Abigail McKenzie with a will of a true lady tried to hold on to her virtues, etiquette and propriety with such tenacity upon meeting a Mr. Jesse Dufrayne that she feared it all would break, snap, and fail her when the inevitable happened: to succumb to her true sensuous nature with a man thought of as a train robber and a complete scoundrel when dealing with a proper lady.

It is David who is more to Abigail's taste when she is forced to play nurse to him and Jesse when they are both found wounded, after being picked off the train in her hometown, due to David's heroic attempt at trying to save the train from the likes of Jesse Dufrayne. But it is Jesse who spits fire and wakes the sleeping maiden into a rage every time he happens to open his mouth.

Spencer portrays Abigail's and Jesse's combative personalities- as well as their vulnerabilities towards each other- so effortlessly and with such a deep understanding of their human contradictions, you cannot help but fall in love with them yourself.

Towards the end of the book, Spencer achieved what few author's can accomplish with a couple of gut-wrenching scenes: she made me cry twice, not just a few tears falling delicately against my cheeks- they were tears falling ignominiously and appallingly making my cheeks and nose ruddy.

And so HUMMINGBIRD has made-without any hesitancy-the top 10 love stories I have ever read!

One of the first romance novels I read, and the one that got me hooked! It's a definite keeper with the perfect balance of wholesomeness and passion. Spencer has a very descriptive style of writing (some *may* find her wordy descriptions a bit too lengthy at times), but she describes her settings well.

What I liked about this book was the conflict between the hero & heroine. Of course they are attracted to each other, but their verbal barbs and antics are amusing. If you like the kind of book where the main characters hate each other at first but then fall in love, you'll like this one. LaVyrle Spencer does a great job of writing this kind of novel.

I have read all of LaVyrle Spencer's books but this is by far my favorite. I very rarely reread a book but I just read this one again for the fourth time. The last scene where Jesse is taking Abbie's picture is one of the best scenes I've ever read. I highly recommend this book.

If you like witty banter, burning chemistry, and two characters who are intelligent and fiery, this is the story for you. I've been on a romance novel reading tear lately, and after having gone through fifteen books in the last two weeks, I had grown tired of stories where all of the conflict was based on stupid misunderstandings.

not to say this story doesn't have its share of conflict, but it's more of an internal battle for the FEMALE this time, and that's what i absolutely love about this book. both abigail and jesse were well thought out characters and their relationship developed realistically and not just with the instantaneous combustion that many romance novels portray.

Spencer does an amazing job of depicting jesse as someone who is strong, yet gentle, hot-tempered, yet considerate. What makes this book work is the honesty that comes from it. It's not a bunch of lies that lead to misunderstandings which leads to spending the whole book wondering if the man will figure out he's wrong about the woman. The characters encourage introspection within each other and they speak honestly to each other (for the most part).

The only downside of it was in the middle where it got a little slow, but it picked up in the end.

You will laugh, you will cry, you will not want to put this book down and when it's over, you will re-read all of the best parts of the book over and over again. I know I did!

Wow! My very first LaVyrle Spencer! What a treat! What a book! I LOVED Abbie and Jesse. They had the most amazing chemistry Ive ever read! From the moment they met I honestly think that they were ruined for anyone else..they were just soooo DRAWN to eachother!I adored both characters, but I have to say it was Abbie who really entertained me the most. She was wild. Some of the things she said and did...oh, and her thoughts to herself were an absolute riot! Ms. Spencer has an amazing talent when it comes to writing dialogue...wow, it just flows. I had one little quibble with this book and that was with the way the situation with David was handled. However, I adored this book soooo much, that this wasnt enough of an issue to dampen my enjoyment of the overall story. I HIGHLY recommend immersing yourself in this. What a read!

This is one of the best romances I have ever read. Honestly. I've read a lot. It had all of the qualities I like in a romance...chemisty (there's a lot), great dialogue (it's fantastic), complex characters (you feel everything they feel, that's hard to accomplish from most writers) and a great plot.

Abigail, a lady of proriety, needed money and she needed it bad. Almost forced to lower herself and work at a local eatery, she happens upon the local doctor asking for help and boarding for two wounded men who just arrived in town by train. One, Jesse Dufrayne:tall dark, brooding and handsome, was a supposed train robber and the other David Melcher: a gentleman in all regard, the supposed hero who shot the "train robber" and was also wounded in the scuffle. Abigail, knowing little about nursing, decided to take the job because the railroad offered to compensate her well and it beat 'slinging hash' with the common folk. She took both men in her home not knowing that it would change her life and what she believed about life and love forever. Abbie immediately had a connection with David because he was a gentleman and showed her respect and appriciation. The other patient, Jesse, was practically on his death bed unaware that he was even under Abbie's care. Abigail soon saw a future with David because she was in fact older (33) and wanted a husband and saw prospect in him. He soon recovered and left her home but also left a promise of sorts to come back to see her. Jesse Dufrayne was another story altogeher. From the moment his eyes opened they clashed, but the more they argued, the more they got closer, neither wanting to admit it. Jesse couldn't stand her uptight ways, but admired them all the same. She couldn't stand his brashness and his ungentlemany behavior, but at the same time it sparked a fire in her she denied and was ashamed of, but truly wanted. He wanted to be well and gone, just as much as she wanted him to be, but did she? With both of their thoughts and emotions so mixed up it makes for a compelling and heart tugging read. The story unfolds perfectly, not rushed, not fake, but so real and pure. You go through the new feelings and changes within Abbie and Jesse and your heart can't help but ache a little for David too, but he's not Jesse....

I have never had the pleasure to read such heartfelt and touching scenes in a novel in all of my life. The scene when Jesse comes back and confronts Abigail in her home and they're sitting by the wood burning stove is the most touching and beautiful scene. Sigh! Some people say that the part where Jesse is gone and Abbie is left alone with David is boring, but I disagree. I think we neede to read that to see just how different Jesse and David are and how no matter how much David worships her, he isn't Jesse and doesn't move her the same way.

They're haunted by eachother and drawn to eachother with an undeniable attraction that neither can ignore, no matter how hard they try and OH THEY TRY!! lol Do you see how I'm carrying on? I wish this book didn't end and I wish I could read another of equal greatness. There is so much to this book. I didn't spoil anything. Please read it, you won't regret it.

I have read all of LaVyrle Spencer's books - several times! I've even have them all on audio tape, and this is my #1 favorite book of all time! I was just spending a little time reviewing a few of the books I've read recently and thought I should pay a bit of respect to my favorite author...and this book above all! It's funny, sexy, quirky...what more can I say? And I tend to migrate toward historical romances set in this era. These characters LIKE each other...they're friends with such chemistry that they're people you'd love to come to know. She mentions them (briefly) in a future book called "The Gamble", which is also a great historical romance.

Since her retirement...I've been forced to look for another author with a similar style, and discovered Pamela Morsi. You Spencer fans might like her - I know I do. She also writes historical romance novels that are very similar in style - although I must confess Ms. Spencer has a better grasp of dialog. LaVyrle Spencer...I for one...miss you greatly!

There were some scenes that had me laughing out loud. I loved the characters. It was fun to see how fighting added spice to the relationship and the characters looked forward to their spats. It was well done. I'm going to try more from this author. Sexual content: mild.

This is second book that made me say WOW! while reading it. The first one being 'Almost Heaven' by Judith Macnaught. This one was so good, the best by Levyrle spencer i have read till date. Last one i read by her was 'That Camden summer', i didn't like it, found it very dull. But nothing was dull about this book except may be David's part.After reading spitfire romance between Abigail and Jesse, Davis' Courtship seemed to drag. i just coudn't wait for Jesse to appear again. I could feel the pages of the book brighten up since Jesse gained counsiousness and then when he reappeared after leaving Abigail to marry David.
All the situations and characters were so believable. And the Dialogues were just great!. Jesse and Abigails fights were so entertaining. i don't usually like a romance in which Hero and heroine hate each other and keep fighting all the time, but in this one you could sense that even though they are fighting but still deep down they like and respect each other.
Sexual chemistry between Jess and Abigail was so thrilling, No wonder Abbie couldn't feel anything with David even though she was going to marry him.
David was not so bad and he didn't deserve to be hurt the way he was when he saw his bride to be next day in arms of another man. But i guess there was no way hurting him could have been prevented.
Abigail was exactly the kind of person i would have hated if i have met her personally. She was too uptight, a prude, selfrighteous and just plain irritating. But she was not that way with jesse for long because he borke down all her barriers and could really make her angry, make her want and i just loved that.
And Jesse, WOW!I just haven't got a better word to describe him.
I just loved this book. In fact i was kind of relieved to see this book end because i was suffering from acute sleep deprivation since last 3 nights. This book was so difficult to put down.

I have never really been into books. My mother is a constant reader and one day she handed me Hummingbird. I put it away for a year until one day I just decided to give it a try. WOW!!! I cannot express how much I love this book! I truly wish Jesse was real and that I were Abigail (without the attitude!). I never wanted this book to end! Never before have I felt so moved by characters and truly felt their love and need for each other. Can't say enough about Hummingbird except Read It!