Island of the Swans [Mass Market Paperback]

Ciji Ware (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 1998

In this resplendent love story a dazzling era comes vividly to life as one woman's passionate struggle to follow her heart takes her from the opulent cotillions of Edinburgh to the London court of half-mad King George III . . . from a famed salon teeming with politicians and poets to a picturesque castle on the secluded, lush Island of the Swans. . . .

Best friends in childhood, Jane Maxwell and Thomas Fraser wreaked havoc on the cobbled streets of Edinburgh with their juvenile pranks. But years later, when Jane blossoms into a beautiful woman, her feelings for Thomas push beyond the borders of friendship, and he becomes the only man she wants. When Thomas is reportedly killed in the American colonies, the handsome, charismatic Alexander, Duke of Gordon, appeals to a devastated Jane. Believing Thomas is gone forever, Jane hesitantly responds to the Duke, whose passion ignites her blood, even as she rebels at his fierce desire to claim her.

But Thomas Fraser is not dead, and when he returns to find his beloved Jane betrothed to another, he refuses to accept the heartbreaking turn of events. Soon Jane's marriage is swept into a turbulent dance of tender wooing and clashing wills--as Alex seeks truly to make her his, and his alone. . . .

Editorial Reviews

Review

With it's intriguing characters, exciting dialogues, and a highly interesting woman at the center of it all, Island of the Swans is a must read. A Night Owl Romance Reviewer Top Pick (20100201)

Witty, intelligent and vivacious. (Grace Loiacono Books Like Breathing 20100202)

An emotionally enveloping story that will tug at your heart with each page turned. Phenomenal storytelling by Ciji Ware. (Wisteria Leigh Blog Critics 20100202)

A deliciously wonderful novel of fiction and history culminating into a rich historical romance filled with tender affection and wrenching heartache. (Jennifer Higgins Rundpinne 20100204)

With it's intriguing characters, exciting dialogues, and a highly interesting woman at the center of it all, Island of the Swans is a must read. A Reviewer Top Pick! (Danya Night Owl Romance 20100208)

Ciji Ware has created a gorgeous tapestry of the time period, woven around the love conflicts of Jane Maxwell Gordon. (Sandie Kirkland Booksie's Blog 20100208)

Ciji Ware has written an unforgettable tale that easily brings this Duchess of Gordon to life and into your heart. (Marie Burton The Burton Review 20100210)

A phenomenal read! (Lucy Bertoldi Enchanted by Josephine 20100212)

I was completely immersed in this story. (Jennifer Ritter Jenny Loves to Read 20100215)

Island of the Swans is a romantic tale that reminds you love does not always play a fair game with your heart. (Mandi Schriener Smexy Books 20100215)

Sweeping... (Maya Missani Apprentice Writer 20100215)

A nice sweeping, epic feel. (Meghan Burton Medieval Bookworm 20100217)

I couldn't put it down until every last tear was shed and every last sigh sighed... Ciji Ware certainly knows how to touch hearts. (Lilliana Swistek Reading Extravaganza 20100218)

The combination of meticulous research and Ciji's seemingly effortless writing make for one unforgettable, un-put-down-able novel! (Amy Bruno Passages to the Past 20100218)

A sweeping historical romance. (Elizabeth Bogardus Thoughts from an Evil Overlord 20100301)

Historical fiction at it's finest... Ciji Ware is a master story teller. (Libby Neas Libby's Library News 20100301)

Ciji Ware is a wonderful storyteller. (Virginie Barbeau She Read a Book 20100518)

An excellent and moving book... Remarkable. (Svea Love Muse in the Fog )

A fantastic historical novel, rich with the lush scenery of Scotland, the glitter of London and lively, interesting characters. (Carey Anderson The Tome Traveller's Weblog )

Meticulously researched and detailed; an engrossing read, highly recommended for history and historical-fiction afficianados. (Nancy Horner Bookfoolery and Babble )

Ware gives readers a satisfying historical novel that is hard to put down once started. This story can't be recommended enough. (Historical Novels Review ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

If you like romance based on historical fact, you'll love Island of the Swans, which is the ficitonalized story of Jane Maxwell, a woman of influence during the mid-17th century. Set in Scotland, it follows Jane through the tragedy of losing her life-long love Thomas Fraser, through her marriage to the Duke of Gordon and Thomas' eventual return. A very satisfying read for lovers of history, which isn't surprising since Ciji is a Harvard-educated historian. Lisa Congelosi, Sales Rep

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Fawcett Gold Medal Books; Revised edition (February 28, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 044900273X
• ISBN-13: 978-0449002735
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,423,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

CIJI WARE is a bestselling historical novelist, an Emmy-award winning television producer, reporter, writer, lecturer, and host. She has won numerous awards for her 6 works of historical fiction, including the Dorothy Parker Award of Excellence; the 'Golden Quill' award for Historical Fiction;'Best Fictionalized Biography' for ISLAND OF THE SWANS and 'Best Historical Novel nomination for WICKED COMPANY from Romantic Times magazine. Her latest novel, A RACE TO SPLENDOR debuted in April, 2011 on the 105th anniversary of the devastating 1905 San Francisco Earthquake and Firestorm. Her most recent nonfiction, RIGHTSIZING YOUR LIFE: Simplifying Your Surroundings While Keeping What Matters Most was named by the Wall Street Journal as "One of the Top 5 Books on Retirement Issues." For seventeen years Ware was heard daily as a commentator on ABC Radio & TV in Los Angeles. During her noted career as a broadcaster, she has worked for PBS and all three major networks, covering a wide range of topics in the areas of health, consumer and lifestyle subjects. Ciji Ware is also a sought-after event speaker, print journalist, (AARP, Travel & Leisure and other national magazines) and has the distinction of being elected as the first woman graduate of Harvard College to serve as President of the Harvard Alumni Association, Worldwide. Visit Ciji's Facebook page: Ciji Ware, Novelist
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ciji-Ware-Novelist/102621349810555

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wuthering Heights meets Diana Gabaldon..., February 23, 2005

By 

F.Faulkner "F.F." (Hartford, CT USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Island of the Swans (Mass Market Paperback)

What a great book this was. I never expected such meat from a romance novel, but I was enthralled with the tale. From start to finish you get a real feeling of real people. The heroine, Jane, is flawed, not perfect like most cookie-cutter romance novel heroines.

I liked the ending. It was enough to know for me that they found each other.

As I read the pages of Island of the Swans, I was reminded of Wuthering Heights and Diana Gabaldon's Dragonfly in Amber, as well as the triangle between Rhett, Scarlet & Ashley Wilkes in Gone With The Wind. But Jane is much more a woman of honor than Scarlet O'Hara ever was, and Thomas Fraser more of a man than Ashley Wilkes. Although Thomas Fraser is not quite as dramatic a love interest as Healthcliff, he is sweeter and definitely manly.

I will being running out to get more Ciji Ware novels! I stayed up well into the night to read the ending of this one and I haven't done that in a LONG time.

Well done Ms. Ware!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars I Really Enjoyed the Last two Hundred Pages, February 11, 2010

By 

Barb Mechalke (in the lovely Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Island of the Swans (Paperback)

I have to admit that I was rather distracted by my real life while reading this book. It didn't grab me and pull me in at any point, though I think the last two hundred pages or so were much more compelling that the first three hundred. I generally read a book every five days or so and this one took me two weeks. I stuck with it because the back cover made it sound so interesting and I love the period. But I didn't think it lived up to the back cover's description.
I couldn't taste the Scottish flavor and the period details seemed somewhat lacking. The writing was not bad but it wasn't very good either. There was one point that was repeated over and over and over again, I found that a bit annoying.

Relationships are what make this an interesting story and I didn't think that Ware fleshed out any of the complicated relationships very well, or as well as I would have liked. She shows us the eruptions of emotions and that she does do well but the period between those eruptions are somewhat dry and dull. The story itself seemed isolated from the history of the period until we get to the last third of the book. Jane Maxwell's rivalry with the Duchess of Devonshire is mentioned as are trips to court to see the king and queen but we don't have any vivid exchanges between the Duchesses or any details about going to court, except the one visit with Queen Charlotte at the end of the book.

There is a fair amount of sex in this book as would make sense in a story about a love triangle. I thought the sex was tastefully done but I kept wondering 'does everyone need to talk during the act?' I would categorize this novel as a romance novel because the tension in the story moves from one romantic interlude to another without much story in between. I also wanted to better understand why Thomas and Jane weren't able to move on in their lives and get past their relationship. Or rather I wanted to see it more clearly than I did.

I also would have very much liked an historical note from the author telling us what facts she based this story on. She does say she went and visited Jane's home and Gordon Castle but what was fact and what was fiction?

This would have been much more enjoyable for me if it had been tightened up with an editor. As I said before I really enjoyed the last two hundred pages and if it had all been as interesting and compelling as the ending I would have given the book a five star review.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put this book down, June 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Island of the Swans (Mass Market Paperback)

I've only just stumbled onto Ciji Ware's work and after reading this book, went straight out to get her other titles. She is one great storyteller. It's obvious a lot of work goes into her novels, with amazing amounts of research, so that you get a great feel of what it was like in the past. And the heroine's life path in Island of The Swans makes me think about my life and what I want from it. In Ware's other works, she juxtaposes past and present excitingly. I really look forward to more of her stories.