Jenny's Dream: A Family's Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho [Paperback]

Linda Weaver Clarke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2008

When Jenny Roberts arrives home from college in the summer of 1908, she yearns to escape her small hometown of Paris, Idaho, and accomplish something remarkable in the world. She develops a promising friendship with Will Jones, a young farmer who is new to the area and has secretly fallen in love with her. Meanwhile, her father, Gilbert, attempts to catch a legendary giant grizzly bear that has devastated the community with its haunting elusiveness and slaughter of the local sheep. In the third installment of A Family Saga in Bear Lake Valley series, Jenny finds herself in the middle of drama, adventure, and romance as she struggles to gain the power of forgiveness and the ability to face new possibilities.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book had loads of heart. Its historical accuracy won me over and has the power to charm all ages. It can even work its magic on blokes who usually like their fiction hardboiled with a lot of spice." --Mick Halpin, Critical Mick Reviews, Dublin, Ireland

"The reader is able to see the colors and gape at the awe-inspiring beauty of the Idaho landscape, inhale the clean mountain air, and gasp with fear at the unfamiliar and varied hostilities encountered in the journey. The novel feels more like a conversation with a close friend than a book full of words." --Lisa Haselton, AllBooks Reviews

"Clarke's characters are well-developed and her setting is compelling. But what separates this book from others is Clarke's historical accuracy and meticulous attention to detail. The reader feels transported to another time and place." --Betsy Brannon Green, Best-Selling Mystery Author

About the Author

Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching a "Family Legacy Workshop," encouraging people to write their family history and autobiography. She is the author of eight novels: the historical romance series, "A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho," which includes: Melinda and the Wild West - a semi-finalist for the "Reviewers Choice Award 2007," and a mystery series, "The Adventures of John and Julia Evans."

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: American Book Publishing Group (December 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1589824466
• ISBN-13: 978-1589824461
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,706,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Linda Weaver Clarke travels throughout the United States, teaching a "Family Legacy Workshop," encouraging people to write their family history and autobiography. She is happily married and is the mother of six daughters and has several grandchildren. Clarke is the author of the historical "sweet" romance series, "A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho," which includes the following novels: Melinda and the Wild West - a finalist for the "Reviewers Choice Award," Edith and the Mysterious Stranger, Jenny's Dream, David and the Bear Lake Monster, and Elena, Woman of Courage. A mystery series, "The Adventures of John and Julia Evans," includes the following novels: Anasazi Intrigue, Mayan Intrigue, and Montezuma Intrigue.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A charming novel of small town America at the turn of century, highly recommended, March 14, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Jenny's Dream: A Family's Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho (Paperback)

There are those in small towns who always yearn to be larger than their town can contain. "Jenny's Dream" is another entry in Linda Weaver Clarke's 'A Family Saga in Bear Lake Valley' series of books, focusing on Jenny Roberts, a small town girl who wishes to be anything but. Romance, however has other plans for her. "Jenny's Dream" is a charming novel of small town America at the turn of century, highly recommended.

3.0 out of 5 stars A sweet story, February 4, 2011

By 

M. K. Lee (Walkersville, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jenny's Dream: A Family's Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho (Paperback)

This is a rosy love story that demonstrates the building blocks of healthy relationships with some adventure thrown in. It's set in 1908 when the railroad system was relatively new in the West. There is romance brewing in 2 different generations of the Roberts family. Gilbert and Melinda have been married 11 years, but they still are as affectionate as newlyweds. Jenny and Will are young adults and their relationship is just beginning.

While initially reading the first few chapters I was concerned that the characters were too picture-perfect and perhaps a little dull. My concern dissolved as the insecurities and challenges of the main characters unfolded. The story demonstrates solid family values and promotes the importance of having a dream for which to live. There are snippets of poetry included in the book. I especially liked "My First Best Friend" on pages 138-140. My grandfather was born in the Bear Lake Valley in 1913 and I enjoyed the book being set in that area. Fans of the "Little House on the Prairie" series will enjoy this book.