Customer Reviews

The Listening Sky

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Out of all the Dorothy Garlock books I have read this is by far my favorite. Jane Love heads west, hopeing to out run a secret that has haunted her all her life. When she gets to her new home she discovers two things, that she was lured west to basically be a mail order bride, and that some who knows her secret has followed her. She naturally takes her hostility out on the town's manager, TC Kilkenny.

Hostility turns into admiration as Jane gets to know TC and eventually love blooms. As their feelings grow, Jane is terrorized by the growing hatred her tormentor shows and the fear that TC will not be able to look beyond her past.

There are several interesting subplots in this book. One involves Colin Tallman (from "Yesteryear") and his determination to win the love of Sunday, a woman who came west with Jane. It is interesting to hear the fates of Rain, Amy, John, and Addie.

This book has it all: humor, mystery, historical references, and of course, romance. I highly recommend it to both long time Garlock fans and first time readers.

I just finished this book from Dorothy Garlock... and it is now one of my favorites (yes, I realize I say that with each and every book I complete of hers)!

Jane Love is just one of many women that are trying to start a new life in Wyoming Territory, where T.C. Kilkenny is working to bring the old town to life again. Jane, as many of the other women, are almost running from their past lives, but each will learn you can't run and instead must face them head-on. This story is full of interesting characters... from the sweet and scared Polly that is pregnant from a recent rape... Sunday, the strong and beautiful woman with a mouth like a man, and is just as strong as one too... and Jane Love, who is carrying the burden of a terrible secret, that she is sure will shame her if discovered. From the very beginning, Jane begins receiving threatening notes... "I know who yu are."... which make her desperate to leave the town of Timbertown, Wyoming. However, T.C. is determined to keep her in the town, until he's ready for her to leave for his homestead ranch.

Also making their presence in this wonderful story is Colin Tallman - the son of Addie and John Tallman from "Yesteryear."

Readers will also learn the fates of Amy and Rain Tallman from "Dream River" - the grandparents of Colin Tallman. If you recognize the name Kilkenny, it is from "Midnight Blue." Moose Kilkenny was the bare-knuckle fighter that lost his title to Pack Gallagher... Moose is T.C.'s uncle. Milo Callahan returns to Garlock's stories from a villain in "Sins of Summer" to a villain in this story. Also mentioned in this book is Gerrick and Katy Rowe from "Nightrose."

Now for those of you that haven't read all these other books by Dorothy Garlock, you are in luck. You don't have to read any of them to follow along and understand everything that is happening. Those mentioned simply make it much more enjoyable for those of us that have read them all.

Next, I'm off to read Dorothy Garlock's "Sweetwater."

This was good. Pioneering in Wyoming. Starting a town with men about---lets bring in some women. The story is fast paced and keeps going well. Things are always happening, so it makes it hard to put down! I'm so tired! :)
Jane reminds of Jane Eyre. The trod upon Jane who falls for the powerful Mr. Rochester. Except hes now Mr. American Kilkenny.
Hes got Irish and Indian blood in him. Hes running the town.
And he finds her intriguing.
She has a painful secret. She doesn't want to share with anyone and this keeps her and Kilkenny apart for most of the story. Theres also the typical Garlock character of the woman beaten who has left her bad man and the obsessed maniacal person out to kill our heroine.
But---what I want to say is that its just good. It keeps you going and its a sweet romance. Its built up enough to make it believable and sentimental throughout the story.
Jane grows close to several other women in the story as well as Kilkennys people. They name them the family which is pretty cool.
Oh yeah and Colin Tallman shows up from "Larkspur" and falls in love.
Sorry this isn't the best review. I keep staying up late reading Ms. Garlock! This is one of the good ones! Also try "Larkspur" and "House on a Hill."

I have yet to be disappointed in a Dorothy Garlock book. It seems every time I decide to read this gifted author, she impresses me further. Simply put: THE LISTENING SKY is a book I couldn't put down. Ms. Garlock uses folksy charm, intense emotion, delightful characters, and homespun love to weave this charming novel.

Jane Love arrives in Timbertown, Wyoming hoping to escape her shameful past. She longs for friendship and respect; instead, she finds love and an enemy. Dorothy Garlock spins Jane Love into a remarkable, strong heroine - yet this heroine has an air of vulnerability. In THE LISTENING SKY, a deranged person stalks Jane Love. In fact that is the story's potency - the heroine's secret? To intrigue her reader, Garlock drops subtle hints alluding to Jane's past and subsequently her story whirls in entertainment.

Garlock's hero, T.C. Kilkenny has Irish, English, and Blackfoot ancestry. Accordingly, he is determined, dignified, and proud. Garlock further accents his character by making Kilkenny strong and gentle. A hero who immediately sees through Jane's veil of cover, he recognizes the terrified woman beneath, but before he can help her, he must keep her in his town. T.C. has no qualms about his matchmaking ideas. A lumberjack and a cattleman, he is determined to build a town and what better way than to find wives . . . for his men and for . . . himself.

Dorothy Garlock hands her reader a literary treasure. THE LISTENING SKY is a 'feel good' story. Although, the author relies on intrigue and mystery, she does not keep her reader on the edge; she moves her characters and their problems along. The reader is not subject to long moments of conflict and trouble; no Garlock writes a quick paced book filled with interesting predicaments and engaging secondary characters. Well done.
Grade: A

MaryGrace Meloche
Reviewer for: RomanceDesigns

I literally just finished this book about ten minutes ago, and now I am here browsing through Garlock's other books because The Listening Sky was so good! She really had a nack for describing a love that I think everybody would want - a love that is so perfect. The characters are all well described, and you really find yourself getting attached to all of them. The trials that the two characters go through is enough to keep anybody hooked to the plot, and to watch the way that their love is displayed to each other through thick and thin just makes you feel so good. I highly recommend this book.

"The Listening Sky" by Dorothy Garlock is a wonderful story. I read it in one day, could not put it down. The characters stayed with me long after I finished the book. Other books that I also loved by this author are "Forever Victoria" and "Love and Cherish".

I liked this story about a new western town starting up and people coming to make a fresh start. The theme is not to hold wrongs of parents against their children. It is a light, quick read and very entertaining. I recommend this book to anyone who likes westerns.

It was simple yet illuminative writing which led me to nearly read this book in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. It was a sweet romance. Don't go here if you are searching for sensuality.

This was the first Dorothy Garlock novel I had read, and I was impressed by what I read. Jane Love's character is well developed and believable. She has her strengths, she has her weaknesses, and of course, she has her mysterious past. I like how Garlock weaved historical figures and events into her writing, for it made it all more plausible.

The only significant complaint I have about the books has to do with all the typographical errors. There are at least fifteen -- such simple things like quotation marks missing at the end of dialogue or general typos.

All in all, the novel is well worth reading if you're a romance fan. I hope to read more titles by this author.

If your new to Dorothy Garlock, don't miss "The Listening Sky". I have read quite a bit of her books and this one is the one I constantly re-read. From the characters to the plot, this book keeps you interested and entertained! She by far is a great writer and storyteller. Please don't hesitate you won't be disappointed.