Magnolia Creek [Mass Market Paperback]

Jill Marie Landis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 27, 2004

On the eve of the Civil War, Sara Collier marries the dashing Dru Talbot, just before he rides off to join the Confederate army. But fate cuts short their chance for happiness when Dru dies tragically on the battlefield. As a widow, Sara rises above her grief, refusing to mourn her life away. But one wrong choice made with an open heart takes her away from her hometown–and challenges Sara in ways she never could have imagined. Though she returns to Magnolia Creek an outcast, the sorrow in her life makes her stronger.
A year after the war’s end, battle-scarred surgeon Dru Talbot surprises everyone when he returns home, clinging to the dream of starting life over with his bride. Yet nothing could have prepared Dru for the truth that awaits him in Magnolia Creek.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Dr. Dru Talbot is eager to get home to the bride with whom he had only one night of wedded bliss before the Civil War took him away, but he soon discovers that after reports of his death, Sara took off with a Yankee. In fact, she actually returned to Magnolia Creek only one day before him with Lissybeth, her bastard baby. When the newspaper attacks Sara in a scathing editorial, it looks like Dru will never be able to get his medical practice off the ground unless he divorces her. Then a yellow fever epidemic strikes, and as the backwoods herbal healer from the wrong side of the creek and the handsome scion of the town's founder work together to save lives, they realize that they still have feelings for each other. Readers will weep with sorrow and joy over Landis' smart and romantic tale, which parallels Charles Frazier's Cold Mountain (1997) in its deliberate pacing and dramatization of the toll exacted on a marriage by war and class differences. Diana Tixier Herald
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

“JILL MARIE LANDIS IS THE AUTHOR YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR.”
–KRISTIN HANNAH

“READERS WILL WEEP WITH SORROW AND JOY OVER LANDIS’S SMART AND ROMANTIC TALE.”
–Booklist

“Jill Marie Landis can really touch the heart.”
–JAYNE ANN KRENTZ

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (July 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345478878
• ISBN-13: 978-0345478870
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,168,894 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

JILL MARIE LANDIS'S twenty+ novels have earned distinguished awards and slots on such national bestseller lists as the USA TODAY Top 50 and the New York Times Best Sellers Plus. She is a seven-time finalist for Romance Writers of America's RITA Award in both Single Title and Contemporary Romance as well as a Golden Heart and RITA Award winner.

Her works include historical romances, contemporary single title romance with a hint of suspense, inspirational historical romances, and most recently the new Tiki Goddess Mystery series that launched with the successful Mai Tai One On.

Jill Marie resides in Hawaii with her husband. When she's not writing or sitting on the beach reading, she enjoys visiting with family and friends, raising orchids, working in her garden, plunking on the ukulele, dancing the hula and quilting, but not all at once.

She enjoys hearing from readers at www.jillmarielandis.com
facebook, and at www.thetikigoddess.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Absolutely Wonderful Book, July 7, 2003

By 

K. Morgan (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magnolia Creek (Mass Market Paperback)

Dr. Dru Talbot has returned from the Civil War looking forward to the life he will lead with his "new" wife Sara. When he returns home he discovers he's in for the shock of his life. Sara is there, having just returned herself, but she's not alone. With her is her daughter, who is way to young to belong to Dru. Sara was lead to believe Dru was dead and being the naive, backwoods girl she was, fell under the spell of a Yankee soldier, who used her and left her with a baby. Sara returns to Kentucky and is an outcast by everyone except Dru's mentally disturbed sister, who takes her in. Can the damage done to this family be repaired??? Can mistakes be forgiven??? Can love conquer all???

This book was absolutely wonderful. It was so easy to read and had characters who seemed completely believable and sincere. I agree with the other reviewer that it is nice to read books about characters other than the ton and royalty. It is great to read about our country and the past it has with characters who are written to fit right in to the time period. The characters were well developed and the storyline seemed to be well thought out before the author started writing the book. If you love romances or books about America's history you will love Magnolia Creek.

Magnolia Creek was such a good read that I had the book finished in just two days! It was just too good to put down. I just love a book that leaves you wanting more after the last page and this book definitely does that. These characters seem so real that they become part of you and you miss them when you are finished.

This was my first Jill Marie Landis book and I guarantee it won't be my last! A great book to be read again and again.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Forgiveness, February 11, 2005

By 

Tonya Speelman "Hoarder of books" (Goldendale WA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Magnolia Creek (Hardcover)

plays a huge part in this book as well as love and families. I loved Lou, Sara and the baby. Some characters could have and should have had a stronger voice, but overall this story of love and "betrayal" was enjoyable. As another viewer said I really didn't see what the big deal is. If someone is said to be dead, are you supposed to wait around for them? Sort of like in the movie Pearl Harbor.

I have enjoyed a few books from this author and look forward to more!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Emotional Historical, August 23, 2002

By 

Sheri Melnick (Enola, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Magnolia Creek (Hardcover)

In the spring of 1866, with the aftermath of the Civil War, a destitute Sara Collier Talbot returns to Magnolia Creek, Kentucky. She seeks shelter at the home of her sister-in-law, Louzanna Talbot. Though Sara left Kentucky in disgrace over a year after discovering that her husband Dru had been killed in the war, Lou welcomed her back with open arms.

But Dru has in fact survived the war, and struggles with his damaged male pride when he learns that Sara hasn't spent recent years pining away at the Talbot family home. For her journey west to Ohio resulted in a surprise that Dru never expected when he dreamed of his homecoming. As Dru and Sara try to maintain a platonic truce, she hopes for his forgiveness even as he struggles with his attraction to her. And when a devastating tragedy involves the whole town, Dru, the physician, and Sara, the healer, must employ all their skills to save as many lives as possible.

Ms. Landis is a standout in the sub-genre of historical romance, not merely for her page-turning stories, but also because her novels are filled with the emotional angst appreciated by many romance readers. Once again, this latest novel is filled with emotional conflict and an intense story line. While the drama is not quite as compelling as previous reads, fans of Ms. Landis should not be disappointed.