Customer Reviews

Receive Me Falling

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
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Meg's life had always been happy, well-adjusted and predictable. She was close to her parents and engaged to a man she loved. Her family was well off and Meg worked for a political figure. On the night of her engagement party all that changed - Meg's parents were killed in a tragic car accident. Unable to handle the sadness and pressures of day to day life Meg calls off her wedding and heads to Nevis where her family owns an old plantation named Eden. Shortly after her arrival in Nevis an already overwhelmed Meg learns that her father, whom she had always admired and respected, had stolen millions from his clients. She realizes she must sell many of their assets to correct the crime and pay back the families. Before selling, Meg wants to learn more about Eden and the ghost stories surrounding it. Who is playing the piano she hears coming from the plantation at night? Do former slaves really haunt Nevis?

Catherine Dall lived at Eden Plantation with her alcoholic father during the 1800's. She secretly took care of most plantation business, but was limited by being a woman. She knew that if something were to happen to her father the overseer would quickly take control of the plantation. She has seen his treatment of the slaves and his contempt of her and could not let that happen. Catherine was confused by her feelings about owning slaves. Her own mother died during childbirth and she was raised by "Mami" Esther. Esther had her daughter Leah within weeks of Catherine's birth and they were raised together and loved one another like sisters and best friends. Catherine could not believe the opinion of other slave owners who thought that the slaves were made for labor and enjoyed it or that they did not have feelings like the white property owners. When James and Albert Silwel, secret abolitionists determined to end the islands slavery, visited Nevis she grew even more confused and she found herself falling in love with James. Her father had other plans for her future that would benefit the plantation. Catherine also noticed that Leah had been distancing herself and wanted to fix whatever might have been wrong. Did she put a wedge between herself and her father by acting on her feelings toward slavery and James? Was she be able to repair her relationship with Leah or did a greater tragedy ensue?

Secrets unfold in this novel that change both Meghan and Catherine forever.

This novel seemed so interesting when I read the back cover and it did not disappoint. I finished this quickly just because I could not put the book down. The stories of Meg and Catherine are captivating. The chapters jumped from current day to the past, but were easy to follow. Each chapter revealed a little more about the past -either through living it with Catherine or through Meg's research. Eventually all of this came together to build a story of the past for Meg that helped lay to rest the pain that surrounded Eden for over a century. It also allowed Meg to have peace in her decision to sell the plantation and move forward in her life without her parents.

The characters are strong, young women put in positions of making decisions that effect their families greatly. Each woman had to take what she had always known and put it aside for a new truth. Both, were confronted with the lies of their fathers. Meg and Catherine are women of great character, but sometimes that is not enough for life to fall into place. Catherine's story is one of sadness and misfortune while Meg's is one of hope and recovery.

The historical aspects of the novel were very interesting. It touched on the realities of slavery and the struggles of those who wanted it to end. While reading I felt so moved by Catherine's torn loyalties. She had a great love for her father and her land, but she also felt a closeness to the slaves with whom she had developed relationships. She was unsure how to honor both of those emotions.

This novel comes together in the end in some quite surprising ways. I enjoyed where Ms. Robuck took me on the final pages and did not see it coming at all.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, mystery, and books centered on character growth. This book had a little bit of everything, but never felt overdone.

Truth always seems to show up at the worst possible time. "Receive Me Falling" is the story of Meghan, a woman who faces inheritance of her father's land, only to find it was acquired by not so honest means and herself in serious legal trouble, as well as paranormal trouble as the history of her father's estate appears to hassle her. Telling both the story of Meghan and the tragedy of her ghosts, "Receive me Falling" is an intriguing blend of historical fiction and the secrets of one's family coming out.

An enthralling and captivating read.

After her parents die in a car accident, Meghan Owen postpones her wedding, takes a leave of absence from her job and heads to the Caribbean. Among the inheritances from her parents is a property in Nevis: a former sugar plantation called Eden. Needing to get away, Meg decides to take a vacation and check out her new acquisition.

As Meg begins learning about Eden and the sugar industry of Nevis, she makes some interesting discoveries, including unearthing a previously unknown painting by a famous artist. But, disturbed at the thought that her family were slave owners, Meghan dives into research to find out all she can. During her adventure, she also learns that her father embezzled from his clients, and that she will probably be sued for the money. Before she can sell the property, however, she must find the answers she searches for: what happened to the original owners of Eden and their slaves.

The story is told in alternating chapters between Meg's experiences in the present day, and the drama of the Dall family in the 19th century. Catherine Dall and her father Cecil were the original owners of Eden. After slavery was outlawed in England, British abolitionists journeyed to the sugar plantations of the Caribbean to do what they could to overturn slavery there.

The historical aspect of the novel was astounding: well researched, with fascinating accounts about the lives of the plantation owners and their slaves. The harsh realities aren't glossed over. The brutalities that these people were forced to endure is tragic, and Erika does a great job of portraying it in a realistic yet, sympathetic way.

A terrific debut novel filled with intrigue and romance, friendship and love, scandal and confessions and the occasional ghost.

I met the author at a book signing that I did not know was taking place at a bookstore on Topsail Island, NC. I decided to try the book and am so glad that I did. I loved the richness of the characters and the two stories being told simultaneously. In addition, the intricate mix of the dual stories with the history of Nevis and life in the 1830's was well-done. The author had obviously done her homework. The surprises of the appearance of Hamilton and Leah's fate just added to the delightful reading of the book. And I really want to visit Nevis!!! I am glad that she has started on her second book. I eagerly look forward to it!

Erica is a thoughtful and creative writer... I love the story, and mainly the juxtaposition of the modern day struggle of Megan and the parallels to Catherine's story. All the characters draw you in and make you want to find out what happens to them. Even the unlikeable ones like Cecil. :-) Can't wait to see this in mass publication, and moreover, for the sequel. I'm rooting for Leah and would love to read her story!!

As a lover of historical novels and a serious student of the history of the oppressed, I really enjoyed this novel.
While there may be a few things to nitpick, as some reviewers have done,it really serves no useful purpose: she has done an excellent job of illustrating the differences and similarities between people in the past and present.

It is obvious that Ms Robuck has done a great deal of research on her subject, and I commend her for clearly showing the horror of slavery and the hypocrisy of the slave owners.

It is no easy task to bring to life a period of which one has no experiential knowledge, but she has done an exceptional job.

Meg's parents die on the night of her engagement party. Afterward she learns she now owns an old plantation in the Caribbean called Eden. Soon after learning this leaves for Nevis. Once there she finds out that the land and plantation is shrouded in ghost stories and dark secrets... The story moves back an forth between present day and the 1800's.

Receive Me Falling is an enthralling read, that captivates the reader from page one. I very much enjoyed this story. Both Meg & Catherine take the reader on journey of love, friendship, heartbreak and freedom. For me, the story was very moving. It was beautifully written and a pure joy to read. I enjoyed it alot more than I thought I would. I highly recommend checking this book out.

I picked up this book at the author's booth at a street fair in Annapolis, MD and expected that it would be a mediocre book. I was very pleasantly surprised at the good writing and compelling story delivered by this book. I can't wait for Robuck's next novel. The part of the novel that takes place in Nevis demonstrates a deep knowledge of the island and its history. Loved the book!

Meghan and Brian are engaged to be married but after their grand engagement party, her life changes. She's now the soul heir of her parents estate, one of which is an old plantation home on Nevis Island, previously owned by Cecil and Catherine Dall in the 1800's. Wanting to know more about the mansion, she decides to take a leave of absence and go to the island. As she is finding out about the history of the island and the plantation, she is told some devastating news and needs to sell the land and house immediately. What will happen to Meg when her parents estate is sold? Meg is worried about her future.

Back in the 1800's - Cathrine, daughter of Cecil Dall own a sugar plantation on Nevis Island. They also own over 200 slaves . Catherine runs the plantation , her father is a drunk and his health is failing. News around the island is that abolitionists are trying to ban slavery in the British Empire. The plantation owners on Nevis are not happy about it but they don't think it will pass. Two men come to visit Nevis, stating they want to learn more about the sugar plantations, but are they really? A neighboring plantation was set on fire and everything is gone, was it arson and did the abolitionist have something to do with it? Catherine is worried about her future, what would happen if they lost their plantation or what if her father died , what would happen to her?

The end of the story will "blow" your mind!

Can't give to much away! If you like historical fiction, i highly recommend this one. I loved reading about the island and decided to see if it was real and ohhhh i wish i could go and see it! Its beautiful.

I am usually a slow reader but once I picked up this book I couldn't put it down; I read it in a couple days!! It was very well written, it felt like I was right there with the characters. The chapters alternate being prior day and present day, and everything was tied in together. I am looking forward to the author's next book!