Silk (Heart of India Series #1) [Paperback]

Linda L. Chaikin (Author), L. L. Chaikin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1993

Two worlds clash as a young English heiress and an orphaned boy, an "untouchable," become inextricably entwined,

Coral Kendall is an heiress to the Kingscote Silk Plantation in northern India in the last decade of the 1700s. Breaching cultural boundaries and shunning the scorn of her wealthy English family, she adopts a young orphaned boy, an "Untouchable" from the bottom of the Hindu class system, and brings him into her home. Despite their contrasting cultures and backgrounds, the bond of love that develops between Coral and Gem is that of a mother and son. But tragedy strikes when the boy is abducted and the body later found in the river.

Was there a reason to believe that Gem did not perish? Was the boy's true identity what she had been led to believe? How could she discover the truth?

One man may hold the key to her son. Can she discover the truth and win the struggle for the seagoing trader's heart?

A fascinating new historical series from the time of William Carey.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Linda Chaikin is an award-winning writer whose historical series include HEART OF INDIA, THE GREAT NORTHWEST, and THE ROYAL PAVILIONS. Empire Builders was awarded with the Angel Award for Excellence in Ficiton. She and her husband make their home in California size : 5.4 x 8.3

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; First Trade Back edition (March 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556612486
• ISBN-13: 978-1556612480
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #746,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Linda Lee Chaikin has written over thirty books including the bestselling Daughter of Silk., its sequel Written on Silk, and The Midwife of St. Petersburg. Linda, an award winning author, is a graduate of Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland, Oregon. She and her husband live in Northern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've ever read, December 13, 1999

By 

Anna J. Johnson "anna joy" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Silk (Heart of India Series #1) (Paperback)

I picked up Silk at the library a while ago and I am so glad I did! Linda Chaikin writes in exciting, refreshing style and her plots are very well thought-out. Coral Kendall, an English silk heiress born and raised in India, adopts a young native boy, an "untouchable"... a child of the lowest caste of India. When he is kidnapped, she must seek the aid of her brother's friend, Captain Jace Buckley. They're still in the middle of an adventure at the end and so you have to go out and get the next book. The series is like one huge book actually. In some series, each novel could stand on its own and each book is a separate adventure. Linda Chaikin's series are like really long stories...that are thrilling and fun. There's hardly any boring, "skim-through-the-pages" parts, which is a plus. All in all, I loved it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! I think this is one of Linda Chaikin's best!!!, March 16, 2002

By 

Jennie "cooljennie2000" (Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Silk (Heart of India Series #1) (Paperback)

What can I say? This book is great! Linda Chaikin takes us to 1700s British India to a silk plantation of a wealthy British family: The Kendalls. Coral Kendall is one of the daughters of the plantation's owner: Hampton Kendall. Coral Kendall adopts a Hindu child, an untouchable, against the wishes of her uncle and the dashing, handsome officer Jace Buckley. A terrifying incident results in the kidnapping of Gem and the child's body that was found in the river. Coral is certain that the child that was found in the river is not Gem and she's determined to find him and bring him home. The book gets kind of slow towards the middle but you must read on!!! Romance, intrigue, danger surrounds everyone in the book. I believe this is one Linda Chaikin's best works!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exciting and enjoyable series, December 31, 2006

By 

M. E. Jackson (Alabama) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Silk (Heart of India Series #1) (Paperback)

This is a wonderful, exciting series full of romance, suspense, and adventure. Linda Chaikin's creative talent still surprises me, and I loved the story of Coral, Jace, and Gem. I finished the book in two sittings...I couldn't put it down! The book is far from perfect, however, and you can tell that this series came near the beginning of Linda Chaikin's writing career. Her formula of mystery and suspense with accurate historical facts is perfected with her Egypt series ("Arabian Winds", "Lions of the Desert", and "Valiant Hearts"). Her "Heart of India" series has many plot-holes, and the story can become too confusing at times. It's hard to remember all of the names, and I found myself looking back through the book, trying to remember which character is good and which character is evil.

The second book, "Under Eastern Stars", is my favorite in this series, so if you're slightly disappointed in "Silk", read on. It gets better (in my opinion). I would definitely recommend this series to any fans of Christian fiction, romance, mystery, and historical fiction.