Customer Reviews

On Sparrow Hill (The Oak Leaves Series #2)

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

 

 

I love the unique and complex subject matter that Mareen Lang has chosen to write about in her book On Sparrow Hill. She and I have something in common--a special needs child. While my daughter's issues are different, I understand the challenges her characters face, as well as their loved ones.

Lang has combined a contemporary story with the discovery of a beautiful historical woven into one book. As a reader who loves to read and write historicals and does genealogy research, I thought this book was wonderful.

Rebecca Seabrooke and Quentin Hollinworth research his family history on his English estate and discover a historical school that his ancestor Berrie Hamilton started in the mid-1800's. This isn't just any school. It's a school for children that has special needs and certain disabilities. This shows a wonderful contrast between how people viewed these issues back then and how they view them today. Lang managed to layer in a realistic romance between Rebecca Quentin in the present day, and a historical romance between Berrie and the overprotective brother of one of her students.

On Sparrow Hill portrays a 3-dimensional plotline that interweaves two different centuries with human issues that cross all time barriers and show a growing faith and love that conquers all things.

After reading The Oak Leaves by Maureen Lang, I was delighted to find the sequel, On Sparrow Hill.

In another parallel story, Maureen Lang uses Cosima's letters from 1849 to bring the news of the family affliction to more of her current day ancestors in contemporary England. Can they rise above the family curse to find lasting happiness that only faith in God can bring?

I personally recommend this book. It is more than a love story with a lesson on leaning on God.

I loved reading this gentle book of romance with sweet undertones.
Maureen did an awesome job of involving her reader as an observer wanting to hop in and help the two people who kept missing one another throughout their lives. Weaving interference with subtle mystery, she entertained me thoroughly as I rooted for her characters.

I would recommend this to any one who loves to get lost in a good story.

Blessings,
Paulette Harris
www.pauletteharris

I really enjoyed the book, but I really feel that it should be under the banner of Christian literature as it has a very strong religious theme throughout. For me it deterred from the characters as I found I couldn't relate to their fervor, but it didn't detract from the story. It would, however, probably prevent me from buying any more of her books as it is distracting, and repetitive. But it was the only characteristic of the author's writing that I found overdone, so if that wouldn't bother you and you like historical romances, I think you will enjoy is book.

This book is a must read...a great story that is wonderfully written. Anyone who loves a good love story, whether you like historical romances or not, will be quickly captivated. The way the author moves quickly from the past to the present, keeps you turning the pages. Rarely do I find a book, as this one, so well written that I wouldn't change a thing. You will fall in love with the characters; I'm sure, as I did. I couldn't wait to start this book, after reading the first, "The Oak Leaves".

This story also has wonderful teaching lessons for living a God, honoring life. Lessons we could all learn from. After reading this book, how could one not view others with disabilities and their families, differently? This book will make you cry and laugh.

It was fun to hear of what became of the main characters from the first book and to meet the new ones in this book. The characters from these books will be with me for a long time.

I'll be looking forward to reading more of Maureen's books in the future.

Kym

Maureen Lang once again proves her ability to tell a great story and write a great sequel. On Sparrow Hill is the continuation of the family legacy she brought to us in The Oak Leaves. With some new characters and places, Maureen gave us two stories in one in the book, also.

Rebecca Seabrooke is the curator for Quentin Hollingsworth's family estate. Her family has worked in this estate for generations and her goal is to preserve its history by making it the most successful historic home in the country. She must overcome the crush she has held on Quentin since their childhoods. They aren't exactly from the same class, after all.
Quentin Hollingsworth understands the treasure he has in Rebecca's work as curator, but also in her friendship. When the two of them discover a package of letters in the family vault, written years ago by one of his ancestors, it changes the course of both of their lives.
Rebecca and Quentin discover both of their histories are linked and as they uncover family secrets, meet cousins from the United States, and learn that sometimes God's perfect plan is found in the most amazing imperfections, they also find love that crosses classes and time.

This book is tender love and grace at its best. Maureen Lang take the challenges of life and makes them into beautiful family treasures. Open the pages of this book and meet characters that will touch your heart and affect your life long after you read the last page.

Rebecca Seabrooke has always loved Quentin Hollinworth, but she knows she will never be his social equal. Even if Quentin could overlook the fact that her father was his father's valet, his mother never would. Rebecca and Quentin discover letters in the family vault, writen over one hundred fifty years ago by Berrie Hamilton, One of Quentin's ancesters. The letters are interesting, but rather puzzling. Then Quentin's American relatives write, wanting to come to visit on their trip to England. When they arrive, they reveal that a dread malady called Fragile X, which causes a mental birth defect is passed down genetically through the family. Quentin has never heard of it, but it's possible he might be a carrier.
Maurene Lang writes from the heart. Like The Oak Leaves, book one in this series, On Sparrow Hill is a touching, warm-hearted story with unforgettable characters, the reader will remember long after finishing the book.

Maureen Lang has once again woven two separate story lines, centuries apart, into one engaging, compelling experience. She captivates the reader with first one story, then once the suspense has built, you are left hanging (in a delightfully good way) and transported to the other. Not all authors can juxtapose two separate stories and keep the reader engaged in both, but Maureen Lang has developed this technique into an art form. Both this book and its predecessor, "The Oak Leaves" are put together this way.

Before reading these novels, I was not familiar with the Fragile X Syndrome, so not only did I enjoy a delightful combination of romance, mystery (well, suspense anyway) and faith, but I learned about Fragile X, not just textbook facts, but its impact on families from a personal and emotional point of view.

I would recommend this book whether or not you have read "The Oak Leaves" although I would certainly recommend that if you can get both books at the same time, you should read them in order. However, unlike many book sequels, this one can definitely stand on its own without making you feel that you are missing something. If you like love stories, you will love this book.

The back cover says:

As the commercial manager for Quentin Hollinworth's family estate, Rebecca Seabrooke is focused on just two things: making hers the most successful historic home in the country and forgetting the childhood crush shes had on Quentin since her father worked as his family's valet. After all, they don't exactly run in the same social circles.

But when she and Quentin uncover letters in the family vault written over 150 years ago by Berrie Hamilton, one of Quentin's ancestors, Rebecca discovers that Quentin isn't the only one with a legacy to appreciate. Only Berrie's words can prepare Rebecca for the dramatic turn her life is about to take.

Ms. Long skillfully weaves the stories of the past and the present together, using Berrie's letters to seque into Berrie's point of view. An inherited disability affects both the past and the present and the letters help Rebecca not only advise a new friend on faith and trust but help her see that Quentin's social standing and the gossip of tabloids need not be obstacles to happiness.

This is a lovely, special book for anyone who loves romance, family and stories of faith tested and faith triumphant.

Rebecca Seabrooke is committed to her work as the curator for the Hollingsworth Estate, an important British family. Secretly, Rebecca has had a crush on Quentin Hollingsworth since childhood. Now he seems interested in her. Could there possibly be a future for them? Of course, the times are different, but could nobility and the servant class become an item without stirring idle gossip? And what of Quentin's thoroughbred mother? Respected for her family's long history of service to the Hollingsworth, could Rebecca find acceptance as an equal? When 150-year old letters, written by Berrie Hamilton, one of Quentin's ancestors, are fount in a vault, Rebecca is reminded that hurdles can be jumped with God's help and wisdom. Maureen Lang, in this sequel to The Oak Leaves, has once again weaved engaging parallel stories: that of Berrie Hamilton's quest to help a young mentally impaired girl find meaning within her disability, and that of Rebecca Seabrooke's struggle against conventionality. Berrie writes her sister-in-law Cosima regarding the hardships she faces as she works to establish an Irish school for the mentally challenged. She fights against an uncaring system and is unwittingly pitted against the brother of one of her students, an Irish Lord. She dislikes her attraction to him. And he reminds her of his distrust of the English. When Quentin's English cousins visit, Rebecca is reminded of the struggle Cosima endured regarding her fears of the family curse, the fear of bearing a mentally disabled child. And indeed, in later years, the ancestral gene would carry the Fragile X-Syndrome, a theme prominent in Lang's first book, The Oak Leaves, and a reoccurring subplot in this book. A good read from start to finish.