The Star Garden: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine (Sarah Agnes Prine Novels) [Paperback]

Nancy E. Turner (Author)

Book Description

Series: Sarah Agnes Prine Novels | Publication Date: November 11, 2008

In this stunning sequel to the tale begun in These Is My Words and continued in the beloved Sarah's Quilt, pioneer woman Sarah Agnes Prine is nearing bankruptcy. After surviving drought and the rustling of her cattle in winter 1906, Sarah is shocked when her son brings home a bride who was slated to become a nun. Meanwhile, neighbor Udell Hanna is pressing for Sarah to marry him. Then a stagecoach accident puts Sarah in the path of three strangers, who will forever change her life....

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Told in the form of a diary, Turner's third Sarah Agnes Prine novel is set in 1906 in the Arizona Territory, with 43-year-old Sarah widowed and living in a house built by the man she had refused to marry, Rudolfo Maldonado. Her former hired help, Rudolfo is now one of the richest and most unscrupulous men in the territory. Sarah, the mother of several grown boys and the center of her large clan, is being courted by her neighbor, Udell Hanna, and though she is attracted to him, she is not so sure she wants another husband. The novel bustles with a large cast and period western atmospherics. Turner also depicts a host of domestic and frontier dramas (family strife, concerns about bandits, border disputes). Sarah's independent streak and sometimes wily nature will endear her to contemporary readers. Part western, part romance, part imagined history of the evolution of American womanhood, the novel is well researched and manages to be at once entertaining and thoughtful. (Sept.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Turner follows up the best-selling These Is My Words (1999) and Sarah's Quilt (2005) with another novel-written-as-a-diary chronicling the turn-of-the-century exploits of Arizona pioneer Sarah Agnes Prine. Basing Sarah on her own great-grandmother, the author's personal connection to the main character authenticates this tale of courage, determination, and audacious will on the frontier. As Sarah struggles to keep both her ranch and her extended family afloat amid hard times, she is pressed by one neighbor to marry him while another neighbor plots to gain control of her land. When she is offered the chance to realize a long-held dream, she must reevaluate what is truly important in her life. The matter-of-fact tone of Sarah's diary entries underscores her amazing resilience in the face of everyday hardship and extraordinary adversity. Flanagan, Margaret --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (November 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312363176
• ISBN-13: 978-0312363178
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #87,003 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Born in Grand Prairie, Texas, I grew up for the most part in Southern California and Arizona.

I completed a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts Studies with a triple major in creative writing, music, and ceramics at the University of Arizona in December 1999. I also have an Associate's degree from Pima Community College. I started taking one or two classes a year while my children were little. I live in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains overlooking the city of Tucson.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Like reuniting with old friends..., September 13, 2007

By 

Joanna Mechlinski (CT, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Star Garden: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine (Hardcover)

This third book of the Prine/Elliott saga begins just as the second book ended, in 1906 Arizona Territory...

Forty-three-year-old widow Sarah Agnes Prine Elliott has just survived one of the most difficult years of her life. Her longtime friend and neighbor Rudolfo Maldonado has just tried to get back into her good graces after being discovered attempting to sabotage Sarah's ranch, but she still doesn't believe he's really sorry. Sarah's brother Harland, recently widowed with four small children, has come to stay on the ranch until he's able to get on his feet again. The entire extended family is still in mourning over the murder of Sarah's niece Esther, while all the young adults of the Prine and Elliott families are trying small steps toward independence.

Likewise, new neighbor Udell Hanna, who first indicated a romantic interest in Sarah in the second book, returns with an invigorated desire to win her heart. Part of her feels attracted to this hardworking, plainspoken man; another is guilty to move from the memory of her husband Jack.

As usual, life for the clan is interrupted by a number of factors, including a serious bout of influenza that seriously jeopardizes lives -- and Charlie's return with a bride whose very presence on the family ranch spells trouble for the family. Still, there's little doubt they'll make it through -- largely due to Sarah's inner strength, which readers have been able to follow since her teenage years in "This is My Words."

Well-written and beautifully characterized, the story of Sarah, her family and friends is bound to keep readers immersed. Turner skillfully combines research on early 20th century Western living with thoughts, feelings and ideas that are common to all human beings in any era.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heart warming story of life in old Arizona..., October 30, 2007

By 

Allison R. King "Allisons Attic" (Hollister, MO USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Star Garden: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine (Hardcover)

I LOVED THIS BOOK!! I love books written with strong woman characters. This is the 3rd book in the series of Sarah Prine who moved to Arizona with her family and now has her own family of kids and grandkids around her in Arizona. The hardships of fire, dust storms and battles for the land continue to as Sarah tries to decide whether to marry the 'guy next door'. Nancy Turner makes you feel the pain and happiness that Sarah goes through with all the tough decisions she has to make in her life. A series of books that I dearly love and hope a 4th is yet to come!!( PLEASE!!!)

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sad to see it end..., October 11, 2007

By 

K. P. Speir "Gotta Read" (Orem, UT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Star Garden: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine (Hardcover)

I finished this book a week ago and still can't quit thinking about Sarah and her family. Nancy Turner has created characters so real I feel like I know them personally and am sad we won't be seeing them again. This series has been one of my all time favorites.