Customer Reviews

Straight for the Heart

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the first book of her's that I have read and I was so enthralled I couldn't put it down, literally. I haven't read a story that held my interest so much that I couldn't stop to cook supper till I finished it. As it builds near the end she made me feel as though I was a part of the story and one of the characters. She is a spellbinding author and I can hardly wait to read the trilogy I bought. Thank you so much Miss Canham and I look forward to reading all your books.

I'm having some difficulty getting this edition removed, so please do a search for the ASIN: B0057AP2B0 which will take you to the $2.99 edition. Thank you for your patience.

Of all the books I've read, and believe me I'm a read-a-holic, this is the absolute best!! It is my first mcanham book and I'm now scouting up all her others. There is everything here. It's set in the post civil war reconstruction era, with of course characters from both sides of the "fence". It has romance, family, mystery, murder, etc.The dialogue was incredible. I laughed aloud with this spunky and realistic characters.. I hated to see it end. And not only is it a keeper but I bet I'll be re-reading it soon to catch whatever little things I missed the first time. Race to get this. Great job, Marsha.s

This was the fastest read out of all the books that I have read of Canham. It was much more intense with more twist and turns to keep your head spinning. It is not for the faint at heart! It has violence, but is a well rounded novel that encompessed history, romance, action, mystery, and crime suspense! Unbelievable! Now I just have to rest up for several days since I haven't gotten any the last couple of nights! THis is the 7th Canham book that I have read and loved all of them, but this was at a different level!

As far as I'm concerned, this is one of Marsha Canham's best novels. I wouldn't normally be attracted to an historical romance set in America, much less the post Civil War South (Mississippi), but because it was by Canham, I decided to take a gamble. It was so worth it. This is the story of proud Southerners and Yankees trying to pick up the pieces after the Civil War. It is also the story of the Courtland family and what the war did to them and of two beautiful blond blue-eyed twin sisters so alike no one could tell them apart save for the heart-shaped gold lockets they wore with their initials on them, but so different that one's good heart was like a beacon while the other's heart was selfish...bad to the bone. And, it's the story of love, Amanda's and Michael's, begun on a riverboat, the Mississippi Queen, with high stakes gambling, and the love of others who had to wait until the war was over to see their's realized. Canham's writing is at its best here...she paints beautiful word pictures like no one else, she develops deep characters who make you cry and laugh, and her plot has twists that will make you wished you'd taken notes. It all comes out right in the end and it is done so well. Thanks, Marsha, for a truly great story. Write more!!!

The first book I have read by Marsha Canham and I LOVED IT!!! Highly recommended. I will not go over the plot as it has been done in previous reviews, but I would not hesitate to recommend this book! Read it, you will love it!!

I usually adore Marsha Canham. I just didn't like this one. I didn't feel the poignant love and passion that I got from other Canham books. There was lots of steamy sex but wish there was something more. Usually I'm absorbed in her descriptive storytelling and can't put it down but I couldn't even finish this one. JMO!

Another great Marsha Canham book. Truthfully, I put off reading this one- didn't think I'd be interested in the whole gambling scenario, etc. But having read almost all of her other books, and knowing how enthralling they are, I gave it a shot, and wasn't disappointed. As with her other books, Canham weaves a great tale, complete with her surprise plot twists, breathtaking romance, wonderful dialogue, action galore, and painting a picture so real you can feel it. No doubt this is great entertainment, and a wonderful escape. The villains are (in typical Marsha Canham fashion) about as evil as you can possibly imagine - no, even more than that. The hero and heroine are interesting and flawed. The whole trust issue is a common theme in Canham's books - also a theme in this one.

I really loved the change of venue for Canham's story. Many of her books are focused on medieval England or later, but this was focused on the post-Civil War South - excellent descriptions of what life was like, and how it affected the plantation owners. My only disappointment was the heroine's defense of slavery- but, it was only a paragraph and not crucial to the plot. And hey, she was just a character, and representative of a different perspective. Probably made it even more realistic. (And I did say she was flawed.) Otherwise, this was an excellent book if you like historical romance and like to be captured by the story and carried away. I am impressed with Canham's ability to take any time period and weave a good romance into it! She just never seems to disappoint.

First three-fourths of this story was highly entertaining producing smiles, sighs, chuckles, and quite a few gasps but sadly, last fourth turned into an awful soap-opera using just about every cheap cliche in the book. Such a shame as up until that point it had been a joy to read--the story, twists, and romance wove a sensual spell and using the Natchez, Mississippi area (which is spellbinding in itself) was a pleasant change from the normal London crowd. The characters, both good and evil (and there was one whose evil knew no shame,) had been so vividly brought to life and the descriptions of the post civil war struggles were enlightening and not biased toward either side. Marsha Canham has such a wonderful way of spinning a yarn and though I don't love all of her books, I've never wanted to throw one across the room for wasting my time.