Customer Reviews

Sweet Annie (Harlequin Historical, 548)

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

 

 

Every once in a while, a book comes along that touches your heart and soul. Sweet Annie by Cheryl St. John is one such book.

This is the inspiring story of Annie Sweetwater, a young girl who has been coddled by her protective parents because of an illness that has left her weak and unable to walk well. When a young boy named Luke Carpenter dashes into her life, Annie discovers she longs for a world beyond her wheelchair. The resulting story is one of inspiration, love and strength.

Cheryl St. John has a wonderful gift for writing beautiful stories that not only entertain, but make you think.

- Sharon Galligar Chance

SWEET ANNIE By Cheryl St. John

Annie Sweetwater was born crippled, lives in a wheelchair, and is never permitted to do anything that might endanger her. At her tenth birthday party, a visiting Luke Carpenter takes her for a horseback ride and she soars with a sense of freedom; a sensation quickly quenched when an overly-protective brother beats Luke when they return from riding. Annie's entire family shelters and keeps her child-like, but her mother is the most dominating figure, intent on keeping her daughter dependent. She continually reminds Annie that she is not like other girls and never will be, leaving a sensitive young girl feeling suffocated and useless with no self-worth at all.

It is ten years later when Annie's life begins to change, and a chance stop at the livery stable is the beginning of one of the sweetest romances you'll have occasion to read. Luke is one of the most sensitive heroes Ms. St. John has created. He's not only handsome, he's compassionate, protective, and oh-so loving and thoughtful. He's a man any young girl in town would be thrilled to have as a suitor, but it's Annie who captures his heart. He sees her as a beautiful young woman and, through his love and tenderness, she begins to see herself that way too. Readers will see a young, sheltered girl mature into a determined, independent woman deserving of Luke's adoration.

As in her former title THE DOCTOR'S WIFE, Cheryl St. John writes another emotionally-driven plotted tale in SWEET ANNIE. She touches on many sensitive issues, including a physically challenged person, a battle of wills between a dominating mother and her daughter; an over-protective family; an unexpected death; rich vs. poor; struggle for acceptance; and much, much more. Cheryl St. John delivers a beautiful, well-written story to touch your heart. She'll have you cheering for Annie and falling in love with Luke. Like Caleb in her title THE DOCTOR'S WIFE, Luke is a hero to die for. SWEET ANNIE is a romance that will end up on your keeper shelf, and one I highly recommend for your reading pleasure.

Carol Carter/As written for Under The Covers

I agree with the other customers review on this book. This is a wonderful, sweet, beautiful book! A keeper! Another book I enjoyed from this author is Joe's Wife, another must read, I guaranty it!

I love the premise of this book. Who can resist a handsome, loving man who's encouraging the semi-crippled heroine (more crippled by her family than in any physical way) to try her wings? And he's loved her since she was a lonely 10 year old!

The story is perfect while the romance, and the heroine's growth from shy & sheltered daughter into a strong, capable wife & woman, is occurring. But then the author throws a BIG left curve SPOILER ALERT // by having the heroine reject her wonderful husband after she loses their baby in an accident.

It just did not make sense to me that Annie could absolutely turn away from Luke for weeks; go home to her family & leave him with all that grief to carry alone, after EVERYTHING they had experienced together and been to each other before the loss. It spoiled the story for me, frankly. I can't rate this story more than three stars because of the frustrating lack of sense that the last third of the book suffers from!

I truly like Cheryl St. John's writing...I always "like" her books, but they always just miss that four-star review from me. There's always something that just doesn't spark; she keeps missing the "keeper" button in my mind. In this book, I know what it is --the stupid last third of the story--but in her other books, I don't know what it is that keeps her from being a "keeper". Still, I continue reading her because I hope to find that one day, Ms. St. John's writing will become not just very good, and very readable, but great.

Annie Sweetwater had been treated like a fragile porcelin doll for her entire life. Everyone saw her in terms of her physical limitations. But Luke Carpenter saw the woman no one else had ever looked for...a woman Annie didn't even see until she looked at herself through his eyes. With his love, she learns to trust herself, to see that life is full of endless possibilities, if only she can learn to stand on her own two feet, knowing that Luke will be there to lean on if she needs him.

Every time Cheryl St. John has a new book out, I practically race for the bookstore. Her books are such sweet poignant tales of love, and they never fail to touch my heart. Sweet Annie was no exception...no, it was simply exceptional!

"Out of all the men who could have ridden into her life and received her favor, he'd been the one she wanted. He would do anything for her, anything to please her, anything to see her smile, hear her laugh, win her kiss."
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"Look at you. You're a strong, healthy man. Why would you want a girl like Annie, who can't possibly do everything a normal woman can? Those words pierced Luke's heart- and lodged anger in his soul."
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....."Lord, she was a talker."
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"Don't cry," he said gruffly.
"I'm not crying," she denied....."Sometimes my eyes leak when I'm happy."
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"I'm not going to break, you know."
"I am," he replied.

The heroine in this novel is not your usual romance hoyden, so popular of late. She is sheltered by her family for a disability that they inhibit her for and yearns to make a future as a wife and mother with a man she has loved since she was a child. It is a light read and very sweet. I recommend it!

I just finished reading this book late last night, and I must say, I HATED for this book to end.

Just as it has been described in various previous reviews, the book starts out in 1878 - at Annie's 10th birthday party. She's crippled due to a hip displacement, and is bound to a wheel chair existance. She's the daughter of the town banker, and while she has everything...she lives a lonely life of a cripple. A new boy in town, 14 year old Luke Carpenter gives her a ride on his new horse, and her family freeks out! From then on Luke is hated by her family...and avoided at all cost.

Flash forward ten years to 1888. Just shy of her 20th birthday, Annie finds herself noticing Luke more and more. She's attacted to his dark good looks, and sweet natured personality. An orphan, and a self-made-man, he owns the only local livery, and starts showing her alot of attention. Before long, he's seeing her on the sly, and they fall desperately in love. After writing to her (out of town) doctor, and discovering that he encourages her walking attempts and excercising, she discovers that she has far more options then living in a wheel chair. With Luke's encouragement, before long she's walking, starts a business as an excellent seamstress, and is enjoying a full and happy life.

This book is sweet, sexy, loving and full of inpiration. The tension of her mother's lack of encouragement, and the depression she experiences after the death of her baby toward the end only make this book all the better. By the end of the book, I worked up a nice cry ...always a good sign!

Very highly recommended! Oh...and by the way, this is a pre-quil to another excellent book by Cheryl St. John...."His Secondhand Wife". You'll recognize Annie, Luke and others in that book...which is set just a year or two later. Enjoy!

"Sweet Annie" is one of Cheryl St. John's most inspiring and "sweet" romances perfect for any teen or adult. Annie is one woman, even though lame with one leg, has the willpower and need to be normal like most women her age. Her parents treat her like she is a fragile doll because of her handicap. But that doesn't stop Annie from walking and loving Jacob her soul mate.

Aw Jacob! What a man. He feels he is not good enough for Annie but like two moths to a flame, they can't stay away from each other. He teaches her to embrace life and wants to be the man and hopefully a husband to Annie. The scene where he builds their future home is one that is so moving.

Some could even compare this to an inspirational romance, but overall it is about two people who want to be together regardless of those who think otherwise. Annie and Jacob's love is tender and respectful. Enjoy this turn of the century Western romance which may make you shed a tear or two.

Katiebabs