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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Overall, a good read., September 14, 2004
This review is from: This Side of Heaven (Paperback)
I thought this book had everything going for it, and not much lacking. There was a handsome hero, beautiful heroine, lots of adventure, and lots of funny scenes. I liked that the hero and heroine didn't fight throughout the whole book like most romance novels. My favorite scenes were the beginning with the bull, and the love triangle between Matt, Caroline, and Daniel. If you want a book that will not leave you bored, and will provide plenty of romance and plot, this is your book. The only thing I have to complain about is the ending. It was very rushed and leaved the reader wanting more closure. I mean, the rest of the book was very thorough and told the story well, but the end just wizzed by and had the reader scratching their head. It went way to fast and seemed like the author was rushing at the end to meet her deadline. But, that aside, the book as a whole was a good one.
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A RARE 5 PLUS AND A KEEPER!, January 10, 2002
This review is from: This Side of Heaven (Paperback)
You will want to read this one over and over again. Why has no one brought to light the wonderful characters in this book -- Are there follow-ups? First we meet the brother Daniel [are these really Puritans?] and then through the entanglement of Millicent and Raleigh [cat and dog would you believe]and the threatening presence of Jacob [the bull] Ephraim "Matt" Mathiason, his two sons John and David and the nasty dominie. His brothers Thomas, Robert and James and his wife Mary and daughter Hope. [Listen to this description of Matt] ** He was a tall man, taller even than Daniel, with broad shoulders and a wide chest that tapered down to narrow hips and long, powerful legs. ** He was hatless, and his hair was so black that it glinted blue in the bright sunlight. * * He limped, his left leg, apparently unable to bend at the knee, swung ackwardly as he moved. **
His features could have graced a classical statue; his jaw and cheekbones had been chiseled by a master hand.** His eyes were deep set beneath straight, thick black brows. The irises were a brilliant celestial blue, their lightness almost shocking against the sun-weathered swarthiness of his skin. The only note of disharmony was the scar, white and jagged, that sliced across his left cheek. ****
Caroline's description is just as tantalizing. Both have been scarred by life and must make a strong emotional journey to each other to complete their family.
Caroline being Matt's sister-in-law and Matt being soured on marriage cause many problems as Matt tries to control his growing lust for her. [His one besetting sin] We fell in love with his family and his interaction with his sons, appreciating his deep love for his brothers and his healing brought about by the sass and impishness of Caroline.
And his handling of the villians of the community with tact? and strength of character. Highly Recommended and rates a rare 5 plus for excellence and is definitely a keeper for our library.
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7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
don't rush to the bookstore..., August 17, 2005
This review is from: This Side of Heaven (Paperback)
This is one of those books that I would read only if I was bored and had NOTHING else available, and if it was handed to me for free. In other words, definetly don't spend money on it, and waste your time only if you are in desperate need of reading material. That being said, it's not the worst book I've ever read, but I really can't recommend it at all. It was my first Karen Robards historical romance, and while I'm a fan of her contemporary work, something about this historical novel didn't sit well with me. Normally I am a huge fan of the genre, but this seemed both too dark, and yet also too unsubstantial. As another reader said, the heroine is treated like dirt for most of the novel. While the hero has moments of kindness, he rarely reprimands his younger brothers and sons for their cruelty, who undeniably look up to him and respect his opinion. It seems as though he might do a bit more to defend her. The heroine's reaction to all of this alternates between being passive and throwing tantrums. I'm not saying I could have done much better in her situation, but the inconsistencies in her behavior made it hard for me to figure out her feelings. Even after the family accepts her at the end of the novel, there are never any sort of apologies or acknowledgements of their cruel words. I understand this is probably realistic for male/female relations at the time, but in a romance novel, it wasn't very appealing. The subplots centering around her dead sister and the vindictive townspeople isn't really fleshed out, and yet we are expected to understand how it's a major part of the plot and character motivations. In fairness, I guess I can see how other readers might like it, as the romance is halfway fun to watch develop. If I'd been in the mood for a glimpse into the misery of women in the colonial period or for witch trials I actually might have enjoyed the detail and depth of this book. But, expecting a romance, I found myself disappointed. I prefer romances that that make me feel warm at the end, not relieved that it's over...
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