Customer Reviews

When the Splendor Falls

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It saddens me that Laurie McBain's books are no longer in print. I HAVE THEM ALL, but I'm always checking to see if there is another I've missed. The characters in "When The Splendor Falls", touch your heart, make you laugh, make you cry. Leigh and Neil are "soul mates", that will make you believe in the endurance of love. With the exception of the "Moonstruck Madness" Series, this was my favorite!!!

Don't let the cheesy cover and generic title fool you. (Although, given the time when it was published, the cover is actually quite tasteful.) This is not your average bodice-ripper, this is a great story. It is a standout in the romance genre. There's action, adventure, history, romance, and a little mystery. Like Forest Gump in the 18th century, our characters experience the civil war and the resulting migration to the west. There are plenty of soldiers, cowboys, Indians, and horses. "When Splendor Falls" has all the ingredients of a great American story. No one writes this type of romance anymore, certainly not as well as Ms. McBain. It's historically accurate and the characters are believable for the period in which they live.

The story is about Neil Braedon, who is a great non-hero destined for Miss Leigh Travers of Travers Hill. Before he can claim Leigh, he must serve in the Civil War, on the opposite side of Leigh Traver's brothers and his own cousins while Leigh struggles to hold her family's plantation and surviving members together. Neil and Leigh meet before and during the last stages of the Civil War and through Neil; Leigh embarks on a journey to a ranch in New Mexico and once there finds the freedom she was denied as a young woman in the old South. The story is skillfully plotted and the characters and historical events evolve naturally. The background description of the southern plantations and Mexican influence on western ranches make the story rich and colorful.

Some compare Laurie McBain with Kathleen Woodiwiss, but I would compare her to Diana Gabaldon, who wrote the Outlander series or Penelope Williamson, who wrote "Hearts of the West." I recommend this book and also "Tears of Gold" by Laurie McBain. Both books chronicle--so well-- the American legends and history that we've grown up with through the eyes of young women.

I hesitate to write glowingly about a book that is out of print, but maybe this will stimulate interest and the publisher will reprint.

I 1st read this book a long time ago and I think it's one of the better ones out there that people may not know about because it's no longer in print. There's not a lot of sex in it, but there's definitely a very sweet romance and strong characters. In other words, the heroine is not some ditzy girl. She has spirit, dignity, but she is portrayed as beautiful inside as well as outside. Another aspect that makes this a good story is the sense of history; it is set in to civil war, but not just the history of the time, but also the continuity of the families in the book, all the siblings, etc. of the Travers and the Braedons. The bottom line is, it is a well-written, sweet story, without all the sordid trashy stuff in a lot of modern novels, which I personally do not like.

I loved this book. It was the first Laurie Mcbain book I read, and I quickly bought up every other book she has written - beyond question, she is my favorite historical romance author.

It is [wonderfully] long, and [beautifully] detailed, and the initial few pages contain quite a long conversation (it can be difficult to follow who is speaking) but I thought it perfectly set the tone of this idyllic time before the war - and gives a great deal of information about the characters you will soon love - and lose. I thought it was funny that there was a list of characters, with descriptions, at the beginning of the book - then found myself returning to that list over and over.

The whole book - just so wonderful. Find a copy and read it - you will not be disappointed.

I so wish that Laurie would write again!

I haven't read any of her other books, YET, but this is the most heart wrenching love story I have ever read, it not only involves two people, but two families! I LOVE this book!

It is a long story but it is a good love story. Since I have already read the book many times, I do skip the beginning pages when I re-read the book. It is a bit detailed in the beginning but it sets up the characters for a new reader. It is worth more than .01 .. it's worth at least as much as today's prices if not more. The story takes the main characters through the civil war and than to the west with a bit of mystery. One of my all time favorite writers .. I have two copies of this book (in case I lose one)! Her other books are good too .. try Tears of Gold and Moonstruck Madness.

Does that cover scream sex on every page, or what? Don't let that scare you, 'cause there's a whole lot more to it than that.

Virginia, 1860. Life at Travers Hill is still idyllic and genteel, as it has been for generations. Leigh Travers is young, beautiful, spirited, rides horses like the wind (well the family does breed the best), the darling of her family and plans to wed the *right man* just as soon as her father gives permission. Everything seems just perfect until one day Neil Braeden walks into her life - although when they first meet he looks more like a trapper from out west and not one of the Braedons of neighboring Royal Bay Manor. Since he was the younger brother with nothing to inherit, Neil's father carved out his own empire in New Mexico territory, although it came with a high price when young Neil and his sister were captured by the Comanches. Neil takes one look at the beauteous Leigh and he knows she's the one for him, but that little ol' mix-up when they first meet isn't easily surmounted, and there's a whole lot of grief and misunderstandings our pair have to get through before any chance of them getting a HEA.

This book is pretty much broken down into three parts, the first being a very detailed look at southern life in the period prior to the Civil War and setting up the back history and Leigh and Neil's big meet. The second part covers the effects of the war and the mind numbing casualties on the Travers and Braeden families as Leigh is the glue who holds the family together and keeps the household running. The last third of the book brings Leigh to Neil's home in New Mexico as they are caught up in their ongoing Big Misunderstanding, a mystery or two, a revenge minded former mistress and a seriously nutty conspiracy that should have been left on the editor's floor.

I really really enjoyed the first two-thirds of this book and had a hard time putting it down. Leigh and Neil were a very engaging pair with a lot of chemistry, but be warned - despite what the cover might indicate you aren't going to have page after page of mind numbing sex. It is well after page 100 that you'll get your first searing kiss and a darned long time until the next one. One thing the potential reader needs to know going into this one - this book was published in the 1980's when everything was big - hair, make-up, shoulder pads, soap operas - and books were no exception. There are a lot of details of day-to-day life, especially at the beginning as McBain goes to considerable effort showing the reader the daily life of a well-bred genteel southern family (skim if you have to). There also a lot of characters at the beginning, almost too many, but that list is whittled down considerably in part two so just go with the flow and refer back to the list at the front of the book when needed. This was a solid four star read until things fell apart a bit with that silly and ever so convoluted conspiracy at the end and I'm knocking off 1/2 star for that. 3.5/5 stars and definitely a recommended read for lovers of the old school romances.

When the Splendor Falls is easily one of the top novels in this genre -- and if you want to add historical fiction to the list, too -- that I've had the great pleasure to read. Laurie McBain's characters are so well defined and written that the reader quickly gets swept into the storyline. If you have ever read and enjoyed Gone with the Wind, you will certainly be delighted with When the Splendor Falls. McBain has a keen sense of humor and a smooth, descriptive style that lets the reader picture the story as it unfolds. There is romance involved, but not a lot of descriptive sex. I first read this book about 20 years ago when it came out and it still stands out as one of the most memorable stories revolving around the Civil War era/American West that I've come across.

What a great pity Laurie McBain stopped writing!! I've tried to find out why but the only conjecture is that her father helped her with the research and when he passed away, she lost the desire to continue. Whenever her books came out, I didn't even crack the cover before going right to the checkout to get her latest. If you want a full, hearty, well-developed story and love a good love story, this book will delight. I've read all of McBain's books--all are excellent--and this is my personal favorite. After you read this one, chances are pretty good you'll track down all her other novels, too.

I have read this book more than 10 times. The story and the plot is a great one(and I am a black woman). I usually start in the middle since I know the beginning and it is a little long on details. The story really starts to move once the war starts. It really shows that no matter what tradgey in life has come our way, we can deal with it and move forward with strength.

Great characters and a great time. We loved the heros and the supporting ones who made this a book to read again and again