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"White delivers a strong story"
I first read Diane Davis White about five years ago, a Gothic novella, and thought she showed great promise. Thus, I was eager to read her first novel. Moon of the Falling Leaves really shows an author coming into her own. There are not a lot of Indian writers out there currently, not many coming along, so it's nice to see White drawing on the heritage of her husband to carve out a niche for herself in this genre. It's a gentle tale that is sure to please people seeking this category of romance.
Set in the late 1800's America, Jessica Maxwell's life seems to be going from bad to worse. Her feckless husband insisted they could find a new future out west, and sets out on a journey with their four children to find a new home. Instead of a new life, Jessica is left a widow, with the winter coming on in the Rocky Mountains. The situation facing her is one she is not prepared to handle. She and the children are startled by the arrival of a stranger - a Lakota Warrior.
Swift Eagle has many reasons to hate the whites, but his visions lead him to the widow and her children. Despite his own pain and resentment, he cannot ignore the images that warn him he must rescue this woman. He intends to honor that, but nothing more, though he soon finds Jessica reaching his heart, a heart he thought he'd buried long ago. Even so, he feels his growing love is doomed because of the racial differences and barriers of the times.
White delivers a strong story, fraught with dangerous, harsh conditions of the periods and the inner turmoils that Swift Eagle and Jessica must overcome. The author draws on the emotions of the characters, makes you care for them. She touches your heart. Quite understandably, I am eager to see this talented author continue to grow with each story, and hope it's not too long until her next novel.
Reviewed by Deborah Macgillivray
Posted October 19, 2008
Knight's Fork by Rowena Cherry
My review rating: 5 of 5 stars
KNIGHT'S FORK - A FEAST FOR THE SENSES
Rowena Cherry has delivered yet another wonderful story. Her prose is delicious, giving you a visual of every scene just as though you were there. With all senses engaged, the reader finds he or she cannot stop turning pages.
Electra-Djerroldina is delectable, but she's married. Will Djarrhett, the Saurian Knight and presumed heir to the Dragon's throne, realize he loves her in time to save them both from the mechanisms of his father and his cousin, Tarrant-Arragon?
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series so far, and hope Ms. Cherry has more books planned for it. In the tradition of Forced Mate and Insufficient Mating Material, Knight's Fork has the flavor and essence of well-turned phraseology, intriguing plot and vibrant characters. I consider this a must read!
Diane Davis White Author, Moon of the Falling Leaves
Crave More Romance
Sunday, September 21, 2008 Sensational Sunday
Hey all! I gotta tell you about a great Romance Anthology I read recently. It's called
Love On a Harley, and it's full of hotties on
Harleys. My favorite story though was by Diane Davis White, called
The Man Rides a Harley.
Susannah can't figure out how she let her sister, Samantha, talk her into riding in some silly parade. She's never ridden on a Harley before and she doesn't even know the guy to whom she's desperately clinging. Susannah can't wait to get away from Duke and his less than desirable personality, especially after she humiliates herself while riding on the back of his bike. However, rather than dropping her off at her car as she anticipated, Duke takes Susannah to his parents place.
Unbeknownst to Susannah there's a reason her sister asked he

r to ride with Duke. Duke is well aware of the trouble Susannah is in, and Samantha knows Duke can help. After spending time with Susannah, Duke is pretty sure Samantha was out to do some matchmaking as well, and his parents seem to agree. Duke knows he get Susannah out of the scrape she's in, and he has a feeling falling for her won't be such a bad idea after all.
The Man Rides a Harley is a great, sweet, quick story. The chemistry between Susannah and Duke is immediately obvious to everyone but them. Despite their initial resistence to each other, their feelings are so strong, you know it's gonna last. Be sure to check out this fun story from Diane Davis White and all the other great stories, from some truly lovely authors in Love On a Harley.
Posted by HeatherMarie at 6:06 PM
The Invasion of Falgannon Isle by
Deborah MacGillivray
rating: 5 of 5 stars
Romance and Laughter. A Grand Read!
This is a light hearted romp that covers all the bases. From The Cat Dudley’s antics to those of the slightly eccentric, though lovable bachelors who occupy Falgannon Island, this book is guaranteed to delight you. Take two-hundred and thirteen love-starved bachelors on an island cursed against love, add one determined and beautiful woman, who owns that island, and toss in a wildly independent and discriminating cat and you have a recipe for great fun. Oh yes, don’t forget to stir in one green-eyed, black-haired Irishman with a determination to own the island that’s nearly as strong as his determination to have the woman who is the current owner, and you have the icing on the cake!
Deborah MacGillivray has written a special tale with her usual magic touch.
This story had me either laughing or crying, or both. Non-stop fun and giggles, wound through with romantic touches guaranteed to delight the most discerning reader. A must read!
View all my reviews.
Moon Of The Falling LeavesDiane Davis White
Historical romance
ISBN: 9780980035605May 2008
After receiving a vision, telling him that saving the white woman and her children was important to his destiny, Swift Eagle set out on a journey. It led them through rough country with perils along the way and dangerous enemies who were out to kill and enslave them. Jessica Maxell and Swift Eagle will find forbidden love and their true destiny along the way.
Another outstanding book written by author Diane Davis White. Moon Of The Falling Leaves, left me crying a little at the hardship and pain that these characters had to endure. But it also had me laughing and cheering them on when they made the little things seem so touching and poignant. Set during a time in America's history when the white man sought riches and gold and the Indians fought for survival amidst hatred and prejudice, this story is about Jessica Maxell and her children. She followed her husband into the wilderness as he sought riches and land. Soon she found herself lost, alone, bone tired, and struggling to keep her kids safe. Swift Eagle is a Shaman who has lived alone with his heart full of hatred and resentment at what his family has suffered at the hands of the white man. But when his vision foretold that he must help Jessica and her children, he stepped up and willingly helped them, despite resentment and puzzlement at why he was led to come to their rescue. Soon all of their lives would be in grave peril as enemies plotted to enslave them, even kill them if necessary. There's also a forbidden love with intense feelings that would soon develop into a love that couldn't be ignored or fought against, no matter how hard they tried to fight it. I truly enjoyed reading this story. The book came alive in my mind's eye as I could picture the characters as they evolved and went through the many trials and heartaches they would endure before finding true happiness.
Overall rating: Sensuality rating: Very sensual
Reviewer: Margo Arthur
July 29, 2008
For Romance Lovers EverywhereToday, July 25, 2008, 7 hours ago noreply@blogger.com (Kerensa)
MOON OF FALLING LEAVESBy Diane Davis White
9780980035605
Jessica couldn’t be worse off. Her husband’s death just three days earlier has left her and her family unprotected against the coming winter with only a destroyed wagon for shelter. So when a handsome Lakota Warrior arrives claiming a vision showed him she would need his help she can only agree and keep a watchful eye on him. Perhaps too watchful she realizes as the tenderness he offers her children and his kindness to her begins to make her feel something other than just mere appreciation toward him. As her time with him grows so do the heated glances between them and she will have to decide if she can risk following what’s in her heart.
The star crossed lovers of Diane Davis White’s novel MOON OF FALLING LEAVES are the characters romance readers can’t get enough of. With the mutual distrust forged between the Lakota people and the White’s the two have enough riding against them from the beginning. Yet somewhere between Swift Eagle’s kindness towards her children and the unquenchable passions he stirs in her, Jessica finds herself in love. It’s this ability to not only transport her readers within her novel, but to make them feel connected to her characters that makes Ms. White’s MOON OF FALLING LEAVES a historical romance readers will be beyond delighted to share with their friends.
Reviews for Long and Short Romantic Fiction, One
"Happy Ever After" at a Time
Alone in the wilderness, Jessica Maxwell finds out just how uncertain life can be when she and her children are stranded on the side of a mountain with winter looming.
The Lakota Warrior, Swift Eagle, has discovered his destiny in the flames of a vision that leads him to help this white family.
Compassion becomes passion and duty becomes desire when Jessica and Swift Eagle are forced to fight for their love, their survival in the old West.
"Moon of the Falling Leaves" is story of many layers. It is a romance, a story of personal growth, a glimpse into the past, and a wonderful example of ‘love will prevail.’ The story takes place in 1870 in the Rocky Mountains.
When we first meet the heroine, Jessica Maxwell, she is in a difficult situation. Ms. White does an awesome job creating Jessica. She is a woman that lives by the 1870 rules. And does through the entire story. The character of Jessica is heart warming and sincere. The way she deals with the issues at hand is how a woman of that time would have. I enjoy this….I enjoyed reading a historical where the characters very much limited by the time I.e. the social standards. Jessica, however, is not a whinny woman. She accepts what fate has dealt her and moves on. Because of this attitude she doesn’t become bitter and people find themselves wanting to help her. People that in normal situations would have turned a blind eye.
The hero, Swift Eagle, a Lakota Sioux Shaman, hesitates to engage in any thing more than is required of him. He is honest with Jessica that he is simply there because of a vision. Swift Eagle retains this honesty through the story. He never denies his feelings for Jessica but is also frank in that a relationship between an Indian and a White woman is just not possible. In the beginning, Swift Eagle declares he is a man accustomed to a lonely life, without companionship. But after a short time with Jessica and her delightful children he is rethinking that.
The story is mainly focused on Jessica, Swift Eagle and her children. Most of the secondary cast isn’t introduced until the last quarter of the book. Jessica’s four children are each written with their own personality and role in the story. Grace, Jessica’s only daughter and third child, is however the most engaging. From sticking her tongue out at the bad guy to asking Swift Eagle if he is going to sleep in bed with her mom like her dad did, Grace adds to the story. Just when I was sure that the biggest road block to the happily ever after ending laid in Jessica and Swift Eagle’s personal trauma, enter Charlie Hawkins. Hawkins is vile in every sense of the word.
"Moon of the Falling Leaves" is definitely a five book story. I would challenge any reader not to find Jessica endearing, feel a deep sadness for Swift Eagle, smile for Grace, and feel contempt for Charlie Hawkins. It was a story that kept returning to my thoughts as all glad love stories should.
Book Rating: 5 Books, 5 Cups, 5 everything!
I just finished “Moon of the Falling Leaves” by Diane Davis White, and I am amazed. It is obvious that Ms White did a lot of research for this western novel. To emphasize something in the story, she’ll use a word from the Lakota Sioux dialog and then transparently fit the explanation into the story. It takes a real talent to accomplish that without breaking the rhythm.
“Moon of the Falling Leaves” is about a widow, Jessica, stranded with four children in the Rocky Mountains, and the Lakota Sioux warrior that finds them. Swift Eagle has many reasons to hate white people, but a dream tells him to befriend the family. He knows a blizzard is imminent so he moves them into an abandoned cabin. Rather than let them starve, he teaches the children and Jessica how to survive.
Swift Eagle slowly wins Jessica’s heart and the devotion of her children, but another dream shows Jessica standing with a white man. Swift Eagle knows he must take her back to her people: their love is not meant to be. When he takes the family to a town, Jessica falls into the hands of unscrupulous people. What will happen to Jessica, her family, and Swift Eagle? You’ll have to buy the book to find out.
This is a very talented writer who can spin words to create an earlier time. She will take you back to 1870 and keep you spellbound the entire novel. Diane weaves personality into her characters until you seem to know them, and the romance between Jessica and Swift Eagle slowly builds to a climax
It takes real talent to write a believable novel about 1870, but Diane White pulls it off without a problem. Can you tell that I really loved this novel?
Jo Webnar - Author
Saving Tampa & Twilight
http://www.jowebnar.com/
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Inverness is a little bit dull but of course with the Highlands on its doorstep, it's definitely worth visiting. My fiance's parents live near Loch Ness - a very romantic location.
Stephanie
Very excited. I can't wait to get my bearings.
It's nice to meet you.
Welcome to the network.
Merry Christmas!