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Magnolia Creek |
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Author:
Jill Marie Landis
By Ballantine Books
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: $4.99
Our Price: $17.60
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Product Description
On the eve of the Civil War, Sara Collier marries the dashing Dru Talbot, just before he rides off to join the Confederate army. But fate cuts short their chance for happiness when Dru dies tragically on the battlefield. As a widow, Sara rises above her grief, refusing to mourn her life away. But one wrong choice made with an open heart takes her away from her hometown–and challenges Sara in ways she never could have imagined. Though she returns to Magnolia Creek an outcast, the sorrow in her life makes her stronger.
A year after the war’s end, battle-scarred surgeon Dru Talbot surprises everyone when he returns home, clinging to the dream of starting life over with his bride. Yet nothing could have prepared Dru for the truth that awaits him in Magnolia Creek.
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 Forgiveness , 2005-02-11
plays a huge part in this book as well as love and families. I loved Lou, Sara and the baby. Some characters could have and should have had a stronger voice, but overall this story of love and "betrayal" was enjoyable. As another viewer said I really didn't see what the big deal is. If someone is said to be dead, are you supposed to wait around for them? Sort of like in the movie Pearl Harbor.
I have enjoyed a few books from this author and look forward to more!
Not as good as some of her others, 2005-01-04
I find with Jill Marie Landis that it's either hit or miss, I loved "Blue Moon" and "After All", but some of her others I simply couldn't get into. "Magnolia Creek" fell somewhere in the middle.
This is a story set in the Civil War, where Dru and Sara were married for a very short time when Dru went off to war as a doctor. When he returned - years later - he found Sara back home - with a child that was not his. This story deals with how Dru and Sara handle this and are able to get over it.
Just one problem - when Sara explained her side of the story, I simply did not see that there was a problem at all. From where I sit, Sara did not do anything really wrong, maybe only a small lapse of judgment, and from then on I found Dru's reaction not-understandable. It's one thing when he walked in and was hit in the head with it - so to speak - quite another when he gets the explanation and still reacts like she did something terrible - well, Dru did not come across as my favorite hero, at all.
And Sara as the heroine was not too much better either. Okay, she's a pretty nice person, and a good person, but she does some small, but stupid things in this novel that make me like her alot less. First, there is all this stuff about her grandaddy's charms. I have no problem with charms, and I'm sure her grandaddy helped alot of people, and in those days charms were probably almost as good as real medicine - almost, but not quite. She herself explains how the charms work - the placebo effect, so to speak.
but she IS married to a doctor - you'd think she'd have a little bit of respect for his profession - even if she really DID think her charms worked better than his medicine (doubtful) - have a little respect for your husband, please? If I go to a doctor, and the doctor examines me and gives me a prescription to follow, and on the way out the nurse whispers to me - take this herb, it'll work - how long do you think the nurse will be working for that doctor? And if that person would be his wife - well, I don't know about you, but I would be wondering about the state of their marriage, wouldn't you? And this is supposed to be a romance novel.
Jill Marie Landis has her formula - she writes decently, with a strong emphasis on emotional depth, in which she explores her characters - why they do things, how they feel as they are doing it, etc. Sometimes this formula works for me, sometimes it doesn't. I suspect this has to do with how much I like the h/h - in a character driven novel, this is essential. And I just couldn't like these two characters that much.
I would rate this only an average read, that's how it was for me.
actually more of a 3+/ 4-......, 2004-09-21
Although Landis is not a favorite author of mine I favor civil war era stories so gave this one a chance. The plot was very unique. Frankly I never gave a thought to what the returning soldiers would find at home....especially given the years it took some of them to regain their health, freedom and get home. This surely put that in perspective. The characters were very realistic and quite wonderful. Landis makes her meaningful points very subtly throughout the book with the various relationships and issues that arise. I rated this less than a 5 only because our heroine is a backwoods gal, much like 'Tammy" in the old movies and the author put too much emphasis on the 'voodoo charm witches brew' medicine of that backwoods culture. Although it didn't take much away from the story itself, I just found it distracting. Sarah herself was everything a heroine should be with a great deal of perseverence, heart and courage. Although our hero, Dru, eventually comes to care for her little daughter, lissybeth, it is barely noticeable to the reader. You have to look for it and I think that precious little girl deserved more than a token
acceptance. A better than average book for sure.........not one I would read a 2nd time so not for my keeper shelf but it may be for yours.
FANTASTIC, 2004-04-15
I love books by Lavyra Spencer (sp) and have read them all. She stopped writing books and I was CRUSHED. UNTIL I found Jill Marie Landis. Ms. Landis is a great romantic writer!!! I'm really tired of poor girls falling in love with spoiled dukes and princes. This is like real people! YEAH, Keep those books coming!!
Attention getting, 2003-07-11
Don't tell me this scenario didn't happen in history! In fact, I've heard old Civil War songs about the men coming home and finding a strange baby in the house and they hadn't been home in years. So this was great to have it enacted and not to have to pity or imagine it! :)
Just a very interesting story played out well til the end.
A doctor, hard bitten from the War, finally arrives home after all these years and finds his wife has also just returned, with a strangers baby in her arms. The slaves have gone and his innocent sister has had to turn self sufficient.
Theres a lot the story plays on besides romance---yellow fever, war issues, that I was surprised and delighted to find in a romance. It kept me guessing until the end as to the resolution of the young lovers. And the ending is sad. But its unusual to find well written womens civil war stories. Besides Gone With the Wind itself, I recommend this and Ann McMillan's Civil War mysteries.
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780345478870
ISBN: 0345478878
Label: Ballantine Books
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 416
Publication Date: 2004-07-27
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Release Date: 2004-07-27
Studio: Ballantine Books |
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