"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
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