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Summary: Love goes in all directions
Review: Carole Bellacera's portrait of a model wife and mother gives the reader a journey up and down the east coast of the United States and across the Atlantic Ocean to find the true meaning of love. The heroine Leigh Fallon speaks for many woman facing middle age and trying to keep a stable home for her family even though she is lacking the love and affection of her very distant husband. When Leigh goes on her quest to find love; she loses the love and respect of her children in Virginia and heads to Norway. Although it took time and serious break up her young lover; Leigh does learn a valuable lesson that home is where your heart is. Reading this book was a wonderful experience. I do recommend that you use a Norwegian dictionary to help translate the beautiful words of love that is said to Leigh.
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Summary: Still Trying to Catch my Breath...Beyond 10 Stars...
Review: DO NOT miss this one! This is a classic. I am still trying to catch my breath. Unbelieveable is probably one of the only words that comes close to this masterpiece...
It was filled with complex emotions and real-life experiences. A true rollarcoaster ride. Few books that I can recall have come close to this one's calliber.
A change from the ordinary reads, this one tackles an older woman and younger man affair and the heartbreak and tragedy that it brings.Leigh Fallon must justify why she wants to cheat on her husband of 20 years. Not too hard when she finds out her Congressman husband is less than honest.
Bob Fallon ignores Leigh except to criticize or belittle her. Leigh is helplessly drawn to the twenty-something Norwegian exhange student Erik staying with them for the year.
After finding proof that Bob is spending all his free time with his young and gorgeous secretary on Capitol Hill, Leigh decides to give in to her urges and begins an affair with Erik.
What she doesn't expect is how her normal and tidy life will change so dramtically in so short a time, setting off a domino effect that will end in tragedy, heartbreak, jealousy, courage and love...
The many emotions displayed in this book will leave you mentally exhausted, but smiling with the triumphant end. A beautiful and classic love story that will withstand the test of time... <sigh> A sure keeper....This author is an extremely talented lady... Tracy Talley~@
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Summary: A Story to be Savored
Review: EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON has as many layers as an onion. It is a story to be read, to be considered, and to be savored. As it begins, Kayleigh "Leigh" Fallon is the wife of a Congressman from Ohio and the mother of three terrific children. Her husband neglects her, barely acknowledging her existence and ignoring her personal achievements as his helpmate and as a successful commercial illustrator. Things change for Leigh when the family takes in an exchange student from Norway. He turns out to be a graduate student, older than the traditional exchange student, and a hunk at that. At the beginning, Leigh ignores her attraction to this young man, but after she discovers evidence of her husband's affair, she has a tryst of her own. What begins as a fling becomes a great love which, of course, disrupts Leigh's neatly ordered existence. EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON (which is the title of a famous Norwegian fairy tale, the author explains) details the consequences of their relationship on the lovers, and also on the other people affected by the changes their relationship brings, principally Leigh's children and her lover's family. Like classic literature, the story is complicated, and some incidental characters turn out to have a great impact on the heroine's life. The sex scenes, not insignificantly, are beautifully written, both elegant and passionate. These scenes are plausible and believable in ways that are uncommon in women's fiction. EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON is in the tradition of the classic novels. It is a fascinating tale of one woman's journey to happiness, and it is a great love story as well.
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Summary: I did not want this book to end!
Review: East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon is a fabulous read! Laugh, cry, and rejoice as author Carole Bellacerra takes you on a complex, emotion-packed journey filled with richly drawn, complex characters. Leigh Fallon discovers her long, loyal marriage to her Congressman husband is a sham. Faced with the unsavory truth of his infidelity, Liegh is vulnerable and tattered with the indecision of leaving him because of her teenage children. That is until, Erik, a handsome, hopelessly young Norwegian exchange student reveals the secrets of her soul, bringing out the best in Leigh, and everything she was meant to be. Upon her divorce, everyone in their orbit seems dead set against them, and Erik and Leigh are soon torn asunder. Separated by some very unique life circumstances and surprising plot twists that bring many profound life lessons, along with the agony of unrequited longing, these star-crossed lovers finally reunite in a bitter-sweet summit that will truly tug at your heart. Sigh. . . I did not want it to end. Where's my box of Kleenex?
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Summary: I did not want this book to end!
Review: East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon is a fabulous read! Laugh, cry, and rejoice as author Carole Bellacerra takes you on a complex, emotion-packed journey filled with richly drawn, complex characters. Leigh Fallon discovers her long, loyal marriage to her Congressman husband is a sham. Faced with the unsavory truth of his infidelity, Liegh is vulnerable and tattered with the indecision of leaving him because of her teenage children. That is until, Erik, a handsome, hopelessly young Norwegian exchange student reveals the secrets of her soul, bringing out the best in Leigh, and everything she was meant to be. Upon her divorce, everyone in their orbit seems dead set against them, and Erik and Leigh are soon torn asunder. Separated by some very unique life circumstances and surprising plot twists that bring many profound life lessons, along with the agony of unrequited longing, these star-crossed lovers finally reunite in a bitter-sweet summit that will truly tug at your heart. Sigh. . . I did not want it to end. Where's my box of Kleenex?
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Summary: An Extraordinary Talent, A Beautiful Story
Review: Forty-year-old Leigh Fallon, mother of three and wife to an abusive politician, comes to a crossroads in her life when they agree to host a Norwegian exchange student. Erik Hausland is thirteen years younger than Leigh, nevertheless the two fall in love. Leigh's determination to remain faithful to boorish Bob ends when she discovers condoms in his overnight bag and realizes his feigned impotence is a lie. As Erik and Leigh grow closer, their relationship is exposed and the sham of a marriage ends, but worse is to come when her husband turns their children against her. Leigh follows Erik to Norway and uncovers secrets that will alter the course of their love. Ms. Bellecera paints a vivid picture of a mature woman's grace and beauty, the age-old story of older woman, younger man, and she does it exquisitely against the backdrop of the beautiful Norwegian scenery. This is a rich emotional drama with many twists and turns. Leigh must overcome many trials to reach her happy ending. Pick up this book; you won't be sorry. Very highly recommended.
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Summary: Deeply Emotional
Review: I have a few things in common with other reviewers. I was also contacted by the author to read this book. I was previously unfamiliar with her work but will definitely be a fan and a supporter after reading this. The book was extremely emotionally gripping and I literally could not put it down.
This was not your typical "I love you, I hate you, I love you, now everything is roses and babies" kind of romance. To quote another reviewer, the characters in the book faced "difficult decisions with painful consequences." And there were a lot of them!
Only two things I found unrealistic: Bob's more than willingness to completely blame Kayleigh for their failed marriage. Even though he didn't have to admit it to everyone, he had to feel some guilt knowing that it was partially his fault. The other was the certain members of Erik's family that were scheming against him. I guess I can't imagine people going to such lengths and messing with his life just to cover their own mistakes.
But overall I found the situations and characters very realistic, which is often rare in romances.
Definitely read this book, but only if you're ready to be totally emotionally enveloped.
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Summary: Something Different and Engrossing!
Review: I was another lucky person who received a copy of this book from the author. I had never read one of her books before, and this was a treat. The older woman-younger man affair was challenging to both of the characters and compelling to read. A 40+ heroine who is attractive and interesting is great to find in a romance novel! I hope to read more of this author's books in the future. If you'd like a romance with a little more substance, try this one.
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Summary: Excellent book, HIGHLY recommended!
Review: In the beginning I was a little slow reading this book. It seemed, like some may argue, geared more toward the middle-aged woman. However, the more I read the more it intrigued me and I am only 22. After finishing the first sixty some pages it really grabbed my attention and I finished it on a rainy Sunday!
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Summary: A beautiful love story
Review: Leigh is married to a senior congressman. They have three beautiful children and a fantastic home in Virginia. Yet Leigh is totally miserable. Her husband is always on the run and never has time for her. The little time they spend together is celibate because he's impotent at least with her. Her esteem has sunk to an all time low when a postgraduate exchange student from Denmark stays with them for a year. From the time they set eyes on each other, Leigh and Erik have a red hot molten attraction for one another. Leigh resists going to bed with him until she finds some condoms in her husband's bag. She knows then that he is cheating on her because she had her tubes tied years ago. Thus Leigh and Eric have an affair but have much to overcome, including another woman, if they want to make a life together. Carla Bellacera has written a fabulous relationship drama in which people make bad decisions for the right reasons, a practice that leads to heartache for everyone concerned. EAST OF THE SUN, WEST OF THE MOON is a beautiful love story that will appeal to fans of Belva Plain and Laura van Wormer. Harriet Klausner
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