Rating: Summary: One of the best Review: And I don't say that lightly. I didn't care much for The Bequest, and September Moon was a dud, but Candice Proctor struck gold with Whispers of Heaven. It's everything a romance is supposed to be, and I can't find a single flaw in the entire novel. The writing is perfect. Dialogue is realistic. The characterization is thorough. Historical detail is convincing and seems accurate (and if it's not, who cares, I'm not reading the book for a history lesson). Here are some of the highlights:Jesmond and Lucas make sense together. He doesn't look at her and fall in love for no particular reason, and she's got a lot more to love about him than just his good looks. I really believed these two people couldn't help falling in love. Genuine tension. The lovers aren't held apart by some flimsy psychological excuse, like the heroine's fear of intimacy, or the hero's inability to trust. Their affair is dangerous and there is no doubt they are risking it all, maybe even their lives, to be together. I was on the edge of my seat worrying about what would happen if they were found out (which, of course, was inevitable), and I'm very happy to say that I didn't know what would happen until it happened. I was thrilled with the ending, which was both satisfying and *different.* Unique characters and plot. Lucas most of all. His suffering is so real, his predicament so painful and frightening, that it provides a brilliant contrast to the love story, which, in turn, is especially vivid against this background of fear and doubt. As anyone who has been in love knows, it is equal parts pain, longing, and ecstasy, and this book provides all three in very satisfying proportion.
Rating: Summary: One of the best Review: And I don't say that lightly. I didn't care much for The Bequest, and September Moon was a dud, but Candice Proctor struck gold with Whispers of Heaven. It's everything a romance is supposed to be, and I can't find a single flaw in the entire novel. The writing is perfect. Dialogue is realistic. The characterization is thorough. Historical detail is convincing and seems accurate (and if it's not, who cares, I'm not reading the book for a history lesson). Here are some of the highlights: Jesmond and Lucas make sense together. He doesn't look at her and fall in love for no particular reason, and she's got a lot more to love about him than just his good looks. I really believed these two people couldn't help falling in love. Genuine tension. The lovers aren't held apart by some flimsy psychological excuse, like the heroine's fear of intimacy, or the hero's inability to trust. Their affair is dangerous and there is no doubt they are risking it all, maybe even their lives, to be together. I was on the edge of my seat worrying about what would happen if they were found out (which, of course, was inevitable), and I'm very happy to say that I didn't know what would happen until it happened. I was thrilled with the ending, which was both satisfying and *different.* Unique characters and plot. Lucas most of all. His suffering is so real, his predicament so painful and frightening, that it provides a brilliant contrast to the love story, which, in turn, is especially vivid against this background of fear and doubt. As anyone who has been in love knows, it is equal parts pain, longing, and ecstasy, and this book provides all three in very satisfying proportion.
Rating: Summary: An original and reeshing omance Review: In 1840, after spending two years overseas studying geology, Jesmond Corbett returns home to Tasmania. Jesmond is determined to please her snobbish elitist mother Beatrice by marrying her fiance, wealthy aristocrat Harrington Tate. Her brother Warwick salivates over the stallion she brought back for him, but quickly learns the hard way that Finnegan's Luck throws its rider. The government men work on the Corbett estate paying for their crimes to society. A government man, Lucas Gallagher catches Finnegan's Luck when the horse tries to escape. Warwick awards him by moving Lucas to the stables where he meets Jesmond a lot since she enjoys riding. Soon Lucas and Jesmond fall in love, but society would never accept a relationship between a convict and a lady. WHISPERS OF HEAVEN provides readers with an interesting look at Australian society in 1840, which makes for a fresh story line due to the unique setting. At the same time that the plot provides an intriguing look into the past Down Under, the details lead to a slow moving tale. Still, the main characters, including the siblings, are fully developed and each one represents a segment of society. Candice Proctor is a talented author. Harriet Klausner
Rating: Summary: A very poignant love story Review: Set in 1840 Tasmania, Australia. Lucas Gallagher is an Irishman condemned to the penal colonies of Australia for life. He has already spent 4 tough years as a convict in Tasmania, first working on the chain gangs and now assigned to work as a groom on the Corbett estate. Jesmond Corbett, a young debutant born in Australia to English parents, has jsut returned to Tasmania after studying in a ladies college for two years in England. She is promised to her neighbour and childhood friend, the very proper Harrison Tate but finds herself being drawn to the courageous and heroic Lucas Gallagher. The attraction is mutual but they both know that any union between the two could be dangerous for Lucas and that there could be no future for a convict and a lady. This was a beautiful doomed love story that tugs at the heartstrings. It's not a frivolous historical romance as with many of the genre but there is a hard edge to the story when you learn about a convict's life in a harsh environment. There is mention of rape and even child abuse in this novel, which may be sound shocking but realistic to the situation. I personally do not like my escapism romance novels to tackle unpleasant issues such as child abuse or rape but I suppose the author must have included the chapters to make this a truly realistic portrayal of life in 1840s Australia. A very serious read of a poignant love story, set in a very believable historical period and surroundings. Lealing
Rating: Summary: Another Masterpiece From Proctor Review: This book is another brilliant and haunting romance from Candice Proctor. I'm an avid reader - from various genres, to literary fiction, to nonfiction. I can honestly say that I have rarely - outside of classic literature - encountered an author whose work stays with me the way Candice Proctor's does. After I finished this book, I immediately went back and re-read key passages. The characters stayed in my mind and in my heart. Much of Proctor's strength comes from the rich historical detail (she recreates a time and place so effectively that I almost feel as if I'm there). But even more important is her insight into the human condition. Her ability to explore the universal need for love and validation alongside of the brutalities of which man is capable makes her a real "thinking" person's romance author. She's a master of the genre.
Rating: Summary: A flawless romance Review: This book just gave me a romance story at its best! An unforgetable tale of true love between an aristocrat and a convict that seemed to be another one of those thousands poor boy-rich girl stories surprisingly turned out to be one of the most unique and impressive story I've ever read in years. The author made a great job choosing Tasmania as the location which made the book even more unique and interesting(the fact that I'm an ozzy has nothing to do with the rating, though). Being a romance reader for a long time, I realized it's hard to find a book that I could read without being irritated by one of disturbing formulars I hate in romantic fictions. I hate the book with too typical, too simple plot or characters that, soon after I finished, it easily faded away from my memory or mixxed up with the books I'd read earlier. I hate when the hero and heroine fought each other to death until the very end of the book which often left me unsatisfied. I hate when the hero and heroine tried too hard to hide and ignore their true feelings but unable to control their lusts. I hate when the hero and heroine misunderstood each other just because they jumped to a ridiculous conclusion based on their tendency to think the worst. I hate when the author used miracles or unbelievable coincidences to creat a happy ending that reminded me of those fairytails I used to enjoy when I was a kid. Believe me, this book has none of these problems. Moreover, the story and the author's writing style were so powerfully touching I felt exactly what the characters'd felt throughout the book. The author also did a great job creating the hero, Lucas was very uniquely attractive tortured hero who can easily capture your heart. Hightly recommended! I was very glad to find another book that worth reading and keeping. I bought this book because of the interesting book description at the back cover and its beautiful front cover without any knowledge about the author, now I'm eager to read more of her books.
Rating: Summary: PROFOUNDLY HEART-WRENCHING! Review: Upon her return to her home in Tasmania, Jesmond Corbett was resigned to marrying her fiance, Harrison Tate, as arranged by her family. Since she had no other expectations, she also had no objections, that was, until Lucas Gallagher entered her life. From the first moment, she was keenly drawn to this convict who worked at her homestead. Slowly she realised that she could not keep her promise to marry Harrison Tate, a man who would expect his wife to conform to his strict code of conduct, not when her stolen moments with Lucas were like whispers of heaven. Jessie (Jesmond) was a deeply compassionate, tender hearted and unconventional girl whose love for Lucas threatened to destroy her family's reputation and Jessie found herself on the brink of a decision that would bring about drastic impact on all those she loved. Whispers Of Heaven is beautifully written and although the ending is a foregone conclusion, it is the mounting tension that grips the reader as the story draws to a close.
Rating: Summary: Finally, a book to captivate Review: What I loved about this book is that it was well researched and none of the characters were unbelievable. Ms. Proctor does a wonderful job of keeping the momentum moving and the characers developing. This is a wonderful book to read on a summer afternoon. Highly recommend it.
Rating: Summary: Finally, a book to captivate Review: What I loved about this book is that it was well researched and none of the characters were unbelievable. Ms. Proctor does a wonderful job of keeping the momentum moving and the characers developing. This is a wonderful book to read on a summer afternoon. Highly recommend it.
Rating: Summary: A winner! Review: When was the last time a story really tugged at your heartstrings? Well, this one will. The story of Lucas, a convict on the island of Tasmania and Jesmond, a proper English lady, will make you a believer in true love. The obstacles they face together is woven into a remarkable tale of courage. Ms. Proctor is truly a remarkable talent and I look forward to reading anything she has to offer.
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