The Endearment

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Summary: A Mail Order Bride Finds Romance in the l9th Century!
Review: A young woman responsible for a younger brother agrees to become a mail-order bride and they travel West. The relationship between her groom to be and herself becomes a series of adventures with conflict and twists and turns. Will they fall in love? Will her secret be revealed? An interesting read from my favorite romance author.
Evelyn Horan - teacher, counselor, author
Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl Books One - Three

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Summary: Redemption at its best!
Review: Anna and Karl are so real - it seems impossible they are fiction. Somehow, I feel that their essence lives on. Lyvyrle's descriptive writing of the flora and fauna, people, feelings, and, best of all, their growing love story lingers and lingers...truly evidence of the mark of truth. I find myself wondering how those two are doing...I am sure I will reread this book at a later time. I wish Lyvyrle would reconsider her retirement from writing--'cause her readers are mighty unhappy about it! Fortunately, I still have a stack of her books to read; maybe she will rescend her retirement before I am done. Otherwise, we're gonna have to ask Oprah to look for another Lyvyrle, should one exist!

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Summary: One of her best
Review: How could you help but sympathize with the characters in this story? Very human, very true.

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Summary: Has made my list of all time favorites....
Review: How one could find this boring, I have no clue...I guess everyone is different because I was ABSOLUTELY SWEPT AWAY by "The Endearment". I could not put this book down..I was addicted to it from page one. I LOVED Karl and Anna. I adored the way he talked to her..how he called her "Onnuh"...yes he angered me at times, but oh!!! Have I mentioned how much I LOVED this??!!! The lovesecenes were so emotional and sweet..not a hint of purple prose in sight. Karl and Anna were so unsure and in need of one another my heart was practically splitting in two just imagining them. This is one of those stories where I walked away in disbelief that the characters were not actually real people. I cannot say enough about this book..I would DEFINITELY recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Has made my list of all time favorites....
Review: How one could find this boring, I have no clue...I guess everyone is different because I was ABSOLUTELY SWEPT AWAY by "The Endearment". I could not put this book down..I was addicted to it from page one. I LOVED Karl and Anna. I adored the way he talked to her..how he called her "Onnuh"...yes he angered me at times, but oh!!! Have I mentioned how much I LOVED this??!!! The lovesecenes were so emotional and sweet..not a hint of purple prose in sight. Karl and Anna were so unsure and in need of one another my heart was practically splitting in two just imagining them. This is one of those stories where I walked away in disbelief that the characters were not actually real people. I cannot say enough about this book..I would DEFINITELY recommend it.

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Summary: If you're not a historical romance fan, try this anyway!
Review: I didn't think I'd like historical romance, but this book changed my mind. The detail of life on the American frontier was fascinating. I truly think the author painted a realistic picture of what mail-order marriages were like at that time, with all the uncertainty early on, and the courtship that had to begin after the couple was already wed. The characters are so complex and have so much conflict, I think this book has much potential for a sequel. I wish Ms. Spencer would come back from retirement and write more about Karl!

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Summary: A wonderful, touching love story
Review: I have read almost all of LaVyrle Spencer's books, and have decided that this is my absolute favorite! I loved the period detail, the love story between Karl and Anna and the growing relationship between James and Karl. I ached for both Karl and Anna by turns: he, when he learned Anna's secret and she when she yearned for reconciliation. LaVyrle Spencer combines humor, sensivity and setting to write a fabulous novel! I just wish she hadn't retired! Oh, well.

Rating:
Summary: Overall, it was okay.
Review: I heard about how this novel shed a few tears from some friends of mine who had read it, so I decided to read "The Endearment". I liked how the reader got a chance to read about the characters' needs and own struggles, but, agreeing with another reviewer, it really was boring. I understood how great Anna and Karl loved each other, but, man, I'm glad I didn't buy this novel. Otherwise, it would just sit on my bookshelf till kingdom come because of the boredom the novel gives off.

Rating:
Summary: Overall, it was okay.
Review: I heard about how this novel shed a few tears from some friends of mine who had read it, so I decided to read "The Endearment". I liked how the reader got a chance to read about the characters' needs and own struggles, but, agreeing with another reviewer, it really was boring. I understood how great Anna and Karl loved each other, but, man, I'm glad I didn't buy this novel. Otherwise, it would just sit on my bookshelf till kingdom come because of the boredom the novel gives off.

Rating:
Summary: OK Love Story
Review: I love Lavyrle Spencer as an author but I however found this book a bit dragging. I feel there was too much description on how to chop this or harness this. I couldn't grow to like Ann because from the beginning she was a liar. Granted, I do understand why she lied but nonetheless she is still a liar. And the fact that she didn't like bathing turned me off. Karl was just a big oaf to me with all his YAs. He almost seemed too perfect to me. I won't be re-reading this book.