Rating: 
Summary: very disappointing
Review: I've read several of Ms. Rice's books and this was the one I've liked the least. I'm from a large city but even I couldn't believe that calves were all taken from the cows for slaughter. The information about puppy mills is pretty accurate and very sad but wolves in Wyoming - I don't think so - probably coyettes. There were too many coincidences in this book - especially the finding of the lost child. Everything was tied up very nicely in the end - too nicely. Very predictable for the most part and extremely disappointing. If this had been the first book of her's I'd read it would also have been the last.
Rating: 
Summary: From A Devoted Luanne Rice Fan
Review: It is no surprise to friends from online book groups or readers of my reviews for Luanne Rice's books, that this talented writer is one of my favorite authors. I buy all of her books as soon as they are published and place them on my keeper shelves after I read them. As much as I would like to save her new books for rainy days, I find myself gulping each book down too quickly, always regretting when the book is finished. For some reason, though, I never read Dream Country and found it calling out to me recently saying, "Read me, read me!" While I may never regard this book as one of my very favorite Rice read, I do think that any any Rice book is worhtwhile and this is no exception. And like most of Luanne Rice's books, Dream Country, is filled with a haunting tragedy, regrets for past actions but most of all the abiding love of parents for their children.
Daisy, a jeweler lives in Connecticut with her 16 old daughter, Sage. While she is content with her life and the freidnship and deotion of her sister, there is a deep void in her life which she can never replace. As Daisy create one of a likd pices of art which represnte the strenght of realtionships, she remembers back to the raly days when she visited Wyoming. Seeking the solitude and speactacular sights of thsi arewa, Daisy founds herself meeting and then marrying James Tucker, a rancher with a passion for the land that rivals Daisys. family. The beautiful Wyoming land is also wonderful for Daisy's artistice bent while her love for James has few limits. In time Daisy and James are blessed with twins, Sage and Jake. But then tragedy strikes when the twins are 3 and while James turned his back for a fwe minutes, Jake is nowhere to be seen. And while search parties and family and friends combed the area for months, nwo 13 years later he has never been seen or found dead. Grief stricken Daisy eventually leaves James and the ranch with Sage for her roots on the Connecticut shore. And it is to this area that she continues living, working and raising Sage alone.
Time has passed and Sage is a bright girl who feels as though she is only half of a whole. Although quite young when her brother was found missing and then lost, she still remember the feeling of a family sand a sibling. She also misses her father who refuses to leave the ranch even for a visit with Sage in case Jake is found. Then tragdy strikes again when Daisy finds that Sage has run away from home. Wondering how she could bear it if something happened to Sage, Daisy is besides herself. But It doesn't ake too long before she realizes that Sage is with her boyfriend and most likely they are making their way to her Wyoming and her father. Unfortunately, though, Daisy doesn't know all there is to know about Sage and when her boyfriend returns and Sage continues alone, Daisy knows its time for her to stay at the ranch and wait for her arrival. Daisy's reunion with James, his family and finally Sage and a stanger who picked Sage up on the road will forever change their family and begin healing their difficult past. While the book is rather straight forward there is one element of surprise which even if you figure it out while reading, still has you cheering for these people at the end.
While most of Rice's books are set in the East, this area was a new place for her and I found some of her descriptions intersting. I also know that some reviewers complained that she didn't get things right about ranch life or Wyoming but I am in no position to comment about this since I knwo very little about either. I do know that I really enjoy when her books are set on the Connecticut shore which feels liek home to me too. And I also know that I continue to enjoy Luanne Rice's characters, wisdom and the satisfying resolutions of their lives at the end of her novels.
I continue to look forward to this author's new books as well as rereading favorites like Blue Moon, Home Fires, the Firefly Beach trilogy and The Perfect Summer. This is one reader who has and will always be a most devoted fan of Luanne Rice.
Rating: 
Summary: An absolute marvel.
Review: Luanne Rice is a very talented author, and in this book, her talent shines even stronger than in her other super novels. Daisy and James are a couple who have had their lives shattered when their three year old son, Jake, goes missing. The way in which this has affected their lives is written with intelligence, great emotion, and absolute beauty. Years later, Daisy must return to where it all happened, a place that James has never left because he could not leave his missing son. This time, their sixteen year old daughter is missing, and the heartbreak and terror they feel compares to none. Estranged for years, Daisy and James must nevertheless make a strong effort to appear united, and work through this newest tragedy. With strong undertones of mystic Indian folklore and spirituality, this book will have you turning pages and rooting for characters left and right.
Rating:
Summary: Teriffic mainstream relationship drama
Review: Most people agree that no one can ever truly go home, but events will show that if Daisy want to return she not only can, she can stay.Daisy traveled west many years ago in search of colors that would mesh with the jewelry she creates. When she reached the Wyoming ranch of taciturn James Tucker, she fell in love and they married. Daisy gave birth to fraternal twins, Sage and Jake and everyone knew the foursome would live happily ever after. However, three-year-old Jake disappears while on a round up with his dad. The marriage disintegrated and Daisy accompanied by Sage returned to her home state of Connecticut. For the next thirteen years James fails even to see his daughter once as he keeps his vow to his son to never forsake him dead or alive. Sage feels the pull of her birth state and when she becomes pregnant, journeys to her father's ranch where her parents greet her. The adventures of the Tucker crew have just begun. Luanne Rice always tells a strong story about what happens in life when bad things happen to good people. This novel is character driven with heroes and villains that feel as if they come from the real world. Ms. Rice has a talent for hiding her heroes and villains from her audience. The poignant plot requires a handy tissue box as Ms. Rice leaves the reader needing tissues. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: That's all I have to say. She really pulled off this topic...which is hard to do. Get it today!
Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: That's all I have to say. She really pulled off this topic...which is hard to do. Get it today!
Rating: 
Summary: East ain't West
Review: The story line kept me entertained throughout my long plane ride East and then back here to Texas. But I kept finding myself annoyed at all the mystical claptrap. Magic Jewelry. Thanking the sky. Lots of American Indian mysticism. If you believe it and it makes you feel good this book will be right down your alley. I, like another reader, found it very annoying that she felt it was unimportant to get her facts straight about ranch life. There was this two ton steer(!) herded, no doubt by the Sheltie stockdog! So I flipped to the back of the book and found she spends her time in New York City - and Lyme, Connecticut! Yippie Yi Yo, yuppie. Must have watched a lot of Bonanza and Big Valley. Brass hinges on horse stalls. Well, maybe there are brass hinges on W's ranch, but most ranchers I know have got a lot of things to do besides polish brass. James and Daisy galloping a valuable cutting horse and a very old horse through two feet of snow with a crust on top - just fer fun! I also found inexcusable her description of a psychotic dog with Daisy getting down on the floor, staring her in the eyes and trying to touch her toy. This dog would have done one of two things: peed on the floor and run screaming off, or more likely given her a nasty bite because she was terrified. Oh yeah I forgot about the magic. Wish I had some. I rescue abused dogs. Before I forget: dairy farms are no less cruel than ranches and they can be far worse. What does Ms. Rice think happens to all those little bull calves, unneeded heffers and cows whose milk production has dropped on dairy farms? Cows are bred every year to keep milk production high. Calves are separated from their mothers shortly after birth and they are generally hand fed, until they are picked up by the meat packer (for veal). Most 'calves' shipped off ranches are nearly full grown and have spent their babyhood hanging out on the rangeland and drinking mother's milk. Ms. Rice goes ranching: The rancher rises early, polishes his brass hinges, gallops out on his best cutting horse - in two feet of snow, Sheltie stock-dog close on his heels, to begin his day of building a trusting relationship with his two-ton steers. It is irksome when authors don't do some research if they are out of their depth. This book would have gotten more stars had she cleaned up her ranch mythology, oh and lost the magic nonsense.
Rating:
Summary: negative
Review: This book is not factual! I really cannot handle people who write books about places they have only visited and do not know the reality of the area. Stock dogs are not "shelties" and in Wyoming you do not hear thunder in a snowstorm in October! This book has a good plot but PLEASE, let's stick to the facts. I'm from Montana so I am familiar with Wyoming ranches, weather, etc.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read, Definately turned me on to the author
Review: This is a beautiful, albeit predictable, novel by Luanne Rice. The story again has some moments for which it is hard not to know what's coming, but there are just enough twists that you can't help but second guess yourself even when the most obvious possiblity is right before your eyes.
The aspect of the novel that I truly enjoyed was Luanne Rice's ability to have two parallel plots without losing anything inbetween. The story reads very well, and very quickly. I read this book in about a day and half. A fantastic read, if for nothing else, simply to introduce yourself the this fairly unknown author. She's wonderful. I can't wait to pick up her next book!
Rating:
Summary: Best Book I've Ever Read!
Review: This is one of the greatest page turners that I have ever read! I really had a hard time putting this book down!! If you love a happy ending you will really love this book!!!!
|
