Rating: 
Summary: Romance at its finest
Review: I have just finished "On Bear Mountain" and feel again close to Mrs. Smith...her words empower me and I come away with good feelings and know I have learned more about mankind. I don't want to compare this to "A Place to Call Home" (the first book of hers I read, and nothing compares to that!). But I did purchase this because of how moved I was with "A Place". "On Bear Mountain" will enlighten you, satisfy you and more importantly make you thirsty for more Deborah Smith novels! You will not be disappointed here. I wish it had never ended.
Rating: 
Summary: A STORY WITH PURE HEART
Review: I have read a number of other books by Ms. Smith and have enjoyed them. This one just took the number one spot as my favorite of her works. While I agree that the "voice" in this story often changes too quickly and can be confusing, that flaw is easy to overlook when compared to the creativity and deeply moving story. Whenever a writer forces the reader to feel, think and touch a personal spiritual well, how can we criticize her for an editorial error in putting the ending as the very first chapter? I agree with others that was a mistake. However, it did not ruin the book for me--there was too much power and depth. I couldn't put it down!
Rating:
Summary: Developed Characters
Review: I really enjoyed this book. Finally Deborah Smith fully develops both main characters. The motivations behind each character are clearly and realistically presented. Their inner conflicts are believable with a sensitive handling of family issues. Smith does a nice job of relating how different backgrounds can bring people to the same spot. I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: I don't get it
Review: I really wanted to like this book. I've read other books by this author and I was truely looking forward to seeing what all the hype was about. However, I was greatly disappointed. The book was good until the leading characters actually met. The meeting counldn't have been more contrived-a tornado that just destroyed her barn and nothing else-no one ever mentioning it afterward. I was even disturbed by the hero's handling of a autistic man. Just 'act like a man'. Why didn't we think of this before? Autistic, kissing cousins who are made for each other because of Mickey and Minnie Mouse shirts-who can gather black bears and drive them around town. And let's not talk about how the hero is shot, at which point I literally dropped the book and groaned.
Again, the book started off good when the characters were in their own element, but when the two met, I was left scratching my head and wondering what the heck happened.
Rating:
Summary: I don't get it
Review: I really wanted to like this book. I've read other books by this author and I was truely looking forward to seeing what all the hype was about. However, I was greatly disappointed. The book was good until the leading characters actually met. The meeting counldn't have been more contrived-a tornado that just destroyed her barn and nothing else-no one ever mentioning it afterward. I was even disturbed by the hero's handling of a autistic man. Just 'act like a man'. Why didn't we think of this before? Autistic, kissing cousins who are made for each other because of Mickey and Minnie Mouse shirts-who can gather black bears and drive them around town. And let's not talk about how the hero is shot, at which point I literally dropped the book and groaned.
Again, the book started off good when the characters were in their own element, but when the two met, I was left scratching my head and wondering what the heck happened.
Rating:
Summary: Bear With Me
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was not a story to hurridly skim through. It took some deep thought and visualization, especially to picture the bear. ...[And]the gun firing accidently ...I belive it can and does happen more than we know. For instance kids that play with guns and they go off...I was amazed to see people criticize this story and not even get the names right. The hero was Quentin, not Richard, that was his dad the original sculpter.
Rating:
Summary: She just keeps getting better!
Review: I've read every one of Deborah Smith's books. They just keep getting better! I picked up "On Bear Mountain" yesterday afternoon and finished it last night, putting it down only long enough to fix another cup of tea. My eyes are still puffy from shedding some tears, but my spirit is invigorated.There are few authors who can bring readers to Kleenex and laughter in equal measure. Smith skillfully builds complex and colorful characters who expose the frailties and powerful strengths of the human spirit. In this generation, she is the finest chronicler of a disappearing race, the hill people of North Georgia. As I read "On Bear Mountain," childhood memories flashed through my mind. The poultry trucks that slowed our school bus and the quiet poverty of children who worked beside their parents in the tar paper covered "coops" of 100,000 chickens vividly reappeared. I felt again the gentle dignity of people who had few worldly riches but vast fortunes of character and determination. Thank you for keeping the spirit alive.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Deborah Smith - Wonderful!!
Review: Like her other books, On Bear Mountain was hard to put down! I can't say enough about her style of writing. The way she writes, the language, the laughs and the tears..... wow. My favorite is still A Place To Call Home. On Bear Mountain only comes in second because it ended too quickly! I'm a sucker for a happy ending, and it seemed that Ursula and Quentin no sooner got together and the story ended. I am in no way a writer, though, so I'll leave it to Ms. Smith who kept me entertained throughout the story. I agree with one of the previous reviews - if only she could write faster!!!
Rating:
Summary: A strange bear scuplture captures the heart of many
Review: My grandmother recommended this book to me and when I finally picked it up, I couldn't put it down. The novel has two stories. In one, a scupltor struggles with his career and family and is comissioned to build a bear out of scrap metal for a small southern town. The second story details how the bear scuplture divides the town into those who love it and those who hate it. One man in particular is moved by the sculpture and it becomes a symbol of his family. Years later, the scupltor's son comes to claim the bear from the man's daughter meet. The result is tension, small-town gossip, and eventually some romance. This story is very unique, full of interesting characters. It is a nice, deep story in contrast to the many light-hearted Bridget Jones novels that are so popular today.
Rating:
Summary: A strange bear scuplture captures the heart of many
Review: My grandmother recommended this book to me and when I finally picked it up, I couldn't put it down. The novel has two stories. In one, a scupltor struggles with his career and family and is comissioned to build a bear out of scrap metal for a small southern town. The second story details how the bear scuplture divides the town into those who love it and those who hate it. One man in particular is moved by the sculpture and it becomes a symbol of his family. Years later, the scupltor's son comes to claim the bear from the man's daughter meet. The result is tension, small-town gossip, and eventually some romance. This story is very unique, full of interesting characters. It is a nice, deep story in contrast to the many light-hearted Bridget Jones novels that are so popular today.
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