Let me begin by saying that I do agree with the description Goodreads has provided. A more thorny love triangle I have never seen or heard of, and there is almost more drama, deception, and jealousy in this book than I can bear. Oh, and there are many spirituals truths. I know, that last one didn't quite seem to fit, did it? But it's true, even though those little gems seemed to be buried under everything I didn't like about the book.To put it simply, this story irked me. Yet the whole time I was reading it there was this inexplicable draw.It starts off interesting enough. The parallel to the bible story is obvious. Jamie finds himself in trouble at home. After stealing his brother's blessing with the support of his mother, he begins to fear for his life. He may now be the one to inherit Glentrool, but what good is that to him if he ends up dead by his brother's hands? It was a good beginning, but I found myself anxious to get to the drama of the story, when Jamie meets Leana and Rose(Leah and Rachel's counterparts).Boy, if I had known... (Some minor spoilers ahead?)With his brother after him, Jamie flees to home of his Uncle Lachlan, hoping to gain a wife during his stay. He's immediately attracted to the beautiful Rose that he barely even gives Leana, the tender compassionate mother hen, a second glance. Cue the love triangle.Because Rose doesn't want to get married. She's fifteen years old for Pete's sake! So she and her sister agree that Leana must be the one to win the man.I'm trying not to be too spoilery, but it's really very hard. In short, our characters are very, very fickle. There is lying, backstabbing, and deceit. A lot of the characters' actions were utterly despicable. Lachlan especially, but Jamie bothered me the most. His actions were innocent, yet so cruel. He's attracted to Rose, but he leads Leana on so many times it's no wonder she thinks him to be in love with her.These characters take marriage so lightly. And divorce to be a perfectly acceptable thing! Yes, I realize this is a retelling of the Old Testament story, but these people are Christians! So why don't they act like it? This book is classified as Biblical Fiction. It reads more like a soap opera.I really hate to be so harsh. Despite all of this, I DO feel sympathy for the characters(except Lachlan). It wasn't easy for any of them.And I'll be completely honest--I read this book in one day. One day. I had to put it down and pick it back up several times, but it was extremely well written. I don't know of another story that has made me FEEL so much. Hence the extra star. I liked the ending, though I hate how it twists the original story. The whole thing just left a bad taste in my mouth, and I won't be reading the next one, however much I want to know what happens next.Content: Mature themes; mentions of the intimacy between man and wifeOriginally posted at The Scribbling Sprite
Well, I read this 400 and something page book in two days, so that says something about it. But I won't say it's the best book I've ever read. I described it to my mom as "pitiful." Sad... pitiful. I've never felt so sorry for a character. I loved the Scottish culture-- as I always do-- and Higgs definitely knew what she was talking about, which was nice. The main male character, Jamie, irked me incessantly. I felt like spitting in his face and calling him a lustful jerk. Of course he just went after the beautiful, younger sister and ignored the adoring, quite, plain sister who clearly loved him with all her heart. I realized after I read it why it felt so familiar, though: It is based on the tale of Rachael and Leah from the Bible. I can't believe I didn't realize it as I read! All the names started with the same letters as the people in the Biblical story. There was a very strong religious element in it, and it was treacherous and kind of bizarre. I don't suggest it to anyone who wants a fluffy romance to read because you will not be satisfied. In my opinion, it never did really end happily.
Do You like book Thorn In My Heart (2003)?
I absolutely loved this book. Set in 18th century Scotland, I couldn't imagine a more romantic setting for a novel. As the plot unfolded, I discovered this was a modern retelling of Jacob in the Bible and of Leah and Rachel. By the time I finished the book, I came to realize this is Leah's story. Higgs does a remarkable job of putting us in Leah's shoes, in situations that quite possibly could have existed in the original. I adored the Scottish vernacular everywhere throughout the dialogue and the narration. I could easily imitate that Scottish brogue from Higgs' writing. I thoroughly enjoyed the countryside descriptions and travels through Lowlands Scotland. I loooooooove her prose. It is so authentically period to the time. It feels extremely Jane Austenian, but Scottish. I can't say enough good about this book. Sure, the plot is stolen from the Bible, but even in the Bible this story is all told quickly and unceremoniously. It's wonderful to be able to anticipate and wait with the characters--unbearably so--just as they would have really had to. A beautiful, beautiful tale that I anticipate reading again and again.
—Ruth
I wondered how Liz Curtis Higgs was going to manage to adapt the story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel to 18th century Scotland and she pulled it off beautifully! This book was a slow starter for me, I'm not sure why. It's beautifully written and eventful from the first page. I think it was just that I had a lot going on and not much time to read. It finally grabbed me not quite halfway through and I couldn't put it down! Definitely a heartwrencher. The characters are so vividly portrayed you really feel like you know them and the descriptions of life in 1788-89 Scotland make you feel like you're really there! I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy!
—Kara
This book was such a disappointment. I read it closely on the heels of Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar (a book that I was pleasantly surprised by), so as another retelling of a well-read biblical story, I was expecting to enjoy this one as well. Not so. The stories of Jacob and Esau, Rachel and Leah are not the happiest stories to begin with, but I really felt the author of this book took far to many liberties changing the actual base story. Instead of caring for any of them, I left with a bad taste for ALL of them. The writing style was good enough, but I found the story a poorly twisted version of the real story.
—Sheri
