A review by suze_1624
Where My Love Lies Dreaming by Christopher Hawthorne Moss
5.0
I did really love this book. It is an historical romance and just ticked a lot of boxes for me.
I received the book from the author in a competition on Elisa Rolle's blog so it wasn't one I had gone out and chosen, so you always start these with a bit of trepidaion - will I like or not?
I like historical books when they get me wanting to know more about the times and events portrayed. As a Brit, American history was not covered in detail during my long ago short stint at school, so I found the portrayals of the civil war interesting, covering areas I had not really come across before. And the rather decadent times pre war on the steamboats was intrigingly written too.
The romance between Frankie - debonair, devil-may-care riverboat owner, card sharp - and Johnny - uptight, straight-laced son of German immigrants - was very good. Very emotional, showing how the first impressions of a person do not always hold true and how adversity can change a person.
The descriptions of New Orleans pre and during the war were vivid without being preachy, giving me a good image of how it would be. The war wasn't covered in detail but concentrated on how Frankie and Johnny, High and Mick survived the period.
There is a reference to a future sequel at the end - that will be bought and devoured!
I received the book from the author in a competition on Elisa Rolle's blog so it wasn't one I had gone out and chosen, so you always start these with a bit of trepidaion - will I like or not?
I like historical books when they get me wanting to know more about the times and events portrayed. As a Brit, American history was not covered in detail during my long ago short stint at school, so I found the portrayals of the civil war interesting, covering areas I had not really come across before. And the rather decadent times pre war on the steamboats was intrigingly written too.
The romance between Frankie - debonair, devil-may-care riverboat owner, card sharp - and Johnny - uptight, straight-laced son of German immigrants - was very good. Very emotional, showing how the first impressions of a person do not always hold true and how adversity can change a person.
The descriptions of New Orleans pre and during the war were vivid without being preachy, giving me a good image of how it would be. The war wasn't covered in detail but concentrated on how Frankie and Johnny, High and Mick survived the period.
There is a reference to a future sequel at the end - that will be bought and devoured!