By: Eugenia Price
Rating: ★★☆☆☆
Series: Savannah Quartet (#1)
Summary: The only home he has ever wanted is a place he has never been-the place of his mother's birth...and of his father's remembered dreams.
From the deck of the schooner, a young man of privilege watched Savannah emerge on the horizon that fateful day in the spring of 1812, never imagining it held secrets to both his past and future. That the burgeoning Southern port would be so intricately tied to his own expanding fortune. that there he would become involved in the intrigue of war...and torn between his love for two women. That in Savannah he would ultimately learn the measure of his own courage and worth.
Once again Eugenia Price blends historical observation with masterful storytelling in a bountiful novel that sweeps readers into the passions and splendor of nineteenth century Georgia.
Review: There is only one home he’s wanted-the place of his mother’s birth...and of his father’s forgotten dreams.The young man of privilege watched Savannah emerge on the horizon that fateful spring day in 1812, never imagining that it would hold secrets to both his past and future. He never expected that the burgeoning Southern port would hold such a close connection to his own fortune. His love for two women would put him at the center of war’s intrigue... and he would experience a deep conflict between them. As a result, he learned the measure of his own strength and courage in Savannah.
There is no way to describe how bland this book was. Despite its many elements, it lacks any technical skill or characterization that makes reading enjoyable. Imagine eating a fancy dinner with no seasoning. The potential was so great! Instead, it is unremarkable and tasteless.
Here, there is no character depth at all. There is no growth or change in people. It is almost impossible to find anyone with internal conflict, competing desires, or acting in a “human” way. And the way they talk to each other’s faces! The story is even unbelievable for the era in which it’s set! It’s almost as if an artificial intelligence or alien had received a description of how people interact and then made their best attempt to imitate it.
The book is also too long and repetitive. There is a constant repetition of the same description of people. After page 500, I no longer need to be reminded about how handsome and kind Mark is. Yes, I am aware of that. You’ve been telling me that since page one. Stop. The book also has an odd structure for being so long. On a single page, the reader can skip through two years of a character’s life in the course of a single chapter. Editing would have really helped.
Although this book is part of a series, after finishing it, I have no desire to read any more. The plot was predictable, and the characters were bland. The writing was uninspired, and the dialogue was dull. Overall, the book was a disappointment.