Moon of the Falling Leaves [NOOK Book]

a touching debut novel

I first read Diane Davis White about five years ago, a Gothic novel, and thought she showed great promise. Thus, I was eager to read her first novel. Moon of the Falling Leaves really shows an author coming into her own. There are not a lot of Indian writers out there currently, not many coming along, so it¿s nice to see White drawing on the heritage of her husband to carve out a niche for herself in this genre. It¿s a gentle tale that is sure to please people seeking this category of romance.<BR/><BR/>Set in the late 1800¿s America, Jessica Maxwell¿s life seems to be going from bad to worse. Her feckless husband insisted they could find a new future out west, and sets out on a journey with their four children to find a new home. Instead of a new life, Jessica is left a widow, with the winter coming on in the Rocky Mountains. The situation facing her is one she is not prepared to handle. She and the children are startled by the arrival of a stranger ¿ a Lakota Warrior. <BR/><BR/>Swift Eagle has many reasons to hate the whites, but his visions lead him to the widow and her children. Despite his own pain and resentment, he cannot ignore the images that warn him he must rescue this woman. He intends to honor that, but nothing more, though he soon finds Jessica reaching his heart, a heart he thought he¿d buried long ago. Even so, he feels his growing love is doomed because of the racial differences and barriers of the times.<BR/><BR/>White delivers a strong story, fraught with dangerous, harsh conditions of the periods and the inner turmoils that Swift Eagle and Jessica must overcome. The author draws on the emotions of the characters, makes you care for them. She touches your heart. Quite understandably, I am eager to see this talented author continue to grow with each story, and hope it¿s not too long until her next novel.

7 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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Lovely Western Historical Romance

The story takes place 1870 in the Rocky Mountains. Newly widowed Jessica Maxwell and her four children are surprised and frightened by the appearance of an Indian coming to their campsite. Swift Eagle is a Lakota Warrior coming to their aid because of visions that showed him he must help them. He has no idea why. He likes Whites no better than they like Indians. Since this is a romance, you know that by the end of the story the two will get together, but I admit I wondered if in fact they ever would or could be together. The author takes them all through dark, hard times before any happiness is shown. Historically correct, the issue of marriage between Indian and White was fraught with difficulty as well as danger, and is presented effectively enough that you can¿t see how it could be done. I enjoyed reading how things were managed back then, and found it as interesting as the growing romance. The author captured Swift Eagle in words so well, I felt that I¿d met him. Or it could have been the cover of the book, too! I loved the four children, and each one had their own personality. I liked and respected Jessica, and understood all her decisions. Near the end is a nail biter of a tale, and I had to finish it, to see how it all worked out. By then though, I¿d become so fond of all the characters, I didn¿t want the story to end. The kind of book that when you finish, you¿re smiling, and looking to see if you have another read by this author. I hope there are more books like this in the future from Diane Davis White. I highly recommend Moon of the Falling Leaves.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

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Moon of the Falling Leaves

After receiving a vision, telling him that saving the white woman and her children was important to his destiny, Swift Eagle set out on a journey. It led them through rough country with perils along the way and dangerous enemies who were out to kill and enslave them. Jessica Maxell and Swift Eagle will find forbidden love and their true destiny along the way. Another outstanding book written by author Diane Davis White. Moon Of The Falling Leaves, left me crying a little at the hardship and pain that these characters had to endure. But it also had me laughing and cheering them onwhen they made the little things seem so touching and poignant. Set during a time in America's history when the white man sought riches and gold and the Indians fought for survival amidst hatred and prejudice, this story is about Jessica Maxell and her children. She followed her husband into the wilderness as he sought riches and land. Soon she found herself lost, alone, bone tired, and struggling to keep her kids safe. Swift Eagle is a Shaman who has lived alone with his heart full of hatred and resentment at what his family has suffered at the hands of the white man. But when his vision foretold that he must help Jessica and her children, he stepped up and willingly helped them, despite resentment and puzzlement at why he was led to come to their rescue. Soon all of their lives would be in grave peril as enemies plotted to enslave them, even kill them if necessary. There's also a forbidden love with intense feelings that would soon develop into a love that couldn't be ignored or fought against, no matter how hard they tried to fight it. I truly enjoyed reading this story. The book came alive in my mind's eye as I could picture the characters as they evolved and went through the many trials and heartaches they would endure before finding true happiness. Overall rating: Sensuality rating: Very sensual Reviewer: Margo Arthur July 29, 2008

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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Crave More Romance

Jessica couldn¿t be worse off. Her husband¿s death just three days earlier has left her and her family unprotected against the coming winter with only a destroyed wagon for shelter. So when a handsome Lakota Warrior arrives claiming a vision showed him she would need his help she can only agree and keep a watchful eye on him. Perhaps too watchful she realizes as the tenderness he offers her children and his kindness to her begins to make her feel something other than just mere appreciation toward him. As her time with him grows so do the heated glances between them and she will have to decide if she can risk following what¿s in her heart. The star crossed lovers of Diane Davis White¿s novel MOON OF FALLING LEAVES are the characters romance readers can¿t get enough of. With the mutual distrust forged between the Lakota people and the White¿s the two have enough riding against them from the beginning. Yet somewhere between Swift Eagle¿s kindness towards her children and the unquenchable passions he stirs in her, Jessica finds herself in love. It¿s this ability to not only transport her readers within her novel, but to make them feel connected to her characters that makes Ms. White¿s MOON OF FALLING LEAVES a historical romance readers will be beyond delighted to share with their friends.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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Moon of the Falling Leaves

Alone in the wilderness, Jessica Maxwell finds out just how uncertain life can be when she and her children are stranded on the side of a mountain with winter looming. The Lakota Warrior, Swift Eagle, has discovered his destiny in the flames of a vision that leads him to help this white family. Compassion becomes passion and duty becomes desire when Jessica and Swift Eagle are forced to fight for their love, their survival in the old West. 'Moon of the Falling Leaves' is story of many layers. It is a romance, a story of personal growth, a glimpse into the past, and a wonderful example of `love will prevail.¿ The story takes place in 1870 in the Rocky Mountains. When we first meet the heroine, Jessica Maxwell, she is in a difficult situation. Ms. White does an awesome job creating Jessica. She is a woman that lives by the 1870 rules. And does through the entire story. The character of Jessica is heart warming and sincere. The way she deals with the issues at hand is how a woman of that time would have. I enjoy this¿.I enjoyed reading a historical where the characters very much limited by the time I.e. the social standards. Jessica, however, is not a whinny woman. She accepts what fate has dealt her and moves on. Because of this attitude she doesn¿t become bitter and people find themselves wanting to help her. People that in normal situations would have turned a blind eye. The hero, Swift Eagle, a Lakota Sioux Shaman, hesitates to engage in any thing more than is required of him. He is honest with Jessica that he is simply there because of a vision. Swift Eagle retains this honesty through the story. He never denies his feelings for Jessica but is also frank in that a relationship between an Indian and a White woman is just not possible. In the beginning, Swift Eagle declares he is a man accustomed to a lonely life, without companionship. But after a short time with Jessica and her delightful children he is rethinking that. The story is mainly focused on Jessica, Swift Eagle and her children. Most of the secondary cast isn¿t introduced until the last quarter of the book. Jessica¿s four children are each written with their own personality and role in the story. Grace, Jessica¿s only daughter and third child, is however the most engaging. From sticking her tongue out at the bad guy to asking Swift Eagle if he is going to sleep in bed with her mom like her dad did, Grace adds to the story. Just when I was sure that the biggest road block to the happily ever after ending laid in Jessica and Swift Eagle¿s personal trauma, enter Charlie Hawkins. Hawkins is vile in every sense of the word.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

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A reviewer

Moon Of the Falling Leaves by Diane Davis White Diane Davis White has penned a true story of survival. I really like the Fact that the author uses many Lakota phrases that she translates immediately into English. This story moves very quickly, you love the hero Swift Eagle who, is a Lakota Shaman from the beginning and can immediately empathize with Jessica Maxwell, the heroine who is a white woman. Swift Eagle helps out the Maxwell Family when the father dies leaving the helpless mother and children stranded in the unforgiving Rocky Mountains with what could be a deadly winter looming ahead. How does the little family survive? You will just have to buy this delightful book to find out you will not be disappointed. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

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A great read that you won't be able to put down

I just finished ¿Moon of the Falling Leaves¿ by Diane Davis White, and I am amazed. It is obvious that Ms White did a lot of research for this western novel. To emphasize something in the story, she¿ll use a word from the Lakota Sioux dialog and than transparently fit the explanation into the story. It takes a real talent to accomplish that without breaking the rhythm. ¿Moon of the Falling Leaves¿ is about a widow, Jessica, stranded with four children in the Rocky Mountains, and the Lakota Sioux warrior that finds them. Swift Eagle has many reasons to hate white people, but a dream tells him to befriend the family. He knows a blizzard is imminent so he moves them into an abandoned cabin. Rather than let them starve, he teaches the children and Jessica how to survive. Swift Eagle slowly wins Jessica¿s heart and the devotion of her children, but another dream shows Jessica standing with a white man. Swift Eagle knows he must take her back to her people: their love is not meant to be. When he takes the family to a town, Jessica falls into the hands of unscrupulous people. What will happen to Jessica, her family, and Swift Eagle? You¿ll have to buy the book to find out. This is a very talented writer who can spin words to create an earlier time. She will take you back to 1870 and keep you spellbound the entire novel. Diane weaves personality into her characters until you seem to know them, and the romance between Jessica and Swift Eagle slowly builds to a climax. It takes real talent to write a believable novel about 1870, but Diane White pulls it off without a problem. Can you tell that I really loved this novel?

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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OK Reading

The hero & heroine were not convincing nor intriguing. The story is choppy and repeats verbiage. It is definitely not on par with the Commanche Series by Catherine Anderson. I would not purchase another book from this author unless I was thoroughly convinced I would enjoy it.

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Would recommend this book

THe story was romantic and easy to understand. The characters were not boring, and the story line was interesting.

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Wow! Really Impressive debut novel

I just finished this book, recommended by a friend, and I loved it. A very tender love story, and lots of action, too. The characters are real and I could hardly put the book away. It is a definite keeper.<BR/>I bought 3 for stocking stuffers for my mom and sisters. All I can say is: when is the next book coming out?<BR/>Highly recommended.

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