Embrace the Day

by Susan Wiggs

The author of The Mist and the Magic presents a sweeping saga of a passionate frontier family. Filled with dreams of a better life, 17-year-old Genevieve Elliot makes the perilous journey from England to colonial Virginia, where she and handsome frontiersman Roarke Adair tame the savage wilderness and survive the sorrows of war to make a home.

Genres: Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Susan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org) She's been featured in the national media, including NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.

According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.

The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.

Reviews

[Misfit · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Genevieve Elliot finds herself married by proxy to an older businessman in Virginia, and she's on the same ship with her very good friend who's been married off to Roarke Adair, who has no idea she's got a bun in the oven. This is way too complicated to try and explain, just go with the flow. Genevieve finds herself a widow before she's truly a wife, and she's inherited all of his debts. The rest of the first half covers Genevieve's efforts to work the little plot of land she does have, pay off her creditor, and that takes precedence over everything else, including her strong attraction to the recently widowed Roarke. The latter half of the book carries into the next generation as Adair family strikes out for a fresh life in Kentucky.

Yes, there's more to it than that, but I have other books to read and other things to do today, so I'm cutting this review short. The story begins just prior to the Revolutionary war through the early 1800s. An enjoyable read, but not earth shattering, and despite the romancy looking covers this book would be better classified as historical fiction.

[ANGELIA · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started reading this, I wasn't sure I was going to like it. I sure was wrong! This family aga novel would have made a great TV miniseries, too bad that never happened! There are many characters, and they sure go through a lot! Everyone with a HEA really had to earn it! You won't always agree with the things they do or decisions they make, but one thing's for sure, you'll never get bored!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved!!!! Have already ready twice. Will read again

[Jena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good as usual but this book seemed more historical fiction than romance, although of course there is a H/h and a love story.