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The Outer Edge of Heaven
Montana truly is heavenly. Especially those handsome cowboys.
Her parents want a clout wielding attorney. She just wants to teach kindergarten. When her “all-powerful” parents actually choose her future husband, -a divorce lawyer named Elroy, Charlie opts out and heads for Big Sky Country to work on a sprawling ranch in the heart of the Montana Rockies. Filled with colorful characters of all kinds, a horse of her own, and one extremely attractive rancher, it makes for a summer never to be forgotten.
Once again, Jaclyn M. Hawkes spins a tale filled with a deft mix of humor, romance, and tension that will leave you wishing that she’d kept on writing.
Her parents want a clout wielding attorney. She just wants to teach kindergarten. When her “all-powerful” parents actually choose her future husband, -a divorce lawyer named Elroy, Charlie opts out and heads for Big Sky Country to work on a sprawling ranch in the heart of the Montana Rockies. Filled with colorful characters of all kinds, a horse of her own, and one extremely attractive rancher, it makes for a summer never to be forgotten.
Once again, Jaclyn M. Hawkes spins a tale filled with a deft mix of humor, romance, and tension that will leave you wishing that she’d kept on writing.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2011
35 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
About the author
Jaclyn M. Hawkes
14 books94 followersJaclyn M. Hawkes grew up in Utah with 6 sisters, 4 brothers and a large number of pets. (It was never boring!)
She got a bachelor’s degree, had a career, and traveled extensively before settling down to her life’s work of being the mother of four magnificent and sometimes challenging children. She loves shellfish, the out of doors, the youth, and hearing her children laugh.
She and her fine husband, their family, and their sometimes very large pets, now live in a mountain valley in northern Utah, where it smells like heaven and kids still move sprinkler pipe.
She got a bachelor’s degree, had a career, and traveled extensively before settling down to her life’s work of being the mother of four magnificent and sometimes challenging children. She loves shellfish, the out of doors, the youth, and hearing her children laugh.
She and her fine husband, their family, and their sometimes very large pets, now live in a mountain valley in northern Utah, where it smells like heaven and kids still move sprinkler pipe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
November 4, 2017
I really liked this one. It was a little slow to start but man it was an emotional ride. A well crafted story.
January 19, 2013
This was a super cute story and would have given it 4 stars but holy cow, there were soooo many editing errors. There were a few times I had to re-read a few sentences because it was such poor grammer. Run-on sentences & choppy - If this was edited extensively it would be really good.
Moral Note: Some infedelity & baby outside of marriage, a stalker, nothing too graphic.
Moral Note: Some infedelity & baby outside of marriage, a stalker, nothing too graphic.
April 17, 2013
This was a surprisingly amazing book. Small town books don't always have great quality and maybe I was a little but bias because the story hit home but this was a wonderful, wonderful, uplifting book.
February 7, 2022
There is something about the setting and story that made so much more lifelike and real. The madness in taking of siblings is relatable. As well as most everything else in the book.
December 31, 2017
A True Love Story
I can't believe how much I love this book. It warms my heart to read a very good book. It had enough turns to make me wonder how was the bad guy. I read enough to guess how is bad but not this time. I will save it & read it again later on. I will be looking for a nother book by her. Try \& see for yourself. Happy Reading. 🎆🎆🙌🙌
I can't believe how much I love this book. It warms my heart to read a very good book. It had enough turns to make me wonder how was the bad guy. I read enough to guess how is bad but not this time. I will save it & read it again later on. I will be looking for a nother book by her. Try \& see for yourself. Happy Reading. 🎆🎆🙌🙌
July 1, 2021
Just as it says, its a love story. some tension too .
August 4, 2016
Charlie has just graduated from college with honors and is bound for law school in Fall, but can't talk herself into heading home to Connecticut over Summer break. Her mother being a high powered career woman has already lined Charlie up with the perfect divorce attorney and seems to have their future planned. Charlie is less than thrilled to face her pushy parents and decides instead to go with her best friend Fo to work on a ranch in Montana. She's got just a few months of freedom left before Mommy dearest takes over. What Charlie isn't expecting when she arrives in Montana is the breath taking scenery which includes Fo's handsome cousin Luke Langston. But Luke is engaged to be married and Charlie has to work to overcome her blossoming feelings toward the hard working down to earth man. She's also asked to nanny Luke's dysfunctional family including his annoyingly self assured brother Chase. Charlie will find her self fighting off unwanted advances from Chase and one more sinister staff member who brings a sense of danger to her otherwise peacefully perfect summer.
In this clean romance, Jaclyn M. Hawkes shows the power of enduring friendship, trusting in one's gut and following your own path instead of one set up by another. There is plenty of action between three small toddlers, a baby pig, and a crime waiting to be committed. The author teaches the importance of fidelity in marriage, following through with commitments, avoiding drugs and working hard. Not to mention, she rolls in the perfect romance including a cowboy for our modern day. I loved Outer Edge of Heaven and would recommend it to all readers. Grab a pack of oreos and some milk then head out onto your porch with this one!
Content: some minor violence including attempted assault of a female and a few gunshots. Teenage marijuana use which is strictly handled and punished. No swearing or sex.
About the Author: Jaclyn M. Hawkes grew up in Utah with 6 sisters, 4 brothers and any number of pets. (It was never boring!) She got a bachelor’s degree, had a career and traveled extensively before settling down to her life’s work of being the mother of four magnificent and sometimes challenging children. She loves shellfish, the out of doors, the youth and hearing her children laugh. She and her fine husband, their family, and their sometimes very large pets, now live in a mountain valley in northern Utah, where it smells like heaven and kids still move sprinkler pipe. Visit her blog at http://jaclynmhawkes.blogspot.com/
In this clean romance, Jaclyn M. Hawkes shows the power of enduring friendship, trusting in one's gut and following your own path instead of one set up by another. There is plenty of action between three small toddlers, a baby pig, and a crime waiting to be committed. The author teaches the importance of fidelity in marriage, following through with commitments, avoiding drugs and working hard. Not to mention, she rolls in the perfect romance including a cowboy for our modern day. I loved Outer Edge of Heaven and would recommend it to all readers. Grab a pack of oreos and some milk then head out onto your porch with this one!
Content: some minor violence including attempted assault of a female and a few gunshots. Teenage marijuana use which is strictly handled and punished. No swearing or sex.
About the Author: Jaclyn M. Hawkes grew up in Utah with 6 sisters, 4 brothers and any number of pets. (It was never boring!) She got a bachelor’s degree, had a career and traveled extensively before settling down to her life’s work of being the mother of four magnificent and sometimes challenging children. She loves shellfish, the out of doors, the youth and hearing her children laugh. She and her fine husband, their family, and their sometimes very large pets, now live in a mountain valley in northern Utah, where it smells like heaven and kids still move sprinkler pipe. Visit her blog at http://jaclynmhawkes.blogspot.com/
February 4, 2017
I enjoyed this book, even though some parts were distracting (some editing, some references).
It is definitely written for an LDS audience, although the themes and situations are common to everyone.
I like Jaclyn Hawkes's writing, and will read her again.
It is definitely written for an LDS audience, although the themes and situations are common to everyone.
I like Jaclyn Hawkes's writing, and will read her again.
November 11, 2013
This story had some enjoyable moments but it also had several severe problems that were so annoying that they made it impossible for me to enjoy the book. First, there was no character development since there were no characters--merely cartoons. Everybody was one-dimensional--either all perfect or a total loser, except for the main Character Charlie. In Charlie's case the author attempted to make her two-dimensional but succeeded only in giving her a Dual Personality Disorder. There was Perfect Smart Charlie who could do everything and was so wise beyond her years that she could fix everybody and everything and Earthworm Dumb Charlie who could not manage even the simple adult communication skills with her parents and almost-fiance. There was no way to justify the incongruous extremes and she may as well have been two different characters with two different names. Next, the author violates the "show us don't tell us" rule by telling us that Charlie is funny, but the dialogue is so lacking in clever and witty that most of the "funny" comments are neither and would only rate a "huh?" At one point everybody "laughs uproariously" at something Charlie said that was so garbled that any laughter would have been limited to nervous titters. The character of Chase was too ridiculous to make sense in any known universe and did not work for this story in anything but the most harmful fashion, and how stupid is a nickname like Fo--since when is being faux supposed to be a good thing? Next, that whole Taco Rocket thing was too dumb for words. Edit it all out, please (and Chase while you are at it.)The name itself was unbearably stupid and although there was one place where she explained the idiotic nickname, the explanation was too idiotic to salvage this stupidity. Really, Charlie was supposed to have enough money to afford a fleet of cars, and maybe it is okay to have a junker in the city where you can catch a bus or cab--but to attempt a trip from Salt Lake City to the Montana wilderness in a car that keeps dying is too dumb for even Earthworm Dumb Charlie, if not just plain suicidal. Love your old car? Then park it in a rental space and rent or buy something dependable for a road trip. Duh. I never could get Tyree's obsession with raping repulsive, obnoxious Charlie--strangling her, maybe, rape, never.This is one seriously, seriously poorly executed novel.
July 25, 2016
Attempt #2 for this author. This booked flowed better than The Most Important Catch, and the author seems to be making progress, but this was still rough in a lot of places. And pretty preachy, frankly. Even being of the same religion as Ms. Hawkes, I struggled. Shirtless cowboys & slinky nightgowns on returned missionaries, thrown right in with church meetings, and Ms Hawkes personal beliefs about stay at home moms, working moms and city life.
It was a cute premise. It reminded me of Montana Summer, which I loved! But this felt less believable, and while I enjoyed the story at times, it was still painfully awkward in others. And there was still quite a bit of telling instead of showing.
Multiple aspects just didn't jive - her super controlling parents, but Charlie's ability to "fix everything" without much effort. An obnoxious, conceited, lazy older brother who is always trying to sneak up on her and never gets kicked out of the house. The amazing uncle who is tolerating his drinking, philandering, mostly-absent wife. A creepy ranch hand who sneaks past an extra security detail, manages to procure a key to Charlie's cottage (which was described as being lavish, or some other nonsense adjective for a working ranch setting) and is stalking her, even though he's already been arrested once. And why was he out on bail in less than 48 hours anyway? Luke's random stalker, who only rears her beautiful head once for a short time. A son who has no idea that his father is going to leave the entire ranch to him, then closets himself with said father for hours and hours and hours after learning about all the troubles going on; including his younger brother smoking pot. I could go on and on, but instead I'm going to go to bed.
I know there are people who love this book and this author. I'm just thinking she's not a great fit for me.
Very Clean - No language. No swearing. One very cute kissing in the pantry scene, but not a lot more.
It was a cute premise. It reminded me of Montana Summer, which I loved! But this felt less believable, and while I enjoyed the story at times, it was still painfully awkward in others. And there was still quite a bit of telling instead of showing.
Multiple aspects just didn't jive - her super controlling parents, but Charlie's ability to "fix everything" without much effort. An obnoxious, conceited, lazy older brother who is always trying to sneak up on her and never gets kicked out of the house. The amazing uncle who is tolerating his drinking, philandering, mostly-absent wife. A creepy ranch hand who sneaks past an extra security detail, manages to procure a key to Charlie's cottage (which was described as being lavish, or some other nonsense adjective for a working ranch setting) and is stalking her, even though he's already been arrested once. And why was he out on bail in less than 48 hours anyway? Luke's random stalker, who only rears her beautiful head once for a short time. A son who has no idea that his father is going to leave the entire ranch to him, then closets himself with said father for hours and hours and hours after learning about all the troubles going on; including his younger brother smoking pot. I could go on and on, but instead I'm going to go to bed.
I know there are people who love this book and this author. I'm just thinking she's not a great fit for me.
Very Clean - No language. No swearing. One very cute kissing in the pantry scene, but not a lot more.
April 21, 2014
4 STARS
I liked the plot of this story. The humor was funny. The characters were likeable and still had faults and good points.
Charlie goes with her best friend Fo to work at his family ranch in Montana instead of going home after she graduates from collage and standing up for what she wants against her parents. Fo's relatives are surprised when his best friend since he was young is actually a girl.
Charlie wants to be a teacher someday. She is smart, talented, strong except when facing her parents. They want her to be a lawyer and have picked out her future husband Elroy. She is single and does not plan to marry a divorce lawyer her parents have chosen for her.
Luke is running his family ranch helping his father. He is surprised to find Charlie is a girl. He has to figure out where he can put her. He really says they need help with the children. Luke is engaged to be married.
Jamie is 2 years old and cute sounding little boy.
Evie and Elsa are four and five years old
Tuckett is 14 years old
Chase is the oldest. He works out a lot and chases the girls. He does as little as he can.
Chase and Luke's mother died. Tuckett's mother left his father when he was only 6. Richard's third marriage is not happy.
Charlie is strong and makes a difference with everyone. Stepping into help with the little ones. Just like Luke asked for help. If only she can stand up to her parents.
These characters have real problems that a lot of people are facing. Dealing with moral problems, stalkers, teens smoking, unwed pregnancy.
I like reading Jaclyn M. Hawkes books and will continue reading them.
I liked the plot of this story. The humor was funny. The characters were likeable and still had faults and good points.
Charlie goes with her best friend Fo to work at his family ranch in Montana instead of going home after she graduates from collage and standing up for what she wants against her parents. Fo's relatives are surprised when his best friend since he was young is actually a girl.
Charlie wants to be a teacher someday. She is smart, talented, strong except when facing her parents. They want her to be a lawyer and have picked out her future husband Elroy. She is single and does not plan to marry a divorce lawyer her parents have chosen for her.
Luke is running his family ranch helping his father. He is surprised to find Charlie is a girl. He has to figure out where he can put her. He really says they need help with the children. Luke is engaged to be married.
Jamie is 2 years old and cute sounding little boy.
Evie and Elsa are four and five years old
Tuckett is 14 years old
Chase is the oldest. He works out a lot and chases the girls. He does as little as he can.
Chase and Luke's mother died. Tuckett's mother left his father when he was only 6. Richard's third marriage is not happy.
Charlie is strong and makes a difference with everyone. Stepping into help with the little ones. Just like Luke asked for help. If only she can stand up to her parents.
These characters have real problems that a lot of people are facing. Dealing with moral problems, stalkers, teens smoking, unwed pregnancy.
I like reading Jaclyn M. Hawkes books and will continue reading them.
September 28, 2011
A love story I'll read over and over again. In relationships, when we love someone we are willing to give of ourselves to make the other happy. It is the same in this story as Luke, a rancher in Montana is willing to let Charlie or Charlene go back to law school and out of his life because he doesn't want to pressure her like her parents to do something not of her choosing.
Charlie and her best friend, Fo, or Forest go out to his uncle Richard's ranch in montana for college break. charlie to work on the ranch and Fo to his hospital internship. Both find love that they weren't looking for. Charlie a beautiful, fun, loving person is asked to help bring order and "mothering" into a home where 2 mothers have come and gone and 1 remains but only marginally. She makes such an impression on everyone that they don't want to think about her going back to law school.
The plot thickens as a stalker gets caught, but doesn't give up on wanting Charlie for himself and Luke distances himself from Charlie to help with the upcoming separation. What Luke doesn't get until it's almost too late is that Charlie doesn't want to go to law school and plans on coming back to Montana after Fo finishes school because she "loves montana." This awakens Luke to how stupid he has been about not talking to Charlie about his true feelings and desires to have her in his life permanently.
Together they stand up to the stalker former ranch hand and her parents. Then they go to the pantry to get engaged properly.
Charlie and her best friend, Fo, or Forest go out to his uncle Richard's ranch in montana for college break. charlie to work on the ranch and Fo to his hospital internship. Both find love that they weren't looking for. Charlie a beautiful, fun, loving person is asked to help bring order and "mothering" into a home where 2 mothers have come and gone and 1 remains but only marginally. She makes such an impression on everyone that they don't want to think about her going back to law school.
The plot thickens as a stalker gets caught, but doesn't give up on wanting Charlie for himself and Luke distances himself from Charlie to help with the upcoming separation. What Luke doesn't get until it's almost too late is that Charlie doesn't want to go to law school and plans on coming back to Montana after Fo finishes school because she "loves montana." This awakens Luke to how stupid he has been about not talking to Charlie about his true feelings and desires to have her in his life permanently.
Together they stand up to the stalker former ranch hand and her parents. Then they go to the pantry to get engaged properly.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2011
The Outer Edge of Heaven is a love story that takes place in the beautiful open spaces of Montana. Charlene Evans or "Charlie" is attending BYU and preparing to go to law school the next year. When summer break begins she is loath to return to her parent's home in Connecticut where she knows she will be pushed into a relationship with a man of her parent's choosing. When her friend Forest suggests she takes a position working on his family's ranch in Montana, she is quick to accept, despite the problems it will cause between her and her parents. Montana is wonderful and the ranch is more than she could have hoped for. She loves her job, and as she gets to know the Langston family, she can't imagine a better life. The Langstons, like any other family, is full of colorful, sometimes quirky characters, and Charlie finds she is happier on the ranch than she has ever been before. When she meets Luke Langston things truly seem like heaven. However, darkness lurks on the farm, and when Charlie is attacked, her illusions of the ranch are somewhat shattered. Charlie is forced to come to terms with her feelings and emotions as Luke and her friend, Fo (Forest), do everything they can to keep her safe. Luke is a marvelous hero and the other quirky characters are well defined and definitely a fun addition to this novel. The plot moves quickly and keeps a steady rhythm. Charlie, the protagonist, has a great sense of humor and I believe romance readers will enjoy this book.
Read my full review here: http://heyyouslackers.blogspot.com/20...
Read my full review here: http://heyyouslackers.blogspot.com/20...
December 8, 2011
Charlie has difficult parents who want to run her life. Instead of returning home after graduation, she travels to Montana with her best friend, Fo, and obtains a job working on his uncle's ranch. She finds herself attracted to his cousin, at odds with his uncle's wife and trying to avoid unwanted attention from other men around the ranch.
Charlie was just too good to be true. She arrives in Montana and within a day has Luke's entire family just eating out of her hand. She solves all the children's behavior problems, reconciles Luke with his dad, helps a young woman decide on adoption, and it goes on and on. Her parents are ridiculous and unbelievable.
There are a lot of topics covered in the Outer Edge of Heaven and it's almost too much. The LDS elements are scarce to the point that they seem like afterthoughts, rather than something that should be intrinsic to an LDS novel. For example, Luke's dad is on the high council and yet his third wife is openly unfaithful with little plausible explanation about how they came to be married in the first place. Charlie's parents' obsessions with status and society and running their daughter's life and arranging her marriage didn't mesh with LDS values of temple marriage and family.
I think Jaclyn Hawkes has a lot of potential and these characters had a great deal of promise. I enjoyed her first novel A Journey of Honor and looked forward to reading The Outer Edge of Heaven. Unfortunately, this one didn't have the same appeal and I would have loved to see this story after it had been more developed and edited.
Charlie was just too good to be true. She arrives in Montana and within a day has Luke's entire family just eating out of her hand. She solves all the children's behavior problems, reconciles Luke with his dad, helps a young woman decide on adoption, and it goes on and on. Her parents are ridiculous and unbelievable.
There are a lot of topics covered in the Outer Edge of Heaven and it's almost too much. The LDS elements are scarce to the point that they seem like afterthoughts, rather than something that should be intrinsic to an LDS novel. For example, Luke's dad is on the high council and yet his third wife is openly unfaithful with little plausible explanation about how they came to be married in the first place. Charlie's parents' obsessions with status and society and running their daughter's life and arranging her marriage didn't mesh with LDS values of temple marriage and family.
I think Jaclyn Hawkes has a lot of potential and these characters had a great deal of promise. I enjoyed her first novel A Journey of Honor and looked forward to reading The Outer Edge of Heaven. Unfortunately, this one didn't have the same appeal and I would have loved to see this story after it had been more developed and edited.
September 21, 2011
LDS fiction
First I have to say that I really love the cover of this book. It brings to my mind all the things I love in a good western set romance.
I love the setting of Montana on a big ranch. There is just something about a hunk of a hard working cowboy that sets my heart to pittering. (I'm pretty sure that isn't even a word) Luke was exactly that kind of cowboy. Honorable, hardworking and HOT. He was my favorite character by far.
Charlie seems to be a no nonsense, take charge kind of girl. She jumps right into her role at the ranch with gusto and does what she needs to do. I enjoyed the easy friendship between Charlie and Fo.
The author packs a lot of "stuff" into her story. Very open infidelity, an unwed mother who is considering adoption, drug abuse, stalkers, sexual harassment, an absentee mother, single parenting... At times it seemed like a lot stuff without allowing me to really feel with the characters about the seriousness of those situations.
I frequently found myself having to go back and re-read sentences because they were just written awkwardly. It lacked some of the flow that I find in most books.
I really enjoyed the pantry scene and wished there were more of those in the book! I was disappointed that the only kisses I got were at the very end of the book. The beach would have been an excellent place for a steamy kiss that would have really cemented Charlie's later confusion at Luke's behavior.
First I have to say that I really love the cover of this book. It brings to my mind all the things I love in a good western set romance.
I love the setting of Montana on a big ranch. There is just something about a hunk of a hard working cowboy that sets my heart to pittering. (I'm pretty sure that isn't even a word) Luke was exactly that kind of cowboy. Honorable, hardworking and HOT. He was my favorite character by far.
Charlie seems to be a no nonsense, take charge kind of girl. She jumps right into her role at the ranch with gusto and does what she needs to do. I enjoyed the easy friendship between Charlie and Fo.
The author packs a lot of "stuff" into her story. Very open infidelity, an unwed mother who is considering adoption, drug abuse, stalkers, sexual harassment, an absentee mother, single parenting... At times it seemed like a lot stuff without allowing me to really feel with the characters about the seriousness of those situations.
I frequently found myself having to go back and re-read sentences because they were just written awkwardly. It lacked some of the flow that I find in most books.
I really enjoyed the pantry scene and wished there were more of those in the book! I was disappointed that the only kisses I got were at the very end of the book. The beach would have been an excellent place for a steamy kiss that would have really cemented Charlie's later confusion at Luke's behavior.
September 21, 2011
Charlie Evans was a good girl. She avoided her mother and father as much as possible because her plan for her future didn’t match theirs by far more than a county mile. Her best friend since forever, “Fo” Forest Eldridge, was in her corner, even had a plan for helping her avoid going back East for summer vacation.
If Charlie joins him working on his uncle’s ranch in Montana. She couldn’t buck bales but she could ride herd over the younger kids. She was fine with that, being a natural Mom at heart – even if her parents were sure she would marry Elroy the divorce lawyer when she finished at BYU Law School which she didn’t want to go to any more than she wanted to marry Elroy.
But Fo’s cousin Luke had her wish she could stay in Montana ranch country and especially on the Langston family ranch where she could talk with him daily. He was committed to Lindie, the girl his older brother got pregnant; because that’s what Luke did, he fixed things for everyone. No one seemed to want to fix things for Luke, though.
Charlie meets up with an ornery cowboy, Lindie doesn’t want to get married, Charlie’s parents show up with Elroy in tow and Wilbur learns to escape! What more could you ask for in an absolutely splendid story of Christianity and love?
If Charlie joins him working on his uncle’s ranch in Montana. She couldn’t buck bales but she could ride herd over the younger kids. She was fine with that, being a natural Mom at heart – even if her parents were sure she would marry Elroy the divorce lawyer when she finished at BYU Law School which she didn’t want to go to any more than she wanted to marry Elroy.
But Fo’s cousin Luke had her wish she could stay in Montana ranch country and especially on the Langston family ranch where she could talk with him daily. He was committed to Lindie, the girl his older brother got pregnant; because that’s what Luke did, he fixed things for everyone. No one seemed to want to fix things for Luke, though.
Charlie meets up with an ornery cowboy, Lindie doesn’t want to get married, Charlie’s parents show up with Elroy in tow and Wilbur learns to escape! What more could you ask for in an absolutely splendid story of Christianity and love?
December 13, 2012
I found this free from Amazon.
What a great find. Loved this book. Written by an LDS author the book does talk about the church and the ways of the gospel. The book was not preachy and it didn't have the inside jokes of the culture that others wouldn't get, but it did have religious ways mentioned so I'm not sure the book would apeal to other faiths.
However, if you aren't bothered by this then I definitely recommend this book.
The characters were great. Really enjoyed Fo. His name makes me laugh and he was great.
The book needs some revision and polishing but I think Hawkes did a great job even so.
Overall,very refreshing story. I really enjoyed it and will be reading it again. I'm giving this book four stars because I felt the book was extra entertaining and I didn't want it to end. True that the book needs to be edited more but I found I could look past some of that and enjoy the story.
Some say that Charlie's parents didn't follow family values and while this is true, it didn't sureprise me. Most well to do people are people and overtime things that didn't matter become to matter because of money, status and who their friends are.
Luke's family needed a cleaning though. I would have liked to have seen some consequence for Chase but not necessary.
What a great find. Loved this book. Written by an LDS author the book does talk about the church and the ways of the gospel. The book was not preachy and it didn't have the inside jokes of the culture that others wouldn't get, but it did have religious ways mentioned so I'm not sure the book would apeal to other faiths.
However, if you aren't bothered by this then I definitely recommend this book.
The characters were great. Really enjoyed Fo. His name makes me laugh and he was great.
The book needs some revision and polishing but I think Hawkes did a great job even so.
Overall,very refreshing story. I really enjoyed it and will be reading it again. I'm giving this book four stars because I felt the book was extra entertaining and I didn't want it to end. True that the book needs to be edited more but I found I could look past some of that and enjoy the story.
Some say that Charlie's parents didn't follow family values and while this is true, it didn't sureprise me. Most well to do people are people and overtime things that didn't matter become to matter because of money, status and who their friends are.
Luke's family needed a cleaning though. I would have liked to have seen some consequence for Chase but not necessary.
October 16, 2013
I was reading along, thinking I'd finally found an inspirational romance that wasn't too preachy when I ran smack into the author's agenda. It seems that a woman wanting to have a career, working outside the home or not wanting to have kids is a punishable offence. The author accomplishes this by casting said characters in such and unflattering light that I came to the conclusion that such women are all evil horrid witches, at least in the author's mind.
Sainted Charlie (ST), our heroine is so good she's more of a caricature. Her evil mother is a harpy who wants her to go to law school and marry a divorce attorney chosen by mom and dad (dad's a cipher throughout the book.) Oh the HORROR. ST just wants to marry and stay home with her kids, which is fine as long as you don't vilify anyone who doesn't want to do this. I almost burned my e-reader after reading the part where
Such unfeeling cavalier treatment of anybody who doesn't buy the cool aid is just off-putting in the extreme. I'm back to avoiding all so-called inspirationals; they only inspire my blood pressure to rise.
Sainted Charlie (ST), our heroine is so good she's more of a caricature. Her evil mother is a harpy who wants her to go to law school and marry a divorce attorney chosen by mom and dad (dad's a cipher throughout the book.) Oh the HORROR. ST just wants to marry and stay home with her kids, which is fine as long as you don't vilify anyone who doesn't want to do this. I almost burned my e-reader after reading the part where
Such unfeeling cavalier treatment of anybody who doesn't buy the cool aid is just off-putting in the extreme. I'm back to avoiding all so-called inspirationals; they only inspire my blood pressure to rise.
November 7, 2011
Really enjoyed the scenic descriptions in this book. I felt like there were some holes in the story line. It is a modern lds fiction book which is not a genre that I am particularly fond of so take my rating with a grain of salt of that is something you are more interested in than I am.
Seagull Book Description:
When her "all-powerful" parents actually choose her future husband, a divorce lawyer named Elroy, Charlie opts out and heads for Big Sky country to work on a sprawling ranch in the heart of the Montana Rockies. Filled with colorful characters of all kinds, a horse of her own, and one extremely attractive rancher, it makes for a summer never to be forgotten. Once again, Jaclyn M. Hawkes spins a tale filled with a deft mix of humor, romance, and tension that will leave you wishing that she'd kept on writing.
Seagull Book Description:
When her "all-powerful" parents actually choose her future husband, a divorce lawyer named Elroy, Charlie opts out and heads for Big Sky country to work on a sprawling ranch in the heart of the Montana Rockies. Filled with colorful characters of all kinds, a horse of her own, and one extremely attractive rancher, it makes for a summer never to be forgotten. Once again, Jaclyn M. Hawkes spins a tale filled with a deft mix of humor, romance, and tension that will leave you wishing that she'd kept on writing.
January 23, 2013
1. The cover doesn't seem to jive with the book
2. It was written like a diary (unintentionally it seemed) many times throughout the book -- like the author had to hurry and place info in for the reader. And then every once in a while it was an easy flow .... And then it seemed to drag on in parts and repeat dialogue from other people. Hard for me to grasp the author's voice.
3. The author tried to set up several scenes where the people in the book were laughing at a situations (e.g. Piglets loose in kitchen) and it didn't seem at all funny to me --- I didn't feel part of the scene.
4. Several misspelled words -- especially near the end.
5. Awkward placement of "churchy" stuff. .... It seemed like it was an afterthought and not part of the thread woven in the book in the first place.
6. Good points: Clean read, happy fairy tale ending, and simple words.
2. It was written like a diary (unintentionally it seemed) many times throughout the book -- like the author had to hurry and place info in for the reader. And then every once in a while it was an easy flow .... And then it seemed to drag on in parts and repeat dialogue from other people. Hard for me to grasp the author's voice.
3. The author tried to set up several scenes where the people in the book were laughing at a situations (e.g. Piglets loose in kitchen) and it didn't seem at all funny to me --- I didn't feel part of the scene.
4. Several misspelled words -- especially near the end.
5. Awkward placement of "churchy" stuff. .... It seemed like it was an afterthought and not part of the thread woven in the book in the first place.
6. Good points: Clean read, happy fairy tale ending, and simple words.
November 4, 2011
This book had an interesting premise but I think it fell just a little short. The overall plot was fine, though a little unfounded in the justification of actions. Charlie was a good enough character, but she didn't seem to have the depth needed for real personal growth nor proper reactions to the events in the story. She seemed a bit irrational at times with a character that didn't seem to fit with her background. Luke was a good though shallow character without much of a backbone. The romance was light and the interactions between Charlie and Luke were dry and repetitive. Fo was a good character as well as the other side characters. (Just a note, this is an LDS book - not that it's preachy, but there are many factors that wouldn't make much sense to a non-LDS familiar audience.)
April 9, 2013
I love this author's books. This is my 2nd one of hers, and it didn’t disappoint. Fo (Forest) and Chuck (Charlene)are best friends, and such fun characters to follow through this story. Fo convinces Charlie to work at his Uncle Richard’s Montana ranch during the summer instead of face her controlling parents who are trying to marry her to a divorce attorney and send her off to law school. In Montana, she meets Luke, who is engaged to marry pregnant Lindie, Chase, his older brother (who can’t keep his hands to himself), and Tyree (a creepy ranch hand that becomes obsessed with her). They all contribute to an interesting and adventurous summer that changes Charlie forever. I loved the drama, character growth and setting in this book.
April 26, 2014
This was a fun book and exactly the kind of book I was in the mood for. It had romance, it had a ranch, it had some suspense, there was character growth, and the characters were pretty amazing. And I liked that it was clean. Yes some of the minor characters were unscrupulous, but that was not the main focus. I really liked the main characters’ relationships in this book. They felt real and solid, especially since they were contrasted with not so good relationships. I really enjoyed reading this book and can’t wait to read more by this author.
Rating: 4.5 stars – Highly Recommend
Content: Clean – some violence and peripheral infidelity
See my review at http://www.iamareader.com/2014/04/boo...
Rating: 4.5 stars – Highly Recommend
Content: Clean – some violence and peripheral infidelity
See my review at http://www.iamareader.com/2014/04/boo...
May 20, 2014
One star is not low enough for this book. It is very badly written and has many grammatical errors.
The repetition was starting to grate on me by the 10th page. Not much depth to the story and the use of sayings only known to certain areas of the country was a bit bizarre.
I am sorry Ms. Hawkes, but your research needs to include books by some really great authors. Check out how they develop their characters and don't repeat over and over and over the same thing, with just a few words different in making the same point, over and over.
There are very few books in my life that I haven't read cover to cover, but this was one of them - I am sorry to say
The repetition was starting to grate on me by the 10th page. Not much depth to the story and the use of sayings only known to certain areas of the country was a bit bizarre.
I am sorry Ms. Hawkes, but your research needs to include books by some really great authors. Check out how they develop their characters and don't repeat over and over and over the same thing, with just a few words different in making the same point, over and over.
There are very few books in my life that I haven't read cover to cover, but this was one of them - I am sorry to say
October 21, 2011
This book is a fast read and one that you really don't want to put down. You will fall in love with the characters and not want the story to end. I enjoy Jaclyn's writing and read and reviewed her first book, Journey of Honor, and I hope to read even more books from her.
The read the full length review, published on 10/21/11, of The Outer Edge of Heaven, please go to my blog at:
http://www.whynotbecauseisaidso.blogs...
The read the full length review, published on 10/21/11, of The Outer Edge of Heaven, please go to my blog at:
http://www.whynotbecauseisaidso.blogs...
March 24, 2013
Good story, just waaay too religious for my tastes. I wish I would have known that going in. Other than the extremely strong religious theme, the story was decent and held up. Sometimes I became incredibly frustrated with the hardheaded behavior of the main character, which sometimes bordered upon stupidity. The conflict between the love interests was drawn out too long, especially when it was something so easily fixed by simple communication.
August 6, 2022
3.5 stars. This was a sweet LDS romance set mostly on a Montana ranch. It had some fun characters, but I also thought a couple of the main characters were a little too good to be true in certain aspects. (And I had a hard time with the uncle's current wife.) Still, I liked the message about being true to yourself and sticking to your ideals.
November 25, 2013
I found this book free on Amazon after I had read Peace River - the first book in the Rockland series. I liked Peace River much more than this one. Liked the setting in Montana. But I just thought the story dragged on and on about Charlie and Luke - almost as if it was a high school romance. I did read this book in 2 days though so it did hold my attention.
June 22, 2015
The Outer Edge of Heaven
This was a very good story, that was drug out a little too long. Though I completely feel it is well worth the read; the path to happily forever took way too long. The side story's were very interesting and I would have liked the author to expound on these side stories more than he did.
Worth the read and very good morals.
This was a very good story, that was drug out a little too long. Though I completely feel it is well worth the read; the path to happily forever took way too long. The side story's were very interesting and I would have liked the author to expound on these side stories more than he did.
Worth the read and very good morals.
November 26, 2011
Meg. It was a good quick read. But corny and some of the characters just had no depth. And she repeated a lot of words. If I read truly one more time I was going to cringe! But a fine plot and something light and fun to read.
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