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Leap the Wild Water
Leap the Wild Water is set in early 19th century rural Wales.
Megan's Mam has died and her childhood sweetheart returned wishing to marry her. She accepts but does not tell him about the affair she had in his absence and the illegitimate child which was stolen away from her by her brother and Mam, to save the family from shame.
Meanwhile, her brother, Morgan, is desperate to make amends. He knows Megan's child is living in squalor and is abused and neglected by the woman he pays to look after her. He yearns to bring the child home but to do so would ruin his sister's new found happiness and reputation.
As Morgan wrestles with his conscience, Megan's past begins to catch up with her and threatens to destroy her life.
Megan's Mam has died and her childhood sweetheart returned wishing to marry her. She accepts but does not tell him about the affair she had in his absence and the illegitimate child which was stolen away from her by her brother and Mam, to save the family from shame.
Meanwhile, her brother, Morgan, is desperate to make amends. He knows Megan's child is living in squalor and is abused and neglected by the woman he pays to look after her. He yearns to bring the child home but to do so would ruin his sister's new found happiness and reputation.
As Morgan wrestles with his conscience, Megan's past begins to catch up with her and threatens to destroy her life.
282 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
132 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Lloyd
13 books106 followersIf you visit Wales, I’m that crazy Welsh woman seen wandering about the Welsh mountains in all weathers with a notebook in hand. The landscape here is little changed from the era in which I like to write and it features in my writing. I began my writing journey with a national prize winning poem, aged 10. It took me a long time to fulfill a lifelong dream and write my first novel, Leap the Wild Water; mainly because I allowed some bizarre life experiences to throw me off course.
The inspirations for my writing come from the real life struggles of rural people, especially women, in the 19th century, and events in my own family’s history. The themes I write about include the pressures which drive people to act against their consciences; what it really means to be free; and how fear and prejudice destroy man's humanity.
If I had to write my own epitaph, it would be; you can't keep a good woman down.
The inspirations for my writing come from the real life struggles of rural people, especially women, in the 19th century, and events in my own family’s history. The themes I write about include the pressures which drive people to act against their consciences; what it really means to be free; and how fear and prejudice destroy man's humanity.
If I had to write my own epitaph, it would be; you can't keep a good woman down.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
August 26, 2013
What indie author Jenny Lloyd has accomplished with the publication of Leap The Wild Water is nothing short of gorgeous brilliance. With both delicate and harsh brush strokes, Ms. Lloyd paints a moving and beautiful portrait of lives trying to be lived against an early 19th century Welsh backdrop. This is a time when women were considered little more than the property of fathers or husbands, given lives that left them anchored to the family home, preparing meals, doing the wash, with no hope of escape—especially for those without financial means.
Young Megan Jones seeks to break those confining chains of familial servitude by marrying the man with whom she has long been in love. Megan has secrets, though; secrets that could bring shame and shunning upon the woman and her family should news get around.
With wonderful description, Jenny Lloyd builds a tale of love and loss, of pregnancy outside of marriage in an era where such events were viewed through judgmental eyes, of hope and redemption, and the chance of a better life. But this is also a bleak story at times, sharing in the hopeless struggles women of the era often engaged in, usually ending up on the losing side.
Even Morgan Jones, the brother of Megan, fights a daily battle just to keep the family farm from failing, possibly forcing the Jones’s into the streets.
This story is not a fast-pace ride; it is a steady rhythmic tale that captures the harsh living those who came before us were meant to endure. Leap The Wild Water is a fantastic example of solid storytelling, never once veering into that territory of the boring. This is well written and well researched, lending a taste of authenticity splashed across each and every page. I can and do recommend this novel to anybody who appreciates brilliant authors. Jenny Lloyd is certainly one of my new favorites.
Young Megan Jones seeks to break those confining chains of familial servitude by marrying the man with whom she has long been in love. Megan has secrets, though; secrets that could bring shame and shunning upon the woman and her family should news get around.
With wonderful description, Jenny Lloyd builds a tale of love and loss, of pregnancy outside of marriage in an era where such events were viewed through judgmental eyes, of hope and redemption, and the chance of a better life. But this is also a bleak story at times, sharing in the hopeless struggles women of the era often engaged in, usually ending up on the losing side.
Even Morgan Jones, the brother of Megan, fights a daily battle just to keep the family farm from failing, possibly forcing the Jones’s into the streets.
This story is not a fast-pace ride; it is a steady rhythmic tale that captures the harsh living those who came before us were meant to endure. Leap The Wild Water is a fantastic example of solid storytelling, never once veering into that territory of the boring. This is well written and well researched, lending a taste of authenticity splashed across each and every page. I can and do recommend this novel to anybody who appreciates brilliant authors. Jenny Lloyd is certainly one of my new favorites.
April 25, 2013
There are some wrongs which can never be undone; some things said which can never be altered; some paths taken and choices made which lead us into darkness and despair. Sometimes, it is only through the indestructible love of others that we can find our way back to ourselves and find a better way; that is the essence of Leap the Wild Water.
Stand on top of a Welsh mountain with the wind in your hair, buzzards soaring above you, the sweeping landscape below and be transported to another time and place where, if you are a woman, to err is unforgivable and the freedom to carve a life of one's own seems an impossible dream.
I am rating this 5 stars not only because I wrote it and loved every moment of doing so but because of the comments I've received from everyone that has read it. The reviews on Amazon have been consistent and overwhelming in their praise. The general consensus seems to be that I have created a novel which readers cannot put down from the moment they begin reading it. I have had people come up to me in the street to tell me how they were swept along by the story, fell in love with the characters, and cannot wait to read the sequel.
Before writing this novel, I read somewhere that authors should write the kind of book they love to read. The result was I, like my readers, got swept along by the story and characters I created. As I was writing I thought; I hope my readers enjoy this story as much as me because if they do they will love this book. And this seems to be what has happened, to my surprise and delight.
Stand on top of a Welsh mountain with the wind in your hair, buzzards soaring above you, the sweeping landscape below and be transported to another time and place where, if you are a woman, to err is unforgivable and the freedom to carve a life of one's own seems an impossible dream.
I am rating this 5 stars not only because I wrote it and loved every moment of doing so but because of the comments I've received from everyone that has read it. The reviews on Amazon have been consistent and overwhelming in their praise. The general consensus seems to be that I have created a novel which readers cannot put down from the moment they begin reading it. I have had people come up to me in the street to tell me how they were swept along by the story, fell in love with the characters, and cannot wait to read the sequel.
Before writing this novel, I read somewhere that authors should write the kind of book they love to read. The result was I, like my readers, got swept along by the story and characters I created. As I was writing I thought; I hope my readers enjoy this story as much as me because if they do they will love this book. And this seems to be what has happened, to my surprise and delight.
February 5, 2014
I do not usually give reviews because I am of the opinion, 'Who am I to judge?' Many would disagree with me of course, and perhaps in this instance, I agree with them; it is only justice to afford words to a creation that is so much more than the sum of all of its words. And so this is an offering, if you like, a paean to a vision that has over spilled its boundaries with ambitions of depth, flowing prose, and the rhythms of a song.
Its boundary is literature. (this is my opinion of course, for what it's worth). It is unfortunate that much of modern literature endures a reputation of elitism; in some instances these novels become unreadable fodder written purely to gain a sideboard of literary prizes; but what of the rare ones that attain the mantle of both literary and populist crowns? Oh, they are rare indeed and most writers would give their right arm to achieve this goal; in fact most writers would give an arm to write like Jenny Lloyd.
Her creation is manifold, it achieves greatness on so many levels: the pure, crisp prose; the depth of character; the magical setting; the themes of misogyny and child abuse - all these are interwoven in an effortless vision. And there is humour, it appears like the sun peeking through the rain in a deftness of dialogue that not only propels the plot, it engages us with the characters. We are invited into their minds (the author is conspicuously absent) and we occupy the same space as them - we share their angst and their conflicts to a point where they climb onto our own. And all their emotional distress is pitched up against the pastoral idyll of the Welsh countryside and the rustic life of ordinary people - if we saw them walking along country lanes or at the market, we wouldn't know what was happening in their heads, but Jenny manages to reveal the unlettered folk's soul.
These are people who suffer the most awful prescriptions from society and religion - they are manipulated and brought to rule, even to a point of injustice. The most common victims are women, these poor girls suffer at the hands of men, at the hands of other women, and at the hands of societal expectation; but Jenny does not take the easy option in the finale, her writing is courageous in keeping with everything that has gone before.
I can truly say this book will stay with me for the rest of my life. It is an enviable achievement and an astonishing marker, for what is hopefully, much more to come.
Its boundary is literature. (this is my opinion of course, for what it's worth). It is unfortunate that much of modern literature endures a reputation of elitism; in some instances these novels become unreadable fodder written purely to gain a sideboard of literary prizes; but what of the rare ones that attain the mantle of both literary and populist crowns? Oh, they are rare indeed and most writers would give their right arm to achieve this goal; in fact most writers would give an arm to write like Jenny Lloyd.
Her creation is manifold, it achieves greatness on so many levels: the pure, crisp prose; the depth of character; the magical setting; the themes of misogyny and child abuse - all these are interwoven in an effortless vision. And there is humour, it appears like the sun peeking through the rain in a deftness of dialogue that not only propels the plot, it engages us with the characters. We are invited into their minds (the author is conspicuously absent) and we occupy the same space as them - we share their angst and their conflicts to a point where they climb onto our own. And all their emotional distress is pitched up against the pastoral idyll of the Welsh countryside and the rustic life of ordinary people - if we saw them walking along country lanes or at the market, we wouldn't know what was happening in their heads, but Jenny manages to reveal the unlettered folk's soul.
These are people who suffer the most awful prescriptions from society and religion - they are manipulated and brought to rule, even to a point of injustice. The most common victims are women, these poor girls suffer at the hands of men, at the hands of other women, and at the hands of societal expectation; but Jenny does not take the easy option in the finale, her writing is courageous in keeping with everything that has gone before.
I can truly say this book will stay with me for the rest of my life. It is an enviable achievement and an astonishing marker, for what is hopefully, much more to come.
November 8, 2013
I absolutely loved this book. I took it out of the cardboard package and opened it to peek inside, and my husband thought it was so funny when I just sat there, fixated, and kept right on reading it. The first night I read until about 2:00 in the morning.
Jenny Lloyd has a way of making the characters so real that you find yourself feeling their emotions to the point where you will lie awake thinking about them. I loved the way she portrayed not only the main characters, but also the hypocritical, bigoted church people. And Megan's mother, oh my goodness. Just wait – you will want to kill that woman! I felt hopeful, angry, enraged, shattered, endeared and many other things. I had to keep reminding myself that it was only a story, although I do think the author was inspired by the travails of her ancestors. She definitely brought them to life in Leap the Wild Water.
The book is set in Wales in the 1800's and the countryside is vividly described. That said, I was amazed at how easy it was to read and there were only a few foreign terms I had to look up. The words I did have to get defined only added to the atmosphere of the tale and my knowledge of Wales. Many of the situations in Leap the Wild Water reminded me of early America and the way people behaved back then, though the story strongly depicts the Welsh way of life at the time.
Leap the Wild Water is one of those books that gets into your blood and becomes a part of you. I think it's a rare book that does this, a book that affects you on an emotional level and that you would be perfectly happy to read more than once. It was inspirational to me and I can't wait for the sequel.
Jenny Lloyd has a way of making the characters so real that you find yourself feeling their emotions to the point where you will lie awake thinking about them. I loved the way she portrayed not only the main characters, but also the hypocritical, bigoted church people. And Megan's mother, oh my goodness. Just wait – you will want to kill that woman! I felt hopeful, angry, enraged, shattered, endeared and many other things. I had to keep reminding myself that it was only a story, although I do think the author was inspired by the travails of her ancestors. She definitely brought them to life in Leap the Wild Water.
The book is set in Wales in the 1800's and the countryside is vividly described. That said, I was amazed at how easy it was to read and there were only a few foreign terms I had to look up. The words I did have to get defined only added to the atmosphere of the tale and my knowledge of Wales. Many of the situations in Leap the Wild Water reminded me of early America and the way people behaved back then, though the story strongly depicts the Welsh way of life at the time.
Leap the Wild Water is one of those books that gets into your blood and becomes a part of you. I think it's a rare book that does this, a book that affects you on an emotional level and that you would be perfectly happy to read more than once. It was inspirational to me and I can't wait for the sequel.
October 13, 2013
This book must resonate with many, many modern women who have been in a similar situation to Jenny Lloyd's Megan, but who have faced none of the horrific consequences of having a child out of wedlock other than the initial fear of discovery and the moral judgement of family and parents. In 19th century Wales, among a strict Chapel community, the consequences were dire. This book, beautifully portrayed through two characters, Megan and her brother, Morgan, tells the story of the hardship suffered by women at this time from two points of view. In many respects, I felt huge sympathy for Morgan; his is a lovable, loyal nature full of compassion but conditioned by the moral standpoint of the time and a dominant mother. Megan is everything I would have been at her age, fighting against such rigid restriction, but with infinitely sad results. I was frequently reminded of Thomas Hardy's books in the style and overarching melancholy of the novel. The descriptions of rural life are beautiful and I really found it very hard to put the book down until I reached the somewhat cliff-hanging conclusion. I wish I knew what happened next even though I know it is fiction! Well done, Jenny Lloyd. This is a magnificent novel.
September 5, 2013
I have never been to the Welsh countryside. I was not born in a time when women were treated like posesessions, where men ruled with an iron will that answered only to god. Yet, after reading Leap the Wild Water, the vision of it all is so pristine in its clarity, that a part of me believes it all to be own memory. I was Morgan, trapped between a mother I knew in my head was wrong, but couldn't in my heart disobey. I was Megan, struggling for freedom, wanting more, bitter from having every chance of it stolen away by the only people she wanted to trust. I felt the duality of every character, every emotion, building to a crescendo and a pace at the end with Morgan's feet, that was like a drum of anticipation beating in the background. I even found myself book-noting on a regular basis, something I normally don't do, so I could reread what was a sentence or paragraph from every chapter, just to relive each moment of purely eloquent writing.
In my humble opinion, you read good books, but you live great ones. This, was a truly great book. This, was a life worth living.
In my humble opinion, you read good books, but you live great ones. This, was a truly great book. This, was a life worth living.
September 11, 2013
Jenny Lloyd has successfully re-created the past with Leap the Wild Water, a past where women are exploited and blamed, where condemning religion persecutes an unmarried mother, and the shame in the community drives a family to desperate measures.
Primarily the book deals with the relationship between Megan and her brother Morgan, and their selfish evil mother. At a time where a woman was repressed, viewed as the servant of the family and not allowed a life of her own, Megan struggles for freedom.
I found the book was a page turner as Ms Lloyd skilfully drives the story along. I was drawn into the lives of Megan and Morgan, the harshness of life in 19th century rural Wales, and of their terribly lazy, selfish, lying 'Mam'. The writing is atmospheric. I could see the misty hills of Wales. And the social mores of the time were agonisingly drawn in their accuracy.
And I had my heart in my mouth for the ending.
I liked it very much and would thoroughly recommend it.
Primarily the book deals with the relationship between Megan and her brother Morgan, and their selfish evil mother. At a time where a woman was repressed, viewed as the servant of the family and not allowed a life of her own, Megan struggles for freedom.
I found the book was a page turner as Ms Lloyd skilfully drives the story along. I was drawn into the lives of Megan and Morgan, the harshness of life in 19th century rural Wales, and of their terribly lazy, selfish, lying 'Mam'. The writing is atmospheric. I could see the misty hills of Wales. And the social mores of the time were agonisingly drawn in their accuracy.
And I had my heart in my mouth for the ending.
I liked it very much and would thoroughly recommend it.
January 30, 2014
This book is brilliant.
It takes what is by now a very standard (and a little stale) genre of historical romance and polishes it until it shines.
Lloyd's prose not only Leaps the Wild Water, it leaps off the page too. By using a modern voice in a period setting, she provides a gateway for 21st Century readers to travel back to 19th Century Wales.
The first person narrative is both powerful and compelling.
It's also used to excellent effect, forcing the reader to live the choices and emotions of the lead characters, Megan & Morgan -- not only the sweet heights of their joys, their loves, their victories but also those depths that truly make for a well-rounded literary gem: we live their frustrations, their jealousies, their spites and even their schadenfreude.
It takes immense skill for a writer to peel back the layers of their characters so far and still leave the reader feeling like they've connected.
Leap the Wild Water is a superb novel. You should buy it now!
It takes what is by now a very standard (and a little stale) genre of historical romance and polishes it until it shines.
Lloyd's prose not only Leaps the Wild Water, it leaps off the page too. By using a modern voice in a period setting, she provides a gateway for 21st Century readers to travel back to 19th Century Wales.
The first person narrative is both powerful and compelling.
It's also used to excellent effect, forcing the reader to live the choices and emotions of the lead characters, Megan & Morgan -- not only the sweet heights of their joys, their loves, their victories but also those depths that truly make for a well-rounded literary gem: we live their frustrations, their jealousies, their spites and even their schadenfreude.
It takes immense skill for a writer to peel back the layers of their characters so far and still leave the reader feeling like they've connected.
Leap the Wild Water is a superb novel. You should buy it now!
September 4, 2013
Tremendous Debut Novel!
Do you ever fancy reading a book in which you can lose yourself? Well, 'Leap the Wild Water' is just such a novel. The story will captivate you and take you to a place where life is both cruel and harsh and where hard lessons are often learnt. The story of Meg and her brother Morgan will bring you to tears, make you heart race and more importantly perhaps make you understand just how terrible a crime it was to have a child out of wedlock in this era. People, places and emotions are beautiful described and Jenny's ability to captivate you with her writing is simply outstanding. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and Jenny, you deserve your 5 stars!!!
October 14, 2013
I was completely captivated by Jenny Lloyd’s brilliantly written dueling narratives of brother and sister, Megan and Morgan Jones.
Ms. Lloyd has produced such an exquisite work that it will be of no surprise to anyone who reads it, when she is approached with a publishing contract.
“Leap the Wild Water” is well within the top 10 of all the Indie books I’ve read thus far.
Ms. Lloyd has produced such an exquisite work that it will be of no surprise to anyone who reads it, when she is approached with a publishing contract.
“Leap the Wild Water” is well within the top 10 of all the Indie books I’ve read thus far.
July 12, 2016
Morgan and Megan
1900s Wales
An introduction of the nineteenth century Welsh hill farmers who survive within a combination of the extreme day-to-day hardship of toiling the land with religious cruelty, and using communal austerity as a yard stick with which every member of the farming community is measured. Women have it coming while men are hailed as the untouchable holy sons of God. A demanded subservience of women rules the picturesque hills of Wales.
Megan and Morgan, brother and sister, are the protagonists, telling the tale of events and consequences around Megan's 'illegitimate' pregnancy. She had two choices: Either kill herself instantly or commit suicide gradually anyway, by leaving the community and book into a poor house, where her own preferred choices are not served anywhere, anytime, if ever, as the main dish of the day.
A modern-written story, with no economy of words, are set against a historical background reminiscent of all the British novels of those times in which the pace is slow, often repetitious, with a dark rhythm written all over the rural circumstances of the era.
The book is the first installment with a cliffhanger ending. All characters in the book, skillfully developed, are portrayed in their imperfect brilliance: a vindictive, scared, embittered mother, who rules, as well as mentally and emotionally controls her two children - the almost simple-minded as well as pathetic son(Morgan), who takes the road of least resistance, and a rebellious daughter(Megan) fighting the odds to save herself and her baby. There are not many choices open within their circumstances to handle the events much different than they did. But they tried to make the best of the opportunities available to them. Integrity and honor have to be weighed against necessity and fear with sad consequences as a result.
A promising first novel by an indie author who has insight, word-building skills and good stories to tell.
1900s Wales
An introduction of the nineteenth century Welsh hill farmers who survive within a combination of the extreme day-to-day hardship of toiling the land with religious cruelty, and using communal austerity as a yard stick with which every member of the farming community is measured. Women have it coming while men are hailed as the untouchable holy sons of God. A demanded subservience of women rules the picturesque hills of Wales.
Megan and Morgan, brother and sister, are the protagonists, telling the tale of events and consequences around Megan's 'illegitimate' pregnancy. She had two choices: Either kill herself instantly or commit suicide gradually anyway, by leaving the community and book into a poor house, where her own preferred choices are not served anywhere, anytime, if ever, as the main dish of the day.
A modern-written story, with no economy of words, are set against a historical background reminiscent of all the British novels of those times in which the pace is slow, often repetitious, with a dark rhythm written all over the rural circumstances of the era.
The book is the first installment with a cliffhanger ending. All characters in the book, skillfully developed, are portrayed in their imperfect brilliance: a vindictive, scared, embittered mother, who rules, as well as mentally and emotionally controls her two children - the almost simple-minded as well as pathetic son(Morgan), who takes the road of least resistance, and a rebellious daughter(Megan) fighting the odds to save herself and her baby. There are not many choices open within their circumstances to handle the events much different than they did. But they tried to make the best of the opportunities available to them. Integrity and honor have to be weighed against necessity and fear with sad consequences as a result.
A promising first novel by an indie author who has insight, word-building skills and good stories to tell.
December 9, 2013
An absorbing, powerfully written book
How basically decent people can be manipulated into behaving in a manner contrary to what they believe to be fair and just, lies at the heart of this absorbing book.
During my reading of Leap The Wild Water, I felt an overwhelming sadness for brother and sister Morgan and Megan, who were the victims of a close member of their family who had NO conscience, the hallmark of a sociopath. We are living in a different time from that depicted in the book, but in some respects, things are no different today; all that has changed is that we now have a label for people like that.
Add to that the difficulties women had in the early 19th century, living in a rural community in Wales dominated by church and chapel, and you can understand why Jenny Lloyd felt moved to write this story. The images she sketches so powerfully for us with her beautiful writing had me crying with anger and sadness.
What was particularly sad was that women in the community were complicit in the double standards which prevailed. This is as true today in communities around the world as it was then.
But the over-riding feeling I had after reading this book was one of awe at the indomitability of the human spirit. I wrote this on the day of the death of Nelson Mandela. During all the twenty-seven years of his imprisonment his spirit remained undiminished. And so it was for Megan. She walked the hills of Wales and delighted in the beauty of nature, and drew strength from that. I sometimes felt I was taking every step with her. I, too, once walked the hills of Wales at a difficult time, so these images have a special meaning for me.
I am grateful to Jenny for writing this moving book.
How basically decent people can be manipulated into behaving in a manner contrary to what they believe to be fair and just, lies at the heart of this absorbing book.
During my reading of Leap The Wild Water, I felt an overwhelming sadness for brother and sister Morgan and Megan, who were the victims of a close member of their family who had NO conscience, the hallmark of a sociopath. We are living in a different time from that depicted in the book, but in some respects, things are no different today; all that has changed is that we now have a label for people like that.
Add to that the difficulties women had in the early 19th century, living in a rural community in Wales dominated by church and chapel, and you can understand why Jenny Lloyd felt moved to write this story. The images she sketches so powerfully for us with her beautiful writing had me crying with anger and sadness.
What was particularly sad was that women in the community were complicit in the double standards which prevailed. This is as true today in communities around the world as it was then.
But the over-riding feeling I had after reading this book was one of awe at the indomitability of the human spirit. I wrote this on the day of the death of Nelson Mandela. During all the twenty-seven years of his imprisonment his spirit remained undiminished. And so it was for Megan. She walked the hills of Wales and delighted in the beauty of nature, and drew strength from that. I sometimes felt I was taking every step with her. I, too, once walked the hills of Wales at a difficult time, so these images have a special meaning for me.
I am grateful to Jenny for writing this moving book.
December 19, 2013
I read this wonderful book on Kindle for iPad not realizing that there is a paperback version. I will check this out! How did I miss that? My apologies to the author, because I was wanting both versions.
Right from this evocative title, a reader can sense the author is aware of her choice of words - she uses gorgeous diction in her descriptions throughout this story of a family in Wales back in the 19th century. You want to experience this countryside, and sit by the hearth - well sometimes, because 'Mam' is not always nice - understatement!
I was so impressed with the author's craft in creating these strong characters that enter your head and your heart - as it should be! These characters are flawed like the rest of us, and this depiction of Jenny Lloyd's, her showing us the human condition with the myriad of universal emotions we are subject to, cannot help but pull us into her dramatic story!
No spoilers from me.
Just loved it! Know you will too!! Read it as your Christmas treat to yourself, and get lost in another world that you already understand in your heart.
Almost forgot to add this: I found this book a great learning tool for how to write fiction. Lloyd has this seamless way of blending the dialogue with the speaker's activities. She has mastered the classic 'show not tell' of moods, emotions, of her intriguing yet at times disarming characters, as they move through their day. Wonderful!!
Right from this evocative title, a reader can sense the author is aware of her choice of words - she uses gorgeous diction in her descriptions throughout this story of a family in Wales back in the 19th century. You want to experience this countryside, and sit by the hearth - well sometimes, because 'Mam' is not always nice - understatement!
I was so impressed with the author's craft in creating these strong characters that enter your head and your heart - as it should be! These characters are flawed like the rest of us, and this depiction of Jenny Lloyd's, her showing us the human condition with the myriad of universal emotions we are subject to, cannot help but pull us into her dramatic story!
No spoilers from me.
Just loved it! Know you will too!! Read it as your Christmas treat to yourself, and get lost in another world that you already understand in your heart.
Almost forgot to add this: I found this book a great learning tool for how to write fiction. Lloyd has this seamless way of blending the dialogue with the speaker's activities. She has mastered the classic 'show not tell' of moods, emotions, of her intriguing yet at times disarming characters, as they move through their day. Wonderful!!
December 19, 2013
"Leap the Wild Water by Jenny Lloyd is a gripping story set in Wales in the 19th century. It mainly depicts the relationship between Morgan and his sister Megan. Told in alternating narratives we see her and his side of their life and past together. The return of Megan's great love threatens Morgan's status quo and cuases friction between the siblings.
As the events unfold slowly we get to know more about the family background and the exact motication for each character.
Written with great psychological insight and an authentic historical feel Lloyd takes us into the mind of brother and sister, their hopes and ambitions while showing us what the modalities of life were like at the time.
It has been a long time since I read a book that understood to hold my attention with comparatively little action and yet make everything that is said and written feel so profound and important. I did not want to miss a word.
It would be wrong however to assume that there is no plot or movement. There is a lot of tension throughout the book and it all moves towards a great and dramatic ending.
Lloyd has written two excellent characters that were fascinating from the first page. A very powerful read.
As the events unfold slowly we get to know more about the family background and the exact motication for each character.
Written with great psychological insight and an authentic historical feel Lloyd takes us into the mind of brother and sister, their hopes and ambitions while showing us what the modalities of life were like at the time.
It has been a long time since I read a book that understood to hold my attention with comparatively little action and yet make everything that is said and written feel so profound and important. I did not want to miss a word.
It would be wrong however to assume that there is no plot or movement. There is a lot of tension throughout the book and it all moves towards a great and dramatic ending.
Lloyd has written two excellent characters that were fascinating from the first page. A very powerful read.
August 20, 2013
This is a fabulous story about what life for women was really like in the early 19th Century, made even more poignant by the author's research into her own grandmother's life. It's a story which was so very true for women of the age and even now there are still hints of it running through a society we like to believe is civil and just on a good day. To read this story is to be reminded of what it 'was' like but the second thought is one of uncomfortable realisation that for some women in other parts of the world it is still no better.
Alongside the message is a story which carries you along and is beautifully descriptive. Megan is tied to the family stove whilst her brother Morgan runs the farm and her Mam holds the purse. She yearns for freedom and, when the opportunity comes to sell produce at market, she grasps it quickly and discovers what life could be like.
This tale is well written and flows with historical fact, honesty and family friction. This is a must read for the modern woman, if only to remind ourselves of how far there is to go even now.
Alongside the message is a story which carries you along and is beautifully descriptive. Megan is tied to the family stove whilst her brother Morgan runs the farm and her Mam holds the purse. She yearns for freedom and, when the opportunity comes to sell produce at market, she grasps it quickly and discovers what life could be like.
This tale is well written and flows with historical fact, honesty and family friction. This is a must read for the modern woman, if only to remind ourselves of how far there is to go even now.
June 11, 2014
An Astonishing Debut Effort ~ Ms. Lloyd weaves a poignant tale of family with a beauty and grace that takes your breath away. We are taken into the minds of sister and brother, Megan and Morgan, and without being consciously aware, the reader feels sympathy to both, drawn in by the skillful depth of their characters. Leap the Wild Water transports the reader to a different time, letting us feel the rush of the water, the wind in our hair, the riotous colours of vegetation on a Welsh mountain, the harsh reality of child abuse and the hopelessness of just being free, as a woman, in an unforgiving time. As the rapids roar in the background, the reader feels as though they are floating down a meandering river of stunning lyrical prose. This story touched my heart and will stay with me for a very long time. I look forward to book two.
September 4, 2014
I was so glad I bought the sequel, Calling of the Wild Raven, at the same time as Leap the Wild Water as this book ends with a tremendous cliffhanger. Neither did I expect the sequel to unravel the way it did! Recommend you buy both together. You can smell the Welsh rain in this realistic portrayal of a harsh bygone era. The poverty is tangible too and the tough lives that hill farmers endured. Perhaps it is the enclosure of those wet Welsh hills that leads to such narrow, rigid views that trapped women into roles that today they would not endure for a moment. A real insight into history written with such skill you can feel the overbearing cruelty of the older people, born of their own bitter disappointments, as well as the oppression that the protagonists labour under. A powerful story about bullying on many levels, told with conviction and clarity.
October 30, 2013
A most enjoyable, heart-wrenching, i'm right there with them, tale. Well written and well paced. The best part for me is the simultaneous telling of the tale from two viewpoints. Jenny's ability with telling a tale at different timelines is amazing and not hard to follow. It makes the ending that much more poignant. I will never complain about "keeping house" again. I am begging Jenny to write more!
October 2, 2014
I love historical fiction that takes place in countries like Ireland, Scotland, and in this case Wales. My ancestors came from Wales and I have always loved their names and the names of their towns. This book was told through the eyes of a brother and sister, Morgan and Megan. Her descriptions of the wild country they lived in and the hard life they endured were so well written. This story gripped me and carried me along to a very satisfying ending.
June 26, 2014
This story contrasts the beauty of the countryside with the harshness of an unforgiving religion. In Megan we find a wronged heroine whose brief attempt to reach out for happiness result in greater suffering and yet this makes her stronger.
At first I felt I could not bear to read of Megan's fate but the vivid descriptions and movement of the plot backwards and forwards through time carry you along so that it is impossible to put the book down.
At first I felt I could not bear to read of Megan's fate but the vivid descriptions and movement of the plot backwards and forwards through time carry you along so that it is impossible to put the book down.
April 22, 2013
A book that I could not put down, a book I could read again
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April 26, 2013reading
January 14, 2014
Brilliant.
April 9, 2021
Set in nineteenth century Wales, Leap The Wild Water is a vivid portrayal not only of the struggles of women in those times, but of my home landscape too. I often come across derelict homesteads, farmhouses and animal enclosures of overgrown tumbledown stone, and one can’t help wondering about those past times. Jenny Lloyd brings all of this alive with her series, The Megan Jones Trilogy. The storyline is simple and yet the narrative is all the more powerful for this. A child out of wedlock was of course a heinous sin for women and the injustice of Megan’s predicament weaves a fascinating picture of those times. The fear and power of the church was the divine ruler, and as a result the cruelty imposed upon women was quite extraordinary. A beautifully written book with accurate detailing and stunning observations of the countryside.
The story continues in Where the Wind Blows and The Calling of the Raven. Sequels can be a mistake but there is plenty of meat on the bones of this one; and the story picks up from book one with a seamless continuity. And a serious message develops through these books; that of the oppression of women in the nineteenth century, and it is vividly portrayed through the eyes of Megan, now happily married to Eli. This was a time when the choices for women were limited to tending the needs of men and the land, so marriage to a rich farmer seemed a good idea at the time… But then news of Megan’s child, Fortune, whom she had out of wedlock and is in the care of her brother, slowly bubbles to the surface and the God-fearing community are up in arms, despite a brave effort by Morgan, to keep the situation under control. Eli turns nasty and straight into the arms of the dairy-maid, leaving Megan trapped in an unhappy household as little more than a domestic slave. And then in the third and final part, poor Megan is under scrutiny again for the murder of Eli.
From the cruel, narrow-minded control of the church to the truth of love, friendship and honour, the author weaves a skilful story of life in nineteenth century Wales. The restrained descriptions of the countryside, the healing hedgerow flowers and the strong influence of the seasons makes a wonderful background to this carefully plotted, often shocking tale. I could hear the larks and the rush of water. I could smell the markets, the honeysuckle, and the wet soil, and I could smell the fear as Megan’s fate drew to a chilling conclusion.
The story continues in Where the Wind Blows and The Calling of the Raven. Sequels can be a mistake but there is plenty of meat on the bones of this one; and the story picks up from book one with a seamless continuity. And a serious message develops through these books; that of the oppression of women in the nineteenth century, and it is vividly portrayed through the eyes of Megan, now happily married to Eli. This was a time when the choices for women were limited to tending the needs of men and the land, so marriage to a rich farmer seemed a good idea at the time… But then news of Megan’s child, Fortune, whom she had out of wedlock and is in the care of her brother, slowly bubbles to the surface and the God-fearing community are up in arms, despite a brave effort by Morgan, to keep the situation under control. Eli turns nasty and straight into the arms of the dairy-maid, leaving Megan trapped in an unhappy household as little more than a domestic slave. And then in the third and final part, poor Megan is under scrutiny again for the murder of Eli.
From the cruel, narrow-minded control of the church to the truth of love, friendship and honour, the author weaves a skilful story of life in nineteenth century Wales. The restrained descriptions of the countryside, the healing hedgerow flowers and the strong influence of the seasons makes a wonderful background to this carefully plotted, often shocking tale. I could hear the larks and the rush of water. I could smell the markets, the honeysuckle, and the wet soil, and I could smell the fear as Megan’s fate drew to a chilling conclusion.
September 29, 2022
Megan has a past she doesn't want to relive. She'd be just as happy to have it all disappear. It's not that easy though. One other person knows about her secrets and wouldn't hesitate to use them as bargaining chips. The question is, will Megan give in to the blackmail or will she divulge the secrets herself?
This suspenseful book is well written and the characters well defined. It will keep you thinking throughout. I thought the secrets and the person wielding them was a wonderful twist on the story. Ms. Lloyd does a great job of keeping you interested and turning pages. This should be an auto buy author.
I didn't find any issues.
I gave this one 4 cheers out of 5 because it does drag a bit in spots. The author provided a copy of the book but I chose to review it.
This suspenseful book is well written and the characters well defined. It will keep you thinking throughout. I thought the secrets and the person wielding them was a wonderful twist on the story. Ms. Lloyd does a great job of keeping you interested and turning pages. This should be an auto buy author.
I didn't find any issues.
I gave this one 4 cheers out of 5 because it does drag a bit in spots. The author provided a copy of the book but I chose to review it.
September 14, 2015
Leap The Wild Water is the story of Megan Jones and her brother, Morgan. Each tell the story in the first person, from the past and present, in their own voices and from their own perspectives. This is excellently written and drew me into their lives from the start. I could feel the emotions, which are so vividly described. Both Megan and Morgan are wrestling with feelings of deep frustration made worse by their inability to change anything. Megan’s anger and resentment of the treatment meted out by her mother and her desire for a life of her own. Morgan’s weakness in not standing up to his mother when he knows deep down she is in the wrong, and his consequential suffering for the outcome of their actions and behaviour towards Megan. Stealing his sister’s child away is bad enough, but placing her in the ‘care’ of a lazy and abusive woman, while letting Megan believe her daughter is living with a good and loving family, is shocking. But their cruel and domineering mother has no qualms at all, having already deviously put a stop to her marriage.
Now Eli is back and Megan is set on marrying her childhood sweetheart, the man she always trusted she would marry until she believed Eli had jilted her. Now she knows differently. Their mother is dead and Morgan is concerned about how he’ll keep the farm going if Megan leaves, and he resorts to trying persuade her to stay with talk of bringing her daughter home. Believing her child to be well looked after Megan doesn’t want to uproot her from all she knows and besides, Eli knows nothing of her lapse. Megan tried, half heartedly, to tell him but decided things were best left alone. Now, with Morgan’s interference Megan can only see one way out.
Leap The Wild Water is a powerfully moving and beautifully written story, highlighting the struggles, controls and restrictions women were subjected to and had little choice but to endure. Men ruled, life was harsh and women were more or less in servitude to their families. As more of Megan’s story unfolds it’s painfully obvious just how much intolerance and injustice towards women was commonplace and, in some cases, controlled by the power and fear of chapel and preacher. The stigma and shame of having a child out of wedlock was too much for some to bear, the limited choices they had are heart breaking in the extreme.
Megan and Morgan are compelling, believable and well defined, their personalities and thoughts laid bare. Each character is represented authentically, some garnering more sympathy than others, perfectly placed in the sweeping remoteness of the stunning and atmospheric Welsh countryside.
The plot, writing and story structure are all skilful and well crafted. It’s hard to believe Leap The Wild Water is a debut novel.
Now Eli is back and Megan is set on marrying her childhood sweetheart, the man she always trusted she would marry until she believed Eli had jilted her. Now she knows differently. Their mother is dead and Morgan is concerned about how he’ll keep the farm going if Megan leaves, and he resorts to trying persuade her to stay with talk of bringing her daughter home. Believing her child to be well looked after Megan doesn’t want to uproot her from all she knows and besides, Eli knows nothing of her lapse. Megan tried, half heartedly, to tell him but decided things were best left alone. Now, with Morgan’s interference Megan can only see one way out.
Leap The Wild Water is a powerfully moving and beautifully written story, highlighting the struggles, controls and restrictions women were subjected to and had little choice but to endure. Men ruled, life was harsh and women were more or less in servitude to their families. As more of Megan’s story unfolds it’s painfully obvious just how much intolerance and injustice towards women was commonplace and, in some cases, controlled by the power and fear of chapel and preacher. The stigma and shame of having a child out of wedlock was too much for some to bear, the limited choices they had are heart breaking in the extreme.
Megan and Morgan are compelling, believable and well defined, their personalities and thoughts laid bare. Each character is represented authentically, some garnering more sympathy than others, perfectly placed in the sweeping remoteness of the stunning and atmospheric Welsh countryside.
The plot, writing and story structure are all skilful and well crafted. It’s hard to believe Leap The Wild Water is a debut novel.
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October 21, 2015Leap the Wild Water is a harrowing story, told with honesty and truth allowing the reader insight into another age, an age not long past, when womenkind were regarded as Eve’s true daughters, bent on tempting men to sin.
Set in early in 19th century Wales, this tragic, yet uplifting story centres on Megan Jones, daughter to a viciously religious mother. Her once close younger brother, Morgan, is heavily influenced by his overbearing mother. Manipulated into following orders that deep down he knows are wrong, he is filled with regret. He accepts that what’s done cannot be undone, but the deed preys on his mind, casting a heavy shadow not only on his life, but that of his older sister. Too late he realises the evil he has done. He has chosen the primrose path, and knows just where that path leads.
The consequences of this cruel act is dramatically portrayed by the author in vivid exciting prose. This debut novel, inspired by her fascination for social psychology and the real-life struggles of women in her family’s past, is a grippingly tense read. Megan is a strong woman, wanting freedom in a society of denial and discrimination, a freedom denied by the very fact that she is female.
Historically accurate, strongly written this is a book that needs to be read and treasured.
Set in early in 19th century Wales, this tragic, yet uplifting story centres on Megan Jones, daughter to a viciously religious mother. Her once close younger brother, Morgan, is heavily influenced by his overbearing mother. Manipulated into following orders that deep down he knows are wrong, he is filled with regret. He accepts that what’s done cannot be undone, but the deed preys on his mind, casting a heavy shadow not only on his life, but that of his older sister. Too late he realises the evil he has done. He has chosen the primrose path, and knows just where that path leads.
The consequences of this cruel act is dramatically portrayed by the author in vivid exciting prose. This debut novel, inspired by her fascination for social psychology and the real-life struggles of women in her family’s past, is a grippingly tense read. Megan is a strong woman, wanting freedom in a society of denial and discrimination, a freedom denied by the very fact that she is female.
Historically accurate, strongly written this is a book that needs to be read and treasured.
January 8, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book that was recommended by a friend. It's Lloyd's first novel and she did an outstanding job with the story line, the pace and gives the reader a clear understanding of the complexities of relationships and the difficulties women have faced historically. Good job.
July 30, 2014
Leap into it as a better option. started to skim fairly early on
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