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Love in the Catskills
For young Mary Chandler, the splendor and natural beauty of the Catskills and its famed resort, Catskill Mountain House, gives her more than fresh air and awe-inspiring sights. It gives her Hester, a lifelong gift greater than all the riches in the world.
For young artist, Hester Van Wyck, meeting Mary turns out to be a life-changing experience, expanding her rural horizons and enriching her life.
As the summers go by and the world changes around them, Mary and Hester’s relationship grows. From dolls and play to dealing with their loved ones as the country is torn asunder by the Civil War, the one constant is their devotion to one another.
Love in the Catskills is the first book in the Eras of Love series, each novel focusing on the strongest of all forces against the backdrop of the progressive eras of American history. The trials and tribulation of Mary, Hester, and their descendants are certain to enthrall the reader as these women fight, not only for their unique place in the world, but also for the ones who hold their hearts.
For young artist, Hester Van Wyck, meeting Mary turns out to be a life-changing experience, expanding her rural horizons and enriching her life.
As the summers go by and the world changes around them, Mary and Hester’s relationship grows. From dolls and play to dealing with their loved ones as the country is torn asunder by the Civil War, the one constant is their devotion to one another.
Love in the Catskills is the first book in the Eras of Love series, each novel focusing on the strongest of all forces against the backdrop of the progressive eras of American history. The trials and tribulation of Mary, Hester, and their descendants are certain to enthrall the reader as these women fight, not only for their unique place in the world, but also for the ones who hold their hearts.
- GenresLesbianHistorical
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2015
4 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
October 23, 2015
Knowing all the areas the book is set in, the author was spot on. I love how all the descriptions brought me to the era with ease. I could see the late 1800's and all the issues women had.
I love how early on these two women connected and slowly learned how well they fit together.
I loved watching the women they grew into and how deeply they loved.
Through the authors words I was able to feel what these women were feeling. I laughed with them and cried with them.
Very well written and true to the time period it is set in. Look forward to next installment in this era's series.
I love how early on these two women connected and slowly learned how well they fit together.
I loved watching the women they grew into and how deeply they loved.
Through the authors words I was able to feel what these women were feeling. I laughed with them and cried with them.
Very well written and true to the time period it is set in. Look forward to next installment in this era's series.
November 6, 2015
I just finished reading “Love in the Catskills” by BL Miller. I am not a regular reader of novels set in the past, I normally prefer my reading set in current times. This was an exception, loved it. It is a great coming of age story of two girls in the nineteenth century. Mary and Hester discover each other as young girls and we get to watch them grow up with a backdrop of issues including family conflicts, class distinctions, political issues and the civil war. None of these overtake the story but add wonderful depth to the characters. As the girls grow and discover each other we are reminded of our own childhoods and for me it was a reminder how we are all very much the same even as we are amazingly unique. Take a chance and try out this author, I think you will enjoy this story as much as I did.
November 3, 2015
BL Millers latest entry in the world of literature is a great read. Her development of the main characters, Mary Chandler and Hester Van Wyck, is nothing short of engaging. Watching them grow from ten years old to womanhood captured the essence of the time period as well as the young ladies milestones. I found the amount of history weaved into the story was very well researched and relevant to moving the story forward.
This is a solid beginning to a series that promises to be excellent.
This is a solid beginning to a series that promises to be excellent.
quit-reading
March 9, 2017While I do love historical fiction and have enjoyed previous works by the author, I wasn't engaged at all. After just 15%, I decided to put the book down.
I didn't feel anything toward any of the characters and found myself wanting to skim large chunks of text and dialogue because they didn't seem to hold anything relevant to the story (ie: the chants while the girls played and their prolonged debate over who would miss who more).
I'll certainly try another book by the author but this one wasn't for me.
*I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I didn't feel anything toward any of the characters and found myself wanting to skim large chunks of text and dialogue because they didn't seem to hold anything relevant to the story (ie: the chants while the girls played and their prolonged debate over who would miss who more).
I'll certainly try another book by the author but this one wasn't for me.
*I received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
October 30, 2015
Love in the Catskills, this is story of love between to young girls. A love that will connect them, a love so strong so innocent that time and distance can never separate them. This story is set during the mid 1800’s in New York. BL Miller does a wonderful job setting the scenes and capturing the emotion of the characters. For those who love an innocent romantic tale this is a must read.
November 10, 2015
Love in the Catskills by BL Miller is a historical romance sent in the mid-1850s. The book follows the lives of two girls who could not have grown up more opposite. Divided by social standing, these two young women forge ahead to make a life of their own.
Mary Chandler is a young girl, ten years of age upon first introduction, who is spending her summer with her family at the Mountain House in the Catskills. Mary is part of the upper echelon of New York high society. Her family is beyond wealthy.
Hester Van Wyck is also a young girl, nine when the book begins, who befriends Mary while she is summering at the Mountain House. Hester’s father paints portraits for the rich, while barely making ends meet. The Van Wyck’s are uneducated and very poor, night and day from the Chandler family.
Mary and Hester form an immediate friendship as only two young people can. The book follows Mary and Hester’s summer friendship for the next 8 years. Sounds nice right, well in all truth this was super boring. The first 30% of the book is so dry. I wanted to put it down. Reading about the ins and outs of a 10 year old’s day does not do it for me. I felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over again. I pushed through and it picked up a little, once the girls became of age, but it by no means became riveting. I felt like the real issues of that time, (the Civil War, women’s suffrage), that were brought up by the author were very much glossed over. This book did not draw emotion from me as the reader, it was another case of an author telling but not showing. Overall, the book was not my favorite, and I would pass on reading it again.
Mary Chandler is a young girl, ten years of age upon first introduction, who is spending her summer with her family at the Mountain House in the Catskills. Mary is part of the upper echelon of New York high society. Her family is beyond wealthy.
Hester Van Wyck is also a young girl, nine when the book begins, who befriends Mary while she is summering at the Mountain House. Hester’s father paints portraits for the rich, while barely making ends meet. The Van Wyck’s are uneducated and very poor, night and day from the Chandler family.
Mary and Hester form an immediate friendship as only two young people can. The book follows Mary and Hester’s summer friendship for the next 8 years. Sounds nice right, well in all truth this was super boring. The first 30% of the book is so dry. I wanted to put it down. Reading about the ins and outs of a 10 year old’s day does not do it for me. I felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over again. I pushed through and it picked up a little, once the girls became of age, but it by no means became riveting. I felt like the real issues of that time, (the Civil War, women’s suffrage), that were brought up by the author were very much glossed over. This book did not draw emotion from me as the reader, it was another case of an author telling but not showing. Overall, the book was not my favorite, and I would pass on reading it again.
October 30, 2015
I LOVED this book! This is a beautiful story of two young women coming of age during the civil war. The characters are beautifully developed as are the family dynamics.
Above all it's a love story that is beautiful & at times bittersweet. Will they or won't they be able to remain together?
I read the story in the space of 2 days because I simply could not put it down.
Above all it's a love story that is beautiful & at times bittersweet. Will they or won't they be able to remain together?
I read the story in the space of 2 days because I simply could not put it down.
December 10, 2015
I debated chucking this one several times after the first few days of reading it. From the offset, it just wasn't for me. Apparently, this is the first entry of a series where the author will have a lesbian romance set to the backdrop of some impactful historical era. This one occurs during and around the Civil War. However, the War really has little bearing on the story--so I'm really questioning the author's plan for such a lofty series.
The romance aspect is rushed and not particularly believable in the slightest. There is a lot of telling, and very little showing by the author. Coupled with this is some truly awful, cornball dialogue. This will be my first and last entry in this series.
Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
The romance aspect is rushed and not particularly believable in the slightest. There is a lot of telling, and very little showing by the author. Coupled with this is some truly awful, cornball dialogue. This will be my first and last entry in this series.
Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews