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Mountain Wives #2
Widow Mouse
WIDOW MOUSE
Mountain Wives Series: Book Two
Jeanne's father runs a trading post. When a hunter named Henri LeSouris, the mouse, offers his furs for one of the man's five daughters. Jeanne is traded and wed, with the promise that she won't be beaten or abused.
Henri is patient and gentle with the young girl, but he keeps moving in search of good hunting from the Alleghenies down through the Appalachian mountain chain. He finally settles in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, when pregnant Jeanne can travel no further.
The store owner, Jasper Sykes, is a veteran of the Spanish-American war. When Henri LeSouris, goes missing, killed and believed eaten by a bear, his widow becomes homeless. Jasper is nearly deaf, tall and intimidating to the young woman and most of his neighbors. Although he offers Jeanne and her newborn son food and shelter, he demands she pay off her husband’s debt.
Jeanne, called Widow Mouse, is shunned at first by the close knit community of Kyles Ford. She is a northerner, a widow living with a bachelor, Catholic, and perhaps worst of all, she can read and write.
Isolated, she learns Jasper isn’t an ogre, just shy and hard of hearing. She tries to help him overcome his handicap. But can such a strange couple ever find love and happiness?
Mountain Wives Series: Book Two
Jeanne's father runs a trading post. When a hunter named Henri LeSouris, the mouse, offers his furs for one of the man's five daughters. Jeanne is traded and wed, with the promise that she won't be beaten or abused.
Henri is patient and gentle with the young girl, but he keeps moving in search of good hunting from the Alleghenies down through the Appalachian mountain chain. He finally settles in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, when pregnant Jeanne can travel no further.
The store owner, Jasper Sykes, is a veteran of the Spanish-American war. When Henri LeSouris, goes missing, killed and believed eaten by a bear, his widow becomes homeless. Jasper is nearly deaf, tall and intimidating to the young woman and most of his neighbors. Although he offers Jeanne and her newborn son food and shelter, he demands she pay off her husband’s debt.
Jeanne, called Widow Mouse, is shunned at first by the close knit community of Kyles Ford. She is a northerner, a widow living with a bachelor, Catholic, and perhaps worst of all, she can read and write.
Isolated, she learns Jasper isn’t an ogre, just shy and hard of hearing. She tries to help him overcome his handicap. But can such a strange couple ever find love and happiness?
- GenresHistorical
360 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2016
88 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 15, 2021
Pretty good book
I had to hurry and read this to get my mind off of the death of Gabriel -but it is still hard. I don’t know why Gabriel couldn’t have made it all the way and planted his own grapevines in California. Very sad but the author’s choice.
Loved Jeanne and Jasper. Felt sorry for Henri. Jasper was a very likable man— a man with a heart. There are so many characters in this town that are unlikable. Judgemental and prejudiced! I loved that Jasper had a lot of love for Jeanne and baby Henry. He is a very kind man. Biery’s theme is always overcoming adversity and finding love. She does it it well. A lot of poppas in these books that do not love their children—sad!
I had to hurry and read this to get my mind off of the death of Gabriel -but it is still hard. I don’t know why Gabriel couldn’t have made it all the way and planted his own grapevines in California. Very sad but the author’s choice.
Loved Jeanne and Jasper. Felt sorry for Henri. Jasper was a very likable man— a man with a heart. There are so many characters in this town that are unlikable. Judgemental and prejudiced! I loved that Jasper had a lot of love for Jeanne and baby Henry. He is a very kind man. Biery’s theme is always overcoming adversity and finding love. She does it it well. A lot of poppas in these books that do not love their children—sad!
December 18, 2017
Great story.
Great story. Was a little predictable and had some grammatical errors in spots. The characters were believable and likable. Recommended.
Great story. Was a little predictable and had some grammatical errors in spots. The characters were believable and likable. Recommended.
October 21, 2023
While I enjoyed this story, some points jarred with me.
The description of Jeanne's and Henri's relationship was inconsistent. Henri's pov states that he's 'almost too old to enjoy her', yet Jeanne is pregnant.
The timeline.
Another timeline point; Jasper and Jeanne becoming a couple. That seemed to leap from giving each other side-eyes to it feels like out of nowhere .
Having said all that, I would recommend. Just ignore the typos.
The description of Jeanne's and Henri's relationship was inconsistent. Henri's pov states that he's 'almost too old to enjoy her', yet Jeanne is pregnant.
The timeline.
Another timeline point; Jasper and Jeanne becoming a couple. That seemed to leap from giving each other side-eyes to it feels like out of nowhere .
Having said all that, I would recommend. Just ignore the typos.
September 21, 2025
While I enjoyed this story, some points jarred with me.
The description of Jeanne's and Henri's relationship was inconsistent. Henri's pov states that he's 'almost too old to enjoy her', yet Jeanne is pregnant.
The timeline.
Another timeline point; Jasper and Jeanne becoming a couple. That seemed to leap from giving each other side-eyes to it feels like out of nowhere .
Having said all that, I would recommend. Just ignore the typos.
The description of Jeanne's and Henri's relationship was inconsistent. Henri's pov states that he's 'almost too old to enjoy her', yet Jeanne is pregnant.
The timeline.
Another timeline point; Jasper and Jeanne becoming a couple. That seemed to leap from giving each other side-eyes to it feels like out of nowhere .
Having said all that, I would recommend. Just ignore the typos.
April 3, 2018
A beautiful story
Once again the author has written a beautiful story, full of little historical details that make all the difference. I’ve read a lot about this time period and she still taught me a few things. Can’t wait to read more in this series!
Once again the author has written a beautiful story, full of little historical details that make all the difference. I’ve read a lot about this time period and she still taught me a few things. Can’t wait to read more in this series!
September 23, 2019
Jasper and Jeanne
This is a very well written story and the plot and the character, both reoccurring and new, were well thought out too. The is adventure, excitement, a smig of humor and the love of a happily ever after. I enjoyed this tale and I believe you will too.
This is a very well written story and the plot and the character, both reoccurring and new, were well thought out too. The is adventure, excitement, a smig of humor and the love of a happily ever after. I enjoyed this tale and I believe you will too.
October 13, 2017
This wasn't a story I enjoyed
But it wasn't the Authors writing ability. I didn't care for the storyline and the way the characters talked. Will try another story
But it wasn't the Authors writing ability. I didn't care for the storyline and the way the characters talked. Will try another story
May 19, 2016
The Widow Mouse
The Deaf Store Keeper
And The Mountain Community Of Kyles Ford
STORY LINE:
Author Janet Biery has crafted another heart-touching, warm, feel good novel. This is book 2 of the series, however, it is a standalone. I look forward to publication of book 3.
Jeanne's traded in marriage to fur trapper Henri LeSouris in exchange for LeSouris' furs. Henri and Jeanne are constantly on the move until Henri settles in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in Kyles Ford. Life for Jeanne has been a hard scrapple existence with the gentle and kind Henri. Henri has a past and is older than Jeanne. Henri is known as Mouse as the other residents can not pronounce the Frenchman's name. They have no money, very little food, and a rented house that is going to be pulled out from under them. Henri goes after a wounded bear in the hope of meat, fur, and money. Jeanne has just given birth to a son when Henri leaves never to return and she becomes know as the Widow Mouse.
What is she to do? How can she and the baby survive? Enter our hero store keep, Jasper Sykes, almost totally deaf from injuries received in the Spanish-American war. He is loud, offensive and misunderstood due to his hearing lose.
Come follow Jasper and Jeanne has they journey from desperation, gossips, and insecurities, to find true happiness.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:
Author Janet Biery's writing is clean and clear. I found the plot refreshing and easy to follow as Ms. Bierry reveals the under belly and quirks of the small community of Kyles Ford, Hancock County. As Catholic's and outsiders, Ms. Biery depicted the hard life foreigners found in America. Not only was Jeanne a Catholic, she was also a Yankee widow with no means of support or help; seen as foreign and strange to the backwoods mountain villagers before and after her husband was killed.
Jeanne's character growth was progressive throughout the book as she grew from an insecure girl to a secure woman with talents, goodness of heart, morals, and strength of character. Ms. Biery skillfully revealed and developed Jeanne's character; I loved watching this shy girl become a mature young woman. Jeanne deserved better than life had handed her; Ms. Biery's well crafted story-line gave Jeanne all she deserved.
Jasper has many insecurities due to his physical disabilities which Ms. Biery clearly and concisely developed and resolved as he and Jeanne develop a relationship of more than servant and employer. Jasper, under all the gruff, is a loving, kind, caring, moral man and Ms. Biery's depiction of this time period was well done.
The character of the Henri, Jeanne's baby boy, was skillfully portrayed & developed throughout the book. The entire community is not immune to the sweetness of a baby Henri. After all, who can hate or ignore a sweet baby!
The secondary characters in this book add so much to the story-line, as well as, leave openings for future books in the series. Each one is a character unto themself; some are funny, sad, or lazy, but each adds depth to the story-line.
This book is well-written, well-developed, and the pacing is spot on. The story did not lag or slow; Ms. Biery kept my interest from the first page to the last. The ending was very sweet and I loved it! I forward to seeing more of Jeanne and Jasper's life in future books.
RECOMMENDATION: 5 STARS
I highly recommend this solid well-written book to anyone that loves a good romance. I do not hesitate to recommend to this book for your reading pleasure. Ms. Biery is one of my favorite authors; she never fails to produce a wonderful story.
I received this book from the author in return for an honest book review. Book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author's opinion; all book reviews on line under my name and on my blog. are my opinion.
LINK TO PURCHASE BOOK ON AMAZON
The Deaf Store Keeper
And The Mountain Community Of Kyles Ford
STORY LINE:
Author Janet Biery has crafted another heart-touching, warm, feel good novel. This is book 2 of the series, however, it is a standalone. I look forward to publication of book 3.
Jeanne's traded in marriage to fur trapper Henri LeSouris in exchange for LeSouris' furs. Henri and Jeanne are constantly on the move until Henri settles in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains in Kyles Ford. Life for Jeanne has been a hard scrapple existence with the gentle and kind Henri. Henri has a past and is older than Jeanne. Henri is known as Mouse as the other residents can not pronounce the Frenchman's name. They have no money, very little food, and a rented house that is going to be pulled out from under them. Henri goes after a wounded bear in the hope of meat, fur, and money. Jeanne has just given birth to a son when Henri leaves never to return and she becomes know as the Widow Mouse.
What is she to do? How can she and the baby survive? Enter our hero store keep, Jasper Sykes, almost totally deaf from injuries received in the Spanish-American war. He is loud, offensive and misunderstood due to his hearing lose.
Come follow Jasper and Jeanne has they journey from desperation, gossips, and insecurities, to find true happiness.
CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:
Author Janet Biery's writing is clean and clear. I found the plot refreshing and easy to follow as Ms. Bierry reveals the under belly and quirks of the small community of Kyles Ford, Hancock County. As Catholic's and outsiders, Ms. Biery depicted the hard life foreigners found in America. Not only was Jeanne a Catholic, she was also a Yankee widow with no means of support or help; seen as foreign and strange to the backwoods mountain villagers before and after her husband was killed.
Jeanne's character growth was progressive throughout the book as she grew from an insecure girl to a secure woman with talents, goodness of heart, morals, and strength of character. Ms. Biery skillfully revealed and developed Jeanne's character; I loved watching this shy girl become a mature young woman. Jeanne deserved better than life had handed her; Ms. Biery's well crafted story-line gave Jeanne all she deserved.
Jasper has many insecurities due to his physical disabilities which Ms. Biery clearly and concisely developed and resolved as he and Jeanne develop a relationship of more than servant and employer. Jasper, under all the gruff, is a loving, kind, caring, moral man and Ms. Biery's depiction of this time period was well done.
The character of the Henri, Jeanne's baby boy, was skillfully portrayed & developed throughout the book. The entire community is not immune to the sweetness of a baby Henri. After all, who can hate or ignore a sweet baby!
The secondary characters in this book add so much to the story-line, as well as, leave openings for future books in the series. Each one is a character unto themself; some are funny, sad, or lazy, but each adds depth to the story-line.
This book is well-written, well-developed, and the pacing is spot on. The story did not lag or slow; Ms. Biery kept my interest from the first page to the last. The ending was very sweet and I loved it! I forward to seeing more of Jeanne and Jasper's life in future books.
RECOMMENDATION: 5 STARS
I highly recommend this solid well-written book to anyone that loves a good romance. I do not hesitate to recommend to this book for your reading pleasure. Ms. Biery is one of my favorite authors; she never fails to produce a wonderful story.
I received this book from the author in return for an honest book review. Book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author's opinion; all book reviews on line under my name and on my blog. are my opinion.
LINK TO PURCHASE BOOK ON AMAZON
September 23, 2016
Another Winner
Second in this series....Will begin #3 next. Love the characters, the time in history and the reminders of how hard life used to be....I'll try never to complain again that I have to wait 20 minutes at the doctor's office...at least we have one.
Second in this series....Will begin #3 next. Love the characters, the time in history and the reminders of how hard life used to be....I'll try never to complain again that I have to wait 20 minutes at the doctor's office...at least we have one.
July 3, 2016
J. R. you have a wonderful way of telling a unique story. I was so excited when I found you had written another book for Appalachian Mountain Romance series! I will admit though towards the end of the story, the excitement fell a little flat. I kept expecting something dramatic to happen. But overall I was well pleased with the story and look forward the next one in the series about the fiddler and the school teacher! Thanks again!!
August 24, 2016
Fantastic author
I loved everything about this story. I found it really hard to stop reading. I am looking forward to reading another book from this author. You won't regret buying this one!
I loved everything about this story. I found it really hard to stop reading. I am looking forward to reading another book from this author. You won't regret buying this one!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews