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Sugar Sun #2
Sugar Moon
Named one of the "10 Best Historical Romances with Sports" by Frolic !
The nights were their secret.
The papers back home call Ben Potter a hero of the Philippine-American War, but he knows the truth. When his estranged brother-in-law offers him work slashing sugarcane, Ben seizes the opportunity to atone—one acre at a time. At the hacienda Ben meets schoolteacher Allegra Alazas. While Allegra bristles at her family’s traditional expectations, the one man who appreciates her intelligence and independence seems to be the very worst marriage prospect on the island.
Neither Ben nor Allegra fit easily in their separate worlds, so together they must build one of their own. But when Ben’s wartime past crashes down upon them, it threatens to break their elusive peace.
The nights were their secret.
The papers back home call Ben Potter a hero of the Philippine-American War, but he knows the truth. When his estranged brother-in-law offers him work slashing sugarcane, Ben seizes the opportunity to atone—one acre at a time. At the hacienda Ben meets schoolteacher Allegra Alazas. While Allegra bristles at her family’s traditional expectations, the one man who appreciates her intelligence and independence seems to be the very worst marriage prospect on the island.
Neither Ben nor Allegra fit easily in their separate worlds, so together they must build one of their own. But when Ben’s wartime past crashes down upon them, it threatens to break their elusive peace.
318 pages, Paperback
First published April 10, 2019
7 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Jennifer Hallock
5 books37 followersJennifer Hallock spends her days teaching history and her nights writing historical happily-ever-afters. She has lived and worked in the Philippines, but she currently writes at her little brick house on a New England homestead—kept company by her husband, a growing flock of chickens, and a border collie mutt puppy who likes to chew computer power cords.
Author Courtney Milan wrote of the Sugar Sun series: “If you’re looking for a meaty historical romance that will transport you somewhere you’ve never been, Jennifer Hallock’s books…are must-reads.”
Author Courtney Milan wrote of the Sugar Sun series: “If you’re looking for a meaty historical romance that will transport you somewhere you’ve never been, Jennifer Hallock’s books…are must-reads.”
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 28, 2021
tw // war crimes, mention sexual assault
This book romanticizes war crimes! The main character was an American soldier who actively participated in the Balangiga Massacre. The author failed to mention that it started because American soldiers tried to sexually assault a Filipino woman on the way to the store. Filipino soldiers retaliated against the assailants, ambushing and killing around 50. Then, a directive was given to massacre the town’s population, civilians included. Around 2,500 Filipinos were killed. Notable phrases include “kill everyone over 10” and “hang the dogs”.
Historical revisionism for the sake of a romance novel written by a colonizer about a colonizer is NOT it. This is by far the worst thing I have ever read.
This book romanticizes war crimes! The main character was an American soldier who actively participated in the Balangiga Massacre. The author failed to mention that it started because American soldiers tried to sexually assault a Filipino woman on the way to the store. Filipino soldiers retaliated against the assailants, ambushing and killing around 50. Then, a directive was given to massacre the town’s population, civilians included. Around 2,500 Filipinos were killed. Notable phrases include “kill everyone over 10” and “hang the dogs”.
Historical revisionism for the sake of a romance novel written by a colonizer about a colonizer is NOT it. This is by far the worst thing I have ever read.
April 19, 2019
You can find my live tweets here: https://twitter.com/bookthingo/status/1117842836823560198?s=21.
May 9, 2019
Sugar Moon was a wonderful installment in the Sugar Sun series. Jennifer Hallock has created a world that comes alive with details of life in the Philippines in the early 1900s—the scents, the flavors, and the rhythms of the culture are palpable. I cared intensely for Allegra (Allie), a young woman who knows what she wants but not how to get it, and Ben, who doesn’t believe he deserves to have anything at all. These characters and this setting were entrancingly real. Ben, a curmudgeon of an opium addict who I instantly disliked in Sugar Sun, is transformed through some sort of writerly witchcraft into a sympathetic character I couldn’t help but root for. Hallock really put this couple through hell, and their happily ever after was all the sweeter and more poignant for it.
Hallock writes some absolutely terrific historical romantic fiction. I know when I read one of her historical romances that it will be thoroughly-researched, sex-positive, and guaranteed to tug on my heartstrings.
Hallock writes some absolutely terrific historical romantic fiction. I know when I read one of her historical romances that it will be thoroughly-researched, sex-positive, and guaranteed to tug on my heartstrings.
February 15, 2020
Sugar Moon was a very good story. Ben had had a very troubled past which he was still to overcome. The war he fought in made him suffer from PTSD. He befriends Allie who brings a little happiness into his life each day. Together they find love and redemption.
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May 10, 2019As with the other’s in the Sugar Sun series, I could not stop reading from the first page until the last. With Sugar Moon, Author Jennifer Hallock weaves a wonderful, fast paced tale set in the early twentieth century Philippines, filled with romance and danger, interspersed with a fascinating amount of history that made me feel like I was there, walking along with the character’s, seeing and hearing the sights, sounds and scents of the various locations of this fascinating country.
In particular, I especially loved how the author features another strong, female heroine. Allegra is a bad-ass mix of a woman a fierce and soft side, the fierce the most predominant, making the chemistry between her and war damaged, hero, Benn Potter such a page turning, heart-tugging story. Yes, okay, I am a sucker for happily ever after. However, like here, it makes a much better read when there is strong story telling combined with well developed, three dimensional characters that the reader cannot help but care about. I highly recommend this to all fans of historical romance or potential fans of historical romance. If you haven’t read the other two in the Sugar Sun series, check them out!
In particular, I especially loved how the author features another strong, female heroine. Allegra is a bad-ass mix of a woman a fierce and soft side, the fierce the most predominant, making the chemistry between her and war damaged, hero, Benn Potter such a page turning, heart-tugging story. Yes, okay, I am a sucker for happily ever after. However, like here, it makes a much better read when there is strong story telling combined with well developed, three dimensional characters that the reader cannot help but care about. I highly recommend this to all fans of historical romance or potential fans of historical romance. If you haven’t read the other two in the Sugar Sun series, check them out!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews