What do you think?
Rate this book
The Whittaker Family Reunion
In depth historical research makes this novel an education as well as a very entertaining read. With characters so real they feel like family, readers won't be able to put this book down. The Whittaker Family Reunion is the sequel to Of Dreams and Nightmares but stands alone for new readers. As with the first book in the series, this one leaves us wanting more. Emotion filled, heartfelt, with both suspense and romance, Shirley Roe has given fans another five star novel! We were introduced to the Whittaker family in Of Dreams and Nightmares. The Whittaker Family Reunion takes readers back to 1881 and the family is reunited once again. Martha and Jeremy await the arrival of their two sons, Abraham from Mississippi and Ezekiel, from England. The third son Isaac lives near St. Louis and is anxious to see his brothers again. Daughter Anna is spoiled and nothing but trouble. Abraham arrives with a woman, much to the family's surprise. Ezekiel makes a narrow escape in England. Will the reunion be a happy one? Who will leave St. Louis in disgrace? Will Martha get to spend time with her entire family before tragedy strikes? The reunion is shadowed by another man, one seeking revenge; will he get what he wants? Will he kill one or all of them?
195 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2008
3 people want to read
About the author
Shirley A. Roe
18 books2 followersAuthor, Shirley A. Roe lives in Ontario, Canada. She is the author of six historical fiction novels and has won several awards for poetry, business articles and her historical fiction novels. Shirley is the founder and Managing Editor of Allbooks Review International.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 22, 2009
The Whittaker Family Reunion - Review by Martha A. Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat
'The boy stared straight ahead aware of the other's interest. His young mind was reeling. Can I trust this doctor? Will those men find me and possibly kill us both? Can I tell him that the men are after me an why? He watched the doctor through his peripheral vision; the doctor was handsome and older than he was. The clothes were of good quality, but appeared to be several years old; he was a puzzle.'
The Whittakers are having a family reunion for Martha Whittaker's 40th birthday. Martha and her husband Jeremy can't wait for the arrival of their sons.
Isaac, the oldest, lives nearby with his wife and family. When his father Jebediah married Martha he hated her and stood his distance inflicting as much pain through his evil deeds as possible to make her sorry she married his father. But after the death of his father he realized what a blessing Martha actually was. They were now close and he was proud to call her his mother.
Ezekiel lived in England. He took quite well to Martha as she taught him to read. Reading and learning were his passion and he later grown up to become a teacher. He couldn't wait to see his mother.
Abraham was the doctor in the family. His respect for his mother grew when his father beat him and Martha stepped in hoping to stop the brutal beating. Instead, she too was given a beating by his father. After being locked in the barn for hours, their closeness grew and he became the first one to call her mom.
Jeremy was the brother of Jebediah. He had been sent by Martha's father from England to America to rescue Martha from his evil brother. After the death of his brother, Jeremy found himself loving Martha and the boys enough to stay in America just to be with them and eventually marrying Martha. Jeremy and Martha's marriage made the family complete. And with the birth of their daughter Anna, who could ask for more.
After the abuse and beatings Jebediah inflicted on herself and her sons led her to treat her daughter Anna with a soft hand. Most agreed a too soft hand. Anna was spoiled, selfish, self-centered and held no respect for anyone other than herself. She became a constant burden to her parents. After sending her away to boarding school only to have her return unexpectedly, they agreed to give her hand in marriage to Martha's bookkeeper. For Anna, this was exactly what she needed to free her from her mother. She happily agreed to the marriage but had her own plans in mind as to how she would treat the marriage.
And then there is Red who is determined to destroy the Whittaker family. How will he do this? He will start with the women in the family which will bring the men to their knees. Then he will destroy them.
I read Of Dreams and Nightmares and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the characters, following them through their travels from England to Wyoming with death and destruction along the way and their final escape from the evil Jebediah Whittaker. I've also enjoyed The Whittaker Family Reunion which takes their lives and stories into adulthood. Now I'm looking forward to reading Back to Whittakerville in hopes that Anna will realize the hurt she has created for those that love her and straighten out her life. The story, as well as the history written into these books, make them unforgettable.
February 26, 2011
'The boy stared straight ahead aware of the other's interest. His young mind was reeling. Can I trust this doctor? Will those men find me and possibly kill us both? Can I tell him that the men are after me an why? He watched the doctor through his peripheral vision; the doctor was handsome and older than he was. The clothes were of good quality, but appeared to be several years old; he was a puzzle.'
The Whittakers are having a family reunion for Martha Whittaker's 40th birthday. Martha and her husband Jeremy can't wait for the arrival of their sons.
Isaac, the oldest, lives nearby with his wife and family. When his father Jebediah married Martha he hated her and stood his distance inflicting as much pain through his evil deeds as possible to make her sorry she married his father. But after the death of his father he realized what a blessing Martha actually was. They were now close and he was proud to call her his mother.
Ezekiel lived in England. He took quite well to Martha as she taught him to read. Reading and learning were his passion and he later grown up to become a teacher. He couldn't wait to see his mother.
Abraham was the doctor in the family. His respect for his mother grew when his father beat him and Martha stepped in hoping to stop the brutal beating. Instead, she too was given a beating by his father. After being locked in the barn for hours, their closeness grew and he became the first one to call her mom.
Jeremy was the brother of Jebediah. He had been sent by Martha's father from England to America to rescue Martha from his evil brother. After the death of his brother, Jeremy found himself loving Martha and the boys enough to stay in America just to be with them and eventually marrying Martha. Jeremy and Martha's marriage made the family complete. And with the birth of their daughter Anna, who could ask for more.
After the abuse and beatings Jebediah inflicted on herself and her sons led her to treat her daughter Anna with a soft hand. Most agreed a too soft hand. Anna was spoiled, selfish, self-centered and held no respect for anyone other than herself. She became a constant burden to her parents. After sending her away to boarding school only to have her return unexpectedly, they agreed to give her hand in marriage to Martha's bookkeeper. For Anna, this was exactly what she needed to free her from her mother. She happily agreed to the marriage but had her own plans in mind as to how she would treat the marriage.
And then there is Red who is determined to destroy the Whittaker family. How will he do this? He will start with the women in the family which will bring the men to their knees. Then he will destroy them.
I read Of Dreams and Nightmares and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the characters, following them through their travels from England to Wyoming with death and destruction along the way and their final escape from the evil Jebediah Whittaker. I've also enjoyed The Whittaker Family Reunion which takes their lives and stories into adulthood. Now I'm looking forward to reading Back to Whittakerville in hopes that Anna will realize the hurt she has created for those that love her and straighten out her life. The story, as well as the history written into these books, make them unforgettable.
Nov. 2009
The Whittakers are having a family reunion for Martha Whittaker's 40th birthday. Martha and her husband Jeremy can't wait for the arrival of their sons.
Isaac, the oldest, lives nearby with his wife and family. When his father Jebediah married Martha he hated her and stood his distance inflicting as much pain through his evil deeds as possible to make her sorry she married his father. But after the death of his father he realized what a blessing Martha actually was. They were now close and he was proud to call her his mother.
Ezekiel lived in England. He took quite well to Martha as she taught him to read. Reading and learning were his passion and he later grown up to become a teacher. He couldn't wait to see his mother.
Abraham was the doctor in the family. His respect for his mother grew when his father beat him and Martha stepped in hoping to stop the brutal beating. Instead, she too was given a beating by his father. After being locked in the barn for hours, their closeness grew and he became the first one to call her mom.
Jeremy was the brother of Jebediah. He had been sent by Martha's father from England to America to rescue Martha from his evil brother. After the death of his brother, Jeremy found himself loving Martha and the boys enough to stay in America just to be with them and eventually marrying Martha. Jeremy and Martha's marriage made the family complete. And with the birth of their daughter Anna, who could ask for more.
After the abuse and beatings Jebediah inflicted on herself and her sons led her to treat her daughter Anna with a soft hand. Most agreed a too soft hand. Anna was spoiled, selfish, self-centered and held no respect for anyone other than herself. She became a constant burden to her parents. After sending her away to boarding school only to have her return unexpectedly, they agreed to give her hand in marriage to Martha's bookkeeper. For Anna, this was exactly what she needed to free her from her mother. She happily agreed to the marriage but had her own plans in mind as to how she would treat the marriage.
And then there is Red who is determined to destroy the Whittaker family. How will he do this? He will start with the women in the family which will bring the men to their knees. Then he will destroy them.
I read Of Dreams and Nightmares and thoroughly enjoyed meeting the characters, following them through their travels from England to Wyoming with death and destruction along the way and their final escape from the evil Jebediah Whittaker. I've also enjoyed The Whittaker Family Reunion which takes their lives and stories into adulthood. Now I'm looking forward to reading Back to Whittakerville in hopes that Anna will realize the hurt she has created for those that love her and straighten out her life. The story, as well as the history written into these books, make them unforgettable.
Nov. 2009
February 25, 2011
Martha Whittaker is turning forty and looking forward to a family reunion. Her years of terror with her first husband, Jebediah, have long since been buried in the back of her mind. Her three stepsons, Isaac, Abraham and Ezekiel, have also blocked the painful memories of their abusive father. Even Jeremy, Martha’s second husband and Jebediah’s older brother, has worked hard to create a happy family and help remove the horrors of his brother from everyone’s mind. The past is in the past and Jebediah has long been dead and buried in some far-away prairie town. At least everyone thought so until a man looking very much like Jebediah starts to haunt the Whittaker family, threatening the happy gathering of Martha’s three stepsons and her very troublesome daughter, Anna. Will Isaac’s wife bear the brunt of his guilt and suffer from this man’s abuse? Will Ezekiel suddenly turn abusive like his father? Will Abraham’s dreams of his father’s return actually come true? And then there is the most troubling question that plays on Martha’s mind. Do any of the children bear the evil gene that fed Jebediah’s madness, the same gene of insanity that placed their grandmother in an asylum long before they were born?
Shirley A. Roe has once again woven a fascinating plot of mystery and intrigue with a touch of romance set in nineteenth century America. She leads us very quickly into the lives of each member of the Whittaker family, revealing their talents, their strengths and their weaknesses as they come together again, reluctantly reminiscing the horrors of their past. The family that we grew to love in Roe’s first novel about Martha Whittaker, Of Dreams and Nightmares, catches our hearts and compassion yet again as the author expands her compelling tale of love and hate, good and evil. She tells a passionate tale of a family that bands together as one strong, unified force confronting their foe head-on in an attempt to avert yet another tragedy.
Roe’s talent at bringing history to life is evident in her second novel about the Whittaker family. The Whittaker Family Reunion is highly recommended by Allbooks reviewer and award-winning author, Emily-Jane Hills Orford.
March 27, 2009
I like historical fiction because it can give me a feel for an era that history books usually can't. This novel about a woman, who after her abusive husband dies, moves to St. Louis and opens what becomes "the" place to get clothes, is full of detail about the fashions of the day.
As the title implies, the characters in the story are all gathering for a family reunion. The year is 1881 and family members gather from England, Mississippi and St. Louis. Unfortunately, an uninvited guest is also present. His relationship to the family is revealed at the end. The book is full of romance, and most are happy at the end of the book, but not all.
The story concept is good. I cared about some of the characters. I enjoyed the historical detail. The cover is attractive, and sets the ominous mood that is maintained throughout the story. Unfortunately, the writing could have been tightened up a lot. There were grammatical errors. The first lines of paragraphs were indented seven spaces; which is more than generally seen in books and which I thought made it more difficult to read.
This is book two in a series. Book three will be published this summer.
As the title implies, the characters in the story are all gathering for a family reunion. The year is 1881 and family members gather from England, Mississippi and St. Louis. Unfortunately, an uninvited guest is also present. His relationship to the family is revealed at the end. The book is full of romance, and most are happy at the end of the book, but not all.
The story concept is good. I cared about some of the characters. I enjoyed the historical detail. The cover is attractive, and sets the ominous mood that is maintained throughout the story. Unfortunately, the writing could have been tightened up a lot. There were grammatical errors. The first lines of paragraphs were indented seven spaces; which is more than generally seen in books and which I thought made it more difficult to read.
This is book two in a series. Book three will be published this summer.
April 1, 2009
If you are a person that didn't like studying history in school, like myself, you will be in for a surprise when you read this book. One would think that a book that was set in the time period of 1881 would be dry and boring however you will find that this is a page turning, highly entertaining and fun book to read in which you learn about the history of the time period.
I couldn't put this book down! I am now a fan of Shirley A. Roe and cannot wait to read more of her works. The characters come alive as does the time period.
The Whittaker family has been through so much already, put the terrible times behind them and are now flourishing. A troublesome, very spoiled girl and a person bent on vengeance wreck havoc for the family. And, then you are left with questions left unanswered and wanting more.
You really do need to read this book!
I couldn't put this book down! I am now a fan of Shirley A. Roe and cannot wait to read more of her works. The characters come alive as does the time period.
The Whittaker family has been through so much already, put the terrible times behind them and are now flourishing. A troublesome, very spoiled girl and a person bent on vengeance wreck havoc for the family. And, then you are left with questions left unanswered and wanting more.
You really do need to read this book!
September 16, 2009
Blood is thicker…?
Shirley Roe has crafted an intricate follow-up story to the introductory Martha Whittaker story. This book has intrigue and conflict that you would never suspect would happen in a family.
Martha’s three sons are all grown now and trying live on without the memory of their dead abusive father until a mysterious stranger shows up at a wedding and things turn nasty as they realize their father still has a hold on their lives.
Looking forward to the next installment!
Shirley Roe has crafted an intricate follow-up story to the introductory Martha Whittaker story. This book has intrigue and conflict that you would never suspect would happen in a family.
Martha’s three sons are all grown now and trying live on without the memory of their dead abusive father until a mysterious stranger shows up at a wedding and things turn nasty as they realize their father still has a hold on their lives.
Looking forward to the next installment!
September 20, 2008
M. Freidman says: Well, the fact is once I started it, I couldn't put it down. Shirley Roe is an amazing story teller that had me from page one. At first I thought, what a wonderful movie this would make, but as I read, the words created that movie in my mind. Highly recommended. as is the first book in the series, Of Dreams and Nightmares.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews