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The Heron
The past calls to those who dare to listen…
An invitation arrives; Abbey Coote, professor of American Studies, has won an extended stay in a historic B&B, Pine Tree House. The timing is perfect. Abbey is recovering from an accident which left her abusive boyfriend dead and her with little memory of the event. But her idyllic respite soon takes a terrifying turn. While exploring the ancient house, Abbey comes face to face with Mary Foss, a woman dead for 350 years. Through a time/mind interface Abbey experiences the horrors of Mary’s life, living at the edge of the civilized world in 1690s New England. As Abbey faces her worst fears, she struggles to free them both from the past.
An invitation arrives; Abbey Coote, professor of American Studies, has won an extended stay in a historic B&B, Pine Tree House. The timing is perfect. Abbey is recovering from an accident which left her abusive boyfriend dead and her with little memory of the event. But her idyllic respite soon takes a terrifying turn. While exploring the ancient house, Abbey comes face to face with Mary Foss, a woman dead for 350 years. Through a time/mind interface Abbey experiences the horrors of Mary’s life, living at the edge of the civilized world in 1690s New England. As Abbey faces her worst fears, she struggles to free them both from the past.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2021
21 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
About the author
Jean M. Roberts
7 books188 followersHey readers! I am a lover of history, witchcraft, magic, mystery and all things women. I write about powerful women who help each other, who band together for the greater good. This a common theme throughout all my books. This does not mean I don't like a great romance, but the girls come first.
I live outside of Houston, Texas where I can be found either at my desk writing or out in the garden, growing flowers and veggies!
I live outside of Houston, Texas where I can be found either at my desk writing or out in the garden, growing flowers and veggies!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
February 16, 2021
Many thanks to the author for an ARC copy of this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.
OK I will just get this one point out of the way before anything else. Is there a magic wand that could be swished and flicked which will transport me to this beautiful house called Pine Tree House, minus the ghosts, of course!
Jean M Roberts novel that has plots of time slip romance weaving thru the historical time of 1690’s and also talking about a painful subject of physical abuse is brilliant. Dr. Abigail Coote is travelling on a deserved break to Portsmouth in New Hampshire after a traumatic event in her life. But her arrival is not all rest and no work that she had envisaged. The ghosts of the past are determined to achieve what they have been waiting for 300 years. As Abbey discovers the truth of her genealogy and her connection to Pine Tree House, the time travel allows her glimpses of the life of young Mary whose married life becomes one of terror.
The story alternates between the present and the 1690’s and the history of the Indian attacks, how the families survived the unrest of those times and the plight of the women to always play second fiddle to the men in their life. Irrespective of the change of times, Abbey discovers that other than the ways of life, nothing much has changed and that human emotions, jealousies, and vying for upmanship and superiority are the basic needs that control a man’s whim. Mary’s life under the brutal hands of her husband and her horrific experiences that continues with no end in sight was absolute pain to read.
The beautiful setting of the story is simply enthralling, so much that I wanted to be in Abbey’s place to enjoy the sights and sounds of New Hampshire. The switching of the time frames as Abbey travels to Mary’s time is quite seamless and the historical details that the author has scrupulously researched provide an authenticity to the enduring tale of love and redemption.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India and Twitter.
OK I will just get this one point out of the way before anything else. Is there a magic wand that could be swished and flicked which will transport me to this beautiful house called Pine Tree House, minus the ghosts, of course!
Jean M Roberts novel that has plots of time slip romance weaving thru the historical time of 1690’s and also talking about a painful subject of physical abuse is brilliant. Dr. Abigail Coote is travelling on a deserved break to Portsmouth in New Hampshire after a traumatic event in her life. But her arrival is not all rest and no work that she had envisaged. The ghosts of the past are determined to achieve what they have been waiting for 300 years. As Abbey discovers the truth of her genealogy and her connection to Pine Tree House, the time travel allows her glimpses of the life of young Mary whose married life becomes one of terror.
The story alternates between the present and the 1690’s and the history of the Indian attacks, how the families survived the unrest of those times and the plight of the women to always play second fiddle to the men in their life. Irrespective of the change of times, Abbey discovers that other than the ways of life, nothing much has changed and that human emotions, jealousies, and vying for upmanship and superiority are the basic needs that control a man’s whim. Mary’s life under the brutal hands of her husband and her horrific experiences that continues with no end in sight was absolute pain to read.
The beautiful setting of the story is simply enthralling, so much that I wanted to be in Abbey’s place to enjoy the sights and sounds of New Hampshire. The switching of the time frames as Abbey travels to Mary’s time is quite seamless and the historical details that the author has scrupulously researched provide an authenticity to the enduring tale of love and redemption.
This review is published in my blog https://rainnbooks.com/, Goodreads, Amazon India and Twitter.
March 29, 2021
I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Although this isn’t a book I would normally read, its rich, sensory writing drew me into the story. Jean Roberts introduces the setting of the novel as Pine Tree House, Oyster River, New Hampshire. Using a dual timeline, the story switches from a contemporary narrative to the seventeenth century. Abbey is a feisty protagonist who visits the house and is inducted into paranormal happenings by Jeremiah and Miriam. She navigates the past and the present to identify similarities in experiences. This is a confidently told story, full of detail and description. It’s an impressive, sensory and engaging read. To anyone who normally avoids reading out of their comfort zone, give The Heron a try, you won’t regret it.
February 8, 2021
I received an advance copy of The Heron from the author, expecting an escapist adventure, laced with romance. Yet nothing is what it seems, after Professor Abbey Coote accepts a free getaway to a historic New England Inn, complete with a charismatic and handsome chef. The gutsy academic hopes the trip will help her get over an abusive relationship back in her native Houston that ended with a drowning and partial memory loss. But when it becomes apparent that Abbey shares a ghostly connection with a Puritan woman trapped in a loveless marriage, both she and the reader are quickly jolted from present-day candle-lit oyster suppers into the harsh realities of life endured by colonial settlers.
It was not until I read this book that I realized how complex life must have been in those early days. The author's research is impressive, yet woven seamlessly into the spooky story in such a way that it transports you effortlessly to a time when survival was uncertain and women were secondary citizens, obliged to bend to the will of their husbands, however unreasonable.
Jean Roberts' use of beautiful imagery moves you effortlessly - and satisfyingly - between her time-frames, hundreds of years apart: "the scene grew blurry and fluid...like a watercolor brush dipped in water, the diluted colors ran until the boat disappeared..."
The Heron can be a challenging read in places, being both a tribute to the struggles of those men and women of the eighteenth-century and to the survival instinct in all of us. It reminds us, as it does Abbey, that "Love, hate, jealousy, the inner workings of the heart and mind, endure unchanged."
I consider this an important book in many ways, with its incredibly strong sense of place and its exploration of the emotional lives of women separated by four centuries who reach out to help one another finally find peace of mind. It is also a cracking good read that I found almost impossible to put down.
It was not until I read this book that I realized how complex life must have been in those early days. The author's research is impressive, yet woven seamlessly into the spooky story in such a way that it transports you effortlessly to a time when survival was uncertain and women were secondary citizens, obliged to bend to the will of their husbands, however unreasonable.
Jean Roberts' use of beautiful imagery moves you effortlessly - and satisfyingly - between her time-frames, hundreds of years apart: "the scene grew blurry and fluid...like a watercolor brush dipped in water, the diluted colors ran until the boat disappeared..."
The Heron can be a challenging read in places, being both a tribute to the struggles of those men and women of the eighteenth-century and to the survival instinct in all of us. It reminds us, as it does Abbey, that "Love, hate, jealousy, the inner workings of the heart and mind, endure unchanged."
I consider this an important book in many ways, with its incredibly strong sense of place and its exploration of the emotional lives of women separated by four centuries who reach out to help one another finally find peace of mind. It is also a cracking good read that I found almost impossible to put down.
February 7, 2021
From the first pages, subtle foreshadowing tells the reader they are in for a ride. The author skillfully unfolds parallel plots taking place in current time and the seventeenth century. This novel is well-crafted and rich in historical detail. As Abigail slips back in time to the story of Mary, I went right with her without reservation. That takes talent! The ending is stunning, and I won’t include spoilers. You have to read it for yourself. Highly recommend.
February 14, 2022
This is my second book for FebruarySheWrote. The Heron is a solid, well-written dual-time line historical fiction novel with a dash of what you could call the supernatural, paranormal, or even magical realism. As is often the case, I found myself drawn somewhat more to Mary's storyline versus Abbey's, but that changed at the end. This sort of story could easily become disjointed, and the author did a superb job preventing that from happening. This is a very creative book, and it would be a perfect read for someone who enjoys historical fiction but is open to reading something a little different, especially something with a twist of the supernatural. I would highly recommend this book.
January 13, 2021
I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of this book from the author. I highly recommend it! The story was gripping from the opening chapter. It had so many elements that I love in a story - mystery, romance, time travel, history and so much more. Every time I put the book down, I found myself wondering about what was happening - who really did what? what was their motive? what would they do next? I was so into the book that I couldn't put it down for long. I found myself laying awake at night pondering the various "clues" that I thought I saw. I suppose that was what I loved the most about this book. The author did a fantastic jump of laying down subtle clues or "bread crumbs" that kept you guessing until the very end. There are many twists and turns with an ending that does not disappoint! An excellent read!!
April 15, 2021
The cover for "The Heron" is very appealing, especially the clock segment. I came across an offer by the author to ARC this book. When she told me that it included historical events and time-travel, I was all in!
And what a ride it was! In the end, it exhausted me so much, I had to wait for a while until I could gather my notes properly and put out a neat review.
The beginning was fantastic! - it told me right off the bat, in a gentle manner, how the main character, Abbey, was going to be. It was only a hint, but was put across in a fun way, which I loved. After that beginning, reading was steady. Descriptions were not too grand, but definitely nice to read. That was the first thing I loved and appreciated about the narration. Kudos to Jean!
And then, Abbey began to see things that confused her, especially when she was already tired from her journey across the continent. But I knew I was just getting a taste of the fun!
Though, by this point, one thing started to annoy me: Thoughts could've been put in italics or some form to distinguish them from regular narrative. Imagine reading third person past narration and suddenly coming across first person present.
And then, as I read through, the narration got a bit bland in some parts. But since I'd already become invested in the story, I didn't mind carrying on reading. I cared enough to find out more about the strange occurrences and why they were happening to our main character.
It took a while, but I finally began to understand the plot of the story and the purpose of all the main characters, both in the past and in the present. My feelings about what happened in the past makes the story that much more appealing and compelling to read.
As much as I loved this story, I couldn't say I could give it more than four stars. There were a few reasons for this:
1. Sometimes, whole paragraphs were confusing due to words used or misused.
2. Some commas and apostrophes were missing, which made me double back to understand what I was reading. This kept happening from time-to-time, which was what was annoying. One or two would've been completely fine.
3. The places and times mentioned at the top of the chapter start getting misleading around the middle of the book. I began to get confused, especially since scene breaks were at several points in the chapters. It's not the scene breaks that got to me, but the fact that I didn't know whose perspective I was seeing after a break, especially when the name wasn't mentioned, only "she". I suppose this was a narrative type, but it can become misleading.
4. Like I mentioned before, the thoughts that got blended with the narration. Perhaps it was a printing error, but it still served to distract me.
Nonetheless, I would still recommed this story to all who are seeking to read some good time-travel relationship read. This book teaches us about friendships and relationships.
I would love to read more of Jean M Roberts' work!
And what a ride it was! In the end, it exhausted me so much, I had to wait for a while until I could gather my notes properly and put out a neat review.
The beginning was fantastic! - it told me right off the bat, in a gentle manner, how the main character, Abbey, was going to be. It was only a hint, but was put across in a fun way, which I loved. After that beginning, reading was steady. Descriptions were not too grand, but definitely nice to read. That was the first thing I loved and appreciated about the narration. Kudos to Jean!
And then, Abbey began to see things that confused her, especially when she was already tired from her journey across the continent. But I knew I was just getting a taste of the fun!
Though, by this point, one thing started to annoy me: Thoughts could've been put in italics or some form to distinguish them from regular narrative. Imagine reading third person past narration and suddenly coming across first person present.
And then, as I read through, the narration got a bit bland in some parts. But since I'd already become invested in the story, I didn't mind carrying on reading. I cared enough to find out more about the strange occurrences and why they were happening to our main character.
It took a while, but I finally began to understand the plot of the story and the purpose of all the main characters, both in the past and in the present. My feelings about what happened in the past makes the story that much more appealing and compelling to read.
As much as I loved this story, I couldn't say I could give it more than four stars. There were a few reasons for this:
1. Sometimes, whole paragraphs were confusing due to words used or misused.
2. Some commas and apostrophes were missing, which made me double back to understand what I was reading. This kept happening from time-to-time, which was what was annoying. One or two would've been completely fine.
3. The places and times mentioned at the top of the chapter start getting misleading around the middle of the book. I began to get confused, especially since scene breaks were at several points in the chapters. It's not the scene breaks that got to me, but the fact that I didn't know whose perspective I was seeing after a break, especially when the name wasn't mentioned, only "she". I suppose this was a narrative type, but it can become misleading.
4. Like I mentioned before, the thoughts that got blended with the narration. Perhaps it was a printing error, but it still served to distract me.
Nonetheless, I would still recommed this story to all who are seeking to read some good time-travel relationship read. This book teaches us about friendships and relationships.
I would love to read more of Jean M Roberts' work!
March 8, 2021
I love a haunted house story. Always happy to curl up with one whether the climes are cool and autumnal or summery. There is just something about creaky doors, apparitions and eerie doings that hooks me. Maybe it’s the tantalizing glimpse in other realms. Maybe it’s the notion that, as the universe turns, eventually all things will be set right even if it takes centuries.
That said, Jean M. Roberts’ novel, The Heron possesses all of the above and more! The Heron’s haunted house is a venerable 17th century New England estate called Pine Tree House. Pine Tree House isn’t just haunted – for certain sensitive individuals, it’s super haunted with terrifying visions of colonial New England life. One of these certain sensitives is Texan Dr. Abby Coote who arrives at Pine Tree House hoping for a relaxing vacation from academic pursuits but finds herself embroiled in a long-lost historical mystery from the turbulent 1690s.
Roberts writes with a sure hand. Her story is tight and well plotted with likable paranormal sleuths – Abby, Jeremiah and Miriam – as her main characters. She sets sections of The Heron around real inhabitants and events of 17th century New England, giving some genuine insight into colonial lives. Lives that could be completely unraveled in mere minutes by sudden Indian attacks or a strain of Small Pox. Roberts ingeniously weaves paranormal episodes throughout the present-day timeline, setting them at Pine Tree House and in various historical locations in the story’s geography.
The Heron is good eerie fun. The perfect novel to curl up with in a cozy corner, armed with a pot of hot tea, or stuffed into a beach bag, ready for an engrossing read by the sea.
Note: I was sent an ARC of The Heron
That said, Jean M. Roberts’ novel, The Heron possesses all of the above and more! The Heron’s haunted house is a venerable 17th century New England estate called Pine Tree House. Pine Tree House isn’t just haunted – for certain sensitive individuals, it’s super haunted with terrifying visions of colonial New England life. One of these certain sensitives is Texan Dr. Abby Coote who arrives at Pine Tree House hoping for a relaxing vacation from academic pursuits but finds herself embroiled in a long-lost historical mystery from the turbulent 1690s.
Roberts writes with a sure hand. Her story is tight and well plotted with likable paranormal sleuths – Abby, Jeremiah and Miriam – as her main characters. She sets sections of The Heron around real inhabitants and events of 17th century New England, giving some genuine insight into colonial lives. Lives that could be completely unraveled in mere minutes by sudden Indian attacks or a strain of Small Pox. Roberts ingeniously weaves paranormal episodes throughout the present-day timeline, setting them at Pine Tree House and in various historical locations in the story’s geography.
The Heron is good eerie fun. The perfect novel to curl up with in a cozy corner, armed with a pot of hot tea, or stuffed into a beach bag, ready for an engrossing read by the sea.
Note: I was sent an ARC of The Heron
March 7, 2021
BLURB
The past calls to those who dare to listen…
An invitation arrives; Abbey Coote, Professor of American Studies, has won an extended stay in an historic B&B, Pine Tree House. The timing is perfect. Abbey is recovering from an accident which left her abusive boyfriend dead and her with little memory of the event.
But her idyllic respite soon takes a terrifying turn. While exploring the house, Abbey comes face to face with Mary Foss, a woman dead for 350 years. Through a time/mind interface, Abbey experiences the horrors of Mary’s life, living at the edge of the civilized world in the 1690’s New England.
As Abbey faces her worst fears, she struggles to free them both from the past.
REVIEW
Let me start by saying thanks to the author for inviting me to read this marvelous story. The dual timeline drew me in, and left me in awe of the descriptive ability the author provides. Not only the amiable, historic, current day events and locales, but the eye opening detail of life in a beautiful, but savage wilderness in the late 17th century, It is a tale that incorporates a series of supernatural events that allows the past to be viewed by the protagonists in the present. As the book progresses we learn more of the brutal existence of a woman trapped by the societal norms of male and religious domination. It is also a tale of two tragic loves, and of the search for healing. I really enjoyed the steady flow of the book. Well it steadily gets a little more dramatic with each chapter, and compels the reader to keep on going. Great characters, an imaginative narrative full of surprises, and wonderfully crafted imagery, The Heron is a page turning delight. 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The past calls to those who dare to listen…
An invitation arrives; Abbey Coote, Professor of American Studies, has won an extended stay in an historic B&B, Pine Tree House. The timing is perfect. Abbey is recovering from an accident which left her abusive boyfriend dead and her with little memory of the event.
But her idyllic respite soon takes a terrifying turn. While exploring the house, Abbey comes face to face with Mary Foss, a woman dead for 350 years. Through a time/mind interface, Abbey experiences the horrors of Mary’s life, living at the edge of the civilized world in the 1690’s New England.
As Abbey faces her worst fears, she struggles to free them both from the past.
REVIEW
Let me start by saying thanks to the author for inviting me to read this marvelous story. The dual timeline drew me in, and left me in awe of the descriptive ability the author provides. Not only the amiable, historic, current day events and locales, but the eye opening detail of life in a beautiful, but savage wilderness in the late 17th century, It is a tale that incorporates a series of supernatural events that allows the past to be viewed by the protagonists in the present. As the book progresses we learn more of the brutal existence of a woman trapped by the societal norms of male and religious domination. It is also a tale of two tragic loves, and of the search for healing. I really enjoyed the steady flow of the book. Well it steadily gets a little more dramatic with each chapter, and compels the reader to keep on going. Great characters, an imaginative narrative full of surprises, and wonderfully crafted imagery, The Heron is a page turning delight. 5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 30, 2021
Thank you to the author for an ARC of this novel. I was happy to receive it upon request and am voluntarily leaving my review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this haunting tale. Dr. Abigail Cootes is thrilled to cash in her prize for academic success: two weeks all-expenses paid at a historic inn- The Pine Tree House in New Hampshire. Abbie is in need of a break in order to recover from the trauma of an accident in which her fiancé was killed. But she soon discovers there is much more to the centuries old homestead than gourmet meals and lovely wine. She slowly realizes that the place is haunted by ghosts from Colonial America. One of those ghosts, Mary, needs Abbie's help to escape from her abusive husband William. As the story unfolds, you begin to realize how recent events from Abbie's life have prepared her and her alone to assist Mary and to help herself in the process.
A compelling read from beginning to end woven with accurate details from Colonial life in America.
I thoroughly enjoyed this haunting tale. Dr. Abigail Cootes is thrilled to cash in her prize for academic success: two weeks all-expenses paid at a historic inn- The Pine Tree House in New Hampshire. Abbie is in need of a break in order to recover from the trauma of an accident in which her fiancé was killed. But she soon discovers there is much more to the centuries old homestead than gourmet meals and lovely wine. She slowly realizes that the place is haunted by ghosts from Colonial America. One of those ghosts, Mary, needs Abbie's help to escape from her abusive husband William. As the story unfolds, you begin to realize how recent events from Abbie's life have prepared her and her alone to assist Mary and to help herself in the process.
A compelling read from beginning to end woven with accurate details from Colonial life in America.
March 24, 2021
From the first time we meet her, we know that Abbey is going to be a likeable and complex heroine - soon we begin to realize just how complex, and soon after that, she realizes it herself.
Roberts weaves past and present into a tapestry that transcends our typical linear understanding and made me wonder if my present is more tied to my past than I know. The characters are nuanced and rich. Roberts' descriptions of the setting particularly moved me. She has a knack for recounting detail that never feels forced or monotonous. I felt like I was present in the house and gardens she created on the page.
Overall, a great read. I read it mostly in one sitting and woke up thinking about it the next day. Looking forward to reading more of Roberts' work!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have written.
Roberts weaves past and present into a tapestry that transcends our typical linear understanding and made me wonder if my present is more tied to my past than I know. The characters are nuanced and rich. Roberts' descriptions of the setting particularly moved me. She has a knack for recounting detail that never feels forced or monotonous. I felt like I was present in the house and gardens she created on the page.
Overall, a great read. I read it mostly in one sitting and woke up thinking about it the next day. Looking forward to reading more of Roberts' work!
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review, which is what I have written.
February 2, 2021
In The Heron, Jean Roberts creates a suspenseful tale that shifts deftly between contemporary New England and its seventeenth century Colonial inhabitants. After a traumatic car accident involving her abusive boyfriend, history professor Abigail Coote recovers by vacationing at the mysterious Pine Tree House in Oyster River, New Hampshire. While there, she experiences frequent “time slips” into the past, where she assumes the life of Mary Foss, a Puritan woman trapped in a loveless marriage. Mary’s story grows increasingly tense as she meets an old sweetheart behind her husband’s back and witnesses Indian attacks on nearby towns. While Abigail forges new friendships with her hosts at the Pine Tree House, she begins to draw uncanny parallels between her relationship with her deceased, abusive boyfriend and Mary’s own unhappy marriage. Vivid descriptions of the gorgeous New England coast, plus the realistic, detailed portrayal of a woman’s hardships in Colonial New England, draw the reader into a spellbinding story with a heart-stopping conclusion. A thrilling time travel page-turner.
August 29, 2021
Brilliantly absorbing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5 Star!
What a book! I loved this! So different to what I’ve been reading lately and really enthralling.
The story follows Abbey, and her discovery of Mary, a girl from the 1600’s, and their undeniable link.
The story switches seamlessly between time periods, both being clear and never confusing. The characters are deep and rich and the story just draws you in, always wanting to know what happens next.
I don’t like to give any spoilers or in depth detail in a review, i just highly recommend this one. Amazing xx
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5 Star!
What a book! I loved this! So different to what I’ve been reading lately and really enthralling.
The story follows Abbey, and her discovery of Mary, a girl from the 1600’s, and their undeniable link.
The story switches seamlessly between time periods, both being clear and never confusing. The characters are deep and rich and the story just draws you in, always wanting to know what happens next.
I don’t like to give any spoilers or in depth detail in a review, i just highly recommend this one. Amazing xx
May 30, 2021
An exciting time travel adventure that kept me turning the pages. Abbey, a professor and history lover, gets the chance of a lifetime to stay at a historic B&B. What seems like a perfect vacation turns into an otherwordly connection with a 17th Century woman trying to tell Abbey something. Abbey and her friends take the reader on an adventure back to colonial New England to discover long-hidden secrets and the connection between past and present. The Heron will keep you up late reading.
March 12, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyable!
The Heron gracefully switches between New England's 1690's and today as the story weaves its way through love, loss, hardship and heartache. A beautiful tale that will have you glued to the pages to find out what happens next.
The Heron gracefully switches between New England's 1690's and today as the story weaves its way through love, loss, hardship and heartache. A beautiful tale that will have you glued to the pages to find out what happens next.
February 25, 2021
Thank you to the author for the ARC of this book!
A beautiful and emotional story, The Heron dives into a harrowing tale of two tortured souls. Without spoiling too much, the author has created a compelling story of facing internal demons while coping with a wildly changing landscape around the protagonist. The way Abbey faces her own pain through the experiences of Mary’s life so long ago makes for a story that pulls the reader in and really puts them in the mindset of the characters.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. While it was outside of the genres that I normally enjoy, I found this to be a story that was both hard to put down and satisfying to read.
A beautiful and emotional story, The Heron dives into a harrowing tale of two tortured souls. Without spoiling too much, the author has created a compelling story of facing internal demons while coping with a wildly changing landscape around the protagonist. The way Abbey faces her own pain through the experiences of Mary’s life so long ago makes for a story that pulls the reader in and really puts them in the mindset of the characters.
Overall, I highly recommend this book. While it was outside of the genres that I normally enjoy, I found this to be a story that was both hard to put down and satisfying to read.
January 25, 2021
This book was great. Don't want to give anything away but it does have it all - love, tension, suspense, intrigue and history. I could not put it down. A great story.
August 11, 2021
Historian Abbey Cootes, recovering from an accident in which her fiancé, Bryan, is killed, wins a holiday to an historic guest house in New England, though she doesn't remember entering her name for consideration. From the moment she arrives, she has strange moments when she experiences Pine Tree House, inside and out, as though she is walking there in the past.
The owner, Miriam, and the cook, Jeremiah, admit they have brought her here under false pretences, to try to communicate with Mary Foss who lived here in the 17th century and haunts the place. Abbey is a descendant of the same family, and the blood tie could make her susceptible, as it has with others. Miriam is descended from Mary's faithful housemaid, whose name she has assumed; and though Jeremiah at first appears to have no historical counterpart, he too experiences time-slips.
At any time of day or night, without warning, Abbey finds herself occupying Mary's body, and seeing events through her eyes. Mary is tricked into marrying William Foss, though she is in love with his friend Benjamin. The latter is reported to have been lost at sea, and William will settle her father's debts if she marries him. The marriage is not a happy one, and when Benjamin returns, safe and well, she loses all trust in her husband and he in her.
The story of their love triangle is set against the background of Indian and French attacks on the settlements and dwellings. Mary is showing Abbey her story in chronological order. She leaves physical clues in the present day, and mentally directs her to different sites where the events occurred. A heron is often seen watching the modern household, and Abbey finds long grey feathers on her pillow.
As the bond between Abbey and Mary grows stronger, and Jeremiah becomes linked to Benjamin, Mary's hold on her grows more determined, and the parallels between their two lives become clear. Mary's husband is physically abusive, as Bryan was, and threatens to kill her, which could mean killing Abbey, too; but Abbey needs to know how Mary's story plays out.
The author has set the novel in the coastal area occupied by her settler ancestors, four of whom died in the massacres referred to, though the tangled relationships are fictitious. Her thorough grounding in the historical events gives authority to the 17th-century scenes of a precarious domestic existence set against a backdrop of ever-present mortal danger.
The modern sections are more sketchy, and in the pre-publish ARC edition there was a frequent lack of italics for thoughts throughout. Similarly, aargh, harrumph and um could either have been removed or italicised; rouge should be rogue on at least two occasions. Hopefully these errors have been corrected in the final version.
Overall it is a satisfying, dramatic, novel, well-researched with its voice authentic, and it holds the reader to the last page.
Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
The owner, Miriam, and the cook, Jeremiah, admit they have brought her here under false pretences, to try to communicate with Mary Foss who lived here in the 17th century and haunts the place. Abbey is a descendant of the same family, and the blood tie could make her susceptible, as it has with others. Miriam is descended from Mary's faithful housemaid, whose name she has assumed; and though Jeremiah at first appears to have no historical counterpart, he too experiences time-slips.
At any time of day or night, without warning, Abbey finds herself occupying Mary's body, and seeing events through her eyes. Mary is tricked into marrying William Foss, though she is in love with his friend Benjamin. The latter is reported to have been lost at sea, and William will settle her father's debts if she marries him. The marriage is not a happy one, and when Benjamin returns, safe and well, she loses all trust in her husband and he in her.
The story of their love triangle is set against the background of Indian and French attacks on the settlements and dwellings. Mary is showing Abbey her story in chronological order. She leaves physical clues in the present day, and mentally directs her to different sites where the events occurred. A heron is often seen watching the modern household, and Abbey finds long grey feathers on her pillow.
As the bond between Abbey and Mary grows stronger, and Jeremiah becomes linked to Benjamin, Mary's hold on her grows more determined, and the parallels between their two lives become clear. Mary's husband is physically abusive, as Bryan was, and threatens to kill her, which could mean killing Abbey, too; but Abbey needs to know how Mary's story plays out.
The author has set the novel in the coastal area occupied by her settler ancestors, four of whom died in the massacres referred to, though the tangled relationships are fictitious. Her thorough grounding in the historical events gives authority to the 17th-century scenes of a precarious domestic existence set against a backdrop of ever-present mortal danger.
The modern sections are more sketchy, and in the pre-publish ARC edition there was a frequent lack of italics for thoughts throughout. Similarly, aargh, harrumph and um could either have been removed or italicised; rouge should be rogue on at least two occasions. Hopefully these errors have been corrected in the final version.
Overall it is a satisfying, dramatic, novel, well-researched with its voice authentic, and it holds the reader to the last page.
Reviewed for Discovering Diamonds
April 14, 2021
Many thanks to the author for an ARC of this novel. I was very happy to receive it upon request and am voluntarily leaving my review.
As with the previous book from this author that I bought, (Blood in the Valley, which is also an excellent read) Ms. Roberts's attention to historical detail is both informative, exciting to read, and truly brings the story to life.
This supernatural time slip romance focuses on a core group of characters, both in the present day and in the historical 1690s. In the 2019 timeline, we are with our main protagonist Dr. Abigail Coote and get to know her, Miriam and Jeremiah as we spend time in the Pine Tree House at Oyster River, New Hampshire, and surroundings.
These people’s lives become intertwined with the ghosts of Pine Tree House’s past, namely that of Mary, the abused Puritan woman trapped in a loveless marriage, her servant Miriam, and the two men, William and Benjamin, who are fixtures in Mary’s life – one in bad, one in good.
A story that began over 300 years before is seeking to find its end. Abbey and Mary share a ghostly connection and are both determined for the truth to come out.
Rich history with real world events, gorgeous descriptions that draw you in, and especially the depictions of what life would have been like for women in Colonial New England are what turn this great story into a truly magical historical fiction for me.
I fully recommend this excellent read.
As with the previous book from this author that I bought, (Blood in the Valley, which is also an excellent read) Ms. Roberts's attention to historical detail is both informative, exciting to read, and truly brings the story to life.
This supernatural time slip romance focuses on a core group of characters, both in the present day and in the historical 1690s. In the 2019 timeline, we are with our main protagonist Dr. Abigail Coote and get to know her, Miriam and Jeremiah as we spend time in the Pine Tree House at Oyster River, New Hampshire, and surroundings.
These people’s lives become intertwined with the ghosts of Pine Tree House’s past, namely that of Mary, the abused Puritan woman trapped in a loveless marriage, her servant Miriam, and the two men, William and Benjamin, who are fixtures in Mary’s life – one in bad, one in good.
A story that began over 300 years before is seeking to find its end. Abbey and Mary share a ghostly connection and are both determined for the truth to come out.
Rich history with real world events, gorgeous descriptions that draw you in, and especially the depictions of what life would have been like for women in Colonial New England are what turn this great story into a truly magical historical fiction for me.
I fully recommend this excellent read.
November 9, 2021
Roberts’ “The Heron” follows two stories simultaneously. In the modern day is Abbey, a woman who survived an accident that killed her abusive boyfriend who wins a stay at the Pine Tree House in New Hampshire. In New Hampshire, Abbey is a guest of Miriam and Jeremiah and treated to delicious, home-cooked meals. She is also free to do as she pleases if she wants to hike, canoe, or just stay at the inn and rest.
The same can’t be said for Mary Wilder, a 17th century girl who is married off in order to settle debts in the family. Mary is in love with Benjamin despite belonging to William Foss. Mary struggles to accept her new life married to a man who insists on controlling his wife to the point of drunken rages that result in court trials.
Throughout the book, both women try to navigate their way through their own challenges and struggles. Abbey feels Mary is reaching out to her for help, but how can a woman from the 21st century help someone who has already been dead for over 300 years?
The same can’t be said for Mary Wilder, a 17th century girl who is married off in order to settle debts in the family. Mary is in love with Benjamin despite belonging to William Foss. Mary struggles to accept her new life married to a man who insists on controlling his wife to the point of drunken rages that result in court trials.
Throughout the book, both women try to navigate their way through their own challenges and struggles. Abbey feels Mary is reaching out to her for help, but how can a woman from the 21st century help someone who has already been dead for over 300 years?
February 26, 2022
The past is the present, and the present is the past, in Jean Roberts' tale of star-crossed lovers in the early days of colonial New England—and the long-lost Texan relative, Abbey Coote, who's brought to New Hampshire to bring history to its conclusion. I loved the haunted New England inn and admired Roberts' ability with setting; reading THE HERON is like walking through colonial Portsmouth. Even as you realize that clothes and language have changed, you also see that human passions have not.
Every page is suffused with seventeenth-century New Hampshire history, and Roberts cleverly tells her story by having her characters slip back and forth between the present and the past, so that the story is revealed gradually and suspensefully. Roberts' ability to get into her characters' heads, and to ground them in a past reality, reminded me of one of my favorite books, Marlys Millhiser's THE MIRROR. I highly recommend this book for fans of that one, and for those who love a good, suspenseful story well told.
Every page is suffused with seventeenth-century New Hampshire history, and Roberts cleverly tells her story by having her characters slip back and forth between the present and the past, so that the story is revealed gradually and suspensefully. Roberts' ability to get into her characters' heads, and to ground them in a past reality, reminded me of one of my favorite books, Marlys Millhiser's THE MIRROR. I highly recommend this book for fans of that one, and for those who love a good, suspenseful story well told.
April 17, 2021
A professor of American Studies, Abbey Coote is invited to stay in the historic Pine Tree House in New Hampshire. A sort of buswoman’s holiday, Abbey can do some on-site research while escaping her unpleasant past.
Unfortunately, there are unseen forces at work, and soon Abbey finds herself traveling through time where she is linked to Mary Foss, a woman living in the 1690s. With little control over when and where Mary will take control of her, Abbey must struggle not only to survive in the present but in the past as well.
Beautifully written, The Heron transports readers into a world where Indians posed a threat as great as smallpox. Jean Roberts has done a masterful job researching the history that underpins this book, but she hasn’t neglected the romance either. Although it’s not my typical read, I am delighted to have read it and even more pleased to recommend it.
Unfortunately, there are unseen forces at work, and soon Abbey finds herself traveling through time where she is linked to Mary Foss, a woman living in the 1690s. With little control over when and where Mary will take control of her, Abbey must struggle not only to survive in the present but in the past as well.
Beautifully written, The Heron transports readers into a world where Indians posed a threat as great as smallpox. Jean Roberts has done a masterful job researching the history that underpins this book, but she hasn’t neglected the romance either. Although it’s not my typical read, I am delighted to have read it and even more pleased to recommend it.
July 20, 2021
A different twist on historical fiction
This is not my usual read but I decided to step outside my comfort zone of historical fiction and read The Heroin, which is a combination of historical fiction and time travel. I wasn't disappointed. However, I would have liked a little more explanation of what actually landed Abby in the hospital near the end of the book. Overall a good read.
This is not my usual read but I decided to step outside my comfort zone of historical fiction and read The Heroin, which is a combination of historical fiction and time travel. I wasn't disappointed. However, I would have liked a little more explanation of what actually landed Abby in the hospital near the end of the book. Overall a good read.
March 29, 2021
The Heron kept my attention from the first sentence to the last. The author's ability to describe scenes both entranced, captivated, and impressed me with the carefully laid double story of love and abuse. Roberts' knowledge of the area and its history made this Texan long to revisit New England.
February 20, 2022
An engaging story with a twist of paranormal that keeps your interest throughout. Enjoyed reading about the early history of New England and New Hampshire and what life was like a century before America was born. A powerful love story with a climactic ending that keeps you involved to the final words.
January 19, 2021
When professor Abbey Coote accepts a free getaway to a quaint, historic New England Inn she sees this as a timely opportunity to escape the memory of a traumatic relationship back in Houston.
But things soon turn complex and dicey as she settles in and enjoys the ambiance of candle-lit history and oysters and fine wine in the company of her host, Miriam Foss. There’s also the inn’s handsome tour guide and chef, Jeremiah, for whom Abbey has an immediate attraction.
The weirdness begins early when Abbey senses something uncomfortably spooky yet enticing about her charming and authentically furnished vacation home. A curious feather left on a bed, the foretelling sight of a mysterious lone heron, voices muttering and brief unexplained blackouts begin to transport her back in time to the 1690s, where she inexplicably begins to inhabit the persona of a young woman with ties to the Foss family.
This is an enjoyable time-travel fantasy with a romantic undertone where the transitions between the present and the past are done skillfully and without cliche. The book is smoothly plotted, the characters fully developed as Abbey see-saws back and forth between contemporary and colonial New England, all the while developing a believable attachment to her 17th Century world.
I enjoyed the author’s attention to historic detail and her ability to deftly mingle and then resolve the difficulties of two women whose lives are lived 350 years apart. She does this in such a straightforward, narrative manner that I hardly noticed when the 21st century melted into the 17th, as in:
“…Jeremiah faded from her peripheral vision along with everyone else. The surrounding scene pixilated then rematerialized in a crystal-clear image.”
Yes, you have to suspend your disbelief, but it all works without resorting to standard “ghost-from-the-past” tropes. Even the 1690s dialogue sounds authentic.
Without dropping a spoiler, Abbey’s quest to resolve her own troubles does become successfully entwined with ghosts that might not be entirely imagined.
I recommend The Heron for both its writing and its talented take on time-travel fiction. This entertaining book, with its tempting food descriptions, might even convince me to eat an oyster.
But things soon turn complex and dicey as she settles in and enjoys the ambiance of candle-lit history and oysters and fine wine in the company of her host, Miriam Foss. There’s also the inn’s handsome tour guide and chef, Jeremiah, for whom Abbey has an immediate attraction.
The weirdness begins early when Abbey senses something uncomfortably spooky yet enticing about her charming and authentically furnished vacation home. A curious feather left on a bed, the foretelling sight of a mysterious lone heron, voices muttering and brief unexplained blackouts begin to transport her back in time to the 1690s, where she inexplicably begins to inhabit the persona of a young woman with ties to the Foss family.
This is an enjoyable time-travel fantasy with a romantic undertone where the transitions between the present and the past are done skillfully and without cliche. The book is smoothly plotted, the characters fully developed as Abbey see-saws back and forth between contemporary and colonial New England, all the while developing a believable attachment to her 17th Century world.
I enjoyed the author’s attention to historic detail and her ability to deftly mingle and then resolve the difficulties of two women whose lives are lived 350 years apart. She does this in such a straightforward, narrative manner that I hardly noticed when the 21st century melted into the 17th, as in:
“…Jeremiah faded from her peripheral vision along with everyone else. The surrounding scene pixilated then rematerialized in a crystal-clear image.”
Yes, you have to suspend your disbelief, but it all works without resorting to standard “ghost-from-the-past” tropes. Even the 1690s dialogue sounds authentic.
Without dropping a spoiler, Abbey’s quest to resolve her own troubles does become successfully entwined with ghosts that might not be entirely imagined.
I recommend The Heron for both its writing and its talented take on time-travel fiction. This entertaining book, with its tempting food descriptions, might even convince me to eat an oyster.
July 15, 2021
Love and ghosts
What a fantastic story. Draws you in all the way to the end. Great character development, perfect plot. I could not stop reading until a resolution for Mary and Benjamin.
What a fantastic story. Draws you in all the way to the end. Great character development, perfect plot. I could not stop reading until a resolution for Mary and Benjamin.
May 17, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Couldn't put it down. It has a little of everything from ghosts, history, romance, violence, and family. Just an all around good read.
Read
May 26, 2022Review
I loved this story. I did wonder how much was fact. It was a beautiful love story, with a twist. Well worth reading.
I loved this story. I did wonder how much was fact. It was a beautiful love story, with a twist. Well worth reading.
May 31, 2022
Free for review
Not my cup of tea. It flashes between present and past and I can't keep up....
I'm sure others will like it.
Not my cup of tea. It flashes between present and past and I can't keep up....
I'm sure others will like it.
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