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Y como límite, el Cielo
En 1875, Susanna Alden viaja desde Ohio a un desolado paraje de las praderas de Kansas, donde será la nueva maestra de escuela. Se trata de un lugar que todavía resiente la Guerra Civil, en el que ganaderos y agricultores siguen atrapados en un amargo conflicto. Susanna se establece en una casa hecha de adobe y abre su corazón a esta comunidad de colonizadores, y especialmente a Matt, un doctor tan marcado por la guerra que se niega a curar a los demás o a darse a sí mismo la oportunidad de amar.
127 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1990
3 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Jeanne Williams
88 books19 followersPseudonyms: Megan Castell, Jeanne Crecy, Jeanne Foster, Deirdre Rowan, Kristian Michaels, J.R. Williams
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 10, 2024
Very well-written historical fiction/romance set in Kansas a few years after the conclusion of the American Civil War. A plucky "Yank" teacher arrives in a primitive community of settlers who still live in mud huts ("soddies") in the prairie, braving wildfires, freezing winters, locusts, and the maddening winds. She is intent on teaching their children the basics of education and to heal the deep and long-lasting emotional wounds inflicted on them by the war.
Naturally, she encounters a lot of resistance, as the people in the community are still continuing the war in their own way, still aligning with their Confederate and Yankee alliances. Soon though, the community does rally around her and she finds happiness and a sense of family. There is also a romance brewing slowly between our heroine and the local doctor, a scarred, cynical man who does not believe in her high ideals.
The world building, the sense of history, the meticulous cast of secondary characters, and most of all, the wonderful characterization of the heroine, who is human and complex enough not to turn into a cardboard cut out Mary Sue, carried me through the entire 500 and so pages without a moment of boredom or frustration. There were a couple of scenes, one set during a blizzard, and one during a fire, that truly kept me on the edge of my seat. I was right there with the characters of the story, feeling their anxiety, life and death danger, sense of doom and insignificance when confronted with the terrible wrath of Mother Nature. Really neat stuff. This reads better as historical fiction than a romance, which frankly left me underwhelmed. But still very worthy of a read especially if you want to escape into another world during a heavily rainy day, which is exactly what I did.
In my humble opinion, Jeanne Williams accomplished here what Lavyrle Spencer tried to do in Years but fell short. If it wasn't for the over the top, melodramatic ending of the book, in which the author turns a villainous character into a cartoonish boogeyman and a final confrontation between him and the heroine into a B movie thriller, I would have given this a five star.
Naturally, she encounters a lot of resistance, as the people in the community are still continuing the war in their own way, still aligning with their Confederate and Yankee alliances. Soon though, the community does rally around her and she finds happiness and a sense of family. There is also a romance brewing slowly between our heroine and the local doctor, a scarred, cynical man who does not believe in her high ideals.
The world building, the sense of history, the meticulous cast of secondary characters, and most of all, the wonderful characterization of the heroine, who is human and complex enough not to turn into a cardboard cut out Mary Sue, carried me through the entire 500 and so pages without a moment of boredom or frustration. There were a couple of scenes, one set during a blizzard, and one during a fire, that truly kept me on the edge of my seat. I was right there with the characters of the story, feeling their anxiety, life and death danger, sense of doom and insignificance when confronted with the terrible wrath of Mother Nature. Really neat stuff. This reads better as historical fiction than a romance, which frankly left me underwhelmed. But still very worthy of a read especially if you want to escape into another world during a heavily rainy day, which is exactly what I did.
In my humble opinion, Jeanne Williams accomplished here what Lavyrle Spencer tried to do in Years but fell short. If it wasn't for the over the top, melodramatic ending of the book, in which the author turns a villainous character into a cartoonish boogeyman and a final confrontation between him and the heroine into a B movie thriller, I would have given this a five star.
April 27, 2019
This is my first book by this author and I'm very impressed. This story takes place after the Civil War, one of my favorite eras for historical fiction.
Suzanne Alden has lost nearly everything in the Civil War. Her beloved fiance' was killed and her doctor-father came back destroyed. Now, she is leaving Ohio to start a school in Kansas -- on the plains and in a soddie.
There, she meets two men who are interested in her: Matt Rawdon and Ase McCanless. Matt has stopped his career as a doctor because he can no longer do surgery (his life's ambition). He is a bitter man who still helps his neighbors when they are in need.
Ase is one of the wealthiest ranchers in the area and has an eleven-year-old daughter, with whom he argues continuously. But the real powder keg Susanna is sitting on: the contentious feelings between the Unionists and former Confederates who are sending their children to Susanna's school. Each side wants to know how she will teach the Civil War. This story is extremely well-written about a difficult time in America's past.
Suzanne Alden has lost nearly everything in the Civil War. Her beloved fiance' was killed and her doctor-father came back destroyed. Now, she is leaving Ohio to start a school in Kansas -- on the plains and in a soddie.
There, she meets two men who are interested in her: Matt Rawdon and Ase McCanless. Matt has stopped his career as a doctor because he can no longer do surgery (his life's ambition). He is a bitter man who still helps his neighbors when they are in need.
Ase is one of the wealthiest ranchers in the area and has an eleven-year-old daughter, with whom he argues continuously. But the real powder keg Susanna is sitting on: the contentious feelings between the Unionists and former Confederates who are sending their children to Susanna's school. Each side wants to know how she will teach the Civil War. This story is extremely well-written about a difficult time in America's past.
March 14, 2015
Susanna is a teacher who moves to Kansas after the Civil War. She faces the challenges of a one-room schoolhouse, blizzards, prairie fires, and neighbors who have not only the lingering Yankee versus Rebel mistrust of each other but also that of rancher versus farmer. Will she be able to help create the community she longs for? Will she prove herself not only to herself but to the school board? This is a story that sends you to the prairies, where there is no roof but heaven. And it is well worth the trip.
March 15, 2012
Read it a very long time ago (16 y). Was captivated by the story. Now, I'm after another read so as to introduce it to my eldest daughter..
May 20, 2019
It is a frontier romance reminiscent of the little house series. I didn't really understand the banter between the main character and her love interest. I guess I don't understand why it had to be so complicated for them to get together. Sadly, I don't think the death of the antagonist was going to fix the trauma that was caused in his family. Being post-civil war, I don't like how 150 years later we are still dealing with the north vs. South divisions which were present in the book. It did read easily. I thought the heroes were admirable.
October 4, 2022
I very much liked this book. It reminded me a lot of the television show "When Calls the Heart". It's just a good story about a young woman committed to being the best teacher she can be and the community that results from her passion and dedication.
January 2, 2024
Excelente.
Muito bonito. É um livro quentinho
"Susanna só sabia que ele tinha ido, e isso, para ela era como se o sol tivesse abandonado o céu"
Muito bonito. É um livro quentinho
"Susanna só sabia que ele tinha ido, e isso, para ela era como se o sol tivesse abandonado o céu"
May 23, 2016
This book ranks right up there with those extolling the impact of a good teacher and a strong woman.
Our heroine, Miss Alden, has accepted the post as teacher in a Kansas prairie school just ten years after the Civil War when feelings were still raw and personal losses deeply felt. She will be teaching children of both Southerners and Northerners, both cattle ranchers and wheat farmers. To further complicate matters she will also teach a boy of mixed "Indian" and "White" heritage and new-comer Mennonite children who speak little English. On top of that the school which was built is on the property of one of the board members who refuses to deed it over to the school district.
All that just scratches the surface. Miss Alden tackles living and teaching in a "soddie", is courted by two men, is hated by another, endures the terrors of prairie life, and struggles with her own feelings. She challenges prejudices and many accepted behaviors, such as wearing a corset or using a whip to discipline her students or even killing a rattler which has taken residence in her home, to name just a few.
Our heroine, Miss Alden, has accepted the post as teacher in a Kansas prairie school just ten years after the Civil War when feelings were still raw and personal losses deeply felt. She will be teaching children of both Southerners and Northerners, both cattle ranchers and wheat farmers. To further complicate matters she will also teach a boy of mixed "Indian" and "White" heritage and new-comer Mennonite children who speak little English. On top of that the school which was built is on the property of one of the board members who refuses to deed it over to the school district.
All that just scratches the surface. Miss Alden tackles living and teaching in a "soddie", is courted by two men, is hated by another, endures the terrors of prairie life, and struggles with her own feelings. She challenges prejudices and many accepted behaviors, such as wearing a corset or using a whip to discipline her students or even killing a rattler which has taken residence in her home, to name just a few.
December 16, 2008
I was drawn to this book because the back cover has a blurb comparing it to the Little House on the Prairie series, which I love and am reading to my daughter right now. Susanna is a pioneer teacher, and at first, I didn't really care for her. She seemed too inflexible and predictable. I keep reading, and started to enjoy the descriptions of life in Kansas during the late 1800's. By the end of the book, I was enjoying the story line and liked Susanna more. The ending was fairly predictable, but also entertaining.
August 1, 2012
Enjoyable historical romance-western fiction. I continued to be delighted by the topics presented, including Scotch-Irish immigration, vivid detail of life in a soddie, and the aftermath of the Civil war on the prairie in Kansas. It is indeed much like th Little House series, with strong story lines to keep you reading well into the night.
October 1, 2015
Following the American Civil War Susanna Alden moves from Ohio to Kansas to be a school teacher. She finds a town torn apart by the past war as well as a struggle between ranchers and homesteaders. She falls for the battle scarred town doctor.
August 28, 2010
Excellent novel. Well written. Good Read
May 24, 2013
another romantic novel, west, but very well done. I´ve read it al least 3 times.
July 31, 2013
Awesome story. Everytime I read this book, I want to be a teacher xD
April 8, 2014
This was one of my mother's favorite books, and I finally got around to reading it. Enjoyable, although somewhat predictable Western romance. I did enjoy the historical details.
November 21, 2016
Y como límite, el cielo...
Parte de la colección de libros de "Selecciones"
Parte de la colección de libros de "Selecciones"
June 23, 2024
A really good historical romance.
April 20, 2016
One of the best books I have ever read!!!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews