The new Americana romance from bestselling author Dorothy Garlock, this time set against the backdrop of WWII.
Sophie Heller's family immigrated from Germany to Victory, a small town in Illinois, before WWII began. Now that the war has affected the town, the townspeople discriminate against Sophie and her family. When a train derails, it is an accident but the Heller family is blamed. Coming to Sophie's rescue is a teacher from the high school, and despite their cultural differences, a romance starts to bloom.
Dorothy Garlock was a best-selling American author of over 60 historical romance novels, most of them set in the American West. More than 20 million copies of her books are in print, in 18 languages. Her books have been on the New York Times best seller list seven times. She was named one of the 10 most popular writers of women's fiction four years in a row, from 1985-1988. In 1997, she was awarded the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award. Garlock is also a member of the Romance Writers Hall of Fame.
Garlock worked as an editor, agent and publicist for most of her writing career. She was a native of Texas who grew up in Oklahoma then married and moved to Iowa. Garlock donated many of her manuscripts and other unpublished writings to the University of Iowa libraries.
An incredibly painful read. One of the first times I seriously wished to leave a book unfinished (an urge that arose less than 1/3rd of the way through). According to the book jacket, this author has won numerous awards for historic fiction and has been on the best seller list. I sure can't tell it by this book. Maybe historic romance is outside her genre. The story line held great potential: a German family flees Germany in 1933 (when Hitler first becomes chancellor) and starts over, building a new life in a small American farming community. Now, as America enters WWII, the family find themselves under attack from a couple of local idiots determined to rid the community of "hidden Nazi agents." I expect historic fiction to provide a clear picture of history or culture, but this book offered little information on anything that wouldn't be known to grade-school kids watching grade-B movies. The more I read, the more the book became one huge cliche, dragging on . . . and on . . . and on. If I take the author's bio at face value, I can only wonder how this book compares to her previous successes, though I lack enough curiosity to ever pick up another one of her books.
This was a book I really wanted to like--and by all accounts I should have liked it very much. It's a romance set during one of my favorite periods of history, after all. But I just never connected with the characters.
As the book opened, Sophie's anxiety practically shimmers off the page, like heat off the asphalt ahead of you on the road in mid August. I felt the anticipation build that I was going to go down an unfamiliar path that would give me new perspectives and experiences to ponder. But the further I read, the more it became clear that this was going to disappoint me in the end. Very Hallmark-esque in some of its delivery, I wasn't overly impressed with the depth or nuance of the story. I also came to realize that this book was not a love story set against an Americana backdrop in the wake of Pearl Harbor.
What I liked about The Moon Looked Down: The male lead was not a perfect little Hallmark cookie cutter - I won't spoil the details of his "flaw" but I appreciated that he wasn't the sort of character that you usually get as the male lead in a romance. The premise had promise, at least - Let's face it. U.S. history is filled with its fair share of shameful practices recorded, as with anywhere there are people to be foul to one another, I suppose, since you can trace that sort of behavior all the way back to Cain and Abel. This one focused on one that you don't hear overly much about: hate crimes against German immigrants during WWII. I appreciated the opportunity to consider what life must have been like for this particular subgroup of Americans at this time.
What I didn't care for: The writing felt a bit stilted - There is a particular flow that I look for in an author's style that either groups them with or separates them from the general masses. I like sentences and thoughts that flow, almost melodically. I didn't find that in Ms Garlock's writing, which felt staccato in some areas and just immature or undeveloped in others. The author needed to open the thesaurus more than just the one time - I swear, I should have had a tally sheet to track the number of times she used 'roil-roiling-roiled'. So many stereotypes - I get it, they're stereotypes for a reason. But I feel like there's a fine art to picking the one or two that will be most effective in your storytelling rather than use every single one available to you. It made the whole story feel trite and overwrought.
Worth noting: Consider this sufficient warning if language and sexual reference are something you wish to avoid. Both are present, and what's more, their presence feels forced and awkward. Almost as if someone else added them to the manuscript after the fact, or the author wasn't comfortable with this particular content but was trying to be relevant and appealing to an audience that expects this sort of thing.
I seriously considered what to rate this book. My initial reaction was a single star, because the book was still readable, if not very good. I finally decided on a second star because of Cole Ambrose (the male lead) and the topic of the book (though it remained only minimally explored, and even then, through tropes and stereotypes rather than any real, deep thoughtfulness. Advertised as historical fiction with a romantic thread, The Moon Looked Down fancied itself a bodice ripper (though not quite all that, despite its feeble attempts) that took place during American history. This isn't unreadable but...I wouldn't recommend it.
Baca versi English (hardcover bo! :)) ) dan review dalam Bahasa Indonesia
Victory, Illinois, Juni 1942, awal Perang Dunia II, Sophie Heller dan keluarganya pindah dari Jerman ke Amerika untuk menghindari pengaruh Hitler dan Nazi serta membangun hidup baru. Namun pada suatu malam, lumbung pertanian mereka dihancurkan oleh 3 lelaki tak dikenal yang menuduh keluarga Sophie sebagai agen Nazi dan mengancam akan membunuh mereka jika mereka tidak segera pergi dari Victory. Sophie yang ketakutan memutuskan untuk tidak melapor pada polisi, namun teror terhadap keluarga mereka terus berlanjut, sampai akhirnya dia mendapatkan dukungan dari Cole Ambrose.
Cole Ambrose, kembali dari Chicago ke Victory untuk mengisi lowongan sebagai guru Matematika pada sekolah setempat. Terlahir dengan sebelah kaki yang cacat, membuat Cole sulit berjalan dan tidak bisa bergabung dengan pihak militer, selain itu dia harus mendapati bahwa hubungannya yang buruk dengan sang ayah, Robert masih belum membaik. Saat sedang menikmati makan siang di rumah makan, Cole bertemu dengan Sophie yang mengkonfrontasi tiga lelaki yang menyerang keluarganya, Ellis, Riley, dan salah satunya adalah teman kecil Sophie, Graham. Cole menyelamatkan Sophie, walaupun hal ini juga menempatkan dia dalam bahaya.
Setelah mengetahui permasalah yang sebenarnya, Cole berusaha melindungi dan mendukung Sophie. Seiring dengan waktu, perasaan cinta dan kasih sayang mulai tumbuh dalam hati Cole dan Sophie. Namun hal ini juga mengakibatkan kecemburuan pada hati Graham, dan mengancam untuk membunuh Cole. Sophie harus berpacu dengan waktu, untuk melindungi keluarganya dan mencegah ketiga orang anti Jerman ini untuk menghancurkan segala yang dia miliki dan orang orang yang dia cintai.
Yang suka sama Morning Glorynya Lavyrve Spencer (bener ga ya nulisnya) pasti suka ini. Latar belakang PD 1, cewe dan cowonya masih sama2 Virgin [hmpfh]
Oh ya, ini mau diterbitin ufuk lho :D EDIT : Udah diterbitkan rupanya (beli ah, nanti)
All families carry secrets and unfortunately hatred and fear can be found anywhere, including Victory, Illinois, where in the summer of 1942, three young men burn down the Heller family's barn. It does not matter to these young men that the Hellers are now Americans, they only see Germans, and during the height of WWII they want action. The reasons for this and the subsequent reason for the Heller family staying silent and not going to Sheriff Allen Carter eventually are brought to light in The Moon Looked Down by Dorothy Garlock. Secrets, family loyalty, devotion, bigotry, fear, redemption and romance are a few of the key issues covered in Garlock's novel as she introduces her readers to the quiet town of Victory and its inhabitants. The main characters, Sophie Heller and Cole Ambrose, are both strong, but in very different ways. Their strengths compliment each other and keep the story moving along at a nice pace. Garlock descriptively shows the town and the transformation of the inhabitants through the eyes of the Heller family, especially Sophie Heller, the anti-German movement that began with three young men, and Cole Ambrose who returned to Victory with his own unresolved issues. The Moon Looked Down takes a close look at what life may have been like for those who emigrated prior to WWII and how easily ignorance and fear can spread through rumour and supposition. The Moon Looked Down is an enjoyable read and a sweet romance novel interspersed through the historical backdrop of America entering WWII. I would recommend The Moon Looked Down to anyone looking for an engaging romance novel.
Let me say first of all what I liked about the book. It takes place in the 1940's in the midwest which is a different time period from what I usually read. I also really liked that the male character wasn't perfect in looks. In fact, he has a crippled leg.
This book had so many great possibilites, but the writing was just bad. I don't understand why there were so many exclamation points. Why is everyone always yelling, even at innappropriate moments? I seriously don't think the author knows how to use punctuation correctly. But what do I know, right?
I'd have to say don't bother with this one. A lot of possibilites, but a waste of a couple of hours of my life.
If you like grocery store romance paperbacks then you'll like this. The only reason I read pastthe first 30 pages was because a friend said it wasn't bad. (She gave the book 2 stars). So I kept reading, thinking it would get better. It didn't. What a waste of time.
Tried to enjoy this, but felt that there was something missing. It lacked color in it's characters and writing. I don't think I'll read Dorothy Garlock again.
Oh how I miss the historical details of Garlocks earlier books. A good story idea- a German immigrant being harassed during world war ll and a club foot boy stuck teaching instead of fighting. This love struck at first sight and hopping into bed on the first date like a millennial is getting tiresome. I liked the adventure but miss the history!
I found this book to be very bland. The story wasn't anything special and I thought it was pretty predictable. I would recommend it for YA however some of the language and sex scenes might not be appropriate for a young reader.
I didn't finish this book and don't see myself ever wanting to. I got about 100 pages in and it wasn't working for me. I do like some of Garlock's other work, but I think I'm tired of the small-town-bigots-try-to-chase-out-the-newcomers storyline.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I have read a lot of this authors books and this one didn't move me as well as the others. Maybe I'm tired of reading about hatred towards different races and ignorant people. I will read this again when the country is in a better place.
I liked reading this book, I think the time period was a drastic change from most people’s usual choices. The plot itself was bland and predictable, and the characters were relatively generic. That being said, it delivers exactly what it promises to the tee.
I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I found it to be difficult to put down. The author did a great job of weaving the story through the minds of all the characters
Good enough story, lots of cliches and overly positivic view about life. Plus no real consequences were paid off. Not my type of romance. Thats my take. Picked up this book randomly.
From My Blog...[return][return][return]All families carry secrets and unfortunately hatred and fear can be found anywhere, including Victory, Illinois, where in the summer of 1942, three young men burn down the Heller family's barn. It does not matter to these young men that the Hellers are now Americans, they only see Germans, and during the height of WWII they want action. The reasons for this and the subsequent reason for the Heller family staying silent and not going to Sheriff Allen Carter eventually are brought to light in The Moon Looked Down by Dorothy Garlock. Secrets, family loyalty, devotion, bigotry, fear, redemption and romance are a few of the key issues covered in Garlock's novel as she introduces her readers to the quiet town of Victory and its inhabitants. The main characters, Sophie Heller and Cole Ambrose, are both strong, but in very different ways. Their strengths compliment each other and keep the story moving along at a nice pace. Garlock descriptively shows the town and the transformation of the inhabitants through the eyes of the Heller family, especially Sophie Heller, the anti-German movement that began with three young men, and Cole Ambrose who returned to Victory with his own unresolved issues. The Moon Looked Down takes a close look at what life may have been like for those who emigrated prior to WWII and how easily ignorance and fear can spread through rumour and supposition. The Moon Looked Down is an enjoyable read and a sweet romance novel interspersed through the historical backdrop of America entering WWII. I would recommend The Moon Looked Down to anyone looking for an engaging romance novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
After having skimmed through other Garlock novels at the library, I was highly disappointed. The plots are basically all the same, just in different historical periods, and the characters don't seem to change personalities from novel to novel, either. It's usually the stereotypically feisty young woman who falls in love with a quiet, mysterious, handsome man (with some other junk about money drama, etc. thrown in). I didn't finishThe Moon Looked Down and don't plan on reading any of Garlock's works in the future.
My biggest issue with this novel was the amount of exclamation marks she used. They were insistent, constant and really distracting from the story. I tried ignoring them, but when you have AT LEAST one exclamation mark in nearly EVERY paragraph, it gets to be a little too much. I also couldn't get attached to the characters, which I expect within the first chapter of the novel. If you haven't hooked me by then, chances are you won't with the rest of the book.
Because of her experience and the numerous awards she has received for her work in the past, I genuinely wanted to give her a chance and to expand my repertoire (I don't read romance, but wanted to give it a try). Unfortunately, The Moon Looked Down was a flop for me and further research into her other novels has left me looking elsewhere for a decent historical romance.
Wow, I think for the first time in a while I'm done with a book that has just left me in awe. I loved this one.
I almost immediately was connected with Sophie, through the entire book I could feel her emotions. Fear, love, disgust, happiness, longing this book has it all. And it's not just Sophie that I connected with. I loved Cole and was almost as attached to him as I was Sophie. The other main characters (the bad guys) were also just as well written, and although I didn't want to connect to the bad guys I think I did anyway.
The story takes off with a bang (almost literally) and while there was a short lull in the action it really keeps you going. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next, and I didn't have to wait long to find out. The ending to the story was a bit predictable, but the path taken to get there was anything but. I couldn't have imagined some of the twists until the happened.
This was such an easy book for me to get lost in. I was so connected with what was going on I could see it as if I were right there in the story.
I'm surprised I've never heard of Dorothy Garlock, as she's written many titles, but I'm glad I've found her. I will be picking up more from her in the future. I have a lot of catching up to do with her...
I really enjoyed reading The Moon Looked Down by Dorothy Garlock. It's our book club selection of the month for our book club. It's a quaint little story beginning with the little town. It starts dismally with three assailants setting fire to a barn belonging to an immigrant family during WWII. Then they attack the father Hermann and his daughter Sophia. Fearful of their attackers the family remains silent. Meanwhile, Cole Ambrose returns to town after completing college in Chicago. He's torned by the desire to enlist in the war effort like his brother, but knows it's not possible with his club foot. Sophia Heller meets Cole and their lovestruck. Cole tries to help Sophia and her family. Sophia unmasks the desperados and is shocked at the sight of one. They assume the Hellers are Nazis. Their is an underlying story of the turmoiled relationship between Cole and his father Robert, the owner of the town hardware store. Things look bleak for the young lovestruck couple. Read this book for more of this story.
“Jika kau melihat perbuatan salah berlangsung didepan matamu, dan kau memiliki kemampuan untuk mencegahnya, kau harus bertindak . Tidak melakukan apa-apa merupakan dosa yang sama beratnya dengan perbuatan salah itu sendiri.”
Sophie Heller bersama keluarga Heller melarikan diri ke Amerika setelah melihat bahaya ketika Adolf Hittler naik menjadi Kanselir. Mereka memiliki sebidang tanah pertanian dipinggir kota Victory. Namun, suatu kejadian menimpa keluarga Heller, lumbung mereka dibakar oleh sekelompok orang berkarung goni. Setelah peristiwa itu, ketakutan menghinggapi hari-hari Sophie. Sampai akhirnya dia bertemu dengan Cole Ambrose, ia mendapat perlindungan dan rasa aman ketika bersamanya.
Penulis mencoba menggiring pembaca menjelajahi kondisi perang dunia I. Segala isu terkait peperangan berkeliaran ditengah masyarakat. Orang asing dianggap sebagai momok menakutkan, seperti keluarga Heller yang mendapat prasangka buruk dianggap sebagai kaki tangan Nazi. Disatu sisi penduduk sangat bersemangat untuk turut andil dalam membela negara kelahiran.