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Gentry #1
Oh, Kentucky!
Sixteen-year-old Kitty Gentry and her family came to Fort Boonesborough to farm the rich land. But when fierce Shawnee attacked the white settlers, the horrified young Kitty was forced to seek refuge within the walls of the fort. There her real life as a founding mother of Kentucky began -- a life in which she would surive tragedy and hearth-wrenching grief and find the all-encompassing passion of great love as the burgeoning territory became a state . . .
608 pages, Paperback
First published October 10, 1990
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540 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
June 28, 2011
I honestly thought this book was a classic; after all, all of my friends read it in high school. Then I went to buy it for my Kindle and realized that you can't buy it AT ALL, and its not at all popular. I found my old paperback copy and reread it--it should be a classic! I love the history in it, and the love story. Its every bit as good as other newer historical fiction, and especially interesting for anyone who lives in this part of the country. The author tries very hard to be historically accurate. I loved when it mentioned that Daniel Boone left Boonesborro and moved to set up a Tavern at Limestone Landing. I can see the location where his tavern was from my office! I also liked how so many of the character names were recognizable as street names, and areas in Kentucky. I didn't make these connections the first time I read it, because I didn't realize how true the story was. Great book that should be re-released!
August 20, 2008
This is the story of the fictional Kitty Gentry and her family as they leave their home in North Carolina to start a new life in the Kentucky wilderness, from the Cumberland gap to the new settlement of Fort Boonesborough. And yes, we see plenty of Dan'l Boone and others too.
While the Gentry family builds their new home and plants the land, the ever present danger from the Indians constanly threatens the safety of the settlers, and the revolutionary war rages on in the east. Tragedy strikes for Kitty and she is forced to leave her home and move into the fort as they defend themselves against attacks from the Indians, and she eventually finds not one but two great loves of her life.
The author does a nice job of setting the "stage", from the lush lands of Kentucky, the food, the smells, and the battles. She doesn't pull any punches, she gives you a good view of how hard life was settling into a wilderness --yes people stank, used chamberpots, their teeth rotted, women died in childbirth, etc. It wasn't an easy life. All in all a very enjoyable read, a very solidly written piece of historical fiction, but I find it just not quite up to a five star rating, as there were times when the story slowed down a bit and lost some of it's page turning excitement. 4.5 stars. Apparently there is a sequel called Kentucky Home that continues the story of Kitty and Roman as Kentucky becomes a state in the union, which is also out of print.
While the Gentry family builds their new home and plants the land, the ever present danger from the Indians constanly threatens the safety of the settlers, and the revolutionary war rages on in the east. Tragedy strikes for Kitty and she is forced to leave her home and move into the fort as they defend themselves against attacks from the Indians, and she eventually finds not one but two great loves of her life.
The author does a nice job of setting the "stage", from the lush lands of Kentucky, the food, the smells, and the battles. She doesn't pull any punches, she gives you a good view of how hard life was settling into a wilderness --yes people stank, used chamberpots, their teeth rotted, women died in childbirth, etc. It wasn't an easy life. All in all a very enjoyable read, a very solidly written piece of historical fiction, but I find it just not quite up to a five star rating, as there were times when the story slowed down a bit and lost some of it's page turning excitement. 4.5 stars. Apparently there is a sequel called Kentucky Home that continues the story of Kitty and Roman as Kentucky becomes a state in the union, which is also out of print.
March 20, 2013
How much did I love this book? Well, I named my son after one of its characters. There's a clue.
This is romantic historical fiction at its finest. The love story is a major theme, but if you know anything about the history of Kentucky, it's very historically on par, too. If you like James Alexander Thom novels, but wish the romantic angle was played with more finesse, you may also love this one. The only difference is that Kitty Gentry is a completely fictional character while Thom's characters usually were based on real people. No matter, though, as Kitty could be anywoman in frontier Kentucky.
The story is moving with moments of action, drama, sorrow, and elation. I don't rate many books a solid five stars, though I will with this one. Kitty Gentry is a woman's woman, a heroine that everyone will love in this is a sweeping, epic tale of love and survival on the Kentucky frontier.
This was one of two books that launched me into a love of all things frontier America. The other was 'Follow The River' by James Alexander Thom, another novel about a strong woman on the early American frontier. Thom's book is based on real events so I definitely recommend it for a read. However, this author is able to get away with much more vivid detail of her character's life because her character is fiction.
This is not a bodice-ripper romance, but there is a love story that I loved. This coming from someone who pretty much hated Twilight, The Notebook, etc. but who also wouldn't touch a Harlequin romance with a 10 foot pole. That should give you an idea of where this book falls on that scale.
Overall, very satisfying read and I was sad when it ended. Then, I found out it had a sequel 'Kentucky Home' - which was much too sad for me watching the beloved characters in this book in their later years. You just HAVE to read the sequel once you know it's out there, though. This will always be one of my most beloved books. It's one of those I wish I owned in hardcover because it's just an unpretentious little book that I thoroughly enjoyed and enjoy every few years or so when I re-read it.
This is romantic historical fiction at its finest. The love story is a major theme, but if you know anything about the history of Kentucky, it's very historically on par, too. If you like James Alexander Thom novels, but wish the romantic angle was played with more finesse, you may also love this one. The only difference is that Kitty Gentry is a completely fictional character while Thom's characters usually were based on real people. No matter, though, as Kitty could be anywoman in frontier Kentucky.
The story is moving with moments of action, drama, sorrow, and elation. I don't rate many books a solid five stars, though I will with this one. Kitty Gentry is a woman's woman, a heroine that everyone will love in this is a sweeping, epic tale of love and survival on the Kentucky frontier.
This was one of two books that launched me into a love of all things frontier America. The other was 'Follow The River' by James Alexander Thom, another novel about a strong woman on the early American frontier. Thom's book is based on real events so I definitely recommend it for a read. However, this author is able to get away with much more vivid detail of her character's life because her character is fiction.
This is not a bodice-ripper romance, but there is a love story that I loved. This coming from someone who pretty much hated Twilight, The Notebook, etc. but who also wouldn't touch a Harlequin romance with a 10 foot pole. That should give you an idea of where this book falls on that scale.
Overall, very satisfying read and I was sad when it ended. Then, I found out it had a sequel 'Kentucky Home' - which was much too sad for me watching the beloved characters in this book in their later years. You just HAVE to read the sequel once you know it's out there, though. This will always be one of my most beloved books. It's one of those I wish I owned in hardcover because it's just an unpretentious little book that I thoroughly enjoyed and enjoy every few years or so when I re-read it.
September 25, 2016
2nd read: Sept 2016 - Was finally able to buy a copy of this, along with the sequel. I enjoyed it just as much this time around as I did the first time. :)
1st read: June 2013 - I've been wanting to write a book about frontier Kentucky for a while now - and then I read this book. This is the book I've had in my head all this time, already written... Great characters, tons of detail, and it covers most of the major events of the time period. I was in tears several times reading it, the author did a great job of expressing historical events as real things that happened to real people. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series!
1st read: June 2013 - I've been wanting to write a book about frontier Kentucky for a while now - and then I read this book. This is the book I've had in my head all this time, already written... Great characters, tons of detail, and it covers most of the major events of the time period. I was in tears several times reading it, the author did a great job of expressing historical events as real things that happened to real people. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series!
April 13, 2008
Very good read. Moved me to tears in many parts of the story. Can't remember when I first read it. I often go back and read it again. Kitty Gentry was very couragous woman who did what she needed to accomplish even though she was scared.
July 8, 2009
This is my all time favorite book. I received this as a gift for my 13th birthday and I have read it every year since. I am not much for writing detailed discriptions, but suffice it to say, it is just a great book.
October 27, 2017
A worthwhile read for history buffs and those that want to get a good feel of the pioneer days.
October 9, 2013
review originally published on Booklikes: http://emmytuck.booklikes.com/post/58...
This book started off really strong. Good story and tons of historical info. For the first half I was like, this is great, this book is a solid 4. Bust as I hit the half way point my interest started steadily decreasing and it became harder and harder for me to pick up the book each time. It felt like all history and I no longer felt connected to the characters. When two certain people died, it felt anti climatic and I was kind of just like, "eh." For that to happen with two major characters, that's not right. And when two certain people finally got together (kind of what the book had been building toward since the start) I thought it could have been such a great moment, but again it felt flat. In the last one hundred pages I started to skim a bit, only stopping to really read a few times. So with the first half a 4 and the second half more like a 2, this book averages out to a 3 star.
That said, if you love tons of history and the story is secondary to you, then you might love this. There is definitely tons of information in these pages and it is clear the author did her research.
This book started off really strong. Good story and tons of historical info. For the first half I was like, this is great, this book is a solid 4. Bust as I hit the half way point my interest started steadily decreasing and it became harder and harder for me to pick up the book each time. It felt like all history and I no longer felt connected to the characters. When two certain people died, it felt anti climatic and I was kind of just like, "eh." For that to happen with two major characters, that's not right. And when two certain people finally got together (kind of what the book had been building toward since the start) I thought it could have been such a great moment, but again it felt flat. In the last one hundred pages I started to skim a bit, only stopping to really read a few times. So with the first half a 4 and the second half more like a 2, this book averages out to a 3 star.
That said, if you love tons of history and the story is secondary to you, then you might love this. There is definitely tons of information in these pages and it is clear the author did her research.
December 29, 2009
This was a light historical fiction novel with a good deal of romance. By light I mean it was not heavy with details, minutia, a cast of thousands and textbook accuracy that bogs down more "serious" historical novels for me anyway. I like for historical fiction to invite me into the place and period, to get a feel for how folks experienced everyday life, the range of emotions and their growth through the journey. Betty Layman Receveur achieved that well here. Her heroine, Kitty is a fictional character but there are numerous real historical figures such as Daniel Boone. I especially enjoyed a woman's perspective of the early settlement of the Bluegrass.
June 8, 2013
The same place and time of my ancestors, John "Renta Dan" Baker, a
long hunter with Daniel Boone, Richard Wooldridge, part of the troops under the command of George Rogers Clark, and his payroll and other records were documentation for making him one of my DAR patriots.
William McCollum, was one of the early settlers in Kentucky. He
married Angeline Baker, daughter of John Baker, and they were part of the group who left in the train of over 103 wagons from Russell County
Kentucky for Chariton County Missouri where my mother was born about
100 years later. Russell County broke off from Lincoln County, which
was one of the original three counties in Kentucky in early statehood.
long hunter with Daniel Boone, Richard Wooldridge, part of the troops under the command of George Rogers Clark, and his payroll and other records were documentation for making him one of my DAR patriots.
William McCollum, was one of the early settlers in Kentucky. He
married Angeline Baker, daughter of John Baker, and they were part of the group who left in the train of over 103 wagons from Russell County
Kentucky for Chariton County Missouri where my mother was born about
100 years later. Russell County broke off from Lincoln County, which
was one of the original three counties in Kentucky in early statehood.
November 11, 2012
I loved this book. Historical but still fiction. It deals with the pioneer era as brave men and women are bringing Kentucky to statehood. Good character development, riveting love story and more! Some of the setting was the fort at Boonesborough, Bryan's Station and Logan's Fort. My relatives the Logans and the Bryans would have been there during the time. What a fun read to think of their lives. Highly recommend if you're a history buff or a lover of a good story.
September 29, 2012
LOVE love this book, have read it many times. Covers some of the first settlers/settlements in Kentucky and the quest for statehood. Follows the Gentry and Cullen families, as well as the Daniel Boone clan during the time of forts, Indian raids, hot summers. Fascinating book, an unforgettable tale that reads like fiction, but cleverly tells the history of Kentucky becoming a state.
May 11, 2007
We were given this book as assigned reading in a Folklore class I took as a senior in high school and I loved it! It is a bit too romance novel for me but it takes me back to my favorite state when I am homesick!
January 21, 2011
This book deserves more of a 3.5 rating. It was a great book. I loved the characters and learned so much about the way of life at that time, but could have done without the cheesy love scenes. The romance was also somewhat predictable. Still, a great read.
August 23, 2009
I learned alot of history in this book. The research done for thhus book was great. I loved the book from start to finish.
December 21, 2010
I loved this story. I've read it over and over again. It is my favorite type of book, historical fiction. It does have some parts you should skim over.
September 14, 2019
Typical frontier novel with a splash of romance (forced on the author by her publisher). This was originally going to be a slice of life kind of book, and the great about of everyday details reflects that. Only like 2 cringy sex scenes.
The only thing that bothered me in this book is more than once she mentioned the naked bodies of children in a kind of cringy, unnecessary way. Like it added nothing to the scene, or to my understanding of the build of the character...just kind of offhandedly mentioning the breasts and penis of two small children. Weird.
The only thing that bothered me in this book is more than once she mentioned the naked bodies of children in a kind of cringy, unnecessary way. Like it added nothing to the scene, or to my understanding of the build of the character...just kind of offhandedly mentioning the breasts and penis of two small children. Weird.
January 11, 2025
This book was buried in a box in my closet, and I dug it out before Christmas. It has been a hefty and satisfying story, rich in history as it details the beginnings of Kentucky. I loved how the author followed several families through the journey from North Carolina to Fort Boonesborough. I love the amazing descriptions of the land they traveled through and all that they experienced in the course of their new lives.
For those that follow my reviews, this is not a clean Christian book. I would give it an R rating if it were a movie.
For those that follow my reviews, this is not a clean Christian book. I would give it an R rating if it were a movie.
July 16, 2021
Great book about the early settlement of Kentucky. I LOVED this book as it is one of the few on this topic that I have read that got the fact right... or most. I you liked Lori Benton's novels, Hanna Fowler by Janice Giles, or Conrad Richter's books the Trees... or Follow the River you will like this book. I remember a second book in the series as well.
Her earlier novel Molly Gallagher is prety good as well
Her earlier novel Molly Gallagher is prety good as well
October 8, 2019
I have bought and shared this book numerous times after finding it in a secondhand book store several years ago. It is the gold standard for historical fiction along with its sequel, Kentucky Home. If you can find either one, buy them, and cherish them, because they are to be treasured. I continue to search for a perfect copy.
May 19, 2020
Found this book buried in my bookshelves. Thank goodness. Don't know why I waited so long to read it. What a wonderful read. I learned about the founding of Boonesborough and what the settlers had to go through to survive those early years. Very well written. I felt that I was there with the settlers. Highly recommended. Looking forward to reading the sequel.
December 31, 2025
I read this book decades ago. It was a favorite then. It is fabulous now. It follows the life of a Kentucky pioneer woman, Kitty Gentry. It's rare to find a book whose main character is a female pioneer. The strength and hardships faced by these women is so often overlooked. Oh, Kentucky captures their story.
December 26, 2018
Given to me by a friend, I began
reading hesitantly, but quickly became
engaged in this well written, engrossing novel. The book snob in me happily gave way to the book lover!
reading hesitantly, but quickly became
engaged in this well written, engrossing novel. The book snob in me happily gave way to the book lover!
January 19, 2019
I love historical fiction and I'm also originally from Kentucky. This was a great read!
Read
October 19, 2025I was just thinking about this book, read it in middle school or early high school, and wanted to add to Goodreads.
March 14, 2024
I dearly loved this story with so much history included and a beautiful love story of the fictional characters. there is a lot of death included because that was what it was like in that time of history.
July 25, 2016
If anyone reads this review: I recommend for romance frontier life THESE IS MY WORDS by Nancy E Turner. Also for Frontier/Indian stories "LONESOME DOVE" or FOLLOW THE RIVER.
Now for my book review: This was recommended as a reading suggestion from GOODREADS. I don't fault them, I was excited to read it. It has a high rating and is about a time that I read about and enjoy.
Serious SPOILER ALERT:
The first hundred pages or so were okay but I began to notice a weird thing. This book definitely went overboard with unnecessary pooping and peeing descriptions. It got so noticeable that I began to roll my eyes and thought there could be a drinking game. What is up with that?
As for the story, Kitty is the ultimate Mary Sue. She can do everything the best, and nobody else can compare. I'm sure Daniel Boone would not have been famous without her and her mates to help him.
It was sad that her parents and sister were killed but Kitty recovered quickly. She is plucky like that. She is the one who saw Daniel return from captivity first-- I mean, she does it all.
Granny Hawkins (Clampett?) did the doctorin', and I think the only one she didn't kill was Kitty, of course. Also predictable is that Roman never loved no one the way he loved Kitty. Poor sweet Sara should have stayed back east.
The book goes on and on, with many deaths and tragedies, and some really boring historical descriptions (along with more pooping and peeing of course
I wish the book had been about Sara. Sara wasn't so excited about moving to the wild frontier but she did so out of love for her husband. She was frightened out of her mind but braved it, and had much tragedy in her young life. She didn't get over things so easily like Kitty. She seemed more like a real person. Too bad the author thought Kitty was more interesting.
I have become interested in Rebecca Boone due to this book. I hope to find a good novel about her.
Now for my book review: This was recommended as a reading suggestion from GOODREADS. I don't fault them, I was excited to read it. It has a high rating and is about a time that I read about and enjoy.
Serious SPOILER ALERT:
The first hundred pages or so were okay but I began to notice a weird thing. This book definitely went overboard with unnecessary pooping and peeing descriptions. It got so noticeable that I began to roll my eyes and thought there could be a drinking game. What is up with that?
As for the story, Kitty is the ultimate Mary Sue. She can do everything the best, and nobody else can compare. I'm sure Daniel Boone would not have been famous without her and her mates to help him.
It was sad that her parents and sister were killed but Kitty recovered quickly. She is plucky like that. She is the one who saw Daniel return from captivity first-- I mean, she does it all.
Granny Hawkins (Clampett?) did the doctorin', and I think the only one she didn't kill was Kitty, of course. Also predictable is that Roman never loved no one the way he loved Kitty. Poor sweet Sara should have stayed back east.
The book goes on and on, with many deaths and tragedies, and some really boring historical descriptions (along with more pooping and peeing of course
I wish the book had been about Sara. Sara wasn't so excited about moving to the wild frontier but she did so out of love for her husband. She was frightened out of her mind but braved it, and had much tragedy in her young life. She didn't get over things so easily like Kitty. She seemed more like a real person. Too bad the author thought Kitty was more interesting.
I have become interested in Rebecca Boone due to this book. I hope to find a good novel about her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2015
This book was beyond boring. Only because I'm the type of person to finish what I start, no matter how painful, did this book get finished. I normally love historical fiction and I had such high hopes since I lived in Kentucky for quite a few years. The characters were likable enough but the storyline was monotonous after a while. Even the Indian raids did little to keep my interest. And I'm sorry, but the way the author alluded to sex and the sexual organs was laughable. I felt like was back in middle school reading one of those insanely long and drawn out "epics". The kinds that were written in the 40s and 50s from the bible belt. Kitty was awesome. Cullen was sweet at first but a typical player. Roman, the strong silent type of the story, does eventually grow on you. However, I couldn't quite give credence to how Kitty falls for either man. It's as if she just suddenly can't live without them. There was no tension, no chemistry. The history was the only thing that saved it for me. Hearing names I've come to recognize easily like Shelby, Boone, and Kenton. Places like Louisville, Lexington, and Big Bone Lick. Even if you find this book for dirt cheap, I'd recommend you pass. Unless, of course, you happen to be an elderly Kentucky woman longing for an old school historical romance (even though it was written in the '90s).
July 16, 2010
Uggh! This was a romance novel! I thought it would be more of a historical fiction book. I love historical fiction that has lots of details on how life was back then and with research references in the back of the book, but while this had some interesting stuff about the settling of Kentucky, it was mostly about the heroine's love life.
Alas, there were some references to Kentucky that were fun to read. I love Kentucky and was living there when I started reading the book. I learned a lot about Daniel Boone.
I did not appreciate the sex scenes, though few and most not graphic, there were one or two that I thought were too racy. The romances between the main characters were a bit predictable. I guess that is my own fault for reading the book once I discovered it was really a romance novel. It was not the raciest book but not clean either.
Also, I didn't appreciate the main character's disdain for living chaste lives. The only religious people in the book were depicted as humorless, rigid, and uncharitable. There were little quips about not making your man wait for it until marriage, and not judging a man who sows his wild oats, married or single. I am guessing that frontiers people were a bit wild, but I really doubt that few of them were at all religious.
Alas, there were some references to Kentucky that were fun to read. I love Kentucky and was living there when I started reading the book. I learned a lot about Daniel Boone.
I did not appreciate the sex scenes, though few and most not graphic, there were one or two that I thought were too racy. The romances between the main characters were a bit predictable. I guess that is my own fault for reading the book once I discovered it was really a romance novel. It was not the raciest book but not clean either.
Also, I didn't appreciate the main character's disdain for living chaste lives. The only religious people in the book were depicted as humorless, rigid, and uncharitable. There were little quips about not making your man wait for it until marriage, and not judging a man who sows his wild oats, married or single. I am guessing that frontiers people were a bit wild, but I really doubt that few of them were at all religious.
January 11, 2015
I really wish more people knew about this book because it really is a engrossing read. It is a work of historical fiction about the settling of Kentucky by the early pioneers and leads up to the time of it becoming a state. This book has something for everyone in it. There is just enough romance for romance lovers; plenty of action for adventure lovers, and tons of history for fans of historical fiction. It was really fun to read about the men and women who crossed the Cumberland Gap to settle Kentucky, and lot of names to recognize as many Kentucky counties and places are named after these people. If you ever get a chance to read this book then do it. I’s long at almost 600 pages, but reads really fast.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews