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Category: Romance/Historical Fiction
Description: Fiery-haired Octavia travels far from the drawing rooms of her native England to the new United States' Lake Ontario. Stranded by the war of 1812, she's surprised to find herself drawn to the wildness of a Seneca warrior? Silver Grass, Octavia's daughter, fleeing from the white men's attacks on her people in New York States, finds refuge near Lake Superior with the Chippewa. Her heart dark toward all whites, how can she admit to any attraction when blacksmith and copper miner Olav Johanson courts her? Elma, older daughter of Silver Grass, raised near Lake Erie by her father and stepmother, favors the Union cause during the War Between The States. Why, then, does she find herself drawn to Confederate prisoner Hunt Drury? Marta, rebellious younger daughter of Silver Grass, flees her staid home to become a logging camp cook's helper in the wilds of Wisconsin near Lake Michigan. When she meets the son of the wealthy Easterner who owns the camp, she knows his attentions mean only heartache for her. Yet she finds herself unable to resist him? Henrietta, Marta's daughter, lives near Lake Huron. Even as a child, she has her heart set on captaining a Great Lakes boat--an unheard of ambition for a woman. To reach her goal, however, must she give up the love of her life? Five generations of fiery, stubborn women discovering their destinies beside the five Great Lakes...
eBook Publisher: Amber Quill Press, 2007
eBookwise Release Date: May 2007

1 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [555 KB]
Words: 127175
Reading time: 363-508 min.

"3 1/2 Hearts!...A saga of five courageous women, their lives and their loves, encompassing the history of the Great Lakes. The melding of the Indian and white cultures is interesting..."--Romantic Times

"...With her love of Great Lakes lore and a bona fide understanding of the history that surrounds it, Ms. Toombs capitalizes on all of that and has penned a truly awe-inspiring multi-generational novel. At times bittersweet and heart-breaking, each novella builds upon the previous and shows us that love can happen to even the most star-crossed lovers who are patient enough to wait. What starts out as Octavia arriving in Montreal on a trip with her father turns into a hair-raising, romantic tale of danger and adventure. Where her story ends--and from there, grab the Kleenex, folks--the tale of her beloved daughter, Silver Grass, begins. It all snowballs into the romping tale of a woman who was born on and for the water, Henrietta Pendleton--a third generation descendant of Octavia Livingstone. Along with the red hair and need for a quest, Henrietta has inherited many traits of the women before her. Honestly, I wasn't sure if I would enjoy LADIES OF THE LAKE, but it turned out to be one of the best reads for me this month. Please do yourself the favor of cruising on over to Amber Quill and adding it to your shopping basket."--Romance Reviews Today

She didn't see Wind Cloud until late afternoon. Octavia was sitting on a reed mat outside the lodge, sewing with his mother and sisters. With her it was more a case of trying to sew, for though she'd learned as a child to wield a needle to embroider and do other fancy-work, she certainly had never made her own clothes.

He stopped beside her, saying, "Come with me."

Octavia glanced at Mere, who nodded. She set aside her partly finished green tunic and rose. Without speaking, he led her from the village, through the orchards and along the stream into a stand of pines. Noticing how the westering sun scarcely penetrated the thick branches, leaving them in gloom, Octavia halted in alarm.

"No fear Wind Cloud," he said.

"What--what do you want of me?" she asked, her heart pounding.

He didn't answer in words but reached out until his hand touched her cheek. He brushed his fingers gently over her face, pausing to trace the contours of her lips, then his hand slipped under her chin to raise it until she was forced to look into his eyes.

Slowly he leaned toward her, closer and closer. She couldn't move, couldn't breathe. As his lips touched hers, a fire was kindled deep inside her and, involuntarily, her lips parted to taste him and draw his intoxicating, alien flavor into her mouth.

When he pulled her into his arms, she clung to him, helpless to withstand her own yearning to press herself against him as heat rose from her inner fire until it threatened to consume her.