I won this book several years ago but never received it in the mail. I wanted to read it so I purchased it later. This is the first book in a series of five written about Lily and her mysterious steamboat captain and their struggles in finding love only to see it torn from them. The pressure that Lily and young ladies her age were in to marry before they would be considered "old maids" was difficult to comprehend. I found the description of the steamboat and its travels along the river were fascinating. This book was an easy read and hard to put down. I look forward to reading the next four.

This story would have been extremely enjoyable for me had it not been the extremely Christian overtones running through it. Yes, I understand that it is a period novel, and religion was more of a prominent discussion then, but there is a point where religion becomes preaching. I don't like my books to preach to me. The characters were interesting, although I found the main character somewhat of a user, leading on the men she was involved with and then crying when something went wrong. It is only remotely historical, with snippets here and there mentioning the Civil War. It was an all right read, but it was very slow to get into, and I almost gave up, but kept reading. Read this novel carefully. ( )

The author writes in her letter at the end of the book, "My goal has been to write timeless stories of lasting values, I want to preserve our culture and history and the beauty of our landscape, but most of all I like to reflect the southerner's love of God, country, family and fellowman." This is my first book by this author and I must say she hit her goal. You got alot of attention to detail and descriptions of the culture and history of the South; sometimes maybe a little too much for my personal interest. I did enjoy the story, but didn't fall in love with the story.

The story takes place in Eufula, Alabama, a small town where the steamboats come through to deliver people and merchandise to the town. It is a time when parents and society determines who you can and cannot marry.

Lily would be considered a "southern belle". She finds herself instantly attracted to a steamboat captain, Harrison Wingate, but her parents have determined she will marry some else, someone she does not love. So the conflict begins. I felt I learned alot about the deep South, but didn't learn as much about the characters in this story. There were times when I was very captivated by the story and other times I was just reading to get to the next "good part". There are 5 stories in this series and I would probably read the others if and when they come across my path. I would certainly like to see what happens to Emma, a good friend of Lily in this story. ( )

I found this to be a lovely read. The language is simply, but beautifully written. THE RIVER BETWEEN, a work of romantic historical fiction, takes place shortly before the Civil War, and tells the story of a young woman of marriageable age having to work through the dilemma of respecting the wishes of her parents or following her heart. Ms. Cook's descriptions are wonderfully drawn, bringing the reader fully into the period and the place. The book is a quick read, with some religious feeling, and very entertaining. ( )

"The River Between", by Jacquelyn Cook, is a well-written, richly-detailed historical romance. The "river" not only refers to a body of water, but also to matters of class and social standing. It's scope as well encompasses faith and personal religious convictions. Lily Seymour is a well-to-do young woman who remains unmarried at the age of eighteen. Her parents are eager to see her well-settled, which will raise even further the level of social acceptance her family maintains. When the family sends for her socially prominent cousin Green Bethune, he seems the perfect suitor for Lily. However, Lily's heart and mind have been captured by the kind and handsome Harrison Wingate, a riverboat captain acquainted with Lily's cousin, Green. This is a very romantic tale, so descriptively written that you will smell the fragrant gardens, hear the swish of the hoop skirts, and feel the breeze from the riverfront. The pressure for Lily to marry well and to obey her parents is strongly felt. As she is caught between being a dutiful daughter and obeying her heart, she experiences great personal growth and a renewal of an already strong faith. Harrison is a worthy and devoted match for Lily. Their love and faith in each other, and also their spiritual faith, add depth to their struggles against the class-consciousness of the era. I very much enjoyed this story, and I would love to read the continuing entries in the series.

Review Copy Gratis Belle Books ( )