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The Handfasting

by David Burnett

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931,976,628 (4.38)None
Ten years had passed since they joined hands at the high altar of the old abbey church, ten years since they were handfasted, engaged to be married. It had been ten years in which Katherine had finished college, completed med school, and become a doctor. For ten years they had not seen each other, had not spoken, and had not written.It was what they had agreed. "I'll find you," Steven had told her. "In ten years, when we have finished school, when we are able to marry, I'll find you. Whenever you see a yellow rose, remember me - remember I love you."For a decade, she had been waiting, hoping, and praying. Today, on her birthday, a vase of yellow roses was waiting when she arrived home.Although the action occurs primarily in New York City, psychologically, the story is set in a small town in Virginia. Change came slowly to the rural South in the nineteen-seventies, and attitudes toward women were most resistant to change. Women were expected to be subservient to men, to have children, to keep house. A woman was to be above reproach, and any hint of scandal was met with censure, with ostracism, with shame. These attitudes threaten to destroy Katherine and her chance for the life for which she yearns. The Handfasting is a story of love: love renewed, a suitor spurned, a vicious attack, and a struggle for healing.… (more)
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A story of beautiful true love that will make you smile as you read it, you will find yourself falling in love with characters of Steven and Katherine who show that true love wins throughout. The author's soft and gentle writing was a pure pleasure to read. The harrowing twist in the story was extremely suspenseful and every word was so easily believable due to the author's wonderful writing.

The story starts as the pair initially fall in love and perform the Handfasting ceremony themselves in an abandoned church in Scotland, which gives them both time to concentrate on building their careers yet knowing that they are still there for each other, they give themselves a whole ten years. Within the church blooms a yellow rose bush planted by one of the monks and is now a symbol of both the Church and the town.

"Every time you see a yellow rose remember that I love you". Steven said to Katherine.

During this time they get on with their lives but deep down they both know that nobody can compare to their true love. Katherine becomes a doctor and Steven becomes a curator of a art museum in New York.

Fast forward ten years and after a lot of searching Steven finally finds his love, Katherine, who is still just as much in love with him as he is with her. There is just one problem, an unwanted admirer from Katherine's hometown, Bill Wilson, who is an arrogant, self centered and opinionated drunk with horrendous beliefs about woman who believes he has claimed Katherine and is set to marry her. What happens next is horrifying.

Following Katherine's plight you feel her despair and I was on tender hooks with the uncertainty of how the story was going to end, the suspense was amazing and I actually read half the book in one afternoon.

A nice, light and friendly romance story with an unwanted admirer who stirs things up to the core. An absolutely recommended read and I will certainly be reading more from this talented author. ( )
  beckvalleybooks | Aug 31, 2013 |
When I first began reading The Handfasting by David Burnett – the story of two students who meet, fall in love, and pledge themselves to one another in a Celtic handfasting ceremony – I anticipated that this would be either an incredibly romantic or an incredibly heart-breaking love story.

After all, the promises that Stephen makes to Katherine in the ruins of the old church abbey are the stuff that fairy tales are made of.

“I’ll find you,” he had said. “In ten years, when we have finished school, when we are able to marry, I’ll find you. Until then, whenever you see a yellow rose, remember me. Remember I love you.”

Incredibly romantic… incredibly heart-breaking… it turns out that The Handfasting is a little of both.

Ten years later, Stephen does find Katherine – and re-ignites their romance by sending her a vase filled with a dozen yellow roses to symbolize their love.

But, Stephen isn’t the only one interested in Katherine’s hand. Bill Wilson – a “friend” Katherine has known since high school – has turned into a man who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Now, Bill wants Katherine as his wife, and he intends to have her – no matter what the cost.

The Handfasting is a captivating story that will evoke strong emotions as you read it. At times, I found the book difficult to read due to triggering content. In other moments, I found myself rooting for the protagonists and thinking unholy thoughts about the villains. The attitudes expressed by all of the characters rang true to the era and setting. The ending was extremely satisfying.

If you’d like to read an unusual love story that interweaves serious social issues into its storyline – The Handfasting by David Burnett is your book!

This review was written by and originally published at Create With Joy.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes. I was not compensated or required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. ( )
  CreateWithJoy | Aug 24, 2013 |
Have you ever been so mad while reading a book that you just wanted to throw it across the room? Well, I felt this way while reading this book, not because of the author. I was mad because of the situation and beliefs during the time period in the book. This does not make this a bad book. On the contrary, it makes it a good book. I became so invested in the book. Anytime you have a strong emotional reaction, the author has done a good job.

I know I'm being vague about the situation but I don't want to give away what happens in the book. I will say that I love that Katherine is a strong woman during a time when women were just beginning to really change the work place and to change the accepted roles of women. While she is a strong woman, a doctor, she still battles herself and her beliefs of how others may look at her (or others) after going through a traumatic event.

David Burnett does a wonderful job with characterization, especially when I think of how he is male and has delved into the female psyche at this time period. You will have such a strong reaction to all of the main characters.

I loved that this book gave me a better insight into my mom's time period and some of the stuff she had to deal with. She is a doctor, too, except she is a psychologist not an md. I know that she struggled with what was expected of women and her mom's beliefs and expectations. She always worried about being the "perfect" mom and wife while working on her doctorate and then her practice. You can't be perfect at anything. It is funny because she was able to work with her clients on some of these issues while struggling with her own issues. I still notice her trying to be her mom at times by trying to have the perfect home and manners. I think my mom would really identify with this book. She didn't go through the same traumatic event but I'm sure it will remind her of growing up and the feelings of that time period.

I give this book 4.5 stars. This book is more for young adults and older. Teens could read this but there are adult situations that you need to be aware of. It is not graphic or explicit but parents may not want their child reading about these situations.

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own. ( )
  KelliG | Aug 5, 2013 |
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Ten years had passed since they joined hands at the high altar of the old abbey church, ten years since they were handfasted, engaged to be married. It had been ten years in which Katherine had finished college, completed med school, and become a doctor. For ten years they had not seen each other, had not spoken, and had not written.It was what they had agreed. "I'll find you," Steven had told her. "In ten years, when we have finished school, when we are able to marry, I'll find you. Whenever you see a yellow rose, remember me - remember I love you."For a decade, she had been waiting, hoping, and praying. Today, on her birthday, a vase of yellow roses was waiting when she arrived home.Although the action occurs primarily in New York City, psychologically, the story is set in a small town in Virginia. Change came slowly to the rural South in the nineteen-seventies, and attitudes toward women were most resistant to change. Women were expected to be subservient to men, to have children, to keep house. A woman was to be above reproach, and any hint of scandal was met with censure, with ostracism, with shame. These attitudes threaten to destroy Katherine and her chance for the life for which she yearns. The Handfasting is a story of love: love renewed, a suitor spurned, a vicious attack, and a struggle for healing.

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Handfasting: A Celtic ceremony of engagement or betrothal. 
Katie had not seen Steven for ten years.
They had met during the summer while traveling in Europe and had fallen in love. They could not be married then. Years of school lay ahead – college, grad school, med school. They would have to wait, but they joined hands in the old Scottish abbey and pledged their love.

“I’ll find you,” he had said. A yellow rose bush had bloomed beside the ruined altar. “Whenever you see a yellow rose, think of me. Remember I love you.”

For ten years, Katie had hoped and prayed that Steven would come, but as the tenth year passed, she began to lose hope. On her birthday, though, a vase of yellow roses appeared at her door, an invitation to dinner tucked in among the flowers.

As Katie and Steven become reacquainted, they fall in love again and talk of marriage.
Steven, though, is not Katie’s only suitor.
Bill has known her since high school and has long intended to marry her. He tells everyone of his plans, everyone except Katie. She is always polite, but she rejects his attempts to impress her. He finally realizes that she is planning to marry Steven.

Bill decides that he must formally stake his claim to Katie, but when she refuses to pay him attention, his courtship turns violent.
The small Virginia town they’re from treats any hint of scandal with censure, ostracism, and shame. He convinces her that she isn’t worthy of Steven’s love and threatens to destroy Katie’s dreams unless she accepts his proposal.

Will Steven fight for their love? Will Katie see Bill’s abuse for what it is, or is she doomed to a tortured life as his wife?

The Handfasting is a story of love renewed, a suitor spurned, and a struggle for healing.

It is a story of love that survives.
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