| Genre: | Historical |
| Pub. Date: | 6 Sep 2022 |
| Pages: | 348 |
| Publisher: | Revell |
| Cover: | Striking, beautiful use of color. |
| Rating: | 3 stars |
A demanding father and a dutiful daughter. No matter how hard Mollie Sheehan tries she never seems to meet his criteria. Not a lot of options are available to a girl in 1860s Montana. Her father is gone for long periods of time and her stepmother keeps the family together by doing what must be done.
When Peter Ronan and Mollie fall in love, her father forbids the marriage and moves the family to California forbidding them from having *any* contact. But love prevails despite her father’s determination to control her life — for the rest of her life.
My review …
Who should NOT read this book?
⋇ If the reader had a parent who controlled their lives not only growing up but into adulthood, that reader will find this a difficult story as it churns up difficult memories.
⋇ If the reader tried for years to “please” their parent, especially a father, and/or wanted to hear positive phrases such as “you did good” or “I’m proud of you” — but never did. Mollie’s interaction with her father can also bring up bad memories.
I have never started a review with the above but Mollie’s father just infuriated me! And yes, some memories that rarely come to mind. Not only did he constantly require Mollie to “honor thy father” which meant doing only what HE wanted her to do. He also never thanked his second wife, Mollie called Ma Anne, for anything she did. Right in front of her, he would glorify his beloved first wife. Ma Anne kept that family glued together while he was supposedly gone making money.
Research, research, research.
The author, Jane Kirkpatrick, put hours and hours into the research of Beneath the Bending Skies which is based on a real person. Be sure to read the “Author’s Notes” at the end of the book.
The “history” covered in the book was interesting. The book wasn’t, at least not for me. The most engaging character was Shows No Anger, a Salish Kootenai woman who became Mollie’s good friend when they lived at the Jocko (Indian) Agency in Montana.
Ms. Kirkpatrick is a prolific author of historical novels. And this book is already receiving high praise. Some readers will love it. Not only the historic aspects but the characters. The book just wasn’t a good fit for this reviewer. I sympathized with Mollie. I liked Peter. But Mollie never quite felt “real” to me. I give the book a three-star rating.
SO… if you do not fit the two bullets, you might find this to be a perfect book for you.
I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of Beneath the Bending Skies via NetGalley from the publisher, Revell. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Rating: 3 stars.
#BeneaththeBendingSkies #NetGalley #JaneKirkpatrick
