Wednesday, April 26, 2017

The Blue Hour by Vicki Righettini (Review)

 IN THIS EPIC TALE of love, loss, and redemption, the year is 1861, a time when women are expected to be married by a certain age. At 26, spinster Emily Wainwright has no reason to believe her sheltered life will ever change—until the charming Samuel Todd unexpectedly crosses her path. Samuel yearns to homestead and start a family in Oregon, but he first needs to find a wife. Blinded by Samuel’s good looks, and grasping at her final chance to have a husband and children, Emily accepts his marriage proposal. However, Samuel is not the man she thought he was, and her marriage becomes a cold, cruel prison, offering her no solace amidst the hardships of farm life. When Samuel dies and a second chance at love and happiness arrives in the form of farmhand Cole Walker, Emily must overcome her bitter past—or risk losing Cole and the life she has always dreamed of having.


I GIVE THIS BOOK: 4 Stars


MY THOUGHTS:
The Blue Hour had me captivated from the first page. The story had a lot of historical details of what life was like traveling the Oregon Trail and life afterwards, but it was done in such a way that it was very enjoyable and entertaining.

Emily was a strong and very likable main character. She had many hardships to face, but the way she handled them was admirable.

I thought The Blue Hour was a great read. If you enjoy reading historical books, especially set during this period, you should give this one a read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book to review. I was asked to give my honest opinion of the book - which I have done.


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BOOK DETAILS:
Paperback: 560 pages
Published: Mill City Press, Inc. (November 17, 2015) 
Language: English 
ISBN-10: 1634138295
ISBN-13: 978-1634138291
Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.2 x 8.5 inches
Available to purchase: Amazon, Barnes&Noble, IndieBound, Book Depository

Praise for Blue Hour by Vicki Righettini

“All of Righettini’s characters are well-rounded, in particular Emily herself, whose personal growth throughout the novel is richly detailed and memorable.”-Historical Novel Society

 “This novel is about second chances and the courage needed to take them.  The most compelling aspects of The Blue Hour are not the vivid, expansive descriptions of life on the vast (and seemingly never-ending) Oregon Trail or the well-drawn characters who dance (and often trudge) between hardship and hope. Instead, the brightest lights burst forth from nuanced moments tucked throughout the story. Read this book if you want to immerse yourself in the wilds of western America in the 1860s or get lost in the even denser wilderness of love and loss. Maybe this recommendation needs to be simplified even further – read this book. It’s exhilarating to root for a character who is trying to navigate uncharted territory and make the greatest discovery of all.”-Underground Book Reviews

“The Blue Hour is one of the finest historical novels I've ever read. You will love the author's writing and the detailed historical references. The characters are vividly portrayed, and I felt as if I knew them well. Long after I'd finished reading, I still thought about the story. It's part adventure, part love story, and part survival. Highly recommended.”-Ann Creel, Author



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Vicki Righettini is an award-winning, nationally produced playwright, and her recently-published historical novel, The Blue Hour, was a badge winner and Pitch Perfect Pick at Underground Books. Originally from Los Angeles, Vicki lived in Oregon for over twenty years, where she developed an abiding love of the land and the Oregon way of life. Before turning to full-time writing, she worked for forty years as a singer/actress and performing arts instructor. Her blog, Between a Book and a Hard Place, focuses on the ups and downs of the creative process. Vicki lives in San Diego with her software-developer, Jeopardy!-champion husband, and the world's shyest cat. 



2 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you enjoyed 'The Blue Hour'!

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  2. An absorbing account of a pioneering woman and her tough struggles along the Oregon trail and making a home in 1860's Oregon. I highly recommend it. I better appreciated my own pioneer ancestors after reading it.

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