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First, There Is a River (Spirit of the River #1)
by
Kathy Steffen (Goodreads Author)
A family conceals a cruel secret.
Emma Perkins' life appears idyllic. Her husband, Jared, is a hardworking farmer and a dependable neighbor. But Emma knows intimately the brutality prowling beneath her husband's façade. When he sends their children away, Emma's life unravels.
A woman seeks her spirit.
Deep in despair, Emma seeks refuge aboard her uncle's riverboat, the Spirit...more
Emma Perkins' life appears idyllic. Her husband, Jared, is a hardworking farmer and a dependable neighbor. But Emma knows intimately the brutality prowling beneath her husband's façade. When he sends their children away, Emma's life unravels.
A woman seeks her spirit.
Deep in despair, Emma seeks refuge aboard her uncle's riverboat, the Spirit...more
Paperback, 356 pages
Published
September 28th 2007
by Medallion Press
(first published September 1st 2007)
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Meh. This was a free friday book or I probably wouldn't have read it. It's enjoyable but pretty forgettable, too. I did read it in a weekend so it was able to keep my attention.
Things I liked about it: The characters were very well developed for the most part. Emma in particular. The author did a good job of illustrating her stuggles and fears while trying to ovecome them all. The setting of a riverboat on the Ohio river was also very well done. You could almost feel like you were on the river w...more
Things I liked about it: The characters were very well developed for the most part. Emma in particular. The author did a good job of illustrating her stuggles and fears while trying to ovecome them all. The setting of a riverboat on the Ohio river was also very well done. You could almost feel like you were on the river w...more
This book really touched me. I spent most of my later teen and early adult years as a deacon in my church and volunteering in church activities. Later I taught in a catholic school. However, I am first and foremost a scientist who observes people. Over the years it has always amazed me how faith in the same book can cause some people to do such good works and yet drive others to do such evil, even as they claim to be "of God." Ms. Steffen captured that feeling so well in her story. She creates m...more
Jan 08, 2012
Dori
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
nook-free-friday,
historical-fiction
This story was a classic example of "don't judge a book by it's cover" It was a free Friday book and I went ahead and downloaded it; but it's been sitting in my library for quite a while now. It just wasn't one of the books that jumped out at me and said, "Read me now!" I am one of those readers who looks at lot at what other people thought about a book before making the decision to read it. The reviews for this book led me to believe that many had enjoyed it.
Well, I happened to have enjoyed it...more
Well, I happened to have enjoyed it...more
This is a perfectly acceptable weekend read. The riverboat setting is presented very well. There is a great feeling of time and place.
The book compares well to others by this publisher. There were a few typos, even though the book is from a well-known imprint.
The writing is smooth. The setting is so well drawn that I could almost hear the engines of the paddleboat. She's got a good cast of characters - with one exception.
I knocked the score back 2 stars for relying heavily on the 'Bible-Thumping...more
The book compares well to others by this publisher. There were a few typos, even though the book is from a well-known imprint.
The writing is smooth. The setting is so well drawn that I could almost hear the engines of the paddleboat. She's got a good cast of characters - with one exception.
I knocked the score back 2 stars for relying heavily on the 'Bible-Thumping...more
This was a riveting story about Emma's escape from an abusive, delusionary husband who uses his belief in God as justification for heinous crimes and mistreatment of others. It seems like a coming of age story, of sorts, as Emma regains her self-confidence and emerges as a confident, spirited woman.
I felt that there were some minor incongruities to the story, as the author seemed to alude to some minor details that were not specifically conveyed. For example, Emma's husband Jerad saw Emma's 'ca...more
I felt that there were some minor incongruities to the story, as the author seemed to alude to some minor details that were not specifically conveyed. For example, Emma's husband Jerad saw Emma's 'ca...more
I was immediately drawn into the story. It starts out with the reader thinking Jared is a young man in love, but scorned by the girl's father because of social status differences, but within paragraphs it changes to a dark young man committing murder. The story then switches to several years later and Emma's miserable life being abused by her monster of a husband, Jared. She escapes to the saftey of life on a riverboat after Jared takes her two children from her. The author did an excellent job...more
The setting for this book was well written. You felt like you were on the Ohio river, aboard the boat interacting with the characters. That being said, there were two things that disappointed me about this book. First there was the language, while not terrible, didn't add to the story at all. The second was the introduction to a supernatural nightmare in the story. This element of the story was just confusing. I felt as if I was being thrust out of historical fiction and into science fiction. Th...more
I got this book for free, it's not one I normally would have picked up, but it was pretty good. An abused wife is given an opportunity to work aboard a riverboat by her uncle, who wants to keep her away from her abusive husband. Unfortunately, he follows her, intent on teaching her lessons, as he calls it. Ultimately, she finds that she is strong enough to choose her own path in life, instead of having her husband or any other man decide it for her. Although it's listed as being book one of a se...more
Like someone else said this is a weekend/vacation read. The story line is solid enough and the river boat setting is fantastically written. Though the story had a weak beginning and "fluffy/let's get this wrapped up" ending I thought the story telling and character development was enjoyable and compelling. I would read Steffen again.
I really wished Steffen had developped her "bad guy" character a little better. He had no redeeming character qualities at all...making him evil, but so much so that...more
I really wished Steffen had developped her "bad guy" character a little better. He had no redeeming character qualities at all...making him evil, but so much so that...more
Jared Perkins is the first person we meet and we quickly learn he is not a nice guy. Indeed, among other things, he beats his wife, Emma. Early in the book, she runs from him and he pursues. Hmm, where have I heard this story before?
Emma, who is beautiful, attracts attractive men with secrets. And damn, she can cook, too. With only one less-than-experienced helper, Lilly Moosebundle (I mean, really?), she whips up fabulous meals on an excursion riverboat. Then, she plays midwife. I kept wonderi...more
Emma, who is beautiful, attracts attractive men with secrets. And damn, she can cook, too. With only one less-than-experienced helper, Lilly Moosebundle (I mean, really?), she whips up fabulous meals on an excursion riverboat. Then, she plays midwife. I kept wonderi...more
a nook book, Free Friday, I think This was actually more entertaining than I thought that it would be. Emma has an abusive husband but two nice children. After he arranges for another couple to take the children to use for laborers, she gets a job as cook on the riverboat which is half owned by her uncle. A romance with a strange loner named Gage ensues, and the abusive husband Jared goes to learn Emma some lessons. The husband is the most extremely vile and conniving character. What I wondered...more
This was a couldn't-put-it-down read for me. (Falls on my less-than-24-hour-read list.) Emma's story of overcoming an abusive life was fast paced with plenty of tense moments. There was just a touch of the supernatural and a bit of romance to boot. My only desire would be more closure at the end for several of the characters. I would have liked a few more details and just a bit . . . more at the end. Oh, and there are several POV changes that creep up without warning.
Rating - There is mild lang...more
Rating - There is mild lang...more
After I finished reading 'First, There is a River,' by Kathy Steffen, I started thinking about what makes a book memorable. Out of the thousands of books we read in our lives, what is it that makes us remember plotlines and characters years after we've read a particular book?
I think part of it might be that something about the story resonates with the reader. Another component could be that the characters are so well-drawn that they become real people to the reader and as the story unfolds, the...more
I think part of it might be that something about the story resonates with the reader. Another component could be that the characters are so well-drawn that they become real people to the reader and as the story unfolds, the...more
Well here's the thing. It was an enjoyable read with really well-developed characters. Very unique, too.
But...
A little shy of halfway in, a supernatural element is introduced. But it's not really central to the story. And doesn't really fit in... It needs to be either more strongly developed or eliminated entirely.
I read this over the weekend after it was the Free Friday nook book. It was a good weekend read, but nothing that will haunt me in the future.
But...
A little shy of halfway in, a supernatural element is introduced. But it's not really central to the story. And doesn't really fit in... It needs to be either more strongly developed or eliminated entirely.
I read this over the weekend after it was the Free Friday nook book. It was a good weekend read, but nothing that will haunt me in the future.
This book was a page turner from the very beginning. The book had all of the right kind of characters... those you sympathized with, those that had their vices but were good at heart, those that needed some direction, and those you despised. The author told the story in such an engaging way, I didn't want to put the book down. This story of life on a riverboat made me feel like I was actually there. Few stories are actually written this well.
2 likes · like · see review
As an even lesser known writer, Kathy Steffen writes fiction stories set in the late 1880s and early 1900s. Here is another place where I am not a fan. I like current day stories, but I tried this book as a free read one week. It is the first book in a three-book series called Spirit of the River. I have only read one of her books (First, there is a River), but it was a memorable story about escaping domestic violence.
Set in the Ohio Valley and a riverboat, this story of a woman and the four men who loved her could easily be taken to be a love story but it's more than that. It's the story of the torments of each of the lead characters and how those torments shape the people, how they interact and what they become. It's also the story of the river and the people who live and work on it. This book is well written and worth reading.
I loved the action of the river. The main character, Emma, finds her self and the strength she needs to leave an abuseive husband. I'd imagine that this story could hit home for many women. I also think that this is a story of finding yourself that any woman could relate to. The story rolls like a river, twisting and truning with bumps along the way. I completly enjoyed it.
I didn't like this at first, but no matter what I kept picking the story back up to read. It was impossible to leave the characters and their stories. I love this book even though it brought out painful memories. I will definitely watch for this author and recommend this book. I've already been recommending it to friends and plan on recommending it to my book club.
Was a free nook book, so I downloaded it. I was rather surprised at how good it was, as some of the free books I've downloaded haven't been written well. Very good story that allows you to watch a woman come out of her shell after being heavily abused for many years. There are some parts of the plot that don't totally fit in my opinion, but over all a good read.
This was a Nook Free Friday offering. The write-up looked intriguing and for free it was worth a shot. Loved the plot and the characters along the river. Only draw back is at times it tends to be lean to much toward the romance side, although it would only last a paragraph or two. The insights into steamboat life along the Ohio are worth picking up the book.
This was a free nook book so I gave it a try. It's definitely worth reading! The setting of this book was perfect, it made me feel like I was on the riverboat. It's the story of Emma's escape from an abusive, delusionary husband who uses his belief in God as justification for some awful crimes. I thought the theme of domestic violence was handled well. The book really shows how Emma learns to love herself again and overcome the negative effects of abuse. I thought the story was well done. It's a...more
Jan 20, 2013
Hikerdee
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
readers of Historical romance
Recommended to Hikerdee by:
Free Friday for Nook
This book was downloaded to my Nook library as a Free Friday selection from Barnes and Noble.
The historical setting of communities along the Ohio river and of the steamboat Spirit of the River was what I enjoyed most about this book. The author acknowledges her thanks to Ohio River Museum and National Mississippi River Museum. My 3-star, or average, rating is due to author's depiction of her characters in a historical romance for despite her efforts to make them different, the characters still...more
The historical setting of communities along the Ohio river and of the steamboat Spirit of the River was what I enjoyed most about this book. The author acknowledges her thanks to Ohio River Museum and National Mississippi River Museum. My 3-star, or average, rating is due to author's depiction of her characters in a historical romance for despite her efforts to make them different, the characters still...more
Excellent book! This was a definite couldnt put it down kind of book for me. It was suspenseful and sad and romantic...I am really bummed that I done reading it. My only complaint is that it could have used an epilogue to tell how the characters ended up years down the road. I feel like I needed more closure. I didnt want it to end.
Aug 21, 2011
Stephanie Stagner
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
really-liked-it
I got this as a freebie on my Nook with no expectations. I was pleasantly surprised to be drawn in immediately!! Wonderfully believable characters, and a great plot. I really liked how there was a main character, and then several "side" characters, and you got to know them all at least a little bit. I would recommend this book to everyone.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I'm not sure why, but I was surprised at how good this book was. I bought this book at a small town craft fair, directly from the author. Ms. Steffen and I had a great conversation about writing, and I decided to buy the book based on the riverboat setting alone.
Although I did enjoy the setting of this book, what I enjoyed even more was the lovingly drawn characters. You can tell that the author really cares about them.
The ending was pretty predictable, but it was fun to watch it all unfold. Ov...more
Although I did enjoy the setting of this book, what I enjoyed even more was the lovingly drawn characters. You can tell that the author really cares about them.
The ending was pretty predictable, but it was fun to watch it all unfold. Ov...more
Mar 29, 2012
Kasey
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Aunt Vicky
Recommended to Kasey by:
Barnes & Noble
I think I got this as a free friday book & since it was the only thing downloaded on my nook yesterday I started reading it. Not much of a promo I know but it actually was a good book. I liked the characters and all their idiosyncrasies. And the bad guy was seriously scary! Yikes!!
I really enjoyed this story. I'm usually not into dramas but there were enough interesting characters and light banter to where I was not bogged down with depressing detail. They were able to display an abusive relationship without the play by play. I would defiantly check out the series.
Read in a day by skimming through it. Not necessary to read every word to get e story....abused wife has had enough, is desperate, husband cones after her, she vows to never be in that situation again and to help others. Not sure that I will read the remaining books in the series.
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Kathy finds inspiration from her roots in West Virginia and her love of the mountains, rivers, and tales of the people who lived and worked there. Her stories are influenced by a family history of hardworking people, struggling to build lives with their hands and hearts, but never giving up their dreams.
While her career in advertising allowed her to be creative, her storytelling took on a life of...more
More about Kathy Steffen...
While her career in advertising allowed her to be creative, her storytelling took on a life of...more
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Feb 07, 2013 12:55pm