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Feb 01, 2011

Zeek rated it:

I can't tell you how much I adore Simons for this book!

In the first two novels in the Bronze Horseman trilogy by Paullina Simons, she throws our two protags, Alexander and Tatiana, into peril from the outset- starting with the siege of Leningrad during WWII on through their eventual escape to America in the late 1940's.

When the second book ended, I couldn't see how Simon's could squeeze any more gripping material out of Tatiana and Alexander's lives. But she wonderfully s More...

3 comments like (17 people liked it)

Feb 02, 2012

Amira rated it:

I found the third book in the Bronze Horseman Trilogy,'The Summer Garden' disappointing. I really really really really LOVED the other two novels a lot, but this one departed too much from the characters that I had grown to love. I have to admit that most of the story was a collective extension of vague plotless prose, which didn't reflect the true essence of the characters Tatiana and Alexander. I also felt it lacked a climax and strongly disliked Alexander's indescretion and when he hit Tatian More...

4 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jul 24, 2010

Kelly rated it:

While this book is my favorite from the series it is also the most difficult emotionally to read. Tatiana and Alexander embark on a journey that is life.. Trying to put themselves back together as individuals as well as lovers.

So many twists and turns in this one. I can only say if you haven't read it run out and buy it! (if you can find it in the U.S.) Perfect closure to a wonderful series.

Alexander will break your heart but I found that I would allow it to br More...

10 comments like (15 people liked it)

Oct 20, 2008

Kristianne rated it:

Don't let the size of this tome put you off - you should find yourself flying through the pages. If you've gotten this far and read The Bronze Horseman and The Bridge to Holy Cross then you'll be dying to finish the series and reach a resolution for Tatiana and Alexander. You won't be disappointed.

I don't want to give anything away but this was definitely written at the same calibre as the first novel. It was just as gut-wrenching and just as powerful. Finishing these three books More...

0 comments like (12 people liked it)

Jan 24, 2010

Shell rated it:

Phew... Well I'm EXHAUSTED!!!

Seriously! Never in my life have I read a novel, that forcefully strips you of all strength with its sheer emotional instability.

Many times, while turning the pages I was sorely tempted to put it down. To find contentment in the ending of it's previous installment 'Tatiana and Alexander'... But I'm a trooper, and I'm not a fan of not seeing things through.. So I persevered.

Thank God for small favours!

Eventhough, ther More...

7 comments like (20 people liked it)

Apr 26, 2009

Misfit rated it:

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2 comments like (2 people liked it)

Jul 29, 2010

Alycia rated it:

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11 comments like (3 people liked it)

Feb 16, 2012

Caroline rated it:

Im so glad that Paullina Simons decided to write this book and continue what happened to Tatia and Shura. After reading the 2nd book, you were left wandering how they would deal with adjusting to living a "normal" life, and this book did it perfectly.

This book showed it wasnt a happily ever after as we all would have chosen to believe, and touched in a very realistic way, the struggles that married people go through, enhanced by what they both went through to get to this p More...

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Jan 16, 2012

Jana rated it:

Paullina simons' "The Summer Garden" is the last book in a trilogy beginning with "The Bronze Horseman, and "Tatiana and Alexander." These are all 5 star historical fiction novels and I highly recommend them. Please read in order for best enjoyment.

"The Summer Garden" is the last novel in Paullina Simon's epic historical saga, that begins with "The Bronze Horseman," and continues with "Tatiana and Alexander." Ms. Simon's wonderfu More...

0 comments like

Jan 01, 2012

Judit rated it:

Rozhodla som sa nepísať recenziu na 2. a 3. diel, pretože by som sa nevedela "nespoilerovo vykecať".

Poznámka pre tých, čo už čítali prvý diel po slovensky a chceli by vedieť, či je dvojka a trojka naozaj horšia, ako hovorí veľa recenzií:

Jednotka je jednotka.
Dvojka je dvojka a úplne iná, ako jednotka.
Trojka je trojka a úplne iná ako jednotka alebo dvojka.

V Summer Garden častokrát plačete za Tatianou a Alexandrom z prvého dielu, plačete a More...

0 comments like

Dec 05, 2011

Evelando rated it:

Comincio dalla fine,e non so bene il perchè. Nell'ultimo capitolo ci sono due paragrafi,che io ho letto una decina di volte di fila e che considero l'essenza di Tatiana e Alexander.

"Arriva un autobus di linea diretto verso il centro di Phoenix, gli ostruisce la visuale. Lui muove la testa di qua e di là.
Fu quello il momento, a Leningrado, in una vita deserta, in cui la sua vita divenne possibile, in cui Alexander divenne possibile. Eccolo lì, così com'era: un giovane uffic More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Oct 04, 2011

Maggie rated it:

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0 comments like

Jul 03, 2011

Gretchen rated it:

I started this book with some apprehension. I liked The Bronze Horseman. I LOVED Tatiana and Alexander. And I was worried about what Simons would do to top the emotional release of book 2.

Book 3 has a number of strong points. The first third where Alexander is trying to fit back into a "normal" post-war life is painful and feels real. Then the story deteriorates into soap opera...petty jealousies, infidelity, local gossip.... a stronger editor could have killed this sectio More...

0 comments like

Jun 21, 2011

Jessica at Book Sake rated it:

The Summer Garden is the final installment in the trilogy about Tatiana and Alexander’s “epic love story”. I have not read the other two books, but I sure hope they were more interesting than this one. This novel could have been summed up in 100 pages or so, but I guess the author thought an extra 642 pages of fluff was necessary. I would have preferred putting my head in the garbage disposal and turning it on, but that’s just me.

I took the liberty of reading some reviews on t More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 19, 2011

Natasha rated it:

Ok, this was a very... powerful novel. But this book wasn't nearly as good as the other two in the BH series.
First of all, I had my heart set on Alexander finding his mother...

SPOILERS:
...and of course he didn't! There were so many little hints that this was going to happen! But why didn't it!? It would have made the book so much better, because we lost Pasha in the previous series, so why couldn't she bring back the mother!? Of course, it's better More...

2 comments like

Nov 29, 2010

Erin rated it:

By far, the weakest book of the trilogy. I found it a very difficult read but was compelled to see the conclusion of the series through to the end. This book does not seem to have any discernible plot, but is rather three books-in-one. The first section deals with the immediate aftermath of the events from book two. This compelling section had me suffering right along with Tatiana and Alexander as they deal with the horrific personal fallout from WWII. Alexander is certainly not the dashing More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Oct 30, 2010

Melinda rated it:

Well this book was a pretty satisfying end to the series. Certainly redeemed the characters for me and fulfilled my wish for a "revolutionary road" type novel.

The only things that irritated me was the flashback to the summer in Luga - I suppose it was interspersed with the main story to disperse the tension and heaviness of the arguing and fights between Tatiana and Alexander... however I just feel that the mini story didn't bring anything to the novel and was not needed. More...

0 comments like

Jun 06, 2010

Amanda rated it:

After reading this book I can't help but ask "Can anyone truly survive war?" When that army seargant comes home to his beautiful wife, the one he envisioned every night on the battlefield as he crept along the cold forest floor, closer and closer to his enemy, does he just wrap his arms around her and forget? When he nestles his face into her long locks and smells her floral shampoo, does he just forget the whistling of the grenades and the blasts of the bombs? When he lays his hands u More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Apr 07, 2010

Readdiction rated it:

I absolutely loved The Bronze Horseman, the first book in the Tatiana and Alexander trilogy, and was looking forward to reading the conclusion to their epic love story.

I was greatly (and grievously) disappointed. Yes, Simons delivered by giving an incredibly emotional ride but (and this is a HUGE but), there was just one scene which totally and UTTERLY made the whole trilogy feel like an epic waste.

**********

SPOILERS:

Dear Paullina Simons,

More...

2 comments like (9 people liked it)

Dec 17, 2009

Sara rated it:

One thing is for sure: you will be emotionally drained when you finish this series. The story picks back up about a month after Tatiana and Alexander have returned from Russia. They are finally reunited after years of separation and suffering. YES!--but wait, life isn't exactly smooth sailing when they reach the states. Alexander copes (or rather tries to cope) with his past of torture while he was imprisoned. Interactions between the couple are awkward and tense, not to mention the new dynamic More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 11, 2011

Sarah rated it:

I had been dying to read this for quite some time, to see how Tatiana and Alexander’s epic love story ends. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.

Tatiana and Alexander go through some seriously tragic stuff throughout the first two books – they meet the day that World War 2 stars in Russia, and have to beat impossible odds to be together. They are a wonderfully romantic and passionate couple, and after so much tragedy and grief, I was really looking forward to them sta More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 03, 2011

Manuela rated it:

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0 comments like

Nov 08, 2011

Tash rated it:

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0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jul 23, 2011

Kristina rated it:

What a load of crock. Paullina Simons should have just ended the Tatiana/Alexander saga after The Bronze Horseman because the two follow ups have been horrific. First of all, much like Tatiana and Alexander, this book contained what I believed to be an unnecessary story line that takes place in the past. Then, there is just the ridiculous and constant drama. Just when one fight is over, another one begins. Or just when one dilemma is solved, here comes another. There is never two minutes of peac More...

0 comments like

Jul 01, 2011

Ghadah rated it:

This book was an emotional roller coaster for me. I felt every word, every sentence, every struggle, every argument and every tear.

In this book, alexander and tania start their real life journey together in America.
They try to get over Alexander's imprisonment and it is consequences, they build a life together with their son and try to have more kids to fill their -I don't-know-how-many-exactly acres in phoenix

-spoilers ahead-

I could never forget how frustrate More...

0 comments like

May 06, 2011

Tracy rated it:

This trilogy had me captivated from the very first page of book one. Of the three books, I couldn't choose a favorite even if I wanted to. But I will say that THIS book was exceptional in it's own way.

Book one had me hoping that they would get a few more moments together.

Book two had me wishing that they could have had a few more moments together.

Book three was together forever. Book three was 'for better or for worse'.

It was incredible to see two lovers w More...

1 comment like (2 people liked it)

Jul 04, 2010

Teresa rated it:

To wrap up this book in one sentence: It's what happens after ever after. The Summer Garden is the third (and last) book from The Bronze Horseman trilogy and explores the life of our star-crossed lovers: Tatiana and Alexander. One would think after the first two books, after experiencing the trials of pre and post WWII Russia and finally getting together the happy couple would get their happily ever after - but there's more.

Unlike volumes one and two, there's less historical detail More...

0 comments like

Feb 02, 2012

Charlotte rated it:

Mostly soft core porn with some army junk thrown in. The author wants you to keep on adoring characters who have become tedious, whiny and self-obsessed and apparently republican. Reading this book you'll realize that neither Tatiana nor Alexander have ever met another human being who comes CLOSE to being as wonderful as they so obviously are. All the women are stupid and lazy and slutty. All the men are pugilistic whore mongers. And EVERYONE wants either Tatiana or Alexander. Naturally. Even if More...

0 comments like

Apr 28, 2011

Kathy rated it:

I know there are mixed reviews on The Summer Garden, the third and final book in the Tatiana and Alexander trilogy and I understand some of the reasons behind the low ratings, but I without a doubt loved this book.

The Summer Garden begins soon after Tatiana and Alexander return to America to start their new life with their three years old son, Anthony. I'm sure many wanted a life of roses for these two because of all they suffered during World War Two, but how realistic would that More...

8 comments like (2 people liked it)

Aug 31, 2011

Sherry rated it:

Simons's characters are unforgettable, and the story is a real page-turner that kept me up way too many nights for way too long. Her writing is really good, too. BUT I only gave this novel three stars because, believe it or not, I became bored by the plethora of explicit sex scenes and -- especially this -- the domestic violence. Alexander has a temper and when Tatiana pisses him off, he rapes her and beats her up. Tatiana, a strong and smart woman, just keeps coming back for more. We as readers More...

1 comment like