Dawn on a Distant Shore (Wilderness, #2)
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Dawn on a Distant Shore (Wilderness #2)

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4.13 of 5 stars 4.13  ·  rating details  ·  2,738 ratings  ·  157 reviews
In an icy, untamed world of pristine beauty, a husband and wife are torn apart by fate but reunited forever by a love that can't be broken....

An unforgettable love comes alive in this masterful epic of passion, treachery, and adventure....

Award-winning author Sara Donati's debut novel, Into the Wilderness, was hailed as "one of those rare stories that let you breathe the a...more
Mass Market Paperback, 672 pages
Published August 25th 2010 by Bantam
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Thom Swennes
Dawn on a Distant Shore
After reading ‘Into the Wilderness’ I picked up the second book of this very memorable series ‘Dawn on a Distant Shore’, from Rosina Lippi (aka Sara Donati). In addition to being an avid reading buff, I am a born animal lover (with a special affinity for canine companions). My heart strings were pulled with the arrival of Treenie, an independent but faithful dog that attached herself to Elizabeth and later Robbie in the first book. Her abrupt and heartless demise left...more
Jennifer
The 2nd book in the series, after Into the Wilderness, and a great read. This one didn't keep me up at night like the first one did but I really enjoyed it very much.

It was filled with the same characters I had grown to love and surprises that make me speak out loud in a crowded room with exclamation.

This one is definitely one that flows so well that you realize the book is almost ending but you have yet to get to the end of the story. I am looking forward to reading the...more
Jess
Jess rated it 1 of 5 stars
Shelves: fiction, history, romance
I admit that I didn't particularly like the first book of this series, so I mostly blame masochism and a broken computer for continuing with book 2. In short, the main protagonists act like ninnies for most of the book bogged down by the quadruple threat of marriage, childbirth and rearing, dumb-character-syndrome, and a thorough lack of interesting plot. The main character becomes a rather too perfect ten-year old girl which if I were interested in children as main characters and narrators I wo...more
Melissa
I wasn't as taken with this book as I was the first one. While it promised to have a lot of action; kidnappings, rescues, etc., it was actually kind of boring. As a recap (and possible spoiler) the first book covered Elizabeth, a teacher who came to America and fell in love with outdoors man Nathaniel Bonner. Together they secretly elope so they can restore a piece of land to its rightful owners.

We are first taken to Canada where Nathaniel has gone to rescue his father and a Native Ame...more
Belinda
Following up on my "rejoice, fans of Diana Gabaldon" review, I now urge you all to sit down with a proper cup of strong tea. Chai, if you have it. It's time for a reality check.

My previous whole-hearted "two thumbs up" for Sara Donati's "Into the Wilderness" -- the precursor to this book -- still stands. I was thrilled to find the second novel in my local Half Price Books for a measley $3.50. "Dawn on a Distant Shore" (terrible title) follows o...more
Sarah
In this second book of the Wilderness series, the whole Bonner family (as well as Robbie and Curiousity) end up traveling to Scotland, to answer to the Earl of Carryck.

I didn't like this book quite as much as I liked the first one - mainly because I hated that most of it takes place away from Lake-in-the-Clouds. I had really come to like the place and the Kenyen'kehaka people there. As much as I like Scottish people and history, it just wasn't really doing it for me here - and Donat...more
Jenny Q
Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

This book is the sequel to Into the Wilderness, which I read late last year and really enjoyed. The story picks up right where it left off with a gripping series of scenes in which Elizabeth gives birth to twins at home on Hidden Wolf with only the help of her ten-year-old step-daughter. Meanwhile Nathaniel is trapped in the village by a blizzard, desperate to get home to his wife, whom he thinks is only having one baby. A good way to draw the reader into th...more
Lori
I've seen many negative reviews about this book on this site... I'm surprised! Yes, there are elements in the book that Outlander fans could say, "been there, done that", but "Dawn on a Distant Shore" doesn't mimic nor imitate Outlander.

Admittedly, it took a bit for me to become captivated, but I enjoyed the ride. The main characters reveal more of themselves and their past lives... all in character. Newer characters to the story take on deeper nuances.

Su...more
Cam
Cam rated it 4 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Jill
Jill rated it 4 of 5 stars
I picked up this series because I read The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon and LOVED it. I heard that Clair/Jamie, from Outlander, made an appearance in these books so I had to read it.

It wasn't as good as Outlander but I did enjoy the story and the characters very much. It's much along the same lines as Outlander (without the time travel) and very well written. You get invested in the characters and want to follow them though life.

I've read the entire series and L...more
Gretchen
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Casey
Casey rated it 3 of 5 stars
I should preface this review by saying that I haven't finished the book. I blew through book one "Into the Wilderness" in a week and gave it a five-star review. This book reads slowly - so slowly, I've lost interest and read four books in the two weeks since I put this down for a break. It is clear that the author has laid out a very methodical storyline, but the piecing of it together is tough with this one. I might come back after I've finished and bump it to a four star, but I can't...more
Mona
Mona rated it 3 of 5 stars
Shelves: 2010
Not quite as good as the first in this series. I did enjoy the general premise, but the writing wasn't as smooth as the first. It felt like details were missing, and some sections were not as well thought out as others, etc. Without giving anything away, it felt like it took WAY too long to get to the main point of this part of the story. I'll read another, since these books get such high reviews. It seems that most authors who write a series, always have one or two that don't do much for the r...more
Makana
Makana rated it 4 of 5 stars
I don't really know what made me pick up this book. I'd never read any of her work before. I enjoyed the adventuresome quality of this author's reading. Most of the book is taken from a narrators point of view with a few 1st person perspectives.

There are a few descriptive areas in the book, but not as bad as a true romance novel would be. The characters are those you would picture in a Davy Crocket time setting and dress. If you enjoy some bushwack country adventure with a little...more
Wendy Scott
Since I enjoyed the first book in this series, Into the Wilderness, I'm not sure why it took me so long to pick up the second book. However, now that I've read it, I don't think I missed much by waiting. This novel just misses some vital spark for me. I also felt a lack of connection to the characters. The fact that I plowed my way through most of this book and then decided to bring other reading material with me on my vacation says it all. I didn't dislike the book, but it was just OK and I wa...more
ALPHAreader
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Barbara
Barbara rated it 5 of 5 stars
Shelves: absolutefavs
Read this book for the third time. Love the Bonner Family.
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Read this book for the second time and still cried. I don't know what it is about the characters in Sara Donati's books but I get so emotionally tied to them. June 2010
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Dawn On A Distant Shore is the second book in the series by Sara Donasi.

The story takes up again in Paradise, New Y...more
Shell Schroth
For the life of me, I simply can not come up with a good enough reason, as to why it took me so bloody long to pick up the second in Sara Donati's 'Wilderness Series'.

Having read the first book, Into the Wilderness (Wilderness, #1) a year ago, and loving it, I have no excuse for taking over 365 days, and eve's to pick up on the series again..(especially, considering I have owned the entire series for said amount of days aswell...oops)

LOVED the second installment, as much as the first... possibly even more s...more
K
K rated it 3 of 5 stars
If the Nathaniel really knew Jamie Frasier, the first thing he would know is to avoid ships at ALL COSTS. Nothing good ever happened to the Frasiers when they boarded ships and nothing good comes to the Bonners either. Anyway, I didn't really like this book. Something about it just didn't appeal to me the way Into the Wilderness did but I can't quite put my finger on it. It is still a well written book, so I give it three stars even though I didn't like it very much.
Laura
This is the sequel to Into the Wilderness. Although I didn't like it quite as much as the first one, it was still an escape and an insight to another period of time. The cast of characters expanded exponentially from the first book, but there was still enough focus on the original characters. I think this is why I like to read series books so much--I like to see what happens to the characters (once I care about them) over an extended period of time.
Susan Jachimiec
An interesting period of US history between the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, good research on lives and travel problems during that period, as well as political aspects. The main character grew up in upper class England so her voice and perspective were quite different than the common woman, and the author shows these differences. Good character development. The book was ended - or caught up almost too early, not in common with the overall development of the novel. It was almost as...more
Heather (Let's-Go-Pens-We're-Gonna-Take-This-One)
I simply loved this book. I was outraged throughout, in awe of Nathaniel's awesomeness during all the tense moments, in despair right along with Elizabeth at THAT part (no spoilers here, but you totally know the part) and in tears at the end.
Donati's style of writing is quite similar to Diana Gabaldon's and since I love the Outlander series, it was ridiculously easy for me to fall in love with this one as well.
Bring on book three!!
Kirsten
I didn't like this one as much as the first book in the series, but that's probably because they spent half the book on a ship. Ship travel doesn't interest me even a little bit, so I'm hoping the next installment will be better.

I also don't think there was nearly as much character development in this one, and no really important new characters (well unless you include his son, but he's not important yet).

I would almost describe this book as a "filler" chapt...more
Carrie
Carrie rated it 5 of 5 stars
I did not really love her first book, "Into the Wilderness", I just did not get into it. This one really grabbed me and I loved it. I completely understand now why many readers compare Donati to my all-time favorite author, Diana Gabaldon. The scope of the story is enthralling, and the author has a great grasp of history, including customs and attitudes. It was fun to see historical figures popping up occasionally!
Danielle
This story had a bit of a slow start for me, but once it took off it was great. Lots of twists and turns and high adventure. I do enjoy Donati's style of writing and she introduces us to some very colorful characters in this book. I also think her characters were more well developed in this, the second novel in this series, than the first. I will definitely continue to read on in this series; I've connected with her characters enough to want to know more of what happens to them.
Kathyred
Set several years after the end of the revolutionary war, it continues the stories of Elizabeth and Nathaniel Bonner and their new family as they want to live their lives in the endless forests of the New York frontier, but are hauled off to Scotland w/ their twin babies instead. More understated in tone and true to the time than Gabaldon's Outlander series, very enjoyable.
Ronna
While I still feel a strong connection with the characters, including some great new additions, I must say that I did not enjoy the story in this book as much as I did in it's predecessor in the series, Into the Wilderness. The story often dragged, and it was a struggle at times to get through it. However, there were enough exciting scenes to carry me through to the end (which was a good ending I thought) and keep me interested enough to continue with the series.
Sherry
Sherry rated it 3 of 5 stars
2nd book in a series, the first was Into the Wilderness.

Nathaniel and Elizabeth and family are 'kidnapped' to Scotland.

It appears Nathaniel is an heir to a family fortune thru his grandfather and great grandmother.

Adventures ensue on the sea and at the castle, but eventually they get to return home to the wilderness of New York.
Rebecca
this is the third in the bonner series and it was another excellent read! advertisement for these books say that if u love gabaldon's highlander series, then u will love these books. i don't enjoy the highlander series (haha) but these books are fascinating. they take place (for the most part) in the wilderness of NY in the late 1700's to early 1800's. this one follows the family to Scotland as they are "summoned" to appear before a distant relative who is also an earl. great story ...more
Denise
Denise rated it 4 of 5 stars
Shelves: historical, romance
I really liked this book full of adventure across the world. Would give it the highest rating possible if it wasn't for all the 'slang' and accents that had to be read over and over to get their meaning. Needs a glossary for some phrases and words since I am not up on the language of 1794. It truly is historical fiction.
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Dawn On A Distant Shore; Sequel To Into The Wilderness
Dawn on a Distant Shore (Hardcover)
Dawn on a Distant Shore (Wilderness Saga 2)
Dawn on a Distant Shore (Wilderness, #2)
Dawn on a Distant Shore (ebook)

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Sara Donati is a pen name of Rosina Lippi. Notice: Sara does not age. Rosina does. R is also here on Goodreads; any and all reviews will show up under Rosina Lippi, so she's the one to follow. Sara just sits here eating bonbons.
More about Sara Donati...
Into the Wilderness (Wilderness, #1) Lake in the Clouds (Wilderness, #3) Fire Along the Sky (Wilderness, #4) Queen of Swords (Wilderness, #5) The Endless Forest (Wilderness, #6)

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