What do you think?
Rate this book
The Manhattan Stories #2
Pillsbury Crossing
Emma is nine on the day they meet, hot-headed and wild-haired. Akecheta is twelve, and already the man of his house. He saves her life and tells her she belongs to him. As they grow up together on the frontier surrounding Manhattan, Kansas, he teaches her how to fish, hunt, and how to survive in a land where bears, snakes, accidents, and even nature itself can steal away your life in an instant. She teaches him how to trust and how to share the burdens of his shameful past. When he graduates from high school, an aunt send him to university in the other Manhattan, in New York. Emma continues her schooling at home, becoming one of the first women to study animal husbandry at Kansas State University. At first, Akecheta is dazzled by New York. He explores the grand library, the museums, and the theatres. When a friend takes him to back-room poker games in the Bowery, he learns that Manhattan, New York, may be more deadly than the wilds of Kansas, and in the elegant drawing rooms of city mansions, he finds that the most dangerous thing of all may not be a grizzly or the armed loser of a card game, but a beautiful, wealthy, well-connected blonde.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2012
360 people are currently reading
230 people want to read
About the author
Donna Foley Mabry
45 books211 followersA Michigan native who studied writing in school, Donna first came to Vegas to make costumes and soon was weaving the stories she heard in the back of the girls' dressing room into her first novel. Now she is the author of The Alexandra Merritt Mysteries, which include 'The Last Two Aces in Las Vegas', 'The Las Vegas Desert Flower', 'The Las Vegas Special', 'Rough Ride in Vegas', 'M.I.A. Las Vegas' and 'The Las Vegas Sophisticate'. Her latest novel, 'The Vegas Tycoon' is also set in Las Vegas
Donna has written several other stand-alone novels, recent releases 'Kaleigh McKenna' and 'The Russell House', as well as 'Desperate Ambition', 'The Right Society', 'The Other Hand', 'Conversations with Skip', and an anthology, 'Killer Coffee and a Batch of Cookies'.
In addition to those stand-alones and others, Donna has a popular series of historical romances, 'The Manhattan Stories', and a series of female detective stories 'The Case Files of Molly Evers".
Her most popular novel, 'Maude', the story of her Grandmother, is a #1 best-seller on Amazon and spent 16 weeks on the Wall Street Journal's Top-10 list. 'Maude' is available as an audiobook, and is published in Italian, Russian and German. Donna is actively working on the screenplay for 'Maude'.
She has also written three screenplays, a stage play, poetry, short stories, and a children's story.
Donna lives in Henderson, Nevada, sharing her home with two cats and her dog, Abigale, all three shelter rescues. She has two children, a daughter in Las Vegas and a son in New York and a grandson who is the light of her life!
Donna still takes occasional classes at UNLV and at writer's conferences and is an active member of the Anthem Author's in Henderson, NV.
donnafoleymabry.com
facebook.com/donnafoleymabry
twitter.com/donnama12
Donna has written several other stand-alone novels, recent releases 'Kaleigh McKenna' and 'The Russell House', as well as 'Desperate Ambition', 'The Right Society', 'The Other Hand', 'Conversations with Skip', and an anthology, 'Killer Coffee and a Batch of Cookies'.
In addition to those stand-alones and others, Donna has a popular series of historical romances, 'The Manhattan Stories', and a series of female detective stories 'The Case Files of Molly Evers".
Her most popular novel, 'Maude', the story of her Grandmother, is a #1 best-seller on Amazon and spent 16 weeks on the Wall Street Journal's Top-10 list. 'Maude' is available as an audiobook, and is published in Italian, Russian and German. Donna is actively working on the screenplay for 'Maude'.
She has also written three screenplays, a stage play, poetry, short stories, and a children's story.
Donna lives in Henderson, Nevada, sharing her home with two cats and her dog, Abigale, all three shelter rescues. She has two children, a daughter in Las Vegas and a son in New York and a grandson who is the light of her life!
Donna still takes occasional classes at UNLV and at writer's conferences and is an active member of the Anthem Author's in Henderson, NV.
donnafoleymabry.com
facebook.com/donnafoleymabry
twitter.com/donnama12
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
March 11, 2020
There are hidden complexities not easy to discern in this as in most such works, even as the work might seem trivial to those that characterise anything written by, about, and mostly read by women, under an unflattering label, which is as false as lumping all European films with all Hollywood and calling it 'honky'. A Jefferson would do just that, the latter, as do most males and others who want to be taken seriously by them.
But here, even as the comfort factor is strong in reading this, as is the sudden realisation of attachment one has found oneself having developed with the characters somewhere in midst of reading it, one also on one hand sees the said complex layers as seamlessly merged as those of an ocean, and too, begins to find a repeated sense of dejavu if one is familiar with Indian literature and films.
Jessica, the first in Manhattan series, dealt with problems faced by women in life despite everything else being in their favour, only due yo a key factor - the man in their life being a rotten one. Here, the author explores the other side, of a young boy going through various problems due to circumstances, some of which might have a manipulative female behind the trouble, although it really doesn't begin to compare.
There is a bit of a Devdas feel to the boy, even though it's not about drinking, what with his leaving a backwoods farm home in Kansas to go face the more famous Manhattan and it's society, and allow the memory of his childhood love submerge until it's possibly too late. It isn't a copy - Devdas lacks the manipulative female - but that, again, finds a resonance from countless such figures in Indian films of family genre of sixties. Mostly there they were a sister in law, a mother in law or an aunt, but yes, the young woman in city grasping at the bright young man and keeping him as her carriage horse to ride onto social pyramid top with a comfortable ride, was quite far from unique.
............
Jessica, the first of the Manhattan series, ended satisfactorily enough, after the wrenching events and suspense. The boy orphaned by his parents death was taken in by his grandfather Belk, who married Caroline promptly after being told it wasn't suitable for them to share a home despite presence of Kimimela and the infant, and they named the bot Akecheta Isaac Matthew Belk - the first being in Kansa language.
This one opens with Emma, a nine year old newly orphaned granddaughter of the West family across the road from the Belk home, rebellious against having to live on the small farm of her grandparents in the Kansas backwoods instead of her home in Philadelphia, and going to a new school,in the neighbourhood; she runs into the forest unfamiliar to her, falls in a freezing creek and is saved by the boy who's three years older. Caroline has died, he lives with Kimimela and his grandfather, and has no friends despite being bright at school, hardworking at home and knowledgeable about the farm and forest - the adults of the town are kind, but haven't managed to keep the secret of his parents being not married to one another, and he had to be told about it after his first day at school.
So the two, both equally lonely and proud, equally determined to do well and not be a burden, have one another for company. It's as innocent a love story as it could get, with details of small farmer's lives living frugally in the farmhouse of Kansas in the first half.
Jessica sends Amanda to music school in Chicago after she's through high school, and three years later she takes Akecheta personally to Manhattan, N.Y. to get him to Columbia university where she's secured his admission - shes paying for both by having lived frugally and saving the money she received from renting her house in the city that was her wedding gift from her father, which she still owns. Now it's the boy's turn to face a world unknown where his family roots lie.
............
There is a frightening moment when Akecheta is persuaded by his roommate Jonathan Montgomery to accompany him to a poker game, after two years of being roommates. Akecheta is lonely, and after Jonathan has taught him basics, goes with him. It's even the same place and men who Zachary played with, and they ask his name seeing the resemblance. One wonders if he'll fall down the slippery slope.
But he recalls his roots, the amount of work and time the money has cost his near and dear, before placing his first bet- and leaves, having only list a quarter for ante.
One hopes that's the end of it.
............
But Jonathan invites him home for a party, where he meets his sister Winifred, a stunning slim blonde with blue eyes and soft pink skin, and he is stunned. Winifred suggests he study law and join her father's firm. He introduces himself in N.Y. as Isaac Belk, and both Jonathan and Winifred alike promptly asked if he's Jewish; Winifred declares she'd call him Mathew, and that's the name her family uses then on.
Thence he spends all his free time with them except the formal holidays, which as usual are at Vandenberg home of Jessica's friend Abigail. Funny, one wondered if he'd fall for Veronica Vandenberg who's decidedly very accomplished in music, but this seems far more dangerous.
In time he's invited to their summer home on Long Island, and meets the elder brother George who's a partner in the father's law firm. George tells him he's heard of his goid grades, and offers him a position if he'd do law.
"Winifred leaned against Akecheta’s arm and put her head on his shoulder, a stupendous familiarity in the presence of her family. Akecheta glanced nervously at Jonathan and then her parents and saw only approval. Until that moment, he had thought of marriage to the most beautiful and the wealthiest young woman in Manhattan as something he could never dream of, yet here her entire family was looking at him and silently giving their consent. The kindergartener who had been called a bastard by his classmates stirred inside and reminded him of who he really was.
"Jessica’s friends, the Vandenbergs, knew the truth but must have kept it to themselves. He wondered if anyone else in the closed circle of Manhattan society would one day scoff at him and call him a bastard. If he worked for the most prestigious law firm in the city, if he were married to a woman at the very top of the social register, would that grant him immunity?
"He considered the money. Two thousand dollars a year was a king’s salary to a Kansas farmer. The thought of the life he could have if he stayed in New York, married Winifred, and practiced law successfully, was staggering."
Is he going to forget Emma?
............
Jessica invited Emma after her graduation, but there was a letter from New York informing her that the carriage house of her house in New York had burned down; and the tenant had died, his family was leaving to go stay elsewhere. She'd pit Amanda and Akecheta through school meanwhile and her savings had dwindled, and without the rent couldn't continue.
Emma offrered her money, claiming she didnt want to go to college. They went to speak with her grandparents.
"Even if she did give Jessica the money she still had enough to enroll for her first year at school, maybe not at the Medical College of New York, but it would still be possible for her to go to school at home. For her second year, if Jessica could get her house rented out or sold and start paying her back, and Akecheta could get a good-paying job and pitch in, maybe she could change schools and go anywhere she wanted, or maybe she’d prefer to stay at Kansas State University right in her home town."
Emma convinced her grandparents and made everyone promise they wouldn't tell Akecheta; Jessica decided she'd sell the house and repay Emma. They discussed Jessica making a wedding dress for Emma, believing it was understood they'd marry.
Meanwhile, Winifred managed to manipulate so as to get him to have an understanding with her!
............
Almost on his arrival the storm broke - Emma had gone dressed up to receive him, which startled him and he didn't even recognise her at first, but soon she was shocked to hear him say he loved her like a sister; he didnt see her again through the summer, despite looking for her, missing her, but unable to go across and ask to meet her. It was Kimimela who, when he was talking about his future plans of joining a rich N.Y. firm, and told her he had an understanding with a beautiful girl in society, pointed out firmly that he'd never love that girl as he loved Emma.
The truth of it was obvious to him when he kept looking for her as his train left; she arrived on her horse as the train left, and he ran to the rear of the train, waving at her until the train climbed into hills and turned, and he knew Kimimela was right. He decided he had to distance himself from Winifred, but found on arrival that Jonathan had been murdered as a result of his poker game at Bowery, and he had to attend the funeral.
"He pictured a future with Winifred and knew no matter how much success he had with the firm, no matter how much money he accumulated, no matter how high in society his wife was, he would always feel out of place in New York. He would always be waiting for someone to call him what he could not deny being. His heart would always be in Kansas with a wild-haired, stubborn Emma. He squirmed in his seat with his head down and his hands clasped on his lap. He was tangled in a web with no idea how to gracefully get out of it."
............
He decided to ask Veronica for help.
"“So now you want to break it off?”
"Akecheta stared down at the table top and rubbed his forehead. “Yes. I was going to tell her when I came back from Kansas for this semester. Now she’s lost Jonathan and needs me. Whatever my feelings, I can’t let her down. There’s no way I can think of to get out of my promise to her without hurting her the way I’ve already hurt—hurt someone else very dear to me.”
"“You mean Emma, the girl in Kansas you’re so in love with?”
"“Yes, Emma. In love with? I never said I was in love with her romantically. She’s like my sister.”
"“I don’t think so. I never saw a man’s eyes gleam when he talks about his sister the way yours do when you talk about her, and you’ve never been in our house that you didn’t talk about her. You’ve been in love with her all of your life. Like most men, you’ve taken her for granted because she’s been so devoted to you.”"
"“I—you’re right. I suppose you’ve seen things much more clearly than I have. What am I going to do?”
"“Don’t tell Winifred anything. You can’t break it off with her without it having lifelong consequences, and not only in the firm. Your name would be mud in New York. She has to be the one who throws you over. Then everyone will feel sorry for you, and you can get on with your life.”"
Veronica asked about his future plans, and as he said he was going home for good, told him that it was enough if he told Winifred just that; she'd be unlikely to leave her New York social position and lifestyle.
............
Winifred's brother George helped him with the papers his grandfather Belk had left him.
"A few weeks later Akecheta had enough money to pay back Aunt Jessica and still have a few thousand dollars left over. He wasn’t a millionaire or even close to being one, but he felt rich, very, very rich.
"He deposited the check into his own account at the bank Aunt Jessica used. He had them calculate how much money she had spent on him over the years, plus the going rate of interest, and transferred the money into her account.
"He wrote home and told them what he had found, adding a note at the end.
"“It seems that even after all of the time since he’s been gone, Grandfather is still taking care of me in so many ways. It’s an ironic tale. For four years Aunt Jessica worked diligently to make over grandfather’s clothing so I would have a wardrobe fit for New York, and all along, the tenant in the building I partially owned was a manufacturer of men’s clothing.”"
............
Influenza stopped Jessica from coming for his graduation, and he had only Vandenberg and Montgomery contingent. Winifred asked him.
"“What will you say when you make the valedictory address?”
"“I’ve already been informed that I won’t be making it. They’ve chosen Albert Cummings. ”
"“I suppose it has something to do with your name.”
"“The same thing happened at my high school.”
"“This sort of misunderstanding could hamper you in your work. Perhaps George will help you change your name legally. You could become Matthew Montgomery after we’re married.”
"“I like my name as it is.”
"She pressed her lips together and let the subject drop, but when he looked at her, he could almost see that she wouldn’t leave it for very long.
"In Kansas, he had been put aside because of his birth. Here in New York, it was likely the sound of his name. After four years in town, he was aware of the bias against Jews, even if it was only assumed he was a Jew. Since Baptists in many ways considered themselves adopted Jews, it didn’t matter to him."
............
He was invited for dinner, and the parents excused themselves. He found it hard to broach the topic.
"“It’s time, Matthew.”
"“Time?”
"“You’ve graduated, you’ll be starting at the firm in a few days, and we can announce our engagement. Of course, we won’t set a date until after you’ve passed the bar examination, but I think I would like a Christmas wedding. Everyone knows we have an understanding and will be waiting for us to make it official. We’ll have to have a photograph taken and I need to prepare the newspaper article for publication. My family’s period of mourning will be over in September, and my friends and father’s business associates will expect us to attend all of the parties of the holiday season.”"
He said he wanted her to visit his people before they did that, and she agreed though didn't seem pleased. He wired Jessica that he was bringing a guest for her.
............
Winifred wondered about Jessica.
""She grew up in a grand New York home, but she can still be happy here, living in that little parsonage and playing the minister’s wife?”
"“She’s very happy here because she loves Daniel more than she loves New York, and now she loves this Manhattan more than she did the other one.”
"Winifred looked at him. Her mouth tightened. “I’m not like her, Matthew. I could never live here.”
"“Matthew is only my middle name. White people here call me ‘Isaac, or Ike.’”
"“White people? I see. And Akecheta? Who calls you that?”
"“Only two people, Maw and Emma.”
"“Emma? Didn’t she say that at one time she thought she was going to marry this—‘Akecheta’ person?”
"“Yes. I never thought that far ahead, but she must have already had it all planned out.”
"Winifred nodded. “I believe she was right all along. She would be the perfect wife for Akecheta.”
"“So you’re releasing me from our understanding?
"“Oh, my goodness yes."
But here, even as the comfort factor is strong in reading this, as is the sudden realisation of attachment one has found oneself having developed with the characters somewhere in midst of reading it, one also on one hand sees the said complex layers as seamlessly merged as those of an ocean, and too, begins to find a repeated sense of dejavu if one is familiar with Indian literature and films.
Jessica, the first in Manhattan series, dealt with problems faced by women in life despite everything else being in their favour, only due yo a key factor - the man in their life being a rotten one. Here, the author explores the other side, of a young boy going through various problems due to circumstances, some of which might have a manipulative female behind the trouble, although it really doesn't begin to compare.
There is a bit of a Devdas feel to the boy, even though it's not about drinking, what with his leaving a backwoods farm home in Kansas to go face the more famous Manhattan and it's society, and allow the memory of his childhood love submerge until it's possibly too late. It isn't a copy - Devdas lacks the manipulative female - but that, again, finds a resonance from countless such figures in Indian films of family genre of sixties. Mostly there they were a sister in law, a mother in law or an aunt, but yes, the young woman in city grasping at the bright young man and keeping him as her carriage horse to ride onto social pyramid top with a comfortable ride, was quite far from unique.
............
Jessica, the first of the Manhattan series, ended satisfactorily enough, after the wrenching events and suspense. The boy orphaned by his parents death was taken in by his grandfather Belk, who married Caroline promptly after being told it wasn't suitable for them to share a home despite presence of Kimimela and the infant, and they named the bot Akecheta Isaac Matthew Belk - the first being in Kansa language.
This one opens with Emma, a nine year old newly orphaned granddaughter of the West family across the road from the Belk home, rebellious against having to live on the small farm of her grandparents in the Kansas backwoods instead of her home in Philadelphia, and going to a new school,in the neighbourhood; she runs into the forest unfamiliar to her, falls in a freezing creek and is saved by the boy who's three years older. Caroline has died, he lives with Kimimela and his grandfather, and has no friends despite being bright at school, hardworking at home and knowledgeable about the farm and forest - the adults of the town are kind, but haven't managed to keep the secret of his parents being not married to one another, and he had to be told about it after his first day at school.
So the two, both equally lonely and proud, equally determined to do well and not be a burden, have one another for company. It's as innocent a love story as it could get, with details of small farmer's lives living frugally in the farmhouse of Kansas in the first half.
Jessica sends Amanda to music school in Chicago after she's through high school, and three years later she takes Akecheta personally to Manhattan, N.Y. to get him to Columbia university where she's secured his admission - shes paying for both by having lived frugally and saving the money she received from renting her house in the city that was her wedding gift from her father, which she still owns. Now it's the boy's turn to face a world unknown where his family roots lie.
............
There is a frightening moment when Akecheta is persuaded by his roommate Jonathan Montgomery to accompany him to a poker game, after two years of being roommates. Akecheta is lonely, and after Jonathan has taught him basics, goes with him. It's even the same place and men who Zachary played with, and they ask his name seeing the resemblance. One wonders if he'll fall down the slippery slope.
But he recalls his roots, the amount of work and time the money has cost his near and dear, before placing his first bet- and leaves, having only list a quarter for ante.
One hopes that's the end of it.
............
But Jonathan invites him home for a party, where he meets his sister Winifred, a stunning slim blonde with blue eyes and soft pink skin, and he is stunned. Winifred suggests he study law and join her father's firm. He introduces himself in N.Y. as Isaac Belk, and both Jonathan and Winifred alike promptly asked if he's Jewish; Winifred declares she'd call him Mathew, and that's the name her family uses then on.
Thence he spends all his free time with them except the formal holidays, which as usual are at Vandenberg home of Jessica's friend Abigail. Funny, one wondered if he'd fall for Veronica Vandenberg who's decidedly very accomplished in music, but this seems far more dangerous.
In time he's invited to their summer home on Long Island, and meets the elder brother George who's a partner in the father's law firm. George tells him he's heard of his goid grades, and offers him a position if he'd do law.
"Winifred leaned against Akecheta’s arm and put her head on his shoulder, a stupendous familiarity in the presence of her family. Akecheta glanced nervously at Jonathan and then her parents and saw only approval. Until that moment, he had thought of marriage to the most beautiful and the wealthiest young woman in Manhattan as something he could never dream of, yet here her entire family was looking at him and silently giving their consent. The kindergartener who had been called a bastard by his classmates stirred inside and reminded him of who he really was.
"Jessica’s friends, the Vandenbergs, knew the truth but must have kept it to themselves. He wondered if anyone else in the closed circle of Manhattan society would one day scoff at him and call him a bastard. If he worked for the most prestigious law firm in the city, if he were married to a woman at the very top of the social register, would that grant him immunity?
"He considered the money. Two thousand dollars a year was a king’s salary to a Kansas farmer. The thought of the life he could have if he stayed in New York, married Winifred, and practiced law successfully, was staggering."
Is he going to forget Emma?
............
Jessica invited Emma after her graduation, but there was a letter from New York informing her that the carriage house of her house in New York had burned down; and the tenant had died, his family was leaving to go stay elsewhere. She'd pit Amanda and Akecheta through school meanwhile and her savings had dwindled, and without the rent couldn't continue.
Emma offrered her money, claiming she didnt want to go to college. They went to speak with her grandparents.
"Even if she did give Jessica the money she still had enough to enroll for her first year at school, maybe not at the Medical College of New York, but it would still be possible for her to go to school at home. For her second year, if Jessica could get her house rented out or sold and start paying her back, and Akecheta could get a good-paying job and pitch in, maybe she could change schools and go anywhere she wanted, or maybe she’d prefer to stay at Kansas State University right in her home town."
Emma convinced her grandparents and made everyone promise they wouldn't tell Akecheta; Jessica decided she'd sell the house and repay Emma. They discussed Jessica making a wedding dress for Emma, believing it was understood they'd marry.
Meanwhile, Winifred managed to manipulate so as to get him to have an understanding with her!
............
Almost on his arrival the storm broke - Emma had gone dressed up to receive him, which startled him and he didn't even recognise her at first, but soon she was shocked to hear him say he loved her like a sister; he didnt see her again through the summer, despite looking for her, missing her, but unable to go across and ask to meet her. It was Kimimela who, when he was talking about his future plans of joining a rich N.Y. firm, and told her he had an understanding with a beautiful girl in society, pointed out firmly that he'd never love that girl as he loved Emma.
The truth of it was obvious to him when he kept looking for her as his train left; she arrived on her horse as the train left, and he ran to the rear of the train, waving at her until the train climbed into hills and turned, and he knew Kimimela was right. He decided he had to distance himself from Winifred, but found on arrival that Jonathan had been murdered as a result of his poker game at Bowery, and he had to attend the funeral.
"He pictured a future with Winifred and knew no matter how much success he had with the firm, no matter how much money he accumulated, no matter how high in society his wife was, he would always feel out of place in New York. He would always be waiting for someone to call him what he could not deny being. His heart would always be in Kansas with a wild-haired, stubborn Emma. He squirmed in his seat with his head down and his hands clasped on his lap. He was tangled in a web with no idea how to gracefully get out of it."
............
He decided to ask Veronica for help.
"“So now you want to break it off?”
"Akecheta stared down at the table top and rubbed his forehead. “Yes. I was going to tell her when I came back from Kansas for this semester. Now she’s lost Jonathan and needs me. Whatever my feelings, I can’t let her down. There’s no way I can think of to get out of my promise to her without hurting her the way I’ve already hurt—hurt someone else very dear to me.”
"“You mean Emma, the girl in Kansas you’re so in love with?”
"“Yes, Emma. In love with? I never said I was in love with her romantically. She’s like my sister.”
"“I don’t think so. I never saw a man’s eyes gleam when he talks about his sister the way yours do when you talk about her, and you’ve never been in our house that you didn’t talk about her. You’ve been in love with her all of your life. Like most men, you’ve taken her for granted because she’s been so devoted to you.”"
"“I—you’re right. I suppose you’ve seen things much more clearly than I have. What am I going to do?”
"“Don’t tell Winifred anything. You can’t break it off with her without it having lifelong consequences, and not only in the firm. Your name would be mud in New York. She has to be the one who throws you over. Then everyone will feel sorry for you, and you can get on with your life.”"
Veronica asked about his future plans, and as he said he was going home for good, told him that it was enough if he told Winifred just that; she'd be unlikely to leave her New York social position and lifestyle.
............
Winifred's brother George helped him with the papers his grandfather Belk had left him.
"A few weeks later Akecheta had enough money to pay back Aunt Jessica and still have a few thousand dollars left over. He wasn’t a millionaire or even close to being one, but he felt rich, very, very rich.
"He deposited the check into his own account at the bank Aunt Jessica used. He had them calculate how much money she had spent on him over the years, plus the going rate of interest, and transferred the money into her account.
"He wrote home and told them what he had found, adding a note at the end.
"“It seems that even after all of the time since he’s been gone, Grandfather is still taking care of me in so many ways. It’s an ironic tale. For four years Aunt Jessica worked diligently to make over grandfather’s clothing so I would have a wardrobe fit for New York, and all along, the tenant in the building I partially owned was a manufacturer of men’s clothing.”"
............
Influenza stopped Jessica from coming for his graduation, and he had only Vandenberg and Montgomery contingent. Winifred asked him.
"“What will you say when you make the valedictory address?”
"“I’ve already been informed that I won’t be making it. They’ve chosen Albert Cummings. ”
"“I suppose it has something to do with your name.”
"“The same thing happened at my high school.”
"“This sort of misunderstanding could hamper you in your work. Perhaps George will help you change your name legally. You could become Matthew Montgomery after we’re married.”
"“I like my name as it is.”
"She pressed her lips together and let the subject drop, but when he looked at her, he could almost see that she wouldn’t leave it for very long.
"In Kansas, he had been put aside because of his birth. Here in New York, it was likely the sound of his name. After four years in town, he was aware of the bias against Jews, even if it was only assumed he was a Jew. Since Baptists in many ways considered themselves adopted Jews, it didn’t matter to him."
............
He was invited for dinner, and the parents excused themselves. He found it hard to broach the topic.
"“It’s time, Matthew.”
"“Time?”
"“You’ve graduated, you’ll be starting at the firm in a few days, and we can announce our engagement. Of course, we won’t set a date until after you’ve passed the bar examination, but I think I would like a Christmas wedding. Everyone knows we have an understanding and will be waiting for us to make it official. We’ll have to have a photograph taken and I need to prepare the newspaper article for publication. My family’s period of mourning will be over in September, and my friends and father’s business associates will expect us to attend all of the parties of the holiday season.”"
He said he wanted her to visit his people before they did that, and she agreed though didn't seem pleased. He wired Jessica that he was bringing a guest for her.
............
Winifred wondered about Jessica.
""She grew up in a grand New York home, but she can still be happy here, living in that little parsonage and playing the minister’s wife?”
"“She’s very happy here because she loves Daniel more than she loves New York, and now she loves this Manhattan more than she did the other one.”
"Winifred looked at him. Her mouth tightened. “I’m not like her, Matthew. I could never live here.”
"“Matthew is only my middle name. White people here call me ‘Isaac, or Ike.’”
"“White people? I see. And Akecheta? Who calls you that?”
"“Only two people, Maw and Emma.”
"“Emma? Didn’t she say that at one time she thought she was going to marry this—‘Akecheta’ person?”
"“Yes. I never thought that far ahead, but she must have already had it all planned out.”
"Winifred nodded. “I believe she was right all along. She would be the perfect wife for Akecheta.”
"“So you’re releasing me from our understanding?
"“Oh, my goodness yes."
April 15, 2015
Maybe because some of my favorite love stories are childhood friends who fall in love, but "Pillsbury Crossing" was much more enjoyable to me than "Jessica" was.
After finishing the first book of the trilogy and seeing the books were a part of Kindle Unlimited, I thought I would give the second one a try. The writing is simplistic, sweet and is a nice quiet read. Something that I found particularly irritating during this novel (as the previous one) were the grammatical errors. Once again, I realized that this was self-published so I tend not to be overly picky... but the errors were particularly jarring. Regardless of the errors, I found this to be a much more enjoyable than the first one.
The novel starts out with Emma, a native Philadelphian (I'm a native Philadelphian, so I enjoyed this), who has recently moved to Kansas with her grandparents. Emma in a haste of thought decides to run away and nearly drowns to death (she accidentally fell in a lake) but is rescued by, Akecheta. Akecheta is her neighbor across the road. After saving her, he says, "You belong to me." Our heroine, Emma, believes in no such thing!
Emma is feisty, fiercely independent, and full of spunk. Eventually Akecheta and Emma become best-friends and soon enough, Emma is in love with Akecheta. However as he's a few years older than her, he goes off to college in New York City to attend Columbia University. Manhattan, New York is much different than Manhattan, Kansas for sure! The rest of the novel navigates Akecheta's self-discovery and sees how childhood best friends navigate their future.
If you're looking for a simple while fluffy happy story than it's definitely worth it's 99 cent price, despite historical and grammatical inaccuracies. I feel as if the female heroine, Emma, is full of so much spirit and will appease your desire for a feminist and strong female character. I knew after reading the first one and second that the trilogy were not great literature, but will appease fans of Little House on the Prairie (like me) or somebody who is just looking for a nice wholesome, easy read book with a strong heroine.
After finishing the first book of the trilogy and seeing the books were a part of Kindle Unlimited, I thought I would give the second one a try. The writing is simplistic, sweet and is a nice quiet read. Something that I found particularly irritating during this novel (as the previous one) were the grammatical errors. Once again, I realized that this was self-published so I tend not to be overly picky... but the errors were particularly jarring. Regardless of the errors, I found this to be a much more enjoyable than the first one.
The novel starts out with Emma, a native Philadelphian (I'm a native Philadelphian, so I enjoyed this), who has recently moved to Kansas with her grandparents. Emma in a haste of thought decides to run away and nearly drowns to death (she accidentally fell in a lake) but is rescued by, Akecheta. Akecheta is her neighbor across the road. After saving her, he says, "You belong to me." Our heroine, Emma, believes in no such thing!
Emma is feisty, fiercely independent, and full of spunk. Eventually Akecheta and Emma become best-friends and soon enough, Emma is in love with Akecheta. However as he's a few years older than her, he goes off to college in New York City to attend Columbia University. Manhattan, New York is much different than Manhattan, Kansas for sure! The rest of the novel navigates Akecheta's self-discovery and sees how childhood best friends navigate their future.
If you're looking for a simple while fluffy happy story than it's definitely worth it's 99 cent price, despite historical and grammatical inaccuracies. I feel as if the female heroine, Emma, is full of so much spirit and will appease your desire for a feminist and strong female character. I knew after reading the first one and second that the trilogy were not great literature, but will appease fans of Little House on the Prairie (like me) or somebody who is just looking for a nice wholesome, easy read book with a strong heroine.
February 22, 2015
True loves no bounds.
When I read the first book in this trilogy I was left wanting more about these wonderful character's and this book has taken up beautifully where the last left off. The author takes you on a amazing look back at frontier Kansas and how average people survive the hardships and rise with strength that warms your heart.
When I read the first book in this trilogy I was left wanting more about these wonderful character's and this book has taken up beautifully where the last left off. The author takes you on a amazing look back at frontier Kansas and how average people survive the hardships and rise with strength that warms your heart.
February 21, 2015
Book #2 in the series. Not as good as Jessica. This is more of a young adult book/story.
February 4, 2017
Lovely Story!
I gave this book 5 stars. I loved this book. I posted I was reading it on my Facebook page. I wanted to share it with my friend and family, as a good read!
I gave this book 5 stars. I loved this book. I posted I was reading it on my Facebook page. I wanted to share it with my friend and family, as a good read!
August 7, 2023
Extremely boring. I gave it til chp 20 only because I was listening while at work and that's where the book was at Break Time. I stopped it, removed it from my device, went on to the next book. This author definitely has some hits and misses, I've enjoyed quite a few but this is also the 2nd one of hers that I've flounced. I guess they all can't be a 5🌟
March 6, 2015
Pillsbury Crossing by Donna Mabry
I finally realized what this story reminds me of, The Little House on the Prairie, I loved these books when I was young. The second in the series jumped a generation it seemed, it took me a couple chapters to place the characters from the first book, but the characters were fun and colorful and I loved the descriptions of living on a farm, the challenges of society and class distinctions kept the plot fresh and comparing New York to Kansas is a story in itself! These are easy books to read, and not a mushy romance, I look forward to reading the next two in the series!
I finally realized what this story reminds me of, The Little House on the Prairie, I loved these books when I was young. The second in the series jumped a generation it seemed, it took me a couple chapters to place the characters from the first book, but the characters were fun and colorful and I loved the descriptions of living on a farm, the challenges of society and class distinctions kept the plot fresh and comparing New York to Kansas is a story in itself! These are easy books to read, and not a mushy romance, I look forward to reading the next two in the series!
January 2, 2017
Well, this one is a Christian novel, it puts all real feelings aside, causing the reader to sinfully want more. A tale of a pair of children in the new western frontier, who have friendship and love to keep them warm. However, the girl is a spoiled and stubborn child, who is sometimes stupidly overbearing. Her best pal, a boy, is kind, generous, strong, practical and stubborn too.
The story takes us through their tough childhood and estranges them when the boy goes away to college. Yet every year he comes home, the kids reunite, but soon realize they might want different lives, and also different loves.
The language is simple. The history is not bad, just a bit soft. The end is sweet.
The story takes us through their tough childhood and estranges them when the boy goes away to college. Yet every year he comes home, the kids reunite, but soon realize they might want different lives, and also different loves.
The language is simple. The history is not bad, just a bit soft. The end is sweet.
March 9, 2014
Pillsbury Crossing
Pillsbury Crossing
at first I didn't think I was going to like this Book. I had just finished Jessica, and figured this Book would just pick up where the other ended. But Jessica is not in the first few chapters, & when she does finally appear, it's without dialogue! (but she does become more involved in the book later on!) By then the 'new' characters had captured my attention! And though at first I was not a huge 'Emma' fan, I was rooting for her towards the end!!
Pillsbury Crossing
at first I didn't think I was going to like this Book. I had just finished Jessica, and figured this Book would just pick up where the other ended. But Jessica is not in the first few chapters, & when she does finally appear, it's without dialogue! (but she does become more involved in the book later on!) By then the 'new' characters had captured my attention! And though at first I was not a huge 'Emma' fan, I was rooting for her towards the end!!
February 1, 2015
Enchanting sequel
Pillsbury Crossing continues the story begun in Jessica, telling the story of Akecheta, the bastard son of her husband, and Emma, the orphaned granddaughter of his neighbors. It is a well-written tale of deep love, family, and coming of age. I enjoyed it even more than Jessica and about to purchase the third book in the Manhattan Series to continue the tale of this family.
Pillsbury Crossing continues the story begun in Jessica, telling the story of Akecheta, the bastard son of her husband, and Emma, the orphaned granddaughter of his neighbors. It is a well-written tale of deep love, family, and coming of age. I enjoyed it even more than Jessica and about to purchase the third book in the Manhattan Series to continue the tale of this family.
February 13, 2015
Recommended for both youth and adults
This book,the second in the series, is well edited, unlike Jessica the first in the series. The book gives some strong life lessons and follow the lives of the two primary characters from childhood to adult, through some difficult times and fun times You will find yourself sympathizing, admiring and cheering for them. Good historical fiction.j
This book,the second in the series, is well edited, unlike Jessica the first in the series. The book gives some strong life lessons and follow the lives of the two primary characters from childhood to adult, through some difficult times and fun times You will find yourself sympathizing, admiring and cheering for them. Good historical fiction.j
May 13, 2015
The second novel in the Manhattan serise..
I've just finished "Pillsbury Crossing". Second of the Manhattan novels.Donna foley Mabry agin,manages to keep the readers interest in turning pages.Maybe not prize winning calibre but truly a feel good story.Easy reading with surprising twists you don't see coming. In the end she leaves you with a smile on your face.I enjoyed this book and I think you will also. As for me, I'm on to book 3 !
I've just finished "Pillsbury Crossing". Second of the Manhattan novels.Donna foley Mabry agin,manages to keep the readers interest in turning pages.Maybe not prize winning calibre but truly a feel good story.Easy reading with surprising twists you don't see coming. In the end she leaves you with a smile on your face.I enjoyed this book and I think you will also. As for me, I'm on to book 3 !
December 20, 2014
This was a nice light reading book. I liked the characters from the beginning and enjoyed following the story of their lives to the end of the book. I did not know this was the second book in a series at the time of reading it. It isn't necessary to have read the first book to enjoy this one. I would like to read the others in the series now.
January 23, 2015
Great book.
I love this book. I am sleep deprived because I couldn't put it down. But really, it's a great story. Donna Mabry makes you keep reading because you never know what will happen next. I like it because there is no cursing or embarrassing things in it. I can share these books with my grandchildren. I can't wait to read the next one.
I love this book. I am sleep deprived because I couldn't put it down. But really, it's a great story. Donna Mabry makes you keep reading because you never know what will happen next. I like it because there is no cursing or embarrassing things in it. I can share these books with my grandchildren. I can't wait to read the next one.
February 2, 2015
Historical fiction at it's best!
Just enough story, romance and knowledge told about a trying time in American history. The author suck's you in from the very first book! Great price for a much enjoyable read! Donna Mabry is spot-on in my opinion~~can't wait to start the next book in this series!
Just enough story, romance and knowledge told about a trying time in American history. The author suck's you in from the very first book! Great price for a much enjoyable read! Donna Mabry is spot-on in my opinion~~can't wait to start the next book in this series!
June 15, 2015
More than I expected
The style of this book seems simplistic but in the end it is so engaging and descriptive you actually feel like you're 9 years old and living in Kansas. If you're on the fence about this book just jump in and give it a whirl - it's much more than you think it will be.
The style of this book seems simplistic but in the end it is so engaging and descriptive you actually feel like you're 9 years old and living in Kansas. If you're on the fence about this book just jump in and give it a whirl - it's much more than you think it will be.
July 8, 2015
Jessica's story continues in the most amazing way!
I love this writer for so many reasons...her expression of Christianity, strong women throughout, a true balance of good and not so good, which is life and the time period where the worldly truly lacked fairness, equality and focused more on upbringing and prominence. I can't wait to read the next book!!
I love this writer for so many reasons...her expression of Christianity, strong women throughout, a true balance of good and not so good, which is life and the time period where the worldly truly lacked fairness, equality and focused more on upbringing and prominence. I can't wait to read the next book!!
September 9, 2016
Awesome Book
I gave this book 5 stars because Donna Mabry is an excellent author. She puts real feeling into her writing,depth and it seems to come from her soul. The book was a little long but the chapters were short. I truly liked the storyline. Elouise Saunders
I gave this book 5 stars because Donna Mabry is an excellent author. She puts real feeling into her writing,depth and it seems to come from her soul. The book was a little long but the chapters were short. I truly liked the storyline. Elouise Saunders
May 30, 2015
Heartwarming
Wonderful story, interesting details of early Midwest living. Interesting characters. Made you think you were r right there enjoying the beautiful landscapes.
Wonderful story, interesting details of early Midwest living. Interesting characters. Made you think you were r right there enjoying the beautiful landscapes.
June 12, 2017
I thought it was well written and I like the way it pick up with the first book Jessica.
February 9, 2024
Manhattans have it or so one little apple does!
This book is a page turner!
It’s the second in a series and I had a hard time putting it down to rest on the table.
Ms Mabry keeps a reader intrigued about the characters to a point where she has you giving up on the other meant to be heart of hearts!
Read this and you will come back for more starting from Jessica in Manhattan, New York moving onto Manhattan, Kansas with her other family and friends! You won’t be disappointed!
Ms. Mabry is so real and knows God is responsible for all our actions through free will! It’s the choices we make and her main characters make you fall in love with them!
This book is a page turner!
It’s the second in a series and I had a hard time putting it down to rest on the table.
Ms Mabry keeps a reader intrigued about the characters to a point where she has you giving up on the other meant to be heart of hearts!
Read this and you will come back for more starting from Jessica in Manhattan, New York moving onto Manhattan, Kansas with her other family and friends! You won’t be disappointed!
Ms. Mabry is so real and knows God is responsible for all our actions through free will! It’s the choices we make and her main characters make you fall in love with them!
June 3, 2018
Great read!
This is only the third book that I have read by Donna Foley Mabry and I have been very favorably impressed. There is a lot of substance and common sense in her writing that I find refreshing. Pillsbury Crossing continues the story in Manhattan, Kansas with with Emma and Joe's story. I can't wait to meet the characters in the next installment of the series. Kudos to the author! First rate!
This is only the third book that I have read by Donna Foley Mabry and I have been very favorably impressed. There is a lot of substance and common sense in her writing that I find refreshing. Pillsbury Crossing continues the story in Manhattan, Kansas with with Emma and Joe's story. I can't wait to meet the characters in the next installment of the series. Kudos to the author! First rate!
September 21, 2024
Watching our country and people grow.
I enjoy the way the author writes, I felt I knew the town and people in it. I was waiting for an invitation to a hoedown I Was surprised when Jonathan was murdered, that's when the time period of New York came to light. I thought the grief of the family was stretched out a little longer than what was normal.
I enjoy the way the author writes, I felt I knew the town and people in it. I was waiting for an invitation to a hoedown I Was surprised when Jonathan was murdered, that's when the time period of New York came to light. I thought the grief of the family was stretched out a little longer than what was normal.
November 20, 2020
Awesome book
I enjoyed every line of this story and am anxious to read the next book in this series about the characters in Manhattan, Kansas. I am a fan of this authors way of writing and she holds my interest to the last word. I am a sucker for happy endings.😊
I enjoyed every line of this story and am anxious to read the next book in this series about the characters in Manhattan, Kansas. I am a fan of this authors way of writing and she holds my interest to the last word. I am a sucker for happy endings.😊
January 23, 2023
What an awesome continued story of The Manhattan Stories
Loved reading of the lives that continue after the first book, “Jessica”. Would recommend this series to anyone wanting to read of struggles in the late 1800’s.
Loved reading of the lives that continue after the first book, “Jessica”. Would recommend this series to anyone wanting to read of struggles in the late 1800’s.
November 3, 2017
What a wonderful service story... A must read. All of Donna's books are magnificent.
June 19, 2018
Pillsbury Crossing
I am loving this series. The books are clean, good stories, with a little history thrown. Off to read Book 3.....
I am loving this series. The books are clean, good stories, with a little history thrown. Off to read Book 3.....
February 1, 2019
Predictable and reads like YA, but sweet story. Not knocking the author or five star reviews, was just looking for something meatier.
October 13, 2020
Donna Foley Mabry is one of my favorite authors. I love her books!
Read
November 18, 2020Pleasant, easy read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews