The Cave Dreamers

by Jeanne Williams

SO LONG AS LOVE SHALL LIVE IN A WOMAN'S HEART

She was the last to inherit the secret. It had been passed through generations from mother to daughter since the dawn of woman's desire. Now it would lead Eden Lowrie across the world to the fulfillment of her heart's destiny...

The old woman who long ago brought the secret to America took Eden as the daughter she had lost. A daughter to bequeath her land, and the secret. A beautiful young woman her grandsons fought to possess.

One pursued Eden with a passion that threatened to become violent hatred. The other denied his passion. Until the secret called Eden to the ancient cave where women through the ages had come with their longings and dreams... and where Eden would die unless the man she loved her as well...

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Romance, Historical

592 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1983

About the author

Pseudonyms: Megan Castell, Jeanne Crecy, Jeanne Foster, Deirdre Rowan, Kristian Michaels, J.R. Williams

Reviews

[Naksed · Rating 1 out of 5]

HAIKU BOOK REVIEW: The Cave Dreamers, by Jeanne Williams

Same old tired trope
Awful brothers fight over
dumb-dumb heroine...

[Christine (KizzieReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have gotten a better rating if not for the last two sets of couples. I did not see love growing with them. I saw abuse. When someone is constantly insulting you, using you and just plain hating you, that's not love and I'm not sure how these females thought that it was. Also, when you just meet someone, have sex with them, they insult you and walk out, don't say you are in love with them the next day. That's just ridiculous. If the last 2 sections were not in the book, it would have been an excellent read.

[Cindy Nielsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This seemed a lot better the first time I read it in 1986! lol. I recently reread it and wasn't nearly as impressed. Obviously, my tastes have changed a lot!

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book as a teen, after receiving a hand-me-down copy from a friend of my Mom's. The basics and strength of the story have stuck with me through the years, but I lost my copy and had forgotten the title or author's name. Wish now that I had a copy to re-read. Is such a compelling story set in an area, about a people, that gets largely ignored in fiction. Now that I know the title and author's name again, I'll be searching my public library for a copy to lose myself in once again.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous Michener-esque epic of untold generations of women who pass their lives and secrets on to the next generation of women. One of my favorites.

[E Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mainly appreciated this book for the historical content and the information on the customs of the Basque people. The stories about the women themselves left something to be desired.
The first woman, the one who painted the pictures in the cave lived in prehistoric times. Men painted pictures of animals in caves, but women were not permitted to so she discovered a hidden cave and made it a place for women. A place to tell their daughters about through the generations.
There was no way the book could cover all the generations that came after but it tells the story of different in various historical eras.
Katli is a priestess during the time when Romans were invading the area. She falls in love with a
doomed Roman captive.
Lael lived in Cordova when Moorish society brings a rich culture of books, religion, and tolerance to the area. When Cordova is attacked she flees back to her mother's Basque region.
Marya lives during the time of the inquisition and is accused of being a witch by the man she refuses to marry. She ships out as a boy toward the New World looking for her true love, but after experiencing some of the most farfetched improbable situations, she returns.
Dominika's saga is the longest. In the early 1900's she also migrates to America. At first her story seems more reasonable and believable than some of the earlier ones, but toward the end it includes a lot of improbable and questionable events.
Eden is the last of the women. She is an artist and naturalist working near Dominika's ranch.
Dominika is very old and wants Eden to write her story, hopefully marry one of her grandsons,
and go back to visit the cave.
All the women are prone to falling in love (lust) at first sight. The all have a propensity for hanging out in secluded areas when evil men always seem to have followed them and try to ravage them
and or proclaim that they are witches .

[Debrah Roemisch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read this in maybe 1984 and then again maybe a decade later--I loved it then and kept it on my bookshelf. I have started going through old books and decided to read it again. I loved the idea of this story--knowledge of a secret painted cave that is passed down to one daughter or granddaughter in each generation starting in prehistoric times. I loved the history, especially learning about the unique Basque culture. Unfortunatley what could have been a great story was ruined by the creepy romance themes. The prehistoric woman and the one about Lael in 1500's were good, the one set during Roman times was ok though not believable, but the later ones were painful to read. Abuse and rape are NOT romantic or signs of love. And it is painful for me to think that though I was uncomfortable with this when I first read it I did not understand then just how bad it is! Also, reading this now I realized the author got soem things wrong about the caves--people did NOT live in them, and they did NOT paint animals they hunted. Of course, the internet did not exist back then so the author can be forgiven for not knowing the facts about this.

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's about a tradition and secrets passed down from mother to daughter over many generations from pre-historic to modern times.

I read this book many years ago and I've never forgotten the title or the story. There are very few books of which I can say the same.Truly compelling story. It feels like I read it last month instead of over 20 years ago.

Definitely due for a re-read, as soon as I can dig up a copy.

[Julie Davenport · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when it was first published in 1984 and loved it. When my daughter was in high school in the early 2000’s she read it too. It is a book that spans over time and generations for the reading audience as well.
Worth the read!

[Pattie]

Unfinished

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teenage me didn't have the worst taste in books, but there were definitely aspects of this that had me rolling my eyes at the flowery writing. I wish some sections had been longer, and others shorter. At its heart though, it's a very cool "Sarum for girls" type story inspired by Basque culture and the history behind cave paintings. My current rating is closer to a 3.5 but I'm leaving it at a 4 in honour of teenage me who loved it.

[Deb]

"It's been a very long time since I read this, but I remember being fascinated by the very long line of mothers and daughters represented by the main characters, from prehistoric times to the 20th century. It was also interesting for being set among the Basque, a culture I have not read much about before."

[Wanita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book about 30 years ago, and it has survived all of my "weedings". A must read for anyone who is or has/ had a mother.

[Krista · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great way to experience the different eras. Loved the romance and heart ache and love and treachery these women lived. Truly is a good read!

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a wonderful story that involved generations of women with a secret that comes full circle. I read it a long time ago but kept it as it left an impression! Recommend!