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Written on the Wind
(Daughters of Fortune #1)
by
Book 1 of the Daughters of Fortune series. Cameron Hayes' determination to distance herself from her famous father and establish herself as a journalist finds her back in her beloved Russia, now threatened by Hitler's greed. In Moscow she meets Dr. Alex Rostov, a once-prominent US surgeon who has been forced to return to his Russian homeland. Anger over the politics of war
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Paperback, 464 pages
Published
January 1st 2002
by Bethany House Publishers
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Start your review of Written on the Wind (Daughters of Fortune, #1)
I was very confused after I read some of the other reviews because I felt almost as if they were speaking of a different book completely. The book was exciting and I loved the characters. I'm very picky concerning books and I couldn't put this one down.
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I'm going to be honest, I only read this book because I heard that some of the characters from The Russians series (also by Judith Pella) show up in this book. I had been sorely disappointed with the end of that series and was hoping perhaps I could find some closure here. Which means right out of the starting gate, I had a severe bias.
Unfortunately, it only got worse from there.
Look, even if I had just picked up this book, with no expectations whatsoever, I still would have given it one star. I ...more
Unfortunately, it only got worse from there.
Look, even if I had just picked up this book, with no expectations whatsoever, I still would have given it one star. I ...more
Review possibly to come
Feb 26, 2016
Janna Odenthal
added it
Interesting series from a female journalist's perspective during WWII behind Russian boundaries. Sequels include a sister stuck in the Philippines and another sister who married a fellow Japanese college student friend. Three perspectives in one family. A political history during wartime
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A friend recommended this years ago and I'm finally getting around to reading it. The story is set in 1941 and is centered on three American sisters who follow different paths as the world around them is at war. Cameron, the oldest, is a journalist who defies her newspaper publishing father and becomes a war correspondent for a rival newspaper. She ends up in Russia after Hitler breaks his non-aggression pact. Blair, the middle sister, makes one bad decision after another and tries to drown her
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Obnoxious. The characters were interesting, but terribly cliche, which doesn't necessarily destroy their believability. And although I'm actively Christian, the blatantly obvious theological tie-ins were awkward. Not to mention the dialogue was like a poorly scripted play... Example: "You know, Orientals exalt sons too. Women are little better than slaves. I hope I am not like that with my children. Ill love boys and girls equally." Jackie: "Sometimes I wonder if it's possible to ever please one
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Writers of Christian fiction are certainly not afraid to let their readers know that they value faith, prayer and living a good moral life. This comes out very loud and clear no matter what story they are telling. I think that "Christian" fiction portrays these values and practices even more strongly than Mormon fiction. Sometimes I think Mormon fiction tries to play down the "Mormon angle," whereas Christian fiction writers write so that no one can miss what they are trying to proclaim. And the
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This is the first installment of a WWII historical novel series. The story lines track three Los Angeles sisters, although the oldest, Cameron, is the focus of this book. She is an aspiring newspaper reporter in a field dominated by men, including her father, who owns a paper. Cameron goes to Russia to cover the Eastern Front. I appreciated a look at war-time Moscow.
The second daughter, Blair, hopes for a career as an actress but finds herself in sleazy nightclubs. Jackie, the youngest, is st ...more
The second daughter, Blair, hopes for a career as an actress but finds herself in sleazy nightclubs. Jackie, the youngest, is st ...more
Strengths: Cameron Hayes is a relatable character. I appreciated that Pella wrote her as a nonbeliever, and not in a 'tsk tsk shame shame' way. Nor does Cameron have a glorious conversion. She moves by increments.
The backdrop of WW2 era Russia/United States is lushly portrayed.
Even characters like 'bad boy' Johnny Shanahan are portrayed sympathetically.
Weaknesses: Blair, Jackie and the rest of the Hayes family fall into stereotypes, and are honestly awkward to read about.
Pacing is a little slow ...more
The backdrop of WW2 era Russia/United States is lushly portrayed.
Even characters like 'bad boy' Johnny Shanahan are portrayed sympathetically.
Weaknesses: Blair, Jackie and the rest of the Hayes family fall into stereotypes, and are honestly awkward to read about.
Pacing is a little slow ...more
I love historical fiction and this book takes place in my favorite time period - WWII. 3 sisters born to a tyrant publisher who was not too happy that he had all 3 girls. The oldest, Cameron follows in his footsteps and becomes a reporter. Blair rebels and ends up becoming a drunk and singing in a seedy nightclub. Jackie the youngest is a strong Christian, attends UCLA and ends up following in love with a Japanese boy. The story follows Cameron as she becomes a reporter for a rival of her father
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Yep, it's another historical novel :) This story is about three young ladies who are daughters of a Los Angeles Newspaper tycoon and how they each chose to make their own way in the world during World War II. It is a bit predictable in some ways, but not overtly. The main character is the eldest daughter who is also a journalist, but who can never measure up in her father's estimation. He basically never forgave her for being female. At the moment she's in Russia to 'get the story' as Russia is
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I am a huge fan of Judith Pella. I have read all her Russian series, and now I am starting this one. I recommend reading her Russian series first, because in "Written on the Wind" she mentions characters from that series. However, you don't have to. She writes the book in a way that just gives enough information on her Russian characters to encourage her readers to pick up her Russian series. I was not disappointed at all with this book, and I am looking forward to reading the second one in the
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I really enjoyed this book. It was very easy to read, and I enjoyed the variety of characters. Judith Pella has always been a favorite author of mine. The main characters are not "traditional" christian characters, and it is rewarding to see them struggling with their faith (or lack of) and the everyday things that many of us struggle with from time to time. I recommed it, and will be buying the next one!
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Judith Pella's "Daughters of Fortune" is a very good series. This is the first book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is set during the 1940s, both pre-war and during the WWII years. The series follows three sisters who end up in different countries during the war, pursuing different career paths. It also follows their separate love lives. With the war, much is desperate. I found this to be a very absorbing family saga.
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I really liked this book. Even though there would be no way that any newspaper would have let a woman be a foreign correspondent during World War 2 even if it was in Russia, I still liked the plot. It's fun, exciting, and written well despite being a little too feministic for the time period.
Also, I do find it interesting that the books talk about all three daughters in each book and follow out their lives even though each book seems to focus specifically on a certain one's story.
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Also, I do find it interesting that the books talk about all three daughters in each book and follow out their lives even though each book seems to focus specifically on a certain one's story.
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Historical Christian Romance Fiction
Historical aspect: interesting & well-researched, without sounding like a dry history book
Christian aspect: annoyingly pat
Romance aspect: cloying (*shudder*)
There is also a subtle racism throughout the book that might drop jaws, or at least merit an eye-roll & a groan. I do believe the author thought she was being very "open-minded" and "radical," and certainly had no malicious intent, however. ...more
Historical aspect: interesting & well-researched, without sounding like a dry history book
Christian aspect: annoyingly pat
Romance aspect: cloying (*shudder*)
There is also a subtle racism throughout the book that might drop jaws, or at least merit an eye-roll & a groan. I do believe the author thought she was being very "open-minded" and "radical," and certainly had no malicious intent, however. ...more
Cameron, one of three sisters, leaves for Russia on assignment as a journalist. There she experiences Russian censorship as she tries to get the truth of the war into print.
pg 389 -.....a seed of grain planted into the earth must first die before it can bring forth fruit. That's what change does. It kills certain things in us so that something new may grow. My hope has always been that the new growth will be better than what came before." ...more
pg 389 -.....a seed of grain planted into the earth must first die before it can bring forth fruit. That's what change does. It kills certain things in us so that something new may grow. My hope has always been that the new growth will be better than what came before." ...more
My sister got me into this series of historical fiction. It's set during WWII (a particular favorite of mine) in California and follows sisters in their different lives during this period. All the books were good, quick reads and definitely pulled me in. However, there were some religious themes that made me a bit uncomfortable overall.
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I really enjoyed this book as both a writer and avid reader. I enjoy history, and I find myself reading more and more books about World War II. I'm very interested in the Eastern front. The book covers some of it from an American journalist's point of view in Russia. I plan to read the rest of the books in the series.
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I enjoyed the book and especially the author's obvious knowledge of history and WWII, however I hate the way it ended so abruptly. I 'm sure that this is so we will want to read the next installment in the series...which I did and there is STILL no "happily ever after"!
Guess I'll have to read the next one ...more
Guess I'll have to read the next one ...more
Loved it! Classic Judith Pella! I would venture to say that I may even like this series better than The Russians. You even get to see a few overlapping characters from that series in these books. I would highly recommend this book/series.
A dramatic story set in the early 1940s in the U.S. and Soviet Union, especially strong in the area of family relationships. Well researched as the author's books always are, although I found the writing itself weak.
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This was my introduction to Judith Pella and I liked it. Good historical info about the Russians entrance into the war and a fictional account to go with it. Look forward to more from this author.
Excellent story, by best-selling author. First in the Series and I just got the next 2 books! Daughter of Publisher makes good on her own when she leaves the country and is in danger in war-torn Europe. Read this for a wonderful adventure.
This book had some iffeee things in it but it got alot better as the series progressed.
Interesting and helpful in history, but not so much in other things (like romance).
Jun 25, 2008
Amanda
added it
I thought it was great! It made me want to get the rest of the series right away.
Here I go on yet another historical fiction series. I'm eager to get my teeth into the next one.
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Book 1 serves as a back drop to the others in the series. You must read book one to be set up or prepared for books 2 and 3 in the series.
I really enjoyed this book. I picked it up randomly at the library and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
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