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The Westover #1
Samson and Sunset
It's 1963 in Hudson Nebraska and twenty-one year old Kathrine (Callie) Mitchell is from the wrong side of the tracks. A virgin in every sense of the word until a simple date takes a dark turn, she winds up with child. When pregnant, abandoned Kathrine meets young, wealthy rancher and legendary playboy, Shay Westover, no one is more surprised than her when sparks fly. But can Shay change his Don Juan ways when women flock to him like flies to honey? Is chemistry enough to keep two such opposites as a poor, fiery city girl and a cocksure, young rancher together? Erotic, authentic and exciting, Samson and Sunset is a one of a kind love story you won't want to put down.
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First published May 7, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 24, 2011
To believe in true love again
As a life long reader, I've learned to look to books as a form of travel, adventure, intrigue and transformation. In the day to day battle to get ahead, or just keep the head above water, my love of books took a back burner in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. At the time I picked up 'Samson and Sunset' I didn't just receive the gift of a getaway from that hustle and bustle, but something invaluable. I very unexpectedly fell head over heels for Callie, Shay and their breathtaking love story.
I felt something as a reader that I haven't felt in quite some time- longing. Longing for a 'hero' that I could truly believe would sweep me off my feet and into his 'Shay hold'. Longing like the driven heroine Callie, to keep her family safe, while learning to accept herself and let go of past fears and loneliness. Longing for a glimpse of a lifetime shared together, through hardships and triumphs and coming out the other side.
This novel not only left me longing, but it made me realize what I was missing by not taking the time to enjoy the great gift that books give to us. I found that I was actually searching my collection, with a thirst for reading that needed to be quenched. That is the magic of 'Samson and Sunset', leaving you wanting to follow Callie and Shay along for their next adventure.
At 436 pages, 'Samson and Sunset' flows smoothly in the first person, as told by Kathrine (later to be renamed Callie, by the young man who would change her life forever, Shay Westover). Born on the 'wrong side of the tracks', and wondering from a very young age, just who decided which side was the 'right side', Callie is a 'virgin in every sense of the word'. One night, a date takes a very dark turn, leaving her with child. Soon after that she has a chance meeting with the very popular, Shay Westover, leaving an impression with her 'smart mouth' and no nonsense attitude.
Be prepared to be swept away by the 'force' that is Callie and Shay. And they are a force to be reckoned with! Theirs' is a love story that starts with exasperation and chuckles and goes straight to moments of wide eyed shock and belly laughs. Callie's no nonsense attitude comes to full force when tested by Sterling (Shay's father) leaving the elder Westover speechless and earning Callie, Shay's respect. It seems the only person that can leave Callie speechless is Shay, as he convinces her to take a chance on him, before mother nature and FATE step in as the water rises.
Friendship develops into full blown romance after Callie and Shay are stranded together at the Westover homestead, along with Shay's beloved Cookie, during a flood. What follows from there is the beginning of a near 20 year lovestory, filled with ups and downs, happiness and heartache, tragedy and triumph, as two stubborn kids grow together, making eachother better and stronger, and reinstilling faith in this reader that true love does exist.
Author Dorothy Annie Schritt has such a gift for dialogue full of wit and wisdom, that fills her readers with hope and joy. Her story flows effortlessly through changes in time and style, as not only the times change, but her characters mature. The first person observations that Callie makes are never heavy handed, and don't tell the reader how to feel about any given time in the story. The perfection in the writing is in how we can read between the lines at certain times throughout the journey. Callie's observations, first impressions and overall opinion about events and people in her life, are spoken with a forethought that leaves the reader knowing that time and experience change perception.
Ms. Schritt weaves a story that covers a wealth of emotions and issues, ranging from young love, loss of family, fidelity and forgiveness. That is the glaring difference between this novel and 'modern' romance today. This book redefines sensuality, as seen over the lifetime of a married couple who are deeply in love with eachother. From the first lovescene to the last, there is no question that the romance is expressed with the utmost love and devotion. These are fully dimensional characters, that are quite human. They have flaws, they make mistakes and they make eachother better.
Shay helps Callie to find the strength within herself, strength he knows she possesses, to survive some of the most devastating blows that a woman and mother can face. In turn, Callie makes Shay a better man, a man that he would never have become without her influence in his life. A well painted backdrop in Nebraska, full of intriguing characters, following a lifetime in a marriage, that will leave you laughing through tears of joy.
I cannot think of 'Samson and Sunset' without recalling some of my favorite parts: The first time Shay leaves Callie speechless, 'A Day's Work for A Day's Food', baby Marie and the Tuneyville Choo Choo, the surprise of their first home, that I love to refer to as a 'love letter' from Shay, the 'tanning of the shrew' and some rather funny fights as well. For those that don't know what these last statements refer to, I suggest you start reading 'Samson and Sunset' today. Take the journey of a lifetime and believe in true love again.
As a life long reader, I've learned to look to books as a form of travel, adventure, intrigue and transformation. In the day to day battle to get ahead, or just keep the head above water, my love of books took a back burner in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. At the time I picked up 'Samson and Sunset' I didn't just receive the gift of a getaway from that hustle and bustle, but something invaluable. I very unexpectedly fell head over heels for Callie, Shay and their breathtaking love story.
I felt something as a reader that I haven't felt in quite some time- longing. Longing for a 'hero' that I could truly believe would sweep me off my feet and into his 'Shay hold'. Longing like the driven heroine Callie, to keep her family safe, while learning to accept herself and let go of past fears and loneliness. Longing for a glimpse of a lifetime shared together, through hardships and triumphs and coming out the other side.
This novel not only left me longing, but it made me realize what I was missing by not taking the time to enjoy the great gift that books give to us. I found that I was actually searching my collection, with a thirst for reading that needed to be quenched. That is the magic of 'Samson and Sunset', leaving you wanting to follow Callie and Shay along for their next adventure.
At 436 pages, 'Samson and Sunset' flows smoothly in the first person, as told by Kathrine (later to be renamed Callie, by the young man who would change her life forever, Shay Westover). Born on the 'wrong side of the tracks', and wondering from a very young age, just who decided which side was the 'right side', Callie is a 'virgin in every sense of the word'. One night, a date takes a very dark turn, leaving her with child. Soon after that she has a chance meeting with the very popular, Shay Westover, leaving an impression with her 'smart mouth' and no nonsense attitude.
Be prepared to be swept away by the 'force' that is Callie and Shay. And they are a force to be reckoned with! Theirs' is a love story that starts with exasperation and chuckles and goes straight to moments of wide eyed shock and belly laughs. Callie's no nonsense attitude comes to full force when tested by Sterling (Shay's father) leaving the elder Westover speechless and earning Callie, Shay's respect. It seems the only person that can leave Callie speechless is Shay, as he convinces her to take a chance on him, before mother nature and FATE step in as the water rises.
Friendship develops into full blown romance after Callie and Shay are stranded together at the Westover homestead, along with Shay's beloved Cookie, during a flood. What follows from there is the beginning of a near 20 year lovestory, filled with ups and downs, happiness and heartache, tragedy and triumph, as two stubborn kids grow together, making eachother better and stronger, and reinstilling faith in this reader that true love does exist.
Author Dorothy Annie Schritt has such a gift for dialogue full of wit and wisdom, that fills her readers with hope and joy. Her story flows effortlessly through changes in time and style, as not only the times change, but her characters mature. The first person observations that Callie makes are never heavy handed, and don't tell the reader how to feel about any given time in the story. The perfection in the writing is in how we can read between the lines at certain times throughout the journey. Callie's observations, first impressions and overall opinion about events and people in her life, are spoken with a forethought that leaves the reader knowing that time and experience change perception.
Ms. Schritt weaves a story that covers a wealth of emotions and issues, ranging from young love, loss of family, fidelity and forgiveness. That is the glaring difference between this novel and 'modern' romance today. This book redefines sensuality, as seen over the lifetime of a married couple who are deeply in love with eachother. From the first lovescene to the last, there is no question that the romance is expressed with the utmost love and devotion. These are fully dimensional characters, that are quite human. They have flaws, they make mistakes and they make eachother better.
Shay helps Callie to find the strength within herself, strength he knows she possesses, to survive some of the most devastating blows that a woman and mother can face. In turn, Callie makes Shay a better man, a man that he would never have become without her influence in his life. A well painted backdrop in Nebraska, full of intriguing characters, following a lifetime in a marriage, that will leave you laughing through tears of joy.
I cannot think of 'Samson and Sunset' without recalling some of my favorite parts: The first time Shay leaves Callie speechless, 'A Day's Work for A Day's Food', baby Marie and the Tuneyville Choo Choo, the surprise of their first home, that I love to refer to as a 'love letter' from Shay, the 'tanning of the shrew' and some rather funny fights as well. For those that don't know what these last statements refer to, I suggest you start reading 'Samson and Sunset' today. Take the journey of a lifetime and believe in true love again.
August 12, 2013
Ok so I just finished this book and it had many good parts and some for me that didn't work. I enjoyed the story as a whole the characters were well defined and stayed true to form throughout the whole book. However, I am not a person to shy away from sex in books it's natural, it's there, and people do it. However, I don't usually care to read books where it's there every 2 or 3 pages. it seemed like at times these characters existed just to sleep together, and the rest of the plot just got lost. The family dramas the infidelities, the male dominated society and heartbreaking losses at times got pushed aside for me by overwhelming sex drives. Now that being said, I think many people will still appreciate that part of the book.
I really enjoyed the faithfulness of the main character, Callie, to both her husband Shay and her family. Both her married family and her Mother and Father. It would have been very easy for her to turn her back on those roots when she married into this wealthy empire. The fact that her husband was unfaithful shows how the power of love can overcome and it was refreshing to see. The children were enjoyable the family dynamics seemed real to me. I also loved the unexpected finding of this child that had been missing to them for 13 years. I am hoping however, to see more of the horses in the next book, Samson and Sunset because I don't feel like we got to see them enough in this book.
Overall I did enjoy this book, and look forward to reading the next in the series.
I really enjoyed the faithfulness of the main character, Callie, to both her husband Shay and her family. Both her married family and her Mother and Father. It would have been very easy for her to turn her back on those roots when she married into this wealthy empire. The fact that her husband was unfaithful shows how the power of love can overcome and it was refreshing to see. The children were enjoyable the family dynamics seemed real to me. I also loved the unexpected finding of this child that had been missing to them for 13 years. I am hoping however, to see more of the horses in the next book, Samson and Sunset because I don't feel like we got to see them enough in this book.
Overall I did enjoy this book, and look forward to reading the next in the series.
February 2, 2014
Love story between girl from the "wrong side of tracks" and the boy
on the "right side"
This was a great love story between Kathrine Mitchell and Shay Westover.
This story starts will Kathrine giving birth to her daughter, the father not really caring one way or the other.
She raises her daughter with her Mother and Father and along the way, she
runs into Shay Westover, the rich kid of the town..The romance begins.
I love the strong side of Kathrine.
I wondered about the title, but you will find out where that comes from.
Just a good read that will take you through the trails and tribulations of their love story. Look forward to reading the 2nd of this series.
on the "right side"
This was a great love story between Kathrine Mitchell and Shay Westover.
This story starts will Kathrine giving birth to her daughter, the father not really caring one way or the other.
She raises her daughter with her Mother and Father and along the way, she
runs into Shay Westover, the rich kid of the town..The romance begins.
I love the strong side of Kathrine.
I wondered about the title, but you will find out where that comes from.
Just a good read that will take you through the trails and tribulations of their love story. Look forward to reading the 2nd of this series.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews