Morning Glory by LaVyrle SpencerMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I was reminded the other day that it’s been a while since
the last time – but by far not the first time – that I read this wonderful and
amazing book. So of course I had to fix
that and read it again. It has really
stood the test of time since the very first time I read in 1990. It needs to be read by everyone who loves
romance. Here’s the review I wrote ages
ago and everything I said then.
******~~~~~*****
There are classics in literature, Moby Dick, War and Peace, Oliver Twist and many more. I think the romances of yesteryear have their classics too, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and more. With modern day romance I’m not so sure if there are what would be considered classics yet or not, it may be too soon, but if they did, I’m sure they would have a book or two by Georgette Heyer, Kathleen Woodiwiss.
And then we come to another author who has written some of what I consider modern day romance classics and that’s LaVryle Spencer. I’ve read most of her books except for perhaps her last couple before she retired and of all that I’ve read, I truly believe Morning Glory needs to be added to the classics of romance. I first read this book more years ago than I can remember and I’ve reread it every year or two since then. I can’t quite remember the last time but I have it on my Ipad and I know I’ve read it since I bought it but when I saw a friend recently post a review on GoodReads, I had the urge to reread it. And heaven knows when a book starts calling, there is no relief until you answer it.
This is an emotional and moving story of two sad and lonely people, how they come together in an enduring gentle love and heal each other with that love. Will Parker and Elly Dinsmore are characters that have stayed with me since the first time I read this book more than 20 years ago. It’s almost like I’ve absorbed them.
The book opens with Will Parker working at a lumber mill. He’s only been there 3 days and he’s literally starving. The book opens just before the second World War and Will has just been released from prison for murdering a prostitute. We find out details later in the story. His bully boss finds out this info and dismisses Will on the spot. Will has just been wandering around the countryside trying to find work and now he’s out of yet another job. The men laughingly tell him that maybe crazy Elly Dunsmore will take him in. She has an add up advertising for a husband to help work her farm. She is known as the local crazy widow woman and her story is just as sad as Will’s. She was the bastard granddaughter of the town’s religious zealots and was practically locked into the family home with the blinds drawn. Only after the truant officer found out about her was she allowed out but only to go to school, then back to her prison. She somehow managed to escape long enough to meet and marry. But her husband died in an accident and she has two young boys and is pregnant with her third child and is in desperate circumstances. Her only option is to look for a husband. After some thought and due to his own desperate circumstances, Will does go to see Elly and to check things out. It’s an awkward meeting; neither one of them is comfortable in dealing with others, Elly because of the isolated way she was raised and Will because of his prison record. But they manage to come to an agreement and thus starts the most poignant, tender, beautiful, tear inducing books I’ve ever read.
Seriously, I mean it. If I only had one word – the story is haunting.
Will has never known love and he sees all he’s ever wanted in the mother that Ellie is. He falls in love with her partly because of that. He was an orphan who never knew his parents, doesn’t even know his own birthday. His only friend betrayed him, resulting in his prison sentence. I think he’s the loneliest, saddest hero I’ve read in the of a book.
Elly is also sad and lonely but not as defeated. She has her children and she had a good husband. Despite, or maybe because of her lonely upbringing, Elly has quite a streak of whimsy to her. She’s actually rather upbeat all things considered and this is just what someone in such a dark place as Will is needs.
Throughout the story, they heal each other. While she had loved her husband, Will is different. He’s young, and strong and determined and handsome and he has beautiful eyes. He loves her two sons and is a wonderful father figure to them. He is loving and very appreciative of everything Elly does both for him and her children. He never takes anything for granted. Who wouldn’t fall in love with someone like Will?
And for Will, Elly is everything he couldn’t even have imagined he wanted. She meets the mothering role he has needed filled all his life. There is a scene where she cuts his hair and one is almost in tears reading just that scene alone.
Slowly, Will gains a sense of pride and self worth. When he first comes to Elly, he’s a broken man. But with Elly’s help along with Ms. Beasley gets respect. Ms Beasley is the local librarian who helps him when he wants to learn more on different things he fixes around the farm, plumbing, bees, a number of different things. Ms Beasley is another wonderful character. She’s starchy and she’s tough and she’s opinionated and she has such a soft heart for Will. He’s like the son she never had and she is a lion in defense of him and when she offers him a job as library custodian, he gains a pride he’s never had before.
And of course there is conflict that comes along in this book. It takes place in 1941 and the threat of war hangs in the air. Will knows he is a prime candidate to be called up and wants it to be on his terms. But Elly is terrified and would rather keep her head in the sand. Finally the inevitable happens and Will must leave and he joins the Marines. It turns out that he completely becomes the person he was meant to be.
This part of the book, told through letters, is as wonderful and poignant as the rest of the book and it marks a turning point. Will comes back but not quite the same person he left. But now there is another block. He is being stalked by a woman who refuses to accept the fact he’s not interested.
I really don’t have the words or confidence to completely explain how truly wonderful this book is and how I think it needs to be read at least once by every reader who loves this genre. Ms. Spencer makes us feel every emotion that Elly and Will in particular experience. We feel the betrayal that Will feels when his best friend testifies against him during the trial that sends him to jail. We feel his despair and shame when he brings up the green apples he ate because that was the only thing he could find. We feel his wonderment over his growing relationship with Ellie’s two boys. We feel his panic when Ellie insists he be the one to help her give birth and we feel his pride when Ellie gives her new-born daughter his last name.
This is a book that shows, not tells the story and because of that she makes us feel like we are right there with them during their journey to healing and love. If you check reviews for this book on GoodReads and or Amazon, many reviewers give this higher than 5 stars even though that’s the highest grade allowed.
Having just recently read this book again, it’s timeless, it’s a classic and it only gets better with each telling.
They don't have anything higher than 5 so all I can do is give this a 5+++
View all my reviews
27 comments:
My love for this book is well known. It is not "a perfect book" in retrospect because how Lula is written is problematic for me, but Elly and Will? Oh how I love them, let me count the ways! And the sense of place and time is so immersive, without beating one over the head with it. Lovely, just lovely in every way.
o Any weight loss program you choose must pass the "Can I eat that way for the rest of my life?" test,
Keto Gedeon
male enhancement items work in a different way. If you opt for penile enhancement, first go on gathering details about the merchandise that you need to use and make certain it's for fulfilling the needs you have. It will likely be smart from you to discuss with your physician
Bionatrol Pro Enhance
tool. Up to now, men are still perceived to take more responsibility and stay tough. Most men have a certain attitude of putting aside emotions and concentrating more on their thinking. Although sometimes, they think too much, and many times this thinking process results to
Ryzex Male Enhancement
- Exercise: Exercise that includes increasing muscle town can tighten connective tissue. For patients who have undergone bariatric surgery are recommended to add a regular exercise regimen that is helpful to maintain ones weight and can also serve to tighten loose skin to some extent.
Keto Trim 800
loss in those areas, extra skin appears. Large amounts of hanging skin can lead to the collection of moisture between the skin folds resulting in a condition called intertriginous dermatitis, which leads to irritation, redness and pain. Occasionally, the skin may even breakdown, bleed and become infected. With proper documentation, many insurance companies recognize this problem and provide full coverage from surgical removal through a
Rapid Fast Keto Boost
Some men nowadays can't seem to be satisfied with the size of their penises. Probably, even the ones who have a pretty good size want to have more. It's a personal instinct in my opinion that men have the reason to feel that they are inadequate when they have a smaller tool. Up to now, men are still perceived to take more responsibility and stay tough. Most men have a certain attitude of putting aside emotions and concentrating more on their thinking. Although
Celaxryn RX
It will always be the male ego which produces phenomenon such as male sexual enhancement. Male enhancement has grown popularly well especially during this age when people are becoming more attuned and critical of their physical well-being. This relatively new advancement in the medicine world has brought controversy as well as an intense hype
Zydenafil
Before you decide on a specific yoga exercise mat bag it pays for you personally to check out the distinct available yoga exercise mats and in reality, opting for an eco yoga exercise mat will be a good idea since one that is certainly built from PVC would put your health at risk and thus should be avoided as a great deal as possible.
Electric Back Massager Reviews
Muscle Loss All bodily tissue requires energy to maintain itself, including fat. Muscle requires FIVE TIMES the amount of energy to maintain itself than fat does. The higher the muscle percentage in your body the greater your caloric needs. Unfortunately, diets sometimes lead to muscle loss. The bodies primary source of energy is carbohydrates, followed by protein
New You Keto
When fat tissue is worked and the cells shrink, wouldn't it make sense that your skin would shrink as well? Yes and no. In the cases of moderate weight loss, skin can certainly shrink back to fit the body's new size because of its elasticity due to collagen in the skin. However,
Slimphoria Ketoo
Whatever the program you decide it should be a slow and steady weight loss program. Don't fall for programs offering easy, fast weight loss, because although we are seeking weight loss, the TRUE goal is not weight loss, but FAT LOSS. And a lot of programs will deliver weight loss, but at the expense of losing valuable muscle instead of fat. So seek out fat loss programs - not just weight loss programs.
Meta Keto Boost
of mainly junk food are probably not disciplined enough to stick to a workout routine. I do know a few people who, from the outside, look like they are in good shape, because they are not "fat, but who have high cholesterol.
Number One Keto
Many diet programs out there don't address the psychological aspect of why people fail to be successful with long term weight loss. However, quite a few studies exist that have looked at just that. In many respects, the psychological aspect is the most important for long term weight loss, and probably the most underappreciated component.
Keto Shred Biotic Immunity Booster
time to recuperate. You are giving your body the nutrients that it needs to recuperate from your healthy weight loss and quick weight loss efforts, but the last ingredient is rest.
Surgical procedures have advanced in the course of recent decades, and most are compelling, as in they do normally prompt significant weight reduction.
Keto Shred Biotic Immunity Booster
There are still generous dangers, notwithstanding, as with any significant surgery. For the individuals who trust surgery is the best alternative, counseling with an accomplished doctor is crucial.
Today, most specialists choose to perform laparoscopic surgery, since it is negligibly obtrusive and recuperation time is lessened.
Cylophin RX
allow more blood to collect and hold in them. By increasing this capacity, you realistically make your manhood increase in length and girth - and stay bigger permanently.
Formax Lean Male Enhancement
Diet pills can cause serious health problems, too. These weight loss supplements are usually made to be taken for only a short period of time and often contain large amounts of caffeine and other stimulants. This type of diet pill can increase anxiety and irritability, produce
Reliant Keto
Studies that compare the psychological characteristics of people who have successfully kept the weight off to people who have regained the weight, see clear differences between these two groups. For example, one study that looked at 28 obese women who had lost weight but regained the weight that they had lost, compared to 28 formerly obese women who had lost
Vaso Prime RX
Loss of muscle also leads to loss of tone underneath the skin leaving you soft and unshapely with no form or contour. If you lose weight too rapidly, your skin won't have time to adjust either. Also muscle is what gives you strength and loss of it means a weak body.
With weight loss you shrink in size and become a smaller version of yourself with a fragile frame with saggy skin.
Reliant Keto
When dieters have a proper understanding of the body weight they are more likely to shed during the early days of a diet program, their focus and expectations will not be unnecessarily raised as they now understand just where they are and what to expect.
Nature Clarity Keto
Equally, be it a conventional diet, a fad diet, or a diet pill, the early rapid bodyweight reduction effect mostly likely to be experienced is virtually the same - body water loss. However, diets that employ have severe caloric restrictions or that are high in protein can significantly increase this effect.
Befit Keto Cut
Weight Loss Fact: A long journey begins one step at a time. It is natural to expect instantaneous results and to even fear the road ahead of you; especially if you are extremely overweight. The secret here is to make SMALL incremental changes. Don't expect perfection because that will lead you to disappointment. You are never too far down the road to where you cannot see the sun's light......
Viadine Male Enhancement
it, makers of said products could be in financial trouble quickly. However, they also know - as the man said - "there's a sucker born every minute," so I doubt they will be kept up at night worrying about the effects that I, or this article, will have on their business.
Befit Keto Cut
long-term diet and exercise. Also, resolution or improvement in obesity-related diseases can occur with even moderate amounts of weight. Often many diseases can become closer to cured than improved with earlier intervention at a lower weight.
Bio Jolt Male Enhancement
and into their later years, the glandular portion of breasts is replaced by fat. The original glandular tissue is significantly more firm than fat and consequently the skin becomes unable to retract completely and produces severely ptotic or sagging breasts. This is called breast
Keto Now Real
Weight loss is one of the hottest topics ever. Everyone seems to be trying to lose weight nowadays. Most diet programs are about weight loss and body weight is often used as an indicator of fitness progress. But, this is an incorrect approach.
Virtus Strong Testo Boost Pro
Post a Comment