Ratham Creek Cephalopod Coffee House March 2015

The Cephalopod Coffeehouse: March 2015

Welcome one and all to the Cephalopod Coffeehouse, a cozy gathering of book lovers, meeting to discuss their thoughts regarding the tomes they enjoyed most over the previous month.  Pull up a chair, order your cappuccino and join in the fun.
http://armchairsquid.blogspot.co.uk/2015/03/the-cephalopod-coffeehouse-march-2015.html



Work commitments and family have taken up a lot of my time this month but I have been able to indulge in my passion for reading.  

I've read six books this month and all would be worth a mention but I am going to concentrate on Ratham Creek by Marie F. Martin.

 

I would give this book a 4* rating only losing the fifth star because I feel it could have been longer.

Book Description from Amazon

Publication Date: 7 Nov. 2014

Unexpectedly widowed and left destitute, Arianne Hollis retreats to a remote area of Montana and struggles to build a new life. She becomes acquainted with clannish mountain people and newcomers, only to find herself sucked into a feud between them.  Then she becomes a target. Will Arianne give into the same vengeance that corrupts the clan?

 MY REVIEW

After Arianne is left widowed and due to her husband’s debts she has to sell her house, her children are grown and abroad so it is left to Arianne to sort her life out. 

Once the decision is made Arianne purchases a cottage in the mountains and bravely starts her life alone. 

Exploring the mountains she is in danger from a bear and saved by a stranger.  Little does she know that this event will be a momentous occasion in her life. 

Ross has spent his life in the mountains; his family are mountain people, close knit, clannish, and very loyal to each other.  Their business is logging which is slowly being eroded by various schemes of outsiders, business men who want to make a fast profit. 

The author has written this book, although not as long as other books being under 200 pages, that keeps this UK reader transported to the mountains and the way of life found there.  

There is drama, love, death, rough justice, some violence although not gratuitous, family relationships that can go up and down with emotions running high. There are beautifully written descriptions of the landscape making it easy to imagine the scenes in your mind.

Every moment spare moment I had was spent reading this book, thoroughly enjoyable.

 

A great cover picture as well.