Raven Dove

Raised by her Uncle Pete, Vivien Clinton only knew a life of abuse in Wagoner, Arizona - until one day she met a stranger, Gabe Johnson. He literally ran into her on a crowded street, and their chance meeting would change both of their lives. After Gabe comes to call on her, her uncle makes it clear in no uncertain terms that he will not allow any sort of courting. Devastated and humiliated, Vivien runs to a nearby barn where she will encounter Gabe once again, only this time she will help him get away from a posse with hopes of him coming back to rescue her one day.

Three years later, Vivien is nineteen and her uncle has just died, but she has still not heard from the one man she has been waiting for. With no one to count on, she turns to a local businessman, Chad Green, for help getting out of Wagoner. Unbeknownst to her, it will be through Chad and his brother Charlie that she will have a shot at finding Gabe. Vivien will discover a whole new life, but can she survive all the surprises and secrets that will surround her?

Raven Dove is an extremely well-written story filled with lots of twists and turns. Joanne Walpole is definitely an author to watch out for. The plot and character development were outstanding. There were times while reading this book that this reviewer literally couldn’t put it down. Vivien is a heroine to revere; she has a very strong personality, especially with having the courage to go on after a few really scary incidents, not to mention the abuse she put up with when she was younger.

The added pleasure of getting to know Chad, Charlie and Gabe is another reason to pick up this book. Each of these characters has a certain charm that will draw readers to them. Hopefully, Ms. Walpole will allow readers to have another glimpse into the lives of these three. This book has earned a Recommended Read, as it is one of the best books this reviewer has read this year. Raven Dove is a book you will not want to miss this summer!

Reviewed by: JoAnn