Harcourt's Mountain: Is love strong enough to save you from a broken past? (Historical Romance, Frontier Adventure, Family Saga) (The Harcourts of Canada Book 1)

This is the first book I have read by this author. It was exciting from beginning to the very end. Women back in the pioneer days had so much resilience and worked from daylight till dark. It wasn't just the home and garden they tended to. They worked in the fields and tended the animals right along with the men. This book starts out with a bride ship docking and men bidding on the brides in exchange for a bill of sale. The brides that aren't sold are sent to the brothel to work off their passage. This book is about one of the brides who doesn't have a memory of her past named Hope. So excited to read the next book in this series.

I think this is my first read of this author.It was good reading and a little mystery.Hope was being sold for a wife or whore.But she didn’t know how she got on the ship.Luke bought her.It a lot of things happen.It’s a long story .Could they find love?

When Elaine asked me to write a review for her book I was so excited to do so. I bought her books only after reading what others had said about them. I can only agree. The story was charming, gritty, funny, thought provoking, and fast paced adventure, all in one! I read it in one sitting overnight. I know, not the best thing to do, but I couldn't put it down. I was fascinated with the characters, the story, and living near the same area, amazed at how spot-on her poetic scenes and descriptions were. I highly recommend Harcourt's Mountain and the rest of The Harcourt's of Canada series to everyone who loves a well crafted, heart warming story.

This was such a great story, I loved the way the author wove the romance into the character's situation, building it up slowly around the details of the landscape and the people and animals that inhabited their world. Each character had their own voice, their own backstory, they felt like real people that I came to care for. Adventure and adversity is mingled in with faith and hope and triumph; with unexpected turns and twists that kept me turning the pages eagerly. I found myself emotionally invested in the story and the characters, so that I found myself at times laughing out loud or crying like a baby. And when I came to the end, my heart was satisfied, and my only wish is for more books from this author!

Just finished Elaine Dodge’s Harcourt’s Mountain. Loved everything from the title, to the characters and writing style. Found the story a soft and intimate retreat into the very personal lives of a set of beautiful and believable characters. Just the right amount of conflict in the story to keep interest piqued. My imagination was taken on a colourful journey throughout the book which I found a very relaxing read. Dodge’s use of language makes for a light yet rich and satiating read and she has a lovely turn of phrase. Highly recommend this read to anyone who wants a story to sink and escape into. Many lines of sub-plot within the novel are woven cleverly together often unpredictably and intriguingly. Dodge’s style speaks to real-life experience of what she writes about giving the content a sensitivity unique to the author. Highly recommend. Lovely read.

Along about chapter 41, I was getting very bored with this story. It became bla bla bla. Totally lost interest.

Hope Booker has no memories of how she wound up knocked out and thrown into the lower level hold of a so-called “Bride” ship. Not long after waking up with a huge bump on her head, she finds herself about to be auctioned off. It’s really more like a slave auction than “bride” auction and it’s clear from those bidding for the women that they need a worker who clearly won’t live much longer after they are bought, abused, prostituted or enslaved. The reader can feel Hope’s astonishment and fear as the bidding begins for her life’s services.Luke Harcourt is a most unusual man and one wonders why he’s watching the bride auction as it seems he despises the business. He’s a very tender yet strong guy whose sensitivity and compassion, as well as his quick perception about Hope being unable to survive the typical treatment accorded those who come off the bride ship are most unusual for a man in this 1867 British Columbian world. Anyone who lives here has to be very, very tough to survive. However, the trials and tribulations Hope and Luke are about to undergo leave the reader stunned!Luke has promised he won’t touch Hope and obviously this is the story of how they fall in love. Hope is cautious initially and has to learn to trust Luke before that will turn to deep caring and love for him. Physical dangers are not the only threat to Hope’s survival; the animal and natural threats to these settler’s lives are present on every page which certainly captures the attention and total immersion into the story as one never stops wanting to flip the pages to find out what happens next!Luke himself will be kidnapped onto a ship where his life will be in danger and it doesn’t seem like he will be able to escape from the evil, sadistic man who is planning Luke’s demise. To say more about the future of Hope and Luke would be a spoiler for sure!Elaine Dodge has crafted a romance and a historical thriller novel that is ripe for those who thrive on adventures and evolving romance!!! Very nicely done, Ms. Dodge!

This is a masterfully woven tale that sweeps the reader away to another world where character overcomes tragedy in such breathtaking settings in a mountainous wilderness. I found the main characters complex, sometimes impressive and endearing, other times leaving me shaking my head in frustration or annoyance, however both had me rooting for them in their tumultuous life journey. The variety of people and creatures woven into their lives makes for a rich depiction of what life would have been like in that demanding episode of history. Not all a bed of roses, for sure! This was a thoroughly captivating read and I'm really hoping there is a sequel on its way.

Fabulous read. Looking forward to the sequel. Engaging characters and story.

This is not a genre I would ever have considered reading as a rule (the word 'frontier' immediately conjures up a 'western' in my mind) but having spoken to the Author online, her colourful writing while commenting suggested a quick and interesting wit which spurred me on to investigate her writing.Well, what a surprise! The story of life on the western frontier in 1867 was not only a fascinating insight into a rugged and unforgiving lifestyle, but a glimpse into the character such an environment creates in a human being. The effort required to simply 'draw a bath' alone would be enough to limit my cleanliness to once a week! Don't judge me, it sounds really hard!All historical advantages aside, I'll move on to the characters involved: Hope - this young woman had me utterly engrossed and a little confused at the beginning as the Author intended I suspect. Her arrival on the 'Bride Boat' was rife with mystery and intrigue as the character herself couldn't clearly remember how she finished up being there. She isn't described as being particularly attractive or super-intelligent - she's just a frightened, mixed up young woman, and OMG do I identify with that on a whole other level! I liked her immediately and her desperation to remember became my own.Luke - Luke however was a different kettle of fish in my mind. Granted he took her as his 'bride' out of pity with no designs on forcing her to consummate the marriage, but at the back of my mind, I was constantly looking for a glimpse of a secret, underhand reason for his unselfish generosity. Hope and I both, were poised in ready for his pants to be slung on the chair and a wildly energetic leapfrog attack from over the bedposts! I won't give away the farm on that score, except to say that nothing unwelcome occurred in that regard.There are some amusing moments in this book that were entirely unexpected as other characters come into play. Holly's reaction to the visiting natives was one such event, when she greeted their quiet cantor onto Luke's land with a rifle full of buckshot and reduced her bed sheets to salt and pepper sieved cloth.The story moves on brimmed with adventure and written with beautiful clarification to every step. A growing love is peppered with the trials of life in the harsh, wild and dangerous environment in which they live. Human corruption gives birth to Luke's terrible disappearance while Holly is left in a woman's most vulnerable state - with child. Alone on the mountain with no idea where or how Luke is she struggles to find a way to continue with alarming and petrifying results.I loved this book! I enjoyed every single word, and I will not be dismissing the word 'frontier or 'western' in a synopsis of a novel, so quickly in future. This is a unique and intricate story speaking as much about human nature as it it about spectacular scenery, danger and conflict!I'll finish with a sentence that spoke volumes to me as I read this unusually intriguing tale: "He didn't need complications. But complications were what made life interesting. Living almost demanded them."Tell me, who in this world, does not relate to that?

A good holiday read

Beautifully written, page turning, Harcourt's Mountain by Elaine Dodge,will stay with you long after you have turned the last page.The year is 1867. In the small town of Silver Birch Landing, on the westernmost edge of British Columbia, the notorious 'Bride' ship lies at anchor. Amid the noise and stench, a terrified Hope Booker, along with other filthy, confused women, await their fate.They will be sold at auction into a life of slavery and prostitution. Hope is fortunate enough to be purchased by the gentlemanly, Luke Harcourt, who is making a living far away from civilization. Under Luke's guidance, Hope gradually adapts to her new life,in the wilderness, surrounded by Indians, wolves, and mountain bears; they fall deeply in love. But all is not well. Luke suddenly disappears, and Hope finds herself alone and pregnant; facing danger at every turn, as she struggles to survive. Trapped inside the cabin with a hungry grizzly bear,Hope goes into labour and is forced to fight for her life and that of her baby. Will she survive? Will Luke find his way back to her?Find out what happens next in Harcourt's Mountain.

I read this book although it is not in one of my favoured genres, and I'm glad I did. The story is well written and well paced. You want to get to know the main characters, Luke and Hope, better and you begin to have feelings for them and go with them on their journey through this stage of their life. Although this is a love story there are darker elements and several back stories and side plots that are expertly weaved together by the author. It's the best book of this genre that I've read and I would recommend it to lovers of the genre and those looking for a break from their normal reading.