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Stairway to My Heart Reviewed By Candace Lybarger of Bookpleasures.com
- By Candace Lybarger
- Published September 16, 2012
- Historical Fiction
Candace Lybarger
Reviewer Candace Lybarger: Candace is a young wife, mother, and lover of all books. She received her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from The Ohio State University. Candace taught 3rd grade until an opportunity presented itself where she could work from home and be with her toddler. In addition to spending time with her family, Candace enjoys reading, music, history, traveling, and spending time outdoors. Her perfect day in a nutshell would be sitting in the sun with a book...or two!
View all articles by Candace Lybarger
Author: Marion
Marchetto
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 1475932944
Marion Marchetto's
Stairway to My Heart, the first book in her new Bridgewater
Chronicles series, is sure to be an instant hit among historical
fiction buffs. Beginning in 1890 and spanning across many
decades, Stairway to My Heart will capture your attention and leave
you asking for more. Marchetto is able to capture the feeling
of 20th century America as she brings you the story of the Newkirk
and Conner families.
Bostonian Kevin Newkirk is the heir to
his prestigious family's business, Newkirk Trading. Growing up
he is a bright boy, more interested in horses and working in the
Newkirk stables than going on hunting parties with the men of his
family. When Kevin comes of age he meets Jeannette, a Parlor
Maid, who he falls in love with. He has dreams of rescuing her
from her hard life by marrying her. However, because Jeannette
is from a low social class, Kevin's parents nix his idea and insist
that he marry a suitable bride that will bear him a son to carry on
the Newkirk name.
Cordelia Conner is the daughter of immigrant
parents who have found success in New York. Determined that
Cordelia have a better life than they had, her parents work hard to
make her a 'woman of quality.' Cordelia's brother, Cal, happens
to meet and become best friends with Kevin at Yale. As the
years pass, the Newkirk's decide to host a party to introduce Kevin
to available women who are of the correct social status.
Cordelia goes along with her brother to visit Kevin during this
time. However, once Kevin is reintroduced to the adult
Cordelia, he knows who will be his wife.
All of this
transpires in the first 100 pages of Stairway to My Heart. I
mention this because what I have written about is only the beginning
for Kevin and Cordelia. Marchetto's book flows wonderfully as
year's pass and the duo succumbs to the will of their parents.
Kevin and Cordelia certainly do not have the perfect marriage or
life. Stairway to My Heart is full of romance, tragedy, and
humor.
I found the characters in Marchetto's
Stairway to My Heart to be wonderfully written. They were very
3 dimensional, with flaws and unique qualities. Take Kevin, for
instance. During the beginning of Stairway to My Heart, I truly
liked him and wanted to see him happy. As time went on he
changed from a bright young boy believing in love, to a pompous man
very similar to his father. Marchetto really does a great job
of developing her characters to further Stairway to My Heart.
I,
myself, am excited to read the next installment of The Bridgewater
Chronicles. The series is supposed to cover 5 generations of
Newkirk's. If the second book is anything like the first, it
will be a fantastic read! I have read that Marion Marchetto has
hopes that The Bridgewater Chronicles will be turned into a movie or
mini-series. After reading Stairway to My Heart, this seems
like the perfect story to bring to life.
I definitely
recommend Marion Marchetto's Stairway to My Heart, to any and all
fiction lovers. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of Stairway
to My Heart, and believe you will too!
