I have received and read this book as part of the Virtual Blog Tour with Pump Up Your Book. As with any book in a series, you appreciate the characters and their stories more if you have read the books together rather than as a stand alone. This book will also be much more enjoyable if you know the history from Book One first. I am certainly glad I read BEFORE THE SCARLET DAWN, but this book would still be enjoyable without reading it.

In BESIDE TWO RIVERS, the story begins with Darcy, the daughter of the main characters from BEFORE THE SCARLET DAWN. Darcy is now a grown woman and is struggling with her ties to her Aunt and Uncle who raised her in America and her familial ties to England. It does take a bit of time to get into this story, but at about the half-way point, the story-line becomes intense which made for a faster read all the way to the end. After many obstacles, you are anxious to see how Darcy perseveres.

This second book in the series had a little less historical information in this book due to the Revolutionary War being over, but much more descriptive characterization of both the people and the places in the story. The author certainly knows how to paint a picture with her words. Her use of the language and protocol/manners from the time period were also well done. I for one am thankful to have lived in this century. I'm not sure I could have bit my tongue as often as Darcy did!

I adored Darcy and was pleased with the woman she had grown up to be. She was much like her mother, even though she was away from her for most of her growing up years. I loved her spunk and was inspired with how she handled her fears and problems. Again, Gerlach weaves faith in God throughout the story without it being over-bearing and preachy. It is just the right touch to remind the readers of where we need to turn in our trials as well as our triumphs.

Even though not everything is tied up with a pretty bow in this story, I still appreciate the way it ended and leads me to be anxious for the third book in the series that will focus on Sarah, a character from BEFORE THE SCARLET DAWN. This third book, BEYOND THE VALLEY, is planned to debut in February 2013. ( )

Darcy has a happy life living with her Uncle and his family. They treat her as if she is one of the family. She loves her home near the Potomac. She has a free spirit and loves to explore her home.

Things change when the family is invited to attend a party at a neighboring estate. She meets the handsome gentleman from England, Ethan Brennan. Her heart is captured. An adventure awaits that will take her into danger and be reunited with those she has lost.

I loved this story. I didn't read the first but even though I knew there was a back story, I didn't feel lost. Rita did a great job at keeping the story moving and giving enough background to satisfy me.

This book is full of Christian values. The main theme being of forgiveness. I just purchased the first book because I look forward to getting to know the characters that Rita crafted better and because I want to read more of her writing. ( )

This is the second installment of a trilogy in which I did not read the first - Before the Scarlet Dawn. I do have the first in my Kindle app so I might or might not read it some day. In this volume we meet Darcy Morgan, daughter of the protagonists of the first book - Eliza and Hayward Morgan. Darcy is a very free spirited girl - usually found walking along the rivers she loves and generally getting into trouble. A bit forward for her time as she is often off alone and in the company of young men unchaperoned. She lives with her Uncle's family as her parents are either dead or missing.

One day the family is invited to Twin Oaks (seriously - Ms. Gerlach couldn't come up with another name for her plantation? Far too reminiscent of Twelve Oaks and Ashley et al.) for a big party. While there Darcy meets an Englishman, Ethan Brennan and his snooty lady friend. Darcy and Ethan spend a fair bit of time together and start to fall in love but Darcy finds that the path to love is not smooth when an ocean separates families.

Ethan heads back for England and just after Darcy receives a letter from her *gasp* English grandmother - of whom she knows nothing - inviting her to visit. Off Darcy heads to England. There she meets her English relatives including the Lord of the manor who tries to hold sway over her while making veiled threats as to her person.

I had a hard time with this book. It read more young adult than adult and if it is someone should have told me 'cause then I would have approached it differently. I can find no comments anywhere that it is anything but a book for adult audiences and in that case I can't take it seriously for that audience. The characters are caricatures in many cases and the plot points are jokes. Maybe I just read too much, I don't know. I have read a fair amount of Christian fiction and don't find it as lacking as this one in the development of the people and places. When the Lord of the manor I mentioned above appeared I swear I pictured Snidely Whiplash in my head. Seriously. I just couldn't find much in this one to redeem it. For a young adult audience - it's slightly better.

I do love the cover though - for both this one and Before Scarlet Dawn. ( )

Can the secrets from the past lead to love and forgiveness?

In the second book of the Daughters of the Potomac series: Beside Two Rivers, the story picks where it left off in book one, Before the Scarlet Dawn, where the reader is reintroduced to Eliza and Hayward Morgan's daughter Darcy, who is now twenty years old. Set in the post Revolutionary War period of 1797, in Potomac Heights, Maryland, Darcy has been living with the Breese family: Uncle Will, Aunt Mari and their five daughters, since her father had left her as a small child to live with them. Darcy remembers very little of her early childhood, and the mysterious disappearance of her parents. She has always been curious about her parents, and has many unanswered questions as to why they had left her behind with the Breese family. While exploring the Potomac riverbank, Darcy falls in the river and gets swept by the strong river current, only to be rescued by a handsome young Englishman, Ethan Brennan. Ethan is an English horse breeder, who has come to Maryland on a secretive dual mission: to purchase a stallion; and a long-hidden secret that he has regarding Darcy that he cannot reveal. Darcy and Ethan fall in love with each other, but when Ethan returns to England, Darcy is left brokenhearted. Soon Darcy receives a letter from her grandmother Morgan in England, who beckons her to visit which leads Darcy on a journey that will reveal mystery and secrets of her past ... and may even provide her a chance to rekindle her love with Ethan ... Beside Two Rivers is the story of the romance between Darcy Morgan and Ethan Brennan ... it is a story about love found, lost and second chances ... it is about secrets, forgiveness and redemption.

Beside Two Rivers is a poignant continuation of an epic historical saga that takes the reader on a journey in the post Revolutionary War period of 1797 Maryland and England. Written in the third person narrative, author Rita Gerlach weaves a tale full of mystery, intrigue, drama and romance that sweeps the reader into the lives of Darcy Morgan and Ethan Brennan. Rich in details and vivid descriptions of the lush scenic settings and historical time period, the story flows seamlessly across the pond and engages the reader to follow along on Darcy's journey of a lifetime.

This historical romance captivated me from the start, the bond of friendship and love that Darcy and Ethan shared is emotionally charged and passionate as their relationship develops, only to be tested by the long held secret that Ethan has promised not to reveal. As Darcy learns about her family's mysterious secrets and past, the reader is drawn into the intriguing and dramatic twists and turns that Darcy encounters.

With characters who are complex; dialogue and interactions that are engaging; and a historical romantic storyline that transports the reader back to a genteel colonial time period; Besides Two Rivers is a compelling and powerfully emotional story of love, faith, hope, and forgiveness, that will keep the readers spellbound, wanting more, and anxiously awaiting for the story to continue in Beyond the Valley, the third book in the Daughters of the Potomac series.

Beside Two Rivers is the second book in the Daughters of the Potomac series. While this book can stand alone, I would suggest reading the series in sequence in order for the reader to follow the seamless flow of the storyline.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Pump Up Your Book! Virtual Book Publicity Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot.com/2012/11/beside-two-rivers-by-rita-gerl... ( )

Author: Rita Gerlach
Published By: Abingdon Press
Age Recommended: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Blog For: GMTA
Rating: 5

Review:

"Beside Two Rivers" by Rita Gerlach was a wonderful story of love and forgiveness. This wonderful story took place in England and Maryland just after the Revolutionary War. This novel is a series book...only adding to how good the other novels have been. Ms. Gerlach presents such wonderful writings and her characters are off the chart..good....well driven...making this a great read! I was simply not able to put this novel down. There is so much happening in each and every page with twist and turns... leaving you only to say Wow I didn't see that coming! This is where I say you must pick up "Beside Two Rivers" to see from the beginning to the end how Ms. Gerlach will keep you interested. The scenes and descriptions are so well visualized...with all the history that was presented was simply beautiful.

If you are in for a good read that is full of forgiveness, romantic tensions and the message of God's love..."Beside Two Rivers" would be recommended as a excellent read for you ( )