Rating: 
Summary: Maybe tries to pack too much in?
Review: I like Sarah Donati's willingness to address epic landscapes and plots. I really liked Into the Wilderness a great deal, and I am glad to see her continuing with her interesting characters from that novel in Dawnon a Distant Shore and in this novel.I think my basic concern here is that she tries to do too much in this novel--we have abolitionists, smallpox, Hannah's search to decide which path to follow in her life, and Elizabeth's mid-life struggle to balance the safety of her family with outside commitments and needs, all rolled up in one book. Some of the most interesting sub-plots here get the least focus--I feel like Elizabeth got lost in this novel, when she clearly has needs and concerns. I continue to have trouble with the denizens of Paradise (oddly ironic name for a place that appears to be quite devoid of blessings). They are so unappealing that they clash with the beauty of the natural surroundings and the Bonner family's values and sense of personal history and space that I really love. I ended up liking this book and admiring Hannah, Elizabeth and Nathaniel all over again, but not loving it.
Rating:
Summary: Maybe tries to pack too much in?
Review: I like Sarah Donati's willingness to address epic landscapes and plots. I really liked Into the Wilderness a great deal, and I am glad to see her continuing with her interesting characters from that novel in Dawnon a Distant Shore and in this novel. I think my basic concern here is that she tries to do too much in this novel--we have abolitionists, smallpox, Hannah's search to decide which path to follow in her life, and Elizabeth's mid-life struggle to balance the safety of her family with outside commitments and needs, all rolled up in one book. Some of the most interesting sub-plots here get the least focus--I feel like Elizabeth got lost in this novel, when she clearly has needs and concerns. I continue to have trouble with the denizens of Paradise (oddly ironic name for a place that appears to be quite devoid of blessings). They are so unappealing that they clash with the beauty of the natural surroundings and the Bonner family's values and sense of personal history and space that I really love. I ended up liking this book and admiring Hannah, Elizabeth and Nathaniel all over again, but not loving it.
Rating:
Summary: Do I love this book? I don't know! I think so!
Review: I love Sara Donati's writing. I love the Paradise setting and the cast of characters. I can't say positively that I loved Lake in the Clouds, though. I loved parts of it, and I found myself skipping other parts. I felt that the book was inaccurately named -- it should have been called "Hannah's Story" rather than "Lake in the Clouds". This book (when not distracted by a storyline about runaway slaves) deals almost entirely with Hannah Bonner's coming of age, and her choices -- is she white, or is she Kahnyenkehaka (that's Mohawk to those not in the know). I was pleased by LitC after reading Dawn on a Distant Shore. Donati returned to the setting that made her story, and it shines like a jewel in the pages of LitC. We return to all the foibles and passions of a little town named Paradise set in the wilderness, and the supporting cast are the characters that truly shine in this book. Overall it starts out a bit slower than I anticipated, but by the end I was unable to put it down. Well done, Sara!
Rating:
Summary: Do I love this book? I don't know! I think so!
Review: I love Sara Donati's writing. I love the Paradise setting and the cast of characters. I can't say positively that I loved Lake in the Clouds, though. I loved parts of it, and I found myself skipping other parts. I felt that the book was inaccurately named -- it should have been called "Hannah's Story" rather than "Lake in the Clouds". This book (when not distracted by a storyline about runaway slaves) deals almost entirely with Hannah Bonner's coming of age, and her choices -- is she white, or is she Kahnyenkehaka (that's Mohawk to those not in the know). I was pleased by LitC after reading Dawn on a Distant Shore. Donati returned to the setting that made her story, and it shines like a jewel in the pages of LitC. We return to all the foibles and passions of a little town named Paradise set in the wilderness, and the supporting cast are the characters that truly shine in this book. Overall it starts out a bit slower than I anticipated, but by the end I was unable to put it down. Well done, Sara!
Rating: 
Summary: loooovvee it!
Review: I LOVE SARA DONATI. ok, that's out of the way. i waited for this book from the second we ordered it and the second it arrived i tore open the box and started reading it. it didn't dissapoint me. the only thing i didn't like was that we missed so much of Lily's and Daniel's lives -- there should have been another book, even a very short one, set when they were around 4 years old. oh well. i still loved it!
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful read
Review: I loved Into The Wilderness, but was not impressed at all with Dawn on a Distant Shore. I was given Lake in the Clouds as a gift, and I have to say that Ms. Donati redeemed herself fully from the DOADS debacle. LITC is a great read - exciting, emotional and beautifully written. I highly recommend it and can't wait for the next book to come out in paperback!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing - I wanted more romance
Review: I missed the romance. I really enjoyed reading about the relationship growing between Nathaniel and Elizabeth in the first book. Romantic interactions were missing in this book. Hannah's journey was interesting however I wanted a bit of sizzle between her and the male characters she encountered. There was none.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Read!
Review: I must say that I was not sure how good this book was going to be, because I was a bit disappointed with Dawn on a Distant Shore. But Donati is back on sure footing here, and is writing about what she knows. I found the 8 year or so time lapse from the end of Dawn on a Distant Shore disconcerting at first, but it ended up being effective, allowing us to see the maturing of LIly and Daniel & especially Hannah (although Lily spoke a bit too maturely for a girl of her young years). It was nice to see all of the old characters and to meet some new ones. Hannah is very likable (and for Diana Gabaldon fans who are also Sara Donati fans perhaps you might appreciate that Hannah is a character entirely unto herself, rather than an extension of her father, as Brianna Fraser seems to be). Some bits were confusing, but will clear up after a second read--however, the last 200 pages or so are tremendously exciting, as the reader is back in Paradise with a terrific plot. All in all, I would say it was a very good book--I enjoyed it and will definitely read it again and again. I have to say that I feared the series would tire itself out, but it has not--in fact, it leaves me with anticipation of another book. Fantastic job, Ms. Donati!
Rating:
Summary: just as I expected
Review: I stayed up till early in the morning for two nights to finish this book. Quite a few surprises. More Hannah in this book along with her younger brother and sister. I was a little concerned where Ms. Donati was heading with Hannah and Liam but she didn't let me down. Unlike Brianna in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series - I love Jamie and Clair, but can't stand their daughter Brianna, especially in the 5th book, The Fiery Cross. Richard Todd's roll was interesting and there would be no book without Curiosity Freeman. As always, we love hearing about Elizabeth and Nathaniel and Daniel (Nathaniel's dad). I'm already itching for the next book to see where Ms. Donati heads with Hannah's story. How long will that be? Hopefully not two years from now.
Rating:
Summary: The magic of Into the Wilderness Returns
Review: I've read all three books in the "Wilderness" series and was a bit disappointed by Dawn on a Distant Shore. However, this book returns to the magical story telling of Into the Wilderness and kept me enthralled for all 680 pages--Donati's interweaving of characters and their histories makes for a fascinating and compelling read!
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