The endless forest

Say good-bye to Elizabeth Bonner and her brood with this graceful, sweeping conclusion to Donati's frontier-era Wilderness series (following Fire Along the Sky), focusing mostly on returning characters Martha, Callie, Daniel Bonner and Ethan Bonner, and their perpetual adversary, Jemima Southern, "as close to a witch as [the town] had ever come." In 1824, troublemaker Jemima returns to rural Paradise, N.Y., and Bonner men Ethan and Daniel realize the only way to save the property of their friends Callie and Martha is to marry them, arrangements born of necessity that quickly become stronger than anyone expected. Before leaving for good, however, Jemima surprises the people of Paradise by revealing the secrets that they've kept from each other. Donati will satisfy and, in some cases, delight her longtime readers by wrapping up nearly every story line, confidently tracking a huge cast and their individual conflicts. Those new to Donati's work would be better served starting at the beginning of the series with Into the Wilderness it's nearly impossible to pick up at this point but any reader will be won over, sooner or later, by Donati's affection for her tough, complex characters. (Jan.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

The sixth and final book in pseudonymous author Donati's (www.rosinalippi.com) "Wilderness" saga-following Queen of Swords (2006), also available from Books on Tape and Random Audio-takes place in Paradise, NY, in 1824. Nathaniel Bonner and his wife, Elizabeth, still preside over their sprawling family, only now the focus is on the younger generation of Bonners and on the return of family nemesis Jemima Southern. While Donati credibly describes life in the wilderness, audiences should read/listen to the series in its proper order, as this volume leaves too much background to be caught up on otherwise. Except for Jemima, who provides much of the book's color and interest, the characters are mostly flat and predictable. Still, pseudonymous narrator Jennifer Mendenhall, who reads here as Kate Reading, captures the characters well with her distinctive voice and notable mastery of the Scottish accents. Fans of the series will be eager for this one. [See Prepub Exploded, LJ Online 8/6/09.-Ed.]-Nancy R. Ives, SUNY at Geneseo (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

1 Letters elizabeth bonner to her daughter lily ballentyne 4th day of August 1823 Dear Daughter, This letter is overdue, I know. I hope you forgive me when you learn that I have held it back in order to share good news. Yesterday your sister Hannah was delivered of a healthy son. Both mother and child are in good health and spirits. Your nephews Henry and John are beside themselves with joy, but the girls were disappointed. When Ben brought them in to see Hannah and meet their new brother, Amelie patted her mother on the shoulder in a consoling manner. Eliza told her to never mind, the next one was sure to be a girl. It was all Curiosity and I could do not to laugh aloud. It is my impression that Hannah is finished with childbearing. She said to me not so long ago that five healthy children are more than enough, though she believes Ben would cheerfully continue until they were overrun like the old woman who lived in a shoe. You are wondering what name they have given to this newest Savard, but I have promised Birdie that she could be the one to tell. There is quite a bit of news that will interest you. Now that Blue-Jay is remarried and settled at Lake in the Clouds we were all hoping for a peaceful autumn, but Gabriel has declared his intention to marry Annie straight away. I must admit that I am concerned. Annie was to go to Albany to study at Mrs. Burrough's School next month. It is my sincere belief that she deserves that opportunity, but it must be her decision. My concern right now is making it clear to Gabriel that he must be guided by her in this. And they are so very young. Daniel is in good health and seems to have less difficulty with his arm of late, but then it is hard to know exactly. You know your twin, and will not be surprised to hear that he cloaks his feelings much of the time, and we see less of him than we would like. If it were not for his responsibilities as a teacher I suspect he would follow Robbie MacLachlan's example and be content to live alone, far from any settlement. But he is the teacher, and a good one. Birdie finds him very strict in the classroom, but she does not claim that he is unfair. In the village we Bonners continue as the main topic of conversation. Blue-Jay's marriage and now the promise of Gabriel's is of unending interest. Missy Parker--pardon me, I mean Missy O'Brien as of this winter past. I said the other day that I can never remember that she married Baldy O'Brien, and Curiosity laughed, and said that Missy must want to forget that herself. So Missy came into the trading post while I was looking at fabric, and she told Mrs. Mayfair that the Bonners were reaping their reward for keeping such close quarters with Indians. Gabriel would be giving Mrs. Elizabeth Middleton Bonner red-skinned grandchildren and just how would she like that? Then she turned around and saw me standing there and she hopped in place, like a very plump rabbit. I plan to have a discussion with Mrs. O'Brien. It is unacceptable for her to speak so, when any one of Hannah's children--my grandchildren--might be close enough to hear. Other friends are mostly well. Martha is still in Manhattan and it seems unlikely that she will ever come back here to stay. Apparently there is now a young man who calls on her. Young Callie has had more than her share of trouble. This past season she lost almost her whole crop, for the second year in a row. The season was wet, and apples are prone to rot. With Levi's help she presses just enough applejack to survive from one harvest to the next. Now I will pass this letter over to Birdie. Your father and I, your sisters and brothers, we all send you and Simon our love and affection. Your mother Elizabeth Middleton Bonner Dear sister and good brother: Hannah and Ben have named the Excerpted from The Endless Forest: A Novel by Sara Donati All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.