Ever My Love

Marianne Johnston is the pampered princess of the Magnolias Plantation near New Orleans . Having attended finishing school in the North, she was exposed to anti-slavery thoughts, feelings, and books. Upon her return home to Louisiana, Marianne begins writing down the ways her family takes care of their slaves in an attempt to convince herself that she is not what the people from the north believe. She writes down how her family treats their slaves' illnesses and how much their food allotments are. Marianne is content that the plantation's slaves are better off than most until she wakes up one morning and sees first hand exactly what happens to slaves who try to escape. Aghast at the viciousness of her overseer's discipline towards a young boy, Marianne's conscience works overtime and she finds herself becoming two people; a beautiful southern belle by day and an Underground Railroad conductor by night. Yves Chamard is one of many sons of a prolific plantation owner. No matter the color of his siblings, Yves cares for and loves them all. He also has a secret; he is part of the powerful Underground Railroad and he risks everything each time a slave runs away and needs the help of the `shepherd'. Talk about risking all. Marianne and Yves, each in their own way, defy pre-Civil War conceptions of slavery. Their moral consciousness is awe inspiring at times and I found myself wincing more than once at the chances they take to do what they believe is right. Forces came at them from all angles but they prevailed. Add in a very happy ending and I can honestly say that EVER MY LOVE is one of the most exquisite books I have read in a very long time. While EVER MY LOVE remains first and foremost a romantic story, the sensuality is very low key and oftentimes subtle. This by no means deters from the story; in fact, I think the book is better for it. Ms. Craig has a new fan and I am definitely going to find and read more from this writer.

I read this book instead of doing my work...from the opening lines until the very last page, Ever My Love kept me entertained and curious! Gretchen's characters are intriguing and real. Her descriptions and historical knowledge make the story rich--I feel transported to a different time and place. Highly recommend this book!

Whenever you try a new author, you are always somewhat anxious to discover whether it was a good decision or a complete waste of time. I am delighted to report that with EVER MY LOVE, Ms. Craig has written a breathtaking novel that is well researched, rich in historical detail, featuring a beautiful passionate and caring heroine who discovers love and compassion in the least likely of candidates. Along with the main romance between Marianne and Yves, there are two secondary romances that are equally tender, poignant and brilliantly woven into the stream of realistic happenings occurring during the dangerous pre-Civl War aatmosphere of the South. The plethora of memorable secondary characters along with the well-done language distinctions exhibited between Creoles, Cajuns, and Southern slaves made the story telling all that much more realistic while addiing depth and realism to the basic plot. I certainly attest to the fact that it is a stand alone book as I later discovered that Ms. Craig's debut ALWAYS AND FOREVER is a prequel to this outstanding continuance of the saga of the Chamard men, and the women they love. Based on references to other fascinating characters in this amazing storyline whom I found so endearing, my plans are to backtrack and read the first book as well as keeping my eyes open for future offerings from this talented author! This is a recommended read! Marilyn Rondeau

I just finished reading Ever My Love, and loved it! It opens with the gripping account of two slave boys fleeing for their life through the bayou, and after that it never lets go... Craig brings us a wonderful family saga enriched with the dramatic texture of pre-civil war Louisiana. You'll feel like you were there. Her vivid writing makes the reader smell, taste, and see every scene. She gives us a cast of ordinary people living through extraordinary situations. We feel like we know these women. They could be our grandmothers, our sisters, us! Life, death and freedom depends upon the strength of their characters.

Since spending time in the north, Marianne Johnson's belief in the institution of slavery has been shattered. She does her best to nurse back to health those slaves who are captured and injured by slavers, and she tries to provide a positive environment for her own servant, but her father and brother, not she, are responsible for the plantation. To look the other way when slaves try to escape is one thing: to break the law and actually help them escape would be something else--wouldn't it. Yves Chamard sees war coming as the south clings to the institution of slavery even after the entire rest of the world has outlawed it. He won't fight for the institution, even if his friends and other members of his class see him as a traitor. Instead, he's played his role as a 'shepherd' for the underground railroad while he prepares to head for the north. His one regret--he certainly wouldn't be able to offer the beautiful Marianne Johnson the kind of life she's accustomed to, that she deserves. Not that he has much reason to believe Marianne would accept his proposal--except that he can't be ignoring the attraction that flows between them. When Yves's black half-brother is kidnapped by slavers, Yves isn't available to serve as shepherd and Marianne must face her fears and learn whether her hatred of slavery can translate into action. But an attack by slavers throws Marianne and Yves together and their chances to be nothing more than friends are shattered. Still, how can they find hapiness when their entire culture is about to be convulsed in violence? Author Gretchen Craig doesn't pull any punches in this ante-bellum romance. Sure the upper classes of the white south lead priviledged and beautiful lives, but these are lives built on the suffering of their slaves. No matter how well some masters attempt to treat their slaves, those human beings remain property--and this disease of the soul cannot be avoided. In her effort to do justice to this painful truth, author Gretchen Craig neverheless manages to keep a focus on the relationship between Yves and Marianne as they come to terms with one another and with the roles they must play in a society that is rotten to its core, no matter how beautiful its outward appearance. I strongly recommend EVER MY LOVE by Gretchen Craig.