Soul

After reading Tobsha Learner's "Witch of Cologne" last year I was determined to read any further historical novels that she published so when I found out about "Soul" it moved quickly to the top of my to read list. Unlike her last novel "Soul" is not entirely a work of historical fiction. Set in dual time lines it is the story of two women one hundred and forty years apart, Lavinia (who was tried for the murder of her husband) and her great -granddaughter Julia a geneticist searching for a gene which would mark out people who did have an emotional response to murder/combat. Their lives play out side by side, developing to the point where each is forced to make a choice that in fact may be no choice at all but the pure product of their genes. Lavinia is the daughter of an Irish cleric elevated in society when the retired Colonel and naturalist James Huntington marries her purely for the purpose of begetting a son. Lavinia believes her much older husband to have married for love and is severely disillusioned when the man begins to take up his old habits-including sexual activities that were illegal at the time. But while he refuses to be untrue to himself Huntington will not grant Lavinia the same freedom and she finds herself increasingly desperate for both escape and revenge. Julia thought she had the ideal life until her beloved husband left her for her best friend when she was pregnant and she miscarried. Though she tries to throw herself into her work finding the "no post traumatic stress disorder gene" for the Department of Defense she is unable to forgot the immense betrayal or leave behind the idea that her child has been murdered and her life has been stolen from her. Filled with rage she becomes concerned that her family history of violence has left its mark genetically and that she is domed to repeat acts of her forbearers.... This is a really fascinating book. Not only are the characters completely real in their portrayal and emotional responses but the parallels between the two stories make for a wonderful comparison. While their situations are not exactly the same nearly every page of this novel radiates with pain from the wrongdoings and injustices forced upon the Huntington women. In that sense this is not a happy book. But it is the scientific aspect that captured the focus of my interest. Both women have a family history of violence, both are in situations were people commonly "snap" but both also possess immense intelligence to not only realize the possibly terrible consequences of their potential actions but to know they possess free will. Or do they? The "nature verses nurture" debate is heavy in this book. While Julia tends to believe in nature over nurture, Col. Huntington, her great grandfather, is a fan of nurture over nature and both argue the points enough with their contemporary colleagues to leave the reader with a multitude of information to choose their own viewpoint from. "Soul" is a novel that will sweep you a

Two women, one living in the mid-1800's, the other in early 2000, have a lot in common, including their husbands' betrayals and perhaps a killer DNA gene. Lavinia was intrigued with James Huntington's scientific research. The fact that he was more than twice her age didn't stop her from falling in love and winning him over with her insatiable intellectual curiosity. Their marriage fulfilled her dreams and bearing him a male heir made them the perfect family. In the present day, Professor Julia Huntington, a direct descendent of Lavinia and James, has just landed a dream DNA sponsorship with the Department of Defense, discovers she's pregnant with her first child and is still madly in love with her husband of over a decade. The events in the women's lives parallel each other in an unsettling way and Julia is hoping to find resolution through her science. Soul is a relaxing read. The author aptly separated the novel into three parts of the Garden of Eden tale: The Apple, The Serpent, and The Fall. The short chapters alternate between the women's point of views which keeps the reader intrigued as to what will happen next. Learner handles transitions well and keeps the reader focused on the women and their lives. The book's many layers all relate to its overall theme of `nature vs. nurture.' Tobsha Learner, born and raised in England, has lived in Australia and the US. Her third book, the bestselling The Witch of Cologne, was her first work of historical fiction. She has had a collection of short stories published before each of her novels. I recommend Soul to anyone interested in a good story with intriguing female characters. Soul grasps right to the unpredictable end. Reviewer: Lisa Haselton, Allbooks Reviews.

The plot of this story is enough to give it 5 stars, as it's very interesting. The premise is solid and unique. The character development of secondary characters is often lacking, so those characters are one dimensional at times. You don't get a sense of what really motivates them, yet their motivation is critical to the motivation and actions of the primary characters of Julia and her great grandmother. That would get this three stars. There are several very contrived episodes that are fantastical and unbelievable, rendering it one or two stars, but the writing is quite good, so I gave it four stars in the end. A good summertime read, and I'm quite interested now in reading whatever this author comes up with next. She could be the next Anne Rice.

**4 1/2 Bookmarks, courtesy of Wild on Books Reviews** As scientist Julia Huntington researches genetic predisposition for killing with neither compunction nor remorse in the 21st century, an attack in Afghanistan reveals she herself bears that very trait, much to her surprise. In the 19th century, Julia's great-great-grandmother marries the man she loves, and is later tried for his murder. Did Lavinia do it? Could Julia's ancestor have killed her own husband? As an unexpected blow sends Julia spiraling out of control, history seems to be repeating the pattern begun with Lavinia. Will Julia's story end in tragedy, mirroring that of Lavinia Huntington? I confess I had not before heard of author Tobsha Learner when a local bookstore offered me the chance to review her new release, SOUL. Judging from the synopsis on the back cover, the premise looked intriguing. Having now read this story, I can honestly say that it lived up to the expectations that blurb set with me. SOUL is a fascinating erotic thriller that doubles as a psychological study of sorts, questioning genetic predisposition to violence while it enthralls the reader with a good bit of suspense. Switching between Julia's story in the present day and Lavinia's tale two hundred years earlier cleverly shows unmistakable parallels between the events in these women's lives and their own reactions to them. Throughout the story, Tobsha Learner effortlessly builds empathy for both women as the reader lives through one tragedy after the next in their lives. Of course, as each suffers one emotional blow after another, it takes its toll and the reader is caught up in the suspense, wondering how each will handle the new obstacles facing their lives. I will say that there were times that I felt the pacing of the story might have been a bit faster, but never sufficiently to break the spell of this gripping erotic thriller. Alternating between the two timelines throughout the story, we are kept guessing as to what fate each woman will meet until the very end of the book, wondering if Julia is doomed to the same fate as her ancestor without really being sure just what that fate was until the ending. Did Lavinia kill her husband? What lengths will Julia go to in order to protect everything she values most? I'm not telling... You'll just have to read the book to find these answers. I promise you, the journey Tobsha Learner takes you on in SOUL will be well worth your time.

In 2002 Los Angeles, pregnant genetic researcher Julia Huntington searches for the gene that makes someone become a remorseless killer. However Julia's life collapses when she learns her spouse Klaus loves her best friend; she becomes despondent and angry. She also knows she can kill with no remorse having done so in Afghanistan. In 1849 Julia's great-grandmother, Lavinia was a young woman living in Ireland when she was assaulted; she stabbed her attacker feeling no remorse. In 1860 she was chosen to be the wife of three decade older amateur anthropologist Colonel James Huntington. Lavinia was given no choice in the matter. However, when she learns the secret that her spouse hid from she becomes despondent and angry. The fun in this engaging psychological horror thriller lies with the comparative analysis of the two eras; especially enlightening are biological theory, criminology, and psychology in 1860 vs. 2008. The audience will enjoy following the escapades of the abusive remorseless couples although the rotating viewpoints between the two women feel disruptive at times, not enabling the reader to get deep into the hearts of either lead female or their "abusive" spouses. Still psychological horror fans will enjoy Tobsha Learner's look at the souls of two female relatives a century and a half apart as the author raises the argument that civilization's nurturing can impede or enhance the core individual's DNA blueprint depending on circumstances. Harriet Klausner