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Quick Review: "Written in My Own Heart's Blood" by Diana Gabaldon

 

From Goodreads:  In June of 1778, the world turns upside-down. The British army withdraws from Philadelphia, George Washington prepares to move from Valley Forge in pursuit, and Jamie Fraser comes back from the dead to discover that his best friend has married Jamie’s wife. The ninth Earl of Ellesmere discovers to his horror that he is in fact the illegitimate son of the newly-resurrected Jamie Fraser (a rebel and a Scottish criminal!) and Jamie’s nephew Ian Murray discovers that his new-found cousin has an eye for Ian’s Quaker betrothed.

Meanwhile, Claire Fraser deals with an asthmatic duke, Benedict Arnold, and the fear that one of her husbands may have murdered the other. And in the 20th century, Jamie and Claire’s daughter Brianna is thinking that things are probably easier in the 18th century: her son has been kidnapped, her husband has disappeared into the past, and she’s facing a vicious criminal with nothing but a stapler in her hand. Fortunately, her daughter has a miniature cricket bat and her mother’s pragmatism.

The best of historical fiction with a Moebius twist, WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART’S BLOOD weaves the fibers of a family’s life through the tapestry of historical drama.

My Thoughts:  I had a really hard time time with this book at first.  I started reading it on the day it came out, made it through a 100 pages and had to put it down.  For some reason, I just couldn't get into it.  I waited a month and picked it up again and was immediately sucked in.

The story was CRAZY at times.  There was so many different things going on and so many unexpected twists and turns that it was almost overwhelming.  There were times where I had to put it down and take a deep breath.  I think if I didn't feel so connected to the books, it wouldn't have bothered me so much.  Things finally calmed down some in the second half of the book and as a whole the book was great.  I liked how it didn't get bogged down in details like book 7 did.

Jamie and Claire are wonderful. Even though he is now kind of old, Jamie still can make swoon.  His and Claire's relationship is as strong as ever in this book and their relationship is probably my favorite in all fiction.  There were two extremely sad events that just made cry.  I won't go into detail here because I don't want to spoil it but OMG.  So many tears!  I loved how the book ended; book 7 had such a huge cliffhanger so it was nice that this one didn't.  There are a lot of questions left unanswered so I'm curious to see where she takes the story and the characters in the future.  

This is a must read if you have read any of the Outlander series. 4 stars.


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