Thursday, January 7, 2010

David and the Bear Lake Monster: Review and Giveaway

To be honest, I am not much of a fan of Western movies. John Wayne was a great actor, and there are some classic Western films, but I was never terribly interested in watching cowboys and bank robbers riding around on dusty old plains. That being said, though, I couldn't wait to continue my adventures in the "wild West" and read the fourth book in the historical fiction series by Linda Weaver Clarke, David and the Bear Lake Monster: A Family Saga in Bear Lake, Idaho, published in 2009. These books are so enjoyable to read! The characters come to life and keep me engaged and entertained. Once again, I ventured back in time, to the 1920's, when the land was vast and untamed, and life seemed full of promise and possibility. It was also the time of the Indian legend of the Bear Lake Monster.

"When the settlers arrived here in 1863, the Indians told them all about the Bear Lake Monster. It had captured and carried off two braves who were swimming. The monster was described as a serpent-like creature with legs about 18-inches long, and could crawl out of water, scurrying along on land. The Natives warned the pioneers to not go near the lake to swim. This legend still lives on today."
~David and the Bear Lake Monster, Linda Weaver Clarke



To David, the central character in this book, the monster sounds like a joke, but many people in town believe otherwise. As readers, we're not sure if the monster is fact or fiction. David's feelings for his deceased mother, however, are real and clear. He's upset and wishes he'd spent more time with her before she died, and regrets putting his freight business before his relationship with his mother. He comes back to visit the Roberts family in Paris, Idaho, to sort things out. While visiting, he becomes fascinated by a dainty and graceful dance teacher he meets at the town social, Sarah, and defends her honor a few times. Respect for women was very high in the West, and any man who hurt a woman could expect to be hunted down by other men. (Perhaps it's time to give Western movies another try!) But David holds back his true feelings for Sarah. The story also features other romance. While the marriage between Melinda and Gilbert Roberts is not perfect, their children are thriving and the couple's love endures.

Like the other books in this series, this novel is a lot of fun to read. But these books also have a serious side, and would help middle school and high school students learn about the history of the West, and the issues of the day, such as women's rights. These were the true pioneer days for women, when American women were slowly obtaining the right to vote, to attend college, and to become professionals. In David and the Bear Lake Monster, there's even a hint about the next book in the series, as Melinda wishes she could see a woman doctor. Please stay tuned for my review of the fifth and final book in this series, Elena, Woman of Courage, which features a woman doctor in the wild West.


Linda Weaver Clarke is once again generously offering an autographed copy of the first book in the series, Melinda and the Wild West, as a giveaway (US/Canada). To find out more about this book, here's my review.

-To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment.
-For an extra chance at winning, become a follower of this blog, or let me know that you're already a follower.
-For yet another chance, post about this contest on your blog, Facebook, or Twitter.

Enter by 5 PM PST on Sunday, January 24. The winner will be selected randomly, and announced on Monday, January 25. Good luck!



Special thanks to Linda Weaver Clarke for sending me this book.

43 comments:

  1. I do like the sound of these books,as it is a genre that interests me,but one I have never read. Is it an international competition?

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  2. Vivienne, this giveaway is for the US/Canada. Sorry! But thanks so much for stopping by. :)

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  3. I'm glad you're enjoying these books. No need to enter me, but I did put a link to the giveaway in my sidebar.

    --Anna
    Diary of an Eccentric

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  4. I've never enjoyed Western movies, either, but boy, did my dad ever love them. This book sounds like it's set during an interesting time in our history.

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  5. Sounds like a great series, glad you are having fun reading them!
    I'm not into Western films either...lol.
    Not unless there's some type of romance involved.
    Great review!
    http://thebookworm07.blogspot.com/

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  6. I'm in for the book giveaway! Bear Lake is just over the mountains from where I live -- a 45 min. drive. We've been swimming and boating in the lake for years! (Never seen a monster. :)

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  7. Bermudaonion and Naida, I appreciate your comments as always. :)

    Christie, thanks for adding your bit about Bear Lake!

    More comments welcomed.

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  8. I posted a note on my blog about the giveway! Great review. :)

    http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/2010/01/sukos-notebook-giveaway-melinda-and.html

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  9. I posted your contest on my blog:
    http://taffyscandy.blogspot.com/2010/01/contests-writing-and-writing-contests.html

    My family LOVES Bear Lake!

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  10. Hello, ladies! No need to enter me. I'm dropping in to let Suko know I posted this at Win a Book, per Linda's request. Hope it brings both you guys some new fans.

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  11. Sounds good, I'd like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com

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  12. Please enter me for this giveaway - looks like a great book!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  13. Please enter me. walkerd@primus.ca

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  14. I'd love to read it! Thanks for the chance!
    doot65[at]comcast{dot}net

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  15. I'm also a follower!
    doot65[at]comcast{dot}net

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  16. Hi! This sounds like a great book to read and that I would enjoy. Please enter me in your giveaway. Thanks! :)

    Connie
    connie_bryant@hotmail.com

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  17. Reading about the wild west would be great - sort of reminds me of the wild west which exists here in eastern Ontario. Drivers with cars where a turn indicator is an option, others who believe that their car has an avoidance system so they just blindly back out of a parking spot.
    pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

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  18. I love these books. I have read 2 already and would really like to read this one.

    I would love to read the next in the series.

    bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

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  19. I am a current follower of your blog.

    bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

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  20. I posted on Facebook:
    http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsuko95.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fdavid-and-bear-lake-monster-review-and.html%3FshowComment%3D1263092653233_AIe9_BGlrifCJlv7XdeVmTnA_tmSXbSW52Ti7pdGZyvtQ96mEwVHJfm4-YS5rqDkRjfMW7uPQRnP8wKC4jXL_a5worGeDAUd2EJSQIY6fLwED4c9NqxwWJPeDbMcZyVgb_KgIRNo0qC8X05dBVQfHN3ZY-OKohdm83KJijuB-lFfeCmbG8QL1HihA5pavZDHxuD1hN9vu6nO2vdWRvCxMhYtW2nsboxqDbz4jSk8qzpjbG0BgNIyOZdaH6K2v8-W3w1FR6BsGoMp%23c4398055842573725035#/profile.php?v=feed&story_fbid=244630334455&id=1244358958&ref=mf

    bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

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  21. I posted this on twitter:
    http://twitter.com/pine1211/status/7579538758

    bstilwell12 at comcast dot net

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  22. Sounds like a great story. I just signed up to be a follower.

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  23. The response has been terrific so far. Thanks to all who commented, and special thanks to those who also posted or tweeted about this giveaway.

    More comments/entries welcomed of course.

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  24. I always have been a western fan myself. That was one of the earliest genres I read in and tried to write in. I've not read anything by this author but it certainly looks good.

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  25. This series sounds terrific! I would love to be entered into the giveaway. My email address is laarlt78(at)hotmail(dot)com. I am a follower.

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  26. this looks fabulous thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net

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  27. I have been so fascinated by your reviews of the books in this series. They all sound like such good reads and I would really like to get my hands on them. Great review, your love of these books really shines through in your writing! Also, I would love a chance to win the book, so please enter me into your giveaway, and thanks so much for hosting it!!

    zibilee(at)figearo(dot)net

    I am also a follower of your blog!

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  28. I love western romances - please count me in
    msboatgal at aol.com

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  29. I don't really like Western films either, but I do really enjoy Western fiction/romance. This sounds like a great book, thanks for the giveaway!
    mattandjen[at]gmail.com

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  30. This sounds like a wonderful historical series and I would like to win the book. sharonaquilino at hotmail dot com

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  31. This is my favorite genre, and with a lot of Winter left, it will be the perfect read. Thanks for the chance

    jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

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  32. Tweeted

    http://twitter.com/parkerozgood/status/7681256602

    jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I'd love a change to win, please enter me in the contest.

    bookdragonslair at gmail dot com

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  34. I am a blog follower via Google.

    eswright18 at gmail dot com

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  35. Tweeted. http://twitter.com/eswright18/status/7879719213

    eswright18 at gmail dot com

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  36. I appreciate the interest in this book, as well as all the postings about the giveaway. Thanks!

    Additional comments welcomed!

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  37. Sounds like a good read.

    Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<

    bloggyig at gmail dot com

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  38. I'd like to read this book. And I am a follower! Thanks for making this available.

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  39. Thank you, Suko, for such a wonderful review. I enjoy writing books that have a bit of adventure, romance, history, and good old fashioned values. Good luck, everyone!

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  40. I would love to have a copy of this book! I was born in Montpelier and lived in Paris until I was 3. My roots are firmly planted in Bear Lake, and I miss it dearly!

    I will share this on Facebook and Twitter, and I will follow this blog.

    Thank you for this opportunity!

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  41. I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks.
    wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

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  42. I just became a follower of your blog.
    wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

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Some of the books featured here were given to me free of charge by authors, publishers, and agents. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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