Clarion Book Review by Holly Williams

"Grandfather is a good and decent man…he just wasn’t the love of your life,” Erik repeats after a conversation with his grandmother. These words would be enough to shake most families apart, yet the secret revealed to Esther Jensen Webb’s grandson—who is named after Captain Erik of the schooner Catherine—only sets in motion a circle of love that, despite storms and tragedy, blesses its descendants richly in the end.

Readers will enjoy their plunge into atmospheric Valda Bay. The year is 1857. The world in which readers find themselves is a slower, more thoughtful one than today's. It is a cultural soup in which America is still considered “the most desirable place in the world” by the peasants and fisher folk of Scandinavia, China, and other countries far-flung and exotic.

But these immigrants to the Pacific Northwest, many of whom do not speak enough English even to ask for directions when they get lost, will not be handed a Promised Land. Racism and self-interest abound as a young Asian girl must struggle with an arranged marriage, and two criminal brothers skulk about the edges of Valda Bay society. Selfish, promiscuous Elsa Nash has no one’s best interests at heart, least of all her husband’s.

A bullheaded fire chief and a frightened young wife must overrule a community doctor’s adamant refusal to allow a Chinese herbalist to treat a young fireman, mortally wounded in a suspicious fire at wealthy Rudolph Nash’s mercantile. Can cleanliness, herbal ointments, and acupuncture save him?

When Rudolph Nash is found murdered, amidst a poisonous atmosphere of suspicion, can the good offices of lighthouse keeper Erik Johansson and his wife, Karin, among others, save the community?

Lives, futures, friendships, and the lost treasure of the Rip Tide are at stake. In Point of the Circle, there is a comfortable sense of continuity beyond tragedy in this work, which rings true. This novel is an enjoyable reading experience, and the impending sequel is bound to be even better.

What Barnes & Nobel Customers Say

About WHISPERING ASHES...

Just finished this great story and I am waiting for the next book, Valda Bay. I really enjoyed all the characters. I am waiting to find out where Franco finally lands with “Lilly” and what becomes of Jasper and Penny. I really love the stories Leona has to tell. This is a book that should not be missed.
                              Anonymous

This is the best book Leona has written so far. I really enjoyed reading about the characters from the Point of The Circle once again, and where the new journey takes them. Can't wait to see what happens to Franco, Lilly, Jasper and Penny. The books are fun to read and the stories are full of intrigue and mystery.
                              Arizona Joan

About POINT OF THE CIRCLE...

This Book Has Everything! Suspense, mystery, adventure, and romance. Leona Gibbs, has the right idea. It keeps you reading when you should be doing other things, but it's just too hard to put down. Leona Gibbs, is a fairly new author and I will continue to purchase anything she publishes. Point of the Circle, has a little bit of everything in it and some surprising things that happened, that you are not sure how you feel about it! I found myself talking with friends about some of the things that happened.
                              Sandals2

Cover artist and the author are outstanding. Picture on the cover sold me to buy and read this book. I was so pleased reading Point of the Circle. It was very intriguing and I had a hard time putting it down. The characters were so well done. I can't wait to read more of her writings.
                              Boater LG

I enjoy a book that I know what is happening, but the characters don't. It was easy to read but still interesting. Lots of dialogue and intrigue. I would read another by this author.
                              R. Davidson

The twist and turns kept my interest and I enjoyed hanging at the end of each chapter. I really appreciated a good plot and action, without all the four letter words. I am looking forward to the sequel.
                              E. Lane

Synopsis of a review written by staff writer
Alex Powers for The Umpqua Post

Reedsport, Oregon
Wednesday, August 5, 2009

 

After completing her career in the Air Force, Leona Gibbs settled down in Winchester Bay, Oregon, and began her writing career.

 

Her first book was “Point of the Circle” published in 2008, followed by “RuCutta Vineyards” and others. Her books are set in the 19th century. “It was such a simple time,” Gibbs says. “People loved each other and really knew their neighbors.”

 

Gibbs’ books thrive on well-saturated characters, shaped by her admiration for self-sufficient communities in the 1800s. “These people had what they needed, and strived to have a little of what they wanted,” she says.

 

Her books are inspired by Winchester Bay, as they take place in a small Pacific Northwest village. The lighthouse on the book’s cover is based on the nearby Umpqua River Lighthouse, built in the late 1800s, where Gibbs sometimes goes to reflect. She says, “I can transport myself. I can see those old ships, those people walking the shores. I can collect my thoughts."

 

Gibbs said it is easy for her to draw parallels between Winchester Bay and the 1800s-era village. “We’re more than a community. We’re a family. We look out for each other,” she says.

 

When Gibbs is not writing, she is traveling with her husband, Larry. But they don’t stray far from the community Gibbs said welcomes them back.