Review: True Potential!
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 03 14, 2013
REVIEWED FOR: Swept Away By Romance3.5 StarsRory Hudson and Dawson Finch first (truly) meet as he helps to rebuild her brother-in-law's barn after it was struck by lighting and caught fire.  Rory and her family are new to Minnesota and everyone in the area pitches in.  It's neighbor helping neighbor.  For Rory and Dawson, it's also love at first sight.  Soon enough the nation is divided by civil war, and it suddenly becomes neighbor fighting neighbor, families torn apart.  Minnesota is also being affected by the Sioux uprising.  Eventually, Dawson realizes he has a duty to serve the country he loves and fight for the ideals he believes in.  War separates Dawson and Rory in the physical sense, but their love is not to be denied.First of all, I have to say that I adore the name of this book!  It is beautiful.  I won't give away the origins here.  It's no great secret, but you'll have the answer once you start the book.  I love little touches like that.  I feel like it adds so much to the history.There are themes and aspects of this story that I love, love, love.  I am fascinated by the period of history surrounding the US Civil War.  The Sioux uprising is also *very* sad (for a variety of reasons) and thoroughly compelling.  I feel like the author has a true interest in and a fairly good grasp of the history of that time.  I do not feel like she wanted those two events to simply be wallpaper, a backdrop to her story.  That intent I love, as well.  Simply the thought of a man's willingness to fight this particular war is...well, it leaves me speechless.  When the 'enemy' is your fellow countryman, maybe your neighbor, perhaps even your friend or family member, how do you reconcile that?  How do you *live* with that?  The knowledge that many pit themselves against fellow countrymen, neighbors, friends and family in order to fight for an ideal like the abolishment of slavery is heady, and it is true heroism.  I am not naive enough to believe this was the goal or intent of every Union soldier, but even one makes a profound statement.  The thought of a love deep enough to survive war and a myriad of other hardships is also inspiring and intensely beautiful.This author has a good 'voice' for this type of story, for historical romance in general.  It felt authentic.  She can most definitely set a scene.  As is the case with me, I LOVE that I found no grammatical errors to take me out of the story.  That is *important*, and I can never possibly stress that point enough.  The editing is very well done!The execution of the story is where I have problems.  It makes me sad to say that.  Truly.  I believe there is so much potential in this story idea.  I believe there is unquestionable potential in this *author*!  So, I want and need to be very honest.  This is in no way meant to insult or be negative.  Just the opposite, in fact.  I *know* this story can be better.  I *know* this author can DO better.  I believe that, or I would not be saying these things.  Sky Tinted Water, as it is now, feels like a well-edited rough draft.  Here are my thoughts, for whatever they're worth (maybe nothing;).First, the author needs to narrow her focus.  We have the US Civil War, the Sioux uprising AND a scheming third party all vying for attention.  There is no need for that third-party subplot.  There is NO ROOM for that third-party subplot.Second, the characters need and deserve far more attention, exploration and time from the author, particularly Rory and Dawson.  It was very difficult for me, as a reader, to connect with these characters.  I believe that's because the author didn't take the time to understand and *feel* these characters, to get inside of their heads and hearts.  I wanted so badly to fully experience the depth of love, the connection, between Dawson and Rory.  But, it wasn't truly there.  The depth of their personalities and their relationship was skimmed over, and that is a great shame.Third, it comes down to time and length.  I think there may be a fear in authors now to tell a story of any considerable length.  Without doubt, there are stories that can be told AND feel complete in a matter of two hundred pages or less.  This is NOT one of those stories.  The intention was to tell this story in two relatively short books, from what I understand.  Again, there are plots and storylines which lend themselves to being told in this manner.  And again, this is NOT one of them.  This story needs to be told in one book, as a whole.  Even more, though, this story needs to be allowed to unfold at its own pace, without being rushed.As I said, I honestly believe the potential is there, in story and author, to make this a fully-realized Civil War and romantic drama.  I hope my remarks are regarded in the positive, encouraging and constructive way that I mean them.  I truly look forward to this author's future endeavors!!