What do you think?
Rate this book
Receive Me Falling
Every slave story is a ghost story. The haunting words of an historian and former cane worker on the Caribbean island of Nevis launch Meghan Owen on her quest to unlock the secrets of an abandoned sugar plantation and its ghosts. After Meg's parents die in a car accident on the night of her engagement party, she calls off her wedding, takes leave of her job in Annapolis, and travels to land she's inherited on Nevis. A series of discoveries in an old plantation house on the property, Eden, set her on a search for the truth surrounding the shameful past of her ancestors, their slaves, and the tragedy that resulted in the fall of the plantation and its inhabitants. Through a crushing phone call with her lawyer, Meg learns that her father's estate was built on stolen money, and is being sued by multiple sources. She is faced with having to sell the land and plantation home, and deal with the betrayal she feels from her deceased father. In alternating chapters, the historical drama of the Dall family unfolds. Upon the arrival of British abolitionists to the hedonistic 19th century plantation society, Catherine Dall is forced to choose between her lifestyle and the scandal of deserting her family. An angry confrontation with Catherine's slave, Leah, results in the girl's death, but was it murder or suicide? Hidden texts, scandalous diaries, antique paintings, and confessional letters help Meghan Owen uncover the secrets of Eden and put the ghosts to rest.
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2009
11 people are currently reading
836 people want to read
About the author
Erika Robuck
12Ìýbooks1,290ÌýfollowersErika Robuck is the national bestselling author of historical fiction including SISTERS OF NIGHT AND FOG, THE INVISIBLE WOMAN, and HEMINGWAY’S GIRL. Her articles have appeared in Writer Unboxed, Crime Reads, and Writer's Digest, and she has been named a Maryland Writer’s Association Notable Writer of 2024. A boating enthusiast, amateur historian, and teacher, she resides in Annapolis with her husband and three sons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 10, 2009
Erika Robuck’s debut novel, Receive Me Falling, is an interesting mix of historical fiction, literary mystery, and a tad of mysticism. Robuck introduces us to two women living in two time periods. Present day, is narrated by Meg, who has just lost her parents suddenly. She finds a plantation, Eden, amongst her estate on the Island of Nevis, and eager to put some distance between herself and her life, she rashly decides to visit. When Meg arrives in Nevis, she finds Eden to be haunted and the backdrop for more then one tragic occurrence. As Meg explores Eden looking for clues to its past, we are also treated to the perspective of nineteen century plantation owner, Catherine. Catherine runs the plantation for her father, an alcoholic, and they own hundreds of slaves at a time when abolitionists were calling for an end to the slave system. Catherine struggles with the practice of slavery, fears Eden’s overseer, and is captivated by a newcomer to the Island, and yet she too has some family secrets to unbury.
Both women are searching for absolution from the sins of their fathers, and their stories play out with calculated symmetry. The narration is reminiscent of Geraldine Brook’s The People of the Book, or the recently released The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, by Katherine Howe. However, this book is victorious on its own accord mostly thanks to the strong and complex central characters that not only progress with in the story, but also develop through the generations. The plot is also terribly engaging. The note to detail of the setting of Nevis during both time periods credits the unfolding events.
This is the type of book that you could read many times and catch new and clever elements over each subsequent reading. Robuck pens a graceful story in a shameful past. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and can recommend it as an important addition to any library.
November 13, 2015
This is by far my favorite Erika Robuck book. I love this work of fiction. The writing is superb. The first few sentences grabbed me and got me right in and I could not put it down!
May 14, 2013
I enjoy historical fiction. I appreciated the creative way the author presented the lives of two women influenced by their family and personal tragedy. This story blended the two women from different centuries with great effect. Both women were both advantaged and also greatly disadvantaged by family inheritance. They both had loved their fathers despite flawed characters. As the story progresses each girl discovers family secrets that are devastating. Yet both young women seem to move forward with their lives despite the things revealed to them. The story unfolded with each chapter written in a different century but with similar threads. I lived for many years on a neighboring island to Nevis. The cloud-covered cone shape of the island gives it a rather mystical look. The description of the tropical plants and weather were well done and added to the story. I normally do not appreciate any supernatural elements thrown into a story ,however the author created a certain mystery with the supernatural elements and it seemed to fit the connection between centuries. Sugar plantations all seem to have a sorrowful and tragic past, but I have no doubt that there were caring, thoughtful women like Catherine. I was especially drawn to and liked the strong female slave women that Catherine grew up with. I also appreciated Meg's character discovering that even in present day there were lingering effects of slavery and her realization that she could make choices that were based not just on her own benefits. Running throughout the book was the effect made on following generations by the choices made by parents. A rich story that is one I know I will read again.
Barbara Anne Waite- Author "Elsie-Adventures of an Arizona Schoolteacher 1913-1916"
Barbara Anne Waite- Author "Elsie-Adventures of an Arizona Schoolteacher 1913-1916"
August 5, 2010
Receive Me Falling is self-published debut by Erika Robuck. It's told in a parallel structure jumping between present day and couple hundred years in the past. In the modern day, Meghan has recently lost her parents and is now visiting an old family plantation hoping to learn its history as she decides what to do with it. Meanwhile, in the past, Catherine wants to help the plantation slaves while looking for her own way to escape the dreary life on Nervis.
It took about four chapters for the book to grab my attention but once it did, it didn't let go until the very end. In situations like this, I tend to prefer the modern day story to the one in the past. That's true of Receive Me Falling but Catherine did grow on me. Mostly though what kept me reading was the modern day ghost story.
Other reviews of the book have pointed out a number of editing errors (spelling, homophone and punctuation) that Receive Me Falling suffers from. I have to admit that I missed most of them because I was so taken in with the plot. Since I was enjoying the book so much I'm not counting the editing problems against my rating of the book. But be advised that they are there.
It took about four chapters for the book to grab my attention but once it did, it didn't let go until the very end. In situations like this, I tend to prefer the modern day story to the one in the past. That's true of Receive Me Falling but Catherine did grow on me. Mostly though what kept me reading was the modern day ghost story.
Other reviews of the book have pointed out a number of editing errors (spelling, homophone and punctuation) that Receive Me Falling suffers from. I have to admit that I missed most of them because I was so taken in with the plot. Since I was enjoying the book so much I'm not counting the editing problems against my rating of the book. But be advised that they are there.
September 8, 2009
This book is 2 stories in one - one is set in present day - taking place in Annapolis, and the other is set in the Carribbean Island of Nevis in colonial times. (The author is local & it is fun to read the references to places we know in Annapolis!) The main character is Meghan who goes to the island after experiencing a family tragedy. It is interesting to see how the two stories are woven together and to learn some history during the years before slavery was abolished - from individuals' personal perspectives. There is a bit of everything in the book: mystery, developing characters, interesting relationships, sins of the past and how they effect the future, love, & art. As the first novel of a local author - it was a very entertaining & recommended read!
March 7, 2009
Receive Me Falling is about an Annapolis woman who inherits land and an abandoned plantation home, Eden, on the Caribbean island of Nevis. When she travels to the island, ghosts from Eden’s past won’t let her rest until she uncovers the mystery of their tragedy. The novel takes place in the present day and in the past.
This novel is entertaining and thought provoking. It deals with familial relationships--father/daughter/sister--and the effects of sin on future generations. It sheds light on a little written about time and place in history. It is a unique literary mystery laced with biblical symbolism.
I highly recommend it.
This novel is entertaining and thought provoking. It deals with familial relationships--father/daughter/sister--and the effects of sin on future generations. It sheds light on a little written about time and place in history. It is a unique literary mystery laced with biblical symbolism.
I highly recommend it.
April 15, 2011
This was my type of book to read!! I always gravitate towards historical fiction. I'm featuring Receive Me Falling as one of my April/May Parker's Picks at my blog site next week:
Kathy
Kathy
March 29, 2016
I really enjoyed this novel that takes place in Nevis. It captured my attention and held on to the very end.
March 15, 2014
I love historical fiction and Erika Robuck did not disappoint. I look forward to reading other books by this interesting, informative author. She brings to life the events and people of the past.
January 1, 2015
Fabulous. So fabulous that I read it less than 24 hours. It didn't exactly read like a 'normal' Erika Robuck book, but this was her self published debut... And dazzling at that. Love!
January 26, 2010
This novel has a beautiful cover and the whole of it had intrigued me from the first moment I saw it. I then saw mixed reviews so I kept putting the reading of it off. There were reviewers that complained of the typos or small errors, but that happens when a self-published book goes to print. On the outside, this is the best looking self-published book I've seen. Yes, there are a few punctuation type errors on the inside, a couple spelling errors, but after reading many uncorrected advance reader's copies, these don't distract me very much any longer. If you get a sense of deja-vu, it's probably because you've seen this book in the blogosphere closer to its publication date last year. Now I'm doing catch up, and I am so glad I picked this one up to get lost in. And get lost in it I did; I didn't want it to end! With each turning page, I saw the ending coming closer, and as much as I wanted to know what would happen to these fantastic characters, I didn't want it to stop.
This is the fascinating story of Nevis, a small island in the Caribbeans that sounds amazingly beautiful. When Meghan visits it, she finds the old plantation that her father had owned in a shambles, but it exudes an aching sense of mystery that intrigues her. The walls are covered with vines and foliage, and they even reveal a fantastic mural on one wall which is one thread of the mystery within the plot. The estate is a place that was once called Eden, and her father had neglected to mention to her that this place had existed and belonged to their family. When Meghan's parents die, she goes to the island to appraise the property and take a few weeks off from real life at the same time. Meghan is a rich kid, used to living the high life, and likes to drink. But the reader still feels a bit sorry for her after the sudden loss of her parents. The romantic angle comes into play when Meghan postpones her marriage because of her parent's tragic death, and she left the fiance in the states while she went off to explore Nevis. It left the reader wondering what would ultimately happen in the relationship, but luckily the fiance doesn't give up on her.
And then we are introduced to the other side of the story, and that is the story of the Dall family, who were the last owners of the plantation of Eden, many generations before Meghan's visit. There is a hint that Meghan is somehow related to the Dalls and the plantation, but this does stay under wraps until towards the end of the book and it does not turn out as obvious as one would assume, and still ends a bit murky in that respect. The Dall family consists of a father and daughter running the sugar cane plantation, in the midst of slave uprisings and the British abolishing slavery. The novel flashes in between the two time periods which builds more suspense rather than irritates, and I was intrigued by the young Catherine Dall and her empathy for the slaves on her sugar plantation. There are ominous undertones of mystery when it is Catherine's turn in the story, as there are some men around Catherine who make you cringe when they appear. They oooze with the you-are-evil-factor.
The author did very well with the supporting characters, as there were plenty to read about in this story from both time periods. The modern-day Meghan met some interesting locals in Nevis, and the historical part of the novel included fictional but highly believable characters such as Albert and James Stilwell, who supported and led the way of the movement of abolition in the novel. Along with the mystery factor, there are also ghostly tendencies but I would hesitate to say it is of a paranormal leaning, but this factor was present along with folklore and I think the author did a good job of not overdoing it with this characteristic of the novel.
I had to do some research on my own to learn the background of Nevis, and of the slavery issues in the early 1800's, because the novel didn't tackle it fast enough for my impatient self. Once I did that little bit of outside googling, I felt better acquainted with the struggles that the farmers and plantation owners were facing at that time in history. The slavery issue was one of the main threads of the story and I commend the author for reminding us what it was like for the slaves during those times. I was intrigued and held in suspense for the majority of the novel and I really enjoyed the experience. Those readers who have read Katherine Howe's "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane" which came out just after this novel, will recognize the similarity of the structure of the book; if you enjoyed that read, you will enjoy this historical read as well. I believe this novel is a fascinating and imaginative piece of work, and I look forward to her next novel which uses another beautiful setting of Key West. Erika also blogs at
This is the fascinating story of Nevis, a small island in the Caribbeans that sounds amazingly beautiful. When Meghan visits it, she finds the old plantation that her father had owned in a shambles, but it exudes an aching sense of mystery that intrigues her. The walls are covered with vines and foliage, and they even reveal a fantastic mural on one wall which is one thread of the mystery within the plot. The estate is a place that was once called Eden, and her father had neglected to mention to her that this place had existed and belonged to their family. When Meghan's parents die, she goes to the island to appraise the property and take a few weeks off from real life at the same time. Meghan is a rich kid, used to living the high life, and likes to drink. But the reader still feels a bit sorry for her after the sudden loss of her parents. The romantic angle comes into play when Meghan postpones her marriage because of her parent's tragic death, and she left the fiance in the states while she went off to explore Nevis. It left the reader wondering what would ultimately happen in the relationship, but luckily the fiance doesn't give up on her.
And then we are introduced to the other side of the story, and that is the story of the Dall family, who were the last owners of the plantation of Eden, many generations before Meghan's visit. There is a hint that Meghan is somehow related to the Dalls and the plantation, but this does stay under wraps until towards the end of the book and it does not turn out as obvious as one would assume, and still ends a bit murky in that respect. The Dall family consists of a father and daughter running the sugar cane plantation, in the midst of slave uprisings and the British abolishing slavery. The novel flashes in between the two time periods which builds more suspense rather than irritates, and I was intrigued by the young Catherine Dall and her empathy for the slaves on her sugar plantation. There are ominous undertones of mystery when it is Catherine's turn in the story, as there are some men around Catherine who make you cringe when they appear. They oooze with the you-are-evil-factor.
The author did very well with the supporting characters, as there were plenty to read about in this story from both time periods. The modern-day Meghan met some interesting locals in Nevis, and the historical part of the novel included fictional but highly believable characters such as Albert and James Stilwell, who supported and led the way of the movement of abolition in the novel. Along with the mystery factor, there are also ghostly tendencies but I would hesitate to say it is of a paranormal leaning, but this factor was present along with folklore and I think the author did a good job of not overdoing it with this characteristic of the novel.
I had to do some research on my own to learn the background of Nevis, and of the slavery issues in the early 1800's, because the novel didn't tackle it fast enough for my impatient self. Once I did that little bit of outside googling, I felt better acquainted with the struggles that the farmers and plantation owners were facing at that time in history. The slavery issue was one of the main threads of the story and I commend the author for reminding us what it was like for the slaves during those times. I was intrigued and held in suspense for the majority of the novel and I really enjoyed the experience. Those readers who have read Katherine Howe's "The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane" which came out just after this novel, will recognize the similarity of the structure of the book; if you enjoyed that read, you will enjoy this historical read as well. I believe this novel is a fascinating and imaginative piece of work, and I look forward to her next novel which uses another beautiful setting of Key West. Erika also blogs at
January 13, 2011
This book spins the stories of two women; of present-day Meg who comes from a well to do family and is engaged to be married to a man she loves and 19th Century Catherine Dall, who lives with her alcoholic father at Eden Plantation in the Caribbean. Although the chapters jump from the present to the past, I read this book from cover to cover in only a few hours; The stories of Meg and Catherine hold your interest throughout the novel and after each chapter another secret is revealed either through Catherine’s narrative or Meg’s research.
Meg’s parents are killed in a fatal car accident after her engagement party; when the family attorney explains to Meg that her dad was swimming in debt, embezzling millions from his clients and that she must sell everything in order to avoid a publicised legal suit; she withdraws into a state of despair, leaving her job to journey to Eden Plantation; a place she never realised her family owned. On arrival at Nevis, Meg finds herself withdrawn into a forgotten past full of ghosts.
Catherine Dall lived on Eden Plantation with her parents since a baby; her mother died giving birth to her, Esther ‘Mami� the household slave, raises Catherine along with her daughter (who was only a few months younger than Catherine). Catherine, without the restrictions of an English Lady, takes control of the Eden Estate, she still plays along with the balls/dinners and English rigmarole, but behind the scenes, assists whenever possible with the slaves and spoils the slave children with treats. Struggling with her feelings about owning slaves; Catherine falls in love with James Silwel, an abolitionist arrived at the Island to report on slave labour and secretly determined to rule it out. Upon discovery, that Catherine has informally accepted James’s proposal her father rages; he had hoped that Catherine would accept another proposal in order to benefit the plantation; a marriage not of love, but of convenience. Catherine leaves the dinner, running home, finding Leah, her slave sister playing in her mother’s bedroom. Over the course of the novel they had grown apart, Catherine unknowingly swept up in the turmoils of her own life not realising that Leah was being brutally raped by the Plantation overseer.
As the novel reaches its climax, all the secrets of Eden Plantation come to light with an argument between Catherine and Leah; Catherine seemingly pushing Leah over the cliffs edge, witnessed by James Silwel.
Secrets unfold in this novel that change both Meghan and Catherine forever.
Eventually all of this came together to build a story of the past for Meg that helped lay to rest the pain that surrounded Eden for over a century. It also allowed Meg to have peace in her decision to sell the plantation and move forward in her life without her parents.
The characters are strong, young women put in positions of making decisions that effect their families greatly. Each woman had to take what she had always known and put it aside for a new truth. Both, were confronted with the lies of their fathers. Meg and Catherine are women of great character, but sometimes that is not enough for life to fall into place. Catherine's story is one of sadness and misfortune while Meg's is one of hope and recovery.
The historical aspects of the novel were very interesting. It touched on the realities of slavery and the struggles of those who wanted it to end. While reading I felt so moved by Catherine's torn loyalties. She had a great love for her father and her land, but she also felt a closeness to the slaves with whom she had developed relationships. She was unsure how to honor both of those emotions.
This novel comes together in the end in some quite surprising ways. I enjoyed where Ms. Robuck took me on the final pages and did not see it coming at all.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, mystery, and books centered on character growth. This book had a little bit of everything, but never felt overdone.
Meg’s parents are killed in a fatal car accident after her engagement party; when the family attorney explains to Meg that her dad was swimming in debt, embezzling millions from his clients and that she must sell everything in order to avoid a publicised legal suit; she withdraws into a state of despair, leaving her job to journey to Eden Plantation; a place she never realised her family owned. On arrival at Nevis, Meg finds herself withdrawn into a forgotten past full of ghosts.
Catherine Dall lived on Eden Plantation with her parents since a baby; her mother died giving birth to her, Esther ‘Mami� the household slave, raises Catherine along with her daughter (who was only a few months younger than Catherine). Catherine, without the restrictions of an English Lady, takes control of the Eden Estate, she still plays along with the balls/dinners and English rigmarole, but behind the scenes, assists whenever possible with the slaves and spoils the slave children with treats. Struggling with her feelings about owning slaves; Catherine falls in love with James Silwel, an abolitionist arrived at the Island to report on slave labour and secretly determined to rule it out. Upon discovery, that Catherine has informally accepted James’s proposal her father rages; he had hoped that Catherine would accept another proposal in order to benefit the plantation; a marriage not of love, but of convenience. Catherine leaves the dinner, running home, finding Leah, her slave sister playing in her mother’s bedroom. Over the course of the novel they had grown apart, Catherine unknowingly swept up in the turmoils of her own life not realising that Leah was being brutally raped by the Plantation overseer.
As the novel reaches its climax, all the secrets of Eden Plantation come to light with an argument between Catherine and Leah; Catherine seemingly pushing Leah over the cliffs edge, witnessed by James Silwel.
Secrets unfold in this novel that change both Meghan and Catherine forever.
Eventually all of this came together to build a story of the past for Meg that helped lay to rest the pain that surrounded Eden for over a century. It also allowed Meg to have peace in her decision to sell the plantation and move forward in her life without her parents.
The characters are strong, young women put in positions of making decisions that effect their families greatly. Each woman had to take what she had always known and put it aside for a new truth. Both, were confronted with the lies of their fathers. Meg and Catherine are women of great character, but sometimes that is not enough for life to fall into place. Catherine's story is one of sadness and misfortune while Meg's is one of hope and recovery.
The historical aspects of the novel were very interesting. It touched on the realities of slavery and the struggles of those who wanted it to end. While reading I felt so moved by Catherine's torn loyalties. She had a great love for her father and her land, but she also felt a closeness to the slaves with whom she had developed relationships. She was unsure how to honor both of those emotions.
This novel comes together in the end in some quite surprising ways. I enjoyed where Ms. Robuck took me on the final pages and did not see it coming at all.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, mystery, and books centered on character growth. This book had a little bit of everything, but never felt overdone.
June 7, 2011
"Every slave story is a ghost story"
What I have in hands is not an easy task, since I'm here to tell you about this wonderful book called Receive me Falling which was sent to me by the author Erika Robuck. The book was published in the USA, in 2009.
First off: do NOT read the summary on the back cover. The first paragraph, ok, but after that, you get MAJOR spoilers. They don't ruin the story, but's kind of a bummer to have things told that way.
Let's move on. It's a historical fiction, with alternating chapters, one story is set on the Caribbean island of Nevis, during the 1800's and another during the current time.
The contemporary story is Meghan's, a rich girl, that works with politicians and is about to get married. At the day of her engagement party, her parents die and, a little after, she finds out they own a property in Nevis, a plantation house, a very large piece of land, that used to be a sugar cane plantation so she decides to call off the wedding and go there, still in shock over her parents' death.
The other story is about Catherine Dall's life, who used to live on that same plantation over the 1800's (early 1800's) with her dad, Cecil Dall and many slaves (up to 202 slaves). One day, a man and his son get to the island, two abolitionists, to investigate the life of slaves there, but they hid the true purpose of their trip saying they intended to start a sugar cane farm on a nearby island.
It's a troubled period in time, where USA and England already started banning slavery on their main lands, but not on the "Great Empire", with older people refusing to accept, but the younger ones already see that that kind of work won't last long, in addition to some, like Catherine, who also see how cruel that is.
I don't want to tell you much about it, since I keep feeling I'm spoiling the story - it's a historical romance, if I tell you the storyline, there isn't much left. But I can tell you Catherine is passionate and captivating. She really tries and does whatever is possible within her position to try to help and please everyone, several times ignoring herself, even if that's not enough.
Meghan is a "right" girl, from a rich family, loved, pollitically correct, does her charity works and works for a politician because, despite having the family's money and don't really need to work, she wants to help the world. But when her parents die, she gets into a shock, goes to Nevis and gets obsessed with the property Eden and it's misteries, the story that seems to be lost and some weird things that happen in the house.
What really bothered me was the ending. I was sad, a lot actually, even though I know happy endings aren't ordinary in Historical Fiction. You know you feel it's going to end bad and you feel like screaming to the character "It has to be NOW, go NOW"? Yeah, that feeling. I mentioned that to the author, who, by the way, is a sweetheart and she mentioned she does want to write a sequel for the book, but just didn't do it yet - so I wait ansiously for it, I'm dying to read more of Catherine (ok, I admit it, I'm a sucker for the historical part and didn't REALLY like Meghan that much).
What I have in hands is not an easy task, since I'm here to tell you about this wonderful book called Receive me Falling which was sent to me by the author Erika Robuck. The book was published in the USA, in 2009.
First off: do NOT read the summary on the back cover. The first paragraph, ok, but after that, you get MAJOR spoilers. They don't ruin the story, but's kind of a bummer to have things told that way.
Let's move on. It's a historical fiction, with alternating chapters, one story is set on the Caribbean island of Nevis, during the 1800's and another during the current time.
The contemporary story is Meghan's, a rich girl, that works with politicians and is about to get married. At the day of her engagement party, her parents die and, a little after, she finds out they own a property in Nevis, a plantation house, a very large piece of land, that used to be a sugar cane plantation so she decides to call off the wedding and go there, still in shock over her parents' death.
The other story is about Catherine Dall's life, who used to live on that same plantation over the 1800's (early 1800's) with her dad, Cecil Dall and many slaves (up to 202 slaves). One day, a man and his son get to the island, two abolitionists, to investigate the life of slaves there, but they hid the true purpose of their trip saying they intended to start a sugar cane farm on a nearby island.
It's a troubled period in time, where USA and England already started banning slavery on their main lands, but not on the "Great Empire", with older people refusing to accept, but the younger ones already see that that kind of work won't last long, in addition to some, like Catherine, who also see how cruel that is.
I don't want to tell you much about it, since I keep feeling I'm spoiling the story - it's a historical romance, if I tell you the storyline, there isn't much left. But I can tell you Catherine is passionate and captivating. She really tries and does whatever is possible within her position to try to help and please everyone, several times ignoring herself, even if that's not enough.
Meghan is a "right" girl, from a rich family, loved, pollitically correct, does her charity works and works for a politician because, despite having the family's money and don't really need to work, she wants to help the world. But when her parents die, she gets into a shock, goes to Nevis and gets obsessed with the property Eden and it's misteries, the story that seems to be lost and some weird things that happen in the house.
What really bothered me was the ending. I was sad, a lot actually, even though I know happy endings aren't ordinary in Historical Fiction. You know you feel it's going to end bad and you feel like screaming to the character "It has to be NOW, go NOW"? Yeah, that feeling. I mentioned that to the author, who, by the way, is a sweetheart and she mentioned she does want to write a sequel for the book, but just didn't do it yet - so I wait ansiously for it, I'm dying to read more of Catherine (ok, I admit it, I'm a sucker for the historical part and didn't REALLY like Meghan that much).
July 26, 2009
An enthralling and captivating read.
After her parents die in a car accident, Meghan Owen postpones her wedding, takes a leave of absence from her job and heads to the Caribbean. Among the inheritances from her parents is a property in Nevis: a former sugar plantation called Eden. Needing to get away, Meg decides to take a vacation and check out her new acquisition.
As Meg begins learning about Eden and the sugar industry of Nevis, she makes some interesting discoveries, including unearthing a previously unknown painting by a famous artist. But, disturbed at the thought that her family were slave owners, Meghan dives into research to find out all she can. During her adventure, she also learns that her father embezzled from his clients, and that she will probably be sued for the money. Before she can sell the property, however, she must find the answers she searches for: what happened to the original owners of Eden and their slaves.
The story is told in alternating chapters between Meg's experiences in the present day, and the drama of the Dall family in the 19th century. Catherine Dall and her father Cecil were the original owners of Eden. After slavery was outlawed in England, British abolitionists journeyed to the sugar plantations of the Caribbean to do what they could to overturn slavery there.
The historical aspect of the novel was astounding: well researched, with fascinating accounts about the lives of the plantation owners and their slaves. The harsh realities aren't glossed over. The brutalities that these people were forced to endure is tragic, and Erika does a great job of portraying it in a realistic yet, sympathetic way.
A terrific debut novel filled with intrigue and romance, friendship and love, scandal and confessions and the occasional ghost.
After her parents die in a car accident, Meghan Owen postpones her wedding, takes a leave of absence from her job and heads to the Caribbean. Among the inheritances from her parents is a property in Nevis: a former sugar plantation called Eden. Needing to get away, Meg decides to take a vacation and check out her new acquisition.
As Meg begins learning about Eden and the sugar industry of Nevis, she makes some interesting discoveries, including unearthing a previously unknown painting by a famous artist. But, disturbed at the thought that her family were slave owners, Meghan dives into research to find out all she can. During her adventure, she also learns that her father embezzled from his clients, and that she will probably be sued for the money. Before she can sell the property, however, she must find the answers she searches for: what happened to the original owners of Eden and their slaves.
The story is told in alternating chapters between Meg's experiences in the present day, and the drama of the Dall family in the 19th century. Catherine Dall and her father Cecil were the original owners of Eden. After slavery was outlawed in England, British abolitionists journeyed to the sugar plantations of the Caribbean to do what they could to overturn slavery there.
The historical aspect of the novel was astounding: well researched, with fascinating accounts about the lives of the plantation owners and their slaves. The harsh realities aren't glossed over. The brutalities that these people were forced to endure is tragic, and Erika does a great job of portraying it in a realistic yet, sympathetic way.
A terrific debut novel filled with intrigue and romance, friendship and love, scandal and confessions and the occasional ghost.
November 10, 2009
Nevis Island.
February 1831
The slave woman fell over the cliff's edge toward the black swirl of water that churned over the boulders reaching from the sea.
Meghan Owen is engaged to be married. When her parents die in an accident on the night of her engage party, she calls of her wedding. Going through her father's papers, she finds, she has inherited land in Nevis. She leaves her job to travel there. When she reaches the old plantation House, Eden, she finds letter and papers and an ominous presence of dark secrets. She has to get into the bottom of it and also find out how she is involved in all this.
She learns about the Dall family who had leaved there in the 19th century. Just at that moment the British abolitionists had arrived to free the slaves. The daughter of the plantation owner Catherine Dall, is tormented between her sense of fairness and her family. She loves and cares for the slaves in her plantation. However, she can't escape her destiny. When Catherine discovers some unpleasant truth about her slave, leah, she gets maddeningly angry and tragic strikes in the form of Leah's death. Was it suicide, or was it murder?
Meg too finds that the land that she owns is tainted with the stigma of slavery and stolen money. It falls on Meg to find the secrets and let the ghosts rest forever. She has to balance her present with the historic events that took place so much before her time.
With alternate chapters, the present and past somehow merge and Meg has the big task of bringing justice to the ghosts of the past. With simplistic writing about the complex issue of slavery, Robuck has written a good readable nobel. The secondary characters too are very well etched out. Yes, there is so much sadness. No slave stoy can ever be happy. And every slave story needs to be told. Maybe that way we might be able to learn something from the past.
February 1831
The slave woman fell over the cliff's edge toward the black swirl of water that churned over the boulders reaching from the sea.
Meghan Owen is engaged to be married. When her parents die in an accident on the night of her engage party, she calls of her wedding. Going through her father's papers, she finds, she has inherited land in Nevis. She leaves her job to travel there. When she reaches the old plantation House, Eden, she finds letter and papers and an ominous presence of dark secrets. She has to get into the bottom of it and also find out how she is involved in all this.
She learns about the Dall family who had leaved there in the 19th century. Just at that moment the British abolitionists had arrived to free the slaves. The daughter of the plantation owner Catherine Dall, is tormented between her sense of fairness and her family. She loves and cares for the slaves in her plantation. However, she can't escape her destiny. When Catherine discovers some unpleasant truth about her slave, leah, she gets maddeningly angry and tragic strikes in the form of Leah's death. Was it suicide, or was it murder?
Meg too finds that the land that she owns is tainted with the stigma of slavery and stolen money. It falls on Meg to find the secrets and let the ghosts rest forever. She has to balance her present with the historic events that took place so much before her time.
With alternate chapters, the present and past somehow merge and Meg has the big task of bringing justice to the ghosts of the past. With simplistic writing about the complex issue of slavery, Robuck has written a good readable nobel. The secondary characters too are very well etched out. Yes, there is so much sadness. No slave stoy can ever be happy. And every slave story needs to be told. Maybe that way we might be able to learn something from the past.
March 4, 2014
* Summary- Every slave story is a ghost story. The haunting words of an historian and former cane worker on the Caribbean island of Nevis launch Meghan Owen on her quest to unlock the secrets of an abandoned sugar plantation and its ghosts. After Meg's parents die in a car accident on the night of her engagement party, she calls off her wedding, takes leave of her job in Annapolis, and travels to land she's inherited on Nevis. A series of discoveries in an old plantation house on the property, Eden, set her on a search for the truth surrounding the shameful past of her ancestors, their slaves, and the tragedy that resulted in the fall of the plantation and its inhabitants. Through a crushing phone call with her lawyer, Meg learns that her father's estate was built on stolen money, and is being sued by multiple sources. She is faced with having to sell the land and plantation home, and deal with the betrayal she feels from her deceased father. In alternating chapters, the historical drama of the Dall family unfolds. Upon the arrival of British abolitionists to the hedonistic 19th century plantation society, Catherine Dall is forced to choose between her lifestyle and the scandal of deserting her family. An angry confrontation with Catherine's slave, Leah, results in the girl's death, but was it murder or suicide? Hidden texts, scandalous diaries, antique paintings, and confessional letters help Meghan Owen uncover the secrets of Eden and put the ghosts to rest.
* My review- I would really give this book 4.5 stars! It is historical fiction set in the British Islands of the Carribbean. This deals with the abolitionist movement, relationships with slaves, and the whole culture of the sugar cane plantations. I really liked this book and would like to read more concerning this setting and issues.
* My review- I would really give this book 4.5 stars! It is historical fiction set in the British Islands of the Carribbean. This deals with the abolitionist movement, relationships with slaves, and the whole culture of the sugar cane plantations. I really liked this book and would like to read more concerning this setting and issues.
August 26, 2009
Receive Me Falling follows two women in two different eras while they live on a sugarcane plantation on the Caribbean island of Nevis. Present day Meghan discovers she has inherited the plantation including the buildings (and ghosts). She begins researching her family’s history, while working her way through the rum cocktail handbook, and reveals answers to secrets that have been “haunting� not only her family but those from the past.
Jump back to the 19th century where Catherine Dall is the daughter of Cecil who has made the plantation, along with his 200 or so slaves, a sterling success. Catherine is somewhat of a thorn in her father’s side as she questions and outright rebels the treatment of slaves as just property. With the finding of her mother’s diary (who died during childbirth) and undercover abolitionists working to abolish slavery, Catherine uncovers secrets in her own family which lead to a disastrous conclusion.
Author Erika Robuck weaves the present with the past. The two women’s lives are told in tandem which could have been confusing but were handled with clarity. I found the historical parts of the book the most interesting and appealing. The struggle of Catherine to find a way to run the plantation while befriending and aiding the slaves was apparent. The descriptions of the island, the homes, the parties and the clothing was wonderful. I must go to the Caribbean!!!! Modern-day Meghan story had good moments also, especially the discovery of the identity of the boy who visits each day and her rum-enhanced research sessions. Now, where did Captain Morgan run off to?
I enjoyed my time with this story. It was a quick read with beautiful scenery and likeable characters.
Jump back to the 19th century where Catherine Dall is the daughter of Cecil who has made the plantation, along with his 200 or so slaves, a sterling success. Catherine is somewhat of a thorn in her father’s side as she questions and outright rebels the treatment of slaves as just property. With the finding of her mother’s diary (who died during childbirth) and undercover abolitionists working to abolish slavery, Catherine uncovers secrets in her own family which lead to a disastrous conclusion.
Author Erika Robuck weaves the present with the past. The two women’s lives are told in tandem which could have been confusing but were handled with clarity. I found the historical parts of the book the most interesting and appealing. The struggle of Catherine to find a way to run the plantation while befriending and aiding the slaves was apparent. The descriptions of the island, the homes, the parties and the clothing was wonderful. I must go to the Caribbean!!!! Modern-day Meghan story had good moments also, especially the discovery of the identity of the boy who visits each day and her rum-enhanced research sessions. Now, where did Captain Morgan run off to?
I enjoyed my time with this story. It was a quick read with beautiful scenery and likeable characters.
September 3, 2009
Meghan and Brian are engaged to be married but after their grand engagement party, her life changes. She's now the soul heir of her parents estate, one of which is an old plantation home on Nevis Island, previously owned by Cecil and Catherine Dall in the 1800's. Wanting to know more about the mansion, she decides to take a leave of absence and go to the island. As she is finding out about the history of the island and the plantation, she is told some devastating news and needs to sell the land and house immediately. What will happen to Meg when her parents estate is sold? Meg is worried about her future.
Back in the 1800's - Cathrine, daughter of Cecil Dall own a sugar plantation on Nevis Island. They also own over 200 slaves . Catherine runs the plantation , her father is a drunk and his health is failing. News around the island is that abolitionists are trying to ban slavery in the British Empire. The plantation owners on Nevis are not happy about it but they don't think it will pass. Two men come to visit Nevis, stating they want to learn more about the sugar plantations, but are they really? A neighboring plantation was set on fire and everything is gone, was it arson and did the abolitionist have something to do with it? Catherine is worried about her future, what would happen if they lost their plantation or what if her father died , what would happen to her?
The end of the story will "blow" your mind!
Can't give to much away! If you like historical fiction, i highly recommend this one. I loved reading about the island and decided to see if it was real and ohhhh i wish i could go and see it!
Back in the 1800's - Cathrine, daughter of Cecil Dall own a sugar plantation on Nevis Island. They also own over 200 slaves . Catherine runs the plantation , her father is a drunk and his health is failing. News around the island is that abolitionists are trying to ban slavery in the British Empire. The plantation owners on Nevis are not happy about it but they don't think it will pass. Two men come to visit Nevis, stating they want to learn more about the sugar plantations, but are they really? A neighboring plantation was set on fire and everything is gone, was it arson and did the abolitionist have something to do with it? Catherine is worried about her future, what would happen if they lost their plantation or what if her father died , what would happen to her?
The end of the story will "blow" your mind!
Can't give to much away! If you like historical fiction, i highly recommend this one. I loved reading about the island and decided to see if it was real and ohhhh i wish i could go and see it!
May 12, 2014
I've read two of Erika Robuck's novels and decided I needed to back up and read her self-published debut, “Receive Me Falling�. I love it just as much as the others I've read by this author! It's an interesting mix of historical fiction, literary mystery, and a tad of mysticism.
Readers are treated to an absorbing story, actually two absorbing stories of Meg, in present day and Catherine from the 19th Century; told in alternating chapters. Both women experience tragedy in their lives and are searching for absolution from the sins of their fathers, and the stories play out with calculated symmetry. The connection between the two is a former sugar plantation on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean.
Be prepared to have Robuck's artful use of language invoke all of your senses. The earthy scents, vivid tropical blossoms and plants, the winds sweeping the land easily place you in past and present. Along with the beauty of the setting, it's a great story that moves quickly and left me wanting to learn more about the history of the island.
Totally loved Robuck's thoughts about history:
“History reveals itself in small ways. What we know of the past is a mere glimpse. We postulate, make connections that aren't necessarily appropriate, and run with it. The body of history is so much more than we can see.�
Overall, one of the best books I’ve read lately! If you like a good mystery mixed with historical fiction and ghosts then this one should be on the top of you list.
Readers are treated to an absorbing story, actually two absorbing stories of Meg, in present day and Catherine from the 19th Century; told in alternating chapters. Both women experience tragedy in their lives and are searching for absolution from the sins of their fathers, and the stories play out with calculated symmetry. The connection between the two is a former sugar plantation on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean.
Be prepared to have Robuck's artful use of language invoke all of your senses. The earthy scents, vivid tropical blossoms and plants, the winds sweeping the land easily place you in past and present. Along with the beauty of the setting, it's a great story that moves quickly and left me wanting to learn more about the history of the island.
Totally loved Robuck's thoughts about history:
“History reveals itself in small ways. What we know of the past is a mere glimpse. We postulate, make connections that aren't necessarily appropriate, and run with it. The body of history is so much more than we can see.�
Overall, one of the best books I’ve read lately! If you like a good mystery mixed with historical fiction and ghosts then this one should be on the top of you list.
August 23, 2009
Megan Owens� parents are killed on the night of her engagement party. Grieving she finds herself on the Caribbean island of Nevis to explore the sugar plantation called Eden that she has inherited. She begins to uncover some disturbing and shameful truth about her ancestors. She is bothered by the fact that they had owned slaves. She soon learns that the shame of her ancestors is not so distant. She may lose all she has inherited because her father had built his business on lies and stolen money.
The chapters alternate between the present and the past as Catherine, an ancestor from the past has her own dealings with shame. Her father is an alcoholic who believes it is alright to rape his workers and own them. His daughter is against this and tries to befriend them. The death of one of the slaves who had been so close to her leads her to believe she had accidently killed her.
a lot of research had gone into this book. I enjoyed it and will definitely pass it on.
Megan must learn all she can so that she can uncover the secrets that her family has hidden for years, and put everything to rest. This was wonderfully written. I felt like I was on the plantation. The descriptions of the hardships were right on target. It is obvious that
The chapters alternate between the present and the past as Catherine, an ancestor from the past has her own dealings with shame. Her father is an alcoholic who believes it is alright to rape his workers and own them. His daughter is against this and tries to befriend them. The death of one of the slaves who had been so close to her leads her to believe she had accidently killed her.
a lot of research had gone into this book. I enjoyed it and will definitely pass it on.
Megan must learn all she can so that she can uncover the secrets that her family has hidden for years, and put everything to rest. This was wonderfully written. I felt like I was on the plantation. The descriptions of the hardships were right on target. It is obvious that
April 17, 2014
Erika Robuck is one of my new favorite authors. This is the third book written by her that I have read and I loved this one just as much as the others. I really enjoy her writing style; it is breezy, yet descriptive. Her characters are real, flawed, but not overly so. I would have given this book 5 stars but I was left with a couple of nagging questions. ** spoilers ahead ** Why did it take so long for Catherine to realize that Leah was her half sister? It seemed that this would have become apparent long ago, at least after Catherine grew to an adult and was able to put two and two together. Secondly, what ever happened at Eden once James left? We are told that Catherine, Cecil, Phinneas, and some of the slaves died from a "bleeding fever" but is that all? Lastly, and most mysteriously, how did Edward Ewing come to own Eden? Are we just to assume he bought it after the Dalls' deaths? Or did Catherine actually marry him? I really wanted to know since this was a major plot point...Edward was Meg's ancestor, so it was worth mentioning. Those questions aside, I did enjoy the book immensely and read it in just a couple of short days!
April 28, 2016
Recently while vacationing on the Island of St Kitts, the resort that I stayed at had a "library" with a variety of books available to borrow. After browsing I choose this book and what a coincidence that it was about the sugar cane plantations on the sister island to the one I was on, which is called Nevis. Sugar cane was the Islands main source of income and historically true the use of slaves were utilized. Although this is a fictitious tale regarding a plantation owner's daughter and her close relationship with some of the slaves it did weave in facts regarding the Abolitionist movement. With the palm trees and some sugar cane plantation remnants all around me I felt transposed into the place and time, swept away with the story. It is part drama, romance and history. Quite a good pick from the borrowing shelf!!
Read
August 19, 2009I enjoyed this book very much. The story background was based on fact and I liked learning about the island of Nevis. It also gave a good description of what life was like for the sugar cane plantation owners and their slaves in the early 1800s. I found the early part of the story and the strong character of Catherine more interesting than the present-day chapters of Meg's life, but together they told a good story. The author threw a couple of curves into the story towards the end which changed the emotional feeling of the book. What an unexpected way to end the story!
This is Erika Robuck’s debut novel but she’s currently researching and drafting a novel set in Depression-era Key West around the home of Ernest Hemmingway.
This is Erika Robuck’s debut novel but she’s currently researching and drafting a novel set in Depression-era Key West around the home of Ernest Hemmingway.
May 26, 2016
Meg's parents die on the night of her engagement party. Afterward she learns she now owns an old plantation in the Caribbean called Eden. Soon after learning this leaves for Nevis. Once there she finds out that the land and plantation is shrouded in ghost stories and dark secrets... The story moves back an forth between present day and the 1800's.
Receive Me Falling is an enthralling read, that captivates the reader from page one. I very much enjoyed this story. Both Meg & Catherine take the reader on journey of love, friendship, heartbreak and freedom. For me, the story was very moving. It was beautifully written and a pure joy to read. I enjoyed it alot more than I thought I would. I highly recommend checking this book out.
Receive Me Falling is an enthralling read, that captivates the reader from page one. I very much enjoyed this story. Both Meg & Catherine take the reader on journey of love, friendship, heartbreak and freedom. For me, the story was very moving. It was beautifully written and a pure joy to read. I enjoyed it alot more than I thought I would. I highly recommend checking this book out.
September 15, 2009
A wonderful book! There are two stories, one set in the present day, in which the central character visits an old house she inherited from her father located in the Caribbean. This classic gothic premise, reminiscent of a Victoria Holt novel, surprised and delighted with its well-researched and fascinating depiction of life on the plantation in the nineteenth century. The story never descends into melodrama, though it could easily have done so. Robuck also paints believable portraits of figures who might have come across as cliches, i.e. the cruel overseer. The reader becomes absorbed in this portrait of a woman's lot in this setting and time, and we feel their pain. This is Robuck's first novel, and it is most definitely a Good Read.
April 13, 2013
One of the best books that I have ever read!
I love anything with ghosts and the supernatural so that was what first caught my attention of this book. The further I read, it was next to impossible to put it down. Ms. Robuck seamlessly moves back and forth between the past and the present, always leaving you wondering what would happen next.
I have all of her books and am in the process of reading them but I think Receive me Falling will ALWAYS be my favorite. There aren't many books that I will re-read that many times and I have re-read her first ten times, at least!
I love anything with ghosts and the supernatural so that was what first caught my attention of this book. The further I read, it was next to impossible to put it down. Ms. Robuck seamlessly moves back and forth between the past and the present, always leaving you wondering what would happen next.
I have all of her books and am in the process of reading them but I think Receive me Falling will ALWAYS be my favorite. There aren't many books that I will re-read that many times and I have re-read her first ten times, at least!
October 24, 2010
This really was a really well written book. It was a bit of historical fiction blended with a more modern story. I thought the author did a great job of moving between the modern story and the historical one. I also really enjoyed the references to Alexander Hamilton, early abolition and, of course, modern day Annapolis.
May 19, 2013
I don't know if it was the setting (Annapolis and Nevis - both places I love and have spent much enjoyable time there) which got me hooked, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I felt like I knew the characters and cared what happened to them. Would highly recommend this. Looking forward to reading more of Erika's books!
Read
September 10, 2009Great book from a local author.
August 11, 2012
What a great read!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.