Published by Avon on January 1996
Genres: Historical Romance, American West
Pages: 410
Format: eBook
Source: Self Purchased
ISBN: 0380779617
Annie Trimble lives in a solitary world that no one enters or understands. As delicate and beautiful as the tender blossoms of the Oregon spring, she is shunned by a town that misinterprets her affliction. But cruelty cannot destroy the love Annie holds in her heart.
Alex Montgomery is horrified to learn his wild younger brother forced himself on a helpless "idiot girl." Tormented by guilt, Alex agrees to marry her and raise the baby she carries as his own. But he never dreams he will grow to cherish his lovely, mute, and misjudged Annie; her childlike innocence, her womanly charms and the wondrous way she views her world. He becomes determined to break through the wall of silence surrounding her; to heal... and to be healed by Annie's sweet song of love.
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.
Annie’s Song is one of the most loved books in the historical romance genre and can you believe that I have NEVER read this one? It has been on my TBR for the longest time here and I finally picked this one up. So what took me so long with this one here? Well honestly, I think I feared that it wouldn’t meet up with my expectations and the “hype” of so many other romance readers but I can definitely see the charm and delights of this book and why it is such a loved story for so many readers. It was quite interesting to see the level on which Catherine Anderson took this story and found the portrayal of this story to be so entrancing in many ways. And lastly—well look at the stepback below —that should convince you how much you need this book!! 🙂
Annie Song is a story that takes place in Oregon in the late 1800’s. Alex Montgomery has had guardianship over his younger brother since their parents were killed. When he learns that his brother, his only family, has committed the worst of sins….raping a daughter of a local laywer and a young woman who is rumored to not have “all of her mental faculties together” he is horrified that someone he raised would commit such a vile horrific act especially on such a innocent woman. He kicks his brother out of his home and life, and offers apologies to the family and responsibility if there are any consequences. When four months later, Annie is pregnant, Alex offers himself up to provide for her and take responsibility in raising the child and to protect the family from a scandal. But Alex soon learns that things with Annie aren’t all what they appear, and that she isn’t “touched” she is only deaf and has a working intelligence and is critical thinking even if there are certain things she doesn’t have an understanding of. But their love will surprise them in the most beautiful of ways…
When God saw fit to bestow such a gift, a man with any sense didn’t ask questions.
This book was beyond touching and poignant and reaches inside the heart and tangles with all those tender emotions that don’t always get reached even in a romance. Annie’s Song just BROKE my heart in good ways and heart breaking of ways. Annie —-this heroine, has had it rough that is for sure. I SO wasn’t a fan of her parents at all. Even though its obvious they do love her in their own way, I could never like them. Annie became deaf when she got sick as a child but her parents think she is going crazy. They have a family member that went mentally insane so they assume the same thing has happened to Annie but that is so not the case. And then the worst of the worst happens, she is violently raped. Annie doesn’t understand what has happened to her, why there is such violence, what she did to deserve it only that her parents are looking at her differently than before. But when she gets pregnant and gets married to Alex….I wanted to just hug her because she doesn’t even know she has been married or is even pregnant (parents —are fully to blame to be honest for this crime) and poor Alex for having to try to explain this to his deaf wife. But Alex even though at first his intentions are to return her to her parents after she gives birth and will take the baby…he soon changes his tune. Especially after seeing how special his wife is, and that she is more than capable of being a wife and a mother.
In retrospect, he looked back on the events that had drawn them together and believed with all his heart that an invisible hand had moved him and her about like pieces on a chessboard, aligning their positions, manipulating incidents, bringing them inexorably to a collision point. Fate? The Almighty? Alex didn’t know, nor did he care to guess. All that mattered was this moment and the feeling that it was wonderfully and perfectly right.
Their journey in their discovery of what they can be together as husband and wife is beautiful in every form you can imagine. Seeing their growth together and discovery is a creation of emotion and empowerment. And seeing that self empowerment is different for everyone. Seeing Annie and Alex go on their journey to the simple things to the more complicated aspects that enter a relationship, they need to learn to understand each other and accept one another fully. I love how protective Alex is over Annie, and just wants her safe and happy and fulfilled. I love how he shows her what true love is capable of and seeing her learn how to accept herself and see herself as she truly is.
This is a story of depths of emotion, heartfelt journeys, epic love to take your breath away and a story to leave you with such joy and peace from within…..SENSATIONALLY WRITTEN!
I read this quite a few years ago and really loved it.