Hummingbird

Author:

LaVyrle Spencer

Published:

Jove, July 1983 ; 404 pages

Subgenre:

Historical romance -- American West

Setting:

United States -- Stuart's Junction CO, 1879

Main characters:

Jesse DuFrayne and Abigail McKenzie

Sexual explicitness:

Explicit

Keywords:

Humor ; convalescents, mistaken identity, shoe salesmen, spinsters

Reader rating:

Reader comments:

Lavyrle Spencer is by far the most talented Romantic Author os our time. She uses normal, ordinary, everyday people, like me in her stories. Forget the specimans of human perfection, she makes stories about real people, fictional but real. I have every book she has written and she is a must read for anyone who wants to read a realistic romance not a sex filled dream. I think she's great! (J.P., 3-12-98) I love all the Lavryl Spencer books. I hate to see that she is retiring. No one will be able to fill the void. (K.F., 2-25-98) ONE OF MS. SPENCER'S BEST (M.N., 2-5-98) i have to agree this is one of her best out of the novels i have read i just got her complete list of novels i am starting to read them all till i read every last one till then if i am bored i will keep rereading hummingbird,seperate beds and sweet memories in all of LaVayrle spencers books i can feel her heriones pains and joys i become her charectars i love that i think my lucky stars everyday i found her book seperate beds the first book i ever read by LaVyrle i will not rest till i retrive all her books and have read them all at least twice a piece :) (K.L., 2-4-98) I have read Hummingbird so many times now that I've lost count! I continue to fall in love with Jesse and Abbie's story every time I read it. The humor and passion in the story make it a must read. Spencer is definitely one of my favorite romance authors. C.C. (5-13-97). (C.C., 5-13-97) Having read others' comments, I was surprised to learn I wasn't the only one who had read HUMMINGBIRD about a million times, and always find it fresh and new. Spencer is a master at characterization and believability. No one else comes close. Though I'm not a writer, I find myself continuing the story in my mind, much as I did the first time I saw Gone With the Wind. I guess it's because I'm loathe to end the relationship I have with the characters. Besides HUMMINGBIRD, my personal favorite, I also rank HOMESONG, YEARS, and SEPARATE BEDS near the top of Ms. Spencer's masterpieces. Long may she wave! (L.W., 5-10-97) This book is my all time favorite. I have read it over 10 times. I feel like I actually know Abigal and Jesse. (C.B., 4-29-97) All of Spencer's books are so real, you think you really know these people personally. She is my all time favorite author. She's the best! (R.P., 4-27-97) This book by LaVryle is my favorite. This was the book that got me hooked on her writing. The story was great. I recommend it highly! (S.C., 4-23-97) Real good but not as good as Morning Glory. (C.P., 4-9-97) I have read all of L. Spencer's novels in the past six months. This is my favorite of the historical romances. Jesse and Abigail simply ooze passion in their physical encounters as well as their constant arguing. Nobody writes romance novels like Lavyrle Spencer. (K.N., 4-7-97) I love L Spencer's books, she is great. I am trying to finish my collection of her books in hardback. I cannot find the last 5 I need - The Hellion, Vows, A Heart speaks, The Gamble and Morning Glory. If you have any information please e-mail me. I have written her publisher and they said 2 of them were out of print and the books are very hard to find, I have also had several companies on the web do searches and I have had no luck please HELP. Thank You! Cindy Ragan (C.R., 3-23-97) Second best book she's written (Morning Glory #1) (D.S., 3-23-97) Enjoyed Hummingbird very much. I noted a brief appearance of the characters of Abigail and Jesse in The Gambler. Have enjoyed reading and look forward to novels written by LaVyrle Spencer to novels written by LaVyrle Spencer (M.L., 3-15-97) It was a wonderful book, it took me a while to get into it, but once I did I had a hard time putting it down. My husband wishes that I never got hooked on reading your books, he says everything comes after LaVyrle Spencer! (H.D., 3-13-97) I anxiously await each book that this author writes! My sister and I actually have an ongoing discussion about Hummingbird! Anyone would think that we actually know these characters! Jesse is the kind of man dreams are made of, Abby is me (in my dreams!). This continues to be my favorite novel, followed very closely by Bittersweet. Do I recommend it? Only to every person I see reading a romance novel! My son works in a bookstore and since he's heard me talk so much about this book, he also recommends it to customers! Keep up your excellant writing, LaVryle! I thank you, my sister thanks you, etc! (J.H., 2-19-97) Spencer is in my estimation one of the romance genre's finest stylists, a masterful, somewhat old-fashioned storyteller whose characters really come alive. While some of her other books are so slow paced and down to earth, their heroes such everyday Joes, that I unfortunately don't find them romantic, I don't have that problem in HUMMINGBIRD. The book does take a while to get going, but Jesse is a colorful, quick-witted hero whose exchanges with "Miss Abigail" move nicely from tart humor to passion. (E.P., 2-19-97) Lavryle Spencer doesn't write a typical romance novel. Her gut wrenching approach to emotional relationships (including family) makes all the characters very realistic. I've been able to associate with many of the same feelings. I've read all her novels at least once, many multiple times, including Hummingbird which I've read about three or four times. Excellent book, excellent author! (R.S., 2-14-97) HUMMINGBIRD was wonderful! But then, I find every LaVyrle Spencer book makes me think, laugh and cry - and I remember the characters and really CARE about them. She is a terrific writer. Just finished THAT CAMDEN SUMMER last night and loved it as much as HUMMINGBIRD. (L.W., 2-13-97) I'm not a big fan of L. Spencer, but I'm a huge fan of this book. I read HUMMINGBIRD years ago when it was published (1983) and I still read it regularly. There is something wonderfully poignant about a lonely spinster who just dreams of having and caring for a husband (much less a charming, good-looking, rich man) and family. What I find great about this book is that Abby would have settled for David (the salesman) and lived quite contentedly. Being a loyal, capable, loving and pragmatic woman, Abby's mind will guide her heart out of shear determination to do what is right for herself and others. I praise the decision of Spencer not to do the expected and have Abby pine longingly for the man of her dreams who walks away. The last quarter of this book was so good in setting up and resolving her situation that I felt the same emotional confusion as Abby in deciding her future. The ending is (of course) deeply romantic and very satisfying. Lovely book! (K.G., 11-27-96) I have been a big fan of LaVyrle Spencer's since I discovered her in "Morning Glory". I especially like the fact that not all of her heroines are beautiful, tiny, young things, but are often older, less than perfect women. This shows the world that a few wrinkles and a few extra pounds around the middle don't prevent a woman from loving and being loved. Keep up the excellent work, LaVyrle!! (J.G.S., 11-15-96) It's my favorite romance out of 659 that I have read and thats saying a lot, (D.J.S., 11-15-96) I love LaVryle Spencer's books. I tell everyone I know to read her. I even did a report about her last year. This book was great. She has such a talent creating original characters and plots. She never seems repetitive. Her detail and wit and humor is unbeievable. (A.M., 11-8-96) This was one of the first romances I ever read; what an initiation! LaVyrle's books inspired me to write romance. I've read everything she's ever written and especially adore this one, Twice Loved, and The Gamble...okay Morning Glory, too. The highest compliments I've ever rec'd have been when reviewers compared my work to hers. Thank you for many hours of pleasure, Ms. Spencer. You're my idol. (C.S., 11-2-96) Hummingbird was my first experience with historical romance novels. I've been a fan ever since. LaVyrle is truly a master at her craft! I have since read every one of her novels at least 3 times or more... Hummingbird continues to hold a very special place in my heart, followed closely by "Twice Loved" and "Years". Thanks LaVyrle!!!!!!! (J.N., 10-25-96) Usually when I read I can guess the plot before halfway, with this book I was kept in suspense until the end. (P.C., 10-3-96) Hilarious! My husband thinks I'm nuts when I read this book. He just can't understand what could possible be funny about a romance book. I laugh until my side hurts but towards the end, I'm reaching for the Kleenex box. Jesse is hot-blooded, virile and romantic beyond belief! And those love scenes. YEOOOOOOWEE!! He's the "bad boy" the girls all dream of! LaVyrle has done it again! (H.S., 9-7-96) The love scenes were artistically written, does start a little slow, but overall it is excellent. One of my favorite novels. (V.A., 9-2-96) HUMMINGBIRD was the first western historical romance I ever read and I loved it. Great characters! This book made it seem so easy to write, so I decided I would too. LaVyrle is a master, as I realized that part of her success is making it SEEM easy to write so well! I will always remember this book as being the one that inspired me to write romances. (J.G., 8-12-96) All of Ms.Spencer's books evoke great emotion. This one certainly didn't miss. The characters become so real, they are like your best friends. I for one can't wait until a new title appears. Jessie and Abigail are truly great. (J.C., 8-8-96)

Rate this book

Other books by this author

Return to the main page of the Romance Novel Database.