Echo From Mount Royal

By: Dave Riese

Montreal, 1951. Rebecca, 18, from a working-class family falls in love. Her courtship with a handsome man fulfills her romantic dreams; his wealth introduces her to a world of upper-class privilege. Class, sexual secrets and family conflict test their love, leading to a revelation that could change her life forever.

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Book Description

Echo from Mount Royal by Dave Riese is a sweeping saga about young Rebecca who finds herself head over heels in love with Sol, a boy from a wealthy family. Told from the perspective of a much older 81-year-old Rebecca, she recalls, in vivid detail, the year 1951, when she was only 18 years old and falling in love for the first time.

She's a bright college student living with her family in Montreal, Canada when her path crosses Sol. Not a typical romance because once they try to get to know each other as a couple, their own respective backgrounds and family secrets begin to surface, threatening to tear them apart. Firmly believing that love is more than enough to overcome any of the issues that they face, her tale is a reminder of the exhilarating joy first love can bring, and the deep scars it can leave behind. This story is full of great discussion topics such as first love, religion and social class, which is why it makes for an ideal read for a Book Club.

Rebecca is a very likable character. Even though she is very headstrong, she's very naïve to think that love is more than enough to conquer all complex issues such as class and religion. Despite all the roadblocks that she's faced in her quest to remain with Sol, she fights hard and passionately in the love that she believes she deserves.

From the opening pages, I was hooked on her narrative. Generally, I'm not a fan of prologues, but this prologue was executed perfectly in the sense that it made me hungry for the story. The tale begins in 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts and 81 year old Rebecca reaches back into her memory to conjure up the Montreal she knew in 1951. Rich in details, and vivid descriptions to bring many different scenes to life.

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