Destiny's Dance


Fiction - Cultural
277 Pages
Reviewed on 06/12/2014
Buy on Amazon

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Author Biography

Rosemary Babich Gard was born and raised in Gary, Indiana. Her first language was Croatian. She grew up in what was the melting pot of Cultures in Gary, Indiana during the mid-20th Century.
Within the Croatian Community, she heard the stories of the 'Old Country' and in time was sent to stay with relatives in a village outside of Zagreb for a period of three months. There she learned more stories about the villagers' way of life. She still lives in Indiana with her husband, Robert, an Antiques Appraiser.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite

In this third book of the Destiny trilogy, Destiny's Dance by Rosemary Gard, we see the main character Katya leaving Europe to escape the gypsies who are after her and her fiancé Ivan. Ivan is blamed for the accidental death of a gypsy, which forces them to leave the country and settle in Gary, Indiana. Katya realizes that life in America is not as wonderful as she had thought. In Indiana there are plenty of jobs in the steel mills for immigrants. Tragedy strikes when Ivan meets with an accident and loses his life. The story traces Katya's life in America, the living conditions of the immigrants and how she begins a successful company with Cleona, a local housekeeper. This book of adventure, love, loss, triumph and intrigue is a gripping read.

Along with the story of Katya, the story also speaks about the unpredictable turns in life which we call destiny and how it plays a crucial part in shaping our lives. Destiny not only shapes Katya's life but also teaches her to live. The story moves from Europe to America smoothly and then readers learn about the life of immigrants in America and the problems they face in a new county. All the characters in the story are well developed and well portrayed. It is a story of love, survival and triumph where the author has woven all the emotions and incidents in Katya's life together very well. The story is honest and believable and readers can relate to the theme.

Melissa Russell

I have been anticipating Destiny's Dance for quite some time!!!! In fact since the day I finished reading Destiny Denied.
As with Rosemary Gard's first two Destiny books-I could not put it down. I practically read through it since I started it yesterday...
As Katya's "destiny" takes her to the United States from New York to Indiana I found myself in tears for her loss in New York and then angry with her "hostess" in New York. ...
As Katya and Ivan arrive in Indiana and their friendships and their lives together unfold, it hit me like a ton of bricks and it is then that I realize I have missed Rosemary Gard SO very much. We ALL have. In saying this I was questioning and wondering WHERE has Rosemary been???-As an avid reader for 30+ years I found myself putting the story down at times and wishing I had her writings in front of me many years ago, and still during present time (today).
Her writings give me a certain kinship to the actual characters, to say the very least and take me right in the actual pages, and inside the scenarios of the story.

Though Mrs. Gard salutes her Croatian heritage throughout Katya's journey, she pays homage to all different nationalities and she includes different types of characters all through Katya's journey, too. I find this intriguing and an original characteristic of the Author, in herself.

Not MANY Authors can carry me through a journey of a specific character, only to find me feeling close and believing in EVERY character in the story....hanging on to every page...every single paragraph..
Though I am sad Katya's journey and her "destiny" is over now that I have finished reading this phenomenal trilogy, I am VERY much anticipating Rosemary Gard's future publishing's and writings.

As Katya's journey ended and I sat in tears it took me some time to close the story and realize what these books MEANT to me. To me I realized that we ALL have our own Destiny.

Maybe not the type of future or the twists and turns we had or have planned..but a Destiny nonetheless. I don't think I would ever be as lucky to have as many people looking out for me or love me as much as Katya was loved & accepted (for different reasons by all the characters) but I know one thing..I will no longer be scared of my Destiny.

I am a HUGE fan and have complete faith in Rosemary Gard as an Author and I am VERY pleased she answered her "calling" as an Author and Writer. So many of us have been able to interact w/her Author page on Facebook and find her a very enjoyable person to interact with, laugh with, and learn from. She is DEFINITELY one to be watching and following...I wouldn't be surprised if Katya's DESTINY journey winds up in a mini series or in a movie--I would be the first one in line!

Evette Babich

Such an amazing story full of descriptive details about each character and their world! Destiny's Dance is rich with history about an area in the states & a heritage of people that has long been overlooked. I believe that this trilogy is going to jump off of the pages to another medium of entertainment, be it the big screen or television. Be warned: once you pick it up and start reading, you will not want to put it down. Like Book One, and Book Two, the author vividly transports you to another place and time where you can almost smell the cabbage rolls being cooked and easily envision the character's surroundings. With its historical perspective, beginning in Yugoslavia in the first 2 books, and then to the beginnings of a thriving steel town outside of Chicago, this story will not only entertain & intrigue, it will educate. (tags would be: historical novel; mystery with history; gypsies; Croatia; Croatian immigrants in the U.S.)

Jeff Manes

"Destiny's Dance" is fact-based fiction at its best. You don't have to be of Croatian ancestry to appreciate this great read. All people hailing from Northwest Indiana can identify with this historic tale. It's our story. Thank you, Rosemary Gard. Loved this book from cover to cover. -- Jeff Manes

Elaine L. Schultz

It has taken me places that will live in my heart forever, and after reading it, I just want to read more books by Rosemary Gard.

Robert E. Rees

Finished the book and another fantastic read. Stop loafing and get started on book # 4,5,6,7,Etc. Etc. Etc.

Carolyn Milby Anderson.

I did it! I read all three books, one after another. Holy smokes, they are all fabulous. It was too long between denied and dance. Now I want to see them all in one book. You are an amazing story teller