Editorial Review

Joan Sanderson's life is stuck. Her older sister, Allie, is starting a family and her younger sister, Tori, has a budding career. Meanwhile, Joan is living at home with Mom and looking after her aging grandmother. Not exactly a recipe for excitement. That is, until a hunky young doctor moves in next door. Suddenly Joan has a goal--to get a date. But it won't be easy. Pretty Tori flirts relentlessly with him and Joan is sure that she can't compete. But with a little help from God, Allie, and an enormous mutt with bad manners, maybe Joan can find her way out of this rut.Book 1 of the Sister-to-Sister series, Stuck in the Middle combines budding romance, spiritual searching, and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry. ... Read more

Reviews

Virginia Smith lives up to her newly won title of Writer of the Year (Mount Herman Writer's Conference) in Stuck In The Middle
Stuck In The Middle is an aptly named book revolving around Joan Sanderson--whose life has been put on hold while she looks out for her Grandma, who is wedged between sisters that Joan thinks are far more gregarious and personable than she is, and who is stuck in a superficial relationship with God. Stuck, that is, until a handsome, single doctor with an intensely personal relationship with God rents the house next-door and involuntarily drags Joan out of her rut.

As Joan struggles to break free, the reader is blessed with the genuine interactions between sisters, and family as a whole that Smith has woven into the story line so well. The dialogue is strong and realistic, the situations true to life and sometimes quite comical, and Joan, though a dejected character in many ways, is likeable and one you cheer for right from the beginning.

This alone would have made the book an enjoyable read, but Smith along with entertaining the reader reinforces the need for a personal relationship with God. She takes Joan, a Christian who has had a superficial relationship with God into discovering how to connect on a deeper level. Smith also does an excellent job of portraying the fear that Joan's sisters have of the kind of Christian Joan wants to become simply because they don't understand it.

Stuck In The Middle is not different than many other Christian fiction titles in that is has a spiritual message, but often, that message is dealt with in heavy handed and stilted way. Not Stuck In The Middle. This is the sort of book that while you read it you find yourself pleasantly entertained, seriously not wanting to put the book down even when you should be doing other things, and in the end you are surprised when you come away with a strong spiritual message.

Stuck In The Middle has something for everyone--romance, shopping, dating advice, sibling rivalry, family and spiritual relationships, and real life issues like caring for elderly family members all wrapped up in an entertaining package. Pick it up, today. You won't be disappointed.

Characters Sparkle in "Stuck in the Middle"
Viginia Smith does it again in "Stuck in the Middle". Her characters are realistic, artfully crafted, and endearingly flawed (aren't we all?) and will pull you right into the story from page 1. Here's a warning, though -- don't give the book as a gift unless you're prepared for trouble. Now I have several friends calling to complain that they're chomping at the bit to read the next installment in the series. Please bring us book 2 soon!!!

very good
Once I got going (only a few pages in) I read it in one day. I was laughing hysterically at parts, and love a good heart-warming message with God at the center. Sending it onto my sister - the interactions of the sisters were very real - I have 3 of them!

Moving story about one woman's quest to break free
Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith is the story of Joan Sanderson and her boring, going-nowhere life. She's been dumped by her long time boyfriend, Roger the Rat, her older sister is pregnant, and her beautiful younger sister has a terrific job. Joan lives with her mother and grandmother, who is becoming increasingly fragile. When a hunky doctor moves in next door, Joan sees what she's been missing, but little sister Tori also wants him. This book is far more than just chick-lit. Joan feels alienated from everyone around her. Her father left her as a young teen, and she resents her mother for his departure. She can't relate to God, because she doesn't feel like He is reaching out to her, but when she hears a missionary speak at her church, she feels the need to know God personally. Joan is a Christian like so many; she believes in God and has faith; she attends church regularly and does all the right things. But she's not connected to Him and hasn't experienced His wonder, until some chocolate ice cream shows up at just the right moment. Joan realizes that she can't get things right with her mother, sisters, or even the cute doctor, until she makes things right with God, and that means examining things in her past. Joan is believable and sympathetic, her heartache shows on every page as she struggles to do what's right without really knowing what that is. Very often our relationship with God has been influenced by our relationship with our earthly father, and this book is an excellent lesson on how to break free from the bonds of the past and security to find God. ... Read more

Editorial Review

To the outside world, they seem to have it all. Cassie Barrett, a renowned anthropologist, and Alex Rivers, one of Hollywood's hottest actors, met on the set of a motion picture in Africa. They shared childhood tales, toasted the future, and declared their love in a fairy-tale wedding. But when they return to California, something alters the picture of their perfect marriage. A frightening pattern is taking shape-a cycle of hurt, denial, and promises, thinly veiled by glamour. Torn between fear and something that resembles love, Cassie wrestles with questions she never dreamed she would face: How can she leave? Then again, how can she stay? ... Read more

Reviews

Very disappointing, November 28, 2005
This is the story of Cassie, who is found wandering helplessly in a cemetery by a young Indian policeman who just arrived in LA. Cassie suffers from amnesia and we don't know what brought her there, until a hollywood megastar recognizes her as his wife.

This is by far the most disappointing of Picoult's books, and I've read almost all of them and am a big fan of hers. Cassie is amnesic, yet she does remember stuff and it is not clear at all in the book how comes she recovers from her amnesia or actually how it happened. The story goes back and forth between the present, the past, the memories, and leaves readers lost in the middle.

I was surprised by other reviewers who were surprised by the ending. Chapter one gives the ending away in my opinion. What is frustrating is that it takes Picoult 350 pages to make her character realise the obvious.

I also found Cassie to be unreliable and unappealing, let alone her husband Alex, a massive egocentric. The story was very confused, mixing hollywood lifestyle with movie sets in Africa, with anthropology, Indian legends, domestic violence, alcoholism, amnesia - it was just too much for one book and the message was confused.

If you want a superb story of domestic violence, read Black & Blue by Anna Quindlen. If you want a good Picoult book, read The Pact or My Sister's Keeper, but definitely not Picture Perfect.

Good, but not as good as Picoult's others..., July 20, 1999
Keeping Faith, The Pact, and Harvesting the Heart are prime examples of Picoult's remarkable talent. I was enthralled by all three of those books. While Picture Perfect was a good read, it lacked the depth and beauty of the others. Still, it was enjoyable.

What Goes on Behind Closed Doors..., May 29, 2001
Jodi Picoult has given me even more cause to pass the word about her writing talent. Picture Perfect is yet another pageturner complete with emotional roller coaster. She has absolute power over me with her sympathetic, realistic, and sometimes enraging characters.

In Picture Perfect, anthropologist Cassie Barnett falls in love with princely movie star, Alex Rivers. They quickly marry, and Cassies believes she has found eternal happiness. Until the first time he lays his hands on her in anger. And then the second time and the third time....

And yet she stays!! I was half wanting to throttle Cassie myself! But don't worry. Jodi delivers a shocking ending that left me smiling for days.

Also recommended are Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen and The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner.

THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM....., July 11, 2005
After some of the not so stellar reviews of this book I was a little wary of buying it. All said and done, I do not regret it. It is a cautionary tale of what can happen to even the most "perfect" couples and the twisted forms that love can take.

Cassie's tale will no doubt frustrate many readers and I felt as though the ending did not quite deliver, but I still enjoyed the book and would reccomend it.

Perfect..., July 17, 2003
Jodi Picoult never fails me. This is the 5th book of her that I've read, and despite the fact that it isn't one of her page-turning courtroom drama types, Picture Perfect ranks right up there with my favorite, Plain Truth.

Anthropologist Cassie Barrett wakes up in a cemetary with a cut on her head and wondering how it got there. Will Flying Horse, a Native American police officer for the LAPD, finds Cassie wandering the streets and rescues her. Cassie doesn't know who she is or what she is doing -- a classic case of amnesia. Will aides in finding Cassie's family only to discover that she is none other than famous Hollywood actor Alex Rivers's wife! Slowly Cassie integrates back into Alex's life of fame, fortune, and house help. Until one day, triggered by something she sees, Cassie's memories and the reason for the cut on her head come flooding back to her. Now the only thing left for Cassie to do is escape....

I don't know what it is exactly that made me love Picture Perfect so much. The writing, as always, was exceptional, and the style of the writing was very easy flowing. And the story itself was very interesting, honest and believeable. I am an avid fan of Jodi Picoult's and reading Picture Perfect was a solid reminder of why. Kudos to you, Jodi, for another wonderfully rendered portrait of a novel.

Pretty as a Picture or so it seems., April 29, 2002
Now let's take a look at the real world. Wonderfully written as all of Picoult's books are; this one has a lot of heart, and a whole lot of selfless love or so Cassie thinks. Is her behavior selfless or foolish?

Alex Rivers is a mega star in Hollywood and Cassie is the most unlikely of people to grace his arm at a premiere among the Hollywood golden set. She is an anthropologist with her head in the books and her mind on the next dig, happy to be in a bush jacket and jeans as she unearths her latest treasure. Two worlds collide in more ways than one when Alex and Cassie meet and marry.

A study in abuse that will touch your heart, and leave you cheering for both sides because of the love the author so eloquently makes you feel for both characters. Ahhhh but just how much can one person take, and is there a way out, is the question that has to be answered. This book had me guessing till the last 25 pages. Picoult has a new book coming out in May titled PERFECT MATCH. I'll be first in line for that one too. This author has never disappointed me. Kelsana 4/29/02

Less than her best, August 11, 2006
There is WAY TOO MUCH going on in this story..Hollywood glamour, Indian mythology, Anthropology, Domestic violence...rates down with romance novels. This is definately not the author's best. I am thinking of giving up on it. A BIG disappointment!

Once again Jodi captures my interest, December 13, 2000
I normally don't read tales of spousal abuse because it hits too close to home. However, reading this book really made me realize that I am not the only one experiencing the same stuff as Cassie is undergoing. If I was in Cassie's shoes, I would have done the one thing right ~~ to protect something so precious. It also helps to know that I am not the only one who was fooled by appearances. Not everything that glitters turn out to be gold. Picoult dives right into the scenery and the characters have more life than you would think. It's not as poignant as her later books, but I really enjoyed this one. I couldn't stop turning the pages even though I figure that if Cassie goes back to Alex, it wouldn't stop. Picoult also gives her usual twist at the ending ~~ this time leaving it open for the imagination. Once again, I am not disappointed with Picoult's talent. Too bad all authors aren't as talented and brillant as she is.

A romantic drama that stays with you, August 13, 1999
Jodi Picoult has created characters so multi-dimensional that, days after finishing the book, I still find myself thinking about the characters and the story. Enough background is given on each character that even Alex, the abusive husband, seems sympathetic and it was easier to understand how Cassie could choose to stay in an abusive marriage. I found myself hoping the relationship would work out and I couldn't wait to see how the book would end.

Picoult does it again, December 2, 1999
I first read The Pact by Picoult and became addicted to her work. Picture Perfect is another fine piece of work by this author. The only problem I could find with her book was the ugly cover (I think she needs to find a new publisher). Her words kept me glued to the page and I highly reccomend her work to any readers. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Called a “magnificently crafted story . . . brimming with wisdom” by Howard Frank Mosher in The Washington Post Book World, Crossing to Safety has, since its publication in 1987, established itself as one of the greatest and most cherished American novels of the twentieth century. Tracing the lives, loves, and aspirations of two couples who move between Vermont and Wisconsin, it is a work of quiet majesty, deep compassion, and powerful insight into the alchemy of friendship and marriage. ... Read more

Reviews

Brimming With Wisdom And Love, August 31, 2004
I was about to be captive on a 7 1/2 hour plane trip- I went into Powell's bookstore in the airport, and somehow I was drawn to this book. I had heard about this book from a friend, and as soon as I saw the title I knew this was it! What a wonderful plane trip- I was on the next to last page as we landed and read the last two pages while waiting for my luggage. Whoopee, what a book, what a read, I hated for it to end. It is one of those kinds of books.

"Crossing to Safety" by Wallace Stenger is the kind of book that you read once in a life time. The characters become so real and so alive. You like these people; you do not want any of life's mysteries and sadness to befall on any them. Well, maybe that couple that was so nasty, no, no, not even them.

Larry and Sally Morgan move to Madison, Wisconsin in the 1930's to start their life. Sally is pregnant, and Larry is about to start a teaching job at the university. They have little money and his job is a lifesaver. Larry's dream is to be a writer and he has published one article. At a faculty party they meet Charity and Sid Lang. Sid comes from big money and they have all they need besides two children and one on the way. Charity and Sally get along famously, and Sid and Larry develop a bond.

This novel follows these two marriages, the ins and outs and the personal issues they each face. We are rarely allowed into a marriage to see all the warts. Over the next many years we follow both families from Wisconsin to Vermont and Cambridge and Italy. We see the friendships between the couples develop. We learn that Charity must manipulate and control- and that Sid needs the push she gives him. Larry becomes a well read author with several books and articles. Sally is happy to be a wife and mother until tragedy befalls. Sid is a wonderful teacher but really wants to write poetry. How do these couples help each other discover the truth within them? What does each of these people bring to the group? Why are they destined to love each other for their life? What is so special about these 4 people? How do they react when the greatest tragedy of all hits one of them?

Wallace Stenger allows us to see the real people below the exterior trappings. I came to love these people, to really care about what happened to them. I think what if that had not happened, or what if this had happened? This is the way we think in real life with our memories. Wallace Stenger is a literary genius. Highly recommended. prisrob

Required reading, July 31, 1999
This is the book my wife and I fell in love with after we fell in love with each other more than 12 years ago. Whenever we talk with friends about favorite books, we INSIST that they read Crossing to Safety. We've had to buy several copies over the years because we keep lending copies out -- and we can't blame any of our friends for not returning this book. It's a keeper. Wallace Stegner said this novel was the closest he came to writing autobiographically, which explains a certain brightness not found in, say, Angle of Repose (although AOR is an equally beautiful story).

This is simply a beautifully told story about how a friendship formed and aged, so powerfully written that you will come to appreciate your own friends -- and how you came to be friends -- all the more for having made the journey with the couples in Crossing to Safety. This is a book you fall in love with and return to. I'm actually online right now to buy another copy.

instead, the world has left marks on us, February 8, 2001
'Crossing to Safety' is a novel about the intertwined lives of two couples. More generally, it is about the various ways we express the search for meaning, about gradually lost causes, about vulnerability and kindness, about the complicated dependencies of marriage, about coming of age, slowly, over the course of a lifetime. The plot is simple -- two couples meet because the husbands teach for a time at the same campus, and the four become lifelong friends. Although the story spans decades, there are very few dramatic incidents. This lack of external drama may disappoint those who like plots which move steadily forward, driven by significant events and bold action. However that very lack of action and heroism is part of the novel's essence. Our lives are generally prosaic, not epic. Our stories do not end tidily in fifty minute prime-time segments. The narrator speaks to this: "How do you make a book that anyone will read out of lives as quiet as these? Where is the high life, the conspicuous waste, the violence, the kinky sex, the death wish? [...] Where are speed, noise, ugliness, everything that makes us ... recognize ourselves in fiction?" From these quiet lives, Stegner vividly sketches the emotional landscape in which the characters move, making for all its lack of fireworks a surprisingly compelling story. The book has been praised as a wonderful and uplifting portrayal of friendship developed over many years. That might sound a little maudlin or simplistic on the face of it, but it does not come across that way at all. It is difficult to summarize the philosophical tone of the novel. It is at the same time wry, realistic, and sympathetic, generally optimistic about our native toughness and the possibility of grace, and ambivalent about questions of grand purpose. In fact, the story is marked from the beginning with undertones of retrospective melancholy. "[We meant to] leave a mark on the world. Instead the world has left marks on us." In addition to evoking a finely shaded spectrum of emotions, the book is beautifully written. In grade school writing classes we were told to "show, don't tell", but the author both shows and tells with consummate skill. This book strikes me as being the distillation of a lifetime of experience by an acutely sensitive and intelligent writer and a profoundly decent human being. It feels like Wallace Stegner's carefully considered gift to us, and is well worth giving, in turn.

I Wanted To Love It..., June 29, 2002
The premise was wonderful - a subtle, sometimes moving, sometimes disturbing examination of the lifelong friendship of two couples. I didn't have to think twice about buying this one after I read the synopsis. The first several chapters seemed to be living up to its' promise. I was touched by the early scenes where the Morgans and the Langs first met and seemed to know instantly that they had found something special. Charity Lang showed signs of being a wonderfully unforgettable character - sometimes sweet, sometimes manipulative, always fascinating. A little further on, however, something changed. The author seemed to abandon character development and instead concentrate on lavishly detailed descriptions of places and events. He hinted at the passive/dominant relationship between Sid and Charity, but gave us very few first hand glimpses. Instead, we had to take the word of our narrator, Larry, based on his passing mentions of past events and comments to his wife Sally. There was so little actual interaction between the two couples - the one sequence during which they spent a good deal of time together, the hiking trip, was as much about Larry fretting over his career than it was about showing us anything about the relationships - that one wonders how accurate Larry's point of view could be. The hike ends in tragedy, and we jump ahead to more than a decade later in Italy, where the foursome are spending a year together. Much of this sequence, too, involves Larry recalling past events; mentioning in passing, rather than describing, how deeply entwined the two couples lives became as they dealt with Sally's illness and the financial burden it brought upon the Morgans. We see one more example of Charity's controlling personality, before jumping ahead years later to when Charity is on her deathbed. Here, we find the Langs' children and grandchildren, who have apparently grown up with Larry and Sally and consider them family. Again, we must take the author's word for this, as we never see any of these characters develop, and never "meet" them until they've grown up. The Langs' children acknowledge not just the tensions between Sid and Charity, but those between the Morgans and the Langs. They give enticing examples, but never elaborate. On the other hand, the final chapters begin to pick up where the earliest ones left off, showing rather than simply telling what is happening. Sid's anguish is realistically portrayed, as is Larry's helplessness as he witnesses his friend's grief. The conversation between the two men in which Sid admits he was always secretly glad that Larry had been burdened by Sally's disability, because it made them more like equals, was very touching. It was here that Sid really began to come alive for me and made me feel something for him other than contempt for how he let his wife control him. I found myself unable to tear away from the novel during the final scenes. They, along with the earliest chapters, provide an intriguing overview of what could have been an excellent character study. Unfortunately, it was never realized.

A semi-autobiography, March 15, 2002
"Crossing to Safety" is a novel and a semi-autobiographical piece about Wallace Stegner himself, his wife, and the tribulations and blessings that came with their life-long, complex friendship with another couple.

In the space of one day, narrator Larry Morgan tells the history of two couples: Larry & Sally Morgan and Sid & Charity Lang. As the story opens, Larry and Sally, now in their late 60s, have arrived at the Lang's Vermont retreat from their home in New Mexico. They have come to see their close friends Sid and Charity, because Charity is dying of cancer. As the Morgans settle in for the night in the guest cabin, Larry, as narrator, takes us back to the beginnings of this great friendship: Madison, Wisconsin, during the Depression. From this point the novel moves between the present day to the past in a series of long, heart warming remembrances.

Both Sid and Larry are fiercely ambitious, and each is tied to his wife in complicated ways. Sid is tied to Charity because he needs her domination and over-controlling nature, even though it weakens him. Larry is deeply connected to Sally in part because she has been disabled by polio, creating a bond of dependence that somehow satisfies them both. Throughout the novel, the positives and negatives of the couple's friendship are closely examined, recognizing how they both enrich and in some aspects limit each character.

Much of Wallace Stegner's works contain autobiographical aspects of his early family life and childhood. About his novel Crossing To Safety, he says...

"I wrote it as sort of a memoir more for Mary [Stegner's wife] and myself than for anything else, and I wasn't at all sure I was ever going to publish it. Those people were our very close friends, and at the same time they had some problems which were very personal; and an honest portrait of them as honest as I could make it... But it was, really, in a way that no book of mine has ever been, an attempt to tell the absolute, unvarnished truth about other people and myself. Inevitably I found myself inventing scenes and suppressing things, and bringing things forward in order to make the story work because I guess my habits are incorrigible; but my intention, at least, was the utter, unvarnished truth... And also, I suppose, I had the mule headed notion that it ought to be possible to make books out of something less than loud sensation. I was trying to make very small noises and to make them thoughtful..."
*****************************************************
(Stegner: Conversations on History and Literature by Wallace Stegner and Richard W. Etulain, xi-xii)
Crossing To Safety by Wallace Stegner

Crossing to Stegner, August 28, 2001
I had not read Stegner before. I will be reading him again! I found the start slow at first and in fact had to pick it up several times. Once I persevered, here's what I found: A beautiful and well written book. What I found was a well made novel--both in narrative structure and figurative language. There were no strained metaphors (so common in most modern fiction) and no lack of insight. I found a story of friends, more than that the most rare of friends; two married couples. I say that couples this close are rare for the very same reason that the Morgans and the Langs eventually fall out of close contact. The people we choose to love, to "fuse" our lives together with are ours because no one else would choose them. As much as Sid could not live without Charity, Larry would never choose to live with her. As a result it becomes difficult for Larry and Sally to watch the various strains of Sid and Charity's relationship. And while it may not strain the couple's friendhsip per se, it stretches it a bit. This story does not fall into the predictable. It moves you to tears and laughter and jealousy. How wonderful to have found besides spouses that you love even in the tough times, friends who are more than willing to help see you through the tough times. Don't be put off by the fact that it moves slowly at first, don't be put off by the lack of glamor, drugs and violence. Hopefully, glamor, drugs and violence are not commonplace events in any of your lives. Read instead this book that talks of quiet lives that recognize the need for both sorrowful and "sunny hours" in order to make them beautiful.

Wallace, we miss you, November 25, 1999
This is a remarkable piece of work, from one of the truly American voices in literature. A story of enduring friendship and loyalty, an intelligent search for the meaning of it all. I suppose one could find it "boring" (see below), in that there is no gratuitous sex, car chases, foul language or scatalogical humor. Just exquisite prose, and a story told with love and grace. I wonder if this book is ever assigned to high school students. It would be a refreshing antidote to the depressing dreck that passes for popular culture these days. Or am I just passing into curmudgeon-hood? A similarly wonderful book by Stegner is "The Spectator Bird".If one is seeking an in-depth historical piece, there is his award-winning "Angle of Repose". I plan on eventually reading every word written by Mr. Stegner. Talent like his is rare.

Warm-hearted book with a devestating ending, June 1, 2004
Warm-hearted book with a devastating ending

"Crossing to Safety" is Stegner's swan song, his last novel. It does have a bittersweet, nostalgic feel to it, written from the perspective of an old writer/professor, much like Stegner, near the end of his life and looking back on what came before. The plot of the book involves the enduring friendship of two young couples, wed in the 1930s. Sid is a likeable fellow who struggles to gain academic acceptance and tenure, married to Charity, a well-to-do extrovert who micromanages his career. Larry, the narrator, is a naturally gifted novelist, married to the sweet-tempered Sally.

The novel follows their lives through small wins (the acceptance of a novel) and near tragedies. This part moves in a smooth, elegiac way-you get the sense of Stegner's genuine affection for these characters-but I did not find the characters exceptional in any way. I confess, for example, to getting a small bee in my bonnet about the complete absence of the couples' children from most of the narrative. Sid and Charity's five kids and Larry and Sally's daughter are generally off-stage, under the care of a nanny.

But then a kind of tidal wave hits, with all the skill Stegner can muster. The impending death of one of the characters brings out the conflicts inherent in even the most enduring of marriages; I know of no place in literature where the joys and sorrows of a marriage are portrayed with such precision and intensity. The way kindness and inadvertent cruelty seem all knotted up together; the way you can't live life apart; the way the intense abiding love of one person also makes you terribly vulnerable. These Stegner gets exactly, truly right.

Read through to this remarkable end; it will be worthwhile.

A literary miracle, October 31, 1999
It would be perhaps an overly bold statement to say that this is the best book I have ever read, because I've read a number of great books. But it would not be at all rash to say that I have never in my life so thoroughly loved and enjoyed a book. This is a tender, beautiful tale about vulnerability and the strength that springs from it, about love and acceptance, about needing someone and not minding that you need them, about being needed and not minding that you are needed, about the way that four people and two couples grow and evolve within their relationships even as the relationships grow and evolve around them. This is the only book I have ever read that I would enthusiastically recommend to every single person I know.

Read this book, and never look at humankind the same way again.

This One Will Take Your Breath Away, February 19, 2002
Crossing to Safety is an incredible novel, one I highly recommend. The story is simple--two young couples meet and become lifelong friends--but the way it is told is not. Stegner does something magical with the English language, his words are so evocative. After reading one scene, which takes place during a summer rainstorm, I was shocked to look outside my own window to see dry ground, barren branches. What I find amazing about this work is that Stegner is able to convey so much without being overly verbose. Sally, Larry, Sid and Charity meet as young professors and their wives in Madison Wisconsin in the late 30s. Sid and Charity are wealthy, Sally and Larry are not. Larry tells us the story many years later, as all have gathered because Charity is gravely ill. They have returned to the New England family "camp" where much of the narrative takes place. Successes, failures, marital problems, children, travels, careers--its all here, told in a marvelous fashion. I think I fell in love with this novel from the first sentence. If you can, pick it up in the early morning, when the rest of your household is sleeping. Spend some time alone with this novel and Stegner will transport you to another time and place. I highly recommend this remarkable novel. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Five women, one passion, and the unbreakable bond of friendship

When five young mothers–Frankie, Linda, Kath, Ally, and Brett–first meet in a neighborhood park in the late 1960s, their conversations center on marriage, raising children, and a shared love of books. Then one evening, as they gather to watch the Miss America Pageant, Linda admits that she aspires to write a novel herself, and the Wednesday Sisters Writing Society is born. The five women slowly, and often reluctantly, start filling journals, sliding pages into typewriters, and sharing their work. In the process, they explore the changing world around them: the Vietnam War, the race to the moon, and a women’s movement that challenges everything they believe about themselves. At the same time, the friends carry one another through more personal changes–ones brought about by infidelity, longing, illness, failure, and success. With one another’s support and encouragement, the Wednesday Sisters begin to embrace who they are and what they hope to become, welcoming readers to experience, along with them, the power of dreaming big. ... Read more

Reviews

Perfect for Book Clubs, June 17, 2008
In a book perfect for book clubs, Meg Waite Clayton tells the story of five young women, wives and mothers, who find each other, and a lifelong friendship, in a children's park in Palo Alto, California. Frankie, Linda, Kath, Brett, and Ally are The Wednesday Sisters, women who support each other in the turbullient, changing years of the late '60s and early '70s.

Mary Frances O'Mara, Frankie, tells the story of five women who share an unspoken dream. When Frankie meets Linda, and then the others, she learns they all love books. Their book discussions eventually turn to a discussion of writing, and a dream no one dares whisper, that of being published someday. So, The Wednesday Sisters are born, when they agree to meet at the picnic tables on Wednesday mornings to write and critique the writing. This honesty about the writing forces them to share other secrets. Over the years, they gradually reveal more to each other. Readers learn early about the death of Linda's mother. But, why does Brett wear white gloves? Each woman will eventually share her deepest fears.

Frankie's voice is the right one to tell the story of five women who grow and change with a changing country. Her story looks back at the early years of lifelong friendship, friendship that grows and reflects changes in the early '70s. The Miss America pageant that links their lives is a perfect vehicle to show the changes in these five women, as well as the country.

I read the first two paragraphs of The Wednesday Sisters, and I knew it would be a wonderful book. Who can resist the second paragraph? "That's us, there in the photograph. Yes, that's me-in one of my chubbier phases, though I suppose one of these days I'll have to face up to the fact that it's the thinner me that's the "phase," not the chubbier one. And going left to right, that's Linda (her hair loose and combed, but then she brought the camera, she was the only one who knew we'd be taking a photograph). Next to her is Ally, pale as ever, and then Kath. And the one in the white gloves in front-the one in the coffin-that's Brett."

Frankie, Linda, Ally, Kath and Brett. It's worthwhile meeting them in The Wednesday Sisters by Meg Waite Clayton.

"You've come a long way baby", June 21, 2008
In the late 1960s the five young mothers meet in Palo Alto at a park. They have plenty in common as they dream of being much more than just a wife and mother while hearing tales of the counter culture and the Summer of Love. The quintet love books especially those they can escape into so they can forget their somewhat tedious lives especially the household chores, but each sees a different role for the lead female characters based on what they dream they wanted.

Linda loves to run with the Olympics her fantasy goal. Brett literally wants to walk on the moon. Kath insists marriage is all she ever desired, but her four new pals with their aspirations make her wonder if there might be something in addition to being wife and mother. Ally, the only one without a child, wants a kid or three. The leader Midwesterner Frankie, who came to California as her husband came here to work at the fledgling computer business, hopes to be come a writer. THE WEDNESDAY SISTERS inspire each other to go after their aspirations and much more even when they seem impossible in a man's only world by writing and sharing their tales.

This historical sisterhood tale is an engaging look at the beginning of the "You've come a long way baby" feminist movement that brought women into many fields previously taboo epitomized by Hilary's run (the next one will go all the way). Each of the five women seems real due to their dreams to be more than identified through their husband and kids. Although their individual writings are too sweet even if they read valid for their place in late 1960s society, fans will enjoy this fine tale as before Sally Ride there was a real Brett out there trying to break out of the box.

Harriet Klausner

For anyone who believes in the power of a good book, June 30, 2008
"The Wednesday Sisters look like the kind of women who might meet at those fancy coffee shops on University --- we do look that way --- but we're not one bit fancy, and we're not sisters, either. We don't even meet on Wednesdays anymore, although we did at the beginning."

So begins Meg Waite Clayton's lyrical novel of the friendships forged among five different women who come together by chance. In the tumultuous years of the late 1960s, many females were involved in protest marches opposing the war or fighting for the women's movement. But in suburban Palo Alto, five ladies came together primarily because of their children. Being a mother is the first thing they had in common when they met at Pardee Park in those early days. Soon after, Frankie, Linda, Kath, Brett and Ally discovered that they all shared a love of books and a secret wish to write themselves. For Frankie --- a recent transplant from Chicago, with her husband and two kids --- to utter a desire out loud, even among friends, was terrifying: "It doesn't seem like much now, I know, to admit ambition to your closest friends. I guess you'll have to take my word for it: it was. It makes me a little sad when I look back on it, to think how very many women didn't have Wednesday Sisters, to wonder who they might have become if they had."

In admitting their passion for writing, the "Wednesday Sisters" begin to nourish lifelong bonds among themselves that transcend their literary goals. Linda, the frank, sometimes tactless one, lives with the fear that the disease that took her mother when she was young might do the same to her: "I grew up the child of a sick mother, and then the child of a dead mother. I couldn't imagine going back to that. I couldn't imagine putting my kids through that." Kath is a spitfire Southern belle dealing with issues in her complicated marriage. Brett is the ladylike brain, always attired in white gloves that conceal a hidden tragedy from her past. Ally is demure and soft-spoken, crumbling under the weight of fertility issues, who desperately wants to write a children's book to rival CHARLOTTE'S WEB.

When they first begin to meet on that playground, as their children play around them, each is taking a decisive step to move past her fears and express herself through writing. And in the words of Robin Morgan's seminal anthology from that time, they prove that "Sisterhood is Powerful." As they gain confidence in their writing and critiquing ability, they notice they are beginning to turn their keen eyes on the world that is changing all around them.

From the outset, they gather to watch the Miss America Pageant each year. At first, they enjoy it as frothy entertainment, but later they witness how the women's movement has affected this annual event, even their own opinions of femininity and what it means to be female. Through their weekly meetings and unwavering support, each faces moments when she flourishes and, yes, sometimes flounders. And each is buoyed by the others' strength and fortitude, through some of life's most difficult obstacles. Their little writing group has blossomed into something more --- it has become the foundation of lifelong friendships.

Meg Waite Clayton's stirring novel will appeal not just to those who secretly wish to be writers, but to anyone with a love of great books; anyone who has felt truly moved by a book or an author; and anyone who has had their dreams bolstered by good and faithful friends. It will speak volumes to fans of THE FRIDAY NIGHT KNITTING CLUB and THE JANE AUSTEN BOOK CLUB. You'll want to share THE WEDNESDAY SISTERS with anyone who believes in the power of a good book --- to inspire those close to us, and for those who inspire.

--- Reviewed by Bronwyn Miller

What friendship is all about., June 17, 2008
I received The Wednesday Sisters through the Early Reviewer program at LibraryThing. It's an excellently written story about friendship and family (and especially how friends can grow into being more than just friends, they can become family too). From the moment I started reading, I knew that this was going to be a great book.

The story revolves around no-nonsense, athletic Linda, super smart Brett, quiet Frankie, Southern Belle Kath & shy Ally, friends who first meet every Wednesday in the park for play time with their kids, but where they eventually start to discuss what books they've been reading and the general small talk of forming friendships. Later, they discover that each has had a small desire in one way or another to become writers, so the Wednesday meetings change to writing critiques, as they each try to help the other into becoming better writers. The book is so much more than just about their writing, though. It's also about the hopes, dreams and challenges of young families and budding friendships. We get a glimpse into 5 years of their friendship and watch through their eyes as the world is changing around them (the story starts in the summer of 1967) and how they themselves grow as individuals with the rest of the world.

This was a delight to read; smartly written and nicely paced, with believable characters living real lives. I think Meg Waite Clayton describes her own book best, when the Wednesday Sisters are critiquing Brett's book and Frankie asks, "How did you make it so funny and so touching at the same time(?)... It's a little bit of magic, that." When I read that line, I thought the exact same thing about The Wednesday Sisters.

Good beach read--not perfect, but enjoyable, August 12, 2009
The concept is wonderful: a modern, contemporary woman telling the story of how she and a group of friends became writers back in the late 1960s. It is not a perfect book, but I enjoyed reading it. I think the characters and dialogue are a bit thin. The story of the women's friendship, their personal lives, and their development as writers is told against the backdrop of an incredible time in American history (1968 to 1970). The characters are traditional stay-at-home moms with conservative values, but over the course of those two years, their minds become open to new ideas about the war in Viet Nam, civil rights and feminism. The novel wants us to relate to the characters, and tries to present the five women as complex, well-rounded personalities. Ironically, the characters and dialogue lean toward stereotypes (especially Kath). Additionally, a few premises are unrealistic. I don't want to spoil the story, but if you've already read it, ask yourself how the other women could have believed Carrie to be Ally's daughter, after seeing/meeting Jim. Also, ultimately I found "the gloves" to be unbelievable (think about it... preparing food, changing diapers, holding a pen, doing the dishes... always in white gloves?) Despite these criticisms, I would recommend the book to women, especially women who lived during the time in which the book is set, and those who are writers.

I want to be a Wednesday Sister!, July 31, 2008
This is an enjoyable story about 5 women who meet in the park and start sharing their love of books and Miss America Pagents :) Through some time, they begin to write and critique each other, along with helping each other through life's ups and downs. This book portrays women and friendship in such a beautiful way. A quick and very enjoyable read.

Excellent!, June 18, 2008
I loved this book from the second paragraph. The book is mostly told from Frankie's point of view, but each of the other 'sisters' gets their turn. For reasons I will keep to myself for now (wouldn't want to spoil anything) I most identified with Ally. Though there was a connection with Frankie as well. I finished The Wednesday Sisters 4 days ago and those women are still with me and I think they will remain for quite awhile.

This isn't only a book about the relationships these women have with each other, but also about their relationships with BOOKS! Each of these women's favorite book has an influence on the way that they see life; the color if the glasses that color their world view.

Being that I was born in 1976, I was born after the main part of The Wednesday Sisters is finished. However, Meg Waite Clayton did a great job of giving the reader enough information to understand our culture at that time (1968 to 1974).

There are so many things that I want to say about The Wednesday Sisters, but I don't want to give away all of the best/juicy parts. This is a must read!

A Walk Through the Past With Friends, June 17, 2008
I loved this book. Of course there is the girlfriend thing, but what charmed me was the reminders of the late 1960s and early 1970s. I was surprised to realize that so many significant political events happened in such a short time when I was in high school. Meg Clayton beautifully captures the early discussions about feminism and other shifts in our social norms. Meg delivers this walk down memory lane in the delightful company of girlfriends.
THis is a book for all women. I think that women who were in high school or college during the late 60's and early 70's will especially love it. It is one of those books that you will hug after reading the last page.

A Look Back at Female Friendships, August 1, 2008
If your memories of the 60's include bell-bottom pants, tie-dye shirts, women's lib and Vietnam protests, you'll want to read The Wednesday Sisters. Or if your mother was of that era, you'll want to read this book to get a glimpse into the times that shaped her.

Clayton has written an engaging story that deftly balances strong characters and a vibrant account of the socio-political context of the times. Five moms, Frankie (the narrator), Linda, Kath, Brett and Ally find themselves neighbors living in Palo Alto, California. Their shared passion for literature evolves into a writer's circle. As the author takes us to their weekly meetings at the local park, we watch their personalities, intimate secrets, and aspirations unfold. With humor and pathos, Clayton portrays the prevailing attitudes of that era towards racism, divorce, motherhood, infertility, infidelity, and breast cancer.

At one point in the book, Brett quotes Henry Adams: One friend in a lifetime is much; two are many; three are hardly possible. Then she questions, "What is it we've done so right in our lives that has made us five?" You'll find yourself laughing and crying with the sisters, wishing you were surrounded with an any-day-of-the-week group of your own.

Incredible, July 12, 2008
There are no words to describe what this delicious novel will do for your soul. For those of us born during these decades, the memories will flow over as we remember, make connections and smile fondly at a lost, tucked away moment. This book did what no other book truly has done for me in quite a long time: it made me want the story to never end. These 5 women were so real and their hardships so true to life. The stigma of divorce, infidelity, and the pain of breast cancer ALL resonated in my own life. As a teacher of reading and a woman who has desired to write for so long, I actually found myself living through these charaters as if it were my very own life. There are books in the past that have touched me but none so deeply as Meg Clayton's book. I shall keep it, savor it, and pass it on to my friends so that they may savor it also. In fact, I have already praised it to highly that it is "promised" to 3 of my school teacher colleagues for their own enjoyment. This story is one not soon forgotten and the women will live on in your heart, thoughts, and on your bookshelf for years to come. Well done, Ms. Clayton. How you will ever top this book is the next question. ... Read more

Editorial Review

At the close of THE QUILTER'S LEGACY, the Elm Creek Quilters were all in attendance on Christmas Eve, where they were surprised yet overjoyed to witness the wedding of Sylvia Bergstrom Compson, the Master Quilter, to her beloved Andrew Cooper.

THE NEW YEAR S QUILT tells the story of how the newlyweds celebrate their first holiday season as husband and wife. Not content to rest at home by the fire, they set out on a journey across the snow-covered fields of Pennsylvania.

Their destination is Connecticut, and the home of Andrew's daughter Amy. Unlike the Elm Creek Quilters, Amy has not offered her blessing to the union. Though her father has reminded her that marriage endures in sickness and in health, Amy fears that Andrew and Sylvia have passed the age where marriage remains a prudent choice.

Sylvia hopes to win over her new daughter-in-law through the lessons that quilting reveals about the bonds of love and family. As a gift for Amy, she undertakes a quilt titledNew Year s Reflections,whose blocks represent the holiday traditions of Elm Creek Manor. As she stitches the blocks, memories of a lifetime come flooding back, along with words of wisdom meant to celebrate the achievements of generations past and create hope for the future.

Just as Christmas and New Year's Day bookend the joys of the season, THE NEW YEAR S QUILT is the perfect holiday companion volume to THE CHRISTMAS QUILT. ... Read more

Reviews

Reflection before Resolution, November 10, 2007
Sylvia Compson, master quilter and senior owner of Elm Creek manor, has married beau Andrew Cooper at their Christmas Eve party, to the gleeful surprise of their friends and associates. But the occasion is a bittersweet one because Andrew's two grown children, Amy and Bob, chose not to make the trip to Pennsylvania and so were not in attendance. Sylvia is fairly certain that Bob and his family, out in California, will welcome her new role in the Cooper clan. She is less sure about Amy's reaction, for Andrew's daughter was adamantly against the engagement from the beginning. The newlyweds plan to drive from central Pennsylvania to Hartford, Connecticut, to share their news with Amy and Daniel and the three grands and to celebrate the start of the new year. Will Amy accept Sylvia as her father's wife? And will she even want the New Year's Resolution quilt that Sylvia is bringing her?

A long drive is the perfect time for reflective thinking; and as the miles pass, Sylvia remembers notable New Year's Eves of the past, while she diligently works to finish the quilt on time. Her memories are woven into the blocks themselves: the year her cousin Elizabeth announced she was marrying Henry and moving to California; the anticipation leading up to her brother Richard's birth; the first Christmas and New Year's after her mother's death; the events that led up to Sylvia's final argument with her sister Claudia and her abandonment of the Bergstrom farm; and the day she got the news that Claudia had died and the estate was hers. Throughout the decades, quilts were always a part of her life. Now Sylvia is ready to share her personal history, in fabric, with her new step-daughter.

Ms. Chiaverini has given us a heart-warming and thought-provoking read that's much more than mere holiday fluff. To Elm Creek fans, Sylvia's memories fill in some of gaps of backstory that heretofore have gone unexplored. To newcomers to the series, these colorful threads of history will surely lead them to seek out some of the earlier books. And we can all benefit from the advice given by one of the characters here: "Anyone can make promises. The challenge is in following through." A Happy New Year, indeed.

A bit of a disappointment, November 26, 2007
There were many nice things about "The New Year's Quilt": beautifully realized settings, wonderful connection with life in the past, expertise in quilting with a gift for describing this wonderful art, a gentle and charming heroine. But there were frustrations too: a recapitulation of the plot events (though told now in the first person) of the first novel in the series, and an absence of believable story line in the present one. Sylvia Compson is remarrying after many years of widowhood. Her new husband, a widower, has a daughter who cannot accept her father's decision to marry. That in itself isn't unusual, but the reasons for Amy's opposition are not convincing, and the eventual resolution of this situation is too easy and sudden to be compelling. There are several loose ends as well, though they may be resolved in a later book.

I was disappointed that this book wasn't more satisfying--with all its good points, I had hoped for more.

Just re-hashed material yet again, December 8, 2007
The thing I really loved about the early Elm Creek Quilt novels was the wealth of different quilting characters, the way their lives interacted and how their quilting brought solace and inspiration. But it has now been a while since these books covered anything but the re-hashed story of the Bergstrom family. Jennifer - we have heard it all before. I for one am fed up with reading about it. There should be such a wealth of material in those women who help build the quilt camp with Sylia - why must these books constantly look backwards and then just into the history of one family?
This was a disappointment - I had hoped that we would be reading about Sylvia forming a new relationship with her step daughter through teaching her to quilt and winning her trust and friendship. Instead it was once again an indulgence by the author who seems fixated by this family she has invented and can't let go.

Disappointing, February 14, 2008
I have thouroughly enjoyed the previous books, but was extremely disappointed with this book. It is a rather short book anyway, and then the majority consisted of rehashed stories from other books. The impression I get is that the author had a deadline, and did not have enough new ideas (or time) to flesh out a new and interesting story. I would never have purchased this (particularly hardcover) if I had realized how little this had to offer. The only reason I give 2 stars instead of 1, is that I did read the book through - it wasn't bad enough to leave it unfinished. But I will certainly read reviews of her future novels before I consider buying another. If you have read her other books, you can safely skip this one, or at most check it out from the library.

Rehash, September 8, 2008
I have read several of the books in this series but I was disappointed in this one. It was just a rehash of events and emotions from the earlier ones. It contained many "flashbacks" of events from the previous books.

The New Year's Quilt: An Elm Creek Quilts Novel, December 23, 2007
An excellent continuation of the Elm Creek Quilts Novel series. The book was short and sweet. In fact, the only problem I had with the book was that it ended too soon.

Filling in the blanks, November 28, 2007
Sylvia Compson and her new husband Andrew are on a mission. Their goal is to drive to the home of Andrew's daughter Amy and inform her that they are married. They are apprehensive about the trip because Amy has opposed their union in the past. While Sylvia travels, she is working on a quilt of New Year's memories which is to be a gift for Amy. As she works on each square, Sylvia remembers what the square represents and the reader is treated to flashbacks of her early life. Readers have been given some information about Sylvia's childhood, but this book fills in the blanks and gives more details about those early days. This is a welcome addition to the Elm Street Quilt series and it explains in some detail the people and incidents that have made Sylvia the person she has become.

Elm Creek Books are Fabulous!, March 31, 2008
What can I say..... Read these books, they are for anyone and everyone who loves a great series! The book is great as a stand alone or if you want to start reading the series. Warning, once you do you will be HOOKED! I never thought I would like to read about families in the late 1800's but I love how the author writes, she keeps your attention throughout the book, it is hard to put down and if you do you will be wanting more! The series ranges from the 1800's to the present and is all about quilters and their lives, along the way you may learn a suggestion or two about quilting! It is GREAT!

New Year's Quilt, March 6, 2008
In Sept of 2007 I discovered the "The Quilter's Apprentice" in a used book store and became quite enchanted with the series and had acquired all the books to date before I read last 4. As a recent retiree I took up the challenge of learning to quilt and found a beginning class and have finished my first quilt for a grand baby. Sometimes I even find myself trapped in the fantasy and wish I could attend a summer class at Elm Creek Manor. Having said all this makes "New Year's Quilt" (and "The Christmas Quilt" for that matter) all the more disappointing for its rehashing of story lines. When other authors use recurring characters from one book to another, they will often refer to something that happened in the past in a passing comment or paragraph, not chapters and chapters from previous books just give the reader one new tidbit of information. When the new information comes at the end of this story, it reads as a summary of ideas not yet fleshed out as if someone had run out of time. Unfortunately the format of these 2 holiday quilt books reminds me of the 15 min daytime soaps my college roommate was addicted to in 60's--7 to 10 minutes of yesterday's episode before the new stuff, then to be repeated again tomorrow. I don't watch much TV so I don't know how many series other than LOST employee this technique of rehashing the previous story lines. As a reader, this kind of format turns off your fans and robs your new ones of the flesh and bones of the new parts. I feel cheated especially since I bought the other books in the series as new books. I have "The Quilter's Homecoming" left to read and hope I won't be disappointed.

Historic facts, February 13, 2008
Jennifer's books continue to inspire both quilters and non-quilters. Her books are full of historic facts combined with quilts and their heritage. ... Read more

Editorial Review

When Charlotte Lucas married Mr. Collins in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, she believed herself to be fortunate indeed. Her nuptials gained her a comfortable home and financial security. If she acquired these things at the expense of true love, it did not matter one whit. To Charlotte, love in marriage was nothing more than a pleasant coincidence.

As the years of her marriage dragged by, Charlotte began to question her idea of love as she suffered continual embarrassment at her husband's simpering and fawning manners. When Mr. Collins dies, finally relieving everyone of his tedious conversation, she must work feverishly to secure her income and home. She gives no further thought to the prospect of love until her flighty sister Maria begs her to act as her chaperone in place of their ailing parents. Hoping to prevent Maria from also entering an unhappy union, Charlotte agrees, and they are quickly thrust into a world of country dances, dinner parties, and marriageable gentlemen.

But when an unprincipled gentleman compromises Charlotte's reputation, her romantic thoughts disappear at the prospect of losing her independence. As she struggles to extricate herself from her slander,�her situation reveals both�the nature of each gentleman and of true love. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Here comes the substitute bride. . . .

Violet Brantford has always longed for the passionate embrace of Adrian Winter, the wealthy Duke of Raeburn. Problem is, he’s set to marry Violet’s vivacious, more socially polished look-alike twin sister, Jeannette. But when Jeannette refuses to go through with the ceremony mere minutes before it is to begin, soft-spoken Violet finds herself walking down the aisle and taking vows in her sister’s place. Soon shy Violet is a high-society wife, trying to keep her real identity a secret while living out the fantasies of her wildest dreams.

Adrian thinks he knows exactly what he’s gotten himself into: Jeannette may be flighty and, well, a bit self-involved, but she’s the picture-perfect wife to carry on the Winter name. Yet this marriage of convenience brings the groom more than he bargained for when he finds his sweet, innocent wife surprising him at every turn. And though he never planned on true love, Adrian is definitely in danger of losing his heart.


From the Paperback edition. ... Read more

Reviews

For me, a roller coaster ride., April 21, 2007
There were parts of this book which I really enjoyed. Other parts I did not like very much. I think I would have been satisfied to give it a 4 star rating if the author had just resisted the temptation to give us one last shot at the good twin/bad twin scenario. As it was, my chubby little finger hovered longingly over the 2 for a rating. I finally made myself give it a 3 because the entire middle of the book was quite good for me.

I didn't care much for the beginning because of the good twin (Violet) forever being willing to give in to the bad twin (Jeannette). It was a pattern established over their entire lives. Understandably, if this had not been the case and Violet had not taken Jeannette's place at the last minute, there would not have been a story. I know the good twin married Adrian for many reasons; yes, she was in love with him, no, she did not want to cause her family any social disgrace, but I didn't like her being such a totally weak personality. All through the entire book she remained weak, even in the face of the evidence of her own abilities and strengths. I got tired of reading how she thought Jeannette would have responded to a given situation and then Violet did not seem to respond in that way but rather in her own personal way. Why did the author continue to bring up Jeannette's way of doing things and then have Violet do it differently? I got irritated and peeved reading about it.

I liked the middle of the book where Violet began to be her own person and handle situations in her own way and be successful. She overcame many years of self doubt in order to make the lives of each person she came in contact with better. Adrian was pleased with her, comfortable with her, enjoying being with her. It was romantic to see them interact with one another. Then came the tragedy of the letter from a lover being found. Obviously Violet could not confess the truth without revealing the whole truth. Would this not have been a great time for this author to have brought these two people fully together? No, we needed more situations to occur in order to extend the book. It extended, presumably, in order to give Adrian time to realize his love for Violet while he searched for her. Why, why, why did Violet insist on remaining "Jeannette" after Adrian found her and told her that he loved her, Violet? And then to allow the evil twin to talk her into changing places AGAIN in order to test Adrian's ability to tell them apart was too much. I didn't like it. I thought it was unnecessary fill. And it just made Violet turn back into a spineless, wimpy jelly. Then, poof, it ended. Why? At least give us a glimpse into the future of these two to let us know that everything truly turned out fine (and stayed that way).

There is an excerpt in the back of this book for THE WIFE TRAP, Jeannette's story. Do you seriously think I am going to want to read more about one of the most selfish, arrogant, self centered, coniving women I've ever read about? How does this author intend to redeem Jeannette's obvious experiences with multiple men? Will there be an attempt at redemption or will she be brazen, willful, modern? For me, none of those things could possibly make me like her. I made myself finish THE HUSBAND TRAP. I will never even begin another one.

an unexpected treat, April 6, 2006
While Tracy Anne Warren's "The Husband Trap" did revolve around a much used plot premise (twins who trade places at the altar) with few variations, her take on the plot had one slight difference that and went a long way towards making "The Husband Trap" enjoyable and readable.

Jeanette Violet Brantford fell in love with Adrian Winter (the Duke of Raeburn) almost as soon as she met him. Unfortunately for her, the handsome duke was not similarly taken with her, choosing to court her more fashionable and flamboyant twin, Jeanette Rose, instead. Used to be overlooked and discounted by everyone, Violet taught herself to put a brave face on things and to move on. But when Rose suddenly decides, on her wedding day, that she cannot and will not marry Adrian, shy Violet finds herself in a position that she had never envisioned possible: trading places with her twin in order to marry the man she's in love with so that she can advert a scandal. Will Violet be able to pull off this masquerade? To have to pretend to be her twin (whom she's nothing like) day in and day out? Soon however, Violet learns that there are worst things than having to constantly remembering to behave like her sister, like being desperately in love with a man who thinks she's someone else...

What makes "The Husband Trap" a little different from other books with similar plots is that from the very first page, we know that Violet is very much in love in Adrian and sees this charade, much as she deplores it, as her only chance of being with him. Because of this, the reader is able to fully appreciate how difficult it is for the quieter, more thoughtful and more intellectual twin to behave like her demanding and spoilt socialite sister. And we're also able to appreciate why it is that Violet feels those flashes of pain everytime it hits home that her husband cannot tell the difference between her and her twin -- that he hasn't truly acknowledged to himself that the young girl he courted and the one he married are actually quite different personalities. I think that author did a really good job of presenting things from Violet's point-of-view. Unfortunately, because of this, the author's portrayal of Adrian suffers somewhat. Her portrayal of her hero was not so well done: Adrian comes across at first as a little self complaisant (his choice of wife turned out rather well and he cannot help but congratulate himself continually on his wise choice), while about halfway into the book he transforms into a jealous angry spouse because he thinks that Violet is playing him false. The scene where the two consummate the marriage made for truly uncomfortable and not very romantic reading (only a very young girl so totally in love with her husband would have forgiven him his actions); and really, the man notes the small differences that he notices in his wife and puts it down as "settling down into marriage?" Adrian, for all that he's supposed to be a very intelligent man is not very observant one -- which probably explains his cold, intense anger when it finally dawns on him that he's married the wrong twin. Fortunately, Adrian does redeem himself by coming to his senses in the last few chapters of the book, thus making the happily ever-after ending a credible and worthwhile one. All in all, "The Husband Trap" was a good read. And much as I didn't like the character of Violet's twin, Rose, at all, I'm rather looking forward to reading "The Wife Trap," sure that Tracy Anne Warren has another treat in store for me.

Passion & Romance!, August 18, 2006
Violet Brantford has just married the man she loves. Unfortunately he believes he has married Violet's sister Jeannette. Jeanette decided minutes before her wedding to Adrian Winter that she would not marry him. Jeannette and Violet are identical twins so pulling off the ruse is easy; keeping it up will prove far more difficult though. Jeannette and Violet have very different personalities. Jeannette is spoiled and difficult and Violet is shy and quiet. Violet agrees to the ruse so that her family is not shamed but mostly because she is in love with Adrian.

Adrian senses a change in `Jeannette' on their wedding day. He thinks she is acting more like her twin sister Violet, rather than the girl he has come to know. He has had his doubts about marrying Jeannette because of her often spoiled demeanor and the rumors of her indiscretions, but he continues with the marriage more out of a sense of duty than pleasure.

As their marriage progresses, Adrian is surprised and pleased with his wife and Violet is falling more deeply in love with her passionate and caring husband. Adrian's brother Christopher 'Kit' arrives and before long he discovers what Violet is hiding. Kit agrees to keep Violet's secret and in turn he becomes her confidant.

Soon, Adrian discovers the ruse and predictably, he is furious. Violet is devastated by Adrian's anger. When Adrian has time to sort out what has transpired will he leave Violet or will he realize that she is the one he wanted all along?

The anticipation of when and how Adrian would find out about Violet and Jeannette's trickery in The Husband Trap kept me on the edge of my seat. Violet is delightful. She is kind, intelligent, and beautiful. Adrian is just as wonderful. He is a good man who is charming and handsome as well. Adrian and Violet make a lovely couple. Adrian's brother Kit is a handsome devil who gets himself into mischief often, but Jeannette is not a very nice person. Jeanette is selfish and a snob and I am curious to see if she can be redeemed. The Husband Trap however, is a wonderful story full of passion, romance and scandalous deceit.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

A switch at the alter - for the best of course., July 11, 2006
You can guess that the outgoing, popular, flighty twin decides at the last minute not to marry her fiancee (with whom her bookish twin is secretly in love) and convinces her twin to switch places with her at the last minute. While in modern days it is hard to believe that a man couldn't guess the difference, but given the strict "dating rules" of the time period this is probably not an unreasonable plot.

The author has several unique and often amusing plot twists that keep these two love birds from accepting their fate. Overall, a well written book and an entertaining read.

4 stars...strong start to 'trap' series, June 25, 2006
when i initially read the synopsis for this story i was skeptical if the author would be able to pull it off. i mean, twin switching places? sounded corny, but i decided to give it a chance, and i'm glad i did!

janette violet brantford is a twin. an overshadowed twin. while she enjoys reading books and saving helpless animals, her sister, the vivacious and selfish jeanette loves fashion, gossip, and attending balls...all traits that have made her THE success of the season.

so it would stand to reason that jeanette would attract the attention of the duke of raeburn. considered to be the most handsome and sought after bachelor in england, he is immediately smitten with jeanette and asks for her hand in marriage. she accepts. however, jeanette realizes she doesn't want to marry the duke and doesn't care a wit about ditching him at the alter. when she tells her sister janette (violet) about her plans, violet tries to dissuade her, but can't. jeanette tells violet to marry him instead if she's so concerned with the possibility of scandal.

violet has been in love with the duke (adrian) since she first laid eyes on him, so after a moment's hesitation she decides to go through with it.

the story begins with violet at the alter on the wedding day. she's saying her vows and freaking out because she's afraid adrian will immediately notice the switch and call her on it. that moment doesn't occur. instead, he's pleasantly surprised that the selfish attitude his bride displayed during their engagement has been subdued and he's grateful for the changes. he attributes it to the effects of marriage.

this was a beautiful love story. it's obvious from the very beginning that adrian and violet share many of the same interests and the chemistry is combustible. the author is skilled in her writing of the intimate scenes. they exhibit passion and emotion and skillfully draw the reader into the minds and bodies of the two leads.

there was no mystery plot here. the main conflict involved violet's guilt at duping adrian and her growing fear that she will be discovered. she also grapples with having to pretend to be her more outgoing and vivacious sister, a difficult task for the normally reticient and bookish violet.

them falling in love happens relatively conflict free until adrian suspects violet is having an affair. then her plan begins to unravel beneath the weight of a series of misunderstandings.

the character of violet was likable, although her insecurities and fear of asserting herself became aggravating traits towards the end of the book. also, adrian's character was sketchy at best because the author didn't give the reader nearly as much time inside of his mind as she did with violet.

adrian, despite the blatant proof before him that he was married to the woman who exhibits totally opposite behavior to the woman he was engaged to, doesn't figure out the plan until late. i had to wonder at his intelligence and awareness of her as a result.

i still enjoyed the story because of the passion and tenderness rendered between them. the ending was a bit unbelievable, but considering the premise, there was really no way for the situation to be resolved happily without some fantasy thrown in.

i definitely recommend this book. anyone who enjoys reading a story full of passionate intimacy and a love story absent of conflict (for the most part), will love it!

excellent!, April 11, 2006
this book was a bar of chocolate candy. It was so romantic and had almost every element that I enjoy in a romance. Usually the twin swap gets tired but this book was a "can't-put-down-until-I'm-finished kind. Loved it! I can hardly wait for the other two.

Fun read!, March 30, 2006
The historical romance genre appears to be on the upswing once again. And for those who love historical romance, its return will be a delight.

Tracy Anne Warren's The Husband Trap is a delightful romp into love, conflict, deception and misunderstanding.

Violet Brantford always loved Adrian Winter, but it is her identical twin sister who is to marry him. But two hours before their wedding, Jeannette refuses to go through with the ceremony. Jeannette convinces Violet to take her place. It's a simple plan really. Violet will become Jeannette and live her life--and Jeannette will live her sister's life.

And so, without Adrian Winter's, (the Duke of Raeburn) knowledge, it is Violet who stands beside him and vows to love and honor him forever.

Violet marries the man of her dreams but is unable to proclaim her true identity. Adrian believes he's married Jeannette, yet finds his wife quite different from the woman he courted. Will the twins' plan work? Will Adrian discover the deception? If found out, the scandal will destroy the Brantford family, so Violet must be very careful.

Armchair Interviews says: If you enjoy historical romance, Tracy Anne Warren writes a delightful story with interesting characters and a plot that is believable. We think you'll enjoy The Husband Trap.




... Read more

Editorial Review

Rachel Winters had nothing, won it all, and then lost everythingAfter the death of her daughter, grief-spawned delusions cause Rachel to lose her husband, her home, and custody of her son.
Help arrives from two unlikely sources: a young teen, Lilly, battling her own demons, and a tattered holy card depicting Saint Therese of Lisieux.
As Rachel grows closer to Lilly and comes to know Saint Therese, unbidden memories from her edgy past reveal fearful mysteries of seduction, madness, and murder . . . and a truth that will haunt her forever. ... Read more

Reviews

A Beautiful and Profound Story, October 8, 2010
A beautiful, well-written and profound story of a woman driven nearly insane by accusations, shadows and loss. A gripping mystery forms the framework for this journey of self-discovery and faith.

I absolutely loved it and think it is one of the best-written and moving Christian works that I've read recently. It is an adult novel, but I believe older teens will find it worth reading.

The Mystery of Life, Love, Death, Forgiveness, October 20, 2010
Rachel's Contrition is a gripping mystery that consumed my spare time in the last two days. I could not put it down, I had to find out what happened and how it ends.

This book has an uncanny way of helping one see one's own life through the protagonist's eyes. Even if we don't suffer from the same problems Rachel did, we all still have stuff to deal with and stuff to forgive.

I found the woven pattern of the book, from chaos to truth, and then that love winding its way through an ever widening circle of life, to be very hopeful, energizing, and espeically inspirational.

I recommend this book especially to women, but bring a box of tissue.

Needs more than five stars! Incredibly Powerful Fiction, October 17, 2010
Every now and then, a novel comes along that is so powerful and so well-written that it will stay with you forever. "Rachel's Contrition" by Michelle Buckman is that kind of novel. Part of the Chisel and Cross imprint from Sophia Institute Press, it is Catholic fiction at its finest. If you are looking for light-hearted escapism, this is not the story for you. Rather, this is a story that delves into the deepest and darkest parts of humanity. Throughout the course of this book, the reader must face the evils of jealousy, murder, rape, and the inner workings of a mentally ill mind.

Rachel is a mother whose small daughter has died tragically. She is buried in her grief, unable to see any light at all. She has lost everything. Her husband has sent her away and her surviving son, whom she sees only sporadically, seems to hate her. She lives in a drug-induced haze where memories from both past and present come to haunt her. Into that haze walks Lilly, a young teen suffering from her own secrets and pain. With Lilly's help and some divine intervention in the form of St. Therese's autobiography, "Story of a Soul," Rachel begins the long road back.

One interesting feature of this novel is that Buckman focuses on the dark side of St. Therese. Her little way is there and Rachel does learn from that and attempts to put it into practice. But that is not what comforts her. Rather, in St. Therese, she finds someone who understands the darkness. St. Therese wrote, "But it was night, the dark night of the soul. Like Jesus during his agony in the garden, I felt myself abandoned and there was no help for me on earth or in heaven. God had abandoned me. . . I wish I could express what I feel, but it is beyond me. One must have passed through this dark tunnel to understand its blackness."

Buckman writes of that darkness with such realism. One can only presume that she herself has walked through it. "Rachel's Contrition" is a novel for all who have been deeply wounded by life. It is a painful story with no easy answers, but it offers the promise of healing. It is a glimmer of light in the midst of the dark. It is a novel that will twist your heart and leave you breathless. You will not want to put it down until you reach the final word at which point you will once again be able to exhale.

Grabs you and holds on, October 10, 2010
I took this home from a writers' conference along with many other books. It was the one that grabbed me the hardest and held on. Very quickly I grew to care about what happened to the characters. The plot took many turns I didn't expect. A real page turner! Great as an "escape" novel but also one that gets you thinking about Providence and how God uses even our sins to bring us closer to Him.

Women's Fiction, October 5, 2010
A sure to be blockbuster that delivers; compelling page turner well worth sleep lost reading it! Raises the bar for women's fiction; Destined to be a NY Times bestseller!

One of Ms. Buckman's best!, October 7, 2010
This is one of the best books I have read so far this year, and left an impact on my even after I turned the last page. I sat there, wanting the story to go on, to let me be part of Rachel's life just a little longer. Reading for the joy of reading is enough, but when you can read a book that also explores a vital woman's issue in a sensitive and caring way, it is magic! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Welcome to the world of Mary Kay Andrews, where manners are polished, reputations are tarnished ... and revenge issweet.

Keeley Murdock's wedding to A. J. Jernigan should have been the social event of the season. But when she catches her fiance doing the deed with her maid of honor at the country club rehearsal dinner, all bets are off. And so is the wedding. Keeley pitches the hissy fit of the century, earning herself instant notoriety in the small town of Madison, Georgia.

Even worse is the financial pressure A.J.'s banking family brings to bear on Keeley's interior design business. But riding to the rescue -- in a vintage yellow Cadillac -- is the redheaded stranger who's purchased a failing local bra plant. Will Mahoney hires Keeley to redo the derelict antebellum mansion he's bought. Her assignment: decorate it for the woman of his dreams -- a woman he's never met.

Only a designing woman like Keeley Murdock can find a way to clear her name and give her cheating varmint of an ex-fiance the comeuppance he so richly deserves. And only Mary Kay Andrews can deliver such delicious social satire. With Hissy Fit, she's created a story as outrageous, dishy, and true as Savannah Blues and Little Bitty Lies. ... Read more

Reviews

A light read that goes beyond the trivial, September 7, 2004
The first few pages read like a typical "chick lit"-type book: during her rehearsal dinner, main character Keeley discovers her fianc� and best friend inappropriately engaged, and she flies into a rage which gives the book its title. Predictably, she seeks comfort from another close friend, Austin, the requisite gay character. Beyond this point, however, Hissy Fit is anything but predictable.

Enter Will, new in town and both single and rich--a perfect new love interest for Keeley, right? Well, not exactly, as he has already fallen head-over-heels for a blond knockout, but he does hire Keeley's interior design firm to renovate a local mansion in order to win over his heart's desire. In the midst of her hectic new work schedule, Keeley finds herself not only questioning her beliefs about love and fidelity but also longing to discover the fate of the mother who left Keeley and her father when she was just a child.

This is a light read but with a breadth and depth rarely seen in this humourous genre. You will laugh, you will think, but most of all, you will enjoy this book.

Outrageous behavior that is laugh out loud funny!!, October 7, 2004
This is one of those books that you do not want to read if you are somewhere that has little toleration for laughing and giggling while you read.......add a few gasps for outrageous behavior!!!!
Hissy Fit is the story of a young interior designer, Keeley, whose life will be taking a sudden unexpected turn when she finds her fianc� and her best friend in a compromising position the night before her wedding is to take place.
Mary Kay Andrews fills her book with laugh out loud humor, crazy, outrageous behavior and reactions as well as a tender, loving father daughter relationship whose very ground may be rocked by the events that will unfold. She surrounds Keeley with a group of unique and interesting characters that move this book along at high speed. You simply have to turn the page to find out what will happen next, only to be surprised time and again. This is too good not to read!!

LOL! LOL! LOL!, July 12, 2005
What a funny, funny book. The main character is a completely believeable young woman caught in the unfortunate situation of discovering a cheating fianc� the night before the wedding. What's a woman to do? Pitch a fit.

Like other Mary Kay Andrews stories, this has an element of fairy tale: in this case, restoring a Southern mansion and having access to unlimited funds. There are also several fairy-tale-like antique buys that had me sighing. And then there is the matter of the perfect bra...

A strong sense of place -- of several places, actually -- permeates this light read. If you come away without wanting to visit rural Georgia and several locations of flea markets in the South, you will not have been paying attention. In all these places readers meet up with deftly drawn characters, people you would certainly recognize on the street. The mystery at the heart of the story solves itself in the reader's mind with at least a third of the book to go. But the places and people kept me engaged and laughing out loud until I turned the last page.

Light comedy romance? Not., September 4, 2004

There's dark stuff aplenty in this book that, at face value, appears to be a bit of fluff. No way, Jos�. The hissy fit of the title occurs during a wedding rehearsal dinner in antebellum Georgia at which Keeley, bride-to-be, discovers her intended doing the deed with one of her attendants. The wedding is cancelled and the town is set on its ear by the events that follow, including southern small town revelations of deep and distressing secrets, some of which relate to Keeley's vanished mother.
A good read with much more to offer than the title and book jacket suggest.

I read this in one sitting, September 17, 2004
Keely Murdoch's life is all set. She is a successful interior designer, with her work published in several magazines, and she is marrying a handsome wealthy banker in the morning, after she gets through this nightmare rehearsal dinner. When a drunken guest gives her a margarita shower, she rushes off to clean up. As she passes the boardroom door, she hears the distinctive sounds of her fiance and her maid of honor "doing it" inside, she opens the door, catches them in the act and throws a hissy fit that will go down in the history of Madison, Georgia. Naturally, the wedding is off, but for some reason, everyone except for her family and a few others, blame Keely. To top it all off, the family of the almost groom are trying to run her and her aunt out of business. Into this mess walks, Will Mahoney. He has bought the local bra plant and plans to bring it back to prosperity. He has also bought a local plantation house and wants Keely to restore and decorate it for him and his future bride. The problem is, he hasn't actually met her yet and doesn't exactly know her tastes. He saw her on a PBS pledge drive and fell in love. Since the Murdochs business is not exactly booming, they take on the job and its crazy deadline and get to work.

The plots, subplots and characters of the novel are all wound together wonderfully. I love the southern setting and the quirky characters of the story. They all seem very real. This story has it all, humor, romance, mystery and a great cast of characters.

Don't pick this book up, if you need to be anywhere soon!, September 10, 2005
I read this book in literally one sitting. I could not put it down. And I have to admit, since reading the book, I've been calling every man in my life an "ash hole."

Keeley is what every small-town southern girl wants to be, when she grows up. She's beautiful, classy, and has a great sense of style. Her fianc�, AJ is the pain in the "ash," spoiled little butthead that every girl has met, and probably dated at least once in her life. Will is crazy, rich, and red-headed, yet touchingly down to earth, and realistic. Keeley's best friend Austin is gay, funny, sweet, and just absolutely "divine!"

Keeley finds AJ and her best friend doing the dirty, on the night before their wedding. She throws a hissy fit. THE hissy fit. The hissy fit to end all hissy fits! And so our story begins.

Since AJ's family is now trying to put her interior decorator business, out of business, Keeley takes a job restoring Will's beautiful historical mansion. She gets a lot of help from her friend Austin, and a lot of interference from Will's shallow witch of a girlfriend. In the midst of all this, she is trying to solve the mystery of how and WHY her mother disappeared when she was a child. And to top it all off, she has been the only woman in her father's life for many years, but now a beautiful Asian from Baton Rouge has stepped into her father's life, and heart.

Every page is filled with low-down, dirty, fun entertainment. It has a little bit of everything; mystery, romance, comedy... just an absolutely fun read. There wasn't a single page of this book that dragged me down, or bored me. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, but especially to any female who was raised in a small southern town, like me.

Not THAT good, June 13, 2007
I bought this book because of the reviews that people wrote, but I was really disappointed. The "hissy fit" occurs at the very beginning; and the main character does something crazy with toilet water toward the middle, but that's about it. This book was actually very depressing because of her missing mother. Her engagement is over, she tries to put pieces together about her mother's whereabouts, and is concerned about a bra factory that may be closing. The end of the book is okay, but the stuff about her mom was almost too upsetting to even care about the way it concluded. I'm not so sure I'd recommend this book, but I do like others written by this author. Mary Kay Andrews also puts recipes in the back of the books, which is a very cute idea.

Pass on This One, June 12, 2005
Mary Kay Andrews wrote Savannah Blues, a book that I really really liked. Hissy Fit is the book that has convinced me to strike Andrews from my reading list.

Briefly, it's the story of interior designer Keeley Murdock, who throws a 'hissy fit' when she finds her fiancee and her maid of honor doing the deed at the country club rehearsal dinner.

This seems to be a book that tries to capitalize on the current interest in decorating and shopping that fuels HGTV. It's page after page of descriptions of furniture, rooms, shoes, clothes, food....I love all that....but this is more than even a dedicated shopper, gourmet, home decorator can take.

My suggestion? Find yourself a chocolate cupcake and a glass of milk, and just go on and turn on HGTV.

TERRIFIC VOCAL PERFORMANCE, Y'ALL, September 14, 2004
No one can throw a good old-fashioned stop light red hissy fit better than Tony nominee Isabel Keating. When she's angry, you know it. When she's oozing Southern charm, you succumb. A mighty fine vocal performance, y'all.

A former journalist for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mary Kay Andrews wowed readers with "Little Bitty Lies" - she does it again with "Hissy Fit."

Interior designer Keeley Rae Murdock is all set to walk down the aisle in what is certainly going to be the wedding of the season in Madison, Georgia. These nuptials have been planned down to the most glorious minute detail. What wasn't planned on was the groom, A.J., carrying on with the maid of honor at the rehearsal dinner. Wedding's off, and so is Kathy as she throws a fit that can be heard throughout most of our southern states.

Well, this is more excitement and gossip fodder than Madison has enjoyed in many moons. A.J.'s proud family isn't going to take this lightly so they attempt to ruin Keeley's business. Rescue arrives in the person of Will Mahoney who's just bought a local lingerie factory. He wants Keeley to redo a rundown antebellum mansion so he can woo and win the woman of his dreams.

Cash strapped, she takes on this challenging chore and along the way also discovers how to give two-timing A.J. the treatment he so richly deserves. After all, she's not a designer for nothing.

"Hissy Fit" is a fun, thoroughly enjoyable listening experience.

- Gail Cooke

Loved It!, November 3, 2006
I wish that Mary Kay Andrews had many other books like this. I couldn't put it down. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Not amazing, not terrible, January 27, 2009
I'm surprised to come here and find that most reviewers loved this book. I read "Saving Zoe" and found it to be simply written (a pro in this case), kind of bland, and not quite much of anything. I really liked some parts, while at the same time some parts bothered me immensely.

The storyline is simple. Echo's spirited older sister Zoe is gone, and Echo tries to piece her life together through her final diary entires. As she enters Zoe's world bit by bit, she finds herself in similar situations, meeting the same people, and facing similar dilemmas. She strikes up a strange relationship with Zoe's boyfriend and begins to distance herself from her former good friends.

"Saving Zoe" read realistically at times, but there were moments where plot and writing felt cheap and out of place. Zoe's diary entries often felt supremely fake (like most diary entry books), with whole quoted conversations and a writing style remarkably similar to that of Alyson Noel. What a curious coincidence.

But the story never really lifts off. I read it quickly enough but without feeling like I'd gotten close to any characters. The plot is one that's fairly common and the writing isn't special enough to warrant a read (though it's most certainly quite nice). The cover is also bewildering: how anyone can call this book "hysterical" is beyond me. It's a girl's book, no doubt, and while it's not amazing, it does have a certain charm to it. In the end, I didn't come away from it feeling like I'd enjoyed the hours spent on it. I didn't actively dislike it, but there was nothing in it for me to particularly like.

Not amazing, not terrible, and nothing out of the ordinary. "Saving Zoe" is good for teen girls looking for more substantive drama (dealing with loss, boyfriend drama, friend drama, etc.), but too flat for avid readers in search of a meaningful book to tug on heartstrings and take you to a whole new world. Take your pick.

Courtesy of Teens Read Too, December 4, 2007
Fifteen-year-old Echo has had to deal with more tragedy than anyone, regardless of age, should have to bear. Her parents' relationship is made up of alternating periods of arguments and silence. Her two best friends, Abby and Jenay, seem to be drifting apart -- from her, and from each other. She has a boyfriend named Parker, a great guy that she can't seem to work up any emotion towards. And her older sister, Zoe, is still dead and gone.

Echo and Zoe could not have been more different. Echo is diligent in her studies, quite happy to take the quiet path of least resistance. Zoe, on the other hand, had the sunny, naive disposition that led her to live life however the mood struck her. In fact, it was that same sweet and fun personality that may have led to her death.

Zoe's boyfriend, Marc, is still struggling to deal with the death of the girl he loved. However, he has something that has helped him a great deal; something that he decides to give to Echo, to help her know the sister who no longer is. Zoe left her diary with Marc the last time they were together, and he's held onto it ever since. Now it's Echo's, and, at first, she resists reading it. After all, she already knew everything there was to know about Zoe, right? Turns out, not so much.

As Echo becomes immersed in the last few months of Zoe's life, she learns that she really didn't know her sister at all. The struggles, the insecurities, the traumas that her sister faced and never spoke about -- these aren't things that Echo would have ever associated with her bright, popular sister. As she delves deeper, into both the diary and the need to be like Zoe, Echo learns that although her sister will never return, she will always live in Echo's memory -- and in the justice that Echo is determined to get in her sister's name.

Although Alyson Noel is best known for her lighter, contemporary stories, she has taken a serious, heartbreaking plot line and turned it into a winner that you'll never forget. I found myself as immersed into Zoe's life as Echo did, and found it hard to put the book down the entire time I was reading. Ms. Noel has done an awesome job with this weightier subject matter, and I hope to read more stories in this vein from her in the future.

Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"

Some pretty adult themes for a teen book, July 18, 2010
Saving Zoe: A Novel

Synopsis
In the last year, Echo's life has transformed into a nightmare. Her older sister was brutally murdered, as no one in town will let her forget. She is trying to continue living a life that no longer makes any sense to her. Then, on her birthday, she is given her sister's diary, the chronicle of her last days on earth. Reading the diary shows Echo just how much she didn't know about Zoe and the unfinished business she left behind.

Review
While Saving Zoe: A Novel was relatively short, I found it to be very engaging. After I finished reading it, I simply sat there and sorted through the feelings that the story left me with. It approached very mature topics, like sex, drugs, predators, and relationships through the medium of the diary, which I found to be very insightful. After the half way point of the book, I found it hard to put down as I wanted to know what was in that diary.

My Recommendation
I really enjoyed this book, though I wasn't a huge fan of the multitudes of emotions that it brought up. This book should be read by teens ~14+ as some of the themes are too mature for younger children.
4 - Wait for a sale/coupon

SAVING ZOE TWO THUMBS UP!, October 25, 2007
Alyson Noel has done it again! Another book thats off the charts. Saving Zoe is different from the rest of her books. This is a book you wont want to put down.
A year and a half ago Echo's sister Zoe is killed. Echo starts high school without her sister and with people talking and whispering behind her back. Until one day Zoes boyfriend Marc gives Echo Zoes diary telling her she should read it. At first Echo isnt sure, in a way she feels that she would be betraying her sister by reading it. But after a while she realizes Zoe would have wanted her to read it. Once Echo begins the diary she starts to realize she didnt know her sister as well as she thought. And the picture perfect life she always thought Zoe had. . .was about to be shattered with each page she read.
As your reading this book your sucked into the lives of Zoe and Echo. Asking yourself many questions. Like what happened to Zoe? It all comes together in the end leaving you a book that can make you laugh and make you cry. ... Read more

Editorial Review

In Pride and Prejudice Fitzwilliam Darcy begins his relationship with Elizabeth Bennet with the words: "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me; I am in no humour at present togive consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men." What would have happened if Mr. Darcy had never spoken so disdainfully? First Impressions explores how the events of Jane Austen's beloved novel would have transpired if Darcy and Elizabeth had danced together at the Meryton Assembly. Jane and Bingley's relationship blossoms unimpeded, Mary makes a most fortunate match, and Lydia never sets a foot in Brighton. Austen's witty style is authentically invoked in this playful romp from Longbourn to Pemberley. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Two Americans, Richard and Sara Everton, are the only foreigners in Ibarra. They live among people who both respect and misunderstand them, and gradually, the villagers--at first enigmas to the Evertons--come to teach them much about life and the relentless tide of fate. ... Read more

Reviews

I was deeply touched, October 19, 2000
I found Stones for Ibarra to be excellent. Previous reviews have picked it apart in ways I consider missing the forest for the trees or perhaps the mine for the ore, to stretch a metaphor. I loved Doerr's poetic prose, her lack of need to explain everything to death, her desire to not be wed to stuctures imposed by others. It was simply a sweet though somewhat dark, and compelling memoir of a woman who was just on the edge of understanding, and Doerr puts us as the reader right there with her, "feeling the place" not understanding it totally. I do understand the concerns voiced about stereotyping Mexicans, but don't agree with the reveiwer from Miami. People everywhere kill, die, whore, and suffer in their lives. But there are also priests and nuns, storekeepers and miners who sacrifice for the good of others. The reveiwer sees what he/she wants. What I saw was in spirit consistent with my experience of Mexico- that there is a certain acceptance of fate, a certain reluctance to fight the tides of life which can lead to occasional disaster, or as Sara Everton says "an accident." I think few closing lines can match "Bring stones." (Maybe Norman Maclean's "I am haunted by waters") I found myself reliving the accidents of my life, and asking myself over and over to bring stones.

No Stones Thrown, February 11, 2000
I came online to order this book for the book club I'm in in Grand Coulee, Washington (Quite a Motley Crew living along the Columbia River). I read Stones for Ibarra a year ago. It simply was one of those books that I couldn't put down. I have reflected on content in this book several times since that read. Thank goodness Harriet Doerr weaves her tale in a reasonable number of pages without submitting to the temptation to overtell or persuade. I wasn't bored and distracted like usual with many contemporary novels. This book is written beautifully. What I didn't understand intrigues me more about this book than what I did think I understood. This book merits discussion with the gals and guys of all races and creeds that read.

a flawless narrative - a minor masterpiece, September 24, 1999
The comments by some of the reviewers are instructive more about themselves than about the work they review. The reviewer from Miami states that the narrative is exactly what one would one expect from such a character recounting her experiences to,let us say, her daughter. That is exactly the point of the book. The main character is not a sociologist. She simply received impressions, as most of us do, when we travel to Mexico or Greece or Italy, without either wholesale condemnation of people who live differently from middle-class Americans, nor extensive exoneration of their behavior by recourse to sociological explication of the effects of the history of exploitation and oppression. Let us understand plainly: the narrator is not the author, but a narrative voice (a character in the story) whose observations must correspond to the limitations of her concerns and her remembrances. The narrator plainly does not have any deep understanding of Mexico (she is no Octavio Paz), but that is much of the point of the story. Much of the value of the book is precisely the revelation of the disconnect between the Americans and the Mexicans - the inability to comprehend each other. If the narrator were truly to understand the Mexicans, or they her, the whole point of the book would have been lost. The reader from Seattle, on the other hand, has taken too many literature courses: she insists on a central character and a motif - preferably some kind of symbolic motif. The narrator in the story is not apt to construct her reminiscences in such a way as to revolve them about some central motif. She herself is the central character - everything is seen through her eyes and takes significance in terms of her own fate - culminating in the death of her husband and her departure from Mexico. Mexico remains unchanged. She has not the capacity, the inclination, or the will to change Mexico, or to change herself. To insist that she be different is to demand a different book. Finally, the Miami reader says that John Steinbeck was only joking: perhaps she may recall the tale of the young Mexican woman with many children who could afford only beans for her children: the American servicemen in California took pity on her and provided meat for her children. They all took deathly sick at the change in diet, and when they recovered, she found herself pregnant again. There is humor in his work, as well as in Stones for Ibarra, but it is the kind of humor that leads to redemption: the very counterpoint of mockery and denigration. Revelation of the disconnect between cultures can lead to thoughtfulness, which is the precursor of sympathetic understanding. Let us not confuse the characters with the authors, and let us pray that Steinbeck and Doerr find the readers they deserve.

Stones for Ibarra, February 14, 1997
This is so much more than a love story, more than a memoir, more than an armchair tour of Mexico. The depth of the characters and the beauty of the narrative make this one of the best books I've every read (and I've read a bunch!) As you read the book, you know that fate is inevitable, yet you enjoy every step of the way. Living among native Mexicans, the American couple try to fit in, yet stand out. However over time they claim their own unique place in the town's community. Every minor character contributes to the novel, creating a setting that is unforgetable. The plot seems secondary to the characters and setting, yet it takes you in and sticks with you. A must read

A big mistake, January 2, 2004
Richard and Sara Everton move from a sophisticated life in San Francisco to an old adobe house in super-rural Mexico where, on some harebrained idea, they think they can make a go of it by re-opening a copper mine abandoned by Richard's grandfather. It's an idyllic dream, and there are many good moments. But from the very opening of the book, we're told Richard will die, Sara will deny their problems till the end, and they will leave Ibarra without having achieved their dreams. The range and depth of characters in the little town, the juxtaposition of one culture against another, the assimilation of the atheistic Americans into the intensely Catholic community, the gorgeous descriptions of the landscapes, and the many side stories of the myriad characters all contribute to this book's perennial popularity. One gets the sense that the author's love and affection for her characters is real.
It's a beautifully written book, and it's certainly incredible that Harriet Doerr wrote it, her first book (at least the first to be published), when she herself was already an old woman

One Of The Greatest, and Most Underrated Books of Our Time, July 9, 1999
How could a person NOT love this book? By the novel's end we can almost feel, smell, and taste the isolated town of Ibarra. Intelligent and beautifully written, Doerr's tale is at times hysterical, enigmatic, poignant, heartbreaking, and beautiful. To read this story is a captivating experience, and when Sara Everton takes the final look at her empty home, one cannot help but join in her tearful plea: "Bring, stones!"

Deeply moving, expressive, and gorgeous, October 31, 1999
I first read this book many years ago, but have read and reread it many times since. This story is one of those rare masterpieces that only grows in beauty with each reading. To this day I never fail to tear up just thinking about the story's heartbreaking end. I feel dreadfully sorry for those of you who could not enjoy this extremely rich and exquisite work of fiction. In my mind, this is one of the greatest American novels of the late twentieth century.

BEST OF THE BEST, January 22, 2003
This is one of the most beautiful novels I've ever read. Ms. Doerr's writing is lyrical, sometimes even poignant and comical in the same sentence (which is absolute magic.) Amazing writing that touched and inspired me.

A Rare Piece of Writing, September 11, 2006
"Stones For Ibarra" is really a collection of vignettes strung together loosely by two main characters, Richard and Sara Everton. They serve as "foils" in providing the author with a modern American perspective to the novel's true main character: rural Mexican life. The writing here is truly splendid (one reviewer aptly describes it as "moving and evocative") and Doerr is richly deserving of The National Book Award.

By revealing the major plot turn early in the book, Doerr declares that the narrative will take a second seat to the novel's setting and collective consciousness. It is at once an affirmation of the timeless, fatalistic nature of small town Mexico and a reflection of the futilism of American idealism. As a collection of sketches, the novel lacks fully rendered characterizations of the protagonists, the Evertons. There is very little dialogue between the two Americans and their stiff restraint in talking and thinking limits the novel. That failing aside, it's a remarkable debut for a writer (at 66 years old!)

Daily life in rural Mexico, May 31, 2005
This novel follows the experiences of Richard and Sara Everton, just over and under forty, when they move from the United States to a remote town in Mexico. There they revive the house and the mine once operated by Richard's grandfather. They intend to live there for the rest of their lives, but Richard is diagnosed with a blood disorder and given a forecast of five to six more years.

In that time, Richard and Sara build their home, the mine and their lives among the local people. After an arresting opening, beautifully describing their move to Ibarra, the book reads like a fugue, moving from one scene to another, back and forth in time, in a dreamlike state. Sara possesses an active imagination and is fond of making things up, often imaging the details in life that she fails to see.

The first few chapters are stunning, the writing drawing the reader fully into the Everton's world. Subsequent chapters were occasionally dense, losing the lightness and magic found in the opening.

Doerr successfully avoids getting bogged down in the day-to-day details of life in Ibarra, focusing instead on the most significant characters and stories she heard during her stay there. A good read overall, this is a particularly good example for people interested in travel or cultural memoirs.
... Read more

Editorial Review

A sleeper hit when first published in 1986, Jeannette Haien's exquisite, beloved first novel is a deceptively simple story that has the power and resonance of myth. The story begins on a rainy morning as Father Declan de Loughry stands fishing in an Irish salmon stream, pondering the recent deathbed confession of one of his parishioners. Kevin Dennehy and his wife, Enda, have been sweetly living a lie for some 50 years, a lie the full extent of which Father Declan learns only when Enda finally confides "the all of it." Her tale of suffering mesmerizes the priest, who recognizes that it is also a tale of sin and scandal, a transgression he cannot ignore. The resolution of his dilemma is a triumph of strength and empathy that, as Benedict Kiely has said, makes The All of It "a book to remember". ... Read more

Reviews

Don't be mislead by the few low ratings, January 3, 2000
The readers who give this book five (and four) stars have the correct take. Indeed, counting the four other people I know personally who have read the book and delighted in it, the total rating for my entry should be 25 stars. The books I've read that come closest to this one in terms of capturing the psychological atmosphere of the protagonists are Ishiguro's "The Remains of the Day" and Bausch's "The Last Good Time," although otherwise they have little substantively in common. How a reader could stop after one third of the book and know that the ending was predictable is paradoxical, to say the least. Similarly, to complain that the ending is not lurid enough surely misses the mark. As for its alleged boringness, with what is it being compared -- a James Bond film? Instead, this is a movingly told tale, with exquisitely gentle language, and two characters whose ordinary and not-so-ordinary lives intersect in a moment of revelation that has its own truth simply because of the author's tenderness in handling the plot. This slender novel is an unusual, touching accomplishment that is not soon forgotten.

A tale of two readers, October 19, 2000
It's clear that those who commented on this book either absolutely loved it or absolutely hated it. Those who loved it describe it with such words as "touching", "lyrical" and "beautiful". Those who hate it say it is "boring" and "lacking in suspense".

This should tell you that whether or not you will like this book depends solely on what you like in books. I agree that there isn't much in the way of suspense. That's not the kind of book it is. Its purpose was more to touch the heart in the way great works of art do. In that, it succeeds. I read "The All of It" three years ago and my memory of it now is more in the emotions it engendered and not in the details of the story.

What are you in the mood for? Adventure? Look elsewhere. A look at what is inside people's hearts? You've come to the right place.

Great book that taps into the inner you, July 22, 2000
While starting to read the book, I wasn't sure that it would do anything for me, in terms of touching me emotionally. After 6 hours, and having completed the book, all I can say is-"WOW! " The book was short but really to the point. Reading it transported me to Ireland into the room where Edna is telling Father Declan the story of her and her "husband". The psychological effect is really phenominal and it is truly artistic the way Jeannette Haien jumps from Father's conversations with Edna and his fishing trip. All the human emotion of the characters and their story has touched my heart and I hope that more people will read this book so that it can touch theirs.

A tale of great humanity and love., June 26, 1999
This book was recommended to me by a person whose views of literature I respect greatly. He gave me a great gift in introducing me to this powerful little book. I literally could not put it down. I was raised Irish and have visited Ireland many times. This story captures the beauty, tragedy, and intensity, as well as the sometimes breathtaking acceptance of love and pain which marks so many of the Irish. I will read this again and again.

Beautiful book for a rainy afternoon!, March 18, 2000
This is a treasure book...not to be loved by all, but by a few who love humanity. The tender mercies clearly detailed in this book will strike the souls of those who know they could falter along life's road. It is lyrical and simple...beautifully told. I read it several years ago and forgot the title. Tonight I ran into a friend in a bookstore who was looking for it and was delighted to have, at last, found the title again. This is a book to keep and return to when you are sure your sins will never be forgiven, and to learn,at the end of the day,that they will.

Put me in the "Loved It!" camp, March 19, 2001
The book was a sweet deep reminder that there is so much more to us all than meets the eye. It reminded me too, that how we see ourselves can be changed when we are least prepared for transformation. Two hours very well spent!

One of life's lessons...., January 11, 2007
A simple little book, with a compelling story, it might take a reader a bit of patience to get into the Irishness of it...patience well-rewarded.

The book title becomes clear early in the story and its significance is full of charm and humanity; I find myself using it frequently in conversations.

The story brings us to a revelation which satisfies...and then haunts the reader with its 'lesson'.... This is a wonderful example of how a story well-told reveals the reader to himself, in a way that didactic study cannot.

For me, this book is a secret that I like to share with others, when the moment is right. More than a secret, it's a treasure to discover and share.

A great novel that asks: What makes a moral life?, April 21, 1998
Witty, thought-provoking, and brilliantly written, it was one of only 2 novels listed on the "Best 10 List" by all members of the Buckhead Bibliophiles at its 25th-year anniversary. (The other was William Maxwell's "Time Will Darken It.") It's worth reading for the surprising plot alone, but at the heart of this story is the question one keeps asking long after the book is closed: What makes a moral life?

The repercussions of a moral secret, September 26, 2003
You'll either love this book, or you won't like it at all, at all. It's just that kind of story.
Put me down as having loved it. And it's short, but it's not a book to be gobbled up too quickly. Take your time.
A well-liked man in a small Irish town has died, and his deathbed confession has hurled the village priest, Father Declan, into a moral dilemma. Turns out Enda and Kevin Dennehy lived a lie for 50 years by pretending to be married. Kevin refuses to marry her at the end, and also refuses to say why. So it's left to Enda to tell Father Declan "the all of it," and tell it all she does. It leaves you pondering the question: What makes a moral life?
Don't miss this one - in fact, buy two and give one as a gift to some thoughtful reading friend.

a treasure, May 31, 2007
Deceptively simple, compelling, and thought provoking. Added to that is a fine depiction of the mood and beauty of Ireland. It all adds up to a touching novel that is well worth the short time it will take to read. It is one of those books that will stay with you.

... Read more

Editorial Review

Imogen, Lady Maitland, has decided to dance on the wild side. After all, she's in the delicious position of being able to take a lover. A discreet male who knows just when to leave in the morning.

But Lady Maitland is still under the watchful eye of herformer guardian, the wildly untamed Rafe, the Duke of Holbrook. He believes she is still in need of a "watchdog." She laughs at the idea that someone so insufferably lazy and devoted to drink can demand that she behave with propriety.

It's Rafe's long-lost brother, a man who looks precisely like the duke but with none of his degenerate edge, who interests Imogen. To Imogen, he's the shadow duke . . . the man who really should hold the title. But when Imogen agrees to accompany Gabe to a masquerade...whose masked eyes watch her with that intense look of desire? Who exactly is she dancing with? The duke or the shadow duke? Rafe . . . or Gabe?

Reviews

I agree with the naysayers, April 15, 2006
I have to agree with the reviewers who were disappointed with this book. I was disappointed with the Rafe/Imogen angle. I read this whole book expecting to see glimmers of when Imogen discovered Rafe was playing Gabe and I never saw them. We were never in Imogen's head and hearing her thoughts, so I felt sort of disgusted with her. It seemed like she really was having an affair with Gabe.

From things I have read elsewhere, I believe Ms. James realizes her error and she is backtracking trying to remedy it. For me, it is too late. I didn't like all Ms. James earlier books, but I have enjoyed the Essex sister's stories. But this one has me shaking my head. I would really like to have known that Imogen knew it was Rafe. I think that would have made some delicious scenes, where she knew it was him, but he wasn't sure if she knew. That never happened and the book came to an abrupt end. If the tidbits were there that she knew, they were very vague. I don't like to be hit over the head with something, but a few more helpful hints wouldn't have hurt. I honestly don't believe the author had any hints.

One thing I did enjoy about the book was Miss Pythian-Adams and Gabe. Their story was tremendously entertaining. When EJ gets it right, she gets it very right.

I hope Ms. James listens to her reader's comments and does a better job with Mayne's story. That is one I hope she gets right.

3 1/2 stars. Well written, but a bit of a mess . . ., May 3, 2006
While I always enjoys Ms James' writing style and her wonderful dialogue the romantic relationship here just didn't work. Well one of them did and one of them didn't as there is a "secondary" romance that is not so secondary.

Rafe is the rather blithely tipsy Duke of Holbrook who unexpectedly found himself guardian to four sisters in first in the series, MUCH ADO ABOUT YOU. He's perpetually rumpled, shaggy-haired and paunchy. He's just discovered that he has an illegitimate brother, Gabe, whom he welcomes into the family fold. Rafe is also carrying a torch for one of his wards, the impetuous widow Imogen, Lady Maitland. Unfortunately, Imogen does not share Rafe's feelings, rather his drinking and dishevelment disgust her.

Imogen has never come to terms with her husband's death, their too brief time together (a week), nor the realization that she loved her husband far more than he loved her. She is determined not to marry again and so she decides to take a lover. When Gabe arrives on the scene she sets her cap at him. Unfortunately for Imogen, Gabe's head has been turned by Gillian Pythian-Adams the fiancee from whom Imogen stole Draven, her late husband. Keeping up so far? When Imogen corners Gabe and arranges an assignation, Gabe later changes his mind and asks Rafe to take his place. And so begins the mistaken identity farce that Ms James hoped to create.

Unfortunately, I think Ms James tried to be too clever by half and tripped herself up. A Shakespearean farce works for Shakespeare, but not in a story where you are supposed to believe that these are "real" people. It was never clear to me that Imogen knew she was with Rafe instead of Gabe until well after they had had sex. Not good! And I really wondered at Rafe's self-respect to allow her to fall for him all the while thinking he was someone else. Pathetic! And, once he gives up drinking and loses a few pounds, Rafe is suddenly handsome? He was never, to my memory, described as handsome in either of the prior books in this series. Though the author attempts to convey Imogen's vulnerabilities as regards her marriage, I never warmed up to her. She was just so brittle and hard and I felt that Rafe deserved better. Personally, I had always hoped that Rafe would wind up with Josie who is so warm and down-to-earth.

On the other hand, I did enjoy the relationship between Gabe and Gillian very much. At times, their romance overshadowed Rafe and Imogen's, however. Ms James loves to coyly tease her readers by playing musical chairs with her characters but I just don't think it worked this time. Well, it looks like Josie will wind up with the world weary Mayne eventhough he supposedly has become engaged at the end of this book. I'm going to hope that Josie gets a story she deserves!

3 1/2 stars...a humorous and thoughtful read...romance a little shortchanged, but best yet of the series, April 2, 2006
This is the third book in the Essex sisters' series about four daughters of a viscount who, upon his death, are made wards of Rafe Jourdain, the handsome but frequently inebriated Duke of Holbrook. This book focuses on Imogen, who is married for only two weeks when her reckless husband is killed in an accident. It nicely redeems the troubled heroine, who up until this point in the series has been rather hard to like. It is now a year since her husband's death, a year filled for Imogen with loneliness, anger and a good deal of self-destructive behavior. She returns to Rafe's estate, determined to turn her life around. She does not feel ready to marry again, but hopes to find a man with whom to have a discreet affair. Who should also be staying with Rafe but his long lost look-alike brother Gabe. Gabe has all of Rafe's good points, but without his perpetual drunken haze, and Imogen immediately sets her sights on him.

Meanwhile, she and Rafe spend endless hours goading and tormenting one another - she over his drinking and he over her loose behavior - but it is clear that something is simmering right below the surface. They look more like a frustrated and bickering married couple than a guardian and his former ward, which is not lost on his very observant brother. So after Gabe reluctantly agrees to meet Imogen for a nighttime rendezvous, to which they are to come in disguise, he gets Rafe to take his place. Rafe's disguise gives him the courage at last to approach Imogen as more than his ward. He spends a passionate night with her and finally admits to himself that he loves her. However, Imogen thinks that her memorable encounter is with Gabe, and so the complications begin.

This story takes place against the backdrop of an amateur theatrical production of a comedy being staged at Rafe's estate, and it is a very apt setting. "The Taming of the Duke" is like a Shakespearean comedy of errors, rife with intrigues and misunderstandings, and with twin-like brothers to boot. Of course Rafe has all the most important roles, and he performs them all admirably. His effort to quit drinking is one of the most interesting aspects of the story, and lays the groundwork for his clear-eyed pursuit of Imogen. The leads' insecurities play nicely off each other to create both humorous and tender moments. The humor somewhat overshadows the romance, though, and the pretense drags on too long and is resolved too late, weakening the romantic impact. The book is well-written, however, with good dialogue and a very attractive hero. There is also a fine secondary romance involving the enigmatic Gabe, and the appealing Gillian Pythian-Adams in an encore performance.

Enjoyable and different, especially if you enjoy a flawed hero, March 12, 2007
After finishing this book I was curious to read what others thought because I found it to be quite different from other historical romances. I was somewhat dismayed by the negative remarks and was prompted to write my first review. Although I agree with some of the criticisms, I found the mentioned weaknesses (not being more privy to the heroine's thought process) didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. I should mention I haven't read the others in this series, although I plan to now. I enjoyed the book precisely because it is different from many of the historical romances I've read in the past in that the hero is quite flawed and is even somewhat physically deteriorated. His flaws are both invisible and visible. The author doesn't attempt to offset his flaws with wonderful traits and in fact showcases his undesirable side. When the heroine, Imogen, comes to the hero's "rescue", I loved that his struggles showed an ugly side. (Don't want to give away too much of the story here). And while it is true that the reader is much more privy to Rafe's thoughts than Imogen's, I was quite taken in by Rafe's struggle to become worthy of Imogen. I also enjoyed the interplay among the other characters and the Shakespearean elements. I would recommend it to anyone looking to read a historical romance that is well researched and presents a unique backdrop for the plot and features an unlikely hero. As with anything that doesn't quite fit the "mold", it won't be everyone's cup of tea. As with almost all historical romances, one has to be willing to accept some unlikely scenarios, and in this case a seriously flawed hero. I loved it and plan to pass it along to a reader who will appreciate its unique romance.

Don't bother, May 1, 2006
I debated about buying this book and I should have gone with my gut instinct. It was a waste of time. The only reason I finished the book was because I paid for it, otherwise, I would have shipped it off to the local Goodwill store. I didn't particularly like Rafe and Imogen in Kiss Me, Annabel and they were no better in their own story. If anything, I wish the book had centered more on the Gabriel/Gillian story - that was a more interesting/heartwarming storyline. Unless you find this at a used book store or at the library, I wouldn't recommend wasting your time and hard-earned cash on this one.

Truly unreadable, April 28, 2006
I bought this book for a long flight and was looking forward to a great read. I could not have been more dissapointed. I felt like I walked into conversations without any context. The first chapters with the sisters bantering back and forth was terrible.

I could not finish this book. Nothing made sense to me. I will admit that I did not read the first books in this series, but I have picked up many books in a series and while I knew I needed to go back and catch up, I understood the plot. A great author or even an okay author should be able to engage a reader anywhere in a series.

This was like watching Matrix 2 without seeing or understanding the first one.

I really wanted to like this book, April 3, 2006
I will refrain from summerizing the plot, as many other reviewers have done a fine job.

All I have to say is that I really, really wanted to like this book, and I was really looking forward to it, for I loved Imogen's and Rafe's interaction in Kiss Me, Annabel. The first half of this book was decent, and I enjoyed it; however, something happened in the second half. The characters seemed to lose their wit and edge. I found myself trying to stay awake and wondering if (and when) the story was going to be resolved.

I don't know what happened, but this story just stopped drawing me in, and when I finished, I was disappointed, for I was expecting a much better story than the one I read.

Having said all this, I have to admit that this book might have been better if I hadn't had such high expectations for it.

no taming, but really lame, April 1, 2006
this book was so badly written. i couldn't understand how the two main characters fell in love with each other. in the other books as supporting characters they had more meat to them than in their own book. several scenes in this book had sooooo much potential to expand into something more, but the author never expanded and explored those possibilities. the ending was so rushed, when i was reading it i thought to myself "huh?!!! that's it?!!!" the way james wrapped up the ending was so lazy. not worth the time and money at all.

Suffering through the romances of Imogen Essex in Taming the Duke, January 17, 2007
For some time now, I've had people recommend to me the writings of Eloisa James. Set in England's Regency period (1790-1820), they tend to be light novels of romance, courtship and a scandal or two that usually involve a hero and heroine overcoming various difficulties to have everything come right at the end. More often than not, this formula is rocky at best, having been done over so many times that what the reader ends up with is a soppy, tangled story that is riddled with cliches and outright foolishness.

And over the years, I've gotten rather jaded with historical romances. Most of what's out there aren't much more than thinly disguised erotica with characters wearing fancy dress and speaking in modern idiom. And sadly, James is fitting into this category for me. Midway through this one, I was sorely tempted to just fling this into the rubbish and give up.

In the previous two novels in this series about the four Essex sisters, Imogen, the third sister, has hogged most of the narrative and story. In the first novel, she ran off impetuously with a young man, Draven Maitland, only to have him killed off in a racing accident. In the second novel, widowed Imogen spent most of the plot behaving outrageously and trying to get some man to have an affair with her. Now, finally, it seems that Imogen is going to get a story all her very own, and settle down with some appropriate nobleman by the end. But wait, wait, dear reader, there's more! For James needs to muddy things up, as we get to see right from the beginning.

Imogen's would-be guardian, Rafe, the Duke of Holbrook, didn't want to take charge of the four Essex girls, and now it seems that he has more family problems to take care. Seems his late father had a mistress who he was quite passionate about, and Rafe has a brother that's a few days apart in age. Gabriel Spenser has grown up quite aware of who his father was, and has managed to make something of himself -- he's a professor of Divinity at Cambridge, and he would have never come to his half-brother save for one small problem.

Gabe has an illegitimate child of his own, a little daughter named Mary, and he wants Rafe to insure that she grows up with all of the privileges of a duke's niece, bastard or not. And to have that happen, Gabe wants to make things right by Mary's mother -- Loretta is a noted actress in London, but her pregnancy caused her to loose the limelight, and Gabe feels that a successful private theatrical, attended by high society would be just the thing to get her noticed. Unfortunately for Rafe, having family responsibilities like this means that he has to clean up his act, and that means no more whiskey drinking before noon and spending his time lazing about in an alcoholic haze.

To make things worse, one of the people who is coming to help with the play is none other than Gillian Pythian-Adams, the young lady that Imogen's late husband was engaged to before he met Imogen. And Imogen, in her sad-sack whining over her lost husband, is there at Holbrook, looking about for a new husband or at very least a lover to take her mind off of her loss.

As the readers can quickly figure out for themselves, Imogen is interested by Gabe, who isn't interested in her, but in Gillian; Gillian is seeking to bag the Duke for herself, and Rafe is pining for his lost whiskey. In between all of this would-be matchmaking, James introduces a subplot involving a little known play called The Man of Mode and uses some of the story to have the various characters reciting lines to each other. And that's about the most interesting part of the story.

Every now and then things heat up, especially between Gabe and Gillian, but as for Imogen and Rafe, I want to smack them both silly. Rafe is a drunk, pure and simple, and while I admire James' attempt to put a serious note in her story by having him dry out and turn his life around, I found it very hard to take at all seriously. I know through unhappy history that conquering alcohol is a long, uphill battle with setbacks and slipping, and requires nerves of steel and people to help you along the way. Having the hero decide to no longer drink -- and yet still keep having people around him drinking -- was simply too much to handle. The required suspension of belief was just too much to take in this one, and the novel turned from mildly interesting to an outright bore.

While James does do research into the period, and I liked her use of a little known comedy to base part of the story on, the rest of it has the feel of an author who just was tossing whatever she wanted into the story, and not even trying to stay within the times and styles of the Regency period. Which is a pity, as it was a rather straightlaced society that liked to play at being bad, and where a well-turned phrase and wit could really make a person stand out. It was cultured, well bred and literate, but there's little to see of any of that in this one.

Other authors have written far better stories about alcohol addiction, with Mary Jo Putney's The Rake and the Reformer being the best of the lot, set in the same time period, and recently reprinted under the title The Rake.

Summing up, this is a dreary bore of a book. I don?t recommend it, unless wading through the self-pity of the two main characters is your style. The previous two books in the series were so-so, with only the first one being at all interesting, and sadly, there's a fourth book, Pleasure for Pleasure, that is waiting to be read, as I am the sort who feels that an author should be given a fighting chance. But I have a hunch that it will be the last book I read by Eloisa James.

Silly caperings, much whining, alcohol abuse, contrived romance, and other meanderings that really needed an editor to bring the author to heel and to focus on the story, rather than just tossing in this and that to pad the writing. Not Recommended.

If only the author focused more on the main characters, June 23, 2006
The third installment in Eloisa James novels about four impoverished Scottish sisters hoping to marry well in England, this is the story of Imogen, the most headstrong of the quartet.

Still coming to terms with being so abruptly widowed after only two weeks of marriage, Imogen decides to dance on the wild side. And what better way to prove her independence and further annoy her guardian than to take a lover. The problem is when the said guardian starts to develop a un-guardian like protectiveness over her.

As a second born, Rafe never had to worry about the proper etiquette and behavior expected from an heir to a vast ducal property. Thus, when he loses his older brother and inherited the title, it was like being thrown into unknown territory to which he has no real interest for. Oh well, that's what brandy and whiskey are there for, right? Then one day, he suddenly finds himself the legal guardian to the Essex sisters. While he could handle the three, Imogen proves to be a real pain in the backside. What, with her antics and obsession for a horse-mad lord; then now she's got it in her head to take a lover and actually flaunt it to the whole ton. Yet what Rafe could no longer deny is the fact that his annoyance really stems from his jealousy over the idea of Imogen being with another man.

After reading the first two books (MUCH ADO ABOUT YOU and KISS ME, ANNABEL) I had pretty high expectations for Imogen's story, especially since she ends up with Rafe. Sadly, I have to agree with the average rating of 3.5 stars. This book is indeed average. My primary issue about the first two books was how Imogen overshadowed the main characters; yet in this book, the author has once again decided to add other characters and sub-plots that made the story rather cluttered. I also didn't buy Imogen's ignorance about the real identity of whom she was sleeping with. When you get to the part where she finds out, her lack of surprise was rather unconvincing because nothing was ever mentioned about her having any doubts.

THE TAMING OF THE DUKE was an average book that has its wonderful moments, and there could have been more if the author focused on Imogen and Rafe and play up their verbal sparring and confrontations. Now there is a lot of promise with the youngest sister, Josie, who I have a feeling (and wishing) will end up with Mayne despite the age gap. And I am hoping for a really good story. ... Read more

Editorial Review

The first step-by-step guide to choosing a life partner based on sexual, practical, and emotional compatibility

In every romantic relationship, men and women alike wonder whether their love will stand the test of time. In this unconventional guide, Sam R. Hamburg, Ph.D., explains how to eliminate the guesswork and pick the right romantic partner. Basing his findings on hundreds of cases in his twenty-five years as a marital therapist and thirty years in his own marriage, Dr. Hamburg shows that in the best unions partners are deeply compatible in all areas -- from sex to daily decision making to beliefs about life.

With an innovative approach, Dr. Hamburg guides couples in understanding how compatible they are in each dimension and he empowers them to make important relationship decisions that are intellectually and emotionally informed. Written in a clear and direct style, Will Our Love Last? teaches couples at any stage of commitment how to avoid mistakes and find lasting love. ... Read more

Reviews

A Self Help Book I Can Recommend to My Patients, June 24, 2000
As a partner in a successful marriage of 21 years, I am not often drawn to "self help--relationship" books. In my role as a primary physician I do, however, see the sad fallout of marriages that do not last. Thus it was on the recommendation of a colleague that I read Dr. Hamburg's book.

In a very logical and readable format Dr. Hamburg outlines characteristics that are central to the success of a marriage. His central premise is that COMPATIBILITY is the key to a long-lasting relationship. This need not mean sameness, but rather a pattern of beliefs, goals and lifestyle that meshes with that of one's partner. Much of the emphasis of COMMUNICATION - style and ability to communicate - is misplaced, Hamburg contends. Couples may communicate very well but deliver messages that are inherently incompatible.

Dr.Hamburg thus focuses on specific attributes of each partner and of their relationship.Too often, he points out, decisions are deferred which will make or break a marriage -- the most obvious being the decision whether to have a family. In a humorous but pointedly pertinent chapter he outlines "bad news" characteristics -- red flags that are destined to predict failure but are often overlooked. At the same time Dr. Hamburg develops a construct of three dimensions which each contribute to the success of a marriage -- "physical," "practical," and "wavelength." By combining examples, exercises and questions for partners to ponder together he maps out a way to ask the questions that will help a couple achieve an understanding of the level of their own compatibility.

There aren't many self-help books that I can recommend to may patients without reservation, but this is definitely one.

This Book Will Last, May 18, 2000
As a psychologist, I am always on the lookout for a book that I can recommend to my clients. It is rare that I find one. This is one of very few books that I will tell my clients about and will personally reread. Too many self-help books offer up one or two ideas and then some advice. Helpful, but not enough. This book is different. The reader will learn to think about their relationship, love and compatibility in a clear but deep way. This will enhance communication, and for many, help them to be closer. For others, it will help them make some difficult decisions regarding the long term prospects of their relationship. Dr. Hamburg writes in a clear, very frank manner. He shows insight, compassion and simple wisdom. This is a great book!

Married? New love? Looking for love? You should read this, December 3, 2000
The author presents a fairly straightforward theory of how he's seen compatibility relate to long term marital happiness and stability. He breaks it down to three areas: practical, sexual and wavelength. I've thought a lot in the past about the way I relate or don't relate in relationhships, but reading this book I had a number of "aha" moments where I felt like this makes real sense. I've discussed his ideas with a number of friends and the consensus is he's right on. The great thing is that after you read this I'll bet you'll feel compelled to talk about these ideas with friends and more importantly your lover. It's an easy, accessible read that I would see as invaluable to people looking for love or married for years.

Most useful relationship book I've found..., December 26, 2005
I've read a lot of books on relationships, compatability and love. This book was the most practical, straightforward, realistic and helpful. What impressed me most about this title was the author's ability to simplify a very complex topic. He also considered dimensions of compatability that are often difficult to define, but that are crucial to forming a good long term relationship. The author also included deceptively simple exercises for couples that allowed them to access not only their thinking about a particular area of compatability, but more importantly their felt sense of it. In short, this book helps cut through confusion in the area of love. It is well worth the cost and it is quite different that most books of the same genre, which I have often found to be very similar to each other. It is clear that this author has many years of experience counseling real couples with difficult compatability issues. I also appreciated that the book did not include too many case studies or examples. I have found many case-study approach type books to read more like a novel than a helpful tool to work with a problem, perhaps this is a personal bias. In short, this book is a very useful tool for understanding an existing relationship or as a benchmark guide for dating compatability. It also achieves its goal without a lot of unnecessary text or redundant stories about other couples.

Thoughtful, practical and accessible, June 27, 2000
This is a wonderfully practical guide for couples - full of wisdom, common sense and humor. Hamburg's three dimensional model for assessing couple compatibility helped me to understand why we reach some of the impasses we do with our partners. The questions will aid any couple in making a frank and open-eyed appraisal of their basic compatibility, a step which is often neglected in the emotional intensity of a young love relationship. As a marital therapist, I appreciate Hamburg's simple, yet thoughtful, questions and clinical examples as an aid to couples in sifting through their questions and doubts about their choice of a partner. As with any self-help volume, the emphasis is on a particular approach - in this case cognitive and behavioral techniques. In my view the only shortcoming of this book is an under-emphasis on examining the role of individual limitations - such as personality disorders and unresolved family events - in the perpetuaion of couple conflict. That said, I will continue to enthusiasticaly recommend Will Our Love Last? to many of the couples I see in the office as well as those I know personally.

This is a MUST HAVE for all couples, pre & post marriage!, October 1, 2000
Samuel Hamburg answered so many questions I had about love and feelings, I couldn't put the book down. His theories about what makes love last and why some couples, even when both of them seem like nice people, aren't right together. This book can save couples the mistakes that many others have made. It may also help struggling couples who don't know why they're having problems. I know it's helped me. I just wish I had this book years ago. It should be REQUIRED READING FOR ALL PEOPLE CONTEMPLATING MARRIAGE! READ IT TODAY!

Hardcover Keeper, July 5, 2000
Have no hesitation about buying Sam Hamburg's clear, realistic, and thoroughly engaging guide to understanding relationships, esp. marriage. He wisely acknowledges your experience with relationships of all kinds (romantic and non-romantic), gives excellent guidelines for understanding what you need from a relationship, and gives likewise excellent guidelines for the dynamics of the relationship itself. I am glad I did not wait until this book made it to paperback--it is one I am glad to have in hardcover. I would STRONGLY urge anyone considering taking the vows to read this book!

Enduring love, June 28, 2000
This is a hopeful, helpful book about your chances for a lifelong relationship. Its starting point is a warning that "communication is not enough." People who communicate very well may not be truly compatible with each other. Helping you find out if you will be compatible for life with the person you love is the purpose of this book. Compatibility is not easy to recognize, but Dr. Hamburg's lively mix of anecdotes and explanations help you think about the many sources of compatibility. This is a wonderful book for parents who want to understand their children's romances, for young people on the lookout for a perfect match, and for people who want to think about why a good relationship went bad.

A smart look at relationships, October 9, 2008
According to the author, there are 3 dimensions necessary for a successful relationship. They are:

1 -- the Practical dimension
This is about how well you live and work together.
Are you someone who moves quickly or slowly?
Are you an early riser or a night owl?
Is your decorating style Sleek Modern or Cluttered Country?
These may sound like petty, insignificant issues, but on a daily basis, if you and your partner are way off on this dimension, you could easily grate on each other's nerves.

2 - the Sexual dimension
This goes beyond sexual attraction to include sexual style.
Do you like quiet, missionary style sex or loud, try-every-position-imaginable sex?
Do you like sex once a day or once a month?
If you and your partner are way off on this dimension, then both of you will feel frustrated. The partner who wants less sex will feel like a spoilsport and the partner who wants more sex will feel like they are on a sex diet.

3 - the Wavelength dimension
This is about the meeting of the minds.
Is your sense of humor quietly witty or loud and raunchy?
If the baby's crying, is it best to pick them up or let them cry it out?
How do you feel about eating meat?
In an ideal world, we would all be able to kindly accept each other's differences in values and opinions. In reality, though, when someone disagrees with a value we hold dearly, we tend to think that person is naive, crazy, or stupid...and respect goes out the window.

According to the author, dissatisfied couples are couples who only have one or two of these dimensions present.
That's not to say you and your partner have to be twins (some difference is healthy because it allows you to grow and makes the other person interesting) but just close enough so that the ratio of good times outweighs the bad times. I agree with the author's outlook and consider this book to be a smart look at relationships.

This Book Saved Me From Marrying the "Wrong" Person, June 18, 2008
This book helped me understand why I couldn't say yes to someone who seemed like the perfect spouse for me "on paper" and to most of my family and friends. It clearly lays out the most important aspects of compatibility and helped me realized that my little issues with my ex-boyfriend were actually significant problems that would have led to a less than harmonious problems. It also helped give me the confidence to walk away from the relationship even though most above mentioned family and friends couldn't understand why I would do so. A couple of years later I met someone who I am very compatible with and now we have two kids and a very happy marriage. I often recommend this book to single friends and all have benefited from reading the book. Definitely the best $15 I have ever spent! ... Read more

Editorial Review

Carley is young, inexperienced and in love. She breaks the rules, is about to make love. Interrupted by Officer O’Holleran and a visit to the sheriff’s office, she goes home with her mother. Instead of new exciting feelings on her backside in the back of a truck, she experiences old exciting feelings on her backside at home. A Christian mother, a Christian daughter, one learns the value of virtue; her life is changed by appropriate discipline. Paddling, spanking, corporal punishment is becoming a crime, wrong, evil. Is it? God prescribes it in all the major religions. Is God wrong? What is wrong, is doing it incorrectly. The purpose of these stories is to show the right way, the non-abusive way to correct---by example. Hurting a child, spanking in anger, using a tool that can cause injury, these are wrong. Spanking with love is not. Causing tears of repentance and correction in order to avert tears of a life irreparably damaged is right, not wrong. 6,025 words ... Read more

Editorial Review

Third Fable for Our Times by Carol Lynn Pearson shows the love and bond that is eternal between a mothers and daughters. ... Read more

Reviews

The Perfect Mother-Daughter Gift, December 29, 2001
If you have a daughter, particularly one who is on the brink of womanhood and preparing to leave or has already left the nest, this is the perfect book to give her. In other words, if you have a daughter 18 or over, give her this book immediately. You may even want to read it with her, but be warned that you will both shed a joyful tear or two. This short, picture-book for adults tells the story of a mother and child and the lessons they learn. Sadly, even a mother's love cannot protect a child against all life's hardships, but the irrevocable truth still stands: there is no greater love than that of a mother for a daughter and the nurturing love that melds into true friendship as years go by is a shared gift. Treasure this little book as you read it for a few minutes with your own daughter, and hold its message in your heart forever.

Growing Up and Away, October 11, 2000
This was a wonderful, lovely book -- one that I plan to give as Christmas gifts to all of my friends and relatives who are the mothers of daughters. I have read it over and over, as has my soon-to-be-married daughter, with tears in our eyes.

The truths contained in this tiny book are universal. I have loved watching my daughter grown to adulthood and become my dearest friend, growing in my shadow but always being her own person.

I absolutely ADORED this book! Thank you, Carol, for writing it!

PERFECT FOR MOTHERS DAY, March 31, 2000
MS. PEARSON CAPTURES THE ESSENCE AND COMPLEXITY OF THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP IN 32 SHORT PAGES. MY MOTHER AND DAUGHTERS WILL ALL BE RECEIVING COPIES THIS YEAR. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST FABLE IN THIS SERIS, "THE LESSON", BE SURE TO ADD IT TO YOUR SHOPPING CART. IT'S THE BEST!

It speaks directly to Mother/Daughter relations, November 7, 2001
I took this tiny book straight to heart. It said many of the things I wish I could explain to my daughter--about trying to give her full independence, yet never being able to stop being "her mother." Of course, I had to send a copy to my daughter--who read it aloud to her roommate--and they shed a few tears over the sentiments. Excellent communication!

For anyone with a daughter, read with a tissue!, March 24, 2003
My mother has always loved books by Carol Lynn Pearson; I think one reason is that she named her daughters Lynne & Carol (and we used to be Pearsons)! By far, this is my favorite Pearson book. Recommended by an Amazon friend, I bought this book for my mother who has always lived thousands of miles from me. As luck would have it, my daughter was visiting me when I started reading this lovely little story. From the very beginning, I knew this book was written about us. The tears started flowing on the first page and didn't stop until the last page of this poignantly written "Fable For Our Times." WILL YOU STILL BE MY DAUGHTER? is actually a parable about an acorn that falls from a beautiful, strong oak. The oak loves her daughter and wants to protect her from pain and disappointment. However, as in real life, we can only hope that our children will have the strength (roots) to persevere.

There is a special bond between a mother and her daughter and this book celebrates that bond. You must read this beautiful keepsake with your daughter, especially if she is going through a difficult time. I now need to buy another copy of this book for my mother. I loved this touching tale and recommend it to all mothers. Put it somewhere handy so it can be read over and over!

Touching and True, April 23, 2002
I bought this book for my mom while on my first vacation away from her in California. I was 18 years old and for quite sometime had been struggling with her issues of letting go. Because of this book I finally understood that she was also struggling with having to let go and I learned to be a little more patient. I think she too realized that although she couldn't always protect me, I would still be her daughter.

Mothers' Love 101, October 21, 2001
As a daughter, and as the mother of a beautiful, self reliant daughter I was touched by the intimacy this story evoked. How often have I had these very thoughts. It captured my heart, and sent me (in tears) to that place deep within, that each woman reserves for her own store of childhood memories. This book is a mirror- It confirms and affirms my mother's intense, fierce love for me, because I feel that same intense, fierce devotion to my daughter. What a connecting thread!!!! Get three copies of this book, one for your mother, one for daughter and one for yourself.

CHARMING!, May 17, 2004
My mom and I, unfortunately, do not see eye-to-eye..... yet this book made each of us choke up. It's a keeper. ... Read more

Editorial Review

Reviews

Most interesting, thought-provoking, and fun., September 7, 2009
Sorry to be so short but my review title says it all. The ladies describe a totally different world. ... Read more

Editorial Review

A New York Times Bestseller Author

Jeremy Marsh is living in the tiny town of Boone Creek, North Carolina, married to the love of his life, and anticipating the birth of their daughter. But a mysterious message re-opens old wounds and sets off a chain of events that will forever change the course of this young couple's marriage. ... Read more

Reviews

Happy, sad story about life, love and loss, November 5, 2005
Written in that special way that only Nicholas Sparks can, At First Sight is a must read. If you and your love are contemplating marriage, you can learn a lot from this book. I especially liked Jeremy's father's advice to him and Doris's advice to her granddaughter, Lexie. To get the full effect of this story, I recommend that you read True Believer by Sparks. It is the precursor to this book and by reading it you will better understand what happens in the continuing love story between big city (New York) boy, Jeremy Marsh, and small town (Boone Creek, North Carolina) girl, Lexie Darnell. I learned to like Lexie much better in AFS. When she listens to her grandmother, she grows.

Nicholas Sparks's writing seems to come so naturally. His dialog is believable and well thought out. The scenes he describes come to life and he can make the reader laugh, sigh or cry as appropriate to the moment about which he's writing. I don't want to give away any of this story other than to say it's about the struggle to adjust to one another when a couple that knows each other only a short time decides to marry. They have so much to learn about one another (which is why it is generally believed that couples know each other a couple of years before taking that long walk down the aisle). There is love, devoted friendship, anger, jealousy, betrayal, and deep sadness in this story. When I finished it, I just sat for a time and reflected on all it meant: its beauty; the ah-hahs I felt when I read sequences that I could identify with personally...the ones that made me laugh or sigh, and those that brought tears to my eyes.

If you're thinking about a gift for the holidays, I'd recommend giving True Believer and At First Sight as a package to a good friend who enjoys stories of life, love and romance (by the way, the title for this book is most fitting).

Carolyn Rowe Hill

A tortured journey...for the reader, June 30, 2006
*Note: This review contains storyline spoilers.

Nicholas Sparks is one of the few contemporary writers I follow. That said, I'm thinking of cutting my ties after reading this book. I am all for sad endings, but they are not always appropriate simply in the name of the "Kleenex" factor, or in the hopes of pumping out yet another Hollywood tearjerker. I felt as if the entire 600-page saga was a total waste of time after finishing At First Sight--we suffered with Jeremy and Lexie through an endless onslaught of arguing, getting to know one another AFTER the ring was on her finger, and all sorts of lies/omissions of truth sprinkled throughout. And for what? A maudlin, contrived scene in the last three pages of the book? In hindsight, the ending was also a bit too predictable, seeing as how the introduction of the book pretty much gave it away.

My other problem with this book was Lexie herself. Perhaps it was a manipulation on Sparks' part, writing the second novel almost entirely from Jeremy's point of view (except for one scene between Lexie and her grandmother, Doris), but I often found myself downright annoyed with her. She lied to Jeremy twice and didn't tell him about her past even after Jeremy had opened up and told her about his fertility problem in True Believer. I felt such disparity in their relationship--Jeremy was expected to give himself completely to her, while she kept secrets and nagged at him incessantly. What person wouldn't break under such constant pressure after turning his life upside down for another person (who never had to make any sacrifices to be with him)? Sparks didn't redeem her until the last arc of the story (the latter half of her pregnancy), which dragged on far too long and seemed to be nothing more than filler. Moreover, some of the bedtime scenes during their early marriage, during which she would run hot and cold on him and expect him to be fluent in her convoluted body language, did nothing to help her already-damaged character. I didn't find any of her nagging to be charming (in one scene, she nags him when he wants to order a porterhouse steak at a restaurant, so he orders the figure-friendly tuna instead--at which point, she says mournfully, "Oh, I was hoping you would order the steak so that I could try a bite.")--in fact, it was woefully childish. Sparks presented a very simplistic, hackneyed view of marriage and the communication divide between men and women--it almost makes you wonder how the same writer produced such rich, complex couples as Noah/Allie and Garret/Theresa.

Jeremy's rift with Alvin was another glaring weakness in this story. It came out of nowhere, and Sparks simply dropped it a few pages later. The narrative presented a very one-sided view of what Alvin did, which, while manipulative, was an expression of concern for his friend. The truth was, Lexie did lie to him, and Alvin erred only in the way he chose to help Jeremy. The book ends without ever reexploring their lost friendship, which I don't "buy," since he was Jeremy's confidant in both books.

Honestly, I feel as if Sparks tried twice to pull off a Shreve-ian twist at the end here (first with the Alvin storyline, and then at the end of the book), and failed in the execution. Sometimes, bittersweet doesn't work. In the case of a two-volume, 600-page saga with limited character development and loose plot ends, it definitely didn't work for me. In the end, Sparks tried to dress up the Jeremy/Lexie relationship with the trappings of the supernatural to compensate for the lack of actual chemistry between them--but their relationship didn't stand out to me at all. The only thing ghastly about their love story was how long it dragged out and how little payoff there was for the reader in the end.

Wish I never read it, January 17, 2006
Hi, I bought this book in September and just finished it in January. I know there was not as much time to read because of the holidays...but I dreaded picking up the book, it did not hold my attention. The ending made me raise my voice to I dare him write such a cheap ending...and all that detail about the prgenancy itself..to much info. I will not give up on him and I do have the Wedding on my desk right now, I still have faith, Take your time we would rather have less of really good writing, then a whole bunch of cra...

What happened to Nicholas Sparks?, August 28, 2006

Like True Believer, this book moved along quickly and superficially, without supporting details to add depth and interest. It didn't draw me into an emotional connection to the characters, and I didn't grow to care enough about them to be moved or saddened by what happened to them in the end. I am not convinced that Jeremy and Lexie were truly in love and belonged together. They seemed so wrong for each other, always fighting and unable to get along at all. He was unhappy and depressed throughout the story while she was uncompromising and not very likable. It made their relationship and everything else seem meaningless and pointless. I totally understand what compelled Alvin to go to the extremes he did to try and knock some sense into his friend because I found myself just as exasperated with Jeremy.

This book, and the one before it, doesn't live up to the high standard Nicholas Sparks set with his previous masterpieces, all of which moved me to tears and evoked very powerful feelings about characters that lived in my heart long after their story ended.

Nicholas Sparks at his best, August 27, 2006
Wow...i made a point 3 years ago,when i first picked up a Nicholas Sparks novel (A Walk To Remember)that i was going to read all his other works as well. The last one i got to read was At First Sight and boy was I glad that this was the order i had chosen because that was an ending to what i have viewed as a magnificent journey in love, loss and life. Nicholas Sparks has never disappointed me when it comes to his style of writing and even though i have predicted some of his endings before (not that it took the thrill away from the novel) this one completely threw me and my tear ducts for a loop. This completely epitomized how love should be and as i read Lexie and Jeremy's journey i too felt as though i was in love with them. If you are looking for a feel good book that touches the heart this is definitely for you. Sparks doesn't stray from his small-town formula but he definitely keeps you wanting more.

Read 'True Believer' first if you want to know what's going on., July 3, 2007
I didn't realize that 'At First Sight' was essentially a sequel to True Believer. Right from the beginning, it rang hollow with me and the characters didn't seem very well fleshed out. I frankly had a hard time accepting why this great guy from New York would give up his fabulous life for a woman like Lexie. She was irritating, high maintenance, childish, bratty, selfish- and the list goes on. I just couldn't envision their relationship, and from the plot line, evidently, his friends had a hard time with it too. At any rate, this irritating scenario transpired over many pages, and I kept thinking- "Is there going to be some sort of SOMETHING happening?" because it was really needing it. Needless to say, Nicholas Sparks has an easy-going writing style, and his stories always end up with a cloyingly sweet finish, so getting through the book wasn't a problem- understanding the characters was. It seems as though he was trying to evolve a plot line that just wasn't there. It now, however, makes sense to me that I did not understand the dynamics of the characters or why he loved the woman in this story so much, because I had not read the first book, 'True Believer.' Now that it's too late to go back, I would definitely recommend that a person read that book first, and then maybe 'At First Sight' would hold more credibility and understanding. It started out not making sense, and it ended that way for me. It wasn't the worst book in the world, but I didn't love it either.

Malevolence Wins the Day, January 8, 2006
Unlike The Notebook, which is a beautiful love story, this story gets you hooked by pretending it shares the same benevolent, happy sense of life as that book--and then bashes you in the face with a tragic and totally arbitrary ending. I have never been so disappointed or felt so betrayed. Unless you enjoy tragedy, I recommend skipping this book entirely. If the author has now turned malevolent, check out any further books by Sparks before you buy them.

good read, September 10, 2007
I did not realize this book was a sequel when I purchased it. I bought it while on vacation. I thought most of the book was rather slow moving and not really attention grabbing. I am not sure if this is because it was a sequal, and the characters were more fully developed and described in the preceding book, which I did not read. I thought the book was going to be very precitable, but the ending really shocked me. I should have seen it coming, having read other Sparks books, and the endings usually are really good.
For a book that I had a hard time picking up at first, I have to say that by the end I had a hard time putting it down.

Predictable and poorly written, February 14, 2006
The book is bad. In fact, after about 1/3 of it, I'm giving up. The internal dialogue is adolescent in its immaturity, and it is frustratingly repetitive. Where the story is going is obvious from the first chapter, and when I flipped ahead to see if it was as trite and predictable as I thought, indeed it was. Take a pass on this one. I recommend The Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night-Time--which also has a story that is without surprises, but is a very well-written book from the point of view of an autistic boy who offers amazing insights into "normal" behavior.

An easy read with a strong emotional impact, November 2, 2005
True to his previous novels, Nicholas Sparks has produced AT FIRST SIGHT in a similar style and pattern. The book is character-driven, with the emotional impact that protagonists in THE NOTEBOOK, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, THE GUARDIAN and THE WEDDING have left on readers. Jeremy Marsh, who we met earlier this year in TRUE BELIEVER, has a problem that he cannot solve. He is a writer by profession and has a syndrome called writer's block.

While successfully writing for a scientific magazine and living in New York City, Jeremy took an assignment in Boone Creek, a tiny community in North Carolina. There he met Lexie Darnell, the local librarian, and put to test the ancient theory that "love at first sight" is possible. As the action picks up in AT FIRST SIGHT, Jeremy is abandoning his friends, apartment and cushy job in New York to make the move to the tiny rural town. After a whirlwind courtship, one night of sexual bliss and Lexie's revelation a bit later that she is pregnant, Jeremy proposes marriage. His life changes from that day forward.

Facing deadlines from his editor on a column and new feature stories, Jeremy sits at the computer day after day, producing nothing. His professional skills have disappeared and no words come forth. In the meantime, Lexie's focus is on the wedding and baby. Her aunt Doris, who has raised her from childhood, is somewhat of a psychic and can predict the sex of the unborn. Lexie is convinced that her baby will be a girl.

Emotionally burned in a previous marriage, Jeremy is not certain that fatherhood is a right path. He has escaped the situation and doubts his ability to perform the fatherly rites associated with the status. In fact, he has loathed the idea to this point. Sparks writes with clarity the emotion that Jeremy experiences; one concludes that the author may have lived through such uneasiness, or may have had close-knit ties to someone in a similar situation.

Sparks's young newlyweds face the tests of instant marriage and subsequent parenthood with the joys and pitfalls that all lovers must endure. Jeremy's life change is more dramatic than his wife's; she lives in a comfort zone in familiar territory with family and friends, while Jeremy finds that adapting to a total change of circumstances is the challenge of his life. His career threatens a freefall, and emotional stability becomes nonexistent. Lexie's emotions run the roller-coaster of pregnancy, but she remains a constant source of stability to him.

In this novel, Sparks attempts to answer the question, "How well do we really know the ones we love?" He writes of love, betrayal, endings that bring new beginnings, tragedies that lead to joy, and the insights of everlasting love. The story could have been a betrayal of the "manliness" so rampant in today's society, but the author redeems Jeremy's character with soulful insight and strengthens him by book's end. AT FIRST SIGHT is an easy read that should join Sparks's earlier novels in stature.

--- Reviewed by Judy Gigstad ... Read more

Editorial Review

Dogs Are Better Than Men

1. They never brag about their ex's stunning cleavage.
2. They don't moan or sulk if you're a half-hour late.
3. They never tell you a Brazilian would really turn them on.

After her most recent disaster with the King of the Unrepentant Jerks, Isabel "Izzy" Palmer is finally convinced that the only male she truly needs in her life is Henry, her lovable part wolfhound, part who-knows-what. Henry's faithful, he adores her madly, and he's great fun to sleep with. So who needs the additional heartache?

But even armed with powerful knowledge and a new resolve, Izzy starts to feel that familiar itch ... and it's all because of Nick. He's a vet for goodness sake -- confident, handsome and compassionate -- if a bit rough around the edges. After teasing her about Henry's unusual looks and questioning her most recent choice in men, Nick then has the gall to turn halfway charming. But he doesn't stop at halfway, and though she already has a best friend, Izzy realizes it doesn't preclude her from having a perfect match, too.

Reviews

Wonderful chick lit, September 23, 2003
Elizabeth Young is one of the very best chick lit authors; her books sparkle with subtle humor and romance. Her heroines are funny, likable and believable, and while they may get into scrapes, they are never stupid or annoying like so many lesser heroines in this genre. Ms. Young's latest, A Girl's Best Friend, does not disappoint. In addition to the marvelous human characters, there's a large, lovable dog too. What more can you ask for?

A Girl's best friend is...., September 12, 2003
A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND by Elizabeth Young

Henry is Isabel Palmer's best friend - and he's a dog. He helps her land the man of her dreams in A GIRL'S BEST FRIEND, the latest novel by Elizabeth Young. Another book under the genre "chick lit", it is probably one of the better ones I've read this year so far.

"Izzy", as many call her, is currently dating Leo, who happens to have some baggage attached to him. He's divorced, has children, and seems to spend more time with the Ex and the kids than Isabel. But she perseveres, knowing that dating a once-married man means she will always be second to his children. She doesn't seem to mind too much that he isn't always reliable to show up on a date, but she knows that he's got other important obligations. However, when Leo cancels at the very last minute a very important party in which he was to meet all her good friends, Isabel has a fit. This is the absolute last straw!

So, Isabel attends the weekend sleepover party without Leo, and ends up meeting Nick, a very good friend of Rob, who is one of her closest and dearest friends. Nick is the replacement for Leo in this costume/murder game party they are all invited to take part in, and despite the fact that he is good looking and has a great body, he still rubs Isabel the wrong way. When Leo shows up unexpectedly, Izzy sees for the first time how jealous Leo can get, and this makes Izzy very happy. It surely must be a sign that things are going very well.

However, things don't go well at all. She eventually finds out that Leo has been fooling around behind her back, and at this point the only male she can trust is Henry, her faithful dog.

I was at first very overwhelmed with the cast of characters in the first few chapters. The chapters depicting the party at Felicity's had nearly every close friend of theirs described to a tee, and I couldn't keep up with who was who. But, overall, the book was very entertaining and it did have a few sad moments, which is not usual for a chick lit book. I'm giving this book 4 stars, and would consider reading other novels by Elizabeth Young.

You don't have to have a dog to like this story, August 1, 2005
London real estate whiz Isabel (Izzy) is convinced that the only male who loves her is her odd looking dog Henry. Even her lover cannot be counted upon - he is more devoted to his ex-wife and children then to Izzy.

When Leo cancels yet another engagement, this time a sleepover murder mystery party in Devon, she decides to go without him. There she meets handsome Nick, a friend of her pal Rob. There is an instant attraction to Nick that she cannot deny, but he rubs her the wrong way. Perhaps it is all the teasing he does. Of course, when Leo finally shows up and is jealous too boot, it is an added bonus.

After being devastated by Leo's wandering eye (among other body parts), Izzy finally moves on. During subsequent visits to Devon, her friends scheme to get she and Nick together. They form a friendship, and then she starts to fall for him. But the loss of her best friend brings about a horrific heartbreak she could never thought could happen.

The story is witty and engaging, though the first several chapters surrounding the party are pretty chaotic, particularly with the number of characters not only introduced, but the characters that the characters are portraying - it is hard to keep them straight. Get through the party and the rest of the story is a piece of cake!

A Girl's Best Friend, March 5, 2005
After reading A Promising Man and Asking for Trouble, I was eager to read more from this author. However, I was a bit disappointed. The first half of the book focuses on many characters who are not even related to the main theme of the book participating in a murder mystery. It feels like the author wanted to write two books, and put them together in this- and it doesn't "flow" very well. It's hard to follow the characters at the beginning and leads to disinterest.

The 2nd half of the book is much more like the previous books I'd read by Elizabeth Young and I quickly got into it then. I'm an Anglophile and found British references/terms in the book even I didn't know. That was a nice touch.

Not the author's best..., November 22, 2004
I bought this book on the strength of A Promising Man and Asking for Trouble, which were good British chick-lit books, a genre I read extensively, even ordering off of amazon/UK to get the books not published here. :)

This book has the author's usual strengths of a very lively storytelling style. She's fun, sparky, and this comes across really well. BUT it's all fun and no substance. This is not a well structured story, there are no real conflicts, the love stories have no impediments - no one is star crossed or suffering, it's just a telling that goes like, first we did this, then we did that, then this happened, then that happened.

The author throws a whole group of characters at us from the get-go, and we're supposed to be interested in all the details that go into planning a murder-mystery dinner, including long descriptions of the characters each character will be playing. The main character is already in a relationship, which seems to be okay, the only real complaint is that Leo spends a lot of time with his kids, and who can fault a man for being a good daddy?

So Izzy just goes along with the tide - she's a very passive character, which does not lead to much drama or comedy either way. She's game for a good time, but since she has no real problems, no real hopes or dreams, nothing at stake or on the line, I couldn't bring myself to care about her or her friends very much.

A good author knows how to create anticipation by giving us a setup that is sure to have a big shoe dropping at some point, then either delivers the shoe we feared or a twist, something unexpected. There's nothing unexpected here, no shoes to drop. So only get this book if you don't care much about plot, and only wish for likeable characters having a good time. I think your money is better spent on the author's other books, and authors like Marian Keyes, Jilly Cooper and Jill Mansell, to name a few, who really know how to give us the whole story package.

I laughed and cried!, January 22, 2009
Oh, I just loved this fun chick lit novel! At first, it was a little too English, but as soon as it got going, I started to really like it. It had some hilarious parts - like the way the main couple first met as children and it even had parts where I cried (partly because I was home along with Buns and it involved a missing dog). All in all, it was great fun and a fast and enjoyable read. I will definitely add her to my list of authors to look out for!

This one's a winner, April 14, 2008
I've read all of Elizabeth Young's books and, like the others, I thought this one was fantastic. I think she's a fabulous author.

First of all, she tells a great story with lots of excitement, romance, and vivid descriptions that make you feel that you're part of the scene. She has a knack for sharing the insightful thoughts and feelings of the main character, Izzy, that make you feel like you know and understand her. (They're often thoughts and reflections that you may have had yourself in similar situations, but never bothered to spend time thinking about or sometimes even admitting.) Anyway, the end result is that it makes you feel like you're walking in her shoes and feeling her every high and low.

Lastly, I love the whole British scene. As an American, I adore and envy the great expressions they use when they talk and the lovely country settings and local pubs seem so inviting. It's a welcome departure from the life I lead (which isn't bad either!).

All in all, a fabulous read with some interesting insights on the human character. I hope the author writes many more books!

I really really tried to like it..., July 14, 2004
I am an avid reader of Chick Lit, and have read and enjoyed others by Elizabeth Young, so I felt kind of guilty about not being able to get into this book. I found myself, about halfway through, just skimming the pages. My interest started to falter with the "Murder Mystery Weekend" with which I found it difficult to keep up. After that, I just couldn't get into the characters. Maybe I'll enjoy her next one more...

Too Much Marketing and Not Enough Story, September 13, 2004
Maybe I'm naive, but I expect a book's marketing to have some semblance to the story inside the cover. If one were to believe this book's promotion, one would assume that a dog plays a major role in the story's development. Outside of one major scene, he doesn't. People who think that A Girl's Best Friend is primarily a story of a woman who overcomes heartbreak thanks to her faithful dog should realize that it's more accurately described as a story of a woman with a dog that's in the background.

Since the marketing is somewhat disingenuous, one has to cast a wary eye on the narrative itself. While the story is staple "chick lit" tale of a woman who is trying to find "Mr. Right", the way in which it unfolds is different (albeit not in a positive way). One first notices this different style upon seeing the torrent of characters that Young unleashes within the first 50 pages. While most of these characters fade into the background as the story develops, the overwhelming way in which they were presented leaves the impression that Young was trying to make a more epic story than the subject matter could support. The book's other interesting feature is that it is centered around three major scenes. This organizational style leaves the reader with the feeling that they are reading three short stories, and not one novel, that share the same characters.

I've usually found that there's trouble present when a book's marketing doesn't match its story. Fortunately, A Girl's Best Friend isn't abysmal. It is a basic, but unremarkable, addition to the "chick lit" genre. Still, it might have been more memorable had Young not overloaded the reader with characters and weakly tried to tie three stories into one. Given these flaws, one should pass on this "dog."
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