Book Description
Praise for the Aimee Leduc series:
"One of the best heroines in crime fiction."-Lee Child
"The Parisienne Kinsey Millhone."-
Los Angeles Times
"One of the best new writers in the field today."-
Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Haunting."-
The New York Times Book Review
Aimee is faced with a tight deadline on a computer security contract when a telephone call from a stranger leads her to an abandoned infant. She brings the baby to her home and names her Stella. She expects the mother to reclaim the child, but days pass as Aimee tries in vain to discover her identity. Her partner, Rene, urges her to turn the baby over to the authorities, but for Aimee this is too close to her own abandonment by her mother.
The search brings her among ecological protesters and oil company tycoons, newspapermen and would-be actresses, as demonstrators near her home on the Ile Saint-Louis, in the heart of Paris, march against the pollution of the North Sea only to be dispersed by armed police.
Two murders and an abortive bombing keep Aimee running until, in the sewers beneath the Seine, she finds the woman she has been looking for, only to discover that the man she has just fallen for is a cold-hearted criminal.
Customer Reviews:
Got me into Paris........2007-10-06
I first picked up Cara's books when her niece, a friend of mine, suggested I read them. I was never interested in Paris or Europe before then, but her books opened my eyes to the history and intrigue buried there. While this book was not her greatest, it still is one great part of her awesome series that submerges one deep into the heart of each area of Paris, and engrosses one's mind in the twists and turns of Aimee's family history intermingled with murder.
Book Description
Canaan Creek, South Carolina, in the 1950s is a tiny town where the close-knit African-American community is united by long-term friendships and church ties. Bonnie Wilder has lived here, on Blackberry Corner, all her life, and would be content but for her deep desire to have a child. She and her husband Naz cannot conceive, and he refuses to adopt. Even the support of her outrageous best friend Thora—to whom Bonnie tells everything—can’t help fill the emptiness inside her.
Then Naz finds a blanketed infant on the banks of Canaan Creek, and suddenly Bonnie’s life is transformed. She has found her calling. Together with Thora and the rest of the hilarious, tough, and all-too-human women from her church group, Bonnie creates an underground railroad for unwanted babies. But one of these precious gifts will come back to haunt her: a deception begun in good faith comes full circle, ultimately forcing Bonnie to find the courage to confront a difficult truth at the center of her own life.
Filled with compassion, humor, and tenacity in the face of almost insurmountable odds, here is a rich, inspiring tale of friendship and family, sisterhood and mother love…and of finding grace where you least expect it.
Customer Reviews:
Good Book.......2007-05-21
The book was slow to start but once I got 3 chapters into it I couldn't put it down. We all know somone who reminds ous of the characters in the book (especially if you are from the south or a small town). I recommend this book especially for a book club setting. This is a book that everyone will have an opinion about.
The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner.......2007-03-08
First, I choose this book to read with my book club. All of the members of my club (about 10 participants) enjoyed the book. It's starts off kind of slow, but picks up...with twists, and turns like you would not believe. I would recommend this book. THanks
Women United friends and foes!.......2007-02-04
I have to be honest,If my book club wasn't reading this as our monthly selection I would have never read this book. Wow I would of missed out on a very good read! What do you do when you have a dilema and differen't personalities in the same click? Do the right thing know matter what...or at least what you feel is right.Don't let the first couple of chapters scare you away this is a read everyone can and will enjoy!
Keep Reading Its not what you think.......2007-01-22
The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner is a truly entertaining, delightful read. It allows your mind to explore the possibilities of what a mission and a little spirit will allow a group of determined women to do. It maximizes the idea of what friendship and loyalty can do to inspire others to better days. The Sisterhood examines the idea that we are often torn between what we want to have. and what we have to have. The book shows how trying to have it all has serious consequences. This book is a favorite of mine. I can't wait to read another book by Andrea Smith.
Captivating Story of love.......2007-01-19
In the beginning of her sophomore novel, The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner, by Andrea Smith you will be saying to yourself "heck when does it get better", however I urge you to press on it's well worth it. During your adventure with the author you will catch a glimpse of "Baby Moses Law", genuine sisterhood, friendships, growth, relationships and southern church folk wrapped together in what makes this book a 5 on my list of 2006 reads.
The story begins in South Carolina almost fifty years ago, however the premise comes straight from current events of today. This is not just a feel good book for women I believe it should be shared and read across genders. Andrea Smith weaves a compelling and heartwarming story that will catch you off guard, so don't sleep on these characters, your relationships or your community.
This author has put together a book that will have you rolling with laughter, and smiling with her characters.
Missy
Average customer rating:
- Hate to use the word too often but "Classic" fits here
- A Favorite!
- The Witch's Boy
- MAGICAL FAIRY TALES ALL ROLLED UP IN ONE
- A Bear Was His Wet Nurse
|
The Witch's Boy
Michael Gruber
Manufacturer: HarperTeen
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Night of the Jaguar: A Novel
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The Little Friend
ASIN: 0060761644
Release Date: 2005-03-29 |
Book Description
A wondrous journey through the realms of magic
They call him Lump. Ugly, misshapen -- more goblin than human child -- abandoned as an infant and taken in by a witch, he is nursed by a bear, tutored by a djinn; his only playmates are the creatures of the forest, whose language he learns to speak.
But when Lump inevitably stumbles into the human world, his innocence is no match for the depths of people's cruelty, which turns his heart to stone, and fuels a vengeance that places him and his witch mother in deadly peril. Yet these disasters also send Lump on a journey of self-discovery, to realms deep within the earth and far beyond mortal imagination.
In this stunning fantasy debut, Michael Gruber has created a world that is at once deceptively familiar and stunningly original, a world of cruelty, beauty, legend, truth, and above all, wonder. Readers will delight in the author's ingenious retelling of classic fairy tales and will marvel at the stunning new tale of a boy raised by a witch, a cat, a bear, and a demon.
Customer Reviews:
Hate to use the word too often but "Classic" fits here.......2007-08-14
This wonderful tale of the witches boy named Lump, is one of the best children's books that I have ever read. Though at times the story becomes a bit too dark and the vocabulary too difficult for the young ones. Hey, who am I kidding, at times the vocabulary was tough for me. That being said I read this book over about a month to my 8 year old daughter before bed and as we got into the second hundred pages we both began to look forward to bedtime. Like the other reviewers, I found the retelling of several fairy tales to be the books greatest strength but the characters of Lump, Ysul the bear and Falance the cat are characters that won't soon be forgotten. With the spate of fantasy movies being made these days, I hope some filmmaaker options this wonderful book as a movie, done right it could be a "classic" as well.
A Favorite!.......2007-06-28
Great book, I think its up there with Wicked, just marketed toward a younger audience. Don't be put off by the cover, which I don't realy think fits this great book. Read it, I could not put it down!
The Witch's Boy .......2006-10-25
This Fairy Tale not only describes its own story it also incorporates many other classic fairy tales from Little Red Riding Hood to Pinocchio, each one with an added twist. Lump is the witch's boy. Abandoned at birth and taken in by a misunderstood witch. He grows up in a world of magic. He is taught by an enslaved djin and nursed by a bear. He grows up with very wrong views about people and the world. Lump thinks he is handsome but truth be told he is not handsome at all. When he finds out and is made fun of and harassed he wishes everyone who had hurt him would burn. When Lumps actions with the humans turn horribly wrong the witch and the boy must flee the sacred woods they had once enjoyed.
Thus Lump is sent on a journey through many worlds and many places. After losing what he truly loves, he hides himself behind a mask of gold and surrounds himself with riches and blames everything on his mother. After abusing life he is cast from the world only to be given a second chance in which he finds himself and the people who truly love him.
Michael Gruber writes about very strong emotions and creates very strong characters. His book has many twists and turns and you never know what's around the next bend.
I would recommend this book. Although it is a bit slow in the beginning it begins to get more and more interesting, and slowly but surely it lures you in. My favorite part of this book is how he incorporated all the other fairy tales and gave them his own twist.
MAGICAL FAIRY TALES ALL ROLLED UP IN ONE.......2006-08-21
THERE WERE PARTS IN THE STORY THAT WERE SO ENLIGHTENING I HAD TO GO BACK AND READ AGAIN ESPECIALLY THE EXPLANATION OF WHAT WITCHCRAFT REALLY IS...I WILL TREASURE THIS STORY AND CANT WAIT TO READ IT TO MY SON.........
I SHALL NEVER LOOK FOR THE FAE DANCE
A Bear Was His Wet Nurse.......2006-06-06
Lump was born ugly and with no talent for magic. But we was adopted by a witch, educated by a chained demon, critiqued by the witch's cat and nursed by a she-bear. Toward's story's end Lump, now rich, has a chance to be kind to that now ancient, chained bear but ignores her plight in his lust for a ditzy king's daughter whom he loads with gold.
There was another she-bear mentioned early on Nol, who befriended Lump when he was three and playing with neighboring young bears. Nol licked Lump's scratched face, marveled at his un-bearish tears and warned him not to cross a stream to invade a bee hive. She does not reappear. Pity. Lump might have turned himself around sooner than he eventually does.
Average customer rating:
- I believe I've met these people
- Blessings
- I loved this book
- Don't Give Up Hope
- Sweet, tender and moving
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Blessings
Anna Quindlen
Manufacturer: Random House
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Rise and Shine: A Novel
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One True Thing: A Novel
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Black and Blue (Oprah's Book Club)
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Being Perfect
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A Short Guide to a Happy Life
ASIN: 0375502238
Release Date: 2002-09-17 |
Amazon.com
The plot of Anna Quindlen's novel Blessings is constructed on the same model as E.T.: adorable orphaned creature is found by unlikely caregiver who against his or her better judgment falls in love with the little beast, while all the while, the authorities loom in the background, threatening to take the foundling away. In Quindlen's book, however, the foundling in question isn't an alien, but a squalling baby left at Blessings, a vast estate owned by an ancient, crabby matriarch named Lydia Blessing. By a fluke, the baby's parents abandon her by the garage rather than at the front door, and so she is discovered by Skip Cuddy, Lydia Blessing's newly hired handyman, who happens to be an ex-con. The plot proceeds from there in fairly E.T.-like fashion, minus the Reese's Pieces and flying bicycles. Skip, Lydia, and the baby they name Faith form a surprisingly loving and sustaining, albeit temporary, family unit.
Quindlen wrings a remarkable amount of pathos from this somewhat simple setup. One of her strengths as a writer is the quietness she brings to her story; family secrets of paternity and lost love are buried deep in the narrative, hidden in descriptive paragraphs where they subtly zing us with their news. Her ear is good, too: we believe Skip and his bad-boy friends when they're shooting the breeze. Best of all is her flair for observation. The book wouldn't work at all if she couldn't make us feel Skip and Lydia's amazement at the small joys of a baby ("The deep pleat in the fat at her elbow made her arms look muscled"). Here is a book that lives up to its title. --Claire Dederer
Book Description
This powerful new novel by the bestselling author of
Black and Blue,
One True Thing,
Object Lessons, and
A Short Guide to a Happy Life begins when a teenage couple drives up, late at night, headlights out, to Blessings, the estate owned by Lydia Blessing. They leave a box and drive away, and in this instant, the world of Blessings is changed forever. Richly written, deeply moving, beautifully crafted, Blessings tells the story of Skip Cuddy, caretaker of the estate, who finds a baby asleep in that box and decides he wants to keep her, and of matriarch Lydia Blessing, who, for her own reasons, decides to help him. The secrets of the past, how they affect the decisions and lives of people in the present; what makes a person, a life, legitimate or illegitimate, and who decides; the unique resources people find in themselves and in a community—these are at the center of this wonderful novel of love, redemption, and personal change by the writer about whom The Washington Post Book World said, “Quindlen knows that all the things we ever will be can be found in some forgotten fragment of family.”
Download Description
This powerful novel by the bestselling author of Black and Blue, One True Thing, Object Lessons, and A Short Guide to a Happy Life begins when a teenage couple drives up, late at night, headlights out, to Blessings, the estate owned by Lydia Blessing. They leave a box and drive away, and in this instant, the world of Blessings is changed forever.
Richly written, deeply moving, beautifully crafted, Blessings tells the story of Skip Cuddy, caretaker of the estate, who finds a baby asleep in that box and decides he wants to keep her, and of matriarch Lydia Blessing, who, for her own reasons, decides to help him.
The secrets of the past, how they affect the decisions and lives of people in the present; what makes a person, a life, legitimate or illegitimate, and who decides; the unique resources people find in themselves and in a community -- these are at the center of this wonderful novel of love, redemption, and personal change by the writer about whom The Washington Post Book World said, "Quindlen knows that all the things we ever will be can be found in some forgotten fragment of family."
Customer Reviews:
I believe I've met these people.......2007-10-02
An engaging story about people who seem real. For me, the adventures of everyday life, such as this novel portrays, are fully challenging and more interesting than the wild plot twists some authors concoct for novelty. The book has a a sweetness as well as a starkness that seem to match my experience of life and Anna Quindlen is such a sharp observer of humans that I love seeing the world through her eyes for the length of a book.
Blessings.......2007-09-19
We enjoyed reading this story. However we found the movie version to be more interesting.
I loved this book.......2007-09-09
It is so nice to find a book that is a good read but is not a cookie cutter romance or crime novel. Anna Quindlen has a knack for creating real characters that you can relate to. I also enjoyed One True Thing and have yet to read Black and Blue.
Don't Give Up Hope.......2007-04-05
This engaging tale of a baby abandoned by the parents is one of redemption and hope. You'll never see the ending coming!
Sweet, tender and moving.......2007-03-09
This is the first Anna Quindlen book I've every read. The only other writing of hers I have to compare this to is her feature articles in Newsweek and I'd have to say that those articles and this book are at the opposite end of the spectrum. Though both being very well written and thought out.
I did enjoy this novel while I was reading it. I liked the story, the characters and the writing. I didn't care for the ending which doesn't mean that it wasn't very well done, it was. It just wasn't satisfying to me, it wasn't the way I wanted it to end.
I thought it was a good book worthy of reading, it wasn't disappointing it just wasn't one of the greatest books I've ever read.
Average customer rating:
- Honestly...
- Brilliant and Witty
- Audio CD is abridged on one CD
- Timeless Wit
- amazing play
|
The Importance of Being Earnest (Dover Thrift Editions)
Oscar Wilde
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
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Binding: Paperback
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Pygmalion (Dover Thrift Editions)
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Dr. Faustus (Dover Thrift Editions)
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ASIN: 0486264785 |
Book Description
Witty and buoyant comedy of manners is brilliantly plotted from its effervescent first act to its hilarious denouement, and filled with some of literature's most famous epigrams. Widely considered Wilde's most perfect work, the play is reprinted here from an authoritative early British edition. Note to the Dover Edition.
Customer Reviews:
Honestly..........2007-03-24
I still smile when I think about this play. It was my first sampling of Oscar Wilde, and I found it pretty enjoyable. It's also been my only sampling of Oscar Wilde. I've been meaning to get into some more of his work, I really have. It's a tale of mistaken identity, of love, of three volume novels, of "Bunburyists" and of fashion. Everyone claims to be Earnest, but they're all rather trivial about it. It's pretty funny too, with a lot of wit and the like through it.
This particular edition is particularly cheap, and it seems like its worth a look.
Brilliant and Witty.......2006-05-06
I love this play. I love Oscar Wilde. The wit and humor of this play is astounding, and yet at the same time, it is so intelligent. I love it.
Audio CD is abridged on one CD.......2006-04-23
I have not listened to this audio CD version. I purchased it and returned it without listening to it. I opened the case and realized that this is an abridged radio play version on one CD. The play itself is delightful. I don't care for abridged versions of most material, certainly not a play that takes less than 90 minutes in its entirety. I urge Amazon to update the catalog entry to indicate that this is abridged. An unabridged version is available from other vendors. Thank-you.
Timeless Wit.......2006-01-14
This is an undeniable classic that I've enjoyed seeing over the years in both theatrical and film productions. Upon reading the work, I find that it doesn't suffer in the reading as well. Wilde is likely the most witty person to have ever lived. He claimed he was at least. His works, of course, reflect that genius. In particular, "The Importance of Being Ernest" does. If you're going to experience only one of Wilde's plays, this is the one. The plot is delightfully silly and turns on itself several times. And the word-play is hilarious, and still fresh after more than a century. I'm pretty sure that this play will never grow old.
amazing play.......2005-08-05
Oscar Wilde never fails to intrest me. This is his most acclaimed and recognized work. The plot was everyday and trite, but with meticulous details Wilde was able to overplay the happily ever after concept-of-a-plot. I'd definitely read this again. If I could only pick one play to read by Wilde, this one would be it.
Average customer rating:
- Hats off to D.M.Cornish so far...
- Move over, Harry Potter!
- A new series perfect for readers looking for something a little out of the ordinary
- Amazing!
- Great world-building
|
Foundling (Monster Blood Tattoo, Book 1)
D.M. Cornish
Manufacturer: Putnam Juvenile
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Dairy Queen
ASIN: 039924638X |
Book Description
Set in the world of the Half-Continent—a land of tri-corner hats and flintlock pistols—the Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy is a world of predatory monsters, chemical potions and surgically altered people. Foundling begins the journey of Rossamund, a boy with a girl's name, who is just about to begin a dangerous life in the service of the Emperor. What starts as a simple journey is threatened by encounters with monsters—and people, who may be worse. Learning who to trust and who to fear is neither easy nor without its perils, and Rossamund must choose his path carefully.
Complete with appendices, maps, illustrations, and a glossary, Monster Blood Tattoo grabs readers from the first sentence and immerses them in an entirely original fantasy world with its own language and lore.
Customer Reviews:
Hats off to D.M.Cornish so far..........2007-06-13
I am a Library Media Specialist who oversees two K-4th elementary school libraries. Though not appropriate for the K-4 age range, it is a must have for a middle/highschool library. The title may seem misleading for some, it's a book I'd definitely classify as fantasy not horror.
The book's editor, Timothy Travaglini, seems to put it best, "If Charles Dickens was in a writers' group with Mary Shelley, Philip Pullman, Lloyd Alexander, and Clive Barker, and if he took it upon himself to write a fantasy novel, allowing his fellow writers open opportunity for input, I think this is close to what he would have created- a sophisticated, intelligent, deeply detailed, obsessively compelling, utterly engaging tale-at turns gripping, poignant, always exciting, and wholly original." I couldn't agree more. I can't wait to read Book Two.
Move over, Harry Potter!.......2007-06-05
(This Monster Blood Tattoo series is also available in a CD)
Watch out, Harry Potter; there's a new kid in town. He's got a girl's name, a heart of gold, and a mighty streak of bravery considering he's just a poor foundling. Yes, a foundling is an orphan, but, unlike Potter, Rossamund Bookchild grew up in a school for foundlings, surrounded by others seemingly like him. Yet Rossamund is different from the others: he's largely introspective and he harbors a soft spot for many of the monsters that stalk the Half-Continent.
Okay, so there isn't really a new kid in town because Foundling's Rossamund doesn't live in the UK or Hogsmeade, but the Half-Continent has its own thrills. A semi-medieval world full of pirates trading child slaves on the vinegar seas and electrified warriors, or fulgars, fighting monsters in the name of the Emperor, Rossamund's land is intriguing indeed.
During his eventful journey from Madam Opera's Estimable Marine Society for Foundling Boys and Girls to his first job as a lamplighter in High Vesting, Rossamund falls in with a particularly adept fulgar, Europe, and a jolly, quick-thinking postman, Fouracres. Undoubtedly, it will be the adventures of this trio that D.M. Cornish explores in the following books, as Foundling is the first in the Monster Blood Tattoo series. But Rossamund has left behind dear friends at school-all adults, the only ones mature enough to appreciate the boy's heart-who are bound to show up again with their own troubles.
Aside from the exciting plot and lovable characters, what really makes this book is the fact that Cornish is an illustrator. Sketches of characters in fantastic costumes and intricately detailed maps of the empire show up occasionally. Plus, the book contains a glossary of words peculiar to the Half-Continent, charts explaining the imperial calendar, and drawings of the many types of boats.
As you say cheerio to Harry Potter and his friends this summer, hop into a landaulet and get ready to explore the threwdish woods because Rossamund Bookchild is waiting.
Armchair Interviews says: If you want to know what those words mean? Get a copy of Foundling and start reading.
A new series perfect for readers looking for something a little out of the ordinary.......2007-02-10
Rossamund Bookchild --- a boy with a girl's name --- is a foundling who has lived in Madam Opera's Estimable Marine Society for Foundling Boys and Girls ever since he was discovered as a newborn abandoned on Madam Opera's doorstep. Rossamund's early beginnings are unique but hardly uncommon as he lives with several other orphaned or unwanted kids. The children are given a quality education ---- which includes defense against monsters --- and are trained to lead productive careers, often in the navy.
While he has many promising opportunities, living in the Society isn't always easy for Rossamund. The boy is often teased by other children and tormented by a notorious bully named Gosling, who believes he's better than everyone else because of his manor-born childhood. Although Rossamund is given extra attention by his aging Dormitory Master Fransitart, the marine society's dispensurist Master Craumpalin and the beautiful parlour maid Verline, he anxiously waits to leave the crowded orphanage and get the chance to explore the rest of the wide, mysterious Half-Continent.
Then an agent named Sebastipole makes an unexpected visit and offers Rossamund an apprenticeship as a lamplighter. Rossamund is disappointed as he looked forward to a career like that of his mentor Fransitart but nonetheless takes the agent's offer as his great opportunity to leave the marine society and begin the next chapter of his life. After much preparation and anxious waiting, the day arrives and Rossamund sets out on his journey to High Vesting. He is given instructions to take a ship that will bring him to his destination. Unfortunately luck is not on his side and he is lured onto a run-down cromster called the Hogshead manned by the cunning Rivermaster Poundinch, who deals in the gruesome dark trades. However, Rossamund's fate is yet to be sealed and he makes his grand escape under a hail of cannon fire a few days later.
The excitement is far from over for Rossamund when he crosses paths with an infamous fulgar (an electrifying type of monster hunter) named Miss Europe --- known for her numerous monster-blood tattoos --- and her creepy factotum (personal servant) Licurius. What is supposed to be a simple ride-along leads to another part of what is already turning out to be an epic adventure for the young foundling as he figures out his place in the world.
MONSTER BLOOD TATTOO is a well-crafted original new series by up-and-coming writer D.M. Cornish that is sure to create buzz among fans of fantasy and those who like to read something a little out of the ordinary. With a detailed Explicarium (a glossary of terms and explanations including appendices), Cornish brings to life the compelling Dickens-like story of a boy making his way in a complex, wildly imaginative world.
--- Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle ([...])
Amazing!.......2006-12-29
Finally, a fantasy book I can get into! I'm so sick of the Tolkien-style fantasy being regurgitated again and again and again and again and it was so wonderfully refreshing to have someone with the same level of passion, concept, and world-building skills as Tolkien, but a world that is all his own. I have always been more of a monster hunter fan and I knew I had to have this book once I learned that montser hunters - or bogle-fighters, if you will - were going to play such a key role in this. I love this world and this series. So, thank you, D.M. Cornish for telling us your story and revealing to us your world!
Great world-building.......2006-12-04
This novel was a pleasant surprise for me. From the rather awful title and cover, I pictured an intense horror story filled with evil, haunting monsters . . . but thank goodness it was nothing like that.
Rossamund, a boy at Madame Opera's Marine Society for Foundling Boys and Girls, longs for adventure. When a man comes looking for a boy to hire, he sets off at last on a journey to become a lamplighter for the Emperor.
At times Rossamund seemed a little too simple of a character, but the other characters definitely made up for that. I especially liked Europe and Freckles. The different monsters and bogles were interesting to read about as well. Most of the descriptions were very cool, making you picture the scene perfectly, but some were a little overdone.
I was deeply impressed by the author's hugely in-depth world-building skills. One third of the book is an appendix, with the meanings of different terms he's invented for the world of the "Half Continent". I loved the author's illustrations in each chapter as well.
All-in-all this was a fun tale of adventure that will amuse and intrigue readers of fantasy. I most likely will pick up the sequel. ***1/2
Average customer rating:
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True Heart
Kathleen Duey
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 068985370X |
Book Description
In the beautiful armor Joseph Lequire has created for Moonsilver, no one can tell he is a unicorn. It's safe for Heart to travel to Bidenfast, where she hopes to find her Gypsy friends. But the streets are jammed with people in town for the crowning of the new Lord Irmaedith, and the young lord himself takes a special interest in the unicorns. Will Heart be able to keep her secret?
Customer Reviews:
I liked it a lot!.......2003-08-25
True Heart is about when Tibs and Heart go looking for Joseph Laquier. Tibs wants to see him so his dream can come true. Tibs wants to be a blacksmith. Heart wants the unicorns to be safe. Joseph Laquier makes some armour for Moonsilver. I think True Heart is one of the best books I have ever read. READ THIS BOOK!
Book Description
The young Duke of Sale has a rebellious spirit, and when he hears of Belinda, the beautiful foundling who appears to be blackmailing his cousin, he absconds with glee – only to be plunged into a frenzy of intrigue, kidnap and adventure.
Customer Reviews:
More Coming of Age than Boy Meets Girl.......2005-02-08
This is one of Heyer's least 'romance-driven' Regencies, but it's one of my favorites. I really like the mild-mannered Gilly and his dashing cousin, and The Villain of the Piece is hilarious. The dialogue, descriptions, and historical inter-weavings are all top-notch, as usual. This ranks right up there with The Unknown Ajax, The Talisman Ring, and Sprig Muslin (none of which pay overwhelming attention to the romance part of the plot,and all of which are enormously entertaining).
Different from her usual novels.......2003-08-17
This is a more subtle story than most of GH's romances. On the first reading, I liked it but wasn't 'in love' with it, after the handsome, dashing heroes of 'These Old Shades', 'Venetia', 'Frederica' et.al.
But upon re-reading it, I've started to enjoy it more. It hasn't actually got much romance -- the comments about the lack of character in the hero's fiancee, Henrietta, are pretty accurate. She's a timid and rather dull portraiture.
What struck me upon re-reading it was the deeply affectionate relationship between Gilly and his cousin Gideon. Gideon is in fact the perfect Regency hero -- dark, tall, handsome, dashing -- but although he races off to Gilly's rescue when he learns his little cousin is in danger, his help turns out not to be needed as Gilly rescues himself, growing up considerably in the process.
In fact, this is the only Heyer novel that shows such an openly caring relationship between two men raised as brothers. It's actually a nice change from the usual romance formula, watching Gilly gain confidence during his adventures after suffering for so long under the well-meaning tyranny of his guardian and the old family retainers.
Most of Heyer's novels tend to have better-drawn female characters than male characters, so it's an interesting change to read one of her books where the male characters are much more vivid and active than the females.
A great book? No. But a very charming one, and I re-read it more often than I first thought I would. I like Gilly a lot -- all those incredibly handsome, dashing heroes get a bit wearisome after a while! He's very believable, and engages one's sympathies in being burdened with wealth, responsibility and titles that he isn't sure he can live up to.
The Foundling.......2000-09-24
He's shy. He's well looking but small in stature. He is immensely rich. The posthumous son of the last Duck of Sale, His Grace, the Most Noble Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware has been orphaned and sickly from birth. He has for years been suffocatingly coddled and swaddled by well-intentioned relations and old family retainers. While his rank and financial interests are cared for and his every want met, his wishes are dismisssed as inappropriate to his rank and duty. Poor sweet Gilly nurses wistful dreams of being Mr. Dash, a Nobody, of Nowhere in Particular. Now about to attain his 25th birthday and take control of his large estates and larger fortune, Gilly is informed that a match has been arranged for him with a young woman of impeccable credentials. Although he has known Harriet from childhood and sympathizes with her situation--her guardians dominate her too--she is not the choice of his heart. But his sweet nature and upbringing does not permit him to hurt anyone's feelings and he obdiently offers for her. Then unexpectedly, Gilly's attempt to help a young relative offfers him the chance to disappear, to break loose and become Mr. Dash for a few last days, and Gilly plunges headlong into his first adventure. For the first time, he finds people turning to him for help. As plain Mr. Dash, he rescues an outrageous schoolboy escaping his own moralising tutor as Gilly himself had often longed to do. Then an innocent dasher of the first water throws herself on his mercy. Together the ill-assorted trio fall from one escapade to another, in the process throughly alarming Gilly's old retainers and well-meaning guardians. There is humour, adventure, and a sympathetic hero, but this is not a top rate Heyer and I found it ultimately disappointing. Her stories often start slowly, but I was impatient with Gilly until he broke loose from his moralizing guardians, who were too boringly real to be truely funny. However, when the story does break loose along with Gilly, how he finds himself and his heart's true choice and learns to turn the tables on his preceptors is an enjoyable read. Although it contains some good characters and characteristic Heyer humour, the whole confection lacks the energy and fizz of her best brews. I thought it might be fun to look at what I think are some reasons for this. In The Foundling, both the hero and heroine are unconventional in the genre sense. There is no problem with this in itself. In many of her books it is a strength. Heyer assembled a stock cast in her early books, rather like traditional Italian Comedie with its Harlequins and Columbines--or like the pieces in a chess game. There were standard characters--the sardonic rake, the impulsive romantic young woman, the hedonistic bachelor, the effeminate tulip of fashion, the dowdy governess or relative, the empty-headed beauty. Each played their bit or supporting part as friend, uncle, brother, or mother, sister, governess--or took center stage as hero and heroine. But then, having set up these expectations, Heyer tossed the characters into the air and let them fall and inhabit new roles. And in the process taught us to like something else even better. A put-upon poor relation wins first the heart of the reader then that of the handsome Earl. A forceful, charming rake turns out to be selfish and becomes unattractive. A stammering comedy part reveals unexpected qualities which win the heart of the reader before than of the heroine. However, these surprises delight. They enhance the genre and do not disappoint our essential reason for reading the book in the first place. They intensify the coming together of two people as a relationship develops based on values and characater rather than appearance. In fact, Heyer teases us with appearances in order to provide us with something richer. In The Foundling, however, Gilly is the only protagonist. The story is about Gilly's development more than it is about the development of a relationship between two people. It is really more a coming of age story than it is about two people coming to love and appreciate each other. One does not preclude the other, but here, the woman and the relationship take a seat so far from centre stage that they are merely a subplot, a token. What there is of her has potential, but that is not developed sufficiently. Not only does this remove some needful tension from the narrative, but it disappoints my reason for being there. By ignoring the heroine, Heyer fails to keep her contract with her readers. The Foundling is (possibly)one of Heyer's early experiments with the role surprises which are fully realized in books like Cotillian and A Quiet Gentleman. As such it represents only a partial success. Gilly himself is sweet and the supporting cast well drawn and humourous. And that is fine as long as you only expect a trip through a Regency countryside without the London Season.
The Foundling.......2000-08-31
Another Heyer gem!
Adolphus Gillespie Vernon Ware, the Duke of
Sale, is tired of all the pompous trappings of his position. A mild
mannered and kindly young man, he's also tired of being treated like a
semi-invalid child by his family and retainers alike. Longing for an
adventure, he leaps at the chance to help a young realtive who has
written some unwise love letters to an unsuitable young lady, and who
is now being sued for breach of promise. What follows is a series of
adventures, some hilarious, a few somewhat dangerous, as the young
duke comes into his own.
A truly excellent book. The young Duke of
Sale is exactly the kind of romantic hero one wishes one read more of
instead of the autocratic-almost-a-rapist "hero" one comes
across more often in regency romances today.
Book Description
A brand-new mystery in the endearing Beatrix Potter series from a national bestselling author.
During Sawrey's annual summer fte, Miss Beatrix Potter receives an unexpected visitor in the form of Baby Flora, left in a basket on her doorstep with a note, a sprig of hawthorn, and a scarab ring. All Beatrix knows about Flora's previous guardian is that she was a gray-haired woman, capable of scaling a brick wall in seconds.
An investigation reveals that the ring was pawned and reclaimed in Sawrey by a resident of Hawthorn House. The legendary manor is supposed to be vacant-and rumored to be haunted. Now Beatrix and her animal friends are left pondering the possible involvement of fairy folk in these utterly puzzling happenings.
Customer Reviews:
Enchanting Tale.......2007-09-30
This is Susan Wittig Albert's fourth Beatrix Potter mystery (after 2006's The Tale of Cuckoo Brow Wood) and it's a charming addition to the series. Beatrix, to her profound surprise, finds a lovely baby girl left on at doorstep of her Tree Top Farm. Unbeknownest to all, Baby Flora was stolen from her teenage mother, Emily, by a stange old lady, Mrs. Underthewall. Emily, agast at the theft of her baby, and a bit muddled in the head, takes this as an omen, and decides to leave her life as a maid and runs off to London to begin a new and exciting life. Beatrix suspects the child of having gypsy origins and proceeds to investigate the abandonment of the baby. Capt. Miles Woodcock and his sister, Dimity, temporarily give Flora a new home, while leaving Beatrix to solve the mystery of her old one. Meanwhile, the animal characters also have issues and problems to solve. Jemima Puddleduck broods over a nest of long overdue eggs; Reynard the Fox, smitten by Jemima, struggles with his unnatural and unforseen love for Jemima; and the whole village is talking about a marriage between Beatrix and the highly eligible Captain Woodcock, and his sister, Dimity, and the highly unsuitable Major Kittdrige. Meanwhile, on a business trip to London, Beatrix accidently meets Emily and gets to the bottom of the mystery of the stolen baby. This charming book with its whimsical blend of mystery, romance and the cozy descriptions of English village life and Beatrix Potter's Tree Top Farm, will delight all cozy mystery lovers. I suggest that if you haven't read the other 3 books in the series, you begin with the first one and proceed happily through to the present volume.
This story will captivate you.......2007-09-25
During the time of the Summer Fete, deep and riveting descriptions abound related to the community and countryside in the cozy English Lake District village of Sawrey. Someone must account for romance, mystery, gypsies, a haunted manor house, the Thorn Folk, animals, and a baby. None does it better than Beatrix Potter, who is cast into the roll of amateur sleuth when the aforesaid baby Flora is left on her doorstep.
The basket left on Beatrix's doorstep includes not only Flora, but a note, a sprig of hawthorn, and a scarab ring. These clues indeed lead Beatrix on a formidable chase to uncover the identity of the mother and help settle the baby into a loving home.
Beatrix seeks the assistance of Dimity Woodcock, who is taking care of Flora. Dimity soon falls in love with the baby. Her brother and Justice of the Peace, Captain Miles Woodcock, is seeking the mother of the infant to bring her to justice, while also seeking a suitable husband for his sister. Conflict is rampant in the Woodcock household over what justice will be brought to bear on Flora's mother-and who Dimity will marry.
Theories flourish amongst the not-so-tight-lipped villagers and in the animal kingdom. These side stories between the humans and animals are skillfully interwoven throughout the story.
For those who have loved Beatrix Potter and her stories, Susan Wittig Albert continues to captivate the reader with the adventures of Beatrix Potter.
Armchair Interviews says: Delight your imagination and challenge your wit as you trip down fantasy lane with Beatrix and friends.
Wonderful place to dwell!.......2007-09-16
If you are a fan of Beatrix Potter you have already read the first 3 books in this series AND have seen the film "Miss Potter"! If not I would suggest you begin with the open mind and heart of a child and read this book with the abandonment of conventional ideas. Animals speak, humans listen, mysteries occur, mouth-watering desserts are served and the villages will become home. I have reluctantly left the last book and wish to return. Jan Karon and Susan Albert have both created a haven for readers to dwell in and forget 9-11, Iran and money problems. You will love this style of writing if you remember to "let go and enjoy". Start with the first book - and when you are finished this series move on to the mystery series Ms. Albert has written. She is a writer worth the time and money.
"There is nothing like a village for managing everyone's affairs.".......2007-09-16
That's an oh-so-polite way of saying that the residents of the Land Between the Lakes have a tendency to gossip. But they have a lot to talk about.
The theme of this fourth episode of The Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter is motherhood. A foundling, Baby Flora, is deposited on Miss Potter's stoop by one of the Hawthorn Folk, who have an affection for young bairns. Where did she come from? Whose daughter is she? Why was she abandoned? How can the errant mother be located? Who will take care of her in the meantime? At Hill Top Farm, Jemima Puddle-duck has been sitting on a nest for several months. Are those eggs hers? If not, where did she get them? What will happen when her ducklings finally hatch? And whatever became of that fox who was trying to seduce her a while back? Something must be in the air in that part of England in 1908, for several individuals who are not part of a pairing are beginning to look around at the options, making decisions about whom they might like to spend more time with. Who will propose marriage in this book? Will everyone find a chair before the music stops?
As in the previous books in this series, Susan Wittig Albert shows her adeptness at weaving plotlines between the humans and the animals. The story is told in the all-knowing view of an omniscient narrator, who uses "I" and the royal "we" in asides to the readership, just as Beatrix herself did in her own tales. Fans who have grown disgruntled with Rita Mae Brown's mysteries would do well to make the leap to this strong series.
Cute and Sweet.......2007-09-13
This series of Susan Wittig Albert's is charming and sweet. It is definitely a cozy mystery and one that you will enjoy, although not the type that will keep you up at night to finish it. The entire series has ran much the same. While the characters are a lot of fun, the plot tends to be a bit slow and gets sidetracked on a lot of other little things. The use of the talking animals is not badly done (in fact it was one of the issues that original worried me about this series, but I found I actually enjoyed), but some of the animal sidelines get a little lengthly and irrelevant (Jemima Puddle-duck and the fox, for instance). This story involves no murder, rather an abandoned baby. These are a great starter series for a young mystery reader - there is absolutely nothing shocking in the story and it is all very clean. Albert certainly has fun alluding to the eventual marriage of Beatrix Potter to Will Heelis in this book as well. There is plenty here to enjoy, but it is definitely a warm mystery, not a scary or thrilling one. The plot does have an interesting twist at the end to add to the story, though, as throughout most of the book, you think you know who did what, but it turns out to be something different.
Book Description
The spirit of the season is spreading through the rustic seaside hamlet of Cape Light, as the residents prepare to celebrate the joy of the holidays. But town mayor Emily receives an unexpected and precious Christmas gift when she finds a baby girl tucked away in a decorative cradle set up outside the church, with a note begging whoever discovers the child to take care of her.
Aside from signs that the baby's birth mother was a drug abuser, no one has any idea to whom the child may belong. As the police investigate, Emily is granted temporary custody of baby Jane. Having given up her own daughter years ago, she missed out on the many wonderful experiences that come with motherhood. And though she tries to be reasonable and mature about the situation, something about little Jane makes her feel that she was meant to find the baby and raise her as her own. But the changes an adoption would bring do not sit well with her husband, Dan, who has already struggled with the issues of raising children once in his life, and does not want that responsibility again. Now, in the midst of the year's most joyous season, Emily must come to terms with her duty to her family, her own feelings of regret and loss-and what her heart truly desires.
Download Description
"The spirit of the season is spreading through the rustic seaside hamlet of Cape Light, as the residents prepare to celebrate the joy of the holidays. But town mayor Emily receives an unexpected and precious Christmas gift when she finds a baby girl tucked away in a decorative cradle set up outside the church, with a note begging whoever discovers the child to take care of her. Aside from signs that the baby's birth mother was a drug abuser, no one has any idea to whom the child may belong. As the police investigate, Emily is granted temporary custody of baby Jane. Having given up her own daughter years ago, she missed out on the many wonderful experiences that come with motherhood. And though she tries to be reasonable and mature about the situation, something about little Jane makes her feel that she was meant to find the baby and raise her as her own. But the changes an adoption would bring do not sit well with her husband, Dan, who has already struggled with the issues of raising children once in his life, and does not want that responsibility again. Now, in the midst of the year's most joyous season, Emily must come to terms with her duty to her family, her own feelings of regret and loss-and what her heart truly desires."
Customer Reviews:
The Christmas Angel.......2007-05-31
As with all of the Cape Light novels Thomas Kinkade brings the characters to light for a teary, jaw dropping, happy loving novel. All of the past characters are brought into this book so you don't forget anyone and we even meet a new one...who is painted perfectly, you just want to tell her to go home! A book you'll want to keep reading, then when it's over, you just want MORE! I can't wait to read the next one "A Christmas to Remember"
Christmas Love.......2007-01-12
The book is written a bit like the Mitford Series in that it is a small united community with all the ups and downs of life. There are personality clashes, misunderstandings, discouragement and all the other negatives in human relations. However, the journey to learning to love and accept others and ourselves is full of interesting thought provoking experiences.
Christmas in Cape Light.......2007-01-05
Once again, visiting the fictional Cape Light for Christmas is almost like going home for Christmas! The familiar characters are like family, and the story is always interesting, uplifting, and believable. Kinkade and Spencer are truly a team of authors that bring fiction to life and build a fan-base of people, like me, who are looking for good, clean reads that have a posative Christian message.
He is the writer of hope as well as the painter of light.......2006-06-24
I have read each book in this collection in a day I can never put them down..He writes with hope just like he paints the light in his pictures..I don't know how he does it but he captured my heart with this uplifting story ..we hear of so many disturbing stories and so much trash in books these days it was just awesome to read a book that made me feel good about the world and to give me hope .I love these books waiting for the next book.
The Christmas Angel.......2006-03-02
The Christmas Angel
by Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer
I know it's not Christmas but a good story but a good story is a good story.
We all know of Thomas Kinkade as a great painter of light, but have you read any of his stories? This is in the Cape Light series.
This book tells more of Emily, a mayor, she's older and recently married. Emily had a daughter over 20 years ago that her mother talked her into giving up. She now has a good relationship with her daughter, but has missed all of the bringing her up.
One morning Emily was jogging she spies something moving in the cradle set up outside the church, a little hand. The baby inside starts an adventure you don't want to miss.
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- Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: GET OUT THE SHOVEL -- WHY EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS WRONG
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- One to One: The Art of Conferring with Young Writers
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- Our Town: A Play in Three Acts (Perennial Classics)
- Owen & Mzee: The True Story Of A Remarkable Friendship
- PLEASE DON'T JUST DO WHAT I TELL YOU, DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE: EVERY EMPLOYEE'S GUIDE TO MAKING WORK MORE REWARDING
- Prometheus Bound (Greek Tragedy in New Translations)
- Proust, Marcel Remembrance Things Past(boxed
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