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Reviews by Jane A. (Lakeport, CA)

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Beneath the Shadows
Beneath the Shadows
by Sara Foster
An compelling story (5/11/2012)
Although I am not an aficionado of mystery stories, I was unable to put "Beneath the Shadows" down until I had finished it. It is very well written, and the story moves forward in a compelling style. The author left me guessing until the final chapter.
The Winter Palace
The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great
by Eva Stachniak
an unfortunate disappointment..... (12/31/2011)
Catherine the Great was truly a larger-than-life individual. I was disappointed by the way this author chose to tell her story....as tabloid material. I wish the author had told her story through a more worldly and knowledgeable spokesperson.
The Tudor Secret
The Tudor Secret: The Elizabeth I Spymaster Chronicles
by C. W. Gortner
....a fanciful imagination... (3/24/2011)
The Tudor Secret is a swashbuckling story embroidered superficially on the rich tapestry of England after the reign of Henry VIII. My personal feeling is that this period of history needs no such embellishment. For those who enjoy a fast-paced hypothetical romp thru English …more
The Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai
The Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai: A Novel
by Ruiyan Xu
The Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai (10/19/2010)
I felt that this was going to be a good book, and I wasn't disappointed!
I take 'communication' for granted, and it was fascinating to see how this story developed in a small family for whom this essential tie was disrupted when the head of the household was afflicted with ' …more
The Clouds Beneath the Sun
The Clouds Beneath the Sun
by Mackenzie Ford
The Clouds Beneath the Sun (7/5/2010)
A real non-stop read for me. The book's appeal is on so many levels: paleontology, Massai tribal customs and mores, Western jurisprudence vs tribal law, and, of course, the inevitable love triangle, with a sprinkling of aviation and scuba!

I found the plot to be well-paced …more
The Language of Secrets
The Language of Secrets
by Dianne Dixon
A reader's delight........ (1/31/2010)
The very first chapter prepares the reader for a whale of a story, and Dianne Dixon fulfills that promise to the fullest. Her story has many facets, each of which is explored thoroughly; there are no loose ends, but many unexpected turns. At no point did the story lose …more
The Book of God and Physics
The Book of God and Physics: A Novel of the Voynich Mystery
by Enrique Joven
The Book of God and Physics (6/12/2009)
'Fiction' grounded in 'fact' makes for wonderful reading; it literally combines the best of both worlds. Enrique Joven has woven an engrossing tale around a centuries-old, medieval text that is currently housed at Yale University. (Copies are available on the Internet, and …more
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
The Elegance of the Hedgehog
by Muriel Barbery
The Elegance of the Hedgehog (6/12/2009)
I can't remember when I enjoyed a story as much as I did this one; I read it twice! The author's style was, to me, enchanting; I love her use of the language itself....metaphors and similes, in particular. I found Renee's sense of humor, combined with her intelligence, to …more
Cutting For Stone
Cutting For Stone
by Abraham Verghese
Cutting for Stone; Abraham Verghese (1/9/2009)
Spanning the world of surgical medicine from Ethiopia to the large teaching hospitals of the US, Verghese tells a compelling story of the startling birth of twin boys and the lives they lead through this environment, impacting family, fellow clinicians and patients alike. …more
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