Lauren Willig's book follows a " book within a book" format. One story takes place in 1849 with the pre-Raphaelite artists, and the other in 2009 with a young girl searching for her past. Both stories have their roots in Herne Hill, a mysterious old house in London.

I found it hard to get into the book, and was glad when I finally finished it.

WOW! What a beautifuly written book! The details and swift pace keep the reader entranced, and the characters come to life through their secrets and ruses. The main character, Gertrude Swann, is the pivotal person that keeps this story magical. Once you start this book, it is impossible to put down!

The author gives a very authentic description of a lighthouse keepers life, but tends to get wordy. The story depicts how one lie can develope into many, and how these lies affect the character's lives. The last paragraph of the book sums up the story - man is shaped by the happenings in his life.

This outstanding book is based on the true story of Mary Van Lew Bowser, a Black slave of the Civil War period. Raised as a house slave by the Van Lew family, Mary is given her freedom and sent to Philadelphia to be educated. As a free Black, Mary encounters many of the same problems she had in the South - non-acceptance by most whites, hypocrisy, and black snobbery.

Remembering her mother, who is also free, but chose to stay behind to be with Mary's father, Mary feels she must do something to help the Southern slaves.She becomes involved in the Underground Railroad, but when the Civil War breaks out she returns to Virginia as a Northern Spy.

This book is a 'Must Read'! Beautifully written, it is based on a real person who lived and witnessed a side of the Civil War not found in text books. The treatment of the Black slaves in the South is heartbreaking. A new American Classic!

King Peggy - what a fabulous woman! Peggielene Bartels, an American citizen, with roots in Ghana, has been called to be the King of Otuam, a town of 7000. When she arrives for her crowning she finds that the town has no water, the palace is a wreck, the council has absconded with all the money, and that her predecessor has yet to be buried, and she has to pay for everything.

What Peggy does for her people in the two years covered by the book is outstanding. You will find humor, sadness, dedication, determination and confusion in this book. It is a fascinating read.

Constantly rejected and mistreated in foster homes, Victoria, at the age of ten has become mean and vicious; difficult to handle. She is given one more chance when she is taken to live with Elizabeth. However, mistrust and jealousy on her part, cause her to be removed, and once again tossed into the foster care. On her own at the age of eighteen, she learns "that the unattached, the unwanted, the unloved could grow to give love as lushly as anyone else". This is a heartbreaking, beautifully written book!

This is a great historical thriller! The year is 1583, and Giordano Bruno is back one again. This time it is to stop a plot by those who wish to put Mary Stuart on the throne of England. Prophecy is wonderfully written. The reader is a participant in the surroundings and mayhem.
Parris' research of the time period is outstanding and her characters are well developed. She leaves an opening at the end so the reader can look for a third book in the series.

Three women and a man, all with secrets and problems of their own, are joined together as an unconventional family to raise an unconventional child named Wrecker These unrelated people surround Wrecker with love and compassion, and in doing so not only come to accept their own problems, but raise and exceptional child to adulthood.

Wood's descriptive sentences are outstanding and add flavor and substance to her beautiful story of motherhood.

What a joy to read!!! Come, open the pages and meet a Beefeater of the Tower of London, Balthazar Jones, his wife Hebe, and all their quirky friends, animals and problems.

The author's style of writing tickles your funny bone. SO - put your feet up, open the book and enjoy,enjoy,enjoy!

I found it very hard to get interested in A Thread of the Sky. The characters all had emotional problems,carried secrets and could not seem to identify with each other. The one character I felt lived up to my expectations was the grandmother. This is not the China she left. Mao's time has passed, and China was becoming more western- copying the West. She had been a woman who left a legacy behind her. She wished her granddaughters to find legacies for themselves.
I enjoyed the families tour through modern China.

S.J. Parris takes what little is known about Giordano Bruno and turns out a taut, excellent well written mystery novel. Bruno's search for the killer keeps a reader turning the pages. Parris not only know her characters well, but she understands the culture, morals and religious problems of 1583 Oxford and England.

I was disappointed in this book. It felt as if the author was trying too hard to weave two plots together for one story. The premise of the ghost speaker was interesting, and it was obvious that Winkowski knew much of the historical background used However, the sub-plot, of family life was tedious and did not embellish the story.

Teri Coyne has written an excellent novel. She is a very descriptive writer, and puts words together that keep the reader on edge. There were times when I was uneasy with her flashbacks. Many times I felt they popped up at awkward times, making me break my focus on the story. I also wish the author had make her secondary characters stronger - especially Diane.

The Last Bridge is a strong book! I highly recommend it.