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Reviews by Barbara S. (Glen Ellyn, Illinois)

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All You Could Ask For
by Mike Greenberg
all you could ask for (11/29/2012)
I felt that the book was very disjointed and unrealistic. I felt that he only discussed things with doctors. I didn't even finish it.
The Art Forger
by B. A. Shapiro
The Art Forger (9/14/2012)
Barbara Shapiro's book, The Art Forger finds the painting of Edgar Degas, Woman Leaving Her Bath as the main character. The amazing plot of this book is the fate of an artist who was asked to copy this picture. The plot thickens with a hidden original copy of this picture.

Ms. Shapiro picked up her pallet and came up with an enthralling picture story of the world of artists, paintings, greed, copying and forging that will keep her readers on the edge of their seats. This "can't put it down story" painted by Barbara Shapiro in the Art Forger is an exciting and informative story. The characters in the book are described with depth and with understanding of the complex situation they find themselves involved in.
A Simple Murder
by Eleanor Kuhns
A Simple Murder (4/6/2012)
The mystery, A Simple Murder by Eleanor Kuhns was utterly captivating from the first paragraph to the last. The Shaker settlement in Maine was the setting for a deep mystery, involving Shakers, a detective and family members. It was very enlightening to see the life style of the Shakers in this book. I could not put it down. I highly recommend this story and look forward to other books published by Eleanor Kuhns.
The Winter Palace: A Novel of Catherine the Great
by Eva Stachniak
The Winter Palace by Eva Stachniak (1/12/2012)
THE WINTER PALACE, a novel of Catherine the Great of Russia by Eva Stachniak is a very detailed picture of the Russian Court during the 1700’s. Their lives were harsh, complicated, yet fascinating. The book begins in 1743 when Catherine arrives at the Russian court as a princess from Germany. Eva Stachniak has beautifully described the intrigues of the Russian Court and Catherine’s journey to Empress of Russia. This book was enthralling – cover to cover.
The Language of Flowers: A Novel
by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
The Language of Flowers (6/4/2011)
I would like to personally hand a Red Rose to Vanessa Diffenbaugh for her first novel, The Language of Flowers. I loved it! She has managed to weave together her knowledge of the meaning of flowers (including a Dictionary of Flowers created by the main character in the book) with an in depth look at the foster care system, weddings, marriage, heartbreak and mending fences. I hope it won’t take too long for Vanessa Diffenbaugh to produce her second novel; I’m looking forward to another great read!
My Jane Austen Summer: A Season in Mansfield Park
by Cindy Jones
My Jane Austen Summer - A Season in Mansfield Park (2/10/2011)
Cindy Jones in her novel, My Jane Austen Summer – A Season in Mansfield Park- has written a very creative, but complex story of Lily, a great admirer of Jane Austen. Such an intense admirer, Cindy Jones has made Jane Austen Lily’s best friend referring to her as “My Jane Austen”, Lily’s imaginary friend, and Lily’s favorite book of Jane Austen’s is Mansfield Park. After reading all of Jane Austen’s novels, Lily takes an opportunity to go to England to participate in the presentation of a Literary Festival featuring Jane Austen’s book Mansfield Park.

In Author Insights, Extra and More....at the end of the novel, author Cindy Jones recommends that the reader should read or re-read all of Jane Austen’s six novels. This is potent advice.

My Jane Austen Summer – A Season in Mansfield Park is a compelling book, containing many interesting facts about Jane Austen and her literature.
Three Seconds
by Anders Roslund & Borge Hellstrom
Three Seconds (12/8/2010)
Authors Anders Roslund and Borge Hellstrom have written a book, Three Seconds, of an amazing adventure involving "good" guys and "bad" guys, police and criminals, who don't necessarily fall into the assumed "correct category". The entangled plot will keep you on the edge from the beginning to the end. This book is excellent - I highly recommend it to all BookBrowse readers.
The Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai: A Novel
by Ruiyan Xu
The Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai (10/25/2010)
In the Lost and Forgotten Languages of Shanghai, author Ruiyan Xu weaves and unforgettable drama that begins with a critical accident resulting in bilingual aphasia causing communication complications between all touched--family, doctors and friends. An intense read of a never-to-be-forgotten tale. I highly recommend this novel.
Pearl of China: A Novel
by Anchee Min
Pearl of China (2/4/2010)
Anchee Min in her new novel, Pearl of China, has written a beautiful and compelling story of friendship between two young girls as they travel through life. Beyond the life of the two girls, Anchee Min also intertwined themes from American/Chinese politics, religious differences, family and love, creating a novel of amazing depth.

I wholeheartedly recommend this gift of a story to all my friends, and to all members of BookBrowse. I will carry this novel in my heart forever.
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