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Reviews by Mary Lou C. (Shenandoah Junction, WV)

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Accidents of Providence
Accidents of Providence
by Stacia Brown
Accidents of Providence (11/19/2011)
I love this book. Couldn't put it down. The story is set in England during an era of religious strife. I know very little about the Puritan time, but I felt the author took me back to this period and helped me understand how far we have come in civilization.

The cast of …more
Tides of War
Tides of War: A Novel
by Stella Tillyard
Tides of War (11/9/2011)
I had a little difficulty getting into this book because the author introduced so many characters and stories initially, and she moves from one character's story to another so quickly. I thought I'd lose interest. It didn't take long however, to become totally immersed in …more
Next to Love
Next to Love
by Ellen Feldman
Where's the rest of the story? (6/30/2011)
Being a child of that generation (1940s-60s), this book haunted me. Having read all the letters written by my own parents to one another during WWII, I can say that the author has done her research and quite accurately captured the mood and character of that period.

Her …more
The Daughter of Siena
The Daughter of Siena: A Novel
by Marina Fiorato
Predictable but goo (4/25/2011)
Sienna's Daughter was totally predictable. Still, I could not put it down. The author skillfully takes you back to a time so romantic yet so brutal. I felt as though I were there, within the walls of this ancient city. Well written, worth reading.
Outside Wonderland
Outside Wonderland: A Novel
by Lorna Jane Cook
Keep Reading! (2/7/2011)
After reading the prologue, I convinced myself that I wouldn't like this book. Fortunately, I kept reading and found that it was impossible not to become totally immersed in the lives of these characters. In the end, I found myself wanting to believe that we are being watched over.
The Clouds Beneath the Sun
The Clouds Beneath the Sun
by Mackenzie Ford
Disappointing (7/15/2010)
This is the second book I've read by this author. I really hoped this one would be better. The author may be a well known and respected historian, but I think he should stick with writing non-fiction. His lame attempts at romance only cheapen the story for me. I found the …more
The Map of True Places
The Map of True Places
by Brunonia Barry
The Map of True Places (4/9/2010)
I enjoyed reading "The Map of True Places". It had enough twists and turns to keep me reading, and I couldn't put it down. It delved into the tragedy of mental illness and the many lives affected by it.

Although I understand the main character was looking for and found a " …more
Secret Daughter
Secret Daughter: A Novel
by Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Secret Daughter (1/9/2010)
Secret Daughter is a tale of two worlds. It is filled with despair, yet ever hopeful. The author captures the complexities of blending two very different cultures, made more challenging with adoption. It is a story for and about women, and you quickly connect with the …more
Alice I Have Been
Alice I Have Been
by Melanie Benjamin
Lewis Carroll, a Pedophile? (10/26/2009)
Although the author did a wonderful job of detailing life in Victorian England, I found the story difficult to follow, wondering what was real and what wasn't. The reader is to form his/her own conclusions as to what really happened. But I, for one, was uncomfortable with …more
Gifts of War
Gifts of War: A Novel
by Mackenzie Ford
Gifts of War (4/2/2009)
I thought this was a very good read. It kept my interest. I find the period during WWI fascinating, and the author wove in some interesting facts about the time period that were enlightening.

It is a romance, albeit a rather dark one.
Cutting For Stone
Cutting For Stone
by Abraham Verghese
Cutting for Stone (1/9/2009)
"Cutting for Stone" is a gripping story that begins in Ethiopia and unfolds over decades and continents. It is a story of coming of age, of passion and of tragedy, but mostly, it is a story of hope and commitment.

Dr. Verghese's descriptions of places and incidents were so …more
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