Constance Kopp the gutsy heroine from Girl Waits With Gun is back in the second Kopp Sisters series. The novel is much like the first: engaging and charming. Those who enjoyed the adventures of the Kopp sisters will be thrilled with this installment. Don't miss the author's notes at the end of the novel as the story is based on real events. The historical information adds to the entertaining tale.

I found this novel compelling as it covered two intricate themes. The complexity of motherhood and the philosophical concept of reincarnation. As a self professed skeptic, it did stretch my ideas about life and what possibly lies after and beyond. Along with its unique story line, it gives a fresh, thought provoking look at the labyrinth of motherhood and the lengths a mother will go to for her child. A well paced, impressive debut.

This book was charming! It a stayed with me long after I finished reading it. It is cleverly written in alternating chapters of different, but concurrent story lines, causing the reader to ponder the question: Can one inconsequential decision change the course of your life? The characters are well developed, very real and easy to connect with. Hannah is representative of so many young women trying to discover who they are and what they want. It is a unique modern romance that offers a fresh perspective on friendship, choices and fate.

I really wanted to like this book. It covers so many subjects I generally enjoy reading about; the French Countryside, cooking, and relationships. Like Anna I anticipated perfection, only to be handed something different than planned. was not perfect, in fact severely disabled. I found this novel both unrealistic and heartbreaking. Unbelievably, They follow their original, pre-diagnosis plan and move to a rodent infested, decrepit home in the south of France. What could they be thinking raising a severely disabled child or really any child in such a potentially dangerous situation is beyond the scope of my imagination. While it did evoke many emotions, none of them was positive. I acknowledge it is a difficult subject and I applaud the author for her attempt at tackling it, I believe it will anger most audiences and therefore not appeal to the mass market.

Clementine Prichard, renowned artist, just wants to put herself out of her misery. Giving herself a month to get her affairs in order, she counts down the days, chapter by chapter to her impending suicide. With a plot line of this nature you would expect a heavy, depressing story. What you will find instead is an interesting, realistic depiction of mental illness handled with humor and heart. Clementine is irresistible as the main character. She is wildly funny in a deeply flawed way. You know you shouldn’t be rooting for her, but you just can’t help yourself. The rest of the cast is equally well developed, including her miserable cat. While the majority of the book is entertaining, there are a few deeply moving, intensely sad scenes that are unavoidable when dealing with the reality of bi-polar disorder. Emotionally draining, these scenes lend an air of authenticity to the subject. Losing Clementine surprises in the end, circumventing the predictability you might expect in a lesser novel. I am very happy I found Clementine. Highly recommended.

I really wanted to like this book but unfortunately found it predictable and flat. Literally on page 2, I knew where it was going. While the historical plot showed promise by including the post-disaster inquiries into the sinking of the Titanic, the rest of the story was disappointing. The requisite love triangle between a determined immigrant seamstress and two men she meets on the ship is boring and uneventful. While clearly she survives the sinking, the tragedy continues with the confusion and aftermath of such an life changing event. The book improves as it continues with human character studies based on real people involved with the Titanic hearings, but the story would have benefited from delving further into the themes of fear, power and ethical choices. Instead, it falls flat as it wraps up convienently in a "fairy-tale" like fashion.