Contemporary Books

I don't like fantasy novels. I have read far too many verbose tale of elves struggling to recover some musty old talisman. Pretty much swore off the whole genre. That was before I read the Athanor books. Instead of mystical ancient kingdoms we have New Mexico and Nigeria. Instead of a hokey sword wielding hero(ine) and their trusty sidekicks we have an astounding cast of characters ranging from computer-literate sasquatches to immortal farm animals. How refreshing! Ms Lindskold has developed a wonderful idea for a series. In each of the two books so far she has focused on different members of the Athanor community, at this rate it will be a long time before she runs out of fresh ideas. This is one fantasy series where I can't wait to see the next installment.

A thoroughly enjoyable read on many levels. I'm so happy to have "discovered" Jane Lindskold. Her characters are thoroughly believable and well-fleshed out. "Legends Walking" deserves a nod for having as its setting one of the most mysterious places in all of literature-- Africa. Lindskold, through her characters,treats the citizens of Nigeria with respect for their pre-European contact beliefs, and appreciation and concern for their efforts to modernize. The athanor are very much like the Greek gods that some of them have lived as -- capable of all the same moral and emotional highs and lows as any non-magically gifted being. I highly recommend Lindskold's books as a much-needed break from all the Tolkien clones that contribute to the needless deaths of millions of trees. I am eagerly awaiting the next sequel -- or even a prequel!

This book suceeded where many others have failled in following up the first novel. However the prices for it second hand here are outrageous! Especially considering the author offers it from her website, signed for much less than most of these prices.

Jane Lindskold once again has written a wonderfully fascinating and complex novel. Many different story lines and characters blend to make both "Legends Walking" and "Changer" surprising books. I could hardly put this book down, although I had to in order to process the ideas and plot twists. Both come at a quick pace throughout the story. I loved getting new looks at old characters, and some development of interesting secondary characters from "Changer," as well as the introduction of new friends. The idea of elemental athanor seems wondrous and fun.

Biological warfare offers such an ugly, inhumane choice to dictators around the world. I think Lindskold looks into the horrors of plague without preaching about it. This book presents a look at some serious subjects, like biological warfare, AIDS in Africa, and the development of third world countries. Lindskold doesn't give easy or trite answers, but in twisting our everyday world just a bit, she does shed some light on the subjects.

I would recommend this book to anyone! It's fun, thoughtful, fun and well written.

Legends Walking, is the second in this world of Athanor (following Changer), which is placed in contemporary times with the addition of an immortal species co-existing with us. In this tale we discover some new characters, and get to know some of the previous character in more detail.

Ms Lindskold's characterization is superb. They have a sense of humor and different personalities which, as one might suspect, sometimes conflict with each other (some don't even like each other and they are on the same side). This makes for a very pleasant and believable read. The plot moves very well and I found myself consuming the 400 + pages without knowing it.

I liked this sequel most because it focused on a different set of characters in solving the plot crisis, so we get to see these characters using their unique skills. Jane is very consistent in both plot and characters, so we are NOT treated to discontinuities in characters to conveniently get out of a bad scene. She also has the ability to describe scenes without bludgeoning us to death with detail, which is very refreshing.

I must say I dislike giving maximum ratings, just in case the author does better. In this case as in the first tale, Changer, I feel the author deserves a "Bravo" well done, and if she does better, I will just have to deal with it.

So, in case you missed my point, I like this author and this tale and believe both needs to be read and enjoyed (if not, no offense is meant by stating the obvious).

Love, love, love this book! I wish Patty had more books out there!

I've read a lot of Christian fiction, and this book had me hooked very early on. I couldn't believe how soon the action started. There's nothing to wade through before the adventure takes off. The storyline and characters are so compelling that, I know it's cliche, but I really couldn't put the book down. I enjoyed the exotic setting and the romance, but what really shines through is a Christian faith that stands up in the face of anything.

Patty Metzer was from my home town. I only met her once, briefly, but her death was a loss to the community and a loss to the world of Christian fiction.

What first caught my attention was the cover which immediately brought to mind the picture of Taj Mahal. Then I read the book. To say Patty Metzer is an amazing author is an understatement. This book was wonderful. The prince was gorgeous and the heroine, for once was intelligent and thankfully not to much so. In most christian romance books, the hero and heroine don't seem to be attracted physically to each other, but this book has all the spine-tingling tidbits that will give you the idea that characters are attracted to each other.
I love the Indian setting. It lent the storyline a sultry exotic setting. The characters were intriguing and so was the plot line. Although I thik the Prince's character was a little to bratty and arrogant, it worked well for the plot line because he showed the right emotions at the right time.
All in all, it was a great read and I would recommend it for anyone who wants romance that does not contain Hentai( japanese, for well you know..)Good job Patty!

(...)

I absolutley love to read and have read many, many Christian fictions. This one is one of the best ever. It has a little of everything. Suspense, adventure, love, etc. Once you get started, you will find it hard to put this book down. Metzer is a truley gifted author.

I am a VERY avid reader of inspirational fiction - having read literally hundreds of titles over the past few years. Among so many books, this one stands out as one of my absolute favorites. If you love exotic settings, touching romance, and intriguing suspense, you can't go wrong with this one. (Clearly I thoroughly disagree with one of the other more critical reviews listed...) More importantly, however, is the author's focus on faith - the message is truly inspired. Kudos to Patty Metzer - especially considering the hardships she's endured in her own life. I so hope to see more books from her in the near future.

Certainly not great literature (and not great editing), but this hilarious and fast-moving urban fantasy had me laughing out loud and wanting more. The excellent character and plot development makes the wonderfully absurd storyline almost credible and totally engaging. The chapters are short, making it light on the attention span, but it is so suspenseful that I was reading large chunks at a time and came to the end too soon. Fortunately, while most the loose ends are tied up, enough is left unresolved for a sequel. All in all, a lot of fun!

The unconventional characters and incredible plotlines that Millar embraces are an ingenious strategy that can serve to disarm any preconceived notions or defenses that a reader might bring to the arrangement. The resulting depth, realism, and very rare warmth exuded by these characters, are qualities carefully wrapped in narrative about fairies, hippies, ancient Greece and now werewolves. What adult in their right minds would pick up a copy of a book titled, "the Lonely Werewolf Girl" and read it in public? I will tell you, that these books are incredibly smart, and the characters experiences and attitudes are refreshingly honest, sad, funny, and always very touching. I used to get very frustrated that Millar was not getting the notoriety enjoyed by his contemporaries and followers (e.g., Giaman, Pratchett). On several occasions, these authors have even shared similar vexation! However, I have now become certain that he is exactly where he wants to be. Just like the lessons carefully woven-in for many of his fantastical characters, Martin continues to coerce us into taking a chance by embracing the ridiculous. The rewards to come are such a treasure and well worth red cheeks or an occasional sideways glance by a server at a restaurant.

Very good book. I told 2 other people about the book and they enjoy the book as well.

The first thing that hit me about this book was the richness of backstory and the sheer size of the cast of characters.

Although the plot centers around the titular lonely teen werewolf, Kalix MacRinnalch, she lives in a rich world populated with numerous other characters whose actions interfere with or drive important developments in the story. Fifteen-year-old Kalix is the youngest daughter of the Thane of the MacRinnalch Clan of werewolves. She's strong and she knows it, and she doesn't get along well with others--she escapes from the clan stronghold in Scotland and makes her way to London after almost killing her father in a fight. Addicted to laudanum and in poor shape, she is set upon by members of her own Clan who think she should pay for what she did to her father. Her older sister and London-based fashion designer, Thrix, helps her as best she can, but when Kalix sells the protective amulet Thrix gave her, she's easily discovered by other werewolves trying to hunt her down.

Kalix's attempts to escape the members of her clan who are trying to kill her lands her squarely in the path of Daniel, a normal university student in London who's never thought about anything like werewolves before. He and his roommate, Moonglow, do their best to protect Kalix and convince her that there are things worth living for, but outside forces intervene and place Kalix directly in the middle of MacRinnalch Clan politics.

This sprawling narrative can be unwieldy at times, and the large numbers of characters and situations initially may seem disjointed, but when the plots begin to intertwine and work together, the many different storylines coalesce into a whole that is better than the sum of its parts.

The beginning of the novel works to set up all of the information necessary for the reader to understand the world that Kalix and her friends and enemies move in, preparing the reader for the meatier middle scenes. The occasional rapid-fire scene shifts and point of view shifts were initially difficult, but these problems ironed themselves out as the ook progressed.

I was really impressed by the different characters portrayed throughout. Kalix is by no means the only one with depth; some of the other werewolves, paranormal creatures, and humans that she runs into are equally well-drawn, with their little quirks and amusing habits. Thrix, Kalix's older sister, is the werewolf enchantress, and yet she enjoys designing clothing, some of which appeals to buyers from alternate dimensions. Malveria, one of these customers, begins as what appears to be a comic character but ends up having a real impact on the plot later on. The politics of the MacRinnalch Clan are carried out by a large array of characters, each with their own distinct motivations and machinations.

LONELY WEREWOLF GIRL is not a simple read, but the complexity is part of the pleasure of reading this book.

Reviewed by: Candace Cunard

Like others, I bought this book on a whim at the airport and read it straight through. What a fun read! Maybe not for everyone, but if you are or ever were a fan of Gaiman, Vertigo Comics, Douglas Adams, etc., I think you'll love it. I haven't read this sort of thing in years, but LWG is great.

This is an interesting debut novel and a welcome addition to the time travel genre. It is a well told tale that evokes another time, long ago. It is also a tale of love.

Two people from New Jersey, each on the run from a broken romance, go to Scotland. Maggie Hobbs is there on vacation. Alex MacKendiman is accompanying his aunt to a gathering of his clan near Dunnedin, Scotland. Maggie and Alex meet at the clan gathering. They also meet a mysterious stranger, Mairi, who pushes them through a portal in time. Before they know it, they are in a medieval Scotland of six hundred years ago.

As luck would have it, Alex is the doppelganger of a long ago ancester of the same name. It appears that his ancestral namesake has been visiting in England for some time. When Alex and Maggie arrive in medieval Scotland, he is mistaken for his returning ancester, who also happens to be the laird's son. Maggie is taken to be his leman, as Alex has been betrothed to Anice, daughter of the head of the MacNab clan.

From here on in, their adventures fly fast and furious, as Alex and Maggie struggle to fit it and get the lay of the land in order to survive, until they can figure out a way to return to the present. There are many pitfalls to avoid and many customs to adopt in order to make their trek through time a safe one. In the process, they fall in love.

What happens to Alex and Maggie is entertaining and interesting, as they traverse a veritable minefield of differences between past and present. It is only through their growing love, however, that they will find the link necessary to effect a return to their time. Will they make it? Read this book and find out. You will not be disappointed.

This is my favorite type of time travel in which both main character travel through time in order to learn a lesson. This is an incredible debut for Ms. Brisbin. Her writing style is so vivid and emotional that I felt as if I'd been pushed through the arch right along with Maggie and Alex! I experienced their confusion, fear, and pain, their courage, joy, and love. I watched as Alex's true character emerged and his emotions blossomed, up close and personal. I laughed, cried, and hurt for the two of them. The touching epilogue was the perfect ending to a perfectly delightful read! I highly recommend this novel and wait with baited breath for the November sequel "A Matter of Time". --------- Leslie Tramposch - Pghromance

Having both "stars" of the novel travel through time together is refreshing! A great story that is very realistic as far as customs, language and behavioral qualities of the time traveled to; and the frustration, worries and determination of the couple trapped in another era. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!

Maggie and Alex are from the present day and are sent back in time together. It is not like any other time-travel books I have read. The secondary characters in the story are well developed and believable. I felt so sorry for the treatment Maggie recieved frrom Anice (Alex's betrothed). I wished she would give her a good slapping instead of taking all the snide remarks from Anice and her maids. She was just a spoilt little brat who thought she was better than everyone around her especially Maggie. Anice did change at the end of the book when she realised that the Alex she thought was betrothed to wasn't her Alex, but an imposter. I thought the real Alex who prefered to be called Sandy was a perfect match for Anice. He was just as bad as she had been to Maggie. This book is a great read and I can't wait to read the sequel to this book. I highly recommend it to any time-travel fans out there. Keep up the good work Terri.

A bit of a take-off on the Outlander premise of a circle of "singing stones" that can transport through time, albeit these stones were removed from the circle and built into an archway of a building. Our hero and heroine meet at a clan gathering, get shoved through the archway and are transported back through time. I could never figure out what year it was, I recall Edward III being mentioned as England's king, and King David being the son of Robert the Bruce, so my research says sometime in the 14th century.

Anyway, our hero Alex is a double for the laird's son and heir Alesander who has been away for five years in London with the Scott king David (who was being held as a hostage by the English). So he is mistaken for the young heir, and Maggie is taken as his leman (mistress). Lots of ups and downs follow our H&H as they try to understand what's happened, and try to find their way home without being killed for pretending to be what they're not.

All in all very entertaining, but you do have to suspend some disbelief. I am sorry, but no man of the our times (most especially an ACCOUNTANT!!) could go back to the 14th century and pick up a sword and even have a clue to what he was doing, let alone convince his peers that he was adept at it. Also, the author wrote the story so that Alex picked up a Scottish brogue and Gaelic when they went back in time, but no one noticed Maggie's lack of English accent, let alone that she was from New Jersey. For those and a few other discrepancies I give it 4 stars instead of 5.

Note: if you are looking for something for a younger reader, this would not be a good choice. It's a bit of a bodice ripper, with more sexual content and descriptions than is appropriate for a young teen.

So, I admit that I'm a Linda Howard fan - I have every single book she's ever published. But, these are 2 great books - perfect for anyone who's never read a Howard before. Her books combine adventure with suspense and romance to perfection.

With her ability to set the scene, you feel like a friend of the Mackenzie family - listening to the story of how Mary and Wolf met and how Joe's really made something of himself. There are suspenseful moments of laughter, outrage, excitement, and pride, and of course those steamy, drool-worthy moments that make you blush and turn green with envy at the same time.

It's impossible not to like these stories. Be sure to get "Mackenzie's Honor" for the stories of Zane and Change as well as "Mackenzie's Magic" (always part of an anthology since it's a novella) to round out the set.

Linda Howard writes the best hero's in the genre and always delivers a do-not-miss book. For other great Linda Howard books, start with Shades of Twilight (5 stars), After the Night, Mr. Perfect (another 10) or Dream Man - all great books.

Don't miss these installments in the Mackenzie family saga by Linda Howard. Mackenzie's Mountain starts the series off and Mackenzie's Mission follows along seamlessly. Strong passion, strong men and stronger women makes them modern Romantic Fiction at it's best!

These are my all time favorite leisure re-reads!

Linda Howard writes so wonderfully that you actually feel as if you are physically a part of the story. Very emotional and true page turners. Mackenzie's Mountain and Mackenzie's Mission are some of her best work.

I thought the premise of this series was fantastic. It deals with bigotry, hate, and love. Reading about Wolff and his son Joe meeting their match in Mary is such a joy. Then knowing what Joe goes on to do with his life is just superb. I really wish that she had gone on to do books on the other brothers.

I own all books about the Machenzie's. This series is my favorite by far. I have read them over and over so many times I could recite them out loud. I have read many series of books by different authors, but this series is THE BEST. Buy it and read it. You won't be sorry.

I remmember reading this book for the first time a couple of years ago and I fell in love with both charcters. Ms byrd is always new and inventive with her ideas and storylines.

I really enjoyed this book. It was the first book by Ms. Byrd that I had read and found that once I started reading it I couldn't put it down. The story was well written and in addition to being romantic it had some funny parts also. Destiny and Miles story was simply beautiful. After reading this book I have read some of Ms. Byrd's other books and totally agree, she is an excellent writer with her flair for adding comedy and romance.

P.S. also read "Comfort Of A Man", and "Measure Of A Man"

I absolutely loved this book! Got it at the library last week and fell in love with it. Even though it takes place over a period of ten years, you don't feel as if you're being rushed through the novel. I do believe that a male and female can be just friends but sometimes love is right in front of you too. I wish BET would make this a movie. I would like to see it adapted to the small screen.

I read this book in two days. This book was very, very enjoyable. You will find yourself laughing in some parts, but throughout the whole book you hope these two people will get together once and for all. Wonderful, wonderful book.

This was a great book. I actually read the whole thing in one day which i didnt expect to do. This book kept my attention, and after i got to chapter 11 I just couldnt put the book down. I recommend this book to everyone because it is just so great how it all ended. Its funny how love can be right in front of your face and you can just keep on overlooking it. Everyone go out and get this book because you will love it.

This was a great book...I loved it...wonderful character definition...plot twists...great ending...I wanted more!

What a wonderful story! One of the finesest books I've ever read! Can't wait to read the next one!

I really loved this book! Everyone should read it! I could not put it down, and only did when I had to. It is excellent. I can't wait until the next one.

Very Interesting...stayed up all night reading it...can't wait until the sequel!

"My Second Heart" is simply a great book! This is without question one of the finest books I have ever ead. I just couldn't put it dwon - I read it in only two days. The ending was very touching and left me waiting for the second book. Great job, Frank! We knew you had it in you!

The book is enlightening concerning some aspects of the culture.

Prof. Ginzburg outlines in detail the information we have concerning the transformation from ancient agrarian cult to the witchcraft scare. This is not your mother's Margeret Murrey, this is done right.

Whether or not Carlo Ginzburg actually discovered evidence of shamanism in sixteenth-century Italy, in this or later books, is in part a matter of how one defines shamanism. What he undeniably found, in the seemingly unpromising records of the Inquisition, was evidence of beliefs so remote from those of official European culture as to be flatly unintelligible to the churchmen who first encountered them. Eventually, the Church courts managed to impose something resembling officially acceptable doctrines on the local population, but the process took generations, as Ginzburg is able to show from trial records.

Briefly, Ginzburg found that, in the Friuli district, there was a widespread belief that certain men and women were marked at birth as defenders against witches and demons, these being regarded mainly as the enemies of the people, their livestock, and their crops. The chosen defenders, the "Benandanti," or "good walkers," ventured forth in their dreams to do battle with the forces of evil. Those born with the mark of the Benandanti regarded themselves as good Christians, the allies of the Church. To those outside the local culture, this position was clearly nonsense; unauthorized and unsanctified supernatural power could only be Satanic in origin, and those who claimed to exercise it were, at best, dangerously deluded. In the end, if the court records are to be trusted, they persuaded even the Benandanti themselves that this was the case. At least, the "absurd" and "outrageous" testimony of self-described Benandanti fades from the records, to be replaced with conventional witch-beliefs endorsed by the Holy Office.

The official tendency, Catholic and Protestant, to lump local witch-doctors together with the witches they claimed to counter had long been recognized by historians. Ginzburg, however, discovered, and offered to surprised historians (in the original Italian edition of 1966), a stratum of belief that, when first recorded, seems to have been entirely outside the mainstream of medieval European culture. There is scattered evidence for similar concepts in other parts of Europe, and abundant evidence from other continents, but the connections and age of the beliefs in and about the Benandanti remain subjects for controversy. The demonstration that diverse local beliefs had been rendered uniform by the judicial process, and by intensive indoctrination of the "lower classes," however, remains a landmark.

As described in the "Preface to the English Edition," the Italian version rather quickly received favorable -- and some unfavorable or uncomprehending -- notice from historians of European witchcraft. It was interpreted, or perhaps misunderstoond, by Mircea Eliade, the influential figure in "History of Religions" at the University of Chicago, one of the great authorities on shamanism (and much else). Although sections had been published in English earlier, the whole book became available in English in 1983, in the present translation, from Routledge & Kegan Paul in Britain, and Johns Hopkins University Press in the U.S. I first read it a few years later, and eventually acquired a copy of a Penguin Books re-issue of 1986. (All the English-language editions seem to differ only in cover art, besides the name of the publisher.) I have re-read it from time to time over the years. Although historical views of European witch-beliefs and popular culture have both been in flux, this book remains among the most fascinating in its crowded field.

This is by far my favorite historical account of a witch hunt. The book looks at a northern Italian area called Friulian and the fertility rituals people performed in the 1600s and 1700s. The benandanti, marked at birth by the sign of the caul, served Christ and their community by leaving their bodies at night to fight evil witches that had attempted to destroy or steal their harvest. The Catholic Church believed the benandanti were witches and conducted inquisitions and trials. If you've ever been fascinated by the witch trials and don't know where to begin, I suggest this book as a fun yet informative read.

In his book, The Night Battles, Carlo Ginzburg addresses the historical problem of why, during sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, did the Friulian fertility rituals of the benandanti, or "good-walkers", gradually assimilate into witchcraft. The benandanti, marked at birth by the sign of the caul, served Christ and their community by leaving their bodies at night to fight evil witches that had attempted to destroy or steal their harvest. Because of the ignorance of the Friuli language and benandanti rituals, the Church conducted incessant inquisitions and trials against the self-proclaimed benandanti, which in effect, pushed the benandanti toward witchcraft and participation in the sabbat.

In support of this argument, Ginzburg employs inquisitorial records that reveal an unmistakable gap between the beliefs and mentalities of the benandanti with those of the inquisitors. Brian P. Levak's review, published in the Journal of Interdisciplinary History, notes the significance of Ginzburg's exploration of the mentalities and culture of the Friuli. Levak writes, "The Night Battles is a milestone in the history of popular culture, for it was one of the first studies to use judicial records to gain direct access to popular beliefs." In addition, by skillfully using his primary source material, Ginzburg is able to discern between the "genuinely expressed popular ideas and those that reflect the more learned notions of [the] interrogators, especially when the accused was faced with either the threat or the reality of torture." To Ginzburg's credit, he allows the strength of the inquisitorial records to stand alone in support of his thesis and in exposing the popular culture of the Friuli. Furthermore, Ginzburg's use of comparative methodology demonstrates, not only the evolution of the benandanti fertility rituals under inquisitorial pressure, but also the vast cultural and spiritual gap between the Church and the peasantry.

While Ginzburg's work is an example of ground-breaking historical writing, there are several critiques that can be made of The Night Battles. First, Ginzburg's book makes way for more questions regarding the experiences and participation of the benandanti in the fertility rituals. For example, Ginzburg admittedly does not address why the benandanti, spread out over a vast region, testify to similar experiences and physical participation in their night gatherings. How is it that these people all testified to a common experience during the inquisitions? Ginzburg would be well-served to investigate the parallels in testimonies, if only to further personify the popular culture and mentalities of the Fruili. Secondly, as Alby Stone noted in her Folklore review, "the book would be improved by making the index more comprehensive and, alas, there is no bibliography." The Table of Contents page is too simplistic, almost juvenile, and does not reflect Ginzburg's reputation as a consummate and seasoned historian. Ginzburg does offer a comprehensive appendix and notes section. However, he fails to include a bibliography - a necessity with historical writing. While the Contents and the Bibliography do not impact the overall significance of his work, these are areas that should be improved.

I always try to keep an extra of this book on the shelf for when an anniversary comes around for special people. I received this book years ago and just love it. Everyone I have given this book to just loves the verse and the beautiful graphics. I am so happy I can always go to Amazon.com when I need more copies.

great book for a older anniversary gift especially 50th anniversary. hard cover nice pictures and verses. my amazon coppy had a small tear on corner of the corner of the jacket of the book which was not seen until I opened it but jacket gives a nice presentation. Do to amazon mail packaging.

Whew! What wonderful, choice words Warren Hanson uses to describe love--from first love to "older love," whether he means being in love again when you are older, or the love between people who have been together for years upon years.

His subtle rhyme describes love, especially older love, using images of wine, hands, old shoes, and so much more.

My favorite page says: "Yes, our faces show the traces of the years that have gone by, But it's hard to see the wrinkles with a twinkle in your eye." His "aging together" is so true; just ask me after almost 38 years of marriage (to the same guy!)

The older love concept is so beautifully illustrated--it's simply great knowing that everyone who has a long love will find themselves in this book.

Hanson is both the author and illustrator--as he did on his amazing The Next Place. He is well known for his illustrations on now-famous The Christmas Cup of Tea.

Armchair Interviews says: Gift someone special any day, or on their special day because any day is a good time to celebrate love, whether new or older love.

Though Older Love is written and presented in the style of a picturebook, with gentle two-color illustrations and only a verse or two on each page, Older Love is not meant specifically for children or beginning readers, but rather for readers of all ages, as it celebrates the joy of a golden years relationship. The text is a poem about bonds that transcends age, and the illustrations have a soft and inviting quality to them. An excellent and heartwarming giftbook. "Older love is hands and hearts and souls as they unite / every morning, every evening, / every day and every night. / Like the sun and moon and stars that light the heavens up above, / these two lives will shine together, / with the glow of older love."

Warren Hanson has truly captured the true meaning of love. Written in poetic form makes it for easy reading. As he walks us through true love from the very beginning with all its passion to our tender quiet love in our twilight years, one can see ones own true love unfold. I can't imagine anyone putting this book down with a dry eye. What a beautiful, beautiful gift to all. The illustrations are superb. What a gem

This sequel to FIELDS OF GOLD doesn't disappoint! This time, the author focuses on Morgan Glennon's character; his journey into adulthood and resolution of issues that irked him since childhood. Morgan is a brave and likeable character, but for me Georgia was the real pleasure of the book. I enjoyed accompanying her on her own journey, never knowing where it was going to take her. With her intelligence, witt and courage, Georgia really came to life! I can only hope Marie decides to write a prequel delving into the story of her youth!

Futhermore, if you haven't read ON WINGS OF THE MORNING, you are missing a real treat. And don't forget FIELDS OF GOLD, Marie's first novel. After reading that beautifully original story with it's little hidden secrets, I had to pass it along to my book group. They all agree it was a real treasure and we had a wonderful meeting discussing it! Curl up with any Marie Bostwick novel and you'll meet unforgetable characters whose journeys you're sure to find delightfully surprising!

When I read a book I look for a story that engages and entertains me. If it's a really good book, I gain knowledge or insight in having read it. This book accomplished all of that for me. Ms. Bostwick did a very nice job conveying the passion felt by Georgia and Morgan for flying and how each was affected by their own illegitimacy. I loved the spiritual and patriotic elements. She also educated me on an area in our nation's history I only new vaguely. I was aware that women were involved in the military in non-combat roles during WWII, but I never new the role of the WASP. What an amazing and strong group of women. I took a look at the web site referenced by Ms. Bostwick at the back of the book...very interesting information.

This was a heartwarming story following the lives of two people that love flying and whose lives interweave at various points in their history. Morgan Glennon grew up in a small Oklahoma village and at a young age began a passion with flying. Morgan is illegitimate and his mother won't tell him the identity of his father and this has caused him much heartache as he grows up and decides to become a professional pilot, eventually being part of the war against Japan in World War II. However he has bumped into Georgia Welles, a widow who is also a WASP (a female pilot that carries out deliveries and other tasks) and finds himself interested in her. However Georgia is quite remote from him and he doesn't understand why. Half of the chapters are written from Georgia's point of view and we understand that her illegitimacy and her difficult mother have very much affected her belief in love. Georgia pours her energy and talent into flying and yet she can't forget about Morgan.

When Morgan is missing in action Georgia realises her feelings for him, and when Morgan believes he is going to die he reconsiders his life and what is important. The shock of discovering the identity of his father followed by his forced landing makes him reconsider some of his ideas about life and God and Georgia.

This book has a firm Christian thread running through its pages with both hero and heroine behaving morally and with integrity. The author doesn't lay the spiritual side on too thick, it's a gentle leavening of the story which helps the characters to understand a little more of their position in the world and to each other. The detail of flying in America in the 1930s and 40s is fascinating, particularly with regard to Georgia's role as a WASP. This is a gentle and touching love story, a sequel to 'Fields of Gold', the story of Morgan's mother, but it worked excellent as a standalone novel. It's a book to savour and enjoy.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

This book really ought to come with a warning. Seriously. Maybe not on the front cover as it would mar the pretty cover but on the first page there should be a warning label done in cheerful yellow stating that once you pick this book up, you will not be able to put it back down till the last page has been turned.

Ok, so no cheerful yellow label. But that's my warning.

I have read all of Bostwick's books and I have fallen in love with every single one of them, this one being no exeception. This one is Morgan's story. Morgan is Eva's son who was born with a heart of gold and a desire to fly the skies like his father did. Only, he never knew the deep dark secret of his life till later. And that secret ironically saved his life.

And this is Georgia's story as well. An illegimate daughter of a woman who relies on her looks to attract men, Georgia never knew where her dreams would take her till she saw Lindbergh's plane leaving the Chicago airport when she was a child. Her dreams soared to the skies and she became one of the few elite who joined the WASPs in WWII. Though attractive and pretty, the young widow refused all offers of male companionships till she met Morgan. Even then, she had a hard time resisting his natural charms.

This is a lovely love story and one that will take your heart soaring through the skies with their dreams. It is inspirational and beautifully written. It is a keeper in anyone's library. As this reader can testify, you won't regret reading this one.

2/22/08

...continues the story of Morgan, a farm-town boy raised in humble surroundings by an amazing woman and his grandfather. If you haven't read Fields of Gold, I highly recommend reading it first. It is not absolutely necessary, as this could stand alone, but it makes the reading so much better to know the background. I found the two books to be very different from each other, however, the first one being more in depth into the personalities and relationships of the main characters. Morgan is a little boy in Fields, with a love of flying and natural born gene for it on his paternal side. His mother is a shy introverted but admirable woman, and the first book is more about her, and about how she fell in love with a famous pilot but never married Morgan's father. We don't hear much more about her in the sequel, as her life is quietly settled by then.

This sequel continues on with Morgan's love of flying, and introduces us to Georgia, a young woman with the same passion for flying at a time (during WWII) when it was difficult for women to get into the field and be respected. The WASP organization gave a chosen few that opportunity, and this young woman was one of them. Ultimately her path is crossed with Morgan's and we can foresee their personal destinies will overlap. We also are exposed to her struggle to measure up to the male perception of her abilities as a pilot, always having to prove herself. I loved her spunk and passion for the craft. There is a lot of history here, with the WASPs and as usual, Marie has done an exceptional job in the research and brought us a wonderful story which will touch the hearts of women everywhere and make them proud.

I think the character development was better in Fields, but found Wings to be a satisfying read and do recommend it. I have read all of her books and they never disappoint.

In a Christmas paperback called Comfort and Joy, Marie Bostwick is one of 4 authors writing short holiday stories and in my humble opinion, hers was the only one worth reading - the only one that had the true message of Christmas wrapped up in a short lovely story with wonderful characters. Loved it.