Awards Books

Very unexpected twist - time travel to tzarist Russia to save Anna Karenina! Bravo! Very brave and imaginative! And it works.

I enjoyed the first chapter of Yanina's novel...Intriguing start...Looking forward to the rest of the book.

I'll be buying it. With action propelled by tight accessible prose, interspersed with thoughtful rhetorical flourishes, what's not to like? Especially appealing is the prospect of revisiting Tolstoy's stomping grounds as both contemporary and historical settings. Looking forward to reading on.

The writer provides us with a very descriptive, philosophic and literate view of Moscow present day and near past and then smoothly guides the reader into the far past. Smartly written, but her personal obsession isn't all that interesting after she gets to her point. She ends the chapter flat. There's no hook for me to read on although the quality of her writing might get me into more chapters. I hope that she continues to compare/contrast the old and the new of Russia an introspection not that common to we Canadians.

This felt alienating. I'm not sure who the narrator is speaking to; I'm not sure when it's taking place. I felt distanced from the story in this small excerpt.

What a great beginning! I'm a sucker for interesting worlds, and this seems to promise a well-thought out and well-developed one. I generally don't read noir, and so I can't yet feel for the characters, but the chase scene and the little details made for a fast and engrossing read. I hope to read more of this!

All in all I'd say I am very impressed by what I've seen so far in this book. Be that as it may, one gets the sense while reading that all Subspace needs to bring it to the forefront of modern science fiction is a thorough pass by a talented editor.
The characters and setting are clearly top notch, but unfortunately the pacing - particularly the rate at which invented words are introduced - tends to bog the reader down. A little jargon here and there can pique curiosity and draw the reader in; but introducing four, five, six new terms before the reader has time to figure out what the first three mean for page after page is simply asking us to juggle too many balls at once.
To conceive of a new and vigorous universe is the mark of a good writer, and Justin Robinson has clearly achieved that. Is there a great novel here? Yes. Absolutely. Unfortunately one has to dig a little more than most casual readers would be comfortable with.
That said, I must be fair to insist that once the setting is established, once the politics of the era is set in perspective, once the new lexicon is metabolized, there is one hell of a story here.

Blending genres can be as risky as performing oral surgery on a cranky Sarlacc that declined the anesthetic. Chances are you're going to get bit, and it's going to hurt something fierce. In his debut novel "Subspace", Mr. Robinson has woven a seamless blend of Noir and Science Fiction sure the please the fans of well written stories set in either milieu.

The beginning of this excerpt is tense and fascinating. I was eager to know why Montoya was moving so quickly and who was chasing her. The description of the corridors in Santiago was vivid and interesting, and the author managed to reveal details about this world without slowing down the action.

There are some excellent details about how a world without gravity would function, as in the description of the bar that included where the bar was, where the tables were, and how the patrons would stay where they belonged.

I was a bit lost in the slang of this world. Some I could pick up through context, but other words I thought could have been saved until later, when I would have been able to get a better idea of what they meant.

Ramirez's inner conflict about Montoya's plea is interesting, and his character is obviously very complex. I liked him and would be interested in learning much more of his story. The history of Ramirez, Montoya, and Calderon is enlightening and creates the opportunity for a great deal of tension between the characters of Ramirez and Montoya.

So far this was a fascinating story, and I was disappointed not to have the opportunity to read more of it.

The author of Subspace has created a richly believable zero gravity world. Vibrant descriptions and colorful details draw the reader in, and make him believe - I could smell the odors of the world. The pace of the story is perfect; it keeps moving while continuing to impart interesting information to the reader. The description of the bar is excellent, completely adding to the zero gravity feel.

The slang adds to the story; however, I did feel that it needed some accompanying explanation. Most of it I was able to puzzle out, but this did slow down my comprehension and enjoyment of the story as a whole. Also, some of the characters need the same depth and detail as the world the author has created. At times, they felt a bit shallow or underdeveloped.

All in all, this is a fun, fast-paced read.

The story is engaging and interesting from the start. I was drawn immediately to the realism of Honor's character, absorbed by her thoughts and feelings, and intrigued by her challenges. I enjoyed the psychological nature of the story and I am curious to find out more about Instil and the healing dreams. Also, did Honor really dispense with her Instil stocks or would she try them herself?

I like the conversational style of writing and the integration of dialogue and activity as Carrie and Isabelle make the find in the attic. I would like to discover more about the links between the women of the past and the future.

I got into the story very quickly due to Voula's descriptive and conversational style of writing, the interesting characters and intriguing content and I really am curious to find out more... 2 chapters is not enough!

An intriguing start. I immediately related to Honor, at many levels. The novel's style begins with descriptive story and dialogue, which introduce us to the characters and the themes of; family, spanning time, psychology, relationships, aspirations , forgiveness..........
Voula Grand manages to involve the reader as if they are part of this extended family.
The story is told at a fast pace with a crisp, clear narrative. And develops effortlessly, weaving in the characters as they are introduced to us. I so enjoyed reading about the creative possibilities of, for example, Instil and the YiasYias. I truly look forward to rejoining this family dynasty and reading the full story of "Honor's Ghost".

It's clear even from this excerpt that Ms. Grand has tied together a number of both timely and forward-looking themes. The notion that a pharmaceutical company would cancel a new drug because it works too well to be profitable certainly rings true in this cynical age.

She then extrapolates a plausible near-future in which to explore the direction of our society, and the way that same drug would impact it. The foundation set in these two chapters promises a good read.

The prose is smooth, and the dialogue flows naturally. I look forward to the rest of the book.

I really enjoyed the chapters for the review and it left me wanting to read more. How will the connection with the 2 generations develop? I wanted to find out more about Honor and her part in the story. The characters were engaging. When we jumped forward I liked voula's 'future'. The 1st chapter was informative without being too complicated with psychology. I look forward to reading the rest.

Why did the drug company halt clinical trials when the drug was such a raging success? The patient, a woman who had been abused by her father, reported being visited by her grandmother in a dream and was now able to heal and move on. The attending psychiatrist, Dr. Honor Sinclair, is stunned when the drug company decides to withdraw the drug.

Then the story skips two generations into the future. Isabelle Raith, Honor's great-granddaughter, finds Honor's picture as she is cleaning out the attic...

This is an exceptionally well-written excerpt, with a fine mystery set up in the reader's mind. An intriguing element is the interaction passing down through generations of women, adding a touch of tribal myth to this very modern story. Although this is billed as a psychological novel, there are futuristic and science fiction elements here that should make it attractive to sci-fi fans as well. One really hates to see the excerpt end.

The best reading experience is being taken to a different time and place by a protaganist who captures your heart. Possum propels you into her world with a unique voice. Her feelings become your own. Grieving and spunk combine in this rich character. No, not a character, church truth Possum is living, breathing real. I look forward to the rest of her story.

This tale has the ring of truth to a Southern girl who also experienced deep grief as a child. Ms. Laso shows her impressive talent not only by writing in the voice of a 10-year-old girl, but also by sprinkling in clever sentences that zing with insight ("Plus the big rock stuck in the throat ... it's hard to get past, words out or food in." "And the people left behind have to find the way and the will to crush the quiet before it crushes them."). Ms. Laso has accurately conveyed the dialect, successfully captured the sensations of grief and carefully balanced pain and humor to produce an honest, bittersweet account of an emotionally charged phase of life.

I loved keeping company with Possum and her Southern friends. The setting brought me back to the hours I shared with Lee Harper's Scout and the evenings I spent with John Boy on Walton's Mountain. Possum's narrative and Maria Lazo's lyrical voice told a tender story about painful life transitions- a timeless theme that's relevant in any era and local. In Possum's words, "I was so full of sorrow, I don't guess I would've had the strength to blow the dander off a danderlion." And yet, remarkably, eventually she was able to go "back to doing the things that needed doing, like shooing crows out of Momma's pecan tree, helping Daddy in his woodshed, and naming cloud animals, among my other chores and daily travels. Felt like I had a good hold on things." Learning how to get a 'good hold of things' despite loss and pain is a lesson for not only Possum, but everyone who loves.

Maria D. Laso's ability to draw in this reader to Possum's world was evident from the story's first line. Ms. Laso paints a vivid, textured portait of an earlier time and place that breathes with authenticity. Possum speaks as a child but with a wisdom not found in many of the adults in her world. I was truly sad the excerpt ended when it did. I long to find out what happens with Possum, her dad and the brown lady. "The Morning Come" is a first-rate work by a talented writer.

From the first sentence, Possum's engaging voice and perceptive nature drew me in. The "down home" language lends a rhythm to the sentences, creating a charming first person narrative of this coming of age story of a young girl growing up in 1930's Appalachia and coming to grips with loss, loyalty and love. Her mother and new baby sibling has died in childbirth and Liz Betty "Possum" and her father are left with "sorrow storming inside" and must, as Possum says "find the way and the will to crush the quiet before it crushes them." Possom's humorous turns of phrases resonate with the naive wisdom of an observant, quick-minded, self-confident young girl, and make for delightful reading.

The first chapter introduces Possum and her father each dealing with grief in their own way and the Crow Ladies who come "...fixing to stick their beaks in our business." Possum handles the Crow Ladies with resourceful mischief. In the course of the narrative of the next two chapters we meet Miz Justice, a near-blind old lady with a touch of the Sight, Possum's friend June May, who is ten, a year younger than Possum, and whom Possum describes as having "a coon's compass for a brain," and a Yankee lady, newly come to town, whose charm Possum mistrusts right away. In three chapters, skillfully written, Maria D. Laso presents what promises to be an entrancing coming of age story.

Words are not enough to describe this beautifully written and illustrated book. You should experience the descriptive, poetic words and haunting drawings of a young boys rite of passage. All ages would enjoy the well told story. This is a must read!


Owl Moon

I used this book in my classroom as an example for my students to write thier own story. My 3rd and 4th graders loved the story and it worked great for the lesson I was teaching.

My grandaughter fell in love with this book from the library and Granpa had to buy it for her birthday. It is very well illustrated and well written, Granpa never tires of reading it to her, as she never tires of hearing it. In a market filled with children's books of dubious merit or worth, this is well worth it, to read, to buy, to have in the library of a young reader on her way to a lifetime of reading.

I ordered this book based on the reviews found on amazon. I was looking for a nature oriented book for my 2 year old son. This has become, by far, one of our favorite family bedtime stories. The illustrations are beautiful. The story is heart warming and real. My husband loves to read it as much as I do. This is a classic in our library and will remain so for many, many years.

I like Jane Yolen's work - the children do too (lol). But Owl Moon is probably the most poetic of her works that we have read. The word choice and imagery is wonderful; soft and soothing. You can hear the crunch of snow, and feel the biting cold.

Like the others I give it 5 stars, and would add that it makes for a good bed-time book.

Five Stars. Top notch Read-aloud. Artwork is nice, in darker shades than Yolen's other works. Perhaps not quite as nice in detail, but well suited to the story.

the book is so beautifull, as a huge "alice" fan- its the top of my items!!! its like having something taken out from a museun in my house!i highly recomend

I purchased this book because of the last page. I had seen it at my Book Club and knew my grandchildren would love it. They love peaking down the rabbits hole and finding the additional pop ups on each page. A book you will definately want to pass on down the family. Truly a classic come to life.

This is a beautiful pop-up book, artfully illustrated. Best for an older child who will keep it intact. Worth buying as a collectible.

I love this wonderful portrayal of Alice's adventures in the form of pop-up art. Sabuda's Pop-ups are a constantly source of amazement for my sister. We are full of admiration for the skill and intricate detail that goes into creating these masterpieces. I got this book last Christmas together with Sabuda's pop-up "Encyclopedia Prehistorica" and Nowiki's short story Why Some Cats are Rascals, Book 2 - a charming story with a lot of information about from the world of felines.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1D1HQPBU6PKBA This is a brief video walking you through the pop-ups.

Lynn C. Lewis has entered new territory with Dissonance. Although it's classified as a mystery/thriller/suspense here in this contest, I would've thought otherwise if I hadn't read the synopsis and Publisher's Weekly review. Or glanced at the black and yellow box on the top left of her Amazon page!

Most genre fiction is plot driven, and what distinguishes literary fiction is that it's motivated by character(s). Ms. Lewis has accomplished both a plot- and character-driven masterpiece in only 5,000 words. As Randi Craig noted in her review, you can't help falling in love when you read that the main character, Dee Wrightsman, is "pissed off and also pissed." I know I'm not in the minority when I say that I'd take a dirty deed and a memorable one-liner from a charming character over an elaborate description of a beautiful landscape any day when choosing whether or not to continue reading a novel.

What also distinguishes literary fiction is its "Cliff's Notes" potential. Will it be a work that young and old students of literature alike can dismantle, analyze to pieces, and talk till the death in classrooms and creative writing workshops? And yet again, Ms. Lewis accomplishes this in her title alone, Dissonance, which actually refers to "cognitive dissonance." Dee Wrightsman explains it as "More the wish to believe you made the right choice, no matter what. So even if the choice you make isn't the right one, you convince yourself that it was. This generates certain effects when the next choice situation comes up. We don't tolerate dissonance well, so our choices become constricted."

Yet, Ms. Lewis keeps reminding us it's a murder mystery. Her character cleverly engages in a conversation with her colleagues about dissonance and has the gall to give them an example of a murderer planning "her" crime.

Then, when she finds Mr. Guinness's body, here is what she says:

"The back of his head was a mess of blood and brain matter. I grabbed hostess towels from the porcelain towel rack, dropped to my knees, and pressed them against the matted hair. They soaked through slowly, as if the blood had already all run out. His body did not move. Not a breath in him. I couldn't think what should come next and looked up to see Clifford Bacon, Jennings Pick, and a slew of other faculty staring in at me in horror. Bacon's eyes widened and when I turned my head I saw what I had missed at first. Sitting on the toilet tank was a small bottle of apricot brandy."

She manages to avoid overdoing the scene here, describing the back of his head as a "mess of blood and brain matter," and she cleverly ends it with a bottle of her favorite brandy sticking out like a sore thumb at the scene of the crime.

It's as if Ms. Lewis purposely created a new genre for everyone to eat up. She interweaves literary fiction and mystery/thriller elements with ease, making her readers actually care about the character, yet still being able to take them on the ride of their lives, hopefully closer to the conclusion of whodunit.

I was sorry to see this entry not among the top 100, but I am most certain it will be on many best-seller lists before you can say "I'm pissed off and also pissed." Thank you, Ms. Lewis, for having the courage to break new ground in the tough-as-nails world of writing. Success is just around the corner. My best to you.

I found this short to be compelling. The author throws us quickly into the quirky situation that has befallen our immediately likeable heroine and takes us on a fun (at least for awhile) journey. Then when she has provided much entertainment in the plight through which Dee Wrightsman leads us, she confronts us with a very dire situation - a situation that brings us to wonder about our heroine's unpredictable behavior. The first line gives us a clue to Dee's unusual mental processes. "Even for a social psychologist like me, predicting behavior is elusive.

For isn't "predicting behavior" what the "game" is all about for readers of this genre? Can anything complete the circle in Dee Wrightsman's own life and afford her some harmony?

The last part of this excerpt is set up wonderfully as we feel the tension as Dee enters the party. We wonder if we would have had the wherewithal to attend after the incidents of the previous night and how we would handle it. Also at the party-"It was Mags Grossenheimer, Sociology." Nice touch in describing how a person can be thought of by their discipline to the extent it almost becomes part of their name.

Another funny turn - the police chief who carries Jamaican Blue coffee in his work thermos.

I await the next chapter.

Dissonance promises many wonderfully witty insights into faculty life and politics in a liberal arts college (and I'm one who's been there). I don't read many mysteries but I found the blend of satire and murder mystery very compelling, reminding me of some of the classic British authors that blend social satire with their mystery plots. The character profiles leave the reader wondering and hoping for character development as the plot unfolds, and the dialogue and descriptions are very well crafted. On top of everything else this opening excerpt delivers, we get hints that we're in for some lessons in human psychology and why we tend to "wish to believe [we] made the right choice, no matter what." In short, there's something for everyone in this, and I'm sure a publisher will snap it up!

Dissonance by L.C. Lewis opens on Dee Wrightsman's worse month ever. After being denied tenure as an associate professor of Psychology at Southbury College, she lands up a couple weeks later on the lawn of committee lead, Karabelle Poker. She's drunk and spreading horse manure around.

This early portion of the excerpt does a lovely job of engaging the reader with the character. Though Dee is an intelligent and academic woman, she' prone to moody retaliation for perceived wrongdoings. Rather than paint Dee as plain old psycho, the author does a wonderful job of maintaining levity in the tone of the story as it moves forward.

Next we move on to the President's (Quincy Guinness) Summer Solstice Lawn Party (though a few lines later mentions a beautiful Vermont Spring evening). Despite Dee's hesitation to go, she lands up with a trusty bottle of peach brandy in her pocket. As Dee mingles, the reader meets other committee members and faculty with an array of colorful and fun names, though the characters aren't cartoonish.

I truly felt for Dee as she made strides to keep her chin up throughout the embarrassment of having to stick around. Then, as if things couldn't get any worse, President Guinness is found dead. A number of eyes turn to her.

This is a clever bit of foundation work for the overall mystery. Not only is the story appealing, but I actually care about the lead character. This latter element I find missing a fair bit in mystery stories. Overall, I'd love to read this book through and see how Dee's situation plays out.

"Dissonance" is a murder mystery with a sharp eye for the humor in human behavior. Dee Wrightsman is a social psychologist at Vermont's Southbury College. After being denied tenure, she got drunk and dumped manure on the lawn of the person she felt was responsible for that decision. The President's Solstice Lawn Party is an opportunity for Dee to rehabilitate her reputation -or not, so she attends, peach brandy in pocket. As she mingles, some colleagues imply a hidden motive in the tenure decision, then a murder victim is discovered, and Dee looks like a suspect.

Dee narrates her story with upbeat sarcasm toward her fellow academics. She drinks too much. She bears a grudge. She's an imperfect character with a sense of humor about her own foibles and those of the people around her. Her field of study is "dissonance", the desire people have to believe they have made the right choice, no matter what they must do to convince themselves. This might make Dee the perfect candidate to investigate a murder.

Dee's humor and directness endeared her to me. Real emotions that are implicit as much as explicit in her narration give Dee dimension beyond her quips and idiosyncrasies, as her state of mind turns from anger and annoyance to grief and fear in the course of these first pages. Skillful, polished prose moves the story along at a pleasant pace and grounds "Dissonance" firmly in the character of Dee. I expect she will have some funny things to say on the serious subject of murder -and the less serious subject of academic infighting.

I thoroughly enjoyed Shattered Remains. The descriptions were interesting, the characters, especially Nick, fascinating. The author starts off by grabbing your interest and sustains the momentum throughout the story. I would highly recommend this upcoming author as the story was engaging with plenty of plot twists in between. Don't miss this great read. I can't wait to read another one of her novels.

Shattered Remains by Lynn Coulter

Review by Don Wolfe

It isn't often that a reader gets such a thorough introduction to four different characters in the first 8 pages of a book. Presuming that Ms. Coulter will follow through on the seeds she has planted, this novel has great promise. Nick seems typical enough; his day-job as head of a computer security firm is nicely contrasted with his night-job as a drummer in a small band. Never mind his self-evaluation that he is really good on the drums.

Nick's trouble with women commands center stage from the beginning. Serena, his current girlfriend, accuses him of having an affair with his former girlfriend Avery. Selena doubts Nick's commitment despite the fact that they have purchased a house together. Furthermore, it is clear that Avery abandoned Nick after a suicide attempt failed. What signals could Selena possibly fathom when Avery is so determinedly out of the picture?

Poor Nick seems virtually hapless when Judith, his employee no less, attends his late-night band gig and quickly maneuvers his curiosity about her presence into a one-night stand. Nick certainly keeps his love life complicated, and even worse, he is compromised into discovering Judith's bloody body at the same time it is discovered by the police. At this point, the reader presumes that the story is headed for an intense murder investigation and possibly a rigged trial in court.

Coulter's characters are economically drawn and the pacing in these first 8 pages is intense. Her descriptions are evocative if even a bit too colorful. The plot within these early pages is tightly drawn. The question now is will this novel fulfill its first plot clues.

I enjoyed these eight pages very much and can't wait to see what else is in store for Nick. The story is interesting and it's well written. I'm very impressed.

I loved Shattered Remains! Coulter has created a character in Nick that has both intrigued and excited me. This guy is talented, intelligent and very good-looking. His heart has been broken by Avery Woods (what a great name). He has not seen her in a long time, but he still thinks of her and is bitter. Nick has a new girlfriend but is unable to really love her. Nick's distance causes a break-up. Man I felt so bad for Nick I wanted to rescue this guy from his sadness. But Nick meets up with a lonely co-worker at a bar he was playing. There was a definite attraction between them and against his better judgment Nick gives in to desire and takes the lovely Judith home! This unexpected turn of events surprised me. I loved it! Nick is such a naughty boy and I did not quite expect that. It gets even better! The next night Judith calls Nick in a disoriented state asking him to meet her at the office. Nick is scared because Judith's voice reminds him of Avery's voice the night she tried to commit suicide. At this point, as a reader, I am dying to grab Nick and hug him. I could not read fast enough to find out what was next and I screamed when Judith was dead!!! Yes, dead! Nick meets Judith at the office and finds her in her car dead. To add to the excitement the police have been called and find Nick over Judith's dead body and thinks he is the killer.
I cannot wait to buy this book and find out what happens to our handsome Nick and does he and Avery see one another again? Who called the police and why did Judith call Nick? Please Coulter, tell me more!!!

I'm an avid reader who enjoys all types of books, especially
suspense and thrillers. I really enjoyed how well written and intriguing "Shattered Remains" was. I kept reading and before I knew it the chapter was complete leaving me longing for more. I thought the
book started out great and got better by building suspense almost immediately. I constantly found myself wondering what will happen next. It is one of the best chapters I have read recently. I look forward to reading the rest of this book and finding out what twists are left in the road. I really like Lynn Coulter's style!

I love most of the Little House on the Prairie books, as well as the stories of Laura's great-grandmother, Martha, her grandmother, Charlotte, her mother, Caroline, and her daughter, Rose. I've read every one I can get my hands on. My all-time favorite of the all the series is These Happy Golden Years. This tells of Laura and Almanzo's courtship, and it is so chaste and sweet.

This book definitely belongs on my 10 favorite children's books.

I would rate this book 4.5 stars. It tells of Laura Ingalls years between the age of 15 to 18, and her first teaching job where she goes to live with a family where the wife doesn't treats her shabbily. It's a good story but it mostly told more of her and Almanzo than her teaching.

Although the "Little House" books do not appear to be quite as popular as they were a couple of decades ago, I shared all the books with my grandchildren in the form of audio books. We would listen to them as we drove on both long and short rides. They, and I, enjoyed the first three books(Little House in the Big Woods, Little House on the Prairie, On the Banks of Plum Creek) but then felt the next three were just fair to listen to. When I first started These Happy Golden Years, I heard a grumble or two from the g'kids, but as the story unfolded their listening delight picked up. Soon they were begging me to drive the longer way home so they could find out what happened next. These Happy Golden Years is a sweet love story full of interesting historical facts, plus enough action to keep my grandson interested. The only flaw we found with the audio version of the book is the singing of the actor (Cherry Jones) that did the reading. It was a bit grating at times when she pretended to sing as Pa. (Poor Ma if Pa really sang like that) Other than that it is a five star recommendation.

Now fifteen-years-old, Laura Ingalls can't help but crave getting a job in order to help her family. Ever since her first taste of earning her own money, she is determined to find another position that complements her skills. Besides, with Mary away at college, as much as Laura misses the companionship of her beloved sister, she can't help but feel compelled to assist her family in keeping Mary in a place where she is learning, and happier than ever. To do that, however, she'll have to do what she can to find the perfect job. Now that she has her teaching certificate, she'll be able to do just that.

It seems like only yesterday that Laura Ingalls was racing around the schoolyard with the boys, playing ball and sharing secrets with her friends; now she is basically all grown up, and beginning her career as a schoolteacher. But being a teacher isn't as easy as Laura hoped it would be - especially when many of the students are older than she is. And, to add insult to injury, she's forced to contend with boarding with a couple who spends the late nights hurling insults at one another, and living in miserable conditions. The only consolation is that Almanzo Wilder drives in to town each and ever Friday, to pick her up and bring her to her folks house for the weekend, before she must start another grueling week. It is during these long rides that Laura begins to spend more and more time with the older man. But it also makes her question why he is so willing to drive the twelve miles to her aid each week. Laura is unsure of his motives. She is also too tired and busy to spend much time thinking about them. Instead, she thinks of the paycheck that will soon come her way; and the beauty and splendor of the items she can buy for her family as time goes by.

With each and every book in the LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE series, I have seen Laura get older and older. I have also grown to love her as much as an old friend. Laura is such a responsible, mature individual - quite different from the little rascal she was during her younger years. She seems so caring, and eager to assist her family, and see that her sister gets the education she has always craved. It is so refreshing to see a character who puts others ahead of herself. Like in LITTLE TOWN ON THE PRAIRIE, the reader has the opportunity to learn more about Almanzo Wilder; however, the more you learn, the more you see just how much older he is than Laura, and how strangely the relationship between the two of them develops. Another winner from Ms. Ingalls-Wilder!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

"These Happy Golden Years" is one of the best books I have ever come across. (And I have come across a lot, so don't doubt my taste!) Everything is detailed in an interesting sort of way, and the emotions and lovering part is kept well under control so it's not an immensely disgusting romance novel but not exactly a plain sensible book either. Laura Ingalls Wilder allowed the sequence to be somewhat unpredictable but it exemplifies a good plot that a true book-lover would cherish.
The plot is about fifteen-year-old Laura, now leaving home to teach school. It is a rather big challenge as the weeks drag by, but she learns to deal with unruly Clarence, pouty Martha, shy Charles, and the little ones, Ruby and another boy whose name I cannot remember. And at her boardinghouse, she has to learn how to cope with fussy and quarelly Mrs. Brewster, and spoiled baby Johnny. But the highlight of this part is every Friday Almanzo Wilder comes to pick her up to go home and back again on Sunday. When the term is finished, something has happened and soon Laura finds herself subconsciously in love with handsome Almanzo, and he with her. Of course, they don't just go ahead and marry, because a long-time rival of Laura's, Nellie Oleson, is also after Almanzo, and Laura's older snotty sister Mary is taking all her teaching money to go to college and Pa's claim must be fixed up before the winter. But these things soon pass, and Laura learns the joy of early womanhood as she and Ma make dresses, Laura learns how to deal with money, and realizes Almanzo is really the guy for her. And soon they are engaged. And that is just the beginning of a whole new chapter of Laura's life as a pioneer of America.
This heartwarming little book provides all the things you could want, some romance, a girl's troubles and hopes, and most of all, a glimpse to the daily life which we now look back to as precious American history.

I love this piece, except I was so sorry it had to end! A great read - it feels so real, and speaks to all of us. Very insightful and sensitive without being sappy. Smart without being self-consciously so. Susan quickly weaves a story of rich and complex characters - people that we are and people that we know. I can't wait to read more!

All I can say is brilliant work. Susan Heeger is an exceptional writer with an exerpt from her book that is guaranteed to be a literary success. Dana and Cliff are on a life pursuit (that I have only dreamed of), and confronting their life together and relationship issues that all of us can empathize with on every level. Susan's ability to convincinly develop her characters and describe the pnumbras in her scenes, leaves my heart pounding and my mouth watering. This is a work of art and one that I read and re-read several times hoping that it would never end. I need to read the rest of Heeger's novel and will truly feel short changed and forever hungry in life if I am not able to complete the rest of this literary tale. I am always passionate about great works of literature, but Heeger's Hungry is one that has taken me to places I have never experienced before. This is an absolue winner and a "must read" by everyone searching for an alternative path in life. In short, simply brilliant.

Susan Heeger has created an extraordinary literary work that I hoped would go on forever. The development of her characters is so real and creatively descriptive that I can honestly say that I feel that I know Dana and Nicco and their aspirations for a different and potentially more fulfilling life and set of relationships. This has always been my own search of personal discovery and Heeger has described in in a way that I have never experienced before in a literary context. Beyond my emotional and intellectual rapport with each of Heeger's characters, her writing draws me into every nauance of her creative prose where each of my senses comes alive where I am fully engrossed and engaged with her every word. I can definitely say that I am hungry for more and I eagerly await the privelege of reading the remainder of Heeger's brilliant work. Finally a literary work that is truly captivating. Bravo Susan Heeger

In this enticing excerpt from her novel, Hungry, Susan Heeger introduces us to a couple, who, with their young son have left Los Angeles for what they imagine will be a more peaceful, balanced life in the small seaside California town of Lark. Dana, a freelance writer and Cliff, an architect, make an impulsive decision to buy a café in Lark, months after taking a romantic trip to the area, during which they'd passed through "miles of soft forest ribboned with trails," and hiked through the serenely beautiful redwood forests. But there are just enough hints of foreboding in this idyll ("Branches laced overhead in hissing canopies") to give an edginess and tension that makes this a fascinating read. It's clear from this tantalizing fragment that Heeger has more than one story up her sleeve. This gifted writer is one whose work we will want more of - the full version of this novel will undoubtedly whet our appetite for her next one.

HOOKED!


Susan Heeger's Hungry starts out with a subtitle: "FOOD." Thus our witty author already reminds that there are more ways than one to crave "sexually delicious cinammon buns." She beguiles us with coffee and buttered toast, peachy cheeks and mushroom cap hair-dos, but all the while she's creating a story that's also about hungering for love, work, redwoods, sex and children. Hungry is filled with desire. Desire and suspense. When Dana, Cliff and their eight year old son, Nico, move to Lark, they're not just in search of mere happiness. By leaving L.A. for this charming place by the sea, they're risking everything. They want fulfillment. So much for that marriage, we fear, as Cliff hires a lazy eyed waitress at his new restaurant; as the unemployed Dana dines out on deep talk with the artist, Lawrence; and most nerve-wrackingly, as Nico meets a feast of nature in the reckless, irresistable Matt. Heeger's subtle weaving of pleasure, yeasty relationships, the promise and dangers in a golden season remind me of James Salter. Hunger could be an update of Salter's breathtaking (and heartbreaking) Light Years. Now I've had this taste, I'm starved. Where's the rest? More, more more...