Gemstar Books

Kristin, a spinster living in her brother's house in Wisconsin suddenly finds herself heir to a ranch called Larkspur in Montana. She wasn't quite prepared for what awaited her. A land hungry villian with hired gunslingers, who was prepared to do whatever it took to get the land. Wild Indians! A dilapidated old shack. She certainly didn't expect to find a young, handsome cowboy taking care of his "father." You'll have to figure out that mystery for yourself. Finding herself forced to live with him, she comes to realize how much he means to her. Garlock took us along Kristen's journey of discovering what the future held for her and her cowboy.

I enjoyed the characters very much. They were very diverse and each one added their own special touch to this novel. Each one developed more and more throughout the book. There was just enough action to keep you interested and just enough romance to satisfy the hopeless romantic.

You may be asking yourself why only three stars then? (although I really was considering four) My reason is this.....it was extremely predictable. It was just another western, with Indians, money hungry villians, gunslingers and cowboys. I've read a few books that had me on the seat of my chair, just waiting to see what happens. This wasn't one of them. It had an overused plot and although the characters were interesting, the book just wasn't thrilling enough for me. Their love was a slow journey rather than a hot and passionate one. And although it never got boring enough for me to stop reading, it just didn't have that WOW factor.

If you enjoy westerns, I do recommend this book. It had everything you expect to see in a western, just not a whole lot more. Garlock is a talented writer and it shows through even though it was a bit predictable. I'm glad I read it, it just doesn't have a permanent spot on my bookshelf.

This is a predictable western about a big shot running the town that swindled people out of their land by having hired guns scare them into selling to him. A couple at Larkspur stand up to him to keep their land and fall in love through the process. There's lots of fighting and killing in it along with Indians. If you want a light read and like westerns, it's a good one.

I didnt like this one as good as her others. I did learn a few things in this book about the souix and ofcource the larkspur.

For me, Dorothy Garlock is another new author. In LARKSPUR, Garlock held my interest from the opening page to the final word.

Kristin Anderson is a Wisconsin charmer, blessed with Nordic features, and a Montana ranch. Tired of being an unpaid servant, Kristin firmly says goodbye to her wretched brother, his insipid wife, and their spoiled children. She leaves with both dread and delirium and heads west to her inheritance -- a Montana ranch called Larkspur.

In Montana, things are complicated. It seems others would like to own Kristin's land. It seems someone else already owns a section -- the ranch house. Buck Lenning does not relish sharing his house, let alone his life with an intruding woman. However, through necessity, they join forces and finally join their hearts.

Dorothy Garlock does a fine job on this story. Kristin Anderson is hardworking and kind, yet the author holds the line and does not turn the heroine into a "superwoman". Buck Anderson is understanding, tender, and tough. Dorothy Garlock wonderfully depicts his gentle care for the old man suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Dorothy Garlock built a wonderful gritty western romance. This author stirred this reader with talent and storytelling ability. Yes, LARKSPUR was a splendid book. Finding a new author to savor is such fun!
Grade: A-

MaryGrace Meloche.

Man, I sat down and read this story all day. I just couldn't stop. I kept wondering, "if I put it down, I won't know what happens next---" in the sense that----
A rancher is out in the wilderness, defending property of an attractive woman who comes to the wilderness, to the Larkspur, to have something of her own. She finds this rancher dude there.
Its a slow blossoming romance, but sweet. The suspense part was when was the land grabber gonna attack? Were the Indians hostile?
Who was the little old timer? Was her brother gonna come and get her and make her come home? Would this be her home with this man?
It was good. Made you feel like you were in the story.
Out on the western frontier, miles from anywhere. Indians and gunslingers at every turn---would they find love, too?
A real shoot em up! Its good.

I READ ALOT OF BOOKS... THIS AUTHOR HAS TOO MANY NAMES AND PEOPLE IN THE FIRST 25 PAGES... TOO CONFUSING AS TO WHO IS RELATED TO WHO ...DOESNT FLOW WELL... TOO MUCH CONCENTRATION AND REREADING PREVIOUS PAGES TO FIGURE OUT ALL THE NAMES INVOLVED...I MAY TRY ONE MORE BOOK---USED FOR SURE... I TRIED GETTING INTO THIS BOOK 4 TIMES AND STILL HAVENT GOTTEN TO CHAPTER 6....SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR AN EASY READ FOR A LAZY WEEKEND THIS ISNT THE BOOK FOR YOU

It had been awhile since I'd read Maron; I'd forgotten how good she is and what strong, character-driven mysteries she writes. I love Deborah's relationship with her family and friends. Her observations on society and racism were insightful without being preachy. Deborah's inner self of The Preacher and the Pragmatist add humor and insight into the character. The story is engrossing and I was surprised by the killer. This was a wonderful, straight-through read and a classic example as to why Ms. Maron is an award-winning author.

Guess I am by my self but I did not care much for Home Fires. I have read five other books in this series and liked them all. I could just not get into Home Fires. Deborah's nephew, A.K., is caught turning over headstones in a cemetery, then a black church is torched and a body found in the ashes. Was A.K. involved is this too? It seems to me that a big part of the book was spent in talking about Deborah's family. I stayed so confused over whose child was whose and which brother was the 4th born or 2nd born or the third one up from her that I just never got into liking the book. Would recommend skipping this one if you are reading the series.

Although I enjoyed the slice of Southern life that Maron serves up, I was disappointed that the "mystery" was so low-key. The story was almost totally devoid of tension and suspense. I haven't read any of the other books in this series, so I don't know if this is typical for this writer. Interesting characters were introduced but not developed enough. Her huge Southern extended family is interesting; but I wanted more!

This author writes like an angel.

The Deborah Knott series shows that mystery writing can be highly enjoyable and compelling without unnecessarily confusing plotting, gory crime scenes or characters that just take themselves too seriously. I would recommend this author and the Knott series to anyone looking for a good, cosy read.

Needless to say, I am going to snap up all other books written by this author as soon as I can get my hands on them.

Good reading!

I'm on the fence about this book. the beginning of the book was artfully done and i couldnt bring myself to put it down. towards the end of the book it started to get very dull. I love willa's spunk, and i loved the way the romance was slowly developed during the course of the book. I also loved the interactions between all of the characters, it will have you laughing out loud a lot. but there were times where i got so bored because i felt like things werent going fast enough, and i would always wonder...gosh why wont they talk about X or why wont they talk about Y. i got so sick of waiting to see how it would end, that i had to put the book down 3 times. and for that, i guess whats why i only gave the book 3 stars...

There are some beautiful momments in the book that will bring tears to your eyes.

This has to be said.....I dont think i have ever read a book and wished a character would just die, or just fall off the face of the earth as soon as possible. Without spoiling the name of the character, ill leave you all to read and find out for yourself (but if i were you i would read another novel of hers because im not sure if i enjoyed this one as much as her other ones). On a brighter note, it shows how genius D.G. is when creating a character, right? *shrug*

I have only read four of her books but, Im started to get a little sick of her writing style...sometimes she will put some of the most cheesest lines Ive ever heard in the book. especially when the love scences come up...If i read one more of her novels that mentions "sweetheart" or any other little cheesey overly done one-liners, i will barf.


The ending is sweet, maybe it will even tear at your heart a little....but the middle and part of the ending were a little lame...she needs to work on her love scenes too(there was only one)...very disappointing...in this book anyway...

I just finished A Gentle Giving, by Dorothy Garlock, and it was wonderful! This one was not one of my favorites of hers, but it was very good. Willa actually escaped a house in flames, caused by the angry townsfolk, in nothing more than ther nightgown. The family she joins up with, lends her clothing... so not even owning the clothing on her body, she is thrust into the hard life of a wagon trail. When the father is killed, leaving behind two teenagers to fend for themselves, Willa chooses to help them get to their next of kin in the Big Horn Mountains. This was an excellent read... and I'm off to read The Listening Sky by Dorothy Garlock now.

I listened to the audio cassette recording of Dorothy Garlock's A Gentle Giving and I liked this Western Historical romance and I liked the characters Willa Hammer and Smith Bowman and though I don't feel it's a keeper I enjoyed the romance story.

This is one of Dorothy Garlock's better books, in my opinion. The characters are well developed and the plot is full of adventure. Willa is a strong, intelligent heroine who always manages to make the better of whatever hard situation is thrown her way - escaping a wild mob, fending off the advances of a lecherous gambler, taking on the role of semi-guardian to two orphaned teens along the way, nursing their injured aunt back to health, and taming the heart of a grief-stricken cowboy (Smith, our hero) who has up until now sought comfort in only a bottle. A very entertaining read and a lot of romantic tension between the hero and heroine. It grew a little weak towards the end, which is why I gave it only 4 stars, but it was still a very enjoyable book.

A Gentle Giving was the first book by Dorothy Garlock that I ever read. It has become one of my all time favorites and a treasure I keep along with a collection of her other titles.

Molly Gordon is naught but a frightened child when she's forced from her bed in the wee dead of night. Her papa, a braw man if ever there was one, has been killed by a common reiver, you see, and her Uncle Angus is wasting no time in claiming Molly as his ward. A veritable fortune is in want, after all. As the Maid of Dunsithe, Molly -- and subsequently, her baby sister, Bess -- are the keys to unlocking the riches said to be found on Gordon land. Her Uncle, leaving naught to chance, takes both girls from their mother. Lady Eleanor is likewise determined to avoid any chicanery, however...

A dozen years later, Molly has endured a change of wardship thrice as Jamie, High King of Scots, awards a writ of wardship to whomever he pleases... King Jamie has granted Sir Finlay Mackenzie -- Wild Fin, if'n you please -- a writ. The Maid of Dunsithe (and her ever elusive fortune) is now Fin's to do with as he pleases...

Fin is ill-prepared for his reaction to Molly, however. Beautiful and stubbornly imperious, Mistress Gordon is the veriest temptation. Indeed, she almost makes Fin forget about Dunsithe's treasure and his bloodlust for Donald the Grim. Almost. The wee folk are also at work as Fin and Molly come to a shaky understanding. Donald the Grim will stop at naught to achieve his objectives, and Molly is heartily sore of being ill-used as men play their greedy power games. Will an Abducted Heiress, longing for a home, willingly surrender her secrets to a man who's slowly but surely stealing her heart?

Impeccably researched (or so it would seem to this reviewer), Abducted Heiress is an historical romance that relies heavily upon historical fact -- with a wee bit of artistic license and yes, fey-inventiveness, taken. Ms. Scott has done a remarkable job bringing the Scottish Highlands -- and the sixteenth century -- to life. I all but lived and breathed Molly and Fin's story. Artfully crafted with a daunting authenticity, Abducted Heiress will sweep you away. I was especially impressed by Ms. Scott's ability to include the wee folk in a seemingly believable manner. Indeed, they helped to progress the plot while adding a few twists and turns into the bargain!

At any rate, Molly and Fin are strong characters with believable faults and flaws. (I only raised an eyebrow once at Molly's convoluted thinking, and hence, her ridiculously prideful actions). Their relationship is beautifully developed at a slow but steady pace. The romantic tension is present throughout; it's their emotional bond readers will savor the most as it develops. Most importantly, Abducted Heiress has the unusual distinction of being a novel in a series that nonetheless feels complete when you reach the last page. That's to say, I felt fulfilled, satisfied, pleased to reach the end with no lingering questions and/or concerns. (Well, no lingering questions that the sequel won't answer: they're entirely independent from Molly and Fin's story, though). Indeed, I'm already itching to read Ms. Scott's next offering in "The Secret Clan" series.

It's a certainty; Ms. Scott is a lass who knows how to spin a fine tale! Dinnae believe me? Pick up a copy of Abducted Heiress and let Molly, Fin and the wee folk convince you...

There's simply not enough passion, romance, or excitement, even, in this story. Also, and this may be quite irrational, but i just didn't like the names of the characters--very weak and unremarkable.

The presence of the secondary fairy characters also seemed more of a nuisance. Halfway on the book i wanted it to end already and be done with it. I felt that i have wasted my time with this...

I am only 19 years old and I do read a bit of adult fiction but to be completly honest this was my very first romance novel. and I abslutly loved it. I loved it that it had historical facts and the faries and the little hints of scottish fantasy was very nice. mostly because even though there were hints of this in the story which I love because I have always been a huge fan of fantasy novels really in any fourm what so ever. but this still had added interest that kept in very realistic and did not make the story stray to far from the plot line. the romance was always great because it consited all the way thorough the novel all the way from when molly and fin first meet and to the very end of the book. this indeed was the fact that made me not so suprised that I had read such a large scale novel in such a short amount of time. seeing is how it had so much to ofer that was so interesting and would draw a reader couristey very easily. so even though I am very new to the romance novels of the amazing amanda scott I hope to read more of work namly Border Bride, The Secret Clan: Hidden Heiress, The Secret Clan Highland Bride, and The Kid Napped Bride.
and I would diffenly recomend this book to anyone who shows a soft spot for romance novels or stories.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Two very young sisters were taken away from their home. One received a secret clue, from their mother, to remember her birthright and her clan.

Molly Gordon was the infamous Maid of Dunsithe, rumored to have the largest fortune in all of Scotland. Unfortunately, no one has seen it since Molly was taken from her home in the dead of night. That doesn't stop people from looking for it, or to continue passing her around from foster family to foster family, like chattel. She longs for a place to call home, and she is fed up with people only wanting her for her supposed treasure. Then one night she meets a man called Wild Fin, and everything changes.

Sir Finlay MacKenzie has been granted Molly as his ward, given to him by the King of Scotland himself. Fin goes to collect her from her present residence, the keep of Laird MacKinnon, only to find an attempt to thwart him from his business with claims Molly is not there. As Fin and his men are leaving, he is thrown from his horse, at the same time he spies a young women hiding in the forest.

Molly takes an instant dislike to Fin, from the moment he mistakes her for a common maid to be trifled with, and she is infuriated to discover he is her new guardian. She chafes at his commands and shows rebellion at every turn. Then he has the nerve to try to force her to marry him, upon finding out Molly's previous guardian, Donald of Sleat, has not taken the news of her transfer of guardianship kindly. She does finally agree to marry Fin, grudgingly, hoping she has finally found a home.

However, adventure and danger await, finding Fin travelling all over the Highlands to fight Donald. Donald wants the fortune of Dunsithe, but doesn't stop there. He wants the throne as well. Will Fin and Molly defeat Donald and find the magical treasure... and love they are destined for?

This was a captivating read. The characters were vividly drawn and full of personality. Add in a few of the Fair Folk and it becomes a magical adventure. There is plenty of mystery as well, with the cast trying to solve the puzzle of the hidden riches. One will be drawn in to the story from page one and will stay absorbed through to the end.

Also of note, is how well Ms. Scott sets up the story of Bess, Molly's missing sister, believed dead. Her story will be told in the sequel The Secret Clan: The Hidden Heiress, to be released in 2002. The Abducted Heiress doesn't really end, but gives the reader a "to be continued" feel, without leaving the feeling Fin and Molly's story is incomplete. This reviewer will be awaiting the sequel, and a chance to revisit some very enchanting characters.

In 1527, the Earl of Angus arrives to take his five year old niece Molly Gordon, the Maid of Dunsithe and her infant sister Bessie away from their home. The little girls have no protector as their father just died and their mother is helpless to stop her brother, who plans to control the wealth of Molly, an heiress. Before being separated from her two children, Molly's mother uses a heated ring to burn a mark onto her daughter's chest so she can recognize her if they ever meet as adults.

Twelve years later, Sir Finlay "Wild Fin" Mackenzie comes to the Isle of Skye to take his king chosen betrothed/ward Molly away with him. Fin has two reasons to marry Molly. His people can use her legendary riches though no one knows where they might be and he wants to enact revenge on her previous guardian Donald of Sleat who killed his father. As the wee people interfere, Fin and Molly are attracted to one another, but dangerous enemies want Molly and Fin dead rather than united in love.

ABDUCTED HEIRESS, the first part of a two part miniseries, The Secret Clan, is an engaging paranormal historical romantic suspense. The story line is filled with the danger of intrigue blended with the magic of the wee people. The lead characters are a delightfully dueling duet and the audience will enjoy their capers, but the novel works on several levels because fans will believe in Amanda Scott's "world" and want Bessie's story told soonest, not next year.

Harriet Klausner

This book was an insightful and witty look at Caribbean spirituality, magic and stories written in typical Nalo style. Great read!

Nalo Hopkinson has made waves with some of the most offbeat and creative speculative fiction in recent memory, with her Caribbean roots adding unexpected flavor to tales of future societies and alternate realities. She's also one of the very few black women working in the field, adding a much-needed new voice to the genre. But watch out for the "sci-fi" stereotype that has been applied to Hopkinson, because she has a more well-rounded style that also includes strong elements of fantasy and horror. Those strengths are evident in this collection of short stories, which are often built upon the unique fairy tales and folklore of the Caribbean, but then proceed into all manner of great fictional speculations.

Some of the tales here are rather underdeveloped and move along too quickly, with implausible plot jumps and incomplete conclusions. Examples are "Tan Tan and Dry Bone" which is merely a distilled vignette from one of Hopkinson's later novels; or the potentially terrifying, but rushed and inconclusive, "Greedy Choke Puppy." However the day is saved by winners like "Under Glass," which has a very unique doomsday/dystopia scenario, and great sketches of expatriate Caribbean characters and culture in "Money Tree" and "A Habit of Waste." The apex of the collection is the highly disturbing erotica tale "Ganger (Ball Lightning)," in which a couple learns to overcome malfunctioning and possessed bedroom toys and work out their relationship problems the old-fashioned way. This is in fact one of Hopkinson's best running themes - as technology's got nothing on culture and humanity. [~doomsdayer520~]

I didn't like it.

I am unfamiliar with the rest of this Author's work, so I can't tell you whether it is like her novels or not, but when I judge this work by itself I find it wanting.

This is a rather long collection of rather short stories. Most of these have not been published elsewhere. The norm for the SF field is for single author anthologies to be composed mostly if not completely of previously published work. Take this as a warning that you may not be getting what you expected.

The stories seem to follow a very common and uninteresting fairy tale format. Fairy tales can be made interesting-- for instance Italo Calvino's Italian Folk Tales. These were not.

As a point of reference, I favor "literate" SF. Some of my favorite authors are Kim Stanley Robinson, Gene Wolfe, Ursula LeGuin, Bruce Sterling, Thomas Disch, early Larry Niven...

Review

By

Judith Woolcock Colombo

Hot and spicy with the rhythm of the Caribbean, Skin Folk is a collection of 15 short stories by Jamaican born Canadian author Nalo Hopkinson. These tales are bonded together by a common theme, change or shedding of skin. All is illusion; nothing is, as it first seems within the pages of this book.

Beginning with the first story Riding The Red, we see the illusion being stripped away by this bizarre twist on the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Here the elderly Red Riding Hood cautions her daughter to watch her granddaughter who has now begun "to ride the red." This is the time when wolfie comes around to capture and seduce. The grandmother admits "the red hood was mine, to catch his eye," but wolfie also had his dance "all hot breath and leaping flank, piercing eyes to see and strong hands to hold." Encountering wolfie is a natural consequence of riding the red or puberty. It is part of coming of age.

In Money Tree, Silky must reluctantly embrace the heritage of her Mamadjo or mermaid mother in order to save her greedy brother Morgan when he seeks to wrest pirate treasure away from River Mumma. In Something To Hitch Meat To, Artho is given the gift of seeing people and things as they really are by a strange spider-like little girl, and in Under Glass, a young girl living in a post apocalyptic world dooms another world with her careless play.

This concept of illusion and magical change continues throughout the book in stories such as Tan-Tan and Dry Bone where a soft hearted girl has pity on death disguised as a starving old man and takes him home only to learn if you pick him up you pick up trouble..

Although some stories were too similar, others were truly extraordinary. Skin Folk is a wonderful read, and I highly recommend it. ...

Nalo Hopkinson's splendid gifts as a brilliant, often unique, writer of literary fictional prose that is also intriguing fantasy and science fiction are amply shown in this fine collection of short stories. Most of these have been published previously in relatively unknown anthologies in Canada and the United States; two are unpublished, and a third is a chapter from her novel "Midnight Robber". Hopkinson has a splendid ear for dialogue and a marvellous eye for scenery, with a taut, lean prose which effectively captures the Caribbean patois of her childhood. "Skin Folk" is a fascinating look at her artistic growth as a writer; here are stories about demons and ghosts as seen through the eyes of West Indians, along with occasional glimpses of cyberpunk science fiction. One of the most memorable tales is "Greedy Choke Puppy", an incandescent look at Vampire mythology with a uniquely West Indian twist; other compelling tales include "Slow Cold Chick" and "Fisherman" which are intriguing meditations on magic and sex.

The hero is a tortured soul in a scared body. The heroine is rescued street urchin brought up to be a lady. Neither one of them is fit for polite society, but there they are, for some reason.

Saber doesn't want to marry Ella because he is afraid his madness is progressing and he will end up institutionalized in the near future. Why does he believe his post-traumatic stress will get worse and not better? That's not really clear, but he isn't getting any sleep so maybe he isn't thinking clearly.

Of course, the only thing that will change Saber's mind is if poor Ella faces physical danger, and here is where the story gets good. There is a pack of villains after her. She faces rape, humiliation, and marriage to a pervert with an equally perverted dad. And best of all is Precious Able, one of the best villainous sidekicks you'll see in a romance novel.

This had potential to be a good book, and it has some very good parts, but unfortunately it suffers from lack of focus. Parts are slow-moving, and some characters are not explained very well, such as the hero's two best friends who both turn traitor on him, and the younger brother who lures his sister into danger for no clear reason. I almost gave up on this book after the first few chapters, but I am glad I didn't. I would have missed Precious Able's uniquely memorable abduction rehearsal. That scene alone was worth reading the book for.

I had first come across this book at the library, got it on a whim and have not regretted it since. Such a romantic book and so believable! you felt the chemistry between the characters, Saber and Ella and know that their's was a true love. Quite unusual circumstances but it adds to the dramatic esssence of the novel.this has become an old favourite of mine and whenever i need a pick me up its straight to the library. Maybe i should buy it? anyway if you like stella cameron, read this!

This was a good book, and I enjoyed reading it. The characters were believable. If you want to read a book that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who started college late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .A gift to be cherished forever.

...

Saber, Earl of Avenall, was severely wounded, inside and out, during the war in India. Today, we would call it Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He has nightmares, he feels terrible amounts of guilt, etc. But he thinks he's going insane.

Ella, his beloved, needs him. She loves him and he pushes her away, not willing to tie her to a madman. But someone threatens to expose Ella's past and hurt her.

Saber decides to marry her, make her his heir, so when he does finally go completely insane, Ella will be taken care of.

This was a good story, with deeply emotional characters whose love for each other was tangible and real.

The only thing I don't usually like about Stella Cameron's writing is the way she often *hints* at what people want to say. I wish she would just have them *say* what is on their minds.

But I did think this was a very good book.

This is my first Busbee. I read the ebook version on my palm. I love my ebooks btw. But about this novel, I just cant give it a raving review. It was a nice fast paced read. It had all the elements of romance novel. It kept me up late at night wondering what would happen next. But somehow I never felt fulfilled. Then it dawned on me, the hero and herroine never really loved each other. They were simply in lust. Now if you are looking for a fast read with an interesting plot and steamy scenes then by all means get this novel. But if you want more substance with your romance then pass this by. But I did like it. It just isn't a keeper. I cant even remember the characters' names.

I just love this story. I have read it a couple of times and I think you should too. There is nothing like a good romance. Ms. Busbee is one of the better storytellers.

On their way through Virginia, Fancy and her sister are captured by ruffians and saved by Chance and his friend. When they reach their destination, a tangled web of who is planning to marry whom, partly solved by Chance's forcing Fancy to marry him by sneaking into her bed one night, brings on a tale of jilted loves, revenge, and learning who truly stands to inherit a huge estate.

This is really a tale of several twisted romances between three men and the two sisters. It is upbeat, funny, and overall well done. I read the book quickly and was held in terrible suspense several times. The subplot of Chance's possibly being the original beau's brother was a great turn of events and really kept me going. This was a not-to-be-put-down book in many ways, so I do recommend it.

Although this book was not as exciting as her earlier works, I still enjoyed it because of the historical detail that is synonimous with Ms. Busbee's work. The caracters are fun but I thought that she could have gotten a little deeper into Chance's earlier years so we could get a better handle on the man he was in the story. Fancy was a fine lady but I expected a little more fire from her especially with Change and most definitly when she butted heads with Jonathan. I hope we don't have to wait too long for the next episode from Ms. Busbee's imagination. Thanks, Rita Hidi

When I read the back cover of this book I was intrigued. The thought that two people could be so instantly attracted made me wonder what exactly this story would entail. I was annoyed to find out it was just a more condensenced version of a not very original story.

Tess Warfield is and heiress, Nicholas Talmage is a wealthy man who is struggling to find a wife to appease his grandmother. The problem is that their two families have been fighting since Tess's great-grandfather abducted the soon-to-be wife of Nicholas's own grandfather.

It's not as good a story as it sounds or could have been.

Shirlee Busbee, like any author, writes to somewhat of a formula and you can see that this book is truly an almost annoyingly precise compact version. Characters are not developed enough and are not very complex, situations (especially the few ending scenes) are insultingly simply and the reader would have to be fairly naive to think they were even plausible.

Foreshadowing also seems to have lost some of its subtly here. Tess's resemblence to her great-grandmother and Nicholas's resembles to woman's former lover and hoped husband to be is repeated over and over and it didn't take much to have the basic plot of the story figure out in a few chapters.

The chemistry between Nick and Tess is interesting but there is no conflict between the two. They are drawn together and for the most part accept it. They marry and then proceed to unravel the "mystery" of what happened to Nick's grandfather and Tess's great-grandmother who supposedly ran away together with the Talmage diamonds.

The read has it figured out pretty quickly what happened to the pair as well as a few of the other supposed plot twists thrown in. Such as the identity of the "Mr. Brown." A spy Nick has been hunting out.

This is not a bad light read but it's definitely not one of Busbee's best. The chemistry and love scenes are there but the book fizzles half way through.

This was the first romance novel that I read, and what a book to start with! I have read two other Shirlee Busbee novel's and thought they were wonderful too. Shirlee Busbee's book's paint a picture in your mind of everlasting love and affection. Most people believe that romance novels have no plot, but the plots that Ms. Busbee creates are far to fun to pass up, and far to great to ever think that romance novels have no plot.

The story was great. One of the better romance stories one will ever read. Tess and Nicolas are really wonderful characters.

The story went back and forth between interesting and boring. There was too much filler of boring conversation and discriptions. If Ms. Busbee would have left out the filler stuff, she would have had a good short story. Sometimes, the story you have to tell doesn't have to take 406 pages. Also, the passion was good but lacked in discription. Funny, when everything else was described in boring detail. I have read 3 of Busbee's books and only one was really good. I don't think I should chance another one when there are some really excellent authors out there to keep me intertained like Madeline Hunter, Rexanne Becnel, Candice Proctor, and Heather Graham to name a few.

"The Secret Texts" is actually three seperate novels: "The Diplomacy of Wolves," "The Vengence of Dragons," and "The Courage of Falcons."

"The Diplomacy of Wolves" sets the stage for something very profound; i.e. should we love someone IN SPITE OF their problems, should we love someone BECAUSE OF their problems, or should we just love?

My major complaint about these books is that nothing is explored adequately (for my tastes, at least). Each book is around 300-400 pages in length, but each book could have been 900 pages easily. I feel that Lisle explains the ACTION of the novels quite well, but I don't feel that she explains the MOTIVES of each of her characters in much detail at all. Our heroine, Kait, is explored more thoroughly than anyone else... until you start to question if Kait is really the hero.

Overall, the series is worth reading. But the reader needs to be willing to read it rather strenuously in order to touch upon the better themes in these novels.

I was bored. I skimmed through a lot of the book. Did not hold my interest and it was predictable.

Given that I rather enjoyed Sam's Letters to Jennifer, I thought I would have a similar affinity for Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas. I have often been wrong in my life; for instance, when I assumed this.

I knew what was going to happen in this book from about the fifth page. There wasn't a single surprise in this novel, effusive jacket-blurbs to the contrary notwithstanding. I saw every situation coming from a mile away. I would have thrown it against the wall in disgust, except that I kept hoping that it would improve, and that I would leave it with the feeling that I took away from Sam's Letters to Jennifer. No such luck. Blessedly, the font is so large and the chapters so short that it is only about as long as a good-sized New Yorker article (and isn't nearly as demanding), so it only takes about an hour to read. Barring a rave review from someone I trust, it will be the last hour I spend with Patterson.

My boss was cleaning up one day and going through a lot of papers and she asked me had I ever read the Lesson of the Five Balls? I said no and proceeded to read the short paragraph. I was floored because I was right in the middle of losing someone I loved dearly with whom I had not spoken with for almost two years due to both of us being stubborn. I shared with my boss at how strange it was that she found this and shared it with me now. At the bottom was the name of this book where the Lesson came from, and my boss thought I should look into reading the book. Well I just finished reading it and it is truly amazing, and a must read!! I have never read any of James Patterson's work before and from what I can gather this seems to have been a little different from his usual work. All I can say is this. I don't believe in coincidences anymore. From another book by another author, Squire Rushnell, called "When God Winks at You", I believe that my boss finding that sheet of paper that day which lead me to read the book is God winking at me, letting me know He knows exactly what is going on with me. Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas wakes us up to what is important in this life, and I believe one can only come away with a little more wisdom after reading this book!

I've been reading Psych/Thriller Novels for a very long time now and just needed a change. Someone told me of this book a while back and I just never got in the mood for it. Now that I've read this I'm looking for love stories all the time. I forgot what it was like to get into a good book you just don't want to put down. Love stories tend to be a bit predictably but I've found that it's not such a bad thing in an ever changing, unpredictable world. This book will make you laugh, cry and just plain happy. I recommend it to anyone who can use an opportunity to feel good.

Katie Wilkinson is left by her boyfriend, Matt. Katie cannot figure out why he left. She thought they were happy together. However, Matt gives Katie a diary that was written by his first wife, belonging to his son, Nicholas.

As Katie turns the pages of this diary, she soon becomes involved with Suzanne's emotions and becomes seemingly more aware of Matt's personality. This book will have you laughing and crying, and as you learn the meaning behind this book, it will be one that you will not ever forget. This book has love and passion, and will make any mother cry. It is a true romance.