Maine Books

This book keeps coming back with each generation. I read this book as a child and both my boys have read it as well. A well written account of a true life adventure providing suspense, adventure and thoughtfulness. A perfect summer read for young people, it's fairly short and they could get through it in an afternoon.

and now @# years later, I still love it! For any lover of the outdoors and for those of us that like to have "Survivor" weekends, it is a fun, quick read that encourages the question, "what would you do?".

By Keegan, a sixth grader in Maine

LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE is one of the best books i have ever read. The begining of the book is clear of how every thing started. The mittle of the book told the problems on the mountain. This book has the zing that grasps you into reading more. Some parts of the book are dull but it fires back up and hooks you into reading more.

I liked the book. It was full of adventure and suspense. You never wanted to put it down. It is a true story.
Donn Fedler got lost in a mountain in Maine at the age of twelve. He starts back down the trail to go back to meet his father at the plateau and takes the wrong trail by accident because it was so foggy. At night he slept in hallow trees or on patches of moss. On his third day he looses his pants and meets a deer. On the fourth day he sees a bear and finds a blanket in an abandon cabin. Throughout the next two days he sees another bear and hears screech owls. Will Donn ever get home?
The type of reader who would like this book is someone who likes adventure stories. Anyone who has read the book Hatchet and liked it would like this book too.

Mt. Katahdin, at 5268 feet, is the northern terminus of the Appalachian trail and the tallest mountain in Maine. Though it's a much-climbed mountain at the center of the popular Baxter State Park, its wildness and danger should never be underestimated.

In 1939, twelve-year-old Donn Fendler was climbing Katahdin with a party including his father and brother. Reaching the summit with a friend ahead of the main party, he was cold and bored and decided to go back to meet his father. He lost the trail in fog, and spent a grueling nine days in rugged terrain on the north side of Katahdin before finding his way out to a hunting and fishing camp. The press was full of the search for young Donn and his rescue was celebrated with headlines, a parade, and a chance to meet the President of the United States.

Donn credited his Boy Scout training and his faith in God with bringing him through the ordeal. His shoes and then his feet were cut to shreds on the rough stone outcroppings; he was tormented by insects, frightened by a bear, tumbled in an icy river. His "dungarees" were impossible to walk in, once wet, and he lost them. He suffered from cold, hunger, loneliness and hallucinations. Toward the end of his ordeal Donn followed telephone wires and a stream, knowing that both would eventually lead him to what civilization there was in the great woods of Maine. Though he lost 16 pounds and was severely cut and bitten, he made a full recovery.

The boy's story, as told to James Egan, was published later in 1939 and has been a beloved family and school classic in Maine since that time. Fendler himself still visits schools and libraries to tell his story. Generations of Maine children have learned a lesson of courage, faith and will from Lost! on a Mountain in Maine. This audio presentation is engagingly read by another twelve-year-old, Amon Purinton. I recommend this story for family listening or reading.

Linda Bulger, 2008

THIS BOOK WAS THE CUTEST OUT OF ALL OF THEM, AND IVE READ ALMOST ALL OF THEM!! EVERY GIRL WANTS EITHER ONE, OR BOTH OF THESE GUYS, A BAD BOY AND A CUTE-AS-CAN-BE, GUY-WHO-BRINGS-YOU-ROSES TYPE BF, GOSH, THIS BOOK WAS SOOOO GOOD, U DEFINITELY HAVE 2 READ IT, EVEN IF U DONT ORDER IT FROM HERE, BUY IT AT THE BOOKSTORE OR THE LIBRARY, I REREAD THIS BOOK LIKE 3 TIMES!!! ITS SUMMER READING TIME!!!!!

Colleen lives on an island off the coast of Maine. For the summer her parents were going to Germany and she was staying at the island. Three of her best friends were moving in to live with her for the summer. Colleen was really excited to spend the summer with her boyfriend Ben. The summer had started her parents were finally gone Colleen had to start her summer job at Bobb's. When she got to work a couple of days later she saw Evan who she had fallen for last summer. Colleen was doing everything she could to avoid Evan because she as in love with Ben. Evan and Colleen would flirt with each other a lot while working. For work one day they had to cater for an event that a rich family was having. The family later called after the party and said that some of their jewelry was stolen. They family thought that is was Colleen because she was the last one out of the house. Colleen was really upset that her boss would even think that she stole the jewelry. Colleen ran outside to the dock to sit by that water and she started crying. Even came outside to see if she was alright and he gave her a hug and that was when Ben walked up!
I would recommend this book to anyone who likes books about drama, boys, friends, and problems. This is a book that would be good to read on a rainy day.
One thing I liked about the book was that it was a really good book about friendships, and relationships, and once I started reading Main Squeeze I could never stop reading it because I always wanted to know what would happen!

Colleen's parents are leaving her home with friends for 10 weeks while they go to Europe, and she plans to have the best summer ever, despite the House Rules Contract she signed. But her plans change right away, starting with one of her friends bailing on the two-month slumber party, and then her last-summer's fast-and-furious fling coming back into town. Even though Colleen is perfectly happy with her boyfriend, Ben, she can't stop thinking about Evan-- and not just the way he hurt her last fall. Her attempts to ignore her ex are thwarted as they are constantly thrown together at their common workplace. Colleen has to re-evaluate her choices, and the difference between safe and right, in addition to making sure her parents don't find out about her slight rule-bending. With three girls and two boys to help, it shouldn't be hard, but maybe "the more the merrier" doesn't always ring true. The love-triangle plotline gets a bit repetetive, but is intriguing nonetheless, and, coupled with the four girls' antics, will keep you reading.

Maine Squeeze, written by Catherine Clark, is an enjoyable and exciting book, which is most likely to appeal to teenage girls. It is the story of a summer in the life of Colleen, a college bound 18-year old, who is living on her own for the first time. She faces many obstacles over the summer, from reuinting with her ex-boyfriend, Evan, losing her current boyfriend, Ben, having a truly awful roommate, and much more. Colleen, however, is able to make it through the months with her three closest friends by her side and an unexpected new friend, an elderly artist. Colleen ultimately struggles with herself, making mistakes along the way, yet finally arriving at a place she can be at peace. Furthermore, Catherine Clark is able to make her novel come to live by the use of many literary devices. Through the constant use of rhetorical questions, Clark allows Colleen to state the obvious in her own thoughts and while conversing with others. Also, personification is used often when Colleen describes her cats, Starsky and Hutch, making them at times seem human. In addition, while Colleen is working at a crabshack, her boss tells her to chose a crustacean which represents her personality. Colleen, therefore, speaks metaphorically when she refers to herself as a soft shell crab. Clark's style is plain and simple, making her novel easy to comprehend. Its tone is constantly changing from shocked to humorous and candid. Overall, along with Clark's other novels, I enjoyed reading Maine Squeeze and recommend it to teenage girls looking for a quick and fun read.

Have you ever dreamed of having the house to yourself with your parents half way around the world on vacation? With only a list of rules, Colleen Templeton, just graduating from high school, plans to spend the summer living with her three best friends while her parents are visiting foreign countries. Busy serving tables at Bobbs, Colleen spends most of her free time with her loving boyfriend, Ben, hanging out, or painting. Life sounds perfect, right? That's when Evan, Colleen's ex boyfriend, shows up and claims he will be staying for the whole summer. To make matters worse, Evan starts working at Bobbs and Colleen can not stop looking at him. After all the weeks Colleen spent getting over Evan, she still seems to want him back. Right away, Ben notices a difference in their relationship. Can Colleen maintain her relationship with Ben, or will she run off with Evan?
This book will keep any teenage girl up all night, with all the drama, bickering, and romance the fun never stops. The author explains how Colleen or any typical girl deals with the unexpected choices each having critical consequences. I love how I can relate to this book; it helps you realize that life is not perfect.

I JUST COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN!!
This is the first book by Janet Chapman that I have read and now I'm a fan. So many interesting twists and turns. You never saw some things coming. The characters were so lovable and captivating. One of the best books I've read in a long time.

Well, I liked it. I didn't necessarily LOVE it, but it was good enough where I thought about the next time I'd get to read it when I had to come to a stopping point.

My favorite part was probably the beginning, around the time he kicks her out. You definitely wanted to punch Alex when you found out that Sarah didn't drive. That was the highest emotional point to me. But it kind of went downhill from there as far as an emotional tug of war. They just kept being civil to each other. No fun in that lol.

Honestly though, I don't think I liked Sarah all that much. She's such a typical personality. I'm meek, quiet, and shy. I've never been anywhere in the world. But I'm a wildfire when you get me really mad or naked in the bed. And honestly, how hard is it to learn not to slam the foot down on the pedal? lol. I've always thought people who don't know how to drive basically putt-putt along behind the wheel, too afraid to give it any gas at all. Not Sarah apparently.

This was my first Janet Chapman book. I liked the story and characters however, referring to her other works was a bit much.

This was a good book for me sometimes Sarah made me get a are you for real expersion on my face but she was still likable along with Alex and the whole family,I am about to read the second book hope it is as good. This is the first read for me from this Author. I did like how the author incorparated her other romance novel in the story, the book Sarah was reading.

The only thing i don't like is that the story didn't need to be so many pages, i guess thats why some readers think some stories are being dragged out.

This book is the perfect 3 star for me. It wasn't great, it wasn't terrible, it was just ok.

My main gripe is with Alex. I just didn't like him. He was an arrogant, horrible, spiteful man who, in my mind, didn't deserve Sarah. The first three chapters where Alex learns that he's been unknowingly wed to Sarah and his treatment of her were enough to make my stomach turn. Why Sarah would look back onto their first "encounter" with anything but disgust is beyond me.

Although he spends the rest of the book trying to make things right, he still has "lapses" where he treats her rudely and badly. I find nothing romantic about that.

The kids were sweet and a nice addition to the story. I really liked Grady, Alex's dad, and wondered how such a wonderful man could've sired such a jerk! I also am intrigued by Ethan. However, he did show some tendencies to be a complete jerk like his brother so I think I 'll contemplate whether or not to subject myself to the sequel "Stranger in His Bed".

I understand why this book would appeal to some, but it just wasn't for me.

I found this book in a thrift store and it was the best 10 cent purchase that I've made! I immediately connected with the main character. The growing suspense and romance kept me wanting more. The setting was lovely and I was kept guessing until the end to find out who the murderer was. This is a book not be be missed.

this was my first read by this author. I loved it. It was an easy read and I could feel the characters feelings. I recommend this book to every one.

Dark Water had me hooked from the beginning. The suspense was just enough to keep pulling you along. It was not a steamy romance but enough of romance in the story line to make you feel the passion. The author does a good job of keeping you guessing who the killer is until the very moment it is necessary. It makes for a good read because you keep guessing until "Bam" there it is. I only just finished this a few hours ago and I am still trying to absorb all the information. It is so addictive that you will be done with the book before you know it. I thoroughly recommend this book.

Sharon Sala is fast becoming one of my favorite authors and she continued to intrigue me with DARK WATER. I figured out the identity of the villain, well almost! She kept that a hidden secret until the very end and I doubt many will figure it out.

Sarah Whitman left Marmet, Maine as a broken-hearted child. Her father, Franklin, had been accused of stealing a million dollars from the bank in which he worked and then disappeared. Soon afterward, not able to continue enduring the ridicule of the town, her mother committed suicide. Sarah then moves to New Orleans with her mother's best friend and she vows never to return. Twenty years later, when an armored car is robbed, and a teller is kidnapped, the assailant decides to ditch the car and hostage in Flagstaff Lake, only to die during this escapade. While divers try to retrieve his body, they find a chest holding the remains of Franklin Whitman. Sarah returns to Marmet to give her father a proper burial, to find his killer, and avenge her parents' deaths.

Tony DeMarco had come back to Marmet to lend his support to Sarah. Seems Franklin was young Tony's mentor and he feels obligated to help Sarah to pay his debt to her father. Sounds a little convoluted, but it was actually sweet. When he sees Sarah though, all thoughts of being a gallant gentleman escape as he falls head over heels in lust with her. When an attempt on Sarah's life fails, Tony realizes he feels more than lust and also understands that she's upset her father's killer with her vow to uncover the real thief and murderer.

Ok, so the love story part of this book is a bit gaggy (is that a word?), but the suspense is wonderful! Sala continues to keep the action going and the reader guessing throughout the entire book. I had narrowed down the villain to a handful of people, but when I tried to figure out the one person who could be behind these crimes, my guess was wrong. I was close, but not quite close enough. I love it when an author fools me!

The wide assortment of characters was very interesting. Sarah is a strong independent southern woman. Tony is the bad boy turned successful business owner (and we're only given a few hints as to how he got the nickname of "Silk" when he was a teenager). Lorett is Sarah's "Aunt" who raised her. She is able to see the future and has been known to use a bit of voodoo if the mood arises. She's wonderfully developed and always brings a smile to the reader's face whenever she enters the scene. The rest of the support cast is also well built and interesting. The eclectic group of older ladies who make up the town social order are all fascinating and enjoyable. Maury, the private investigator, is rough around the edges, but loveable. Another book could be written with any of these in the lead roles and it would be wonderful.

The suspense portion of DARK WATER is extremely well done, but the love interests bring the book down to a 4 ½ star level. Even so, it's one that should definitely be added to your Must Read list.

When she was ten, Sarah Whitman's life was turned upside down; her father was accused of robbing his bank when he disappeared at the same time a cool million bucks went missing. Her mother, unable to cope with the humiliation, committed suicide, leaving Sarah to grow up with an "aunt" in New Orleans. She returns to Maine upon discovery of her father's body, which is found at the bottom of a lake outside town. Sara insists the bank heist investigation be re-opened. She also plans to avenge the devastation that the town brought to her family. Her first love, Chicago nightclub owner Tony returns to stand by her, something he failed to do 20 years earlier. But someone would rather see Sarah dead then the past revisited.

Overall, the plot is a bit thin and somewhat predictable; I guessed the bad guy early on (a rare occurrence for me). But Sala always creates such engaging characters, and despite its predictability, I found it to be an interesting story.

This book has become one of my all time favorites-- I am sending it to all my 50+ year-old friends for them to enjoy! It was recommended to me from a woman 83 years old- she was right on! I encourage every woman to read this!

This book was a fair book. Not my favorite, but did make some very valid life conclusions that I needed to hear. Drinking in the Rain takes some patience to read due to the overwhelming about of discussion about herbs. But if you are into plants and solitude, this book is for you.

Ten years ago Shulman went to her family's primitive cabin on Long Island, Maine, for a summer of solitude. A New Yorker through and through, she was apprehensive and fearful, but also excited and determined. Her life was vaguely dissatisfying and she was looking for a change.

Reading her memoir is like having a personal conversation with the author. Her tone is personal and intimate. When she stands back for a moment, picturing herself through a passing stranger's averted eye - a middle-aged lady in floppy hat and mismatched tennis shoes, gathering weeds in a basket - we too are startled and amused, having been looking from the inside out.

Shulman, recognized for her novels and feminism, reaches her cross-roads at age 50. Her children are grown, her relationship with her husband is a distant truce, the feminist movement has stalled, and her life is overfull of busyness.

But the birth of a new passion in her life is serendipitous. Always an adventurous cook, she finds her lengthy trips to the uninspiring island grocery a jarring intrusion on her pleasing solitude and a chore contrary to her new motto, "Do only what you like, nothing you don't!"

From years before she remembers mussel gathering, one of the few pleasures of the hurried vacations she had always hated. In those years, with small children and a domineering, orchestrating husband, the summer cabin, with no electicity or plumbing had meant a round of endless drudgery.

Now that she has only to please herself, mussel hunting is merely the first of her pleasures. Around her a world unfolds. Armed with Euell Gibbons and determination, she reaps the bounty of wild things, spending her days in exploration and discovery.

She finds in herself a new tranquility and simplicity which, as she feared, is invaded by New York's cosmopolitan pace and abundance. The reader is a bit ahead of her here, exhorting Shulman to enjoy what the city has to offer, just as she enjoys her island.

And when the author does absorb our advice (given to her by an old childhood friend at a party), she embraces it fully, applying this tactic to her whole life. Thus, when she accepts a position at the University of Colorado, she plunges into an exploration of New Age mysticism, health foods, mountain hiking and Buddhism. You don't have to share her interests to find her open-minded approach admirable.

There are upheavels too. Her children are less than thrilled in the back-to-nature changes in their New Yorker mother. Her husband shatters a summer's idyll at the island by sending divorce papers. And romantic love, with all its joy, threatens to disrupt her solitary self. As I said, you don't have to agree.

But through it all, Shulman struggles to maintain her equilibrium, making deliberate choices, letting her thoughts range free. She is enchanted by the wholeness of things - how all of nature interrelates - and then dismayed as pollution from the cities and radiation from Chernobyll threatens her island haven.

This is a memoir of continuous awakening and endless dialogue with the self and the world. There's helplessness, anger, hope and love and inspiration. It's a joy to read.

I must confess I almost couldn't get through "Drinking the Rain". Kates Shulman's account of a citified feminist's return to nature seemed an unintential parody, not helped by the comically overstated title. But midway through Ms. Shulman's story I became hooked. What seemed at first a pretentious and self-important rant transformed into a thoughtful and evocotive musing on what it is to be an artist. Ironically, it's only after Shulman returned to the city (and later goes to teach in Colorado) that the book came alive for me. Her descriptions of dinner with an old feminist friend left me teary eyed at their simple eloquence, and the descriptions of a snowy Colorado reunion with her kids kept me reading. By the end, I adored this story.

Drinking the Rain, as one might guess from its beautiful title, can be described as a novel-length prose poem. I think of it as an ode to nature and to a particular time in the life journey of its author. It is a time when Shulman's children are grown; her husband, Jerry, and she have become estranged; the feminist movement to which she had been devoted seems dormant and a thing of the past. In short, a time when the author loses the passions that had driven her and, sadly, loses sight of the significance of her life. Having recently turned fifty, she feels a new urgency. Then something happens to bring about her firm determination to "begin a new chapter."

While exercising one morning, Shulman is seized by an intense and frightening vertigo. Her vertigo continues in the days and weeks ahead, but the doctors can find no explanation. Certain that this is the beginning of the end of her life, she seizes the day and listens to her heart, which urges her to remove herself from obligations and pressures that have filled her life. She wants only solitude and silence.

In the past, she has been afraid to spend time alone at her family's isolated cabin on a promontory in Maine--not even with her children during summer vacations. The cabin has no plumbing, heat or electricity, no neighbors, no phone, not even a road should she need help for some reason. She wonders if she can get the fridge started and imagines disasters such as lightning striking the tinderbox cabin or a slasher steeling his way into her bedroom in the dead of night. But her need to slow her life down, to get away from her mailbox stuffed with announcements and invitations, and to escape the incessant ringing of the telephone takes her to this cabin. Her fears go with her.

Shulman learns to begin her days without an agenda. Her many fears loom large. I confess to identifying with all of them. Where we part company is in her ingenuity to find sustenance on this "nubble," as she calls the promontory. I would see the nubble as a beautiful place to visit for an afternoon before going in search of a cozy restaurant for a warm dinner. Not so for Shulman. She remains at the cabin for months on end, unearthing a daily fare for herself that is nothing less than delicious and healthy. She scours the shoreline and coves for mussels, clams, periwinkles, even the occasional scallop and lobster. She recognizes every herb, every edible berry, and knows just how to cook them.

Drinking the Rain is the author's honest account of surviving on this isolated stretch of beach and, in time, transforming herself. Eventually, her fears diminish. She begins to feel safe and even protected in the ever-changing vastness of her simple ocean dwelling.

But this is not an account of an easygoing change of lifestyle. The challenges are intimidating... such as a warning she hears on the radio about a red tide--a deadly organism that attacks the nervous system and paralyzes the vital organs. That bit of news certainly would send me scurrying back to my city habitat. Yet Shulman does not flee when unexpected difficulties overwhelm her. Among other things, she seeks out a native dweller to learn more.

When an old friend and free spirit, Margaret, comes to visit, they take long walks and enjoy meaningful conversations Shulman has been craving. They explore the beauty of nature and the complexities of their own inner natures. When it is time for Margaret to leave, the author is "... both relieved and sorry to see her go: relieved to resume my experiment in solitude, but sorry to lose the company of the one person I know whose sympathy for my chosen life is incontestable, though she'd never choose it for herself."

Soon after the departure of her friend, Shulman is served with divorce papers. The shock is great. It is one thing to choose a solitary life, another to have it thrust upon you. Her first fear is that she may lose the cabin which she has come to love as she never did in all her years of marriage. What happens now to our brave protagonist? A great deal. Her new life requires earning money, achieving an understanding with her embittered children, her continued determination to avoid the materialism that consumes those around her, and the challenge of a love affair.

Drinking the Rain is an illuminating memoir. It reminds me of the importance of taking risks, of trying new things, of following my heart. But most of all, it piques my curiosity about and sustains my interest in this fascinating author who is willing to share herself with such honesty in this eloquently crafted work. Shulman's book is an excellent choice for those women who wish explore their potential and travel new ground.

by Duffie Bart
for Story Circle Book Reviews
reviewing books by, for, and about women

okay so as a lay person this was a bit of a tough read, however it was worth it. It's not just the history of the vibrator but on how we as a culture have evolved our views on sex, female sexuality and masterbation. Eye opening, it made me examine so of the views I hold and ask why, and thats always good in a book.

This history explores a time not too long ago when "hysteroneurasthenic disorders" were epidemic in the female half of the population. Now, of course, there is no such thing (instead, everyone is either depressed, has ADD, or some form of anxiety). This work gives, for the most part, a quite respectful treatment of a subject best left undiscussed in polite company. The vibrator was invented in Britain as a labor-saving device for use on malingering women in need of physician-induced "hysterical paroxysm" (for a fee, of course). Parallels are drawn between physicians and prostitutes in terms of the legality of stimulating an individual to orgasm for a fee, as has been done repeatedly until the beginning of the 20th century by physicians operating within the conceptual framework of female sexuality as pathology. This book explores the spa phenomenon of the 19th century and specific types of "water-cure" used to treat middle and upper class ailing white women in need of rejuvenation. The main premises are that medicalization of the normal human experience has occurred historically and that physicians bring into being and become heavily invested in dominant disease paradigms. This work asserts very strongly that the "androcentric paradigm" is resistant to change. Overall, this was an interesting treatment of a mostly unexplored area of medical history. Caveat (thanks to my history prof): if you know nothing about other research on pre-20th century female sexuality, this book will give you a skewed perception of that time so be sure to try to find some other treatments of this issue in the literature and keep in mind that then, just as now, there were as many approaches to sexuality as there were individuals.

Unbelievable history of the vibrator. Who knew??? It is fascinating and well written. For men and women both. I believe its been made into a documentary and is playing currently at Philadelphia Film Festival. Have fun with this one.

I bought this book when it first came out--I knew it by its subject it could be disturbing, fascinating and potentially humorous--and I was not disappointed.
It's a great and very scholarly book that shows how petty, ridiculous and stupid human beings can be about their own bodies and sexuality. Expect to be surprised and informed of historical facts that will boggle your ideas of human intimate history--and don't expect to be titillated.
Fascinating history book for all, and printed by the prestigious Johns Hopkins University press. Definitely college level reading.

This book is utterly fascinating! Written by a woman who's really done her homework on the subject, The Technology of Orgasm proves to be a captivating historical account of the evolution of society's perceptions of women's sexuality. It's a must-read for a woman who's confident in her sexuality, or would like to become more so.

ANYTHING BY LORI WICK IS GOOD AND THIS WAS NO EXCEPTION. IT WAS A GREAT SERIES.

My sister first got me hooked on Lori Wicks work and Wings of the morning is the best of Kensington Chronicles! Dallas's love for Smokey is SO passionate and Smokey's free and wild personality is so unpredictable, it carries thrill through the whole book. When I finished the book I wanted to hear more about them and their life! If you want a cliff hanging love story, this is the one to read!

Wings of the Morning is the first book I read out of all of Lori Wicks books. It dragged in the begging and some of the middle but besides that, it was mostly action. It was inspirational and exciting.

Golly, what some people will call talent! Yeah, this story sounds good, but it lacks in substance and depth that could have made it worthwhile. The fact that Lori Wick is a best-selling author the Christian romance market gives me hope that I can someday be an accomplished author as well. This was the first of Wick's book I had ever read, and I picked up others, hoping to prove my first impression wrong, but nothing could change my mind.

When I first ventured into the world of Christian romance, I heard many great things about Wick and read nothing but raving reviews. Imagine my excitement in finding an entire shelf full of Wick's books at my local library. Now I know why: people would buy her books due to misleading five star reviews, then after realizing they are no good, will turn right back around, full of disappointment from the wasted money, and drop them off at the library. In each of Wick's books that I've read, the plot was rushed and predictable, and the characters were flat and unrealistic. I couldn't give into the willing suspension of disbelief for more than a few pages before a plot flaw or a character inconsistency would ruin the whole experience. Her writing style just doesn't work for me.

As an aspiring writer, I trudged slowly through this book, nit-picking my way through, mentally fixing plot snags and word choices. (In fact, I could probably rewrite the entire preface and turn THAT into a full-length novel!) After trying to read a few more of her books, in both historical and modern settings, I realized that Lori Wick had nothing to offer me. Her story ideas had potential, but lacked a better storyteller. There are just too many idiosyncrasies for me to pick up another Lori Wick book without cringing. But obviously I'm the only person who feels that way.

This is my favorite of all of Lori Wick's books. I love the way the story is unusual, but written quite realistically. I love the way the romance is written so powerfully. I love the way Smokey is so strong and confident in those areas that she is comfortable in... but shy and awkward when she's out of her comfort zone. After all... how many of us AREN'T?

Dallas makes a fantastic hero, as well. Sure, he's good-looking and "quite the catch"... but he's got limitations which make him quite realistic as well. And as he gets to know Smokey, he becomes more and more fascinated... until he finally realizes that she's stolen his heart.

If "preachy" Christian fiction has turned you off, but you're still looking for a good, clean romance, then try this one! Then check out my reviews and lists for some more good clean romance books!

What can I say that could possibly give due to such a fantastic book? Athol Dickson is such an incredible author it astounds me. I've read all his novels and every one is completely different, not knowing what to expect, and finding each one above the norm. Winter Haven has been described as gothic, horror, suspense, intrigue, even creepy and yet it's so much more. Athol paints a wonderful picture of a small island off the coast of Maine, with its interesting characters and beautiful landscapes. Even though something's terribly wrong it's a place you'd want to visit or even live. The story is compelling, grabbing hold of you and not letting go until the last sentence on the last page. I was completely taken in by the slowly evolving plot, the way things kept getting worse for our main character and the slow unravel of the mystery. No one could have pulled this story off except for the best of writers. Athol does it magnificently.

One aspect of the book I found profound was the lack of heroism. Instead of placing victory at the hands of mankind, Athol gave all the glory to the one true God who has heaven and earth in his hands. Without preaching the story had solid biblical lessons to be learned and took the story to a five star level.

I highly recommend this book. This is what Christian fiction needs more of, fine literature. Athol is at his best.

1 Star = Pathetic
2 Stars = Fair
3 Stars = Good
4 Stars = Excellent
5 Stars = Life changing

When I got to my car holding this book, I actually swore out-loud when I realized the library's "NEW" tag had covered the "CHRISTIAN" tag underneath it. I thought, "Man, all that cool stuff about witches and scary mansions was just a red herring. I have already solved this mystery. Jesus did it."

But I read it.

This book wasn't smug. It presented a Christianity that wasn't arrogant, sterilized, or shaking a finger at the filthy world around it. It was a story that happened to happen the Christian folks, and they dealt with it based on their Christian beliefs. I respect that.

It was a good mystery. It seemed a little threadbare, lo-fat Stephen King, characters not terribly original or deep. I really liked the **SPOILER ALERT** role an iceberg could play in a mystery like this. Just plausible enough to be fun.

I did not understand the religious angle entirely. Detecting **SPOILER** the message that God had 7 or so people die tragically so that...a nice hotel could exist...but I never got the impression Dickson was insisting I agree with him. Dickson seemed content in the not knowing, himself.

For those looking for a gothic-themed, darker novel with in the CBA, you'll be pleased with this one. Winter Haven read like a cross between Daphne Du Maurier and Victoria Holt's work.

Shrouded in a setting of fog, ancient forests and brooding trees, Mr. Dickson weaves a tale of a young woman embarks on an eerie adventure as she tries to solve the mystery behind her brother's death. The writing is skilled and I was pleased with the richness of the characters and scenes.

Be prepared, however, to loose your footing towards the beginning of the story. There were several places towards the beginning I re-read passages, uncertain whether I'd correctly interpreted the scene laid before me. As the novel progresses, however, the reader will find themselves back on solid ground and deeply interested in the mystery Mr. Dickson spins.

I look forward to reading some of Mr. Dickon's past work.

-Highly Recommended.

In WINTER HAVEN, master storyteller Athol Dickson returns to Maine, the setting of his last novel, THE CURE, to spin the sort of hair-raising tale of suspense his readers have come to expect and enjoy.

On a small Maine island called Winter Haven, the body of a 28-year-old washes onto the beach. When the dead man's younger sister Vera arrives to identify her brother, she realizes something is desperately wrong. Siggy still appears exactly as he did when he disappeared at age 15. And when Siggy, who was obsessed with Vikings, is found with an ancient Viking ship brooch in his pocket, the trouble for Vera is only beginning.

Asked to stay on the island until the mystery of her brother's death can be resolved, Vera is drawn into a web of fear and intrigue. From the start, the islanders make it clear that Vera is unwelcome. She is plagued by frightening hallucinations, hissing voices that only she can hear, and a haunting figure in black --- all which may hold clues to whatever evil lingers on the island. When she stumbles across a large circular boulder with a depression in the center and the inscription, "O thou perfect goddess, Receive mine heart, An eternal offering to thee," her terror is palpable. Just what, the reader may wonder, has Vera walked into?

One handsome man, Captain Evan Frost, owns a large portion of the island, including the beach where Siggy's body was discovered. Evan may hold the key to romance for Vera, or perhaps he holds something more sinister. Is he good, or is he part of the dark side? Vera isn't sure. Unwelcome memories surface from her past, and she begins to wonder if she is losing her mind.

As unexplained ghostly noises continue and more frightening events occur, Vera fears she was lured to the island for other, more malevolent reasons than recovering her brother's body. And is it just coincidence that Siggy is found around the same time Viking artifacts are unearthed on the island? You'll feel the goose bumps begin to rise as a widow Vera boards with warns her about the legend of Evangeline: "She kills and kills and comes again to kill...."

As he did in THEY SHALL SEE GOD and RIVER RISING, Dickson doles out just enough information to keep the suspense high and the reader turning pages. More about Vera and Siggy's past unfolds (including Siggy's handicap and a faith-healing father who believes Siggy is a prophet). But what kind of faith healer can't heal his own wife, daughter and son? The suspense continues to deepen as we learn more about Vera and Siggy's past.

Dickson pens some great eerie scenes, including one where Vera and lawman Steady Wallis talk while large ravens settle on the church roof (perhaps taking its cue from Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds and just as chilling). In another scene, he paints a lovely descriptive picture of a pair of seals playing in the harbor's edge, while five black cormorants drift nearby. This evocative writing makes following the storyline a pleasure. Christian readers will also appreciate the abundant faith themes throughout.

As events spiral out of control, Vera wonders about a God who would make the coast of Winter Haven so gorgeous, yet allow her and her family to suffer endlessly. No easy question, and it remains a dilemma for Vera until the closing pages and another hook for faith readers. The last two chapters will please those who are looking for a redemptive ending to Vera's story.

WINTER HAVEN is an absorbing suspense novel from one of Christian fiction's most engaging writers.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

This book, like Dickson's previous titles, is full of twists and turns that lead to a satisfying ending. It will keep you predicting to the end.

I am almost to the end of the trail/book. I read a review of this book in our local Bend OR paper, I ordered a copy after noting the author was 60 at the time of the hike, and I had just turned 60. I took awhile to start to read it, but couldn't put it down after I started. The only problem or disappointment, I had, was no 'follow-up' on Amy and Jed, if that was his real name. Other wise, I enjoyed her journey.

A wonderful book for those of us over sixty. It is an insperation, very detailed. A fun book.

A wonderful and inspiring book for anyone, but especially for women over 50. While I don't plan anything so adventurous as Ms Mass, she does inspire me to keep walking.
I especially enjoyed her writing style and her shared insights into people and culture which make this book so much more than a walker's diary.

I enjoyed the book - its always been a dream of mine to go on such a journey. I'm not much of a reader but since I got the 1st book
written about the APT I have not missed many of the books. I also have
one of the tapes (Trek) & enjoyed that too. I'm 68 & wished I'd known
about the APT long before I got so elderly. It still excites me & I can't hardly stop reading when I get a new book, this one is very satifying & so full of hope. Thanks

I've read 4 books on hiking the AT. This one I liked the least. Author complained a lot about how difficult it was. Left me almost depressed about the prospect of hiking the trail.

The wonders of the world as seen from a child's perspective are rendered beautifully in this story. I long to visit this part of Maine to capture the same wonder as the two girls, from jumping off a rock into the bay, to the sounds heard through the fog, to an oncoming hurricane and the preparations for it. Everything is described in calm language and illustrated beautifully. Probably McCloskey's most exquisite, wonderous children's book. A child will love having this book read to them--it brings a time and place to life that all children should experience.

Being a fan of Make Way for Ducklings, I was in search of other books by Robert McCloskey when I found this gem of a book. It is gentle, lyrical and so beautiful in it's prose and artwork. My children like to listen to it at bedtime and it lulls them to sleep each time. It is a book that celebrates nature and it's beauty. It's hard for me to describe but it touches me deeply, evokes memories of my childhood camping trips in the mountains.

Great book, especially for those of us who love Maine. You can almost smell the sea air, feel the wind coming off the water and hear the gulls in the distance as you read this!

The reviewer who found this book "boring" must not have much in the way of imagination. This was one of my favorite books as a child and I still remember it fondly (I'm 38). It doesn't matter if you haven't had experiences exactly like those of the children in the book. The writing and the illustrations make you feel as if you are there. You can practically smell the sea, hear the wind and rain, and the laughter of the kids at the beach. While drawing a vivid picture of a concrete time and place, the book also invokes a sense of timelessness, as well as of "deep time" and the ancient rythyms of nature. I think my favorite moment is when one of the girls stands in a forested area on a misty morning, her eyes closed, and listens to nature awakening around her.

This is a book about taking a break from the fast-paced modern world and connecting with nature (and appreciating its power), with the past, and rediscovering your sense of wonder. Written in the mid-50's, it was ahead of its time in some ways and is definitely as relevant today as it was then, if not more so.

I read my children to sleep with this book every night. They call it their dream book since they drift off to sleep with thoughts of sand and sea in their heads. The words draw beautiful pictures.