Nova Books

I'm just about halfway through this book and am having a hard time putting it down. Good Mystery. This author (Ruth Rendell) is new to me and I'm enjoying her books.

Everyone knows that Ruth Rendell is one of the the best writers out there (in any genre). This book did not disappoint me. She handles this story about the disappearance of a young black girl with her usual style. It's a realistic story about the lives of what are sometimes called the disenfranchised people, or the people in a community that no one really notices. Wexford is faced with one of the most difficult cases in his career when he sets out to find this girl. To him it's almost like trying to find a ghost. And on his way he uncovers a horrific story about what happens to some people from other races who manage to slip into England under the radar. He can't believe it happens in his lovely little home of Kingsmarkham. But he does manage to solve the mystery, and get the right people in jail in the end. Only Rendell can handle a story that is this complex without letting any of her readers get lost in the process of trying to figure it out.

When C.I. Reg Wexford pays a visit to his new doctor,Raymond Akande, the doctor confides in him that his daughter Melanie has been missing from home for a few days after supposedly staying the night with a girlfriend. Most of the characters in this book revolve around the local employment and benefits office and the off-beat customers who spend much of their time there.The body of one of the clerks at the employment office is discovered and Wexford establishes a link between her and the coctors missing daughter.The story is tightly written with the characters well defined--a good fast read.

Winner of three Edgars and four Gold Daggers, Rendell is a master of tightly constructed plots, characters under pressure and heightened atmosphere.

Simisola, her 16th Inspector Wexford mystery, set in the fairly small town of Kingsmarkham, England, opens with Wexford's new doctor -an African immigrant - beseeching the chief inspector for help finding his daughter, Melanie, last seen at the unemployment center. Melanie's home life is strict and Wexford assumes she's shaking off the yoke until the claims adviser who helped Melanie at the job center is found murdered.

Meanwhile Wexford's whiny daughter Sylvia and ill-matched husband are both jobless and going on the dole. Wexford, fretted by guilt at his impatience towards his daughter, and knowing that he would not be making daily visits to Melanie's parents if they were not black, muses over social attitudes, ingrained prejudice and motives for murder until the body of a young black woman is discovered.

There are few blacks in Kingsmarkham and despite several small clues to the contrary, Wexford assumes it's Melanie. After a night of grief, the family arrives at the mortuary only to find a stranger.

Wexford, mortified, approaches the three-part investigation with new insight - re-examining every assumption, taking note of every tiny discrepancy.
Kingsmarkham is large enough to encompass slums, council flats and elaborate estates, allowing Rendell to involve a wealthy and flashy female politician, a surgeon and his lackadaisically privileged children, a petty thief, an adulterous businessman, unemployed youth and a hidden black underclass in a story that unwinds in dark twists and turns of grubby secrets.

Although the explosive ending may seem unrealistically grotesque to some, it's still vintage Rendell - suspenseful and wholly absorbing.

Ruth Rendell is often admired for her elegantly sparse prose and her psychological insight; I, however, too often find her novels vague in both character and construction--and her solutions more a matter of deux ex machina that actual deduction. And such is the case with SIMISOLA, a novel that finds unassuming Inspector Wexford first in search of a missing girl and then in search of a vicious killer.

As usual, Rendell writes with a graceful touch and brings a certain amount of social commentary into her novel, in this instance elaborating on both racism and joblessness in England. This sounds a promising mix, but Rendell proves quite typical of herself: when all is said and done most of her social commentary seems to have little to do with the story beyond providing a foggy sort of background to a somewhat forced conclusion. The ultimate effect is that of a novel you read a bit of and then put down--and maybe you pick it up again and maybe you don't. Certainly not one of her more interesting efforts.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Devoted is one of the most fantastic book of 1995! Why did this book didn't get any awards or nominations? I like it! The part where Owen was talking to Hakon is sooo cool I couldn't believe it! Encore to this book!

I listened to the Unabridged Audio version of Devoted, and WOW, all I can say is this novel packs a punch! This is the story of Ellen, a pagan princess and her love for the Archbishop Owen. This novel is set in early Medieval France, a time of mysticism, paganism and Viking raids. I particularly loved the gritty realism of the cities, the manner in which Owen was portrayed, and the inclusion of the pictish 'old people.'

I agree with some reviewers that the sex scenes were somewhat gratuitous and numerous. Also, I felt the lead characters were somewhat anachronistic and a little PC. (Nobility schmoozing with the servants, religious tolerance), these elements did not fully detract from the novel.

My only dislike? I disliked Ellen's "Powers." I thought her 'abilities' were prime examples of deus ex machina, and were used twice to resolve difficult plot points which could've been solved in different manner without the silly mysticism.

Overall, though, this book is one of the better historical romance reads I've read in a while. Well worth the effort to pick up in Audio format.

As one of the previous reviewers mentioned, I picked this book on sale at a local book store. Since I am fascinated with the idea of the supernatural, I found this book fascinating. Ms. Borchhardt has incredible ability to describe in detail the background and surroundings of her characters. This is not a boring read, instead you feel as if you are in the era of time. Her writing in some way surpasses her sister's work. I look forward to reading future books.

I was totally enthralled and engrossed in this novel. The characters are wonderful and the attention to detail and character developement is first rate. I particularly love the humourous touches and more than once I found myself laughing out loud. There really is something for everyone in this novel....lots of violence and bloodshed, lots of romance including sexy scenes, lots of humour and great historical detail. Highly recommended, and i have just started reading the sequel and it promises to be just as good.

Ms. Borchardt does a wonderful job in this book of drawing together Pagan and Christian sources. She reaches into Celtic lore, 9th century chistian belief, shamanic ritual and Germanic myth to create a world where religion and forces of nature are in flux. Part of this is the sacred marriage between the male and female principles (hieros gamos). The various sexual acts in this story illustrate the uses of sex from the sacred to the profane. That's not to say they aren't fun-- because they are. But they are an integral and interesting part of the story.

It's not necessary that the reader know a lot about 9th century France, shamanism or pagan myth, but it doesn't hurt.

A great book on Acadian history. This book should be required reading in all south Louisiana high schools.

In the final pages of A Great and Noble Scheme, John Mack Faragher observes that Americans are notoriously ignorant about the story of the 18th century displacement and dispossession of the Acadians. Based on personal experience, I would agree. I confess that I managed to get a BA and MA at an elite American university without coming across an academic treatment of the Acadian story. I've been teaching for 16 years at a top flight American high school, and the Acadian tragedy has never been part of the curriculum.

Faragher's book offers a compelling narrative of a people, living on the border between the French and British colonies in America, who realized early on that they had little interest in the global conflict that might make them temporarily part of one empire and then subjects of another. All they wanted was to farm and be let alone. (Faragher provides a wonderful ethnographic description of the Acadian cultural world that was largely destroyed).

There is something comic about Faragher's descriptions of the interchanges between the Acadians and the governors sent by Britain to rule them. Repeatedly, the crown required that the Acadians take an oath of loyalty. Repeatedly, the Acadians offered the following response: we are happy to pledge obedience to the king, but with the understanding that we will not take up arms in the case of warfare between the British, the French, and their respective Indian allies. As Faragher explains it, the successive British officers were puzzled, annoyed, and angered by this response for about half a century, but couldn't figure out what to do about it. The British needed a local population to economically support their fortifications, they didn't want the Acadians to move to territories of their French adversaries, and New England was interested in trade with the Acadians. For several decades, local British commanders would report that the Acadians were insolent, but then accommodate themselves to Acadian declarations of neutrality.

The "Great and Noble Scheme" was the horrific plot to resolve what might be called "the Acadian problem." It is hard to read Faragher's vivid description of the exile of the Acadians without thinking of the more familiar story of Jews being herded on to trains and sent for resettlement in Poland. The men were arrested, the women and children forced to report, and then crammed onto ships in numbers that could not be accommodated. Families were divided, and died of disease and malnutrition on the journey; they were abused and imprisoned when they arrived in the various American colonies that did not want them. This may not have been a plot to purposely murder the Acadians, but half the Acadian population died in the process, and Faragher explains that it was a carefully planned early version of "ethnic cleansing." He makes the case that this narrative belongs in American, and not just Canadian history (after all it was largely plotted by New Englanders seeking fertile lands for settlement). One can imagine this case study considered alongside other American incidents of removal and dispossession: the Trail of Tears and the internment of Japanese-Americans. It might make for an interesting comparison because race was not an issue in the Acadian case. This is a superb documentation of the Acadian story. Faragher makes the argument that their exile deserves a more prominent place in the historical narrative of early America.

The tragedy of the Acadians is indeed terrible and the savage ways used to disperse them and deprive them of their lifestyle is beyond morality. But why is this ascribed to 'American history' and why does the author claim it was the first 'American' ethnic-cleansing? The Acadians did not live in the land that became the United States of America. They lived in a land that became part of Canada. THe story of the Acadians is very much a Canadian story and if it isn't Canadian than it is a part of English history.

It seems like this book set out to slander America and to tar America with a negative brush, rahter than to lay the blame where it deserves to be layed, at the foot of the English colonialists. Americans had nothing to do with what was done to the Canadians and the fact that the author sets out to write a piece of propoganda to slander a country that didn't exist and insult the national heritage of a people, the Americans, who lived elsewhere, is both sad and immoral in itself.

Canadians and the English should take responsibility for what was done to the Acadians rather than blaming others. This books faulty analogies and attempts to pretend that the Acadians were living a social utopia full of multi-culturalism and diversity is a further perversion of history. There was no such thing as multi-culturalism or 'diversity' theories in those days.

Seth J. Frantzman

This is a real 5-star book. I was amazed at the level of research, and the abundance of primary sources quoted. A very thorough explanation of the Acadian tale. I wish all popular history books were this good.

For those interested in Louisiana Acadians, I would recommend reading this in conjunction with Carl Brasseaux's books; they pick up the story where Faragher's leaves off. I hope to find a similar book about the northern Acadians. If any other reviewers know of one, please add it to your review.

A Great and Noble Scheme is a scholarly and incisive disertation. It is an extremely detailed history of the trials of our Acadian forefathers. I have studied the Acadian history for many years and read countless readings. Nothing I have read approaches all the information in this excellent text. It is an excellent source of information to get a thorough understanding of a little known tragedy about our American-Canadian history. I urge anybody seriously researching Acadian history to read this fine work.

This story is about 3 people and the tragic effects of DNA testing. Sometimes it's good to be very careful what you wish for. In this case, a family is torn apart by a single impulsive act. There is a message here. "Don't ask...don't tell."

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The narrator, Peter, has been suspecting for a while that his son may not be his. When he finally takes a DNA test and his suspicions get confirmed, the seemingly normal relationships he had with his ex-wife and son unravel into a huge mess. Peter, as self-deprecating as he portrays himself to be, becomes an endearing character, and of course you root for him from the get-go.

The writing is quite good. One of my favorite examples is: "The moment I started talking I had to check my voice to find that pitch that I used on police officers and bureaucrats, giving them just enough deference to let them know that I wouldn't challenge their authority as long as they didn't try to exercise it in any way I'd find inconvenient. It was a pitch you could find when you were a middle-aged guy in a suit, and occasionally it compensated for the high blood pressure and lower life expectancy".

This book reads fast, and it portrays very well the agony that children of divorce have to face. I would classify this novel under the category of "Thriller", because you get hooked into knowing how the situation is going to resolve. I won't spoil the ending, but i was quite satisfied with it.

In a unique switch from the usual lawyer-turned-author pabulum, Edward DeAngelo's debut novel THE LIES THAT BIND is a sensitive portrayal of what it really means to be a parent, that is at once wonderfully funny and deeply touching.
Combining courtroom drama with the issues of marriage and family as it examines the breakup of Pete and Joan Morrison's marriage and its subsequent consequences, THE LIES THAT BIND is a highly compelling read by an author who is a shining talent.

I read this book within two days. Deangelo draws you into this story very quickly and I found myself unable to put this novel down. The characters are believable with faults and good qualities. While I hated the ex-wife Joan for living a lie, I did find myself wondering "how could she have done this?" All this thought pattern created by a work of fiction? That's when you know it's a great book. The ironic part is I find myself still wondering this morning what will become of Sam. All these feelings about "characters". Deangelo knows how to make you care about the characters. In my opinion that makes a worthwhile read.

I can't believe this novel got four stars from most reviewers. I found it at times to be ridiculous and unrealistic.

The narrator was a complete sap who constantly made excuses as to his rightful actions. His ex-wife was a completely unlikable bitter woman who lived a lie for years. I didn't like either one of them and at times was completely exasperated at Pete Morrison's lack of confidence.

The last chapter was a complete fabrication of real life and made the whole book into a joke. Why didn't the narrator try to adopt the boy? The jerk was throwing money at him and his cold-hearted mother left and right throughout the whole book. He was constantly belittling himself and thinking he was the bad guy, when instead, he was the victim of the ex-wife's manipulation.

Do yourself a favor and don't waste time on this nonsense.

A look inside the real world of modeling and it's past and present stars. TONS of information about the history of modeling in here. It drags on a little bit at times but is otherwise very interesting and entertaining. I'd def recommend it to anyone in the biz or interested in becoming a part of it. :)

This is a wonderful read with a perfect pace. It has a variety of viewpoints from a balanced business analysis, to a thoughtful integration of modeling into the cultural fabric to a taste for gossip which sizzles. Where else could one find out that Grace Kelly was turned down for a beauty contest because she was too thin or that Lauren Hutton chose her first name after Lauren Bacall because her first choice Laurence was too long for her Playboy bunny name tag? I was also impressed by Gross' skill at giving the reader a sense of the individual life story in just a page or two in an almost complete sense without any sense of skimping, no small feat. He covers America and Europe with a true feel for both areas, he zooms in close and also moves quickly. This is a remarkable book.

I very much enjoy following fashion and modeling, and I have to give credit to author Michael Gross for touching on virtually every aspect of the modeling biz from 1915 - 1995. However, what started out as an interesting historical perspective turned quickly into essentially a blow-by-blow account of influence peddling and [sort of] slave trading over many decades. "Ugly business" is right.

For me, the major problem with "Model" is that it reads like a massive chronology of "who's screwing whom" (literally and figuratively), and practically everyone gets an entry: agents, bookers, photographers, backers, models and the playboys who pursue them. In the author's own words (p. 494): "The model business remains, as it has always been, a seething morass of beauty and money, grace and envy, sensuality and lust, yearning and backstabbing, glamour, greed, and glory beyond measure.

The progression of the business story is well thought out. The title of each main chapter relates to a time frame associated with the prevailing modeling fees. In between the main chapters are dialogues/interviews with key models of each period (Veruschka, Lauren Hutton, Janice Dickinson, and Veronica Webb, to name a few). I would have preferred more focus on the models as the primary subject matter, but the business is huge, with many players influencing everything from an agency's viability to which models get work (or don't). For me, there were too many never-heard-of-before names in the cast of characters. One look at the index proves that Mr. Gross has undertaken an exhaustive accounting of modeling business: 14-pages of tiny type, consisting of virtually every name associated with the modeling business one can think of. Yet, in a book of 500 pages, I'm wondering why Gia Carangi's life encompassed but a couple of paragraphs.

It's tough to put a number value on "Model," so consider me on the fence with a 3. For me the soap opera-ish tone of this book detracted far too much from the exhaustive historical accounting. It's a monumental work, but I just can't recommend it to everyone.

God..... this book was a hot mess and I loved it!!!
I wish that I could have been a top model in the 70's.
Making a truck load of money......doing blow at studio 54 with liza, halston, truman, janice, gia, andy, bianca and all the rest....getting banged in the balcony by all the hot male models and photographers!!!!!
Or hanging out backstage at the versace show with naomi, cindy, christie, claudia and linda.....smoking, drinking, cussing and fighting!!!
Christ....I loved this book...now I may not get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book was less gossipy than I thought it would be. The first 2/3rds are great. The book serves as a wonderful primer for anyone going into the modeling industry or just interested in its origins.

The book starts out with the first official models, which were generally socialites. You get to read about how modeling agencies first formed and who the first models and clients were. The book follows along as agencies and models fall out and new ones come along. Close to the chapters around the 1980s/1990s you learn more about the all out "model wars" and the switching of models between agencies. Mixed in with all this history are bio chapters highlighting the stories of specific models along the years.

The book is very interesting and makes me miss seeing the models on the cover of magazines! The book is slightly dated now but the history provided is still accurate and informative.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book. The historical aspect is very interesting and the plot is unique. The message - that convention can be paralyzing to all types of societies (religious, military, political, geographic) - is stong enough to stand on its own. Only a male author would feel the need to create the perfect woman to deliver that message. Julia is perfect in every aspect - she is young and physically beautiful (with long blonde hair); she is compassionate, benevolent, intelligent, mentally stable, strong, opinionated, and couragous. She enjoys and desires sex. She possesses a keen sense of humor and a perspective on life that is typically exhibited by much older characters. She is, in a word, unbelievable.

Historical fiction dealing with a little known historical event, the Halifax Explosion. Most people associate Halifax Nova Scotia with the Titanic Cemetery. The story of the Halifax Explosion is actually more horrendous because many more lives were lost than on the Titanic and injuries were far greater. Excellent writing and intriguing sub-plot. I read this book before visiting Halifax which made my visit even more meaningful.

This book I cannot recommend enough!!! My interest in "BURDEN OF DESIRE" was first kindled when I heard Mr. MacNeil talk about the 1917 Halifax tragedy on National Public Radio a few years ago. I was intrigued because I had never heard of this tragedy before. Then around Christmastime, I bought and read "BURDEN OF DESIRE". I became so wrapped up in the lives of the main characters (each of whom Mr. MacNeil creates with a full-bodied and multi-dimensional personality) that I felt as if I were a fly on the wall, watching events unfold.

I give Mr. MacNeil special kudos for the way he created the main female character. From the way he wrote this novel, you'll feel that it is a real woman confiding her inmost thoughts in her diary.

On so many levels, this is a well-written and beautiful story. Read "BURDEN OF DESIRE" and savor it. You'll be glad that you did.

This book is truly captivating. I realized half-way through the book that there were only a couple of possible endings and found myself desperately wanting one over the other, probably because I had become so enmeshed in the lives of these characters. The author does a great job of introducing us to their lives and really giving us a sense of what makes them tick. I wish I'd saved this book for my upcoming overseas trip so I could have read hours at a time without interruption!

I'm getting ready for a trip this summer to Nova Scotia and love to read books about places I'm visiting. This is a wonderful romance, but deeply embedded in the social history of Halifax during World War I. We see the toll the war takes, how patriotism is used and misued, and the class tensions between Catholics and Church of Englanders. Canadians are striving for their own kind of recognition from England, by sending huge numbers of men to the front, to carry out the most dangerous missions in a war that over time became meaningless. An engaging read.

Timothy Zahn has upped the stakes in his second novel in the Conquer's trilogy. After the first novel,Conqueror's Pride, which details the events that lead to the beginning of the Human-Zhirrzh war, Zahn takes on the ambitious task of narrating the events from the aliens point of view. This is one of those novels that should have a degree of difficulty factor figured into the review is this is not an easy thing to accomplish.

However Zahn does a superb job of pulling this off by clearing explaining the differences in culture but also interjecting just enough similarities between humans and the Zhirrzh to help the reader identify with this alien culture. The greates difference between the two is that the Zhirrzh have two states of being-the first as biological entities and then after their mortal bodies die they are able to exist as incoporeal beings known as Elders.

The Zhirrzh belive that their human opponents have devised a super-weapon that will not only destroy their coporeal bodies, but can extinguish their lives as Elders as well. The majority of this novel deals with the Zhirrzh's attempts to find out if the Humans do actually possess such a weapon and how they can possibly overcome a force that they have never encountered before in their existence.

By telling the narrative through the Zhirrzh's perspective, Timothy Zahn has given depth to this military-style space opera. This enables the reader to identify with both participants in this battle and sets the stage very well for what should be a rousing conclusion to this trilogy.

Timothy Zahn has a knack for keeping you on your toes. Although this book is the second in a trillogy, it is distinctly different from the first in so many ways, and yet, it fits in with the story impeccably. I was very impressed. A must-read for all sci-fi fans.

I first got into Timothy Zahn's work through his Star Wars Titles, which were good. However his work with the Conqueror's Trillogy is exceptional. His non Star Wars stuff is far superior. His approach to the concept of "First Contact" is refreshing and well worked. If you want to read a good story with very interesting twists, these are the books for you.

I read the first book, and I really enjoyed it, and I just wanted to get the seconed one. When I realized that it was from the point of view of the Zhurzh, I started to have doubts, but it turned out to be just as good as the first. Vivid, and emotional, you find yourself feeling the way the characters do, hoping that things will turn out for them. This book compelled me to read the third.

There's a cliche that goes, 'a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.' Well, this is the weak link in the Conquerors' series.

Which is ironic since Conquerors' Heritage has the most intriguing idea of all three books: presenting the viewpoint of the alien invaders. Sounds interesting, doesn't it? But, alas, it simply isn't. Central to this problem is that Zahn promises a glimpse into an alien culture, but presents a world in which very little seems alien to us. The world of the Conquerors is essentially a quasi-human society with numerous ironic and tiresome twists. Example: the basic unit of time is the hunbeat, instead of the heartbeat (see how clever that is?). Yes, to Zahn's credit, there are indeed some points of interest. I did find the mystery of the fsss organ interesting (What is it? How's it work?), at least until Zahn turns it into an almost comical commentary on euthanasia. Careful readers will catch this, finnicky readers will be annoyed by it. Overall, Zahn gives the impression of being a talented writer with nothing worthwhile to say.

It is also worth noting that Zahn breaks a major rule of narrative structure and has it blow up in his face. The problem in this series (as defined by book one) is the conflict between the humans and the Conquerors. This is what Conquerors' Pride started out with, and it is where we were left at the end. Zahn's mistake is that in this second book, the central problem of the series is barely addressed. Instead, Zahn deals with the family squabbles of characters who, in the first book, were relatively minor characters. This simply doesn't work. Zahn deviates from the main premise of his story so far and for so long that readers are likely to tire of it rather quickly. Readers who claimed that Conquerors' Heritage was boring or lacked the intensity or interest of the other two books are most likely responding to this problem.

Readers who have read the first book and are debating reading the second should exercise caution. However, if you're like me, then once you start a series you're in for the long haul, and, yes, Zahn does return to his original premise with Conquerors' Legacy and the story does improve somewhat. If you've still got the stomach for it, that is.

Description from the back of book:

Owner of the wildest, loneliest ranch this side of the Rockies, Luck MacKenzie hadn't laid eyes on Carla McQueen for three years. Not since they day he'd sent his best friend's kid sister storming from the Rocking M Ranch and out of his life -- for what he thought was forever . . .

Now Carla was back, lovelier and even more desirable than in his burning memories. But Luke knew he could never give in to the raging need to make her his woman. For he'd made a vow long ago -- one that he was determined to keep -- that he would never fall in love with Carla McQueen. No matter how badly his body and soul ached for her . . .

* I wasn't a fan of the first book in this series but I have to admit that I enjoyed this book much better. I wasn't big on the hero's reasoning on not wanting to fall in love but I overlooked that & tried to focus on the rest. Looking forward to the next 3 in this series. Although I don't recommend Reckless Love I think I could recommend this book without needing to read the first book. It didn't have hardly anything to do with this book. That being a historical book & the rest of the series being contemporary.

This book is totally horrible! The "manly" hero spends most of his times treating the woman he supposedly loves worse than most people treat their worst enemies. The totally gross thing is that she keeps coming back for more--a perfect example of abuse! The guy is unlovable & mean, the girl is pathologically stupid, the whole plot line is the usual stupid Lowell pattern of some cowboy getting the hots for an underage girl, holding off long enough to make sure she's still a virgin, seducing her & getting her pregnant & then the frail flower deciding that her life is complete as long as she gets to stay on the ranch servicing her much older husband (usually at least 10 years older, of course) and being thrilled that she gets to have a baby at an age when most people can't even balance their checkbook. This is the type of novel that a patriarchal Afghanistan warlord would hand out by the dozen to his prospective wives to teach them how real women should act. Eccchhhh!

Based on a love story, Fire and Rain is full of history, funny moments, and love conflicts. The story takes place in the "Rocking M:, a ranch out in the Midwest. Luke, a man destined to love and care for his land is the main character of the novel. His history with Carla (his love), is not all that great. On her trip to the Rocking M, Carla is now 21 and reencounters herself with Luke. A few days stay at the ranch results in a whole 2 months stay as the maid and cook around the ranch. It is during this stay, that the reader finds out the history behind the ranch and both Luke and Carla's life. Through Lowell's use of imagery, characterization, and motif, the reader learns of the main character's maturation and love for one another.
Lowell's use of imagery engages the reader in the beauty of the ranch and the characters. "Her vibrant blue eyes" and the description of Luke's ruggedness with soft edges helps the reader envision the story. Through this description, the reader learns of qualities of each character, Carla's hard working and perseverance, as well as Luke's focus and self-control. Lowell's use of characterization enhances the characters and evolves with the story to show a mature Carla and a more soft-hearted Luke. Lastly, the motif of the rain and the Rocking M adds to the conflicts they both have because the Rocking M comes to symbolize a prison for Luke and a sentence to unhappiness. Reading about both of their struggles to keep their love alive as well as the ranch was very interesting. I would recommend this book to teenagers who like romance stories as well as those who like to read books for its literary elements.

I was not too impressed with Fire and Rain. I didn't particularly like Luke's attitude towards Carla...he almost seemed cruel. Not exactly what I look for in a good hero.

Some of the issues seemed like they weren't explored enough as well. And some of the things that happened were a little redundant. He built a cradle for the child he would never have? Some might say that's sweet, but in the context of this story, it seemed very predictable.

The book was good, but I have issues with some things. I think her longer novels were written better, but Fire and Rain was average and would recommend people read it only if you are an Elizabeth Lowell fan.

This is the first in the series. It is a wonderful book, love those Western Love Stories. It is about a woman named Carla who has been in love with her brother's best Friend Luke since she was a teenager.Now she is all grown up and hasn't seen him since he broke her heart at age 14. She ends up losing a bet and has to work for him on his farm for the whole summer. Trying to resist temptation is not easy and Luke loves her, but keeps trying to push her away by being down right rude. It is interesting to see how much they fight to stay away but seem to not be able to.

Being a huge Bobby Jones fan AND having read almost everything there is on him, I found this book along with its close relative ... THE GREATEST PLAYER WHO NEVER LIVED ... extremely riveting! I could not put these two books down. Thank you!

Great book! Veron is an excellent golf fiction writer. I have read all three of his books and they are all excellent!

From the time that I received this book (it was a gift from a fellow hack), I was skeptical as to whether or not Vernon could actually pull of a book entitled, "The Greatest Golf Course that Never Was" in a convincing fashion. To my satisfaction, Vernon succeeded in surprising me. Vernon tells a story that is enjoyable and, given the title and subject matter, not entirely implausible (despite being a work of fiction).

Vernon writes to the reader, providing him with set-ups, without entirely giving the story away during the first half of the book. One of Vernon's strengths, in my opinion, is that he writes to his audience-golfers-well. I particularly enjoyed his periodic references to Tour professionals and history, both of the current and the not-so-current variety, such as a golfer nearly pulling a "Van de Velde." During the read I felt that Vernon might have overplayed the mystic element of the course for my taste, but found that the resolution of the book even softened that minor critique.

I have recommended this book, as well as Vernon's "The Greatest Player Who Never Lived," to all of my golf buddies.

Michael, may you find success in your quest to find a cure for the yips. I know many who suffer!

Back in the sleepy spring days of 2000, author J. Michael Veron created a little tale of golf fiction that caught the golf world by surprise with its wonderful mix of mystery and golf history called "The Greatest Player Who Never Lived". While undoubtedly a fictional work, the strength of Veron's writing and research forced readers to continually read the disclaimer at the beginning of the book that asserted that these events were fictional. "...Greatest Player..." told the story of a young law school student named Charley Hunter, who was working a summer internship for the law firm of Butler & Yates, legendary golfer and Augusta National founder, Bobby Jones, old law firm. Given an assignment to organize all off Jones' old office files, Hunter uncovered a mystery about an unknown golfer named Beau Stedman. The quest by Hunter to unravel this mystery was compelling. Combined with a backdrop just dripping with golf history, "...Greatest Player..." created a story with such plausibility and such reverence for the game of golf, that reader could not help but be awed by this tale.

A year later, Veron rode used the success of "The Greatest Player Who Never Lived" to write a sequel called, "The Greatest Course that Never Was". It continues the story of Charley Hunter, now a full-time associate at Butler & Yates and a well regarded for his efforts in bringing the Beau Stedman story to life. As Charley is getting his feet wet in the judicial process, he starts receiving mysterious letters containing obituaries of men he had never heard of with a cryptic notes included. When he receives a letter containing a mysterious golf scorecard, Charley begins the smell another mystery that requires his investigation. Charley discovers that this mystery also has a connection with Bobby Jones and Augusta National. His travels take him to the home of one Moonlight McIntyre, an 80+ year old man who had caddied at Augusta National and been a friend of Mr. Jones' from the earliest days. Moonlight has the secret of another golf course, as amazing as Augusta, that no one knows about except Jones, Augusta co-founder, Clifford Roberts, and any one they deemed worthy to play that course. Moonlight knows his life has reached its twilight and he wants the story and knowledge of this course to be passed on. Wanting to find the right man to trust this information to, Moonlight contacts Charley because of the latter's efforts on behalf of Beau Stedman (who was a friend of Moonlight's). For Charley, this launches another journey of uncovering the mysteries of Moonlight and this course, seeing and playing the course for himself, and also finding away to preserve the course from those who would do it harm while also honoring its history.

"The Greatest Course that Never Was" has the unfortunate task of being the sequel to the amazing piece of work that was "The Greatest Player Who Never Lived". It's a quick read and succeeds in uncovering another mystery while educating readers about even more golf history. One of the weaknesses of this book's is that this mystery just doesn't have the same resonance that the Beau Stedman story did. The descriptions of the course are fabulous and the interplay between Charley and Moonlight is quite amusing, but the reader will not find the same emotional investment in this story. After, the story of a piece of land really can't compare with the gripping tale on one man's life. This book also suffers from not producing a terribly satisfactory conclusion to this mystery. A twist is introduced in the final few chapters that, while intriguing, undermines the mission of these men up to this point. There is not the same kind of payoff was in this book's predecessor when Beau Stedman's tale came to light and he was afforded the honors and recognition that he had been unfairly denied his whole life. Complaints aside, though, there's still nothing too wrong with a book that is a fast read and continues to honor the rich history of golf.

I hoped that I would enjoy Mr. Veron's follow-up to the Greatest Player that Never Was, but his story was so improbable that it could never quite reach the treshhold of plausibility. Mr. Veron is a decent writer and I like his characters, but both of these elements ultimately fail if the story itself isn't compelling.

David Kirk made a gem of a book here that when I see used copies in good condidtion I buy them to give away later.
Your kids will love this book. Buy the hard back as they will want to touch the pages.

kids of all ages really like the Nova robot that comes with the book.Very well made and a nice story.

Just wanted to mention this copy is spiral bound. Very easy for youngster to rip the pages out.

From the very first page of text the reader is sent on an incredible journey with the main character, Nova. Nova is that child that we all can identify with when he says "Is this how my father feels when he's away?". The idea that his Dad will surely find him and finally their reunion and struggle to get back home keep the reader totally engaged. Back at home Nova is greeted as a hero - something all children can identify with.

My 6 year old liked the idea that Nova followed his dream of exploring space. He thought that the illustrations looked exactly as he had imagined outer space to be. He thinks it is great the way Nova brings his spaceships and models to share with the class and the idea that they take field trips. We read this book over and over never tiring of the story and vibrant illustrations.

I rarely splurge on a hardcover book, these days, as my youngest reader is 8 years old. I purchased this book, however, because my daughter and I have enjoyed Miss Spider's Tea Party so much over the years. I read Nova's Ark to her third grade all-girl's class today, and it received an "A" ! The girls loved the pictures, and had questions about how the illustrations were done. They loved the plot, and at several points were able to make predictions at every surprising twist and turn. They asked me to leave the book in their classroom so they could re-read it and look over the colorful and whimsical illustrations. While we all missed the clever rhymes of Miss Spider fame, we enjoyed the language and style of Nova. We tried several robot voices as we read out loud. Also, the girls enjoyed seeing all of the clever animals Nova makes while on the planet Zyke. My daughter enjoyed the book out loud more than she has enjoyed perusing it on her own. A great picture book, and worth the investment because it's got eye candy!