Australia Books

I must say this book was extremely well written and was an uncomplicated read. The reader feels the emotions of the characters. I felt sadness at all the difficult situations presented to Kate and relief when she was blessed with good fortune and luck. I hated to finish the book. I learned a lot about the early settlers in Australia and the harsh elements endured during and after the cruel ocean crossings. I always enjoy learning history with a fictional cast of characters. I look forward to reading the sequel.

This book was very good. I enjoyed reading it very much. Kate is only 15 years old when she is sentenced and convicted because her employers son raped her. So she is sent to Botany Bay. Which almost assurdly means death. The long journey on the ship is horrible. It takes almost a year many die on there way there. Once getting there she finds herself the mistress of Jeremy Kendrick and when he drinks he beats her. Kate does make good friends but her many years are filled sad and dark days. Does she ever find true love and a good life for herself? This book was well written and I found myself liking this brave young woman Kate and wanting only the best for her. I would recommend it."

I couldn't put this book down, and finished it in less than 2 days. Sanchona has a captivating writing style that pulls you in as the characters grow and develop. There are plenty of reviews that sum up the story for you, so I will suffice it to say that I eagerly await the next book in this series. And the next... and the next.

I met Sanchona on MySpace and read a bit about "A Family of Strangers" there. After I checked out the reviews on Amazon and found that a number of people had enjoyed the book, I decided to purchase a copy. I wasn't disappointed.

Kate's story is the story of Australia. It brought to life all the things I'd learned in history about how Australia was populated by convicts. Kate's story allowed Sanchona to make real the way people lived, worked, and spoke, the hardships they encountered, and their hopes, fears, and heartbreaks. The action moved along so nicely, that I kept thinking that someone should base a movie on 'A Family of Strangers". So if you're a movie-maker, pay attention!

I highly recommend this book. :)

I found Sanchona's first book "A Family Of Strangers" to be an engrossing and enthralling read...I found myself caring deeply about the characters and their travails to the point that I wondered still about those characters who left the story. Kate is but a teenager when she is falsely accused by a British Nobleman who has her shipped off to a penal colony in Austrailia...how she wends her way and carves a life for herself and those for whom she cares proved to be a story that left me hoping that Sanchona will quickly supply us with another fine tale and another, and another....

I enjoyed reading Burgess memior. Actually her story coincided what a set of events that was ocurring in my life. I lost my father, not the way she lost her husband but I was reading the end as my father passed. I felt her pain and loss. Her strength and dedication to her husband helped me do the same with my mother and siblings.

We just never know what is around the corner of life.

What a great book. I couldn't stop reading. The language was beautiful. I was overwhelmed by the beauty of everything the author had to say. I recommend this book highly.

I bought this book for my wife after hearing a radio review in Australia. I thought it was a chick book but picked it up when it arrived and read the first page - I was hooked. Glenda Burgess is a very descriptive writer. A great book guys.

In my view, one cannot read too many love stories. I struck out for forty years, suffering a devastating early divorce after nine awful years. Then one day my wonderful Ginger came into my life. That was a quarter century ago. I have always credited my ability to be ready for my wife's sweet love because I took the time to read great stories about relationships. That's why I have called A Thousand Summers, by Garson Kanin, my favorite book along those lines--until I read Glenda Burgess' memoir, The Geography of Love. Glenda's book will be a part of me, and a part of my relationship tools for the next twenty-five years. Maybe beyond!

Perhaps once every couple of generations we find a book that gets up close and personal with the human condition. We had it with A Man Called Peter, by Catherine Marshall. Glenda Burgess, as fine a writer as America has produced in the last two decades, follows in the great tradition of the life well examined by absolutely nailing Georgraphy of Love.

Heart-wrenching, yet astounding in its ability to uplift, The Geography of Love chronicles the wonderful marriage of Glenda and Kenneth Grunzweig during their fifteen year union. We follow the perplexing cough that Ken developed after a photography expedition to the great Southwest, all the way through Ken's valiant struggle to stay alive for his family. We learn of Ken's tragic past--the death of two wives... The first in a tragic auto accident when he held his dying wife in his arms. Then his second wife was murdered by a serial killer. Kenneth Grunzweig had to carry the burden of being the main suspect for twenty-two long years, only being vindicated weeks before the start of his heroic battle against lung cancer.

Along the way, Ken deals as gracefully as possible with floundering family members, Glenda always at his side.

As the reader folds The Geography of Love closed for the final time, having absorbed all 306 pages, one cannot help but realize this is one book that will stay with them forever. Worthy of periodic rereads. When you need to--absolutely have to--ponder the meaning of love, loss, relationship and romance, you will know it is time to read again Glenda Burgess' magnificent The Geography of Love.

Let me state upfront that I picked this book up in kind of a hurry, not knowing much about it, other than "early-30s woman finally finds true love with older guy (mid-40s)". So imagine my surprise when I started reading this book.

In the first third of "The Geography of Love" (310 pages), author Glenda Burgess retells how she unexpectedly found true love with Ken, a man 14 years her senior, someone who had lost two previous wives (one to a car accident, another to a (potentially suspicious) murder, of all things. It made me turn the pages, and when at one point Ken says out of the blue "I can't do this anymore", when the couple had 2 small children, I feared the worst (as in: he wants to leave the marriage). But Ken was referring to a corporate job he didn't want to do any longer.

After that, the book takes a completely unexpected turn, and where the book really takes off. Ken is discovered to have a cancer of some sort, and the second half of the book deals with how Glenda and Ken are dealing with this. This is when the book becomes a devastating read. I found myself choking back a number of times, particularly in the last 50 pages or so. Separate but simultaneously with all this, the author brings a great portrait of other family members, including in particular her challenging relationship with her mother. In all, I was very taken by this book. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

It is a great book very well done but...... my 4 year old daughter liked the story unfortunately, now she is scared to go to sleep because she thinks there is an aligator, that mommy and daddy cant see, under her bed. This is no fault of the book but teachers need to prepair parents for possible fallout.

"There's an Alligator Under My Bed" was on my entering-kindergartner's summer reading list and I can certainly understand why. It is a wonderful story about a little boy who conquers his fears. In this case, a large alligator that has taken up residency under his bed.

Mercer Meyer's illustrations are very entertaining and not at all scary, and I am happy to say that the boy's problem is resolved by brains, not brawn.

My kids love it.

Storytime, as you can imaging, in a preschool can be a bit challenging to say the least. If we are have a crazy day, I just pull out "There's An Alligatior Under My Bed" and the classroom goes silent as a room full of preschoolers sit and listen quietly mesmerized by this story. What more can I say. I love this book!

Like so many of us when we were children, our young hero in _There's an Alligator Under My Bed_ has trouble getting into bed safely due to the dangers that lurk under his bed. Since his parents never see the creature, he decides he must deal with it himself.

With one or two sentences per page, this is a great book to read to your toddlers and preschoolers to start a discussion about bedtime fears.

Why didn't his parents ever see the alligator? Can alligators really live under beds?

My 3 year old son and 5 year old daughter love this book! It is a must read every night before bed. The illustration is wonderful and the story absolutely adorable!!!!

I've been working as a flower designer for a while and decided to get this book mostly because it looked pretty and comprehensive. I was not disappointed. The book is fabulous and it has a little bit of everything, including tools. I like it a lot and highly recommend it for anyone interested in Flower Design.

This book is simply a must have in your library. Malcolm Hillier is one of the most talented in the industry. beautiful book!

The plant directory was extensive, but I would have liked a little more information on the growth cycle of the plants or the zones in which they grow. The basics are all there and I would suggest to anyone buying the book that they do read the introductory chapters. The floral arrangements are absolutely beautiful and the author also gives alternatives to the arrangements to suit your taste. Very nice.

This is a very wonderful book, which the Floral Design Institute uses as a supplement "textbook" to their syllabus. It is rather heavy but well worth every page as the book is packed with beautiful arrangements and spilling with creative ideas. There aren't a lot of step-by-step instructions on mechanics, but the book gets the point of selecting different material colors and textures across - which, in my opinion, is a significant factor to consider when it comes to floral arranging.

This is a gorgeous book, with gorgeous flowers. However, it's less of a learning tool, then a recipe book. While it does grace upon a few floral design basics, it doesn't spend a great deal of time on it. The raw information it conveys is pretty light, having more to do with warm, neutral, and stark colors, as well as a few techniques on drying flowers and taping them (etc). The bulk of the book is taken up by pictures of arrangements, and little "recipes" on how to make them. A good book for someone who doesn't want to learn the mechanics of floral design, a good book for the coffee table -- but ultimately, not a good book for someone who wants to study design on a more advanced or technical level.

I just made it around to this Rickman novel after reading all of the Watkins series so far and 'Chalice' and 'Curfew.' This novel is classic Rickman. It has humor and spookiness and all the great details I love in these novels along with complex characterization and keen psychological insight. Though some of the more recent Watkins' novels have been a bit off, this one is a great read.

I won't get into the book's premise; you can read all about that in the description above.

Keep in mind that this is a British author and the story takes place in Scotland and Northern England--if locale is a deciding factor for you. It may also require a bit of patience from readers who are used to shorter novels; this is a 600-pager, not meant for those who like a "quick read." But let me tell you, the rewards are definitely worth it. It's one of those books where the characters are very special and therefore you do not want the book to end, even though you're dying to find out what happens next.

For those who enjoy supernatural fiction they can sink their teeth into, look no further. Rickman provides the detailed characterization and spooky atmosphere that many chill-seekers are craving. It takes a lot of skill to pull off a book this involved, but no worries; Rickman has the necessary talent.

A book to treasure. Highly recommended.

There's nothing wrong with fast food, or a fairly speedy trip to Outback, but nothing beats putting a roast in a slow cooker and letting the aromas and flavors seep into your consciousness all day long. Your patience wears thin and when the meal is finally ready to eat, you wolf it down like a starving person.

Okay, strange analogy, but this book had the same effect on me. It started cold, then warmed up gradually, until all my senses were captivated. My patience was starting to wear thin, then BOOM! the flavors all combined and it was every person for himself.

Did I like the book? Absolutely yes. Can I describe it to you? Um, nope. Luckily, there are other reviews here that have taken on that responsibility, and have done so very admirably. I did, in fact, pick up this book based on their recommendations. As a vague overview, you could say this is a mystery, a paranormal, a horror story, a religious confrontation, a small town mentality gone amuck, modern civilization overflowing its boundaries. A love story. A story of good and evil, pride and prejudice, charity and greed, science vs faith. Or... none/all of the above. Take your pick, all the spices are here, savor what you like, and push what you don't enjoy to the side of your plate (Yes, I'll stop, the analogy is starting to wear thin for me, too).

In short, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for those who have time to appreciate the nuances of the plot. Those who can give little time to a book might want to wait until they can.

"The Man in the Moss (1994)" is one of Phil Rickman's non-Merrily-Watkins-series novels, and my new favorite Celtic-themed horror story. This is a big, complex, scary read with Rickman's usual cast of likeable characters, including an Anglican vicar who turns a blind eye on some not-so-Christian rites that are performed in his church, and a doughty pub owner whose husband seems to have returned from the dead.

Folksinger Moira Cairns, who shows up in multiple Rickman novels, plays a prominent role in "The Man in the Moss," along with a band of white magicians called the Bridelow Mother's League.

The title character himself has been dead for roughly two thousand years--the man in the moss, who I believe Rickman modeled after the Lindlow bogman. At any rate, both fictional and non-fictional bogmen were victims of a Celtic triple sacrifice.

According to the Roman historian, Lucan (AD 39 - AD 65), the Celts sometimes sacrificed one person to please all three aspects of their triple god: first, death by three blows to the skull; second, death by strangulation and/or throat cutting; and third, death by drowning (in this case, drowning in a peat moss bog.)

Again, following the research that was done on the Lindlow man, Rickman's characters believe that the Man in the Moss sacrificed himself willingly to thwart a Roman invasion. His willingness to die and his 'displeasure' at being dug up out of the bog are a dark, steady undertow that drags more than one character in this book to his or her doom. The people of the isolated Pennine village of Bridelow want their bogman returned to the grave in order to keep some unspecified supernatural evil at bay---and they figure that they need to get him reburied before Samhain (November 1), the Celtic Feast of the Dead.

Two major obstacles prevent the villagers from reinterring the Man in the Moss:
* the scientific johnnies are horrified by the thought of giving up their find to a pack of superstitious villagers, and they have him locked away in a climate-controlled room at the University;

* an evil sorcerer wants to steal the bogman and use him in a satanic rite that will destroy the village of Bridelow and its Mothers' Union of white magicians.

Death is a repeated visitor to the village on the Moss in the weeks leading up to Samhain. Rickman builds to a slow, sinister climax and this reader at least was never really sure who was dead and who was alive, and which of the two conditions was the most desirable--at least in Bridelow.

Story: Bridelow is a (fictional) small town in central England, situated between the moors on one side, and an enormous peat-bog on the other side. Bridelow has been widely known for its beer (Bridelow Black) and more quietly known as the village in England that has stayed closest to its Celtic roots. Two religions co-exist there: the inhabitants openly worship in a Christian church, but there are other, quieter religious services, focused on the Goddess, and the Mother in Bridelow is not Mary, mother of Christ. The older, more "pagan" religion is overseen by the Mothers Union, a group of matriarchs who carry on the old ways and hold to the old lore.

But, things are about to change. First, the brewery gets bought out by a big corporate brewery, with many people losing their jobs. Second, the preacher at the Christian church falls ill, and is replaced, at least temporarily. Old Reverend Hans Gruber was originally an outsider, had but he had learned to peaceably co-exist with the Mothers Union and their beliefs. His replacement, Reverend Joel Beard, is a charismatic, let's-clean-house type, who takes it as his mission to "purify" Bridelow and drive out the evil pagan practices.

Is that all there is to it, though? Ma Wagstaff, the leader of the Mothers Union, distrusts coincidence, and suspects a connection between Reverend Beard and the selling of the brewery. Even Ma hasn't guessed at how big this really is, though!

The two central characters, amidst a large supporting cast, are Moira Cairns and Mungo MacBeth. Moira is a Celtic singer descended from a line of women who are not at all ordinary. She played in a band with two Bridelow residents, Matt Castle and Willie Wagstaff. Moira is not from Bridelow, but ends up being a crucial player in the battle that has been quietly, surreptitiously begun there. Mungo MacBeth is an American filmmaker of Scottish ancestry, who has been sent by his family to discover his heritage. He does, and it is much bigger, darker, and scarier than he expected. Will he and Moira survive? Will they end up together?

You might be wondering, about now, where the book's title comes from. While the local pub, connected to the brewery, is called The Man i' the Moss, that is not it. What starts all the wheels turning, toward disaster, salvation, or a bit of both, is the discovery, by a road construction crew, of a body buried in the peat-bog adjacent to Bridelow. An old body. Very old. The Man in the Moss turns out to have been an outsider, who was ritually sacrificed about a millenium before, to become the town's guardian against evil. When his peatmoss-preserved body is discovered, the government whisks it away to a museum for study. That's not good for Bridelow, who has lost its Guardian! Lo and behold, the body gets stolen and cannot be found by the authorities. But he will be found. And that's when things get really strange.

My take: This book is for patient readers only. There is a large cast of characters, all of whom are well-developed. The setting is also developed well, as is the theme of how pagan and Christian beliefs can mesh, or clash. All of that detail makes for a long story with a pace that is far from quick. The writing is impeccable, though, and the development of setting and cast combines with a complex plot to yield a very rich tale. The further you read, the more the story unfolds, and gets more intense, bizarre, and riveting. There are deaths, both predictable and not. Some big characters fade as the story progresses, to be replaced by others emerging into prominence. This story is as much about the town, its history, and its future, as it is about the people. The ending is, to some extent, what I expected, but is also very surprising, in other ways.

Now that I've read this book, I'd like to visit (fictional) Bridelow and meet (some) of these (fictional) people. But, I'd make it be on a sunny day, and I'd go with a friend, and I would be very careful to offend no one! Come to think of it, I did just go there.

Strengths: I know this town and these people. That's how well this tale is told.

Weaknesses: It is long (594 pages) and detailed; patient readers needed. Not for the squeamish, either!

Conclusion: This is a dark, complex horror story, rooted in Celtic beliefs and their meshing, or clashing, with Christianity. A long book, but well worth the effort!

Recommended: For those who love Celtic horror stories, and who are patient readers.

This is a great book. By creating a 2D world Dewdney expands our 3D vision.

In reading this book I was reminded of not only Abbott's Flatland (which was the original inspiration) I was also reminded of Charles Hinton's Fourth Dimension and Choas Coincidence and All That Math Jazz.

In each work, the writers effectively used 2D analogies to give us an idea of what 4D space might be like.

What Dewdney did however was to build detail into what has always been a simple model and thereby give greater detail to the potentialities of our vision.

While others have said that this book would be great for mathematicians I would offer that this book is great for anyone seeking to expand their horizons.

As Henry David Thoreau wrote in concluding his Walden: "There is more light to day than dawn. The sun is but a morningstar!"

Read this book and others like it and bask in the light of that morningstar!

One of the greatest books of all-time. I don't want to over-sell it, so judge for yourselves. (heh) Seriously, this is probably the most complete fictional universe ever created. It reads like a dream and when it first came out (and I was a kid) I often wondered whether the events in the book had REALLY happened. It is that well constructed.

Before it originally went out of print I bought two extra copies so that I'd never be without it, I honestly suggest you read it, and if you like it at all - do the same. It will never leave your mind, and you'll be happy about that.

I found this in the ECSU library, and had a wonderful time perusing it when I was supposed to be doing classwork. The only thing disappointing is that it's fiction. Other then that, it's a rather realistic portrayal of some startling events. Putting aside that the computer project come to life thing is pretty obvious, the rest of this stuff is just too original to pass up. Reading the account of two foreign cultures trying to communicate through a computer program, and having the participant on their side being rather of a mystic bent, makes for some very interesting stuff, as simple as kid's adventure, and as inspiring.

I encourage others to pick this book up. It's great for an inquisitive high schooler (as I was) or an adult.

Dewdney does an excellent job of pulling the reader into the story- one feels as if they are sitting there right next to the screen, waiting for the next contact.

Difficult to put down, and difficult to go back to reality afterwards.

When I was in high-school I had a very intelligent and immensely helpful English teacher, who taught me much of what writing skill I possess today. He came in highly excited one morning, to share with us about a new book he'd come across. Evidently, they had, through a computer, discovered an entirely new reality, that was two-dimensional! And this was an actual event, cutting edge stuff.

Well, a few days later, he came in, quite chagrined, to tell us that, as he read further through the book, he realized it was a work of fiction. But his description had been interesting enough to motivate me to read the book.

The Planiverse's reality is that real, and supported by that much scientific and mathematical principle- Dewdney has done his research, to bring us one of the most delightful what-ifs I've found. Imagine reality just like ours, but take out the third dimension. Everything is well supported, every area of life covered, and the drawings immensely helpful. You truly begin to feel for all the characters in the book. But it's not just an exercise in mathematical possibility. It is a rich story, telling of spiritual journey and insight, as Yendred travels to find his answers. And I still remember the ending as grippingly and eerily numinous, as we realize how closely the Planiverse and our Universe are connected, and how limited we are in comparison to the Eternal.

This is a great book. I couldnt put it down! - riotously funny in places but very poignant in others. Dont let the title put you off - this is a very memorable book and you will be glad you took the time to read it!

Bill Watkins' second book is at least as good as the first('A Celtic Childhood'), and continues the 'History of Bill' through his young adulthood with great adventure in Scotland('Course, he has to get there first). I rated this book five out of fibe stars only because that is the limit. It's easily a 10!

Bill,
Delighted to purchase Scotland is not for the squeamish. I'm buying a celtic childhood again to give as a gift, what a riot reading this book on the plane,with the headphones on and "Laughing out loud."well, its that sort of funny book

Watkins has only got better. This second of a trilogy has it all.To quote " a smile that would free anyone's soul from gravity. " Read on.

This continues Bill Watkins's autobiography through his time at sea, and in the Scotland of the late 60's and ealy seventies.

As well as the humour, you'll love the evocative prose, which with a surprisingly few words summons up as vivid a picture as any I've ever read.

Especially clever is his rendition of the Scots tongue.

His stories of the start of the Celtic music revival, of living "on the broo" in Edinburgh and the start of the "Silly Wizard" folk group will make anyone smile.

I bought this book for my son who recently became a father. I read some of it before giving it to him and thought it was very funny, very realistic, and enjoyed it very much. Probably more amusing for someone who has already lived through raising toddlers, but it will give my son some idea of what to look forward to. great book

This book is the follow up to "So, You are going to be a Dad?" from the same Author. ANd the first book was awesome, this b second one is also really funny and the sometimes sarcastic humor is just great !!
Enjoy !!

A great book! Mr. Downey entertains while delivering important, every-day advice to new dads. Dad's will laugh out loud and feel re-assured that they're not total failures at fatherhood. With his unpretentious writing style and unique brand of wit, Mr. Downey covers everything from baby's first steps to "permanent" birth control options, and he never fails to entertain. Dad's can only hope that Mr. Downey continues to share his thoughts and experiences through his children's pre-pubescent and teen years.

Finally, a down-to-Earth, no-holes-barred reference book for new Dads. No fancy terminology - just creative terminology. No detailed psychological analysis from a group of doctors who pride themselves on using 10-syllable words - just the blunt facts from an everyday-Dad's point of view. An extremely humorous, yet insightful view into Dadism.

A perfect follow-up to Downey's "So You're Gonna Be A Dad". I could only hope he continues his wizardry of words addressing prepubescent teenagers!!

As a 46 year old father of 2 young children, I have found this book to be very informative and very humorous(actually at times horrifying for fathers to be). The book could be classified as humorous horror for fathers. Peter Downey touches on all important aspects of childrearing in a down-to-earth, easy to read, practical, "lets get our hands dirty on this" fashion. Fathers with children will really identify with the problems discussed in this book. He doesn't shy away from touchy topics like sex, nudity in front of the children or physical discipline. He's obviously read the "professionals" on childrearing and his advice on how to deal with the many problems we dads encounter reflects this, but is also heavily flavoured with his own personal strategies developed on the frontlines of being a dad to 3 children himself. Of course, if you're a perfect dad, doing everything right or if you're not a dad you may want to read the book for it's humour, with which Peter is not stingy.

A wonderful book from a man that knows, that has been there, and is still there watching the people of Bikini cope and recover from the terrible atomic/nuclear bomb blasts. He has the facts of history, the insight into how it affected the island people, all combined with personal stories and the local culture and legends. I've lived in Micronesia for about twelve years and learned so much new about the Republic of the Marshall Islands. If one has an interest about how our country deals with other peoples, this book will give an idea about how sometimes we play the international game. Very nice work, with facts and figures. I liked it. Buy it!

The book is fine but you sent it to my cousin in Los Angeles and I haven't received it from him yet! I had previously sent him a book ordered through Amazon. I am sure you will think this is my fault, but I do not agree. I said to send it to the same address as the card holder who is me. I give Amazon an F for this one. Jack Derby

It is generally accepted that the dropping of two Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki brought WW2 to and end. Had the Japanese not surrendered, however, there was no third bomb to be dropped. Whilst the explosions happened just as they were supposed to happen, this new dreadful science was very new and, in a post war-torn world had to be tested and refined. No western power, however, was prepared to have such weaponry tested anywhere near their own country - not even within range of distant fall-out.

For this reason, one of the world's remotest islands in the southern Pacific was eventually chosen. In the summer of 1946 the United States detonated two 21 kiloton bombs code-named Able and Baker. These were the fourth and fifth such bombs ever exploded. Another bomb was also set to be detonated but this was cancelled after the fallout from Baker created far more radiological contamination than had been expected.

In order to conduct such tests, the United States had, in the first instance, to forcibly remove the indigenous population of the Bikini Islands. How powerful is one nation that it is able (apparently quite legally) to remove another nation from it's land so that it can practise with it's big bombs.

This book is the story of those Bikini Islanders and their life-long struggle to regain their homeland. Yes, many have now come home, but it will be a long time before they can even hope to resume a traditional existence. It is more likely that that will never happen.

The Bikini islanders were removed from their homes "for the good of mankind," personally, I think this book should be read for the same reason.

NM

I found my teenaged daughter reading this book one day, so when she was finished I picked it up...

This is a story so worth reading. The author's life at first seemed hopelessly entangled with his subject's to a point that I thought the book would eventually read like a one-sided diatribe. I was very, very pleased with how he presented the Bikinian's story, however, and would highly recommend this small but important piece of Pacific history to anyone who wants to know how an indigenous people can be so horribly abused by a super power.

Astounding material.

This book was an eye opener. It makes you wonder why this event that happened so many years ago in the middle of the Pacific has been buried for so long. This is not a cut and dry history, this book is a very readable journey through a culture that is unique. The author lets us know who he is, so it enables the reader to understand the person who is doing the interviews. That was a nice and unexpected touch. I found the book to be thought provoking and would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in studying the history of the Pacific.

I am a great fan of Modesty Blaise books and was plesantly surprised to discover only recently that the author has also written books under the pseudonym of Madeline Brent. I immediatly bought a few books penned under this name and though these books are not as great as the Modesty Blaise series which I adore, I did enjoy them.

Oh my God- this book is wonderful! This ranks right up there with my favorite Victoria Holt titles. I will not summarize the story- other reviewers have done this. The story is told in first person narrative, by our heroine Mitji/Meg. It is poignant, wonderful and romantic. The guilt Luke feels in his attraction to Meg, her bewilderment at his mood swings, their growing love for each other (*sigh*), just fantastic. No graphic sex, just a lovely story well told. How refreshing in todays era of paranormal romance. You will not regret purchasing this book, it epitomizes the meaning of romance.

I loved this story and the adventure was top rate. Brent writes the best heroines and this girl was tops. You also get the tortured but honorable hero in this story. Every character is written exquisitely! I have rarely read such a charming tale.

I couldn't put this book down. It had everything I love: shipwreck, romance, and danger.

I was totally involved in this wonderful story. I've never been disappointed by Madeleine Brent, but this must surely be her best work ever.

The somewhat slow beginning is probably not for everyone, but it helped me get into the story. By the time Mitji found Luke and rescued him, I already felt that I knew her. Her life and adventures as Meg were never completely free of the Mitji period, and when Mitji was needed again, she was up to the task.

I bought this book used, which apparently is the only way to get it, but I would have paid the cover price just to have it.