The first time I saw my mother was the night she died. The second time was at a party in Santa Fe.
After a childhood spent in an institution ... read full description
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Oct 14, 2009
Julie
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Apr 03, 2009
set in New Mexico, my second favorite place in all the world ... I posted an entry on my book blog
http://blogdelivre.blogspot.com
next I bought another of her books, Laws of Harmony
http://blogdelivre.blogspot.com
next I bought another of her books, Laws of Harmony
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Apr 08, 2009
Louise
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An exceptionally engaging second novel by Judith Hendricks! I think we have a GREAT new up and coming authoress. I was lost in this story from beginning to end.
From back cover:
"The first time I saw my mother was the night she died. The second time was at a party in Santa Fe.
After a childhood spent in an institution and a series of foster homes, Avery James has trained herself not to wonder about the mother who gave her up. But her safe, predictable life c More...
From back cover:
"The first time I saw my mother was the night she died. The second time was at a party in Santa Fe.
After a childhood spent in an institution and a series of foster homes, Avery James has trained herself not to wonder about the mother who gave her up. But her safe, predictable life c More...
Oct 30, 2009
Dana
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Avery James was a foundling. Brought up in institutions and foster homes she leaves at the age of 13 to find her own way. At first she stumbles upon Cassie who teaches her about herbs and healing.
She eventually finds her way to Sante Fe where she is an assistant to a caterer. Working at a wealthy art dealer's party she comes upon a painting of a woman who is her mirror image. Avery has found her mother. What follows is a search. Her mother died in a tragic accident 8 years ago. Avery More...
She eventually finds her way to Sante Fe where she is an assistant to a caterer. Working at a wealthy art dealer's party she comes upon a painting of a woman who is her mirror image. Avery has found her mother. What follows is a search. Her mother died in a tragic accident 8 years ago. Avery More...
Nov 09, 2010
Denise
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This is a facinating story but frustrating to me to some extent. Avery is her own worse enemy - always moving on rather than embracing closeness with others. It is a great book for a foody who is also interested in human emotions, every scene is sprinkled with great references to southwest cuisine and the herbs and spices of the American desert. I felt the author did a good job embroidering the story with complexity and contraditions as Avery tries to find out more about her illusive late mot
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Mar 31, 2010
Heidi
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Isabel's Daughter is the first of Judith R. Hendricks' books that I have had the pleasure of reading and it inspired to read all of them. I'm admitting a weakness - I bought this book based on wholly the title. My own child being named Isabel - well, you get my reasoning...
...and I was so pleasantly surprised to discover that the story takes place in my homeland - Northern New Mexico.
This was an easy read - much as I dislike these types of novels - only a few hours of l More...
...and I was so pleasantly surprised to discover that the story takes place in my homeland - Northern New Mexico.
This was an easy read - much as I dislike these types of novels - only a few hours of l More...
Aug 03, 2009
Angie
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This book is beautifully written. The first words in the book are "The first time I saw my mother was the night she died. The second time was at a party in Santa Fe". This had me hooked from the beginning to understand what this meant. As a baby the main character Avery James was abandoned by her mother and she goes to live in an orphanage. The book is about her life and how she finds herself and also who her mother was. The setting of the story is in Colorado and New Mexico There i
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Aug 01, 2011
Sue
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Avery is a determined, sometimes outspoken, and intelligent young woman. We first meet her when she is in her mid-twenties, working for a catering company. Out of the blue, she sees a portrait which can only be of her mother... whom she never met.
This starts Avery on a journey into the past, where she was brought up in a children's home before running away at thirteen. As she thinks about people in the past, and learns more about her mother and her various friends, she is gradual More...
This starts Avery on a journey into the past, where she was brought up in a children's home before running away at thirteen. As she thinks about people in the past, and learns more about her mother and her various friends, she is gradual More...
Apr 07, 2011
Stephanie
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This story is about a girl who grew up never knowing who her mother or father was. She was left in the basement of a group home as a baby. It takes you on an adventure with her as she find out who her mother was purely as an accident. It takes place in new mexico and because the main character loves to cook authentic mexican food, I have been craving it ever since! I like it because it was honest and real. It wasn't tied up in pretty bows and wrapped up nicely, it was raw. There is language
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Oct 30, 2010
Linda
rated it:
Amazon had this at Five Stars, but I think 3.5 is closer to my thinking. Although I liked the book, I did not love it; I could lay it down; But found I was quickly engaged when I came back to it.
It is a story about a girl, orphaned at birth and left in the basement of a foundling home. Discovered "just in the nick of time", she grows there until she is orphaned again when her best friend runs away. Later the cook who has befriended her, dies, and this time Avery James has h More...
It is a story about a girl, orphaned at birth and left in the basement of a foundling home. Discovered "just in the nick of time", she grows there until she is orphaned again when her best friend runs away. Later the cook who has befriended her, dies, and this time Avery James has h More...
Nov 24, 2010
Susan
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I had not read Judi Hendricks' other books, although I had read a lot about them. I recently found this book and since it takes place in New Mexico I decided to read it. The author did not let me down in her sense of place. She describes many locations in New Mexico and makes the enchanting ambiance a part of the story. I have been in many of the galleries in Santa Fe and I could just feel that presence in the story.
The emotional tale centers around Avery James, named for the cen More...
The emotional tale centers around Avery James, named for the cen More...
Jan 15, 2010
Margaret
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This was a library book club selection. I had never read anything by this author but this is a worthwhile read. the opening sentences grab you and the characters are well written as is the scenic descriptions. the book is set in Colorado and New mexico and you get a good sense of the area. Avery was left at a foundling home as a baby. Her only connection to her Mother is the little shirt embroidered with flowers.
Growing up in the home and various foster homes was hard as ones she had learn More...
Growing up in the home and various foster homes was hard as ones she had learn More...
Nov 23, 2011
Candi
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LOVED this book! another reader said exactly what i felt after reading this book "After I read this book I wanted to move to Santa Fe, wear lots of turquoise jewelry, unearth my natural talent in painting watercolors, and only cook authentic Latin American dishes for the rest of my life. In reality, I hate hot climates and the poisonous creatures that inhabit them. But Hendricks made me forget all of that in an instant, and I thank you for that Miss Judith."
Feb 05, 2012
Kay
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Loved this book just as much as her first one I ready years ago. An abandoned baby in the basement of a institution - who grows up not knowing who her mother is. Never adopted and has an attitude that keeps getting her into trouble. Finds out who her mother is when she is an adult through a lot of twists and turns. Judi Hendricks writes a book that you can get lost in. If you haven't read her other one "Bread Alone" you must.
Jul 02, 2009
Kelsey
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After I read this book I wanted to move to Santa Fe, wear lots of turquoise jewelry, unearth my natural talent in painting watercolors, and only cook authentic Latin American dishes for the rest of my life. In reality, I hate hot climates and the poisonous creatures that inhabit them. But Hendricks made me forget all of that in an instant, and I thank you for that Miss Judith.
Jul 27, 2010
Toni
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"your absence has gone through me like a thread through a needle. Everything I do is stitched with its color"-w.s.merwin and the opening line of the book- "the first time I saw my mother was the night she died. The second time was a party in Santa Fe" --Together ,these two quotes tell the story. It grabbed me and kept me interested. That is all that you can ask of a book.
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Jul 16, 2009
Jeanne
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This was a pretty good "light" book for the spring/early summer. During finals from school and traveling around after, it definitely kept my attention!
This book was also good about bringing my attention to how much culture the New Mexico area has, it was kinda undiscovered in my opinion.
This book was also good about bringing my attention to how much culture the New Mexico area has, it was kinda undiscovered in my opinion.
Sep 06, 2010
Glenda
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I really enjoy Judith Ryan Hendricks' books. She has a wonderful way of making you feel as though the characters are a part of your life. She immerses you into the setting by bringing the food and culture feel as though they are part of your surrounding. I never want the stories to end.
Jul 20, 2010
Heather
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One of my all-time favorites...
Something about this book really captured my heart. It was one I just pulled off the shelf while wandering through library stacks... I could list some criticism, but I won't because I still love the story and don't want to spoil that.
Something about this book really captured my heart. It was one I just pulled off the shelf while wandering through library stacks... I could list some criticism, but I won't because I still love the story and don't want to spoil that.
Sep 04, 2009
Melissa
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I forget how I knew to reserve this book but it was decent. I was satisfied after I read it but wasn't dying to finish it quickly. It's a story about a woman who was given up at birth and her journey to find out more about her mother.
Jun 10, 2011
Jennifer
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A woman who grew up in an orphanage searches for her mother and learns to trust and love the people who care for her. Pretty good - beach read.
Mar 11, 2010
Vikki
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Loved this book. Avery James spent her life in an orphanage. She takes off on her own at 14-finds wonderful Cassie. She looks for her mother. Finds out she is an artist. Loved book. Loved author
Dec 21, 2010
Sarah
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I loved this book and the many cameos of Santa Fe. It reminded me of the many girls' trips to Santa Fe over the years.
Jul 06, 2010
Lynette
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I liked her Bread Alone novel better than this one, but this was entertaining and encouraged you to just keep reading. I wasn't a fan of the end as I felt like I was left hanging. I am hoping that one of her next books complete it for me.
Feb 19, 2010
Denise
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I stopped reading this book after around 200 pages. I tried and tried to get into it and like it, but it was just not happening. Reading it was becoming a chore, so I'm done.
Jan 06, 2011
Molly
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This was one of those books that makes me long to be in its setting - namely, Santa Fe, New Mexico. The cuisine alone (which features prominently) would be mouth-watering enough, but I also greatly enjoyed the themes of family secrets, various types of art, and just a whiff of the supernatural. Haunting and sometimes funny and full of luscious sensory details.
Also, Hendricks gets mega-bonus points for actually emailing me back personally when I dropped her a line to say I liked her boo More...
Also, Hendricks gets mega-bonus points for actually emailing me back personally when I dropped her a line to say I liked her boo More...
