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It is understandable April second-guesses her marriage although I'm glad that topic dwindles into the background. I refute criticism about not focusing on her task. Did we choose this book to observe a furniture inventory, or aren't we keen to learn about Marthe De Florian? Stories aren't about matching reality step by step! Critique that April "obsesses" over Marthe? Caring for Marthe gives this book its heart!

This exemplifies why people's feedback holds no truck. I only read it if uncertain about buying literature based on a synopsis. I seldom agree with anyone's assessments. It does not seem most people simply let authors spin them a story, especially something done differently, without expectation or comparison to other books?! I wish this one did not discuss estranged marriage so much, otherwise I am enjoying this.

I can't believe the reviewers bitching about this novel's progagonist "getting caught up in diaries, instead of conducting her furniture assessment". They have to be kidding! NOT to be enthralled by 1891 diaries while they are accessible is inhuman. Interest can also be looked at as caring about a project's background! If only everyone we hired were swept away by each job and didn't regard us as "another client".

I am enjoying this story thoroughly now. I missed a couple of nights by falling asleep. An aspect occasionally found in well-rounded novels, that I love best, is when a seemingly uncomfortable personage like the town's picky preaching type, reveals a very likeable side. Harry cared for her despite overbearningness; everyone stayed courteous. When prevailed upon for aid and expertise, Miranda becomes a co-sleuth!

I am further, along having hit that stride where I am enjoying myself. This is one you must allow to sweep you away after it is primed. Be patient during several chapters of townspeople coming in & out of the postoffice Harry and her pets run daily, in Virginia of 1990. We need to know this town and chapters are short. Now I am enthralled. I see Susan Wittig Albert was not first by far, to narrate animal heroes.

I had a very nice birthday week-end! I am continuing with a novel I am up in the air about. Most introductions are heavy whirlwinds of detail no matter the genre but I'm undaunted if something doesn't engross me right away; a mistake many make I am convinced: a fast-food mentality. LOL! I can usually tell I love a character or author's writing right away but there are three heroes and unique narrators' voices.

My birthday week-end is happily skipping along! Michael's smart metaphors are a sure way to keep me smiling. Oh my goodness, am I spotting an Evening Grosbeak atop a tree, out there in this winter's new snow? I haven't seen them since summer! I had better put out their feeder. This is a gift, seeing new bird friends special to our region! Pine Grosbeaks have been arriving as well. Unique birds make winter fun.

It is my day to read whatever I wish: things that are exciting or positive! Happy birthday to me today: that's Carolyn! :)

It took a long time to own this début novel, spotted at a September charity after owning several works by Rita Mae Brown for years. I miss those days like 1990 when people would send mail like postcards. I still do. What I love in November in particular are birthday cards! One day until my birthday!

My birthday is in three days! That is why I am reading happy books and content I think I will love best! Yours truly, Carolyn in the still warm November prairies.

I know who my favourite authors are but still feel a surprised skip in my heart, when I plainly love their work enough to keep forging ahead heedless of time. There is no place to stop a Simone St. James book. She has composed a captivating oeuvre again, different from others including her own! In Canada we call it "a hat trick" if a player scores three goals in the same game. You have scored a hat trick, Simone!

For my birthday month, I want to read whatever I like best! I have savoured this book several months; long enough. Simone St. James is my new favourite authoress and she actually autographed and mailed this to me last winter, after I touched her with an enthusiastic letter about how glad I was to find her as an adult ghost story writer! It means a lot to finally open these pages with her note to me and bookmarks.

This novelist does not stick to details and scenes pertaining to the mystery. I would prefer a small look at her roomate at home and a glance at the real estate agency. No more background play-by-plays. I don't want the whole process of she and her roomate pouring orange juice. I certainly can't fathom giving a narrative to a jealous colleague! No one would dwell on not representing one house. Sell another one!

This sole paperback correctly has 300+ pages. I've read through surpassingly excessive points of view and surprisingly needless descriptions. An author who can't whisk us to her next scenes, transitions with panache, smacks of inexperience... and to my astonishment, Margaret Lucke teaches how to author novels. This one's cover trumpets that it sets off a series but there are no other volumes. Were they cancelled?

I am disliking the writing style and narrative arrangement so far. I hope I like it better soon. The few reviewers who know of this novel (which doesn't not seem to have panned out into the series it advertised) say it started out sluggishly but got good later. The ingredients are there; let's mix them into a scrumptious cake properly!

I would rather be reading Hallowe'en fare this week but think I will be more satisfied to finish a book I had started and which has waited long to get out of a queue. I could be done by tomorrow, although I have cooking and a lot of housework to do. I plan to cover our plants against an overnight frost possibility. Thus I might not be done this book until my night session. After that: ghostly fare, here we come!

Worse than Annie & Max in Carolyn Hart's mysteries, I cringe if Matthew barges into a scene, ruining it by making Tate and he interact. I loathe his behaviour and the forced preposterousness of them being paired as a couple. Nora Roberts created no logic for it. They do not match. This sea legend is far better than the rating from me, a lame romance will lower. I love Tate and her parents; everyone but Matthew.

The romance part, not built up for any visible reason at all; ESPECIALLY these people having a lingering "love of their life" feeling when they meet again as thirty year-olds, is preposterous! This adventure would do far better without that. I love everything else: Uncle Buck reclaiming independence, Tate's sparkling parents, her stellar education and fledgling marine archaeology career... and seeking that ship!

I was bored the first time I saw the most contrived romance device in the world. I am not into any romances but even I saw it enough to know it is repetitive. "We can't stand each other but discover the highest attraction. Also we come from glaringly different beliefs or worlds". Can't characters be a little different? Broad disparity makes that kind of premise a push. The treasure hunt has me reading this book.

Enthusiasm for this is so tentative, which I'll read due to owning a discounted hardcover, that I checked spoiler-type reviews I would normally avoid. This is a time enjoyment would be augmented by knowing how it will pan out. A young couple breaks-up, reunites in adult life. The break-up and reconciliation are both weak. Very well: knowing those complaints actually serves to bolster me to not mind those issues.

One unrelated comment: the book artist. I guess he or she did not read the novel. Linda, whom I suppose is depicted here, not her new stepsister, Babs with long back hair; is clearly described as sporting crew-cutish, severe short hair. Nowadays it seem a feat if artists read the drafted book they are going to depict but I thought they did in 1950, to the 1970s. Agatha Christie's book cover artist said he did.

I need to download music sporadically by day, so that beginning to read isn't held off by monitoring dial-up progress of one song at a time by night! I would have zoomed through this. Despite being one of Phyllis's teen stories less likely to take me in, she has me rooting for Linda and her dog. A quiet apartment dog taught not to bark! We want them as neighbours! It is an amusing turn for any cat to be a rival.