Romance Books

King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table is the best book i`ve ever read! Right when you`re done you`ll hear swords banging together in your head! It`s from King Arthur being crowned king all the way to saving Camelot and the last battle of the land of Logres. I highly recommend it.

A book so good you'll hear the clash of armor and the cries of knights. This book has just the right touch of everything of midevil times. From Arthur became king, to the creation of the round table, to the quest of the holy grail, and finally the departure of Arthur. Roger Lancelyn Green has nailed it again for a great book. This book should be read from 10 and up. Thats how great this book is.
Matthew Pearce

Fun kids version of the knightly version of Arthur.


Green here puts together some of the major components of the Arthurian legend in its knights, armour and wizards version to make it accessible to younger readers, and does rather a good job it.

Lots of good stuff here for the younger crowd.

Dozens of tales comprise the legend of King A. This author compiles about 23 and fashions them into a cohesive story, showing the rise of King A., the age of the glory of his realm, the quest for the Holy Grail, and the realm's fall. Most of the tales are episodic; they can stand on their own, as well as a functioning part of the legend. Everyone's favorite knights are here: Launcelot, Galahad, Gareth, Tristam, Percivale, evil Sir Mordred, and dumb Sir Kay. Also, the ladies: Queen Guin, Morgana le Fay, Enid, and Blanchefleur. My favorite Knight is Sir Gawain, and favorite tale is that of him and his Lady Ragnell. Well laid out, an easy read, and a good introduction to the courtly age.

This book is full of adventures of the many Knights of the Round Table. The stories are in full detail of their quests to serve King Arthur and the people of Logres. It describes their victories as well as their defeats.
A moral the story teaches is that if we blind ourselves with what is wrong and sinful, we will not get to be our full potential. We learn this by watching how Sir Launcelot lives his life. He was the greatest Knight in the world and was admired by every damsel in the land. Sir Launcelot was supposed to be the Knight to recover the Holy Grail and he never does this, because he allows himself to be involved in a sinful relationship with Queen Guinevere, King Arthur's Queen.
My favorite Knight was Sir Galahad, who was Sir Launcelot's son. Sir Galahad alone was the only one worthy to drink from the Holy Grail.
The book has a great story and I recommend it to anyone who loves medieval tales.

This is my first Georgette Heyer novel. I had a hard time getting into it. The first quarter of the book is rather slow and dull. However, once into the story, I found it very quirky and fun. I did not find it to be a romance though. Freddy and Kitty don't have much spark. And although I realize that this was not the intent of the author, I kept waiting for Freddy to come out of the closet. At the very least he is a metrosexual. I like my heroes a little less interested in female clothing and style.

But if I look past the idea of this book as a romance, I enjoyed it. The banter is great. The characters are hilarious. I would definitely recommend it.

If you loved Friday's Child (my very favorite Heyer book) you'll love Cotillion.

Most Heyer books feature heros who need to grow. In Cotillion, a classic comedy of manners, our innocent heroine (madly in love with a romantic, dashing figure as the book begins) learns to appreciate the real worth of a very average man.

Sweet, gentle humor-- a book that gets better with every read.

Kitty Charing's guardian, the crotchety Mathew Penicuik, has promised that she shall inherit his fortune if she agrees to marry one of his great nephews.
Kitty, however, wants none of them. What she does want is a trip to London, a place that she's never been.
So she arranges a hoax engagement with great nephew Freddy giving her a good excuse to go to town to meet his family.
Once in London she becomes a woman of fashion and gets entangled in all sorts of scrapes and misadventures.

Overall, Cotillion is pleasant historical fiction that while rather loosely plotted is carried along by the strength of a charming cast of characters. These include: the half witted but affectionate Lord Dolphington, foppish Freddy who has immaculate taste on everything from waistcoats to drapes, and the darkly handsome Jack, a notorious gambler and ladies' man.

The story starts with Kitty dealing with multiple marriage proposals and matters of the heart. However, during the entire middle section of the novel her romantic future is put on hold as she plays cupid for others. I felt as though this took too much focus away from Kitty as a heroine. She pales a bit in comparison to the far more interesting couples and situations around her. I got the impression of her as a kind hearted ingénue, but not much more than that.

Also I felt that Kitty and Jack's past and present relationship was rather poorly defined. We are made to understand that they had some kind of involvement in the past, but the exact nature of it eludes us. Was it a simple school girl crush as Kitty insists? Or was it something deeper than that as Jack seems to believe? This is a problem when Heyer attempts a love-triangle conflict at the stories' climax. Because we do not know whether Kitty really feels anything for Jack at all, there is a definite lack of tension, romantic or otherwise.
In the end, Cotillion is more of a feel good story than anything else. Suspense is minimal, and the novel's true strength lies in the journey and not the destination.

On a side note, there is a lot of unusual and (I suppose) period appropriate vernacular. For example,
"Wonder if he's playing a deep game?.. No saying what might be in his head, a curst rum touch Jack! Shouldn't have thought he'd whistle a fortune down the wind though. Rather fancy he counted the old gentleman's rolls of soft his own. Never knew such a fellow for wasting the ready! Played wily beguiled with his own fortune!" Pg 48-49.


Recommended if you love regency stories or light-hearted cozy reads.

Everyone loves an alpha hero, whether he's a Duke or a Navy SEAL. Everyone loves competence, good looks, and a quick wit. In "Cotillion", you will find yourself rooting for the very antithesis of those heroes. Freddy is a total Beta. He isn't very quick on the uptake, hasn't any particular wit, and, although he dresses in the height of Regency fashion, his appearance is one of amiable vacuity...or a startled rabbit, when circumstances get out of hand, as they so frequently do. What Freddy does have, in abundance, is warmth, kindness, generosity, and a willingness to go out of his comfort zone to extricate his pretend-fiance, Kitty, from the predicaments her impulsivity launches her into.

Freddy grows on you as the book progresses. From being Kitty's dupe to becoming her savior, you will savor the charms of Mr. Nice Guy, Regency-era version. There are delightful subplots, with a host of well-rounded characters: Lord Dolphinton, the lackwitted cousin who is terrified of his mother and in love with a bourgeoise woman; the Chevalier, Kitty's French cousin who falls for a lovely damsel being groomed for a life as a courtesan; and Freddy's father, who is actually one of the alpha males we would normally expect.

I believe there are superior books by Heyer: Frederica, The Grand Sophy, and Venetia, to name a few. But you shouldn't miss Cotillion, because it is such a triumph for Nice Guys everywhere, as well as being incredibly funny.

I first discovered Georgette Heyer when I was a teenager. I read her book Friday's Child and was completely hooked. Cotillion is one of my favorites. The interweaving of the romances of four different couples is delightful. By the end of the book, you feel as if you have spent time with friends.

I cannot recommend Heyer's books too highly. She, in my opinion, created the Regency romance genre (Ms. Austen's books were the contemporary novels of her period.) Heyer created a fictional, glittery, aristocratic world which which is still being utilized by historical romance and regency novelists today. It is interesting to note that she is being republished under historical romances - a genre that relies heavily on sexual escapades. Heyer's books are romantic but not sexual. She is able to build a tension which culminates with a kiss rather than a bed romp.

These are books you can enjoy and still pass to your younger daughters, sisters, etc. without worrying that the subject matter is too mature.

I can only wish that Ms. Heyer wrote twice the number of books she did. I own each in hardcover and am purchasing my set of "reader" copies as Sourcebooks republishes her works.

I read this book in one day. I just couldn't wait to get it over with. There was just way too much self-analysis/self-doubt/self-hating, to the point of it taking up pages. This story just didn't grap me and I was so looking forward to it. I will read Hunter's Prayer, hopefully Jill won't be so pathetic in that book. I found Jill's character to be very depressing. Lilith is very good at describing a tortured soul but at some point the character has to be strong on the inside as they are on the outside. Without that it just seems like pages of whining flash backs.

Jill Kismet is the sort of heroine we can all get behind. The book is action packed, but heart felt. It shows a world where the unexplained is dealt with by professionals, in tandem with regular law enforcement. Not the usual separation of the human and the otherworldly. When things go bump in the night, Jill is called in, so ordinary people can go on blissfully unaware. Throw in an odd symbiotic relationship with a demon, and a crush from an FBI werecat, and the story is complex and hard to put down.

I enjoyed this book.

It had the right amount of action and movement to keep me interested until the end.

If you go expecting War and Peace, you'll be disappointed. But if all you want is a fast paced read, this might be the book for you.

This is the first book I have read by Lilith Saintcrow. I felt that Jill Kismet was one tough Hunter and kicked some major booty. She is a demon slayer and performs exorcisms. She has silver charms in her hair and wears leather pants and a leather trench coat, she also has a backup coat. She has been marked by a demon, he gave her some extra powers and she has to visit him once a month. Her former lover and teacher Mikhail is dead, he was killed by a demon.

Jill is on the hunt for a rogue were and a hellbreed woman that are together. She has friends from the FBI that are also hunting for them, her FBI friends are were. They bring along a friend with them, his name is Saul, he is an American Indian and also a Were and her one friend asked if he can crash at Jills house. Jill says it is okay and Saul cleans up her house and cooks for her, they kiss, could this be the beginning of a romance?

You should read the book to find out what else happens in the book, otherwise I will give away the entire story. I did enjoy the book though and I plan on reading the second book in the series, Hunter's Prayer, it is coming out in August or Sept 2008.

Ok, I loved the first Dante Valentine books, in fact I liked books 2 and 3 better than the first one. Then came book 4 and 5, which I wanted pitch across the room and couldn't finish either one! I was so hoping for a fresh start with Night Shift. I'm almost afraid to say, that I really liked this new series, for fear of jinxing it! Yes, Jill Kismet is very similiar to Dante's character, but I'm hoping that she doesn't turn out to be the winey, neurotic mess that Dante ended up being. I love the character of Saul and the other were's, and I even liked Jill, giving her the benefit of the doubt. Perry's character just plain creeped me out at times! The scene (which I won't detail with a spoiler) about the funeral pyre, literally almost made me cry! I am hesitantly waiting for the next in the series. Hoping against hope that Jill 'Kismet' will NOT share Dante's 'fate' and make me want to shred future books!
I would definately recommend this one.

I have read all of the Janet Evanovich books starring Stephanie Plum, but I had not realized that she wrote romance novels. I ordered all and read them all! I absolutely loved them. Within the first page or two you always knew who was going to fall in love, but that did not ruin the fun in watching get to the end of their journeys together. These are books that I will lend to all of my friends and family!

In the beginning, I was a dedicated "Stephanie Plum" fan but from the last past few books, I was very disgusted in the reused plots. But I have always had faith in Janet Evanovich and writing, so I gave her another chance and I checked out the audiobook of this story from my library. If you looking for a book with in-depth character development and a good plot, this isn't the book for you. But if you looking for a light fluffy read, this is definitely the book for you.

I give this book two stars because of the characters! Now that I know this is a re-release, I can definitely see that the characters in this story are definitely the inspiration of the characters of her other stories and it kind of annoys me. She reuses the characters and the plots. So she let me down with this book and this is probably be the last book I will read from her.

This is not meant to be a believable situation...just plain fun and frolic. I smiled all the way through the book and gobbled it up in about 2 hours. With rain outside, a dog in my lap and a box of malted milk balls, life is good.

"Because I'm a Mooooooooom!"... You know, even though I'm not a child lover, I can usually tolerate them in books and movies. But this one, with the attitude of Lizabeth throughout the book and the ramming down your throat of the responsibilities of motherhood, was so annoying I almost didn't finish it. If it hadn't been so short and so quick to read, I probably wouldn't have. I certainly couldn't identify with Lizabeth, and didn't even like her. The plot was sad, even for a romance novel. There was nothing interesting about the book at all.

I love Stephanie Plum with all my heart, but that's really the only thing Evanovich has done well.

Lizabeth Kane was desperate to find a job. After getting divorced, she needed to find some way to support her two boys, but she had no experience at doing anything. When she saw the construction site near her home advertising a help wanted for a carpenter, she thought it would be perfect, and within walking distance from home. Matt Hallahan couldn't believe it when she told him her story about needing a job, but couldn't bring himself to turn her down. He knew he would find something for her to do. As Matt got to know Lizabeth and her kids, the more he found himself unable to stay away. He wasn't Mr. Commitment, but found himself wanting one with her. Only to his surprise, she didn't want to get involved because she wanted to learn to be self-sufficient and on her own. Matt couldn't fault her for wanting to make it on her own, but he was determined to change her mind because as far as he was concerned, she was already his. He just had to figure out how to get her to love a guy that has a Harley and a tattoo. When a flasher makes nightly appearances at Lizabeth's house, Matt has the perfect excuse to move in!

Enjoyable read. This is an earlier work of JE, and you can see character similarities from this book incorporated into the Plum series.

This is my first Sophie Jordan novel, and I can definitely say that I will be trying another soon. Although the plot was entirely unoriginal and uninspired, the story was touching and rather sweet. The characters managed to stay 'in character' the entire way through, and although that was at times frustrating, I admire an author who can keep her characters straight from the start of a novel to the very last page. Kudos!

I liked the story weel enough and was really interested in all the characters, but the end of the story seemed very rushed to me. One second Seth is refusing to love Jane (something he was moderately good at throughout the story) and the next he is telling her he always loved her. ??? Also, nothing bad happens to the bad guys, they get away with treating her like a servant and stealing her money.

Hurumph. On the bright side, this is a veru fast read. I tried to read Nicole Jordan's latest yesterday and couldn't get past page 25 since it was so boring. At least this story was a page-turner.

Her stories follow a similar line, but she keeps the main 2 characters together consistently, which keeps the story and the romance moving. I did not find this heroine's past relationship depressing like other reviewers. This book is wonderful, and I have now bought all of her books.

I will not rehash the entire plot as it has already been done. What I will say is that the book was well written and interesting all the way up to the last few chapters; at which point it became rushed. It almosted seemed like the authour was running out of pages and just needed to wrap it up. With maybe just 15 or 20 more pages the book could have been so much more developed.

Lady Jane Guthrie remain in a heartless marriage for six-years
to an unfaithful husband. After her husband's death, her
brother-in-law and his family moved in, took over her home,
and treated her like a servant. Even though, her husband had
been dead more than a year. Jane's brother-in-law refused to
allow her to come out of mourning, keeping her a prisoner in
her own home. Jane became bored with her life. She felt a void
and wanted a night out. The Duchness of Shillington and the
Duchess of Derring, her two best friends, attended a Bordello
Masquerade Ball given by Madame Fleur. Her friends dressed
Jane in a flirtatious evening grown and she was hidden behind
a mask.

Also, attending the ball, was her brother-in-law, whom she
recognized at once. Trying to flee, she ran into another
room and another man, Seth Rutledge Lord St. Claire, who was
waiting for Madame Fleur. Seth was not wearing a mask.
She recognized him immediately, although, she had not seen him
in many years. Seth's father purchased his commission, hoping
he would never return home. His brother died, however,
leaving Seth the responsibility for the family. Jane had loved
Seth when they grew up together in the country and she
had not forgotten him. Seth did not know it was Jane behind
the mask. He had taken her for a doxy, yet she was stirring
feelings inside of him that were strange to him.
Seth was instantaneously attracted to Jane and kissed her.
He found himself unable to stop when the door opened and
Madame Fleur entered. Jane was able to flee the room, join her
two friends, and eventually leave the ball.

The next day, Seth and his sister Julianne ran into Jane in the
park, their longtime childhood friend. Julianne was permanently
blinded from a childhood accident their father blamed on
Seth. He carried that burden of guilt heavily. Julianne secretly
in love with one of the servants.

Jane sneaks out again to another Bordello Masquerade Ball
looking for Seth. Seth likewise, attended the Ball hoping to
find the mystery women he was hopelessly attracted to.
Jane and Seth had several sexual encounters before Jane finally
had to confront Seth she was his mysterious lover.

Sophie Jordan portrayed Jane as a sweet and likeable
character who deserved to find love after a loveless
first marriage and being preyed upon by her former-in-laws.
There were times when Seth came across as too rough with
Jane and unworthy of her love. Jane did not reveal her
feelings to Seth until toward the end of the book. Personally,
I would have preferred at an earlier point in the story.
All in all, this book had a happy ending for two people who
finally found the love and happiness they sought. I highly
recommend "One Night With You"

This book was pretty predictable - so much that the cover shows a puppy, yet the character has an old dog. Geez, it's not looking good for the old dog is it? But it was still a quick and enjoyable read.

After reading Fools Rush In and loving it, I couldn't wait to read this one. It's really good and fun to read. I look forward to reading Just One of the Guys. I hope it delivers.

I can now list Kristan Higgins as one of my favorite authors and I cannot WAIT to read more of her work. I have not had the pleasure of discovering an author who makes me laugh until tears of hysteria pour down my cheeks since Vickie Lewis Thompson. Higgins style of humor is so raw, so refreshing and so LOL dramatic that she is what literary entertainment is all about. Maggie was an absolute snort out loud of a character. I've had some horrific blind dates in my life, but I could never have handled the Herniated Homeboy quite as skillfully :D Higgins creates such multi layered characters that makes you feel as if you can see inside of them. Maggie didn't just make me cry with laughter. She made me cry with emotion. I felt her heartbreak when she had to say goodbye to her best friend Colonel. I gritted my teeth in unison when she held back from shrieking in anger and frustration at her whiny, obnoxious, disapproving, insensitive and overbearing Mother. And I felt her heart soar when the two consistently clashing women finally came to peace. And Malone? What woman HASN'T met her own man of 2.5 words max at some point in her life? lol Onto the next....by that time I'll be on my way to Higgins withdrawl; and waiting for a fresh, new novel.

I read this book in two days...couldn't put it down.the ending left me wanting more of Maggie & Malone. Please, another book (or a mini-series) about them...I'd pre-order when I knew it would be available. Thank you !

This book is Maggie's story of a young women from a small town who owns her a diner and his having Man problems. Her one big problem is that she has a crush on a Priest and the other is pool of men is very small. Maggie goes down some very funny road to find a man - it was a fun book - great for the plane, Enjoy! Off to read her other book Fools Rush In....

I would also recommend; Hot by Julia Harper,Crown Jewel by Fern Michaels and Accidentally Yours by Susan Mallery and The Remains of the Dead by Wendy Roberts.

Outstanding book. Real food for thought. It will still be read and discussed 100 years from now.

Great insight into what it means to be human while addressing sexual issues that have never been addressed in this manner before.

This book gives an excellent analysis of human dignity and its relation to the beauty of human sexuality as a gift, and from that gift is life. The book gave me an insight on how our culture has exploited our human dignity and sexuality, such as viewing people as "objects" (e.g. pornography); this book speaks the Truth and I love it! I highly recommend this book for anyone who plans to read Theology of the Body, teach Theology of the Body for Teens, as well as teach Theology of the Body in marriage preparation courses or young adults groups.

Pope John Paul II provides answers to questions many don't ask, and most don't know how to answer. This book provides a strong foundation to those who seek to do what is right in relationships (relationship with God, significant other, fiance/ee, or spouse). The authority and correctness of this book has made me, a life-long Protestant, take a second look at the Catholic Church.

This is a poetically dangerous book. I first read it some ten years ago, just after having graduated college, when I was emerging from my adolescent decadence & skepticism.. I was searching for understanding, for faith. The thought herein is so limpidly potent it made me high, like great poetry. It radically changed my thought & heart for good. For better. It made me actually embrace the Faith, and the Church's ethic on sexuality & the human person. It really sheds the deepest insight, revealing the pith of what it means to be a human being. To be a man or a woman, a Christian.

So I cannot possibly recommend it highly enough. It should be read by, or explained to every Christian, not just Catholic. It ought to be a part of every Catholic's catechesis, as well as at the top of the reading list of anyone who seeks to understand the Faith.

[Aside: If you are a priest, have you quoted this book in a homily yet? Please, Father.. I mean, I realize hearing from the likes of SS. Ambrose or John Chrysostom is waaay too much to ask, but can we get at least this much of the Tradition? Please? Is thirty years back already too far? By that mark we should have already had enough of the St. Louis Jesuits & their ilk by now.. and we all know we're *never* going to get sick of them!]

I've heard (or rather have read) some folks - a rank few - attack this work, and it's author, on the grounds that they are theologically suspect: for being phenomenalist. More Heidegger & Husserl, than Augustine or Aquinas.. For being modernist, in other words. Instead of being reactionary, the pope's too "liberal" for some. Funny. People are such a hoot.

All I can say is that I know nothing about this supposed masonic subversion of the papacy, myself. I only report the nattering for the sake of full disclosure, as it's the only negative criticism I've read of this book anywhere. Virtually every Catholic I respect who has read this book loves it.

Lots of folks from the other side of the spectrum shoot their mouths off and scratch their pens over the Church's teaching on sexuality in general, without ever really bothering to understand it. They call John Paul (and Paul VI & Benedict, etc., etc.) authoritarian killjoys, amongst worse things. (The Church's prohibition of condoms prevents the control of AIDS! Or didn't you know? Wait.. Or is it the Church's prohibition on sexual activity outside marriage? Is that killing people too? I get so confused.. Anyway..) They would never bother to touch this book. They cannot afford to give it a fair read. Like witches with water, trolls sun, vampires garlic, or Kal-El kryptonite, exposure to the truth in these pages burns.

Despite all the cocky posturing, I think many of them sense this.. They know it might actually awaken conscience, and move them to become someone they would rather not be. For, as we all know, an informed conscience can be a truly inconvenient thing. Tant pis..

But useful, nonetheless. Being that it can free you from unhappiness, addiction, "poor self esteem," and that ultimate killer of love, freedom & life: sin. Which is why this book and the "inconvenient" yet beautiful truth that it proclaims is so essential.

Purgatorial fire (Truth, Love) hurts, but cleanses.

Final admonition: acquire & read this book.

Can a house be a main character? It is in this book, which features the same New Hampshire beach house that appeared in The Pilot's Wife, Fortune's Rock and Sea Glass. The house remains steadfast, but the lives of the people who occupy it are as stormy and unpredictable as the Atlantic Ocean it faces.

This time we meet the Edwards family, consisting of genial Mark, impossibly snobbish and nasty Anna, and their "slow" daughter Julia, who, nevertheless, is expected by Anna to pass her SATs and go to college like her two older brothers, now successful adults. To that end, the family hires Sydney, a young widow, as a live-in tutor for the summer.

The personalities in the house mesh in strange and unpredictable ways, and when the two brothers come to stay, a love triangle begins that predictably ends in disaster. Along the way, Julie breaks out of her family-imposed torpor in surprising ways, and to continue the ocean analogy, everything is as predictable as the tides, and as unpredictable as a sudden squall.

I loved this book. I loved the spare use of language, the careful unfolding of the personalities, the strange twists and turns of each life, and the predictable--yet not--ending.

If you like Anita Shreve, you will ike this book, one of her best. But for those who do not like her, it is quintessential Shreve, and judging by the wide range of reviews, not to everyone's taste.

A friend who gave Body Surfing a rave review recommended it as a must read. I have only read 30 pages and I am really not interested in finding out how it ends. It is half screenplay, giving directions, "She leans against the railing". The other half is written like a telegram just missing the "stop" at the end of a sentence. Short broken sentences that reveal little to nothing about the intensity of the characters. The blurb on the back of the book makes you feel as though you can relate to Sydney, and yet when you open the book the cover doesn't match the inside. This is a tough book to get into. I feel as though I don't know the characters nor do I care. This book so far is the least impressive book I have read in a long time and I can't believe I actually bought it. Thank goodness for library cards!

I have to say this is my least favorite and I have read them all. I have never classified Shreve's books as mere romance novels, as some of my friends do, but this one comes close to being just that. It was too predictable and lacking the usual richness in historical context and intrigue.

There are very few books in my life that I picked up and read all in one day. Body Surfing is one of those books. Sydney, age 29, has not had a terribly easy life thus far. She has had two marriages, one of which ended when she divorced her husband and the other ended when she was widowed. We meet her as she tries to start anew working as a tutor to the teen daughter of a well-off couple spending their summer in a beach home in New Hampshire.

The story wends its way through three years of relationship changes and emotional stories before its conclusion leaving Sydney in a better place... or at least a hopeful one.

One of the passages bit me as I read it for it's truth in description... Sydney is riding in a boat with the two sons of the family whom she has just met the day before... "There is a low-throated rumble of an engine and an instant breeze. She puts on the sweatshirt, which covers her tank suit but leaves her legs bare. She feels more naked than she did with just the suit on." (emphasis mine - exactly how it feels to be dressed this way...)

The setting is a beach house in New Hampshire, the summer home of the Edwards family. Sydney is hired to be the tutor for their "slow" daughter, Julie, while Mr. Edwards is an architect who enjoys his rose garden and collects historical documents on the house they're living in. It is the same house that was featured in several other Shreve novels, like "The Pilot's Wife". Mrs. Edwards strikes me as a snob and a bit of a racist with her remarks about Sydney being half-Jewish. The brothers, Ben and Jeff, who arrive a little later in the novel are the catalysts to a big change in Sydney's life.

Sydney is 29, divorced once and widowed once. She is floating through life, not sure what to do or where to go. She accepts the job as a tutor for the summer and builds a good relationship with Julie even discovering her artistic flair. In the midst of this summer she falls for one of the brother's and a relationship begins, rather suddenly.

The whole story is based on this relationship and its outcome.

I enjoyed the clean writing and the lack of overdescriptive paragraphs that tend to drive me crazy in some novels. I like to be able to picture the characters in my own way. Having said that, I would have liked a little more background or information on some of the characters, most notably the two brothers. I think we could have used a bit more fleshing out of their characters. I still do not completely understand why Jeff acted the way he did. There are so many internal struggles going on with this family that each character is a story unto themselves. Also, I had hoped for more of an ending but I guess I will have to make some assumptions as to Sydney's future life.

Overall, an easy read that kept me hooked.

However this is her book with the least depth and length, it is still not bad for her first run at writing. It has to start somewhere and only get better from there. =] You gotta love this one, simply because it is a Dessen. <3 If for no other reason, get this book just to know how far Dessen's writing really has come...

Great summer book for my 13 year old daughter! she loved it....loves Sarah Dessen

Hindsight isn't always 20/20, especially when you don't have all the facts. That's Haven's problem in That Summer. Life for Haven isn't exactly easy, but more to the point she's going through more than enough changes. She keeps growing, her sister is getting married, her father is remarrying, leaving her confused in a turbulent summer nothing like the ones before.

Then enters Sumner, the guy that made life so great. Sumner and her sister seemed to have it all, and all seemed brighter with Sumner in their lives. Ashley and Haven got along great, her parents were still together...everything was perfect. So unlike what she's having to put up with now.

The thing about this story is the way everything can seem so black and white sometimes, even when it's always a varying shade of gray. I understand how upset Haven is, as I couldn't begin to understand that sort of stress, but her expectations she places on Sumner -- Ashley's old boyfriend -- are unrealistic. What does she want him to do, exactly? I have a feeling Haven wouldn't know the answer to that question, which is probably the point.

The end of this story speeds up unexpectedly, slamming the door shut on a relatively quiet book. It's definitely a first novel, with weaknesses abound, but there are significant points in the narrative, mostly between Haven and her family, that tell of future strengths. Sarah Dessen only gets better from here.

I haven't read the book or seen the movie. All I know is that the soundtrack to the movie version of this amazing and worth looking for. It's always made me look for the movie. If the book is anything like the soundtrack it's gotta be great. A good introduction to New Wave from the late 70's. Here's the track listing. As far as I know it's never been released on CD.

A1 Ian Dury - Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll
A2 Mink DeVille - Spanish Stroll
A3 Elvis Costello - (I Don't Want to Go to) Chelsea
A4 The Boomtown Rats - She's So Modern
A5 The Zones - New Life
A6 The Only Ones - Another Girl, Anther Planet
A7 Wreckless Eric - Whole Wide World
A8 Patti Smith - Because the Night
B1 The Boomtown Rats - Kicks
B2 Ramones - Rockaway Beach
B3 The Undertones - Teenage Kicks
B4 Eddie and the Hot Rods - Do Anything You Wanna Do
B5 Ian Dury - What a Waste
B6 Nick Lowe - I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass
B7 Elvis Costello - Watching the Detectives
B8 Richard Hell & the Voidoids - Blank Generation

I'm not gonna say I didn't like it because it was an enjoyable read but not much going on. From pretty much the start you know what happens and it pretty much just follows Haven's life. I've read many of Dessen's books and she can write alot better than she did in this book!

THE BLACK ROSE is the second in the garden series. It mixes botanicals with southern culture and the paranormal.

The setting is a centuries-old mansion just outside of Memphis and comes with its very own ghost. And now love will blossom between Rosalind Harper and Dr. Mitchell Carnegie. I liked the twist and turns of this book.

Still...

Preference wise, I liked BLUE DAHLIA better. Both are great reads. It just Stella and her hunky babe are who I really fell in love with.

I love N.R's Trilogies. This is one of my favorite. I OVER LOVE the Three Sister's Island trilogy, my most favorite of all.

In this one, we continue with a ghost haunting... it takes the lives/loves of three fabulous couples to find the answers to Who? What? Where? When? and How? Kinda like a mystery within a romance.

I am not big into mysteries, cuz I am a romantic at heart, so the mystery does not overshadow the romanace and gives a little intrigue.... I DID enjoy this haunting.

You started with Stella in Book 1 "Blue Dahlia", widow and mother of two boys, who finds Logan; Now we continue on with Roz and Mitch, 40's, three grown boys and the 'matriarch' in this storyline. No, not the mother but the one who brings the 3 women together in her fabulous home and creates a sisterhood/family throughout this trilogy.
Roz is the woman we all wish we could be. Strong, brave, smart, and respected in all manner of speaking. She now must work with Mitch to further the search in the mysterious ghost "Amelia" as she falls in love with Mitch in the subtle gentleness of middle-age, HA! 40's.. and I'm almost 50, what am I talking about.

The intensity of the storyline continues and the lives blend further. It's a "can't put this down" book.

The storyline will end with Hayley, young pregnant and brave, who struggles with herself before she falls for Harper.

Be sure you have "Red Lily" ready to go after this book, b/c you'll read right thru the end of the trilogy.

I absolutely LOVED David in here as well, and wish there had been a storyline for him that ended in a romance as well.

This is not the first time I have read this trilogy. I keep and reread these stories every few years. I never want to put the books down.

Great read, but plan for a full week of reading if you have all 3 books in this trilogy.

This book was a little slower to take off then "Blue Dahlia" but I liked this story better. It kept me entertained most of the time and I enjoyed learning more about who the ghost used to be.

This story is about Roz who is once widowed and once divorced. After seeing what happened with Stella and the ghost a little less then a year ago decides to hire someone to help research her family history. Dr. Mitchell Carnagie is the one hired for this task, and as they spend more time together the feelings begin to develop. As their feelings grow stronger, the ghost (a.k.a. the Harper Bride) makes her feelings known too.

I liked the interaction between Roz and her ex-husband, it certainly had some good moments as well as bad. With Harper and Hayley you read about more of the bond that they share and I look forward to reading "Red Lily". I enjoyed this book.

Hi! This is Maria Lelith Parr. I ordered these book to my niece two weeks before Christmas up until now I never receive it. It says it's shipped on the 19th of December but I never receive these item. I am very disappointed. My niece was expecting this book it was supposed to be my present for her on Christmas I end up buying something else.

Roz Harper is a loving and kind, but fiercely protective of those she loves. When the Harper House resident ghost known as the Harper Bride starts terrorizing those she loves, Roz decides it is time for some answers. The Harper Bride who has never brought harm to anyone in the house before is now pulling all the stops out.

Dr Mitchell Carnagie is hired to delve into history to discover what happened in the past. When he sees first hand the terror at the house, he decides immediately to learn more. As he spends more time at Harper House, Mitchell finds himself drawn to Roz. He finds her strength, beauty, and vulnerability to be a potent combination he can't resist. When Mitch and Roz decide to explore their special connection, again the ghost vehemently protests.

As more is revealed about the Harper Bride, it is disclosed her name is Amelia. Mitch learns more about Amelia through old books and photographs. The more they all learn, the more disturbing the story becomes.

Great second book of the series. I didn't think it was possible, but this book surpassed the first.