In 1992, while browsing at the library I came across the book Keeper of the Light by Diane Chamberlain. At the time Ms. Chamberlain was an author I wasn't familiar with but one I was soon to become acquainted with not only through her books but also through an early online book group. I also had the pleasure of meeting with Ms. Chamberlain in person on several occasions. I can still remember vividly how I felt after I read Keeper of the Light and how I felt when I realized that a certain screen name was for the author who wrote one of my favorite books. Now eleven years later I reread Keeper of the Light, something I seldom do, in anticipation of reading the second book in a trilogy Ms. Chamberlain wrote about the people and area known as Kiss River, located in the Outer Banks. And as I hope my thoughts on a second reading of Keeper of the Light was that this book was just as good as the second time and I would be happy to reread it again and again.

Keeper of the Light begins on the Outer Banks on a winter's night in the shadow of an old and grand lighthouse when a woman is brought into a hospital with a bullet wound. Dr. Olivia Cole, new to the area tends to the woman's wound but her injuries are too extensive and the woman dies. Only later does Olivia find out that this woman was Annie O'Neill a stained glass artist, known to the locals as Saint Annie for her many good deeds. What Olivia is soon to learn is that her husband Paul Macelli has a history with Annie which after her death will impact on not only Paul and Olivia's life but Annie's husband and children. While there are many secrets at Kiss River between these two families, the key to what happened many years before and continuing to Annie's death has been held by the lighthouse keeper Mary Poor who has been like a mother to Annie all of these years.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this review I seldom if ever reread a book for fear that I may not enjoy the book as much the second time. In this case I think I enjoyed this book a bit more than the first time which I never thought possible. And the best part is that now I can look forward to reading the second book in the trilogy, Kiss River, and revisit the Outer Banks and find our more about characters I feel as though are part of my family.

I bought and read this book when it first came out, and I remember loving it. I must have, because I kept it on my bookshelf. When Kiss River, the sequel, came out I decided to re-read Keeper first, just to be up to date.

The second time was as wonderful as the first. The characters are multi-faceted, sympathetic, but still completely human. You'll be looking for them if you ever visit the Outer Banks, expecting to meet them on the dunes or in a sunset-flooded restaurant.

Now I have Kiss River to look forward to, as well as a second sequel coming out sometime in the near future. I'm so glad Diane Chamberlain decided to revisit these characters and this story. Bravo to her publisher, who made sure a new group of readers would have the chance to savor Keeper. I certainly did.

This will be my all time favorite book. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough but never wanted it to end.

I picked up Fire and Rain at my local library, as amazon.com indicated that this was an out of print book. If you are a Diane Chamberlain fan, as I am, and if you have not read this book, I strongly recommend that you do! You will not be disappointed! Chamberlain has provided yet, another suspenseful, romantic, cannot-put-down tale, which leaves her readers in suspense until the very end! The book draws you in, immerses you into the lives of all of the characters, and you feel so very much part of the entire scenario. Chamberlain has the talent of awakening the reader's senses and making them fully present. One feels like they are really in the town of Valle Rosa.

Jeff Cabrio arrives in Valle Rosa with the promise of being able to bring the much needed rains and to stop the fires from destroying the homes and eventually the entire town. Carmen Perez, the ex-wife of the mayor, is desperately trying to revitalize her dying journalistic career and thinks that by doing an expose on Jeff Cabrio is the only way to do it as well as this being her last chance to prove herself. But in the investigation of Cabrio, Perez is confronted with the ghosts of her past and knows that she can no longer run from her past pains and problems and must, indeed confront and deal with the demons. Mia Tanner has her own secrets, which she desperately wants to hide from Jeff Cabrio, but realizes as she is falling in love with him, that they cannot stay hidden any longer either. Jeff Cabrio does indeed have a most painful past, and has done everything possible to run and hide from this past, as well as his identity. But will his love for Mia allow him to reveal the truth even to her and do what he must do, to finally have peace in his life? Meanwhile, the pressure is on Cabrio to bring forth the rain he has promised to save the village. With the media constantly keeping the pressure on him, Cabrio is not dealing with much more pressure than he ever dreamed of.

The suspense will keep the reader guessing on how all the pieces will come together and who will do what and when!!! This book is classic Chamberlain where the unexpected does indeed happen!! The suspense is wound around several of the character's painful pasts, allowing love in to heal them and putting the past behind once and for all, and looking toward the future.

I highly recommend this book and for this reviewer - she stayed up until 4 in the morning until she finished the book!!! Absolutely loved this book! One of Chamberlain's best yet!

_Fire and Rain_ is one of my favorite books of all time. Ms. Chamberlain draws vivid, believable, sympathetic characters and places them in an enthralling plot. You will fall in love with this book.

Secret Lives is the fourth book by Diane Chamberlain that I have read, and the books just seem to get better and better! Eden Riley, a much sought after actress has decided to make a movie about her famous mother, Katherine Swift, an author of children stories. Eden's mother died when Eden was young and she hardly knew her mother, yet Eden heard all kind of stories about her. Eden comes back to the family "homestead" in the Shenandoah Valley, moves in with her uncle Kyle and his wife, and is presented with numerous journals by her uncle, which her mother wrote throughout her life.

Eden comes to discover that things are not what they appear to be, as she discovers her mother for the first time. Secrets are revealed, truths uncovered, not only about herself, but about her entire "family" as well. While seeking the truth, Eden comes to trust and rely on her uncle's colleague, Ben Alexander, and eventually realizes the love that has been missing in her life. Yet, Ben is also hiding a secret, which could eventually be disastrous to Eden, to her career and to her child as well.

Chamberlain weaves suspense, mystery, adventure, and romance all into one page-turner! As always, her ending will surprise the reader and have one asking where one missed the clues!! The story line is intense, yet the characters are powerful, can stand on their own and are able to draw the reader into their lives.

Another great story by Chamberlain!

Secret Lives by Diane Chamberlain is an entertaining, highly original story that like all good novels, stays with you long after you've finished the last page. Eden and Katherine Riley are two intriguing strong willed women, and their stories compelling.

I have read many novels dealing with agoraphobics, but none in which the sufferer took up residence in a cave. Diane Chamberlain makes you understand Katherine's feelings of terror and panic when away from the cave, you can almost experience Katherine's emotions and wish that the story would hurry up and move back to the cave. I have read all of Diane Chamberlain's books and this is by far her best work. If you're new to her writing, this is one book that you can not miss!

As a devoted Diane Chamberlain fan, I have read every one of her novels. This one was particulary intense and compelling. Diane deals realistically with the fallout from sexual abuse and survivor guilt. Sisters Claire and Vanessa share sharply different memories of summers spent with their grandfather, who was in the process of restoring an antique carousel. Claire has nothing but happy memories of lazy summer days spent with her beloved grandfather. Vanessa, after overcoming drug and alcohol addiction has become an activist for molested children. Claire does not understand why her sister Vanessa will have nothing to do with her.

Claire is witness to a suicide that triggers flashbacks that she doesn't understand. With the help of the victim's brother, she uncovers the terrible truth about her grandfather and her perceived role in her sister's trauma.

Claire's struggle to come to grips with her memories, her guilt, and her attempts to make amends with her sister will touch the hearts of anyone who hold themselves responsible for causing unspeakable pain to someone they truly love.

Highly recommeneded!

"Breaking the Silence" is the best book I've read in a long time --maybe since Diane's last book. Diane Chamberlain has a unique style that invites the reader into the world of her making, you feel like you're part of the story, not just a bystander. The story flows so smoothly from the present to the past that I found myself caught up in its drama, also in the lives of the charaters, wondering about them well after I had finished the book. Oprah, Why haven't you discovered this authur? All Diane's books are GREAT!

The talented Diane Chamberlain, whose KEEPER OF THE LIGHT was one of the most innovative romances of the 90s, doesn't disappoint with BREAKING THE SILENCE. Rich and multi-layered, this is a novel of deep emotion. Delving into the world of human experimentation in a psychiatric hospital through Sarah's eyes, the book is at once disturbing and at the same time a beautiful testament to true love. The reader gets a bonus with BREAKING THE SILENCE which is essentially two books in one -- the story of Sarah's life from the 1930s to the late 1950s and then the budding relationship between Laura and Dylan. Chamberlain has woven the two together is such a spectacular way with twists and turns keeping the reader up into the wee hours of the night. This is an exceptional read and a keeper in every sense of the word

Diane Chamberlain is my new favorite author! I read this book in one weekend. I couldn't wait to finish it but I didn't want it to end either! One of the best stories I have read in a very long time. Not predictable at all and that is what added to the excitement of reading it. After reading this one I began right away reading Summer's Child and again I wasn't disappointed. I wait to order more of her books!

This is a story of two women, Joelle and Carlynn, whose lives run parallel, yet are more intertwined than meets the eye. There are two separate stories. One traces Carlynn's life beginning in 1937 at the age of 7; the other begins with Joelle's birth in 1967. The two stories merge into one where deep rooted feelings and secrets are revealed between the two women and that of their loved ones. Diane Chamberlain is best known for underlying themes where things are not always what they seem. "Cypress Point" will not disappoint the reader in line with that theme.

Diane Chamberlain has been one of my favorite authors of contemporary women's fiction/romance for quite a while and this book is typical of hers where she puts two interwoven stories into one book. And what a book it is. I read it in a day, something that is not at all typical for me.

CYPRESS POINT is set on the Monterey Peninsula and Bay Area of California including Carmel and Big Sur. Joelle D'Angelo and Carlynn Shire's paths first cross when Carlynn saves Joelle's life on the day she is born. Now 34 years later Joelle again needs Carlynn's help. Her best friend Mara suffered a brain aneurysm when her first child was born 14 months previously. Mara is now in a nursing home, attempts at physical rehabilitation being to no avail.

Joelle had introduced Mara to her husband, Liam, a fellow social worker at a Monterey Hospital. In a moment of weakness on the first anniversary of Mara's devastating illness (also the first birthday of Liam and Mara's healthy son, Sam), Liam and Joelle are comforting each other and things go further than they should have. Using no protection due to the fact that they weren't thinking (if they *had* been thinking they wouldn't have made love in the first place) and that Joelle had suffered from infertility in her marriage (she is now divorced) -- Joelle becomes pregnant. She has definite plans to leave the area before she is too far along in order to avoid embarrassment for not only herself but for Liam. But first she wants to do everything she can to help Mara (who although awake, cannot communicate, recognize most people, or make many voluntary movements - it is clear she is severely brain-damaged). A visit to her parents has her recall her miraculous revival at birth at the hands of Dr. Carlynn Kling Shire so Joelle contacts Carlynn to see if there is anything she can do to help Mara. Joelle is a bit hesitant to do so knowing that shortly after she was born, Carlynn was in a auto accident that killed her twin sister and doesn't want to remind of her of that tragedy.

Carlynn Kling and her identical twin sister, Lisbeth were raised on the family estate of Cypress Point on Monterey Peninsula's famous 17-Mile Drive. It's evident early on that Carlynn has a gift of healing and she uses that gift and becomes a physician. Her identical twin sister doesn't appear to have the same gift and, in fact, is quite a bit different than Carlynn. Their mother only wanted ONE child so when, on the delivery table, she's informed there are two instead of one, she begins many years of ignoring and, in fact, disclaiming her second daughter. Lisbeth's early years weren't so bad because her father doted on her but after he died Lisbeth led an abysmal existence. While Carlynn was sent to all the best private schools, Lisbeteh was given a substandard education. Despite this Carlynn and Lisbeth remained close but most people don't realize they are twin because Carlynn remains slim while Lisbeth's lack of self-esteem and over-eating as a way to deal with her loneliness and insecurity causes her to balloon to 200 pounds. When Carlynn goes to medical school in San Francisco, Lisbeth follows and works as an office manager at a medical clinic.

While in San Francisco, Carlynn continues her healing ways and comes to the attention of Dr. Alan Shire who is also interested in psychic phenomena and has studied Edgar Cayce. Their relationship eventually becomes personal as well as professional and they marry. Meanwhile Lisbeth has a romance of her own with Gabriel Johnson, an accountant at the hospital where Carlynn and Alan practice. There's a complication though - he's a Negro and it's the 1950s. Through it all Carlynn and Lisbeth's mother uses one excuse after another to reject Lisbeth and to find a reason to shut her out of her will.

But all isn't as it first seems. Things get very exciting and complicated when Joelle's careful plans go awry and a closely guarded secret being kept by Carlynn is eventually revealed.

Both stories are compelling and while reading Joelle's portion I was hesitatant to switch gears to go to Carlynn's story. But I needn't have worried. Diane Chamberlain is such a pro at telling intertwined stories in such a way that both have the reader's full attention -- making each story as interesting and exciting as the other. There is one caveat here for romance readers, infidelity plays a role in this story and for those of you who are against it in any way, shape, or form in the books you read, then this will not be for you. But those who can keep an open mind, will be richly rewarded.

Whether it's the way she tells the story, her way with words, the way the breathes live into her characters or something less definable, Diane Chamberlain's books are definite page turners and this one, as most of her others, are very highly recommended. In CYPRESS POINT, the setting itself becomes a character as well be it while sailing in the Pacific, the fog-shrouded coast of Big Sur, or area of Pebble Beach's 17-Mile Drive and even those who've never been to the area may be tempted to plan a trip there in the near future. The time-period goes from the 1930s when Carlynn and Lisbeth are children, to the 1950s when they are living in San Francisco and meet the men who they eventually marry, to 1967 and the commune where Joelle is born.

Diane Chamberlain has again gifted readers with an outstanding read. To simply say "I loved it" is an understatement. It has all the qualities I have come to expect in an excellent read - and from this talented author.

Once again you will find yourself with another of Diane's books you won't want to put down until you get to the very end. This is a story about true friendship, an impossible situation, secrets, love, surprise ending. This is one of Diane's best. I highly recommend it.

Early one morning while walking on the beach, Daria found a newborn baby. Bringing the baby to her mother, she saved the babies life. Unable to find the mother the baby girl was adopted by Daria's family.

Now, 22 years later, the baby is a young woman and wishes to find her mother. After contacting a television producer, she allows an old friend of the family to delve into her past.

But this is not a mystery that the family wishes to have solved, and the more facts that are brought up the more questions are asked. Who was Shelley's birth mother that left her on the beach to die all those years ago?

Summer's Child is the second book I've read by Diane Chamberlain. While not nearly as heart stopping, page turning as Breaking the Silence, this book will keep the pages turning and surprise the reader in the end

I have read everything Diane Chamberlain has written. I have enjoyed all of her books. Summer's child is one of her best. The setting for the book is a beautiful place. Who wouldn't have wanted to keep and love the baby found on the beach. All the secrets of a small town keep the reader turning the pages. Even the church was involved. I didn't know who the mother was until the end of the book. Hat's off to you Diane, you did it again. Thank you for many hours of enjoyable reading.

Summer's Child is the first novel I have read by Diane Chamberlain, and it certainly won't be the last! I found myself swept immediately into the story; and was kept guessing and wondering how all the pieces were going to fit together. Chamberlain has numerous plots going on within this tale, but the reader will not become confused, only anxious to fit all the puzzle pieces together, if they can! Chamberlain does a wonderful job of holding the reader in suspense and introducing the reader to multiple surprises not only at the end, but also during the course of the story.

Eleven-year-old Daria finds a baby on the beach on the morning of her birthday. Her family comes to adopt the baby, who they name Shelly, after no one claims the newborn. After the death of Daria's parents, Daria continues the role of caretaker for her sister, even at the expense of her own happiness. Suffering some brain damage after her birth, Daria is understandably very protective of Shelly.

Chamberlain leads the reader through the numerous families summering on the Outer Banks, and leaves you guessing as to who is Shelly's real mother. Nearly twenty years later, Shelly enlists the aid of one of the former residents, Rory Taylor, now a TV producer, to help her find her past. Rory starts asking too many questions, which has several of the residents becoming angry and asking him to leave well enough alone. Afterall, Shelly was raised in a loving and caring home.

The web of secrets leaves no one unscathed, as you will find out, yet Chamberlain masterfully weaves this intricate tale, blending everything into a cohesive, heartfelt, and warming tale. The ending will definitely surprise the reader! I highly recommend this book.

I am very much looking forward to reading her other books.

Many biographers of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain have treated Fanny Adams as an after-thought. Some have even treated her as a subject of disdain. Ms. Smith effectively refutes those authors, using Adam's and Chamberlain's letters to one another as her primary source materials.

What emerges is the vision of a strong, educated, ambitious, self-directed, courageous, emotionally-stable and patient woman, who endured every hardship brought to her home by her husband's long career of service to his country.

What also emerges is a more complete picture of our nation's greatest hero. The same man who quietly endured the terrors of war, who courageously accepted an horrific wound, and who was so gracious with a defeated enemy, could become quaintly insecure when dealing with the woman he loved. The stellar academic, warrior and politician was as much of a quivering paramour as any other husband in love.

For Chamberlain fans, this book offers a more human image of the titan. For everyone else, this book offers a touching tribute to the power of love.

A wonderful book that "fleshes" out the outlines of JLC and Fanny. For years, their lives were painted with a "light brushstroke" yet one felt that had to be more behind these very complex people and their relationship.

The author has painted a very complex picture of these two with all the dark and light hues of the palette. Fanny was not merely JLC's wife, or the Reverend's adopted daughter, but a much more complex individual who could be considered an early feminist.

JLC's inner feelings about service to country and greater good are reflected and help to answer that question of why a college professor in Maine would take it upon himself to defend the country he loved to the extent he did. It is easy to understand why nothing ever again measured up to his experience of leading those men at Gettysburg.

I developed an interest in Chamberlain after reading "The Killer Angels", and had been looking for a good biography of him. Last summer I visited the Chamberlain Museum in Brunswick, Me. and bought this book based on the recommendation of our tour guide. I can't begin to say how wonderful I think this book is. Smith has excellent insight into Victorian character and mores, and transmits that insight to her reader. I've always thought that JLC was about 50 years ahead of his time. After reading this book, I've come to realize that part of his forward thinking might have been a product of his relationship with his remarkable wife. Fannys self sufficient persona was NOT typical of the 19th century; through Smith, the reader comes to realize Fanny was in fact 20th century in much of her thinking. The marriage of such an independent soul with the soul of a such a fair minded, yet fierce, warrior makes for a fascinating read. I read this book into the wee hours of the morning until I finished it, in about 3 days. I never thought I'd read a history book that I just couldn't put down. I'd highly recommend it to anyone.

Susanna Miller has just lost custody of her son, Tyler, to her ex-husband and his new wife (the other woman). Unwilling to give up taking care of her son, she runs off with him in the middle of the night, leaving behind a brokenhearted lover, Linc, her son's distressed stepmother, Peggy, and an indifferent ex-husband, Jim. She begins to make herself a new life in Annapolis, MD, light-years away from her former home in Boulder, CO. Yet she feels as though her whole existence is temporary and is constantly looking over her shoulder. Enter artist Adam Soria and his sister Jessie. Adam's wife and two children were killed seven months prior in a drunk driving accident. He and Jessie have been overcome by grief ever since, but with the introduction of Susanna (now known as Kim) and Tyler (now known as Cody) into their lives, things seem to be looking up.

Yet strange things are happening. Two bombings have occurred in Annapolis and Kim's new computer had a file on it with a list of the locations where the bombings occurred as well as more locations for apparent bombings-to-be. She returns from a trip only to find that her apartment has been broken into and her computer left on. Her brakes are tampered with. Obviously, someone knows Kim has the file.

Though this book contains many elements of romance, there is lots of suspense to flesh out the plot. It took me a while to get started, but then once I was into the book, the pages seemed to turn themselves. I am not sure if I will read more by Ms. Chamberlain or not because I was over halfway through the book before I was sure I would finish it. However, it was a good read.

The Escape Artist was my third book by Chamberlain and a very quick read. I live in the Annapolis area, which made the book even more interesting to me, as Chamberlain describes the scenes downtown near the waterfront.

This is a story of a Susanna, a single mother's fight for her only child as she looses custody to her ex-husband and his new, child hungry, unable-to-bear-children wife. Unfortunately, the theme is all too relevant today in our society, with courts awarding custody not to the parent who can provide the most loving, stable, and balanced home, but instead to the parent to has the most money and can "buy" the child. I could relate to Susanna totally and could not condone her actions, nor can any other mother reading this book! The reader is able to feel her terror and fear as she formulates her plan and carries it out. Yet it is in the day-to-day activities, in which we feel Susanna's fear and her loss of Linc. Susanna sacrifices her own happiness and her chance for love for her only child.

This book was similar to the other Chamberlain books I have read, in that there were a lot of little subplots going on, each a mystery in themselves!! I thought that the characters showed depth, emotion, and portrayed a very real believable element in the plot. Chamberlain writes of very strong female characters, who seem to push out of their paradigms and prove to themselves that they are capable, despite what family and society seems to say about them.

This book will keep you guessing to the very end and the ending once again, will take the reader completely back! I love the way Chamberlain completely fools the reader at the end, when the reader thinks they have it all figured out!! It is not what it appears to be!

Another good story from Chamberlain!

This is another amazing story from Diane Chamberlain. This time she takes a young womans life which is turned upside and brings it right side up only turn it around and around again. The ride was great, I loved this book.

This story captures your heart - the characters are portrayed in such fantastic way that you feel they are real people. Diane Chamberlain allows you to feel the emotions Janine and Sophie experience. Being from Virginia myself, I felt like I knew the areas she wrote about.

It is a wonderful book that has many unsuspected surprises and twists. This is the first of Diane Chamberlain's books I have read. I look forward to reading the next!

The Courage Tree is about love, hope and trust---the kind that so few people truly experience. It's about a young girl who has a chronic illness with a very poor prognosis--end stage renal failure. She is on a non-traditional program of medication that only her mother and a friend support----the rest of the family alienated themselves from the mother because of her decision for the medication. The girl's father also is against this method of treatment. He's struggling with his own emotions. When Sophie doesn't return from a weekend camping trip with the Girl Scouts, everyone becomes part of the "discovery"------of her, of themselves, of each other------and there are several surprises along the way. Diane has a magical way of introducing the many players in the "plot" without confusing anyone. She's also able to weave their lives together, adding some mystery, some mystique and unexpected endings------allowing you to get to know all the characters, to feel their pain, to laugh with them, to smile with them and to be happy for them. I hated to see the book end. I wanted to read more. But then I feel that way every time I read one of Diane Chamberlain's books. She's a master at writing about people-----making the reader feel a part of their lives----as if they're real----making you want to meet them in person. And along the way, you are not bored. There's also a sense of drama and adventure. I truly enjoyed this story.

The Courage Tree is vintage Diane Chamberlain. Secrets and subplots that are as involving or more so than the main plot. This book has it all. Like other reviewers have noted, Diane has a way of doling out just enough information to make you keep turning the pages long after you're ready to turn in for a good night's sleep.

Janine, the mother of critically ill and wise beyond her years Sophie, is constantly battling her parents and ex-husband, Joe over every decision she makes. Janine's parents are hypercritical of her every move and welcome subservient, orphaned Joe into the family as one of their own. After their divorce, Joe still refers to Janine's parents as Mom and Dad. Janine's lover, the mysetrious garderner, Lucas Trowell, accurately describes her parents and ex-husband as the "anti-Jan triad". When Sophie becomes lost in the woods during a camping trip that this "triad" vehementley opposed Jan's decision to allow Sophie to participate in, all hell breaks loose.

In a similarily involving subplot, Zoe, an aging movie star, is camped out in the same woods as Sophie is lost in. She's trying to free her daughter from prison, believing that she was unjustly convicted for a crime that she didn't commit. Zoe's realization of her own mistakes as a mother, coupled with her realization that something is very wrong with her daughter, Marti, makes for compelling reading.

Diane ties all of these characters together and makes you care for all of them. By the time you've finished the last page, you're hoping for a sequel, not unusual in a Diane Chamberlain novel.

Bottom line, highly reccomended and can't wait for the next book! As someone who has lived in Northern Virginia for many years, albeit reluctantly, Diane captures the region perfectly. She writes convincingly of the beauty of the Shenandoahs, the small town feel of some cities within walking distance of Washington DC. She also captures the contempt for women and children rampant in that state, from the caviliar attitude of the police officer on the scene when Sophie and fellow Brownie, Holly, are discovered missing, to the ever present and real threat of having Janine declared incompetent solely for doing what she believed was in the best interest of her child, regardless of what the majority would have done in Janine's shoes.

Bravo Diane!!