At the king's command, Allegra must marry Merele Lareaux although she carries another man's child. On her wedding day, Allegra believes Michael could not bear to see her marry another when she receives word of his departure. Nevertheless, she will never forget the man who fathers her child and still lies hidden within her heart of hearts. She vows that her daughter will never have to face such a loveless marriage.

Eighteen years later, men lie murdered, carefully arranged in a death drama by a madman. The youngest son of victim Harold Derkland vows revenge. On a mission for the king and seeking answers regarding his father's murder, Dirick becomes an undercover guest to Merele Lareaux. He finds himself immediately drawn to his host's only child, Maris. But an intenerate knight without land or wealth cannot hope to marry such a woman. Indeed, Maris has no wish to marry, but must acquiesce to her father's desire for her to marry Victor D'Arcy. Unfortunately, his controlling ways and harsh expectations clash with this spitfire of a woman. Meanwhile, the ruthless Bon de Savrille plots to take Maris for himself.

Author Colleen Gleason creates a complex weave of duplicity, intrigue and love in A WHISPER OF ROSEMARY. Her characters spring to life as she captures the very essence of medieval life. As two generations of women struggle with the challenges and dangers of love, the reader will be swept away with the enthralling adventure. Dark overtones and rabid intentions keep the pace moving rapidly right to the last shocking, yet satisfying moment. A WHISPER OF ROSEMARY comes very highly recommended.

Maris is a memorable,likeable heroine. She's feisty, independent, unconventional, yet willing to honor her father's wishes, even if it means losing the man she loves.
Dirick is a knight on a mission to find his father's murderer. He doesn't plan on meeting and falling love with Maris, a woman he cannot hope to marry. A medieval serial killer, the deceit of a forbidden love, and a blackmailing nobleman with a lust for our heroine, bring us a great blend of drama and humor in this marvelous novel set against the backdrop of King Henry's court.
I give A WHISPER OF ROSEMARY my highest recommendation!

Maris is a memorable,likeable heroine. She's feisty, independent, unconventional, yet willing to honor her father's wishes, even if it means losing the man she loves.
Derick is a knight on a mission to find his father's murderer. He doesn't plan on meeting and falling love with Maris, a woman he cannot hope to marry. A medieval serial killer, the deceit of a forbidden love, and a blackmailing nobleman with a lust for our heroine, bring us a great blend of drama and humor in this marvelous novel set against the backdrop of King Henry's court.
I give A WHISPER OF ROSEMARY my highest recommendation!

I was a little skeptical about a new-age-y writing book--another writer urging us wannabes to spill words. But Rosemary Daniell won me over. First of all, she's really practicing what she preaches--and not for the money. The first chapter, from which the title was taken, describes her experiences teaching writing in schools and prisons. It's the intersection of her greatest love and the greatest need--and both admirable and daring. I've had the pleasure of using her discussion starters with children ages 5-8 and it works!

In her chapter on self-sabotage I recognized people I know as well as myself. I will pull this chapter out on occasion to remind myself what NOT to do.

I was most taken, though, with the "Further Notes" chapter. In it she described things I've had to learn the hard way myself. (She calls it demystification--thank you, Rosemary, I wish I'd met you years ago.) For example, how to paraphrase everything first. I'm halfway finished with an MFA and have studied writing with many famous writers. NO ONE has ever mentioned this before. But it works.

There are also many provocative female ideas embedded in this book, like the use of irony in good women's fiction. I'd like to sit in on that discussion. This is a book I will buy and keep and read when I need to hear the voice of someone experienced and wise.

Rosemary Daniell is a woman who has listened intently and found her passion and her voice. She shares both in this book so that others may know what the experience is like.

My favorite part is where she is working with students and the class is working on the poem "Eggs" and students ponder what is it really like to sit in a bathtub of eggs. The words are so strong they don't just invite visualization, they demand it.

Having sat in on a Zona Rosa meeting, I can say that working with Rosemary Daniell is just as electrifying.

This book is more memoir than "beginner writer" exercise book (though there are some exercises), but this is precisely why I liked it. And, of course, the "read-like-a-novel" style of writing sets it apart from ordinary "how to write" books.

Like another reviewer, I wish Rosemary and her Zona Rosa group were in my town!! Failing that, though, this book is a keeper!

I have a friend who actually reads "First Tomato," the first visit to the Bunny Planet written and illustrated by Rosemary Wells, to her bunnies. A friend gave her the book as something of a joke present, since my friend has bunnies but no children, but she really likes this book. Like all great children's literature it has that special something that immediately grabs you. Claire does not have a good day at school and needs a visit to the Bunny Planet: "Far beyond the moon and stars, Twenty light-years south of Mars, Spins the gentle Bunny Planet, And the Bunny Queen is Janet." Just the idea of the Bunny Planet is enough to make a child smile and you know that it is a marvelous place where fun things happen. But who would expect that what awaits our heroine is a ruby red tomato? There is nothing like the simple logic of a child's mind and Rosemary Wells story speaks to it perfectly. As for how it speaks to the mind of a bunny, I leave that to your imagination.

Of the three Bunny Planet books, this one is definitely the hands-down favorite for both me and my daughter, who is not yet 2-1/2. I love the way the text changes from normal speech to lilting rhythms after Queen Janet shows Claire "the day that should have been." The phrase "because I love you so" quickly became a part of my toddler's speech as well as my own.

I'd like to add that the 4-8 age range suggestion is too restrictive--this is a picture book that toddlers AND their parents will thoroughly appreciate. Let's face it, we ALL deserve a visit to the Bunny Planet!!

We have the three-pack set of Voyage to the Bunny Planet. First Tomato is my 3 year old daughter's favorite story. We read it last night, and she had to have tomato soup for lunch today. But after she had looked at the bowl for a minute she said, "But mom, you forgot to say you love me so!" So I had to say, "I've made you first tomato soup because I love you so." That made it perfect. Every parent and child will love the cozy, comforting stories that rescue the characters from their realistic, very ordinary bad days. They are a joy.

My one-year-old daughter loves McDuff. The illustrations are what really make this book stand out. They convey a sense of humor that even adults can enjoy - we love when McDuff gives the baby squinty looks! We read every night but McDuff and the Baby is the only book that she will sit all the way through - smiling at every page. We look forward to more McDuff books!

I loved this book! I bought it for my niece because I have aWestie. The illustrations compliment the story extremely well. Youcan really tell that the writer and illustrator both own Westies! I recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs, especially little McDuffs.

We have been reading a lot of books by Rosemary Wells and McDUFF AND THE BABY is our favorite book. Nicole liked the part when McDuff met the baby because it made her feel happy. Anthony B. liked the part when McDuff growled at the baby and the baby was scared. Megan liked the part when McDuff said WOOF at the baby and the baby WOOFED back. She was happy that McDuff had someone to play with. Tilly's favorite part was when McDuff squinted his eyes at the baby and the baby laughed.

I appreciated the wonderful research, the fidelity to the language and Southern culture of the 1865 time period, and the well crafted story. These interesting characters just came to life.
I want to follow these characters into more adventures and look forward to the next novel by this author.

Call it a haunting mystery or a tantalizing romance, or a tantalizing mystery and a haunting romance. WHAT REMAINS is a celebration of the expediency, ingenuity, and indestructibility of Southern women. Set on Belle Ombre Plantation shortly after the Civil War, with characters so real we recognize them, emotions so universal we have all encountered them, the story involves the reader--and after all the sighs and shudders, we are satisfied that justice has been done in an oddly appropriate way. At Belle Ombre, this is called discretion. The ending implies that's not all there is and leaves us eager for the sequel, which must be forthcoming.

Set in the South just after the American Civil War, What Remains by R. Poole-Carter is a grim novel of murder, intrigue, lies, and buried secrets that begins in 1865. Isabelle Ross is a woman mourning the loss of her fiance and joins forces with Paul Delahoussaye, an intrepid journalist, to uncover the truth behind a murderous wall of deception and hidden secrets. Isabelle and Paul must combine their wits and resolve to discover the truth beneath dark and ruthless motives. One of those historical mysteries that are so easy to pick up and so difficult to put down, What Remains is an original, atmospheric, evocative, and deftly woven novel that engages the reader's total attention from first page to last.

an adorable gift for father's day.we read the book together and it's something that we would cherish in the years to come as our son grows up.

A must read on every fathers day and a must read for every father.

We are big turtle fans. This book has very nice pictures of turtles. They are so lovely. I have a collection of different kinds of turtles and this book fits perfectly to it. We love this book. Buy and read it!

I read this book to my little sister every night and we both were very fascinated by the sweet story. The book is very nice and lovely. I recommend this book to everyone who loves his children and wants to read it to them.

Mrs. Mangerich, I was moved, ok, maybe I'm a bit partial, but I loved it... Mrs. Mangerich, my grandfather gave me this book, you know your cousin, I thought agh, another war-story. But I got into, drove my friends nuts talking about it, i loved every aspect of the story. The drama, and the way the story was written was beautiful. I was impressed, truly, especially considering I'm only a teen and you managed to captivate my impaitent mind... 5 stars all around, I hope to see you @ the family reunion!

Albanian Escape was exciting, quick-paced, and inspiring. After crashing behind enemy lines, this narrative of a group of brave women, written from one surviovor's perspective, was everything an adventure story could be. An unexpected turn of events leads to a challenge, a journey behind enemy lines during World War II. Throughout, the physical strength, courage, disciple and patriotism of the servicewomen remain steady. I loved hearing about the descriptions of covert radio transmissions, the long walks in the dark and the unfamiliar food eaten gratefully by the characters. The story read like a story, yet one knew IT HAD REALLY HAPPENED, because of the threat of Hitler's armies and that there was much at stake if these people were captured. Another angle of the narrative which interested me was the fact that Albania, recently in the news because of the wars in the Balkans and Kosovo, was the poulation the nurses came in contact with. I learned a lot about the way political loyalties were very fragile and unreliable during a war. For example, In the book, there were three main groups of citizens in Albania: those loyal to the Germans, those who wanted political independence from the dictator of Albania at the time, and those who were loyal to the Allies. Therefore, the issue of who was friendly was a complicated one for the Americans. Reading about Ablania, I gained insight into current events in my own world. I recommend this book highly to readers of all ages, especially those who want to learn about what it was like during World War II.

This was very important for me as my father, who is now deceased, was one of the medics on board the aircraft. Information on him that was unknown to me was brought to light in the book. It is well written and i am thankful that this piece of history that involved my father was recorded for the future.

One of my favorite novels is "Anna Karenina"; this trilogy starts off as strongly. In the first volume, "Childhood," the immediacy of experience is palpable, the vividness of sensations is high, the emotionality is less diluted by philosophical wonderings. Tolstoy's writing is evocative, clear, and engaging in this book. His writing becomes increasingly abstract with each volume in the series. As his protagonist moves through adolescence, his uncertainties, moodiness, and fickle nature bogged down the narrative, I thought. Of course, this reflects the state of mind of the young man, but in comparison with the brightness of the first volume, made for some tedious reading. The books do, however, show how masterful Tolstoy was from the beginning of his career.

I thought that this was a lovely novel, a deeply reflective work in which Tolstoy concentrates on the life of the character Nikolai Irtenyev from his early childhood to his days as an aspiring student.

It's told in picaresque style, and reminded me a lot of Proust's "In Search of Lost Time" (had Proust been influenced by Tolstoy at all?). As an example:

"It was almost dark in the room, and very hot; there was a mingled smell of mint, eau-de-cologne, camomile and Hoffman's drops. The smell struck me so forcibly that, not only when I happen to smell it but even when I recall it, my imagination instantly carries me back to that darkly stifling room and reproduces every minute detail of that terrible moment."

The novel is full of such fine descriptive passages - the approach of a thunderstorm being the one that sticks in my mind.

But the main strength of this work is, I thought, that Tolstoy does a good job of describing the sweetnesses of childhood but does not cover up the agonies of growing up. This is no sugary, romantic account. Childhood and adolescence are portrayed as immensely trying times, both for Nikolai himself and for his family and friends. All the emotions, anger, misunderstandings and disorientation are detailed by Tolstoy.

Fine Stuff.

G Rodgers

When this book first hit the stores in Russia about 150 years ago, folks didn't think too much of it, seeing it merely as a minor work by one who had read Dickens. Tolstoy himself claimed that no one taught him more about the art of fiction than Dickens, and the literary circles of Russia were Dickens-fanatics, Russia recieving his works only after England.

But beyond being similiar to David Copperfield, this book has moments in it that match parts of Karenin and War and Peace in beauty and texture if not in scope. What's amazing about Tolstoy is that his earliest work (this and his early war sketches) seem as artistically mature as his later, epic masterpieces. The death-obsession and intense philosophical and spiritual doubts that plagued Tolstoy later in life did not all of a sudden erupt while writing Anna Karenin; but rather they were always there in one form or another... an echo of adolescent sadness.

'Culinaria - The Caribbean' is a big, wonderful book on the cultural and culinary sides of the Caribbean. Readers will be treated to a visual tour from Bermuda to the Netherland Antilles and many places in between: The Bahamas, Haiti, Dominica, and more.

This is a great coffee table book with enough recipes to tempt you to keep it in the kitchen. The photography throughout is absolutely beautiful. But be warned: After purchasing the book, you'll probably want to see your local travel agent. VERY tempting! Enjoy.

Both my parents are from the West Indies (Barbados & St. Vincent) and I have seen a lot of cookbooks about the Caribbean. This was the first book that provided SO much detail and the pictures where so life-like. It transports you to the island with pictures rich in colour and recipes from every island. I loved this book so much that I got one for my mother!

I brought the book in my home island Barbados, I am very impress. It taught me all about the Caribbean, culture and taste of my fellow West Indians. It also encourages me to visit the other Caribbean islands. It is must for every-one to have.

As women, we all know the extraordinary value of our female friendships. We
know the support system, the laughs, the tears. Rosemary O'Brien's "First
Saturday" is a celebration of those adult female relationships. O'Brien's writing
style flows easily off the page, bringing you instantly into these women's lives
and homes--you feel as if you are sitting there at the table with them, sipping
coffee and listening. Their stories are the stories of women everywhere--real
and raw. This book reminds us that life may not be easy, and it may not be
made easier by friends, but that you can count on your friend being there and
holding your hand throughout. When you close the last page of this book, you
feel as if you have made four new friends, and you know that through the bonds
among women, there will be a hand held out for you when you need it.

Audrey meets with her three closest friends in West Haven, Connecticut on the First Saturday of every month to share their lives, stories, and concerns. Audrey is a 35 year old woman who has just found out she has cancer. First Saturday is the story of how, together with her friends, Audrey comes to cope with this new and unknown misfortune. Deftly written and with complex, sometimes surprising, but ultimately satisfying conclusion, First Saturday marks Rosemary O'Brien as a discernibly gifted author and will leave the reader eagerly looking forward to her next novel.

NOTE: This review was posted by the author for a friend without internet service. This is NOT the author's review.

This is a wonderful story about four friends who help each other through the joys and sorrows of life. Ms. O'Brien captures the joy of friendship, the challenges of life, and does it all with humor and understanding. I read this book in one sitting and can't wait for Rosemary's next book.