Okay, maybe this is a terrible way to review a book, but I have to say that Earlene Fowler has created a character that I know if he were real I would have a major crush on!! Gabe Ortiz! I am absolutely addicted to this series of books and I am not sure I can make it until the next one. But on a serious note I think the reason Seven Sisters and all of her books are so enjoyable is the character development. I wish Dove were MY grandmother and all these characters were part of my life.

This is the seventh book in the Benni Harper mystery series and takes place in San Celina, California.

Benni Harper the curator of the local folk art museum and her husband Police Chief Gabe Ortiz seem to have worked out a lot of their earlier marital problems when Sam, Gabe's son tells them that his girlfriend Bliss is pregnant. Bliss, happens to be a member of the very wealthy and influential Brown family.

Both families seem to rally around the young couple and even Gabe's beautiful ex-wife appears for the first time in this series. At a party celebrating Bliss and Sam's engagement, a Brown relative is found murdered. Benni tries not to become involved in the case, but is forced into helping by Ford Hudson the officer in charge of the homicide investigation.

This interesting story is a little darker than the other mysteries that Benni had been involved with and takes us into the tangled web of old family secrets and the truth about the seven sisters.

Earlene Fowler did it again-Seven Sisters is a hit! I enjoyed the reunion with several characters from earlier in the series-like D-Daddy. Earlene has a magic feel for just when to add a new character or revisit the old ones. I never get bored. Benni Harper is so easy to get to know. It is no wonder that clues fall into her lap-folks just want to share their lives with her. I enjoyed sharing a late evening with Benni myself, as I couldn't put down this book.

From the rave reviews of this book, I was expecting a much better mystery novel. I thought it was at best rather ordinary. The plot is more a why-done-it than a who-done-it. There were far too many unnecessary side characters and not enough suspects. There were also far too many lengthy descriptions of the settings, the details having little bearing on the plot development. The story line is thin, and much of the book seems like filler. The main character (Benni Harper) although very observant does not seem intelligent enough. I thought I was ahead of her too much of the time.

Sunshine And Shadow by Earlene Fowler is the best Benni Harper novel yet. Not only does she manage to use TWO types of quilts metaphorically [the sunshine and shadow quilt of the title AND the crazy quilt], but she also juggles two different [but related] stories from two different time periods [the current period of the novels and early in Benni and Jack's marriage]. The plotting is tight and the mysteries are intriguing. First and foremost, the novel is about relationships. Benni and Gabe, Benni and Jack, Isaac and Dove, Gabe and his old partner, author and reader, and many, many more. Regular readers of the Benni Harper series should read this novel with relish. Newcomers will enjoy the novel, but I would suggest that they start with an earlier novel. I am also pleased to say that due to Ms. Fowler's newest book deal, we have at least two more Benni Harper novels to look forward to [and a non-series novel that will be set on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevadas].

SUNSHINE AND SHADOW is a little different from the other books in this series. Earlene Fowler takes us back into Benni's early life and her first marriage to Jack. The author switches gears often and intertwines some of the story of Benni and her life with Jack with what's going on today in Benni's life. This is the tenth book in this series and there are many parts that make up SUNSHINE AND SHADOW.

The story begins when grandmother Dove marries Isaac. Her new husband moves in with lots of stuff and Dove asks Benni to take back the boxes that she had stored at her grandmother's home. Many of the items are things that had belonged to Benni's first husband, and they lead to Benni's reminiscing about Jack who was killed in an accident. As she sorts through the material, she comes across a journal that Jack had kept and she receives a startling revelation.

Emma Baldwin, an old acquaintance and famous author returns to San Celina and she and Bennie resume their friendship. She also agrees to lend Benni a wonderful old crazy quilt to display in the folk art museum where Benni is the curator.

Gabe Ortiz, Benni's husband who also happens to be the local police chief, continues to be devoted to his new wife, but the marriage is still a little shaky. The mystery comes into the story when an old friend of Gabe's from the LAPD is killed in San Celina. After that, someone starts harassing Benni, and Gabe is convinced it has to do with an incident from his own past when he was a drug enforcement officer.

I was really looking forward to reading SUNSHINE AND SHADOW, but it was not what I was expecting. STEPS TO THE ALTAR, the previous story in this series, left me in a state of uncertainty as to what would happen to Benni's marriage to Gabe and I approached this book expecting a resolution to that problem. At first I felt that this story skirted that issue; however, the more I thought about this book, the more I realized that the author knows that a troubled marriage is not cured overnight. I believe that she decided to give her characters time to work through their marital problems. After all, everyone's life is filled with sunshine and shadow.

As usual, this author delivers another good book and tops it off by giving the reader something to think about. This is a skillfully written and very clever story.

In this book, Benni Harper, who is recently married to the Chief of Police, Gabe Ortiz, finds the dead body of one of the storytellers from the museum. Since she knows the victim and the suspects she tries to stay out of the investigation, but everyone thinks she knows more than she does.
I found the ending quite unsatisfying -- not because of who is revealed as the murderer, but the way in which this is discovered.
I also found Gabe's self-righteous macho posturing too much to take. He is at least as much to blame for the problems between him and his son, Sam, as Sam is. How could Sam not be troubled with a father who can't find anything good about him?

This is the fourth book in the Earlene Fowler quilting mystery series.

Benni Harper and her husband Gabe Ortiz become involved in a police investigation after Benni discovers a woman's body floating in a lake next to their jogging path. The dead woman is dressed in a Mother Goose costume and Benni immediately recognizes her as Nora Cooper, a local storyteller.

Because of Benni's job as curator of the San Celina Folk Art Museum, she was well acquainted with Nora Cooper and they were both working on an upcoming Storytelling and Story Quilt Festival. Benni tries to stay out of the police investigation, but she keeps getting pulled in because she knew the victim and most of the suspects.

Benni and Gabe are newlyweds and still getting adjusted to living together which is difficult because they are both set in their ways. The situation is not helped by the arrival of three different relatives who all come to visit at the same time causing commotion in their small home.

Though Earlene Fowler gives us a patchwork of personalities and several different plots, she still manages to keep the reader interested and entertained.

I've read the entire series. Loved them all.

I look forward to April each year knowing that the next Benni Harper edition will be at the book store. I took my time reading STTA simply because I didn't want it to end. Each book is true to the characters of Benni Harper and her husband Gabe and her entire family. Seeing another side of Gabe added to the intrigue of STTA. Also, it was great bringing back Hud! I am amazed at how each book is so completely different from the previous book. While so many authors become stagnant after writing nine or more novels, Earlene keeps growing with each book.

Benni and Gabe's marraige hits a fork in the road. While happiness fills the air around their family with two weddings, Benni and Gabe have some big decisions to make. Benni stumbles across a murder in San Celina after agreeing to help the historical society. How will she work on solving a murder and her marriage at the same time?

I can't wait for April 2003!

Oops. I meant, Earlene Fowler does it again. It's just that Benni Harper seems so real, just like the cowgirl next door...

It's February, 1995, and thirty-six-year-old Benni Harper is at it again. Like many super women of the '90s, she finds herself juggling more than husband, job, family and friends. This time around she's dealing with weddings (note the plural), an old, unsolved mystery, the unwanted attentions of a sheriff's deputy, plus Gabe's former partner who makes no secret of wanting him back in her life.

If you enjoy a well written story, a lead character with old-fashioned guts and heart, and yearn for more than a simple who-dun-it crime novel, read Agatha-Award winning novelist Earlene Fowler's best book yet, Steps to the Altar. A lot happens in the likeable little town of San Celina, California, and Benni Harper always manages to end up with her boots in it.

After Steps to the Altar, buy Fool's Puzzle (nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel of 1994) et al., and read the entire series in order from the beginning. That way it won't seem so long before her next book comes out and you'll learn that Emory and Benni are 11 and 12, respectively, in 1970 and Benni turns 37 in March of 1995. :) Happy reading!

Earlene Fowler's 9th novel is the most riveting yet, right to the very end. I bought the book on the way home from work one evening, began reading right away, and stayed up till it was finished. I knew I'd never be able to sleep anyway without knowing how Benni and Gabe resolved their problems. I re-read it again over the next few days to savor it more slowly. I was glad for the prologue to Earlene's earlier book, Mariner's Compass, which let us know they were still going strong after 40 years. I think it would have been harder to read without knowing that.

I felt so incredibly sad reading this book, perhaps reliving the feelings from the breakup of my own marriage. Sad also that Benni was unable to really enjoy the celebration of the marriage of her best friend and her favorite cousin. I was glad they finally tied the knot, however, and that their wedding was included in the book.

I especially liked the themes of forgiveness and the grace of God, and how both Benni and Gabe sought advice (albeit unwillingly) from their respective spiritual advisors. Having chapters written from Gabe's point of view this time was enlightening, and made him a more well-rounded person. It's now easier to understand why he sometimes acts the way he does.

The other mystery in this book (besides the one about Benni and Gabe's marriage) was, the fifty-year-old unsolved murder that Benni got involved in to catalog items for the historical society. What she discovered gave her insights into love and marriage, as well as the search for what really happened.

Grandma Dove was a hoot, as always. I wish she were my Grandma! These characters feel so real to me, it's almost hard to believe they are not.

As difficult as it was to experience the feelings this book invoked in me, I think it was very realistic as to what can happen in a marriage to either break it apart or make it stronger. Thanks again to Earlene for yet another wonderful chapter in the lives of Benni and Gabe.

Benni Harper is busy with many projects. There's a new exhibit going into the artist's co-op, she's writing up the story of Japanese-Americans from the area during World War II, and she's helping put on a senior prom at San Celina's retirement home. As the dance draws to a close, she finds two of the residences murdered. What did they have in common that would lead to their deaths? Meanwhile, old flame Clay O'Hara is back in town. His status as lead suspect starts to come between Benni and Gabe. Benni finds herself drawn into solving this case no matter what Gabe says. If she stays alive long enough to do it, will this end their relationship?

Once again, Ms. Fowler has written a captivating story told with real emotion. It's hard not to be drawn into this world and really care for the characters. I found myself choking up on more then one occasion, yet also smiling and laughing at many of the lighter moments. The plot seems to get a little sidetracked near the middle, but picks up speed and reaches an interesting and satisfying conclusion.

Anyone looking for a mystery with strong characters and interesting stories will love this series. I won't be able to stop myself from picking up the next to see what these people, I mean characters, are up to next.

It's so much fun to read about many of my favorites... I love California, love quilts, love murder mysteries and fun characters! I liked this one so much I bought the rest of the series....

In this story Benni Harper is sponsoring a dance at the local retirement home. Clay O'Hara, a handsome man from her past is in town to visit his retired uncle and wants to resume a relationship with Benni. Of course she's flattered, but she has been dating Gabe Ortiz, the Acting Police Chief for several months and they may be on their way to some type of commitment. When two of the residents of the retirement home are killed, Chief Ortiz suspects Clay of the murders. Benni's defense of her old friend Clay, causes a rift between her and Gabe.

Due to the fact that one of the murdered victims was involved in helping the local Japanese community, the author gives us the very fascinating and tragic story of the Japanese Americans who were sent to internment camps during World War II.

Earlen Fowler keeps the reader entertained with her interesting characters in her second Benni Harper Book.

I picked up Arkansas Traveler while on vacation. Having read all the books I packed, I went to the hotel lobby store to pick up something quick and easy. I found Arkansas Traveler, and it sounded like the perfect book for vacation. What I didn't know is that the book was part of a series. I settled down to read and became quickly enraptured with Benni, her lovable and quirky friends and family. Unfortunately for me, now I will need to start the series at the beginning!
The mystery almost seems like a side event to the cooking, visiting, church going and interaction among all the family and friends presented here. I love 'Southern' flavored books, and this one does not disappoint. Lots of local color and eccentric people to keep one entertained. There is a murder, of someone it appears nobody liked. Toby Hunter is a wanna be white supremacist, and the son of Sugartree's mayor. When Toby is found dead, and the suspicion seems to be aimed at Benni's friend Amen's nephew, Benni decides to investigate. The final revelation of the murderer and the motives seem almost a sideline to everything else. The issure of race in the South is shown from both sides, and no simple and satisfactory conclusion is given to the complex questions raised, and for that I am thankful. I loved the writing, and the reverence for both small town life, and places like the Dairy Queen and Piggly Wiggly, and the love of good cooking. I cannot wait to start this series from book one!

Earlene Fowler draws a perfect picture of a small town in Arkansas in her latest novel. Despite the beauty of the area and some of the people, there is a poison running deep in the community. Benni Harper, her friends and family, return to Sugartree, Arkansas, where Benni grew up. Benni's church is having a reunion and 100-year anniversary at the same time there is consideration of merging with a black church. Despite many communal activities and many people who are for it, there is much opposition. Benni's childhood friend, Amen, a young black woman, is running for mayor against a white male incumbant. Racial tensions run high when the male candidate's son taunts Amen's elderly aunt, and her nephew defends her. Hidden secrets of past and present loves come to the surface as Benni tries to uncover the perpetrator's identity while supporting her friend. This book touches on deeper topics than previous ones in the series and is very well-written.

Arkansas Traveler is a wonderful addition to the Benni Harper series. The author has branched out with a bold statement about racism and the heart of people. She twists in a murder while two churches are attempting to merge. The characters are wonderful. The reader gets a new understanding of Benni's best friend Elvia and Benni's husband Gabe. The rest of her family comes to life too. There is a delightful Southern charm to Arkansas Traveler. Growing up in the South made all of the references to food and stores a lot of fun! From Piggly Wiggly to the Waffle House- I was completely entertained. Yet again, I love how Earlene gives credit to the Lord in her novel. Once again, He has blessed her with the gift of writing!

I've decided to try reading all those nominated for best mystery novel awards. Earlene Fowler's "Mariner's Compass", won the Agatha Award for Best Novel in the year 2000. I'm glad it did, because I might not have otherwise discovered this mystery writer, and Fowler's definitely worth reading.

The title, "Mariner's Compass", refers not only to an inheritance pointing out a complex scavenger hunt touching investigator Benni Harper's past, but to an old, historic quilt design. The interaction between the hunt for certain objects, their interrelationship with the people who hold them and Benni, and Benni's own personal journey is extremely well done and makes for a gripping novel. Fowler's descriptions of small seaside California towns are very evocative, and refreshingly positive. The novel's Prologue is touching and worth the price of the book.

Put some logs in the fireplace, get yourself a cup of hot cocoa and your favorite quilt, and curl up with this first rate yarn. You won't regret it.

I have enjoyed all of the previous Benni Harper books and this one is no exception. There is something about the relationships between Benni and her husband, family, and friends that strikes a cord in me. I read the books as much to get to know these characters better as for the mysteries, which very well written. This book will always be my favorite because of the way the author made a point to reassure the readers of the continuation of Benni's and Gabe's relationship. Lately several of the authors whose books I have been reading for years have killed off the main character's love interest and I now find myself starting each new book of an established series with trepidation. I have limited time for pleasure reading and shock, grief, and sadness are not emotions I am interested in feeling when I sit down to be entertained. So, thank you Earlene Fowler. I look forward to the next Benni Harper book.

Being a Southern California-based mystery writer with my debut novel in initial release, I'm somewhat embarrassed that I have not yet written a review of one of Earlene Fowler's works. I've been reading her books for years. We live in the same general vicinity, and we've met occasionally on the mystery convention circuit. Ms. Fowler's books are uniformly well-written, and MARINER'S COMPASS has an unusual twist. While the quilting angle is still here, Benni Harper, Ms. Fowler's former cowgirl sleuth, finds herself confronted with an unusual mystery. She inherits a house and all the earthly possessions of a man she has never met, provided she meets the odd condition he has set forth. She must live in the house for two weeks. Upon her taking up residency in the house, she finds herself forced to unravel a mystery. She discovers that while she never knew Jacob Chandler, Chandler knew her frighteningly well. While Ms. Fowler's main story is fresh and innovative, MARINER'S COMPASS continues developing her excellent series. Benni's marriage to police chief Gabe continues to evolve, and a number of Benni's eccentric supporting characters launch an activist campaign to preserve California's Central Coast the way they love it. MARINER'S COMPASS is a terrific book, and Ms. Fowler should be proud.

I was surprised that I enjoyed this book as much as I did. I was annoyed with Benni for doing stupid things, disappointed at the lack of quilting references, and occasionally frustrated with the writing. However, the most important quality in my enjoyment of a book is caring about the characters - and I quickly cared a lot about Benni and her family and friends. Also, the setting in central California was fresh and different. I look forward to reading more!

This book is a wonderful "cozy" -- the first in a long, strong series by Fowler that sets up the relationship between amateur sleuth Benni Harper and the Chief Gabe Ortiz, one of the sexiest characters in mystery books today. I have read the book and given it as a gift, too. Readers of all ages seem to connect with not only the quirky setting but also the romantic tension and humorous tone. I highly recommend not just this one, but the others in the same series, especially Kansas Troubles and Mariner's Cross -- but I suggest readers start with this one.

This story crosses several different paths. There's the quilting interest, because the main character, Benni Harper is the curator of a small folk-art museum in California. In fact, the story starts with Benni getting ready to have a quilt show. The mystery comes in when Benni discovers the body of a local artist in the museum. Finally, a little romance is provided by the attractive detective who's investigating the murder. He's Police Chief Gabe Ortiz and seems to have more than a little interest in the curator. We also meet Benni's grandmother who adds the humorous touch to the story.

Earlene Fowler has made her characters into real personalities and provides us with a fun and enjoyable read. I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

I really like the Benni Harper series. She's independent, strong, and happily married. That's a nice combination. We also have a lot in common, since I was born in Texas and live in the West right now.

This book finds Benni and her husband Gabe on a trip to meet his family. Benni's husband is the silent type, and she soon discovers that she doesn't know as much about him as she'd like to. There's a murder (of course) and Benni can't help getting involved (also of course). Benni is having trouble bonding with her in-laws when she suspect them and everyone else of being involved in murder. Gee, my in-law trouble are so normal. Anyway, lots of fun. And if you like quilting, there's some great stuff in this book about the Amish tradition.

Benni Harper and her new husband, Gabe Ortiz leave California for a vacation in Kansas so that Benni can meet Gabe's family and old friends. The experience is stressful for Benni because she knows very little of Gabe's background or former life. As usual, Gabe is not into explaining things to Benni and they are constantly locking horns in between their flirting. Gabe's sister shares Benni's love of quilts and asks for her help in setting up a local quilt show. In the mean time, the murder of a young woman singer named Tyler takes place. She happened to be dating Gabe's old friend Rob and he is a suspect in her death. Tyler was also a runaway wife from the local Amish community and a superb quilter. When Benni sees the last quilt that Tyler made, she discovers some clues that could lead to the identity of the killer.

There's a lot of fascinating "quilt talk" in this book and some interesting facts about the state of Kansas. This is the third book in the Benni Harper series and I'm now committed to reading them all.

Many people dread their first meeting with their new in-laws, it does not help that Benni and Gabe married after only knowing each other 3 months nor that Benni insists on keeping her last name (that of her dead husband) instead of taking Gabes. Meeting Gabe's family is hard enough, but after the murder of a beautiful young singer, Tyler Brown, Benni finds herself deep in a murder mystery where her husband's best friends are all prime suspects. She and Gabe struggle to find their footing in their marriage which seemed so right in California but under the scrutiny of his family seems ill advised. Discovering Tyler's true background as an Amish wife who has fled the community resulting in banishment from her family is startling. How did her life with the "English" lead to her death? Bennie is thrust into danger as she gets closer and closer to identifying the murderer. Will Gabe be able to protect her? Ms. Fowler's writing is fast paced and the story moves well. I did think there were a few loose ends in the story but nothing that will keep me from reading the rest of the Benni Harper mysteries. They are currently all on the top of my reading list. I love all the characters and enjoy seeing them fleshed out in each of the books, they have depth and multi-layers to them which I really like. Gramma Dove is an absolute hoot!