This second book in the Lily Bard/Shakespeare series was nicely written and entertaining. Ms. Harris did a terrific job weaving the plot and introducing Jack Leeds. This story brings together the rather sick thoughts hidden behind the gentile Southern manner of a few of the Shakespeare mighty. My my, what you don't know.

I enjoyed this second installment of the Shakespeare series. Lily Bard and the other residents of Shakespeare are interesting and well developed. Lily continues to try to find a normal life while tripping over her past and dead bodies. Jack is a welcome addition to the people who change and interact with each other while death and mayhem stroll through the streets of this small town. Lily's occupation as a house cleaner gives her an inside look at the way people really live and makes her a part of their lives, whether she wants to be or not. In this story, racial hatred allows vicious men to give a reason for their hatred. Lily and Jack must fight for their lives against a family hiding a secret. Throughly entertaining.

When housecleaner Lily Bard discovers a body in her gym, Body Time, she sees a connection to earlier murders that have taken place in her adopted town, Shakespeare, Arkansas. Lily Bard moved to Shakespeare several years before to restart her life after a personal tragedy received national media attention, but her life since then has been anything but quiet. After stopping an interracial fight at a local drive-in Lily becomes the focus of unwanted attention by some of the town residents. She decides not to move, but instead to stay and try to solve the murders that have made living in Shakespeare difficult for many of its citizens.
Charlaine Harris has a more complex plot structure in "Shakespeare's Champion". Events go back and forth in time and details are revealed from Lily's former life. And Lily really develops as a character in this book: when big things go down in Shakespeare Lily is forced to make crucial decisions that show what she's made of. This is also the book where she meets Jack Leeds. ; )
This is my favorite Lily Bard installment yet. Charlaine Harris uses an economy of words that makes every narrative detail important. I love the names she chooses for characters and businesses, but for all those whimsical details her stories are streamlined and focused.
If you've started the Lily Bard series that begins with "Shakespeare's Landlord", be sure to read "Shakespeare's Champion". Harris' other series are also a lot of fun.
And if you like Harris' writing be sure to try Elizabeth Peters' and Laurie R. King's mystery series.

This series is well worth the time, money, and wait(for each new mystery). A strong female main character with a very well developed story. A good read.

This book did a very good job bringing up some very interesting questions about what stereotypes we assign to loose women and the fates that await them. The character murdered in this book (4th in the series) has been briefly discussed and analyzed in prior books. It was very interesting to see how and why she was murdered - and the reaction people had to it.

For someone who doesn't like to get involved in other people's affairs, Lily Bard seems to have a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. In book #4 of Charlaine Harris' superb Lily Bard mystery series, Lily discovers lifelong Shakespeare resident Deedra Dean murdered inside a car parked in a woodsy area outside of town. Lily quickly becomes a suspect when it is discovered that Deedra died of a severe blow to the chest - a blow that could only have been delivered by a martial arts expert. The sheriff becomes even more suspicious regarding her involvement when Deedra's mother asks Lily to help her clean Deedra's apartment, but Lily is determined not to get involved this time and fully intends to leave the case in Sheriff Marta Schuster's capable hands. However, Deedra's notoriously promiscuous lifestyle provides an extensive list of suspects, but very few clues. Much as Lily disliked Deedra in life, she feels that she has no choice but to resume the role of amateur detective and join the investigation.

Once again, a fabulous book from the superb author, Charlaine Harris. With every book Lily Bard and the other characters who reside in Shakespeare become more fleshed out and more entertaining. Lily is really starting to develop into a real person again after being violently assaulted years before and it is fun to see her change. I thought that the mystery plot this time was wonderful and had a nice little surprise twist at the end. For anyone who enjoys mysteries, I cannot recommend this series enough!

This is the book on which the Academy award winning movie was based. Listed as for "young adults," I still found it to be a delightful read for summer's train ride to work. The movie, by the way, is rather loyal to the book's story, but improves it in some areas. The book, though, gives the reader more background on Homer Smith (the protagonist) and the subtleties of his character. The author also better explains the reasons for Sister Marthe's obsession with building the church and her effect on the community. The writing flows smoothly and the author does not use the religious characters for proselytizing. I would recommend this book for any secular or non-secular reader of middle grade age and higher.

I'm not going to quote from the book, and I'm not going review this book by telling you who did what to whom. This is what I believe is the jist of this story:

When someone is expected to do something, this someone has an opportunity to be loved by people who sought his work. If the expectation is unreasonable, or highly unprobable to be fulfilled, then this is faith. One who does not disappoint faith is the one who achieves greatness.

This is the story of one such person.

There is a young legend developing on the west side of the mountains. It will, inevitably, grow with the years. Like all legends, it is composed of falsehood and fact. In this case, the truth is more compelling than the trappings of imagination with which it has been invested. The man who has become a legendary figure was, perhaps, of greater stature in simple reality than he will ever be in the oft-repeated, and expanded, tales which commemorate his deeds. Here, before the whole matter gets out of hand, is how it was...

His name was Homer Smith. -The Lilies of the Field

And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you- you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' For it is the gentiles who strive for all these things. But strive first for the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 'So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today. -Matthew 6:28-34

It's maddening to see so many references to The Lilies of the Field, both book and movie, as "minor." Sure, it's a short book. Yes, the characters and situation are so idealized that it's nearly a fable. No, it does not accurately reflect the state of race relations in America in the early 1960s, nor at any other time anywhere, for that matter. But ask yourself this : how many books have you read in your life that actually made you feel more optimistic about the prospects of the species ? If it's really that easy to create sympathetic characters and write a story that uplifts the spirits, why haven't more authors written them ? Isn't it fair to conclude that the paucity of such stories, and the memorable nature of this one, indicate just how major an occurrence it is when one gets written ?

At any rate, hopefully everyone knows the tale, either from the great film or from a required reading in High School. As the opening lines above indicate, Homer Smith is a nearly mythological figure, a kind of John Henry, Paul Bunyan, or Shane. In an unlikely turn of events, this black Baptist former Army sergeant ends up helping some Catholic nuns, refugees from East Germany, to build a chapel in the New Mexico desert, despite a lack of help, tools, and materials.

Homer Smith brings an invaluable set of qualities to his task, chief among them : self confidence, self reliance, a puritan work ethic, and a healthy amount of pride. Mother Maria Marthe, the Teutonic leader of the tiny band of nuns, brings one great gift, faith :

Faith. It is a word for what is unreasonable. If a man believes in an unreasonable thing, that is faith.

Mother genuinely believes that God will provide, even that Homer has been sent by God, and that He will see to it that the chapel is built. The powerful combination of this mismatched pair's inner strengths serves as an inspiration to the entire community. Hispanic, Anglo, and Black; Catholic and Protestant; wealthy and poor; German, Mexican, and American; they come together to create a unique house of worship. And as the legend of Homer Smith grows in the desert, Mother Maria Marthe says of him :

'That is the chapel of Saint Benedict the Moor. ... That painting of the saint is the work of Sister Albertine. The model was a man named Schmidt who came to us under the direction of God. He built this chapel with his two hands under great difficulties. It is all from him.'

She pauses then and her voice drops. 'He was not of our faith, nor of our skin,' she says, 'but he was a man of greatness, of an utter devotion.'

Just as Homer's devotion to his task and Mother's faith give them a certain greatness, the aspirational beauty of this book gives it too a greatness that defies that parsimonious "minor" classification.

GRADE : A+

This book is all about women's personal experiences, mostly negative. The only part of the book that was about living BEYOND multiple schlerosis was the last chapter or two. Perhaps I'm just not in the right stage of MS to understand what was going on here. I skipped the chapters about housework and clothing. I can imagine talking to my best girlfiends about that (which the women in this support group were) but I didn't think it made very interesting copy. I also found the some of the in-group terms used, MonSter, froup, flutterbugs, a bit silly and off-putting.

Living Beyond Multiple Sclerosis is a collection of personal stories drawn from an on-line support group of women suffering from Multiple Sclerosis. This compendium of updated information on the sometimes elusive MS diagnosis; sustaining positive doctor/patient relationships; the newest MS treatments; maximizing treatment benefits; Social Security Disability and other insurance benefit applications, as well as household accessibility and tips for choosing and correctly using assistive devices presents Living Beyond Multiple Sclerosis as an invaluable informational resource that is informative, and occasionally inspiring. Judith Nichols and her online community of women have rendered a truly invaluable service, the results of which are highly recommended for personal, professional, medical center, and community library health reference collections and reading lists.

Another triumph as beneficial to those with MS as the first book was, I'm sure. I'd like to see more original, personal writing by this author. Her Introduction is so clear and crisp--let's "hear" more.

After five "Oz" books, L. Frank Baum had enough, and tried to close off the series with this sixth installment. Of course, the children wouldn't let him, and he went on to write eight more, but this effort to end the series was one of the best in some time.

The last two books ("Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz" and "The Road to Oz") suffered serious problems. They meandered, there was no sense of danger, nothing bad could ever happen to these characters. This time out Baum started with our heroine in a form of danger -- Aunt Em and Uncle Henry were going to lose the farm in Kansas -- and went on to reestablish the greatest threat the Oz books had left, Roquat the Red, the Nome King.

While this book again lacked a serious sense of danger, the devices Baum used in his effort to end the series were all clever, and furthermore, made for better stories when he returned to the series later. This is a lovely story, a real classic.

This Oz book is one of the more disjointed ones, more a sort of package tour of Ozma's magic kingdom than a quest. But the vignettes are charming and stick with you. The "Rigamaroles" have become part of this family's culture, with my 12 yo son and I occasionally getting into rigamarole competitions, where we go on and on without saying anything. Bunbury and Bunnybury also stuck with me during the six years between reading this to my first son and my second; utensia is ... punny; and the cuttenclips, the fuddles, and the flutterbudgets are all cute and endearing. A great read aloud for the 5 to 10 set.

Onr thing, though: The famed metallic ink in the Books Of Wonder edition is just sort of glittery. Nice, but not really any big deal. I don't think that this is the best looking BoW Oz book.

Finally, Aunt Em and Uncle Henry get the chance to visit Oz, and Baum introduces them and us to a variety of unusual inhabitants. True, most of their journey through the countryside has little or nothing to do with the main plot, the attempt (again) by the Nome King to conquer Oz. But it's fun. And best of all, this book becomes a turning point for the series because in it Dorothy makes the decision to remain in Oz. While maybe not the best book in the series, The Emerald City of OZ is a lot of fun and well worth the read.

Also recommended: King Fortis the Brave, Harry Potter and Abarat. Books that, 100 years from now, people will be looking back with the fondness of the Oz series.

I like realism like the best of them, but when I got to page 8 and read about gobs of yellow mucus, I threw the book aside. Too much reality for my weak stomach. I came to Amazon's website and read some of the critiques, all very positive. Then I wondered if I should give the book a second chance. I picked it up and got a second dose of reality, this time having to do with tampon insertion. Argh! This time I planned to take the book along with other castoffs to the thrift store. Before that happened, though, and because life is full of serendipity, I stumbled upon a commentary on this novel. The critic was very compelling in his praise, so I gave in and picked up the book for the third time (besides, I hate not to finish what I start).

It seems that after those very eschatological moments, Siri Hustvedt got it all out of her and continued in a pretty clean route towards the development of her novel. I have to admit that I liked it a little bit. I think she does a very good job portraying the state of mind of a young woman who is smart but aware of her educational shortcomings. The relationship between Lily and her old neighbor Mabel is crafted in a very smart way, because little by little, and way before the end, the reader can see the interdependence that these two women develop. I was very satisfied with the ending, which was a relief after so much of the novel was spent in a dark path of anguish. I was not so interested in the "mystery" that went along most of the book, but rather Lily's thoughts and ultimately, her 'enchantment'. After all, I was happy I finished the book, and you should too.

Like 'The Blindfold' a self consciously post-modern novel filled with empty signs and cultural observation. What I felt her central goal in this novel was to capture the human content of a typical American woman, star-eyed and given to thoughts of her image more than thoughts of her self. At first, it seems that the story might be sacrificed for these random but poignant observations, but by the end you are left with a fragmented image of a woman, cut up by the short-sightedness of society and the misogynistic nature of men. As with her prior novel, she always keeps a tight focus on her heroine, but has succeeded to a much better end a carefully plotted narrative. Like Atwood's 'The Edible Woman', the image of what the heroine sees herself to be is eaten by the woman herself, or buried in this case, in order to be redefined by the woman herself. The novel is beautifully written and an engaging read.

This book reminded me a lot of the movie "Ruby in Paradise," a coming-of-age tale starring Ashley Judd. Both characters are young, female, have dead-end jobs and are on the road to becoming mature women. In the movie, Ruby is nearly raped by a guy she knows; in the book, Lily has to fend off the affections of an odd young man she knows. The book has a mysterious twist and ominous tone to it that's fun and addictive. Anyone who doesn't enjoy this book should have their head examined! I'm not sure who wrote the post about green snot and tampons but I can tell you those must each be about one line in the book. And it sounds like even that reader ended up enjoying the book "a little bit." I'd say most readers will enjoy it a lot.

This is a pretty fun book but I found Lily's parents aggravating,I like christain stuff but this is too goody-goody.For example,when Lily decides to try modelling,her parents are afraid that walking down a catwalk isn't going to change the world.They make her "find God in this".Oh for Pitys sake,just let her model.They were idiots anyway.They told Lily they still loved her even though she was funny looking."Lily,why would you ever think you were ugly?"...DUH!!!!!!!!!!

Lily Robbins gets picked on if only she had a miracle that would make Shad shifferdecker stop in his tracks. Then a Woman from a modeling agency comes, will Lily get her big chance? If she does what will her mother say about it? Where's God in this?

A lot of questions are raised during the time that you read this book and after a while you start feeling Lily's emotions. Nancy Rue really did an awesome job of writting this book! I recomend this bok to all Christian girls! I really liked this book!

I bought this book for my 9 year old, she loved it! She has the first two books in the series, along with the companion books, and she can't wait to get more. Very well written, fun, entertaining, great message but not "preachy". I highly recommend this book!

I read Tiger Lily after finding it in my sister's romance novel collection.
This remains one of my favorite books over Nora Roberts and Sandra Brown even.
Sabrina has met Brett years ago when she was only a young girl, she befriended the young man Brett, the relationship ends in disaster though. They meet again when Sabrina is seventeen and though the meeting is stormy and they fight almost from the beginning things are mellowing and they are falling in love. Then Carlos, the jealous cousin lies to Brett and tells him that Sabrina is his lover, arranging a scene by the river where he attempts to rape Sabrina, Brett comes upon them and having been betrayed before believes the worst of Sabrina. Carlos then tells a horryifing lie about Brett to Sabrina which drives the wedge between them deeper. All in all the book is exciting and I love the history the author blends with romance. Old Spanish Texas is one of my favorite places for a book to be placed. This is one of the only authors who do this. I would reccomend this book to anyone who loves sensual, sad at times wonderfully blended romance.

Texas is still under Spanish rule, and Sabrina del Torres is not yet a woman, when the man who will change her life forever first arrives at the doorstep of her wealthy father's hacienda. As brash and arrogant as he is ruggedly handsome, Brett Dangermond soon insinuates himself into the del Torres household, and Sabrina resents every minute of it. Their relationship develops into a fiery battle of wits and wills-but they are fooling only themselves. Sabrina's father has already recognized Brett as the one man "strong enough and devil enough" to handle his headstong daughter. And Sabrina's cousin, Carlos, who covets both Sabrina and her fortune, sees Brett as a rival. Eventually, the tension between Sabrina and Brett explodes into a passion that neither of them can deny. And just as Sabrina realizes that this is the man she must have, whatever the consequences, Carlos takes matters into his own hands. With the help of Brett's former lover, Constanza, Carlos fabricates a lie so vile and so damaging that Sabrina, upon hearing it, has no choice but to order Brett out of her life forever. Six years later, their lives will cross once again. Sabrina's father is murdered by bandits, and Sabrina is horrified when she learns the terms of his will. For Alejandro del Torres has appointed Brett as her legal guardian! Now she will be under the power of a man who cannot be trusted-a man who will most surely take advantage of his position. Worse, she does not trust herself. For she has never really stopped loving the man who captured her heart so many years ago. This was a wonderful love story. If you've been following Busbee's novels based in the late 1700-1800's you'll know they all connect in some way. This one should be read after Decieve Not My Heart for Brett Dangermond is Morgan's best friend and is mentioned first in that novel.

This is one of the first novels that I read many years ago and its still my favorite. I loved Sabrina and Brett from the first page. Brett and Sabrina not only have a love story, but a long-lasting friendship. These two characters were meant to be together. This book is a keeper.

While I can't complain about the style of the book, I will complain about the characters. At every point where the hero has to decide if he should trust the heroine, he believes the absolute worst of her, not once but three times. Each times he humiliates her worse. On the last couple pages he admits he was being a jerk, but we're never really given any evidence that he really reformed. Each time after he humiliates her he feels bad, then he ends up doing it again. The end just looked the same way. Unfortunately it felt to me like Lily had entered into an abusive relationship, not a loving romantic one. Want a great Gaffney, try Wild at Heart or her To Love and To Cherish trilogy, but unless you like *really* domineering males, pass this one by.

I've been in a reading slump lately . . . picking up and discarding several books/genres that couldn't hold my interest. But "Lily" has me back on track again!

Yes, Dev (the hero) is tortured and sometimes cruel, and yes, sometimes Lily is a bit too trusting, but, wow!, this is one luscious love story! Truthfully, it made me cry a bit, and there's only been a few others have ever accomplished that.

This is definitely a dark, violent romance with the heroine misused by several secondary characters. But no matter how they try, they can't break her spirit. Lily always holds out hope that Dev will admit his love for her and avenge her wrongs. (Oh, how trivial my troubles seems when stacked up next to hers!) And Devon is tortured and confused but eventually redeems himself (or does Lily redeem him)?

What a tome; what a tale - just a really excellent book by one of the most talented historical romance authors to ever draw breath! (Glad to share your name, Ms. Gaffney.) What more can I say? Read this book!

Another favorite Gaffney is Wild at Heart, whose story has a really fresh premise. Now, how will I find another book to read that won't feel stale by comparison? I know, I believe I have "Sweet Everlasting" on my TBR pile. Sweet victory!

I read a lot of romance books...a lot. As a classical Literature major in college, however, I have come to demand quality in the books that I read. I am tired of characters that fall in love with a lustful glance, or dialog that make the hero/heroine seem ingenuine, false, and complete idiots. I want real people -- compelling storylines, and writing that leaves me riveted and craving more. Not many authors can do this, but Patricia Gaffney can. "Lily" kept me riveted to the very end. The characters were well sketched out and thier dialog was emotional and believable. The story was great (although I might have written the ending a little differently). I won't bore you with a synopsis, but this book was one the best reads I had this summer. Buy this book -- you won't regret it.

This book was a HUGE let-down to me after reading Lily. I was so excited to see that the sequel was FINALLY out, I could't wait to read it, then was sadly disappointed. It was still a good story, but not nearly as good as Lily.

Being a young reader battling similar problems that Woody had with falling in love with someone he knows he shouldn't, I thought this book was filled with passion. You could feel Woody's pain and see Lily's determination.

THE CHARACTERS WERE SO BELIVABLE THAT I TO FEEL IN LOVE.ONCE I FINISHED READING,I TRULEY MISSED ALL OF THE PEOPLE AND THERE LIVES THAT I HAD COME TO KNOW AND SHARE.