As librarian for a Patients' Library in a hospital, I watch for books that may help patients and their family and/or friends cope with debilitating illnesses. I was impressed by the thoughtful variety of activities proposed in this book--especially by the emphasis on maintaining dignity and independence for the patient. The projects described are creative and practical, the approach is empathic, and the love is inspiring. Peope looking for ways to help a seriously ill, confined, person will find gems here.

Anyone who has ever been involved with a chronically ill child needs this book, or if you know someone who has a chronically ill child, please get one for them. It is beautiful, sensitive and full of love!

This story kept me going through the evening into the next morning. The book is a masterful work of story line and true to life events. The only way I can explain this book is, it is exactly like the new "Titanic" Movie!! It encompesses a fictional story with true to life events. A must read for liner buffs and W.W.2 vets!! * I am a liner buff-I collect big and small items, contact me.

A refreshingly lively look at middle-class life in Victorian London. Particularly good on education and travel. Out to be reprinted!

This book is appreciated by families of residents as well as long term care facility staff members as it helps them identify some of the important issues and address them. It is a practical guide to managing the difficulties inherent in long term care.

This book was written just right! It was told just the way I remembered it as a child.

Step Outside the Boundaries
From an interview with Mary Gauden Hughes by B. Lynn Goodwin

When Michael McCain first sees Mary Livingston in THE LAST SLOW DANCE, he is enthralled. They seem destined to be together. The more they learn of each other, the more they realize that fate guided them into each other's lives for a purpose.

Good writing comes from the heart and Mary Gauden Hughes's novella shows a unique slant on the human condition. Michael McCain is torn. He would love to follow his dream especially when Abby Rhodes offers him big opportunities in the music profession. Traveling writer, Mary Livingston, is holding him back, but also moving him forward along a different path. She comes into his life looking for an extraordinary story and leaves a profound impact on his daughters and him.

Michael digs deep into his soul causing us to look into our own. His introspection, refreshing in a man, leads him through an amazing journey of self-discovery and gives the reader hope.

Hughes focuses on Michael's moments of discovery. She allows him to be vulnerable. She gets inside Michael's head, sharing his thoughts in a way that makes the reader reflect on her own aspirations and fears. THE LAST SLOW DANCE leaves a strong message of hope and leaves the reader feeling in control of her life. Hughes creates some wonderful images and captures the imagination. Learn about her journey to publication in the interview below.

"Life doesn't just happen to us. There is one spectacular moment when it happens for us. It happens to change us somehow, to pick us up just when we're heading in the wrong direction..." And therein lies the magic of THE LAST SLOW DANCE by Mary Gauden Hughes. This talented author captures that searing magical moment on which all of one's destiny hinges, drawing it into every moment of the novel in a lovely musical harmony.

When Mary Livingston enters Michael's life, everything changes. His house becomes a home, his girls happily sharing their days at the supper table. Mary claims she's only passing through, a writer gathering stories, searching for that one special story to tell.

As Mary loves writing, so does Michael McCain loves his music, dreaming of breaking into the big time. When he at last reaches his dream, as successful star Abby Rhodes invites him along to open her shows, Michael must reevaluate his life, his priorities, and his dreams.

THE LAST SLOW DANCE flows with a poetic grace, the language's lyricism mesmerizing the reader. THE LAST SLOW DANCE moves like a great river with hidden currents of meaning below the reflective surface. If you enjoyed James Waller's BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, you'll love THE LAST SLOW DANCE with its positive ending and inspirational message. Very highly recommended.

I read this book in one sitting! What an excellent, uplifting story of life and love. This author's writing style is beautiful and easy - it flows so well - you just can't put it down. If you liked The Bridges of Madison County, you will also love The Last Slow Dance. I look forward to more books by Mary Gauden Hughes.

This is the author's second mystery novel. A delightful read. Mystery and suspense without blood and gore. Set in a small town in New Hampshire (you can feel the cold), a murder victim and lots of suspects. Maggie, the outsider, tries to help an old friend. I was getting to the end, anxious to find out who done it(I guessed wrong), but sorry the book would soon be done.

I enjoyed Mary Ellen Hughes' first book also - "Resort to Murder". Maggie's sleuthing career starts here.

Mary Ellen has once again produced a delightful mystery that fans of cozies will enjoy. This is the second Maggie Olenski book by Mary Ellen, and I hope there will be more.

Great protagonist, interesting characters and a fun read for all ages. This doesn't disappoint.

I consider this book as very interesting and enjoyable reading. The story was well developed, kept the reader interested, did not get off track or onto uninteresting sidetracks, and had a very surprising ending. I think this book rates top honors.

Resort to Murder met my criteria of a spell-binding mystery because it kept me totally absorbed. I wanted to know how the plot unfolded and continued to read until I learned the identify of the murderer and why that person felt compelled to take such drastic steps. An added bonus was being able to relate to the setting because it is near where I live.

Fans of cozies will enjoy watching school teacher/amateur sleuth, Maggie Olenski, expose a killer. Maggie's much needed vacation at Highview Inn, Maryland takes a nasty turn when an employee and former student is found murdered. Maggie is determined to find the killer, and with the help of her new-found friend and quirky side-kick, Dyna, unravels the mystery. Author Hughes weaves an interesting plot and keeps you guessing right up to the end.

From the first page, I was "sucked" into this book. The characters were interesting and real. I found myself thinking about the characters and the story throughout my day. I couldn't wait to see what would happen to Maggie next. I really liked the fact that Maggie is a teacher - I could relate to her thinking (I'm also a teacher) as she solved the mystery. The author wrote a suspensful and thrilling mystery. You'll love it! I've told all my friends about it!

Wavemaker II is an interesting little novel, if a bit odd in its take. The novel concerns what happens to a New Jersey family when the husband-father figure is imprisoned for refusing to testify against Roy Cohn in the early sixties. We see bits and pieces of Cohn, and he ultimately comes to the family's rescue, but this novel is certainly not what you would expect. It is not about Roy Cohn or any of his activities. It is about an American family and how they survive the near fatal illness of one of their children coupled with the imprisonment of the father. That's what is sort of odd about it. It's take is refreshingly unexpected and the writing is very strong. Overall, an interesting and different read.

In just 200 terse pages, Mary-Beth Hughes knocks this novel absolutely out of the park. I've rarely seen any writer, no matter how gifted, pack this much talent, pathos, and intrigue into so few pages. The setting is summer, New York City, 1964. Family man Will Clemens takes one for the team, refusing to rat out fast-talking lawyer Roy Cohn, and is rewarded with a prison term. Will leaves behind a frantically disordered and struggling suburban home--it's all his wife Kay can do to watch over their son Bo, who is deathly ill with a relatively (at this time) unknown disease. Daughter Lou-Lou is left in the lurch, shunted too and fro between neighbors and friends as her parents attention is obviously focused elsewhere. Hughes alternates back and forth between each family member's perspective with a dizzying flair and ease, preparing the reader for an ending that turns out to be nothing like what you expected. Great Stuff!

Well, I have hardly as much to say as the previous reviewer... but anyway. I thought this book was wonderfully well written! The fictional dream was kept deftly alive (for me) from cover-to-cover, and I had no trouble whatsoever following the story, the characters, the chronology, etc. In fact, the book was such a good read I've suggested it to nearly all the readers I know. The author has a marvelous knack for pulling you in.

The only dissapointing thing for me, after reading Wavemaker II, was entering Ms. Hughes' name into the Amazon search-engine and discovering this was her only book!

Anyway. While I suppose one does run the risk, when borrowing from non-fiction, of mixing up dates and/or places... it might benefit the lay-person to know that this book is fiction. I don't recall ever anywhere in it's pages the allusion that all or any of this ever really happened. And as a work of fiction, I think it shines. It's the best book I've read yet this year, and would suggest it for those who like their fiction dark and strong (there's no cream & sugar here... just the exquisite aroma of a strong new talent!).

I thought the book was very interesting, but it could of been better. The author could of explainedhis life a little better. If the book was explained more with humor it would of been better because it is more likley for a child to read the book then a adult. Over all the book was good and I learned a lot about Jim.

I would recommend the book Jim Carrey to anyone. The book is a little slow at the start because the authordwindles on Carrey's childhood and him struggle to fame, a little to much. but after that the book picks up quickly. Toward the and the book goes very fast and is exciting. The book ends with a quote drom Jim Carrey himself. "Failure taught me that failure isn't the end, unless you give up." I think that the book Jim Carrey is one of the best biography I have read. There is a lot of detail, I think that that is what makes the book so good. I recommed the book to anyone who is intersted in Jim Carrey.

These days Jim Carrey is very much at home on the screen, but there was a time when Carrey had no home. In fact, his entire family was homeless after his father, Percy Carrey, chose to resign from a job that was turning his family into bitter, hateful people.
My book traces Carrey's comedy from his performances at the family's dinner table to his schoolyard's playground and the classrooms of Canada through his years as a stand up comedian, television improvisational artist, and finally as the star of major motion pictures.
Jim Carrey was not an overnight sensation, but he never gave up on his dream. His story is an inspiration for us all. For those wanting to learn more about the plight of the homeless, or how to help some of the millions of homeless people, there is an extensive appendix in the book, following the Carrey biography.