I read Pretence of Love by Carol Gregor and I liked it very much, it is about a young lady named Bella Latham who reluctantly agrees to impersonate her identical twin sister who is a model and actress so her spoiled sister can take off but while impersonaing her sister Bella runs into unforseen complications as she falls for Luke Retford and she is afraid to tell him the truth because she knows he will not like her deception. This book is great and the plot's locations include England, Wales and an island called Mauritius, I recommend this book to any Harlequin Romance book fan.

La historia de la indpendencia de mi país es muy, rica lastima que sea ignara por tantos, la causa de la libertad durante el periodo del primer cuarto de siglo de 1700 a aproximadmanete mitad de los 1800, vio nacer grandes hombres.
Bolívar, Sucre, Brión, O'Leary, Salom, Urdaneta, Paéz, Padilla, Camejo, Uslar, McGregor entre otros.
McGregor es un caso típico, un autentico highlander, venido a estas tierras producto del fin de las guerras napoleonicas, El libro de Tulio Arends nos muestra al hombre detras de la leyenda, muestra anecdotas ineditas tal como su desembarco en el puerto de caracas con gaitas y los la vestimenta tipicamnete escosesa, esto fue un hecho que no paso desapercibido, tambien nos muestra a un hombre de armas muy versatil, lo sucientemente organizado para poner en marcha los negros de ocumare y hacer correr a los españoles de solo verlos ya que a primera vista pensaron que eran tropas inglesas enviadas de Haiti por Petion.
Es bien sabido que las tropas britanicas (ingleses, escoses, irlandeses, etc) tienen fama de pelear hasta el último hombre y eso lo demostraron en Carabobo (24/07/1821).
Por otro lado es importante destacar que este hombre fua ayudante de campo del generalismo Francisco de Miranda el precurso de la mancipación hombe ue ocupo diversos rangos militares en los ejercitos más importantes de la europa de la epoca, España, Alemania, Rusia, Francia (su nombre esta en el arco del triunfo), incluso Miranda llego a facilitar acciones militares en la guerra de independencia Norteamerica.
Los problemas de Mcgregor fueron su expansionismo, no estaba alineado con la doctrina de Bolivar, hecho que llevo a casos como la invasión de la isla Amelia en la costa de florida y la republica de poyais en a actual centrooamerica, territorios que se disputaban las coronas inglesa y española.
Este escoses dejo huella perecedera en nuestra historia, calles, avenidas, edificios, es un personaje digno de ser estudiado.

This is an exceptional book. Everyone in von Rezzori's family is fascinating--including his governess, who was a friend of Mark Twain. The Bukovina, where the author grew up, is remote, strange, and beautiful. The politics of the period are byzantine, yet von Rezzori clarifies beautifully. His writing style is fresh, vivid, easy. He has a cosmopolitan vocabulary. If you like this book, definitely read his MEMOIRS OF AN ANTI-SEMITE, also very fine.

It has the capability to put the the trials we all face a humans into perspective. It has altered my view in appreciating the day to day struggles we all face. A+++

Haddam repeats a holiday here (Christmas was previously covered in _Not a Creature Was Stirring_, the first volume of the series). The events of _A Stillness in Bethlehem_ take place immediately after _A Feast of Murder_; at a minimum, you should try to read that one before reading this one. This is one of the few Demarkian mysteries that *don't* involve poison. (The recurring use of poison makes sense, actually, since Gregor made himself an expert on poisons during his tenure at the FBI.) You'll also be treated to a varied menu of conspiracy theories of one sort and another, but nothing so ordinary as Oliver Stone's. :)

Since Armenia declared independence only a few months before, Cavanaugh Street has been inundated with refugees, and Father Tibor has worked his fingers to the bone organizing food and shelter, and sending supplies back to Armenia. (For a couple of books, everyone on Cavanaugh Street put up a few refugees until they got on their feet - after all, you never know who might be a 3rd or 4th cousin. Changes phased in gradually after that: the neighborhood expanded a bit, and Tibor's church had enough kids to have an Armenian Orthodox parochial school, and so on. But that's in the future at this point in the series.)

Soon after Bennis and Gregor get home from the Thanksgiving fiasco in _A Feast of Murder_, Tibor collapses from exhaustion and from not eating enough. ("I'm still furious...I mean, I'm rich, Gregor. Tibor doesn't have to starve himself to feed a lot of refugees." "I think you got that across to him in the long run, Bennis." "I should have been able to get it across to him in the *short* run.")

Anyhow, Gregor and Bennis are now checking Tibor into a hotel in Bethlehem, Vermont, for a much-needed rest. Why Bethlehem? Tibor's always wanted to see the Christmas pageant held there every year. He first heard of it in his early days as a refugee in Israel, before he immigrated to the U.S. And Bennis, whose connections put Gregor in mind of a spy ring, managed to get hold of some good hotel rooms, even though it's the height of Bethlehem's tourist season.

The ACLU, of course, has a standing offer to sue the town over the pageant, but nobody's bitten so far. The pageant, after all, turns such a profit that Bethlehem's budget for the year doesn't need too much in the way of higher taxes. Nobody wants to be first to complain, certainly.

Until now, that is. Patricia Feld Verek, a writer of true-crime novels and a spiteful woman, has moved to Bethlehem with her husband, Jan-Mark (an artist in the most offensive modern mode). She's working on a book about children who commit murder, with case histories; he's spending his time having affairs with various local figures, both male and female. (Some are prominent, some aren't.) Tisha decides to take up the ACLU's offer - not because she cares about the pageant, but because she has a taste for a bit of drama. She gets more than she bargained for - she's shot to death before she can actually see her lawyer. But was the lawsuit the motive for her murder?

Gregor happens to have arrived not only after Tisha's recent murder, as well as that of gentle old Dinah Ketchum, expert quilt-maker; the local paper has been running a 3-part series on his most recent case. So he's asked to consult by the local police department...

There are more subplots and interesting characters than I can list here; Gregor himself is having trouble keeping track by the end. Don't worry about Tibor; he perks right up when he finds out about the newspaper series on Gregor, then becomes obsessed with the idea that Bennis might be trying to go on a diet. (He has an interesting conspiracy theory about diets.) Candy Spear, who has the role of Mary in the pageant, is in an abusive marriage, but she's been gaining confidence from her work on stage, so that story has a satisfying ending. Bennis made the mistake of giving Gregor a book about J. Edgar Hoover as an early Christmas present; he now has a kind of anti-conspiracy theory that's driving her crazy.

A few final things I should mention. If you're a big fan of contemporary art (e.g. the kind that seems designed to get into controversies over public funding), or of true crime writers, etc., be warned that the Vereks are not nice people. The woman who is Bethlehem's Episcopal priest is into New Age fads of various sorts; she's not a sympathetic character either. (All of these characters are handled well enough, as far as I'm concerned, but a reader who's into these sorts of things might be miffed that Haddam doesn't take them seriously.)

I read this book years back (1984), when I was slated to go into the service. It was so special to me, as my Dad died when I was little and never had a Dad to answer questions or give advice. This book was perfect for me. It was fairly 1950's-ish but timeless in the advice and guidance it gave. I highly recommend it for a young man going into the world. The book really does speak to a boy as few fathers do (unfortunatley).

I really liked this book for its brutal honestly about plant habits - which trees & shrubs will die back in Zone 4, which need protected sites, which sucker, which are not that attractive. It has an extensive list of cultivars for species - I just wish I knew where to find some of them! My only disappointment is the lesser number of pictures in this edition as opposed to the original.

Years ago i discovered Gregor Demarkian and the world he inhabits, and have been a huge fan ever since. As usual, after i finish the latest of Jane Haddam's Gregor book, i eagerly await the next one. Skeleton Key was definitely worth the wait. Jane never disappoints, and always surprises me with "who dun it." Her characters embody the best and worst in people, and are always realistic.

I've come to care deeply for the people who live on Cavanaugh Street. I look forward to see how Donna decorates the building she along with Gregor and Bennis live in, if old George continues in good health, and mainly how Gregor and Bennis are handling their relationship. Haddam described Bennis'illness so well, that i got worried about her, and had to read the end of the book to see if she would be alright. Now that's what i call great writing, getting the reader so involved with the character, they can't wait to see what happens.

Skeleton Key is the best in a long series of terrific books by Jane Haddam. Now if she would only write faster so her legion of fans wouldnt have to wait so long until the next one, we'd all be happy campers.

I have been a fan of Gregor Demarkian since I first picked up one of Jane Haddam's books, and this is my all time, absolute favorite ~ number 15 in a series of delightful, classic mysteries that include the Armenian-American neighbors in Philadelphia.

I have come to know and love all of Gregor's neighbors, ache for him in his relationship with Bennis, laugh at his confusion, and delight their discovery of each other, although I think Bennis WAS the one in charge here. Perhaps no more.

I can also delight in being totally wrong about "who-done-it", because I never get it right, and Ms. Haddam's solutions are always better! Most of the series actually takes place away from Cavanaugh Street, and this trip is out into the wilds of Litchfield County, Connecticut. Roads with no names to frustrate poor Gregor. A killer on the loose. And with all the clues in front of me, I was STILL wrong again.

I devoured this book, having waited so long for it, and now that I've finished it once, I'm going to sit down with it again - it's too good NOT to read twice!

WOW!

I finished the book and realized two things. The first was that this gem of a series already has sixteen titles. The second? That I have never put down a Gregor Demarkian book with any feeling of dissatisfaction.

SKELETON KEY opens with Bennis Hanniford finding the body of a young heiress in Litchfield County, Conn. It continues when sleuth extrodinarre Gregor Demarkian arrives upon the scene to consult on the case and get his dear "friend" the heck out of there. This book has it all. Great characters, a wonderful setting and an old fashioned money plot. For certainly our young and wealthy heiress was murdered for money. This is Litchfield County. As Haddam quickly shows us money and/or the lack there of is what makes this county tick.

When Ms. Haddam sets out to write a mystery I know she plans on providing a great read. She'll touch base always with the "regulars" our Cavannaugh Street gang. She'll further the Gregor/Bennis relationship. She tosses a plot up in the air and what hits the page is a book, "never quite a cozy and never quite tough". On the page you'll find a classic mystery full of commentary on today's realities...

Always successful this outing is one of if not the best. Full of true slimebags and heroic individuals, you never know quite who's who. I will however never drive in Litchfield after dark. In Skeleton Key Jane Haddam is making the break. With a wink to pumpkins and graves she's leaving the Holiday mystery behind. It's a sad and yet wonderful thing. Sad because I'll miss the part of my holiday celebration and happy because no two books in this series have been cut from the mold and I know now that it won't happen. BUT if I have to wait 2 1/2 years for the next one... well, I'll read it anyway!

I didn't know what to expect when I picked up a copy of The Arcanum in a bookstore at the airport. I needed something to read on a four hour flight, and Janet Gleeson's book definitely fit the bill: it kept my attention for the whole four hours. The capsule on the back cover was what really caught my attention. It promised eccentric kings, dungeons and avarice of all kinds. The book did not disappoint! It's as much an entertaining look at how small things make a big difference in history as it is a factual and well-presented history of the introduction of porcelain manufacture in Europe.

Gleeson did her homework, and that enabled her to bring to life a cast of character that might have come out of the most imaginative of novels. Almost before our eyes we can see the Augustus' obsession with porcelain, and finding a way to manufacture it, drive events in European history. We see a young and desperate alchemist/charlatan who couldn't have gotten himself in more trouble if he tried. Gleeson weaves these, and other, figures and their strange tale into a history that reads almost like a novel.

If you enjoy Barbara Tuchman's books, I suspect that you'll like Janet Gleeson's, as well. Aside from the fascinating story, Gleeson provides a technical discussion of the substance of porcelain ware and its manufacture that should appeal to novice and expert alike. I enjoyed this book immensely; it gave the reader the whole package. I recommend it without reservation and I'll definitely be looking to read more books by this author.

Janet Gleeson's THE ARCANUM is a fascinating history of the "discovery" of porcelain by the Europeans. During the reign of Augustus the Strong, European royalty strived for political and financial superiority over one another. Their quest for riches led to the "science" of alchemy: turning lead into gold. He who had the power would rule absolutely, or so they thought.

Joseph Bottger was brought to the imperial court at Augustus' behest to unlock the secrets of alchemy. During his endless experiments, he stumbled upon a process for creating porcelain which in turn gave rise to the Meissen factory of world renown today. Bottger at one point attempted escape, and was captured and returned to the castle's laboratory. He was spared his life only because he was able to convince Augustus of the potential wealth the manufacture of porcelain could bring. So began Bottger's lifelong work of refining the porcelain's quality with particular regard to the purity of its color and opacity.

He spent decades in the bowels of the palace, for weeks at a time under inhumane working conditions. The firing rooms and the ovens they contained produced not only unbearably high temperatures, but noxious and often fatal fumes that would be likened to today's black lung disease suffered by coal miners.

Ms. Gleeson's tale is not only one of great wealth, but of the dire consequences that befell the not only Augustus, but all of Europe. Wars were fought not only for religion, but also for the desire to control the porcelain markets.

Educational and quite suspenseful. Excellent history lesson, Ms. Gleeson!

This is one of those 'can't-put-downable' real-life true stories where the truth is stranger than fiction, and in Janet Gleeson's capable hands (or under her capable pen) the story, in all its astounding details unfolds beautifully.

Gleeson does rate as one of my favourite authors and she does have the knack of picking out incredibly interesting stories that are peopled with the most astonishing cast of characters. In this case it is the search for the 'recipe' for porcelain, the Arcanum as it was called. It was one of the great mysteries for eighteenth century Europe - the discovery of how it was made was on a par with discovering the philosoper's stone - or the recipe to turn base metals into gold. And in fact the book starts off with a charlatan alchemist (Johann Frederick Böttger) who claims he has discovered this recipe or arcanum.

Unfortunately Bottger becomes a prisoner of his wealthy patron who realises that he is worth more as a captive working for him, than as a free-agent roaming around. Forced to experiment Bottger inardvertently stumbles across the arcanum for Pocelain. Gleeson then shows the lives of other men such as Johan Gregor Herold, an ambitious artist, developed colors and patterns of unparalleled brilliance at the newly established Meissen Porcelain Manufacture; and Johann Joachim Kaendler, a virtuoso sculptor who used the Meissen porcelain to invent a new art form.

The story is one of greed, incredible artistry and innovation and all set against the political ambitions of a warlike and ever-changing European landscape. Gleeson's true skill is in the way she draws out the detail to people the landscape with lifelike and reaslistic detail without cluttering us with dull information or specious descriptions. She is immensely readable, bringing the story and the people alive.

The subject is murder. It's happening in a fading Catholic church in the heart of Gregor Demarkian's Philadelphia; it's happening across the street in the counterpart Episcopalian church that befriends a community of gay men; and Bennis's older sister, who's about to be executed by the state for killing her father and two other sisters, is finally going to reap the rewards of murder. The impending execution forms an intriguing backdrop to the murders that make up the fabric of Gregor's 16th (or 17th, who's counting) encounter with the most base human crime. What I've always loved most about Jane Haddam's novels is the array of unusual, intense, and fully-developed characters. She did not disappoint me with TRUE BELIEVERS. Each one was crisp and clear within the pages of the story as he/she drove the action forward to its amazing conclusion. Add to that the wonderfully imaginative plot that twists and turns itself from confusion to clarity, and you'd have a well-constructed, enjoyable mystery novel with apologies to none, thank you. But Jane Haddam has taken TRUE BELIEVERS a step higher by placing before the reader a plethora of contrasting philosophies as traditional and diverse Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, fundamentalist Baptist, athiest, and agnostic characters find they must share the same space and either learn to fight or to coexist there. She gives her readers much more than simple plot to digest as they seek to understand the viewpoints of others around them. Perhaps that's why Jane Haddam's book can be read and reread many times without ever losing their freshness. And for her fans (like I am), that's a blessing.

Anyone who has followed Jane Haddam's series about Gregor Demarkian and his Armenian American community in Philadelphia, his burgeoning relationship with Bennis Hannaford and the good and bad of the religious community will be enchanted with this newest contribution. The subject matter is thought provoking and witty. The characters are very true to my experiences.

The best thing about the book is the elegant handling of very sensitive and controvsial subjects: the quasi-religious anti gay movement, the ever-convoluted Catholic Church in the United States, the position of all Christian churches toward their members who are gay, and last but not least, capital punishment. The reader is given the situation without judgement and with humor. What could be better.

And it's amazing how similar the fringes of the "movements" all are. Even if they are polar opposites.

This is a notable addition to this series. I recommend it highly.

I've been reading Jane Haddam's Gregor Demarkian series as they came out from the beginning. They've all been good books, and with each one I know that I can expect a fine mystery, complex and realistic characters (who change and grow as the series progresses) and good writing.

True Believers has all three.

The writing is wonderful, the mystery kept me wondering, and the characters are all fully fleshed and realistic. This is true of both the regulars and those who appear just in this book. While I enjoy the character development of Gregor and Bennis and the other inhabitants of Cavanaugh St., I also appreciate the fact that the mystery and the plot are never sacrificed. Rather, the book is made up of interlocking strands, which tie together to make up the story as a whole, but which don't always intermingle.

While the strands may not get mixed together, they progress together, affect each other, and in the end, the whole is cohesive and there are no loose ends.

The story involves deaths at a Philadelphia church, and eventually encompasses the Catholic church where the deaths take place, the Episcopalian one across the street, and the fundamentalists down the road. It's a complicated story, involving child abuse, embezzlement, fundamentalism, the death penalty debate, and gay rights groups, and yet at the end the solution is straightforward and logical.

While the mystery gets solved and all the storylines come together at the end, the characters don't just weather the storm and come out unscathed at the end of the story. Bennis has to deal with the impending execution of her sister (who had committed murder in an earlier book). People in Jane Haddam's books deal with the consequences of their own, and of others', actions, and it's part of what makes this book, and this series, as vital and interesting as it is. The books are always complex and the treatment of the issues involved, whether it's child abuse or anti-abortion activism, or the death penalty, is never superficial. These are realistic characters, dealing with real-life difficulties and their lives change as a result.

True Believers is one of the stronger entries in the Gregor Demarkian series, and that is, in my opinion, saying quite a lot.