Writer Cleo Grayson McCarthy is having trouble finding her muse on her latest work. Her friend Grace offers her cottage on Cameo Lake in New Hampshire to recharge her creative batteries. Now she is away from her husband and children and other distractions of everyday life. The lake is beautiful, and soon she is making progress on her book. Her neighbor across the lake catches her interest as well. His name is Ben Turner, and soon he and Cleo become friendly. Cleo's family comes to the lake for the weekend. She notices her husband Sean has pulled away from her, especially when he goes back home and leaves her with the kids. He has been getting more and more involved in work--or so he says. Eight years before, she experienced the pain of his infidelity, and she fears it is happening again. She sends her children to day camp, and in this time her friendship with Ben deepens. Secretive, wounded Ben slowly begins to open up.... The protagonists' professions are used beautifully in the narrative with ingenious references to prose and music composition. The lively first-person narrative eloquently tells the story of a woman slowly realizing that her life needs to change, and finding the courage to face grief, guilt, and pain in the change.

I'm a guy who up until now has always read nonfiction. However, I've recently discovered that if I'm going to read "make-believe" once in a while, how much I might enjoy reading novels by female authors. I'm finding out how much I can learn from them. . . especially the nuances of the authors' thought process, especially when falling in love. I would therefore like to recommend Cameo Lake, by Susan Wilson, mostly for men, who will learn just how a woman allows the budding romance to unfold. Most valuable, as I've said, are all the shades of gray that most men probably don't pick up on; for example, her understanding of shy people, pg 24. . . being excited initially with just being friends with Ben, pg 32. . . more of the same excitement on pg 68. . . her disappointment on pg 106 that he was too polite under special circumstances. . . admitting enjoying his nearness on pg 114. . . a white lie on pg 118. . . finding him increasingly attractive, pg 120. . . further, a different sort of man, pg 125. . . lots of nuanced revelations on pg 144, as her feelings for him begin to increase (lucky guy). . . resisting emotional urges, pg 191. . . agonizing over her feelings to the point of being sick, pg 196. . . "smitten with memory", pg 222. . . her own shyness revealed on pg 237. . . hey, it all adds up to a sweet and loving account of how a woman falls in love with a man. This is not a fluff book, although it is an easy read. And finally, a glance at the author's portrait on the back of the book shows all these nuances on her face, with soft eyes that penetrate deep.

This book definately threw me for a loop, but it was very worthwhile. I wasn't used to 3rd person perspective, and it was hard to adapt too. The first chapter was a bit slow, but once I started to get into it, I couldn't put the book down. I absolutely love romances, and this had it. It's just a wonderful novel, taking place at a wonderful place that you can fully image in your mind. You will never forget this book after you're done reading!

A good guide from a good company. Not too much has changed from the previous edition though - there are some more detailed maps of Colombo.

This well-organized, chatty yet meaty guide book is all you need to assist you on a trip to Sri Lanka.

We went to Sri Lanka in the high season (February, when the place is full of Germans and other Europeans) and the only reservation we made in advance was two nights at the Galle Face Hotel (see Columbo chapter, where to stay, top end), a fabulous old relic of colonial architecture. With the help of the Lonely Planet, we "winged" everything else: train tickets to Kandy, car rental, dive trips & bungalows on the southwestern beaches. Sri Lanka is a diverse, fabulous place to explore, and the Lonely Planet made it super easy.

Great historical chapter "Facts About the Country" makes for good reading while you're waiting for your cold lassi to come to the table.

This book goes into deep detail about Sri Lanka. Being a Sri Lankan myself resideing in Australia. I found this book defintely worth taking on your trip. The best thing about the book is, that as new devolpements come, the Lonley Planet website allows you to upgrade (free of charge) the information in it, by you downloading the new revised pages. As long you keep the book updated the book will always have the latest information. This is not-only this guide book, but for all of Lonley Planets guide books. Normally I would give this book 4 stars, but for this feature alone 5 stars is worth the effort.

I'm a huge fan of Susan King's writing and think she's one of the most original authors in the historical romance genre, but unfortunately this one didn't do it for me. I love the idea of Michaelmas being a healer, of Diarmid being in need of her skills for his niece, of his former skills as a surgeon being dulled by an injury, etc. etc. All of it seemed wonderful and original but once I started reading, plowing through this book was the literary equivalent of walking through Scots oatmeal. There just doesn't seem to be any romantic spark to these characters...I know other reviewers have praised the quiet buildup of the romance, but I just couldn't find any romantic appeal in their relationship. There was no danger, no suspense, no real conflict...it seems to me this was another one of King's great ideas that just didn't seem to pan out as successfully as others. Lovers of Scottish historical romance won't be disappointed, however. Her knack for detail and atmosphere isn't dimmed. This time, the romance is.

This book ended lovely, but getting into it took some work. I think that part of it may be that the names were hard to work out the way they sounded in your head. I thought the book would have been much better if the characters names that been easier to read. The story seemed to be going no where fast and then it picked up somewhere around page 75. This book would not be one of the first books that I recommend, but it would be in the middle.

I was wondering if you so happen to have "Lady Miracle" in hard back? I have seem to have misplaced my library's 'Lady Miracle' book. Thanxs Jennie-Rose

This is one of Susan Andersens older books and I'm really glad that they re released it again. It's one of her darker books and is really easy to get into.

The re-issue of Susan Andersen's romantic suspense On Thin Ice remains every bit as hauntingly chilling as it was almost seven years ago. DEA Undercover cop Mick Vinicor's latest assignment takes him to investigate on Olympics ice-skating medalist Sasha Miller to recover the lost heroin that was unaccounted for during a drug-syndicate bust that sent her bosom confidante Lon Morrison to prison. Mick's cynical mind leads him to believe that Sasha is involved in drug trafficking.

However that is before a deranged and cold-blooded killer is scheming to threaten Sasha's life as she warns the now-released Lon off drug-trafficking. Mick's protective streak stems from an irresistible attraction towards Sasha and finds himself steeped in agony over his lies and betrayal when love strikes.

On Thin Ice offers razor-sharp thrills and a dimensional villain who is capable of terrifying malevolence as she is of garnering our sympathy. Susan Andersen masterfully sweeps in a passionate romance between a cop and suspect with erotic tension and emotional turmoil with detailed research on ice-skating. The hot passion between the chivalrous Mick and traumatized Sasha glides smoothly into the hearts of readers, dispelling the chills that linger with some terrific moments of evil and sabotage.

I loved this book! I think it is a re-release. This one is on my keeper shelf.

I love the fact that she makes him grovel, and that when he does something wrong that she calls him on it.

The killer was pretty obvious, it had an o.k. storyline. I loved the chemistry between the main 2. Definately a romance, if you like this book, I highly recommend Obsessed and Shadow Dance. They were great. Also, you would probably like Helen Myers and Lisa Jackson books. Also Erica Spindler is really good. And always, Nora Roberts and Mariah Stewart!

If you want more mystery and less romance, I would try Robin Burcell, and Iris Johanson.

This is a novel about spiritual warfare.

The protagonists are a sinister New Age practitioner called Mrs. Mayfield, and two flawed, eccentric Anglican priests. Caught in the middle are the narrator, a ferocious thirtysomething career woman called Carter Graham, and her husband Kim.

The first half of the book is a fast-moving adventure story, with the plot being driven by revelations about Kim's past (involving Mrs. Mayfield, and his first wife, Sophie). For much of the second half the pace slows and more serious themes emerge. Carter moves from her earlier indifference to Christianity towards a tentative engagement. There is much discussion of the nature of evil.

The underlying theology is Anglican (roughly equates to Episcopalian), liberal but clearly supernaturalist, and greatly informed by Jung.

I enjoyed this book. I haven't read any of Susan Howatch's novels before, and I am sure I shall read others. It's hard to find a writer to compare her with (some have apparently suggested Trollope, which I think is just batty). To me she reads like a modern and much more populist version of Charles Williams (novelist from the 1930s and 1940s and friend of C.S. Lewis).

I had some reservations. I felt that a reader who just wanted a good adventure story and didn't have any interest in theology or psychology would find parts of the book tedious and would want to skip them. I also found the writing uneven. Some of the dialogue clunks. Carter's idiosyncratic vocabulary (e.g. "tiger-thumpers" for sexist men who try to sabotage high-flying women) became tiresome after a while. And the social context of the characters is not always happily observed. E.g. I don't believe that a partner in a London commercial law firm would shop for an important dinner party at the local branch of Safeways supermarket!

Despite these reservations I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to anyone who shares the author's interests. Three stars is a fair verdict.

Even though it is not the first book in the series, this is probably the perfect place for readers new to or uncertain about delving into Susan Howatch's Starbridge novels to start out. The story is as engrossing as any of others but more linear, and the involvement of the Starbridge characters comes about from plot circumstances, rather than supplying the main impetus of the book. I loved this book and felt Carter had a lot to say to me as a person both exploring her work interactions and uncovering her own deep rooted spirituality. I wish I'd had some of her pithy precepts guiding me when I worked in a male-dominated profession. I'm always sad to finish a Howatch book because it means returning to real life where there is very little means or time for grappling with ones own spiritual beliefs. One aspect of the story I found less convincing was Kim's occult involvements - the motivations for him to succumb were never compelling nor completely spelled out; the sexual compulsion component escaped me.

If you crave great characters, good plotting, and intense theological musings, then any of the Starbridge series will luxuriously satisfy these urges, especially this one. If you are otherwise leery of the theological aspects, then you owe it to yourself to expose yourself once to the gentle sampling in the "High Flyer," just to be sure it's an honest aversion rather than reactionary prejudice. By the way, another writer superb at combining Anglican theology and great mystery is Sara Maitland - check out her book "Ancestral Truths."

Thank God for novelists like Susan Howatch. At a time when Christian novels are so full of the apocalypse and end of days Ms. Howatch's The High Flyer comes through! An intelligent story of the struggle of good against evil and the ultimate gift of redemption that sings praise to the Living God with faith and reason. It is obvious that Ms. Howatch has been well blessed with a healthy vibrant faith that is fully integrated with an equally healthy and strong intellect.

Perhaps Carter's dialogue is a little tough to take, but then so is Carter. (Who isn't when they think they have all the answers?) In a world where success is the misguided measure of our worth as human beings, I found Carter to be very familiar in her failings, in her strengths, her struggle, and in her vulnerability. And so very redeemable. Thank God for the journey and the gentle companion who is never what we expect.

P.S. David Ford's "The Shape of Living" is a very special added bonus!

I first read this book more than 15 years ago, and it was my introduction to Susan Isaacs' work. Since then, my coopy has literally fallen aprt, and I was delighted to see a reprint.

The heroine, Marcia, has a good life. Her family wants her to have a different life. How Marcia gets what she alsways dreamed of and makes her family happy is a funny, bitter, and very true story. Anyone who has ever tried to forge a life of their own will see themselves in Marcia.

I know this book so well, I sometimes quote parts of it. It has never failed to give me pleasure, and it has the right mix of good writing, good characters and good plot to keep the story moving.

Buy it and read it before Labor Day!

Susan Wheeler's artwork was my primary reason for ordering Victoria Rose's Tea Party. The illustrations are lovely, but they are more decorative than scenic. My little girl will just love the tea set and the book, which includes paper doll bunnies to play with. If you are looking for a wonderful gift for a dainty little girl, this delightful introduction to preparing a proper tea party is a perfect choice. If your focus is on expanding your collection of Susan Wheeler's artwork, I would first recommend Victoria Rose's Christmas Caroling Party or A Child's Book of Prayers.

OK, review no 83, nobody's gonna read this, but I just had to, if only to express my profound disappointment that one of the greatest authors in romance is losing her touch. Really, the storyline was borderline believable and the end was ridiculous, sorry. Also, the characters were lacking the warmth of earlier characters. Nealy's just so indecisive, does she want to be free or trapped, picky or loosened up. And honestly, for a woman who wants a normal life, she certainly is right up the wrong path of life... Sadly, I hated this book, it didn't give me goose bumps (except for the kid episodes, which were great. The kids are really the book's stars) and that is so unusual for an SEP book. Thank God the book she is promising for next year sounds like a pure winner! Two very much loved characters hitting it off sounds like a lot of fun, sort of "Heaven Texas" meets "Lady be Good" although hopefully at last with an original storyline.

Despite the fact that the politics are idealistic and the plot somewhat far-fetched, this is a highly entertaining read. Cornelia Case, widow of an assassinated president, forced to continue in the role of First Lady, escapes the White House and watchful eyes of the Secret Service to begin a road trip to ordinary life. Along the way her car is stolen and she meets ex-journalist-looking-for-a-story Mat Jorik and the two children his ex-wife claimed were his on their birth certificates. The girls, Lucy and Button, are wonderful characters, Mat makes a perfect tough guy with a soft heart hero. And Nealy makes an appealing heroine. Don't take this one too seriously and you'll enjoy yourself immensely. I would have given it 5 stars, but the corny epilogue ruined it for me. The novel should have ended in Mabel the Winnebago where the love story began.

Nobody does it better than Susan Elizabeth Phillips. For all her vaunted talent in creating wonderful romantic comedy, SEP knows how to create characters that walk right off the page and straight into your heart. The laughs and chuckles are there--and so are the heart-tugging moments. Mat is, IMHO, one of her best heroes, a strong man who can fall in love with a woman who's achieving her own personal growth and strength--and yet not be threatened by her success. His strength comes from within, not from artificial measurements of macho. And that's the best kind of tough in my book--and in this book, too. Shoot, this guy is tough enough to cope with a teenager, a baby with a mind of her own, and to love Nealy even when their lives head in an unexpected direction at the end. A real hero indeed.

As for Nealy? Gosh, I adored her. Her journey across America and back echoes the journeys a lot of us have taken. While the ending initially surprised me, I think it's perfect. Here's a woman who learns her own strengths, learns what family and community in the largest sense are about, and learns to accept her own special talents.

And as for Button and Lucy? SEP has created 2 more memorable characters.

This book is one you won't want to put down--but it should be savored. It has everything: a sexy hero, an appealing heroine, bust-your-ribs funny scenes, and achingly, meltingly beautiful moments between characters you just want to wrap your arms around. First Lady is really special--and the ending leaves a reader with a theme that speaks to all women.

I liked Susan Carroll's "Bride Finder," but this book was a disappointment. The historical detail was well-researched, but the characters were superficial and stereotypical. For example, the heroine was continually held up by the other characters to be courageous and spirited, but she whined and dissolved into tears all the time. King John was simply a one-dimensional evil villain. There was no complexity or depth to the characters in a novel that was long enough to allow for such depth. The middle section dragged. The writing itself was filled with cliches. I think the story was good, but the book wasn't well-written enough or vivid enough to fulfill the potential of the plot. I found myself skimming most of the second half, something I rarely do.

Very rarely do I find a book portraying this time period, yet alone doing a good job with it. Most writers concentrate on The Norman invasion and some "pet" of William the Conquerer. Ms. Carroll's book, Winterbourne, deals with a later period, that of King John and the Magna Carter. Such an important part of Western history and politic thought. Seeing our hero struggle with the dilemma of following one's pledge or one's sense of "justice" is interesting. I felt that the story was a bit harsh, but then, so was the time period which this was written about...it gave the plot a sense of realism.

I have but 2 criticisms. First, the time jumped so quickly I didn't get the correct feeling of elapsed time. Jaufry was gone for such long perids of time (which warriors of that time period would have been required to do)yet becuase months passed from the end of one chapter to the beginning of another, I didn't get the feeling of separation. Another example is when our hero saves or heroine, we know they are going to get married, but the next chapter begins with the birth of their first child. No passage of time, no stories of dealings of them spending time together trying to build a life. Second, I didn't like the way in which Ronald's story (Jaufry's bastard son) ended (or didn't end). It seemed lame, and I kept wishing to see him "pop up" again.

Thus saying, all in all I felt this was a wonderful story and would reccommend it to anyone.

I love to read a really good book with a lot of adventure and this had it. The characters were great. Melyssan, the heroine, was a little teary eyed but that is how I would have felt if haveing to face a lot of what she had to go through. Jaufre, the hero, made me feel as if I knew him personally with all the depth on his feelings towards a lot of situations on his beliefs. He was a little crude but when in depth on how he really felt it was understandable. Genevieve, the daughter, was the best character of all. I rarely find a book that shows that much attention towards the daughter of the hero and heroine and Susan Carroll had me thinking and relateing to my daughter as well a lot as if it was my own child. After reading "The Bride Finder" I wasn't so sure if any of her other books would be as execellent but this was definitely a book I would read again.

Susan Orlean's "The Orchid Thief" is an intriguing look at people who are obsessed with collecting orchids. Originally, Ms. Orlean's main focus was to write a profile of John Laroche in "The New Yorker" magazine. Laroche is an offbeat character who spent a great deal of time and money amassing a huge orchid collection. When Laroche banded together with a group of Seminole Indians to steal orchids from the Fakahatchee Strand, a 63,000-acre preserve in southwest Florida, he was arrested and tried for his crime.

Orlean eventually expanded her article on Laroche into this book. She widened the scope of her research and came up with many interesting tidbits about orchids and those who collect them. For example, I learned that orchids often outlive human beings. In fact, orchids can theoretically live forever, since they have no natural enemies. Some orchid owners designate a person as an "orchid heir" in their wills, since the owners expect that their precious orchids will outlive them.

Orlean has a delicious sense of wonder, a beautiful and lyrical writing style, and an eye for fascinating details. She has the ability to place the reader in the middle of a swamp, at an orchid show, or on an expedition into the wilds of South America. Not only does Orlean provide the reader with little known facts about orchids, but she also explores some of the oddities of human nature. What causes people to become so passionate about collecting orchids that they risk their fortunes or even their lives to acquire rare species of this coveted plant? When does a passion for collecting orchids become an unhealthy obsession?

If you are tired of reading formulaic novels, you may want to join Susan Orlean on her exciting and memorable journey into the world of orchid collecting. You do not have to be a plant lover, a gardener or a botanist to enjoy "The Orchid Thief."

Susan Orlean has written an astonishing non-fiction work that has it all: An enjoyable and entertaining narrator, our author; an idiosyncratic anti-hero - John Laroche; an unfathomable body of craft and knowledge - orchid gathering, cloning and propagation; a sultry setting - the Fakahatchee Swamp in Florida; a strapping supporting cast - Florida's Seminole Indians; and finally the foolish, outrageous world of orchid enthusiasts.

Susan reveals to us that the combination of: orchids, plant cloning, Seminole Indians, endangered plant species, an eccentric Orchid Thief and a crime of theft in a Florida swamp were irresistible subjects for a story. You will find her book compelling too! I read it through twice, not wanting to lose contact with these exotic characters.

"The Orchid Thief" is an expansion of an article written for "The New Yorker." It is well worth your while to read the book. The author enlarges on the history of collecting orchids, orchid hunters, and the flower itself. She is to be commended for her research on all and the Seminole Indians as well. Did you know the Seminoles are technically still at war with the United States? They are the only tribe that never signed a treaty.

The title character, John LaRoche is almost-but-not-quite worth the focus he receives. He has a quirky mindset, an enthusiasm that is catching; but his total self-absorption gets tiresome. His knowledge and keenness for the art and science of plants is entertaining. But hey, the guy is a small time crook, a trail of unrealized dreams, and a very poor friend. In spite of many denials, I think Susan had more than a mild crush on him; why else put up with all his inconsiderate nonsense?

The description of the various orchids is masterful, (How I wished for color plates!) and Susan was vivid in all interior and exterior moods in her depiction of Florida. So much so, I would state southern Florida is the underlying theme of the book. Her experiences and bravery in the beastly Fakahatchee Swamp, home of many wild orchids, are dramatic. Plunging into brackish water up to the waist, and having to toe around for submerged alligators on the squishy bottom is not for the faint of heart.

Part of the enjoyment of this fine non-fictional work is the very likeable Susan herself. She tends to be shy, hates the heat, is homesick, tired of driving all over, fears the swamp, but she persists. The end result is well worth her efforts.