When I decided to read "The Ivy Tree" by Mary Stewart, I was hoping for an engrossing mystery that would keep me captivated. Unfortunately, this book just never managed to grip me, and I found myself struggling to finish it. I'm aware that my opinion is in the minority here, so I guess it comes down to the fact that Mary Stewart's writing just isn't my cup of tea.

The story revolves around Mary Grey, a woman who has recently come to England from Canada, and who looks amazingly similar to glamorous missing heiress Annabel Winslow. "The Ivy Tree" starts out with a great first chapter as Conor, a distant relation of Annabel's who now runs the farm at Whitescar, verbally attacks Mary believing her to be Annabel. But once the misunderstanding is straightened out, Conor begins to see what an asset Mary could be.

Conor is convinced that Annabel's ailing grandfather is not planning to leave him any part of Whitescar when he dies despite all the long years that Conor has worked there. So, he hires Mary Grey to come back claiming that she's Annabel, so that she will receive most of Whitescar in the old man's will and then can give it to Conor. The only thing that could present a problem is Annabel's cousin Julie, who will almost certainly be in the will as well, but Conor is confident that she won't get in the way. After convincing a reluctant Mary to go along with his scheme, they put their plan in motion.

But things don't run as smoothly as they should. Tensions run high at Whitescar when Julie arrives for a visit. Conor begins to show a violent and unsettling side to himself that makes Mary wonder what kind of man he really is. And Mary herself is hiding a shocking secret that could put her in serious danger if anyone, especially Conor, were to find out!

The ending of "The Ivy Tree" really picks up, but for me, the majority of the book just dragged on and on without enough action to keep me genuinely interested. Though the quality of writing is good and the characters are well developed, this story just didn't hold my attention. But even though I found this book a bit hard to get through, I did still enjoy it, and I would recommend you form an opinion on "The Ivy Tree" for yourself.

I have read and reread this book so many times! I already know the plot but the descriptions and dialogue are really enjoyable. The atmosphere the author creates is so indefinably romantic and enjoyable, I don't know how the author does it but I am grateful, I only wish there were even more of her books out there, if anyone is looking for more Mary Stewart check out Madame, Will You Talk, Nine Coaches Waiting, Wildfire at Midnight, Airs Above The Ground, Touch Not the Cat, and My Brother Michael, they are also incredible!

My mom convinced me to read this and when I finally was persuaded to read it I found that Mary Stewart is a literary genuis. She has a rare ability to bring her writing to life. Even if you think the endings to her books are predictible, the trip ther is the best part. I would recomend this to anyone who likes good writing, romance, and life endangering mystery this book is for you!

"A haunting novel of suspense and romance that mingles pungent description and vivid terror as only Mary Stewart can ... builds to a rousing finish" -Best Sellers (from back of book)

"...rich in excitement and sheer narrative flow" - Anthony Boucher, The New York Times (from back of book)

"Terror in the Hitchcock manner...a novel that terrifies as it entertains." -Columbus Dispatch (from cover of book)

Lovely and overworked Gianetta has buried her emotional pain and heartbreak to such a degree that after a few years she longs to get "somewhere away from everything". Upon the advice of her mother, she takes her week or so at a hotel in Skye at the "back of beyond".

In the midst of the timeless beauty, quiet and peace of this mountain haven come murder and evil rituals rooted in ancient beliefs. And so, too, does love come back into her life.

Gianetta Brook has had a rough go of it. Lovely, red-haired and seemingly a London jet-setter, she is actually a vulnerable young woman with a sterling set of ethics and lingering loyalties. Her romantic history, however, is disappointing. As a younger model, awash with the glow of new-found fame, she meets writer Nicholas Drury, 10 years her senior. Sardonic and handsome, he sweeps her away in a whirlwind courtship that ends in a swift marriage doomed to fail as she believes he only sees her slick model's veneer and not the innocent girl beneath the gloss. Four years later, Gianetta finds herself divorced, still modeling and utterly exhausted by her seemingly sophisticated life. A vacation to the isle of Skye in the Hebrides is recommended by her well-meaning parents. Especially as she wants to avoid the coronation throngs crowding London in May of 1953, Gianetta quickly accepts their advise. Within days she finds herself at the small Camas Fhionnaridh Hotel at the foot of the Cuillin where fishing and climbing is the order of the day and the fast pace of London is left far behind her. Or so she thinks. Instead of peace and quiet, she is first assaulted by the advent of her ex-husband, then by the fact that all of the company staying in the hotel are actually suspected of being a killer who has murdered a local girl in a bizarre ritualistic way involving the Old Religion's tradition of setting wildfire in honor of the Beltane. In the styple of a classic Agatha Christie drawing room police procedural, Gianetta's values are put to the test as the local police enlist her aid in creating their dragnet and the clues begin to point unerringly towards identifying Nicholas as the unknown murderer.
Ever present in this well-written story is Mary Stewart's evident love of nature and her uncanny ability to impose on the reader's mind's eye the majesty of the Scottish Hebrides--the towering mountains, the misty bogs and the glittering lochs. Her expert juxtaposition of the modern day coronation ceremony with the Highland lore of old is scintillating in that it evokes an intelligent Hitchcockian anticipation and delightfully squeamish dread of what is to come as one turns to the next page. Most of the romance takes place outside the bounds of the novel; the reader must conjur up his/her own imagery of the couples relationship before and after the actual storyline. For those who liked Du Maurier's Jamaica Inn, I think Wildfire at Midnight will equally enthrall.

This is my favourite Mary Stewart Novel. Gianetta is getting away from a bad marriage. He thought her the perfect, mature spouse, instead she was a young, insecure woman in love and he betrays her. Getting away from it all, she takes a vacation to the Isle of Skye, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. There she finds a mix of fellow guests, but her peaceful vacation meant to repair her soul is shattered when her ex husband arrives.

It is as moody and atmospheric as the Isle itself, and grows darker as they soon discover there is a madman aloose in the group, killing people in ancient pagan fashion. As they near the Pagan Holiday of Beltaine (May Day) where bonfires were lit high in the hills, she fears that madman may be her exhusand.

A super timeless read that you will never forget.

I've been reading romances since I was a teenager, all Harlequins and Silhouettes until recently when I discovered Jennifer Crusie and the chick-lit world of "contemporary romance." When I rented Catch a Dream from the library, I expected it to be a longer version of the typical Harlequin/Silhouette fare involving an apparently frivolous city-girl rescued by the tough, I'm-a-real-man rancher hiding barnloads of emotional pain. But it's not the typical, much overdone Harlequin/Silhouette garbage and it's the characters who made all the difference. Zack and Meg are not silly people who do silly things because the author can't think of any worthwhile motivation for them. They're likeable and fallible and worth the effort of reading about. Zack is actually a manly man with some inner strength - how rare is that? Even more rare, Meg is an intelligent, funny, moral person who has made (and continues to make) some questionable choices, but who deals with the consequences like a true grown-up without overindulging in self-pity or whining. This isn't a great book and it's not a perfect book, but it's a book that will keep you reading, a book that won't disappoint you.

Cinderella and Prince Charming move over, here come Zack and Meg. She's an unlikely heroine, having just been in trouble with the law, and left down-and-out and stranded by her finace. He's a reluctant hero with a wounded heart. They desperately need each other, even though outside forces and their own fears conspire to keep them apart. This book will make you believe that dreams can come true. Don't miss it! This is contemporary romance at its finest.

Zack Burkhart is one of the most appealing heros I've had the pleasure to meet in the pages of a book. He's rugged, sexy, and thinks outside the envelope--my kind of man.

Meg Delaney is a fun heroine who doesn't take herself too seriously. She's had a lot of hurt in her life, but it doesn't make her maudlin, it instead makes her determined not to repeat old mistakes.

The subplot/subromance of the mother-in-law and ranch hand was almost as fun to read about as the the romance between Meg and Zach. I loved seeing slightly older characters portrayed with fully functioning sex drives.

This is a great summer read. Get yourself an iced tea, a lounge chair and a sunny back yard or beach and enjoy yourself.

If this book isn't a RITA finalist for the year 2001, I'd wonder why.

This is the second book in the trilogy I've read and I must say it's a bit bleak. It was assigned to my 10 year old's class (mainly because we live in "Genesee Country") and I'm glad I read it first. Although rich in historical accuracy, Mem's mother's depression is a real turn off for some younger children. I found both this book and "The Journey To Nowhere" quite morose with little joy to redeem them. I did enjoy it as an adult, but they are written with kids in mind and their harshness can be quite unsettling.

The book Frozen Summer is sad, eventful, and exciting . It's about a girl named Rememberance Nye. Her family had moved to New York the year before, and her mother had just given birth to a baby girl named Lily in the middle of an unusual blizard in the middle of June. A summer frost killed all of their crops, and all that remained were sweet peas. Rememberance's (Mem's) mother started having unusual spills. She wasn't in the proper condition to take care of a new baby. Mem had to give up going to school so she could take care of her mother, brother, and little sister.
My favorite part was when Mem's teacher came to live with mem's family and helped take care of baby Lily. I hope you will read this book by Mary Jane Auch, I believe you will enjoy it as I have.

Have you every thought about how life was like back in the 1800's? Well, if you would like to experience that, then you should read Frozen Summer. The story is about a family that face hardships after hardships. The family's first hardship is when they leave from their family. Then a baby girl is born and the mother gets sick. She can't tend for the baby and the little boy so the main character has to take care of her sister and brother and also the house work. This is truly a good story if you are up to reading a story that will make you like your life 100% more.

You really do have to be a Catholic to truly appreciate this wonderful book. As a Catholic schoolgirl entering her eleventh year in Catholic school (scary, isn't it?), I can fully relate to this. I honestly don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my entire life.

You know what the funniest thing about this book is? Everything in it is true...from the different kinds of nuns to Father What-a-Waste (sigh); from the description of mortal and venial sins to the purchasing of pagan babies. Well, they don't sell pagan babies anymore, but they did in my mother's day.

Even a staunch Catholic like my grandmother would have to crack a smile at the descriptive, colorful language and the abfab portrayal of the sometimes ridiculous traditions of the world's most scandalous, under-fire church. This book is a must-read for all Roman Catholics, practicing or no.

I laughed all the way through this, which must be a sin! If you are a Catholic like me you will remember everything this book talks about. In fact, I had forgotten a lot of it. I'm a little surprised it did not go into Knights of Columbus Halls (a.k.a. - the Catholic bar) and Bingo (a.k.a. - Catholic gambling) a little more. But heck, they sure covered everything else. I have to go now, I have to finish crossing myself and say a few dozen hail Mary's.

...because if you went to Catholic school, you can relate. I first read this book ten years ago when I was in Catholic school, and the nuns didn't take it away from me (amazing!). I laughed my a** off. For those of you who have read it and aren't Catholic, yes, we do practice for everything, yes, the nuns are that bad (but they don't have clickers anymore). This book is hilarious. Please, please get it and read it, cover to cover. You will laugh every time you read it.

... this book needed a better editor, however, the stories included certainly make up for it. It was very obvious how talented Mitchell was. I only regret that parts of the stories were missing. I think this book is more for fans of Margaret Mitchell rather than fans of Gone With the Wind as the stories aren't nearly as sophisticated and deal with completely different subject matter.

Being a collector of GWTW memorabilia, I'm always anxious to find anything about its author and to see how her incredibly creative mind worked. To find the material in the manner in which Jane Eskridge and her beau did only adds to the fascination of the book. The history and pictures included are informative, and although some of Margaret's stories are incomplete, the talent exhibited for such a very young age only makes the reader shake his/her head in amazement. She considered herself a "made writer" instead of a "born writer" but was badly mistaken. All of us who have struggled through the years with writing wish we had been so blessed. Jane Eskridge did a remarkable job in editing this latest work of Margaret Mitchell.

I have been a fan of Gone With the Wind and Margarett Mitchell since I was a junior in high school, the same year the book celebrated its 50th anniversary. Since then I have re-read GWTW (many times) and anything else I have been able to get my hands on pertaining to GWTW and Margaret Mitchell and I have to say this book was a great find!

The actual writings are a bit hard to follow as there are bits and pieces - and in some cases whole chapters missing, but all and all it is a very nice glimpse of her talent and love of writing even at a very early age. What I was most impressed with were the pictures and background information provided about Ms. Mitchell's life and life in Atlanta at the time. The physical quality of the book is very nice as well - the pages are a slick heavy stock paper and the deckled eges were a very nice touch. I have no complaints and can only hope that somewhere in the recesses of another old building in Atlanta there are more such treasures to be found.

Just purchased this book to give as a Christmas present for my Mom. During the summer and after school, Mom looks after two of my neices that are 5 and 8 years old.

The book is softcovered, consisting of 280 pages and the illustrations within are fully black and white. I like this book as the patterns are full sized and "reads" extremely well for a child, with directions clearly written.

I rate this book 4 stars because the 16" doll pattern IS NOT included as a project with the book. Major bummer! The 16" companion doll pattern named "Mary Marie" Making Memories (designed by Ellen Thompson) must be purchased separately. I've recently located such pattern and it was hard to come by. (The Mary Marie doll is also sold as a porcelain reproduction and she is beautiful.)

Truly, I believe this book makes an excellent tool to create beautiful home spun gifts and memories when used by a loving adult (Mother/Nana) and child. What a wonderful way to learn to sew!

While all the Mary Frances series is excellent, I found the sewing book the best of the bunch. The basic premise is that various sewing implements come to life for Mary Frances, a girl of about 9 or so, and they teach her how to sew, beginning with outfitting a sewing basket, then learning 10 or so basic stitches using the kind of cloth that people do counted cross stitch on, then progressing to a sampler, and then on to doll clothes. The Art Deco style of the illustrations is very reminiscent of the L. Frank Baum Oz series. One can enjoy the book just as a delightful fairy story, or one can use it as the basis of a hand-sewing curriculum. I used this to teach my 9 y.o. daughter, and she enjoyed it thoroughly, often waking in the morning and working on her sewing while sitting on her bed; I look forward to teaching other groups of girls in 4-H or at the Waldorf school that my daughter attends.

i have the whole set of mary frances books (in hard cover). they are reproductions. these books are so wonderful, its hard to put into words. the books are a special piece of history and i highly recommend all of them. the mary frances sewing book is esp. charming.

I like this author- but she jumps around with her charaters too much and it is easliy confusing.

This murder mystery is a fast paced and cleverly disguised journey. I was wrong in each instance along the way when, in my mind, I labeled one of the characters the likely perp and I just about covered them all.

In all honesty, before this I was not familiar with Clark's other titles or her name. I can guarantee you that will now change. She's my kind of author.

Mary Jane Clark's best suspense so far. I've never cared more about the people in a thriller. My heart was racing and aching for the boys. Loved, loved, loved this book.

When I was taking Cosmetology back in the 2000-01 school year, they recommended to purchase this version of Milady's Standard Textbook of Cosmetology. They were only available new in Canada and cost [money], and came with the theory book as well. Our teacher also had the old 1996 version of this textbook for sale, used. However, this is a better purchase. There are more pictures and colors, its not as drab as the previous version. I have to disagree with reviewers who said this is not a detailed book, I found it to be quite detailed and informative in its information. The book meant to be used in a classroom setting, where an instructor teachers and elaborates from this book. You cannot read this book and automatically cut hair, that is where the practical aspect of cosmetology comes in, when you are doing it hands on instead of reading. But this is a helpful tool for aspiring apprentices or students in cosmetology, whether you want to learn about Coloring, Perms, whatever the case, this is definately a worthwhile tool to have.

I bought the 1996 version of this book in June of 2000 and within one month I was signed up for cosmetology school. Then I got to school and they used the 2000 edition so I was already prepared. For those who think this book doesn't go into detail please realize that this is a textbook and it is part of a series of books for teaching. There are 2 workbooks that go along with this book. One for Theory and one for Practical. I was given a 1990 edition of this book as well by a friend of mine. The most noticable change between the 3 editions is that the 2000 edition has more actual photographs and fewer illustrations. If you are using this book for school study then I do recommend you buy the state board exam review booklet. Then when you have free time you can quiz yourself. Just remember that this book is meant to be used along with an instructor. If you are looking for a haircutting book only then I don't think you want this one. It only has a few pages on haircutting and about 12 pictures of haircut instructions.

I bought the 1996 version of this book in June of 2000 and within one month I was signed up for cosmetology school. Then I got to school and they used the 2000 edition so I was already prepared. For those who think this book doesn't go into detail please realize that this is a textbook and it is part of a series of books for teaching. There are 2 workbooks that go along with this book. One for Theory and one for Practical. I was given a 1990 edition of this book as well by a friend of mine. The most noticable change between the 3 editions is that the 2000 edition has more actual photographs and fewer illustrations. If you are using this book for school study then I do recommend you buy the state board exam review booklet. Then when you have free time you can quiz yourself. Just remember that this book is meant to be used along with an instructor. If you are looking for a haircutting book only then I don't think you want this one. It only has about 12 pictures.

The first project I built from this book is the Chimney Cabinet. Either the top Door Stile is too narrow or the door too short either way I lucked out and layed the door frame and doors out first before installing finding a 1" gap above the top door to the Stile. The dimensions are wrong. Second, The placement of the top door handle will hit a shelf darn near dead center!! These types of dimensional errors are totally in-excusable, and I recommend that all projects in this book be checked dimensionally before building.

Let me think. How many projects of David have I made? Five or six I believe. The most time consuming was the Ohio corner cupboard, about four or five months. A fun easy project was the shoe-foot settle table. In about two months you will get a nice 46 inch around four person kitchen table.Current project is a work table. So why five stars for his book? First- few if any omissions in directions. Second- difficult aspects are anticipated and explained. Third- even individual joints are explained fully in the easy to read directions. Last but not least- if you enjoy,say, Fine Woodworking or other magazines, it is a fun read- and you may learn a few tricks of the trade. Have fun with the book!!!

This book is perfect for the beginner/intermediate woodworker who loves early American country furniture. All of the plans are either exact replicas or very close to the real thing. David's attention to detail is excellent. So far I've built about 7 of the pieces and am furnishing my home at a fraction of the cost of buying the real thing. I only wish he would print another volume with more projects.