Product Description
Sweet Silver Blues: A war buddys death sends Garrett on a wild hunt for his mysterious heir, last seen in a vampire Nest which no mortal leaves alive. Bitter Gold Hearts: The Stormwardens son has been kidnapped, and Garrett must brave a host of ogres and assassins to rescue him. Cold Copper Tears: Theres a new cult in town: worshippers of a godlike Destroyer who think Garrett would make an ideal sacrifice!
Customer Reviews:
Great fun, loved it.......2006-08-18
Garrett Files combines the murder mystery and science fiction/fantasy genres. Add to the fact the writer includes a LOT of humour and you have three delightfully enjoyable books in one. The plots are easy to follow; the characters are fully developed, and very likeable. I liked these stories so much I immediately bought all the Garrett series:
Garrett, P.I. (3 book compilation)
Garrett Investigates (3 book compilation)
Garrett on the Case (2 book compilation)
Highly recommended.
Great detective/fantasy work, enjoyable set of books.......2006-06-23
This set of 3 books by Glen Cook does a lot to show the flexibility of this author, when contrasted with his Black Company series (I have yet to read the other series he has written). The three novels showcase the protagonist and his household in a number of lights, against enemies that are generally competent in their own right. Without spoilers, I felt that the detached resolution of book 3 was somewhat detached/anticlimatic, but overall this is a very enjoyable read.
Consolidation of the First Three Garrett Books.......2005-11-01
Since most of Cook's Garrett books are long out of print and very difficult to come by, you might end up having to buy this consolidation to find the individual stories. This book, "The Garrett Files," is the first of 3 consolidations (so far). The others are "Garrett, P.I." and "Garrett Investigates." This book contains the first three stories in the Garrett series: "Sweet Silver Blues," "Bitter Gold Hearts," and "Cold Copper Tears." "Garrett, P.I." contains the next three: "Old Tin Sorrows," "Dread Brass Shadows," and "Red Iron Nights." "Garrett Investigates" has the next three: "Deadly Quicksilver Lies," "Petty Pewter Gods," "Faded Steel Heat." The remaining two books ("Angry Lead Skies," and "Whispering Nickel Idols") still appear to be in print on their own. Regarding the physical book itself, I was very surprised by how good the quality was. When I was a youth I used to get books from the SFBC and the quality was less than stellar. This book appears well bound, has good quality paper, and is well cut. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what printing my book is. The date on this Amazon page is 2003. But, I can't find a date on mine anywhere (it's brand new). My cover is also different from the other one uploaded here (I've put a copy of mine here, too). Regardless, this is a very good book to have. As a pure average of my ratings for the three contained stories, I rate this book at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5. My individual reviews follow:
"Sweet Silver Blues:" Excellent Start of the Garrett Series. This is the first of Cook's Garrett series. It's an excellent, humorous combination of Fantasy and early Detective novels (Raymond Chandler is the usual comparison). What always strikes me about this series, and especially this book (since it's the first), is how Cook's writing makes it feel like the world he's describing actually exists (and has existed for some time). It's like the history, geography, and people are THERE and he's merely opening a window to their world. This is an excellent book which I highly recommend to anyone who likes either Fantasy or Mystery. I rate it at 5 stars out of 5.
"Bitter Gold Hearts:" Very Good 2nd in the Garrett Series. This is the 2nd in Cook's Garrett series. It's a very good book, but isn't quite as good as the first in the series. The deficiency isn't anything major: it's just that I noticed a couple of the secondary characters whose personalities drastically changed from scene to scene (more so than the variability of human nature would allow). The additional role Cook gives to the Dead Man makes up for it, though. I rate it at a very good 4 stars out of 5.
"Cold Copper Tears:" An OK 3rd in Cook's Garrett Series. This is the 3rd in Cook's Garrett series. It's an excellent book for the first 99%, but, unfortunately, the ending fizzles. Oh, Garrett and the Dead Man figure things out nicely. All the 'i's are dotted and all the 't's crossed. But, instead of involving us in the denouement, Cook relegates the final cleanup to a background role. It just lacks that visceral feeling of closure. Solely because of the ending, I can rate this book at only an OK 3 stars out of 5.
Book Description
Award-winning author and broadcaster Carol Off reveals the fascinating – and often horrifying – stories behind our desire for all things chocolate.
Whether it’s part of a Hallowe’en haul, the contents of a heart-shaped box or just a candy bar stashed in a desk drawer, chocolate is synonymous with pleasures both simple and indulgent. But behind the sweet image is a long history of exploitation. In the eighteenth century the European aristocracy went wild for the Aztec delicacy. In later years, colonial territories were ravaged and slaves imported in droves as native populations died out under the strain of feeding the world’s appetite for chocolate.
Carol Off traces the origins of the cocoa craze and follows chocolate’s evolution under such overseers as Hershey, Cadbury and Mars. In Côte d’Ivoire, the West African nation that produces nearly half of the world’s cocoa beans, she follows a dark and dangerous seam of greed. Against a backdrop of civil war and corruption, desperately poor farmers engage in appalling practices such as the indentured servitude of young boys – children who don’t even know what chocolate tastes like.
Off shows that, with the complicity of Western governments and corporations, unethical practices continue to thrive.
Bitter Chocolate is a social history, a passionate investigative account and an eye-opening exposé of the workings of a multi-billion dollar industry that has institutionalized misery as it served our pleasures.
Customer Reviews:
The hidden costs of treats.......2007-07-09
Most of what you should know about chocolate is the topic of this captivating book. There are serious and hidden costs to this treat we consume nearly every day - sometimes in overwhelming quantities. Canadian journalist and broad caster Carol Off takes you on a journey through the cultural and political history of cocoa, this delicacy so revered since ancient times. Based on her thorough research and personal encounters in the field, she brings to light the controversies and conflicts that have accompanied the production and trade of chocolate for centuries. Of particular interest to her is the exploitation of cocoa farmers, the use of child labour and severe corruption in producing countries in the heart of Africa on the one hand and the connivance of the international marketing bodies on the other. None of what you discover here should stop you from indulging, but it should open your eyes to the complex and often violent context and encourage you to consider your purchasing choices.
The theobroma plant that carries the cocoa producing bean pods originated in Central America and only grows in a narrow environmental band: it needs the right temperatures and the humidity of tropical rain forests. For more than three thousand years farmers have harvested cocoa beans from the gourds of this shrub. Initially processed into a stimulating drink made from the bitter cocoa pulp it was thought to have nutritional and health benefits. In this way it was appreciated by Aztecs, Maya and others in the Americas. It was the drink of the local elites and used in religious rituals as well as a legal tender. Spanish conquerors and European traders introduced cocoa into our world.
Off provides an excellent overview of cocoa's history and its expansion from a luxury treat into an important general commodity, available to everyone in the developed world. (Most cocoa farmers cannot afford to buy or eat it!) Cocoa butter was combined with other ingredients into the familiar chocolate bar. With its rising popularity in the European and North American markets, growing areas had to be expanded and the processing industrialized. To meet the demands, the theobroma plant was introduced in West Africa with Cote d'Ivoire being the major centre. Increasingly, companies like Rowntree, Cadbury, Mars and Hershey and big players in the food business, such as Cargill, took over as the major investors and market controllers.
Complicated colonial and post-colonial politics in Cote d'Ivoire, as well as international market pressures, resulted in a collapse of a sustainable and for the farmers economically viable cocoa economy. Cheap labour was in high demand for the harvest. First, farmers brought their own children and extended families into the process, but more and more young people and children were recruited from neighbouring poor countries, especially from Mali. Farmers suffering extreme poverty feel themselves being victims of big business and corrupt government systems. Off succeeds in interviewing farmers and traders and follows the routes of some of the youngsters to farms where they are kept bonded, in primitive conditions and without pay. "Big Chocolate", Off's term for the international corporations involved in the industry, have played their part in creating and maintaining the devastating conditions for the farmers and the children. Despite pressures from primarily non-governmental groups and promises to stop slave labour in the cocoa production, quietly it is still going on today. Journalists and others investigating the intricate web of exploitation and corruption have been threatened, some have disappeared.
Off writes in a direct and engaging journalistic style, rich in factual detail and description of her personal experience in several countries. Part detective story, part investigative research spiced with some African storytelling, she captivates the reader from beginning to end. The author also has important messages to impart. "Big Chocolate" needs to be held accountable to their promises. They in turn can influence government policies and programs. On the brighter side, she touches on cocoa production in several countries that have managed the business with more fairness and involvement of local farmers, in particular in Belize. She also discusses the appearance and efforts around "fair trade" chocolate, that is of growing interest to consumers in developed countries. [Friederike Knabe]
"When people eat chocolate . . . ".......2007-04-24
Hardly larger than New Mexico, the Côte d'Ivoire doesn't seem an appropriate site for international economic intrigue or the focus of intense labour reform efforts. A glance at a map of Africa suggests it should be a tourist haven. A magnificent coastline, running east-west for over 500 km, faces the Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic helping form the Bulge of Africa. Some of that shoreline has protected harbours, and most of the Ivory Coast's neighbours, such as Mali, Guinea and Ghana enjoy a large measure of political stability. The Côte d'Ivoire also enjoys an economic privilege - it produces nearly half of the world's cacao beans. Those beans are the foundation for Valentine's Day confections, cocoa and chocolate Easter bunnies. As Carol Off has shown in this captivating study, thereby hangs a tale.
Cocoa beans grow best in special tropical conditions - high heat, elevated humidity, a lush overstory of trees and supportive soil. Originally from Central America where the aristocrats of the Olmec empire restricted consumption of the rich, dark compound of kakawa to themselves, chocolate is now universally enjoyed. Columbus missed the chance to introduce chocolate to Europe, but when it did arrive, it was taken up enthusiastically. Like coffee, which came from the opposite direction, cocoa became the basis for a wave of new gathering places - coffee houses - which served coffee, hot chocolate and tea. The demand for chocolate rose rapidly, driving producers to expand while cutting costs. In agriculture, the chief method of cost reduction is to slash labour costs. The major effort needed in producing cacao, which grows on tree trunks, is the harvesting - cutting, separating the seeds from pulp and spreading them to dry. Even a child can do it.
A Canadian broadcast journalist, Carol Off was tipped off by Save the Children to modern Côte d'Ivoire conditions. This shouldn't have been news for several reasons. As the demand for chocolate rose and the European confectionary firms expanded, growing cacao trees and harvesting their fruit moved from small-holders' plots to extensive plantations. The needed labour was frequently coerced from local villages. The new growing conditions often depleted the plants forcing growers to new sites. Africa, already established in producing coffee, became host to a new bean. Once tainted by the earlier slave trade across the Atlantic, Africa's cacao plantations saw the re-establishment of new forced-labour practices. With political and economic power shifts restructured by European imperialists in Africa during the 19th Century, new forms of "indentured workers" or "contract labourers" arose. In the 20th Century many of those working the cocoa plantations were children of countries bordering on Côte d'Ivoire. Hearing of job opportunities hungry children left their villages to earn money. Many were never seen again.
The 19th Century chocolate industry in Britain came to be dominated by Quakers. This sect, with a long history of campaigning for the abolition of slavery, grew uneasy over stories of forced labour in the plantations supplying the raw materials for such products as Cadbury's. They sent investigators to enquire about conditions. Carol Off describes the late 19th Century efforts of Henry Woodd Nevinson to reveal how workers were treated in producing cocoa beans. His reports where quietly shelved. Post-World War II fluctuations created even worse conditions, with national governments taking a fresh interest in cocoa revenues. New investigations were prompted, leading in one case to a film of child labour conditions. It was the film that immortalised one child's comment: "When people eat chocolate, they eat my flesh".
Other mechanisms are available, however, as Off describes conditions in Belize as a conclusion to her book. "Fair trading", a process slowly being applied to coffee and other products, has made some headway in cocoa's Central American homeland. Although hardly a panacea, fair trade structures in growing and marketing, have helped stablise price levels and given small holders a fresh means of surviving. Small, well-controlled plots, often as family operations may provide hope for growers. However, a fair income for the cocoa farmer may mean an increase in the price of candy bars or Valentine's Day treats. Are you prepared to pay that extra to release children from bondage labour? [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
Book Description
A touching novel about first loves and second chances from the author who "knows how to tug at readers' heartstrings" (Publishers Weekly).
Customer Reviews:
Finally..........2007-07-08
For years I've been searching for a romance writer who is even comparable to Judith McNaught. Well...I just found her. This book was touching and sweet and yes...bitter. Love, loss, human frailty, and the will to survive were all emotions realistically tapped into in this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be checking out everything else LaVyrle Spencer has written.
Such a sweet novel.......2007-06-12
I know that this is a book about a adultery, but it is also about a first love and finding love again. I think that the villian is the "wife" and that makes it easy to pull for these forbidden lovers. Really good romance.
Could be a Soap Opera.......2007-06-03
I came across this book in some items I 'inherited' and decided to read it, not really know what to expect. I guess I expected a romance, and I guess it is...but not the typical, you know what's gonna happen romance. Not even the typical you know how it oughta end romance. The book was long..almost 500 pages. And like a typical soap opera, every time you think it could be resolved a new twist comes along. I'm not complaining...that is why we watch soap operas...right?
We pick up the story with Maggie, a widow in grief therapy. Maggie's husband was killed in a plane crash and the result is she has all the money she will ever need. She also has a daughter about to leave for college. Her therapist recommends getting in touch with old friends, and boy, does she ever. She ends up moving back to her home town, where her HS sweetie now lives with his wife and troubled marriage. He wants kids...she doesn't. He wants a small town life...she wants a cosmopolitan area. He wants a domestic woman...she wants a jet-setting career. Oh, and she is specatacularly beautiful; she doesn't like his family and they don't like her. The truth is, this marriage probably should have ended a decade ago, as they seem to have nothing in common.
Along comes Maggie, and though they seem to have good intentions in honoring his marriage vows...of course it doesn't work out as they plan. On one level, the whole story is about Maggie and Eric resuming their relationship. But at another level, it is about coping with change, and forgiveness. And a wise old woman...Eric's mom, Anna.
A couple of things about the story bothered me, and if you don't want to know....stop reading now. I don't want to spoil this for you if you plan to read the book.
Ok...first, though I do agree that Maggie, and any adult, has a right to do what is necessary to move on with life, I did think it was a bit selfish of her to pick up and move across the country 2 months after her daughter left for her freshman year of college. Not that she didn't have that right, because she did, but...she was ripping her daughter's life apart and didn't even acknowledge that. Yes, she moved back to HER home town where she spent her HS years, and it was comforting to HER, but in return she uprooted her daughter from HER hometown and HS friends...AND she didn't even get to say goodbye to them. She left for college assuming she'd be home at Christmas and probably hanging out with old friends next summer, not even SUSPECTING she'd be moving. I thought Maggie should have discussed it with her before she put the house on the market, and maybe offered to fly her out to see her friends, or even keep the house for a year, since she IS a millionaire now.
The second thing is that there were a lot of unanswered questions about Eric's wife, Nancy. The implication was that she'd had several one night stands while traveling for business, but that was dropped. The baby she aborted could have been the result of one of these, but we didn't get told about that. Neither did Eric. He was left feeling guilty because he cheated, and never even realized she did first. Also, we know that Eric and Maggie reunited and presumably lived happily ever after, but we aren't really told what became of Nancy. Did she return to Chicago? Did she find a partner who was enthusiastic about sharing her lifestyle and dreams. Nancy wasn't really a bad person...just scared. Once she was forced to acknowledge that Eric wasn't the right partner, perhaps she was also freed to find a man who was, but we don't know.
Who Knew?.......2007-01-22
This is another book that was given to me as a gift which again I probably would have never bothered to picked up otherwise. As someone who does not read the "typical" romance novel, I loved this book. I'm recommending it to my friends (who wouldn't pick it up either) and I am recommending it here.
A good book for a cold snowy day........2007-01-09
I received the book I ordered very timely. The price (even with shipping) was better than any place that I could have purchased in my area. I had read this book many years ago, and I purchased it for a Christmas gift. The person I gave it to really enjoyed it since she had been to Door County, Wisconsin recently. Its makes you feel like you are back on vacation again. A very good story line. I highly recommended it for light reading on a cold snowly day.
Average customer rating:
|
LaVyrle Spencer : Bitter Sweet / The Gamble / Vows
LaVyrle Spencer
Manufacturer: Dove Entertainment Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
 General | Romance | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
Spencer, Lavyrle | ( S ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
General | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
ASIN: 1558006184 |
Book Description
Dating! Drama! Driving!
Remember what it was like to be sixteen? Whether it was the year your teeth were finally free of braces or the year you were discovered by the opposite sex, that magical, mystical age is something you will never forget. Edited by Megan McCafferty, author of the runaway hit novels
Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings,
Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday is a compilation of short stories inspired by all the angst, melodrama, and wonderment of being sixteen.
Sarah Dessen’s “Infinity” is about a girl confronting two major milestones: getting her driver’s license and losing her virginity. The Dead Girls in Jacqueline Woodson’s “Nebraska 99” have already decided to “do it” and must now cope with being teenage mothers. And Carolyn Mackler’s “Mona Lisa, Jesus, Chad, and Me” explores whether friendship can survive when partying and prayer clash. Also included is a new Jessica Darling story by Megan McCafferty about the last fifteen minutes Jessica spends—or rather, doesn’t spend—with her best friend, Hope, who is leaving Pineville.
Featuring stories by Steve Almond, M. T. Anderson, Julianna Baggott, Cat Bauer, Emma Forrest, Tanuja Desai Hidier, David Levithan, Sarah Mlynowski, Sonya Sones, Zoe Trope, Ned Vizzini, and Joseph Weisberg, these hilarious, poignant, and touching tales are perfect for both those who have yet to reach that milestone and those who want to reminisce about their “sweetest” year.
Customer Reviews:
Not So Bitter, Not So Sweet.......2007-01-11
Megan McCafferty's edited collection of short stories "Sixteen" contains sixteen stories about being or turning sixteen.
If you aren't familiar with Megan McCafferty - she is the author of the wildly popular 'Jessica Darling' series, if you can call it that. Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings, and Charmed Thirds (a fourth is on its way) are three books that cover a young woman's journey through most of high school and college. There is in fact a short story on Jessica Darling about the last 15 minutes she spends before her best friend Hope leaves town (which is exactly where the series picks up from shortly afterwards).
The other fifteen stories in the book are all extremely varied, but the majority of them are quite good. I'm not a short story fan by any means, but unfortunately have to tackle the task of writing one this term - and this book was so well-compiled and written it inspired me quite a bit. Some of my fave stories were probably "Infinity", "The Many Lives of Emily Milty", and "The Perfect Kiss" - most of them were really good, a couple were not my fave as they seemed to really stray from the subject and style of the book, but it's hard to judge what makes a good short story to everyone.
The one critique I do give to the authors of these short stories is there was a consistent theme of either - kissing (specifically first kisses or momentous kisses) or discovering/experiementing with being gay. Not all sixteen year olds are that confused about their sexuality - yet at least half of the stories in the book dealt with that topic, I guess to provoke some more intense emotions or meaning.
If you are expecting a novel specifically in the style of Megan McCafferty - don't. Her story is hers, just as each other's is their own. I personally found this to be a well organized collection, with plenty of hits to compensate for the couple of quasi-'misses'. If you like young adult fiction, you'll probably dig this book.
Final Grade: A-
What?.......2005-12-14
I don't disagree with a majority of the reviewers for this book. I thought nearly every story was amazing. My favorites were probably Cowgirls and Indie Boys, Relent/Persist, and Grief Diet. I think a bit of a problem was people were expecting one primary genre, like Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings variety books, but this book offers a plethora of different authors, styles, and perspectives on the teen years. I was drawn to the more eccentric stories, but all readers can find one they like. I highly recommend this book.
Sixteen.......2005-12-01
I really enjoyed reading this book because it has so many different points of view on being sixteen. This book gives the reader a wide range of opinions from girls and boys. Megan McCafferty chooses a series of writers in her book to write a story about being sixteen. She said she choose a series of Authors with whom she respects and since there are many good pieces of writing in this book I have to say I agree with her and I also respect their writing too. Sixteen deals with many events that occur when turning sixteen such as learning to drive, getting your license, dealing with boyfriends/girlfriends, friendships and just life in general as a teenager. I have to say my favorite story is "Mona Lisa, Chad, and Me" by Carolyn Mackler. This piece of writing in the book deals with balancing a boyfriend and your friendships. This is my favorite because with me being sixteen I can really relate to this one particular experience, because I have also been through something similar. This is another reason why the book is so good because I believe there is a story in here for every one, even adults. I say Adults because this book can take them back to remember a lot of good times they had as teens and even help them relate to their own kids if they have any. Overall I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to any one who is up for some laughs and a pleasant read.
Some great stories... some not.......2005-07-25
I read all the stories, but some were not so enjoyable. I would recommend getting this from the library, or purchasing if you don't have high expectations of liking every single story in the collection. However, since there is a wide range of stories, I think everyone should be able to find some they enjoy. My personal favorites were "Cat got your tongue?" by Sonya Sones and "The Alumni Interview" by Devid Levithan. I also enjoyed the stories by Sarah Dessen, Sarah Mlynowski, Julianna Baggott, and Megan McCafferty. These stories, for me, made reading the book worthwhile.
In consideration..........2005-03-19
I must say I enjoyed the book mostly because of its variety of perspectives. Looking at the reviews other people have given, many people offered comments about stories being "too short" or "leaving you hanging" which I found mildly ironic because that is sort of the way most short stories are, and if you read any other compilation of short stories, you'll notice it is true with them also. I would reccomend it to those who enjoy stories leaning towards the abstract, or those who really enjoy a variety of reading selections.
Customer Reviews:
I loved Bitter Sweets-- a Fun Read!.......2006-06-23
I love Savannah, and would love to have her as a friend. This series is very intelligent, as well, and I found this book to be even better and more interesting than the first in the series. I really enjoyed this book, and wanted to keep reading it even when I had to put it down. I looked forward to a lengthy reading time at night, so I could spend more time with Savannah and her crew. Excellent title for this as well!
Great summer fun!.......2005-07-08
I love all of these Savannah Reid mysteries. They are great reads.
Unlike some of the female plot driven mysteries now popular the plot isnt so easy to figure out. There is always a little something you didnt expect.
The characters are fun and warm, making you feel like you know them.
There is always a sub plot that is just as engaging as the mystery.
I highly recommend them all to any mystery fan.
G. A. McKevett is Sonja Massie's pseudonym.......2005-07-01
I absolutely love the Savannah Reid mystery series. She is my kind of gal...sassy, a bit "fluffy", a Southern belle, and sweet as pie! This book is the darkest of the series...but a great read. Read them all. You'll be glad you did!
I really like this series..........2004-05-31
While I was up half the night with what seems to be the flu, I was pretty much able to start and finish Bitter Sweets by G. A. McKevett. This is the second book in the series, and you end up getting a fair amount of character development devoted to Savannah's grandmother. She shows up on Savannah's doorstep, wanting to experience a trip to Disneyland. Unfortunately, Savannah has a few other things going on.
Savannah's new detective agency gets its first case, and it's a request to track down a missing sister. They take all the necessary precautions to make sure the person requesting the trace is actually her brother, and they start the hunt. When they finally find her, they learn she's in hiding from her ex-husband who has threatened to kill her and their daughter. Before Savannah can arrange a meeting between brother and sister, she finds out she's been duped. The sister is murdered, the child is kidnapped, and Savannah now has to track down the killer. To make it worse, the chief of police is seriously considering charging her with being an accessory to the murder.
A nice number of twists and turns, and some ethical questions at the end where you have to figure out whether justice would be served by doing the "right" thing.
Bitter Disappointment in Bitter Sweets.......2003-10-13
I'm not sure if my disappointment is in the quality of the book, or in the fact that I was misled by the cheery cover & title.
British mysteries are quite a different genre from American hard-boiled detective stories: they are cosy and comforting, almost a "Tea and Murder" party. Yes, there has been a murder: but brutual details are not stressed, so as not to disturb the reader's equanimity. Instead, we are given a delicious smorgasbord: piquant characters, a peek into a society or life-style very different from our own, a tantalizing puzzle to solve through logic and the famous "little grey cells". Although McKevett is an American author, the cover, the title, and the blurb on the back cover led me to believe that "Bitter Sweets" belong to this genre.
We are indeed offered piquant characters, although no character development. But the violence of the murder jolted me out of the cosy Tea and Murder mode. Even more distressing was the lack of a puzzle ... the murderer was easily identifiable. Why read a mystery when there is no mystery?
Average customer rating:
- the Wildrose tradition continues
|
Bitter Thistle, Sweet Rose (Glover, Ruth. Wildrose Series, Bk. 2.)
Ruth Glover
Manufacturer: Beacon Hill Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
-
A Time to Dream (Glover, Ruth. Wildrose Series, Bk. 3.)
-
Turn Northward, Love (Wildrose Series/Ruth Glover, Bk 4)
-
The Shining Light (Glover, Ruth. Wildrose Series, Bk. 1.)
-
Second-best Bride: Book 5 (Wildrose)
-
Place to Call Home (Wildrose Series/Ruth Glover, Bk 6)
ASIN: 083411528X |
Customer Reviews:
the Wildrose tradition continues.......2000-06-22
The second in Glover's Wildrose series, Bitter Thistle, Sweet Rose inroduces more inhabitants of Wildrose, a Canadian bush town. Linn has been jilted and wants to love again. A half-breed Indian is also seeking something to fill his empty heart. Hubert and Harry need someone to love and care for them. The more that you read about the residents of Wildrose, the more you will want to know about them. Glover has written a very touching story of second chances and God's overwhelming protection of all who love him.
Average customer rating:
- Refreshing Approach and Engaging Story
- First Rate Story
- WOW!
- Fully Engaging
- I was unprepared....
|
Sweet Bitter Love
Rita Schiano
Manufacturer: Rising Tide Press (AZ)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
United States | World Literature | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books | 18th Century | 19th Century | 20th Century | African American | Asian American | Classics | Collections & Readers | Drama | General | Hispanic | History & Criticism | Humor | Jewish American | Letters & Correspondence | Native American | Poetry | Short Stories | Women Writers
Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Lesbian | Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Gay & Lesbian | Subjects | Books
Lesbian | Romance | Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Gay & Lesbian | Subjects | Books
General | Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Gay & Lesbian | Subjects | Books
Mental & Spiritual Healing | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:
-
When Dreams Tremble
-
Cloud 9 Affair
-
The Flip Side of Desire
-
Skin Deep
-
Romancing the Zone
ASIN: 1883061156 |
Book Description
From the moment writer Jenny Ceretti spots Susan Fredrickson at the Village Coffeehouse, her serene life begins to change. As their friendship explodes into a tempestuous love affair, Jenny discovers that all is not as it appears. While Susan is haunted by a terrifying past, Jenny comes face-to-face with past ghosts that no longer will stay hidden.
Customer Reviews:
Refreshing Approach and Engaging Story.......2005-03-19
Susan doesn't have a clue what she really wants, but she says she wants Jenny. Jenny KNOWS she wants Susan. This is a well-written book about falling in love with oneself and developing a sense of self-understanding. It was easy to cry for Jenny, get angry at Susan, and maintain hope for a happy ending. The best part of the book is Schiano's ability to keep the reader guessing. Unlike with many books in this genre, you can't guess how the story will finally end.
First Rate Story.......2003-12-05
"Sweet, Bitter Love" stands first and foremost as a good story with characters who will stay with the reader long after the last page has been turned. On another level, it's a universal story about the couple across the street, the person at the next desk at work or sitting behind you in church. We need to make sure that books like "Sweet Bitter Love" don't get relegated to genres that limit their readership. The story is for all of us. I can't wait for the movie.
WOW!.......2003-10-01
The writer draws in the second you begin and never lets you down. The only question is when/where will there be more???? Schiano's writing style has grace and excitment. I loved it!
Fully Engaging.......2003-06-14
Schiano's "Sweet Bitter Love" captured me and I got lost in the characters. The prose was very readable, but she fully developed the players and plot line. Although the topic of alcoholism is difficult enough in itself, Schiano combined this challenging topic with a lesbian love affair in a realistic, yet universally appealing manner. Steamy, passionate love scenes contrasted with the withdrawal of alcoholism continue to pull the reader in more deeply. Highly recommend!!
I was unprepared...........2003-06-07
I bought this book because I met the author at a seminar in March. I was unprepared for some of its content. As a heterosexual woman I was taken aback the women lovers because it is a life unfamiliar to me. But I stuck with it and realized that the story really is universal. Alcoholism, rollercoaster relationships, and old issues haunt any one of us. It has nothing to do with sexual preferences.
In the end, I recognized myself and a rough first marriage. I recommend this story to anyone.
Customer Reviews:
A simple, sweet book........2001-12-11
A simple, sweet book. Suitable for calm morning reads. Presents a tender picture of Syria during the Turkish occupation
Books:
- Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany
- Hey, Little Ant
- Hiking Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (Hiking Guide Series)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- How Can Man Die Better: The Secrets of Isandlwana Revealed
- Human Exceptionality: School, Community, and Family (8th Edition)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Childrens Writers & Illustrators Market 2007
- The Red Dancer: The Life and Times of Mata Hari
- History: Fiction or Science
- Shadows of Yesterday
- Leroy Neiman on Safari
- The Hope, Hype, and Reality of Genetic Engineering: Remarkable Stories from Agriculture, Industry, M
- Tailoring Ladies Jackets: Step by Step Instructions
- Neal Adams: The Sketch Book: Pointers from a Master Storyteller
- Maniac Eyeball: The Unspeakable Confessions Of Salvador Dali
- Memoirs of General Stilwell's Ghostwriter: My Experience in Cbi Ww II
Garrett, P.I. (Old Tin Sorrows/ Dread Brass Shadows/ Red Iron Nights)
Garrett Investigates (Deadly Quicksilver Lies, Petty Pewter Gods, Faded Steel Heat)
Garrett on the Case (Angry Lead Skies/whispering Nickel Idols)
Garrett, P.I. : Three Books in One : Old Tin Sorrows; Dread Brass Shadows; Red Iron Nights
Faded Steel Heat (Garrett Files)
