Briar Rose

Book Description

A powerful retelling of Sleeping Beauty that is "heartbreaking and heartwarming."An American Library Association "100 Best Books for Teens"An American Library Association "Best Books for Young Adults"Ever since she was a child, Rebecca has been enchanted by her grandmother Gemma's stories about Briar Rose. But a promise Rebecca makes to her dying grandmother will lead her on a remarkable journey to uncover the truth of Gemma's astonishing claim: I am Briar Rose. A journey that will lead her to unspeakable brutality and horror. But also to redemption and hope.

Customer Reviews:

made me want to cry.......2007-10-01

..in fact i did cry there a bit. I don't know which part is more sad, Gemma's story, or Josef's. And i liked how Yolen twined a potential sleeping beauty remake, and the Holocaust, and made it so unforgettable.

I honestly can't think of one bad thing about this book, and I'm a nitpicker. i give Brair Rose five stars because Yolen made me sink so deeply into the story, that i ....ing cried.

I hope you can love it as much as i do

History in a fairy tale...........2007-08-29

Not a book for children. Some may disagree but it is my opinion. There are too many adult situations for a younger audience. That said, Miss Yolen brings an intriguing story to paper that comes to a complete ending. I like the way she pulls the story together chapter by chapter, never giving any thing away until necessary.

Great read for Young and OLD adults..........2007-07-16

If you are a seasoned reader of Holocaust related literature (fiction & non-fic) then you will more than likely leave unimpressed by this tale.

I read this book while in middle school (7th grade). As a 12 year old kid I had never read anything like this. It was the first book that ever made me cry besides "Don't Hurt Laura". It's a very moving tale and one that is wonderfully told.

I would suggest this to parents looking to spark an interest in reading in their kids. There's just enough fantasy to keep the kids interested and just enough realism to make them think!

I still own the same copy I had in 7th grade. I simply love this book!

A wonderful blend of history and fairy tale...........2007-07-07

Very unique take on the holocaust. A story like none I've ever read before, and beautifully written. Jane Yolen does a wonderful job of recreating a fairy tale through this holocaust story of a granddaughter fulfilling her promise to her grandmother. Some tenacious detective work finally reveals the grandmother's story. Highly recommended.

Ok, but I've read better YA Holocaust stories.......2007-06-18

I heard of this story from the 8th grade language arts teacher at work. She thought it would be a good read from what she was told, so I read it to see if it would be appropriate for my 6th graders. The beginning was a little slow; the ending was horrific and will probably be too detailed to give to my kids to read. It is an interesting read because of the premise, but I think I have read better children's novels to describe the Holocaust.

Average customer rating:

Briar Rose(unabridged Audio Cass)
JANE YOLEN
Manufacturer: Recorded Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000COZZOU

Product Description

Both heartbreaking and heartwarming, Yolen's novel is a compelling reminder of the Holocaust as well as a contemporary tale of secrets and romance - Booklist. Five (5) audiocassettes (7 hours listening).

The Rose & the Briar: Death, Love and Liberty in the American Ballad

Average customer rating:

Oppenheimer?
the roses are worth the thorns
A great idea but a disappointing and poorly produced book.
An extraordinary literary and musical adventure
Ballads As History.

The Rose & the Briar: Death, Love and Liberty in the American Ballad

Manufacturer: W. W. Norton & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

History & Criticism | Music | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0393059545

Book Description

A devastatingly original work that plunges into the heart of the American psyche from America's beginnings to Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska."

The ballad has been part of American history since before the country had a name. In this book, Sean Wilentz and Greil Marcus have assembled an astonishing group of writers and artists—Paul Muldoon, Stanley Crouch, R. Crumb, Jon Langford of the Mekons, John Rockwell, Luc Sante, Joyce Carol Oates, Dave Marsh, and more than a dozen other novelists, essayists, performers, and critics—to explore the ineffable power of the American ballad. In words and in drawings, the collaborators have tapped the veins of America's most imaginative and expressive form. From "Barbara Allen," one of the earliest, through "The Wreck of the Old 97," to contemporary ballads by Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, The Rose & the Briar presents a rich new patch of art and commentary—like the ballads, no two the same, but all of a piece, about stories, storytellers, and American death, love, and liberty. 25 illustrations.

Customer Reviews:

Oppenheimer?.......2006-08-15

So, what does this book have to do with J. Robert Oppenheimer losing his security clearance?

the roses are worth the thorns.......2006-04-16

There are some really amazing essays here, notably, Greil Marcus's envoi. Dave Marsh on "Barbara Allen" lifts a lot of ancient stuff out of the shadows and sets it in a clean, well lighted place. Sarah Vowell on "John Brown's Body" tells us a lot more about the ballad than we might have imagined. Cecil Brown on "Frankie and Albert" is a delight. Frankie's life is worthy of several ballads. R. Crumb's graphics make this a classic. His letter to the editor slaps a few of the other essayists out of the fetid air like horse flies. The graphics are fine, so I don't know what a previous reviewer was complaining about. Maybe he got a bad a copy.
There are some real clunkers here, however. Wendy Lesser's piece is lost at sea. This is such a dissappointment when there is so much to say about Dylan, and she is such a fine writer, and Greil Marcus has written such great stuff on Dylan. Stanley Crouch's essay is fine, but it has nothing to do with ballads. David Thomas is a high-fallootin intellectualizer. "An imperative that derives from a gestalt of geography, sound, and culture fixes and vitalizes and drives certain musics." Wouldn't you love to see this guy have a conversation with Bob Dylan? Would he know a ballad if he stepped on one barefoot?

A great idea but a disappointing and poorly produced book........2005-10-23

I could hardly wait to read this book when I learned about it since so little has been written about the long history of loving these songs. While the authors do a good job of talking about how they feel about the songs, they don't delve very deep. Most disappointing, though, is the production quality. Jon Langford's and R. Crumb's visual interpretations of their chosen ballads look as if they are very interesting but the reproductions of their drawings are so blurry that they are nearly indecipherable.

An extraordinary literary and musical adventure.......2005-06-16

This is a wonderful book. The explorations of various folk songs (and what comprises a "folk" song) range from intriguing academic insights to fictional interpretations of the histories and even biographies of various songs: wonderful and inventive and satisfying. It was given to me by a friend and I am buying it for at least three more. Incredible

Ballads As History........2005-04-07

In Sharyn McCrumb's novel, IF EVER I RETURN PRETTY PEGGIE-O, I first learned of the ballad, 'The Knoxville Girl.' Here in her cahpter about American Ballads, she's called 'Dear Little Girl.' She has that ballad mixed up with others making for confusion on all fronts. If I didn't know the song and its consequences, I would not have recognized "Nellie" as the Dear Little Girl in 'Pretty Peggie-O' -- "is with her beau, Jack, who turns into "Willie" who throttles the life out of her along the banks of some river (the French Broad). As with local "history" of a certain theater which left out the decade which meant the most to me, now her vagueness and omission of her own as she twists this ballad after calling the chapter 'Pretty Peggie-O', what a let down. You can hear this song in Betty Smith's 1977 'For My Friends of Song.' I have heard that the Louvin Brothers had a good version sometime and Elvis Costello sang it in the same aforementioned theater as 'The Knoxville Girl.'

Barbara Allen was the poor Scots-Irish theme of the Appalachians as parlayed by Dolly Parton. She is not a ballad singer, but hillbilly music of her own making.

'John Brown's Body' was used as a marching song for the 12th regiment in 1861. That John Brown had drowned while crossing the Shenandoah River on the way to battle. On March 1, 1862, it was sung at the spot wher John Brown, the abolitionist, was hanged by the Union. Up 'til now, I thought it had been written about him.

I have not heard of most of the featured 'ballads' even though I'd always said I preferred ballads to classical music. This book features many folk singers, but my ballads were by Eddie Fisher. A big difference!

The chapter by David Thomas combined 'The Wreck of Old 97' about a train wreck in the early 1900s and 'Dead Man's Curve' by Jan and Dean in 1964 about a car crash. Randy Newman who wrote 'Short People' also had ballads recorded by Dusty Springfield and his own 'Sail Away' which Enya croons.

This book gives intermittent history of America and the editors included a plethora of works published on various subjects. The best thing was the two-page cartoon by R. Crumb, but the black and white pictures and copies of old sheet music at the beginning of the 22 sections are almost as good.

I don't think they missed anything from a put down of Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address six weeks before his murder by John Wilkes Booth to Stephen Foster's 'possible' suicide at the age of forty, to Richard Speck's rampage in Chicago. A smorgasbord of strange incidents, not all musical. I grew up hearing my dad play his guitar and harmonica and sing the old folk songs, like 'Beautiful Beautiful Brown Eyes' and I'd always say, "but I love blue eyes." Still do.

Average customer rating:

Excellent exploration of the symbolic overtones of the Sleeping Beauty story
And you thought the Brothers were Grimm
An Existential Sleeping Beauty
Not his best
What a Waste of Time!

Briar Rose (Coover, Robert)
Robert Coover
Manufacturer: Grove Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost | Romance | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0802135412

Amazon.com

Robert Coover has a power over the language matched by few authors and a curiosity about the nature of stories and narratives that keeps his work intellectually charged, if sometimes difficult to follow. Students of postmodernism and fans of metafiction will be interested to read Briar Rose, Coover's funny deconstruction and retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale.

Book Description

Robert Coover's many acclaimed works of fiction have established him as a powerhouse among America's postmodernist writers. With Briar Rose, he casts his own unmistakable style on an ageless tale. A brilliant recreation of the timeless Sleeping Beauty story, Briar Rose tells of a prince trapped in the briars; a sleeping beauty who cannot awaken, dreaming of a succession of kissing princes; and the old spell-casting fairy who inhabits the princess's dreams, regaling her with legends of other sleeping beauties and trying to imagine the nature of human desire.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent exploration of the symbolic overtones of the Sleeping Beauty story.......2006-04-28

Briar Rose is the name of the princess in Sleeping Beauty and the name of the Grimm brothers version of the story is Little Briar Rose. Robert Coover tells the story from three points of view. First is the point of view of the prince entering and cutting his way through the briars on a heroic/erotic quest. Then there is the princess dreaming of her rescue by a kiss from the spell induced by a spindle prick and the promised handsome prince who will do the kissing. Lastly, is the evil fairy who cast the spell and who keeps the princess company by telling her stories during her 100 year slumber. The story keeps switching between these three perspectives, with much repetition. Each character explores their own expectations and fears through this process.

This is a story rich in mythic and erotic symbolism, and Coover explores these in depth as each character relives the event in their mind from slightly different perspectives over and over again. As a study in the symbolism and possible overtones of the brief story, Coover's work is excellent. People looking for a romantic retelling of the original tale should definitely look elsewhere because some of the variations include disturbing elements like incest, cannibalism, adultery, and rape. While nowhere near as much an erotic fantasy as Anne Rice's three volume Beauty series, this book is still not appropriate for the faint of heart or children.

And you thought the Brothers were Grimm.......2005-04-01

I kept falling asleep when I was reading this--and all I can remember now, its been a year. Is how weird I found it. It kept giving me weird ideas, that perhaps the author would have loved to seen Sleeping Beauty as a porno flick instead of a fairy tale.

Strange, strange book. Though it certainly has some unique ideas in it.

This is a really dark book, even if it is amazingly short.

An Existential Sleeping Beauty.......2004-09-21

While reading Coover's book, you might find yourself confused. This is only appropriate, as Coover wrote an existential masterpiece. The prince's efforts to penetrate the briar hedge lead him nowhere. Beauty dreams of a series of princes waking her, each worse than the last. They seek eachother because they seek the only concept they know will not melt away.

If you consider the phrase "someday my prince will come" sacrosanct, this is probably not a good one to read.

If you need a traditional narrative, this is probalby not a good one to read.

If you're looking for a read aloud for your children...perhaps try a different book.

Otherwise, enjoy.

Not his best.......2003-08-06

I think this would have worked better as a short story. It's a bold and poetic take on Sleeping Beauty - the book is divided into numerous brief sections that continuously, circularly revisit and revise different portions of the story. It has things to say about not just Sleeping Beauty, but act of storytelling and the nature of narrative. However, the repetition does start getting tiresome after a while; it would be a more tolerable yet equally effective read if it were significantly shorter.

Overall, it's one Coover's weaker works, but as he's one of the most unsung, underrated masters of postmodernism around, it's still pretty good. To see him in top form, read A Night at the Movies, one of my personal favorites of his. For more of his revisions of fairy tales, see his novel Pinocchio in Venice and the stories "The Door" and "The Gingerbread House" in his collection Pricksongs and Descants.

What a Waste of Time!.......2002-10-31

Well, sorry but this story [is disappointing]. Espescially for anyone who enjoyed the story and idea of Sleeping Beauty. And its not even that the story is that bad. The writing [is no good]. The reader is constantly confused, and even when you've finished the book, you might go "huh?" I hated it. I do not suggest that anyone buy this book.

Average customer rating:

Celtic Charm
Review of Briar Rose by Kimberly Cates
So poorly written, I left it in the student center--
Wonderful!
Not worth reading

Briar Rose
Kimberly Cates
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0671014951

Book Description

Award-winning storyteller Kimberly Cates spins a glorious tale touched with Irish charm....

Rhiannon Fitzgerald never knew her true heritage -- or if her talent for healing was bequeathed by fairy magic, as her father believed. The gentle lass who roamed the hills of Ireland knew only that she must help creatures in need. But her sweet, sheltered world was about to be shaken by an alarming discovery among the mysterious standing stones above the ruins of Ballyaroon. Lying at her feet was wounded Captain Lionel Redmayne, a steely British officer as feared by his own men as by his enemies. Their worlds could not be more different, but something lured these two solitary hearts to find solace in each other's mysterious ways.

With healing herbs and a soothing touch, Rhiannon set out to save Captain Redmayne. But she knew nothing of the risks ahead. In her care was a man who was harmed by a secret assailant; a man who could overwhelm her very soul with his hungry passions. Yet here, too, was the hero promised to her by destiny, whose love was locked in a past of secrets and pain, and in a heart to which she alone held the key....

Customer Reviews:

Celtic Charm.......2007-04-28

Rhiannon, the Irish heroine, is so loving and forgiving that she is almost angelic. She rescues and nurses the British officer, Lion, back to his grumbling, cold, reserved self. Her affinity with broken things whether, people, animals or even tea cups is sweet.

Lion has no idea how to treat this fey creature. She travels in a gypsy type wagon, has an old horse and dog and a one eyed cat for company. When Lion and Rhiannon argue, they lapse into the silences that go right along with their character. Rhiannon goes into the quiet sulk and Lion into the reserved macho male. Ms. Cates understood their personalities and didn't write them into screaming matches.

Rhiannon realized Lion needs her long before he does. He is emotionally scarred and she is determined to help him heal, risking her emotions and even her life for him. Such self sacrifice is again consistent with her character. The one drawback in this book is that there are just too many coincidences between these two people. All and all though this book is a keeper.

Review of Briar Rose by Kimberly Cates.......2001-05-04

I enjoyed the book tremendously. The time Cates spent developing Redmayne's character was wonderful. Cates reminds me of Laura Kinsale in her novel 'The Shadow and the Star' which also delves into the male lead's psyche.

I really enjoy reading about Rhiannon, who has the character and integrity to 'do the right thing'. This book provided just the escapism I was looking for with delightful characters who weren't too perfect to like.

So poorly written, I left it in the student center--.......2001-01-10

-- and no one took it.

Yes, it lingered forlornly on the table for days! I was tempted to throw it in the recycling bin, but I had too much respect for it as a book.

Personally, I don't ask much from a romance novel, because I read them as pure escapism, especially during finals. I want the romance to be believable, historical facts to be fairly close to accurate, and above all, the heroine must have a brain! I don't know if this book delivers on the first two, although I'm betting not on the historical side. I didn't get far enough into it, because the heroine was such a flake! She was saccharine and clueless, and I'm surprise the book isn't *still* sitting in the student center.

Wonderful!.......2000-06-21

After taking a tentative step into the world of romance with Julie Garwoods' 'Ransom' and systematically devouring everything else the woman had ever produced, I was at a loss- what else could I read? Then, slumped despondantly against a bookshelf in a second hand bookshelf, a title caught my eye. A great lover of anything even hinting of celtic, magic or fairy tales, I snatched Briar Rose off the shelf against my father's rather desperate protests. In the end, my battles were not in vain. See, Cates, unlike Garwood, doesn't dodge in and out of relationships, blending the times between outpourings of love and desire into grey. I, like most people I know, don't believe that love and passion go necessarily hand in hand, but Garwood's books seem to promote this view. Ransom, yes, was great, but some of the others seemed kind of. . . . Well, fake. Unrealistic. Cates didn't fall into the same trap, though. We met her characters and began to love them for all their faults- at least, in my case- from the very beginning. Lion, with his fear to trust, his painful childhood, won my sympathy, even in view of his conniviving attempts to force Rhiannon into taking him back to his garrison. Rhiannon with her love for animals, her fairy-born magic, captured my sense of wonder, my belief in the unbelievable. The war between the British and the Irish, the hatred, the eye for an eye mentality, all are portrayed with fullness and impartality. Unlike many authors, Cates also abstains from putting all her good characters on one side and all her bad characters on the other. The romance between Rhiannon and Lion almost reminds me of the famous play Romeo and Juliet, though certainly I like this ending better. I agree that the romance is admittedly slow, but it's nice to see an author whose characters don't jump in and out of bed like hyper two year-olds. (Not to say that all romance character do, and certainly not pretending any real knowledge of the subject- this is simply my jaundiced opinion from observation of Garwood and a few other, select romance writers) In any case, the author uses her time to build up their memories, to show us all the wonderful and sometimes not so wonderful differences between hero and heroine. Rhiannon with her tender heart rolled out like a carpet, Lion, who locks himself into a mask, tries to hide his pain even in his dreams, truly are characters you can understand, empathize with. And Cates does this with beautiful, vivid imagery and distinctive style. I've read a lot of reviews that claim Kimberly Cates overdid the page count on this particular novel, but I can't help but think that a good romance novel, like a good cup of coffee on a rainy day, is best if it's drawn out. Say what you will about tedious prose, but after the occasionally unbelievable romances of other writers (also known as the lightening bolt from the heavens syndrome) I believe Cates did the right thing, and that Briar Rose is all the richer for it.

Not worth reading.......2000-03-28

Most of the time I love Kimberly Cates work, but this time I was really disappointed. This book was really slow going, only the last 50 pages are worth reading. This story could have been told in a lot less pages. The usual chemistry was not there.

A Green Thumb: A Story About Being Humble (Disney Princess)

Average customer rating:

A Green Thumb: A Story About Being Humble (Disney Princess)

Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Product Description

Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty. A story about being humble.

Five Star Expressions - The Briar and the Rose (Five Star Expressions)

Average customer rating:

Outstanding and Mesmerizing Debut Novel
Absolutely unforgettable!
Absolutely unforgettable!
Excellent book
Excellent historical romance debut

Five Star Expressions - The Briar and the Rose (Five Star Expressions)
Laura Mills-Alcott
Manufacturer: Five Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Romance | Subjects | Books
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The Raven Prince (Warner Forever)

ASIN: 1594140898

Book Description

Loosely based on The Ballad of Barbara Allen and the Irish folktale of the same title, The Briar and the Rose is a historical, paranormal romance of love lost, memories forgotten and two lives redeemed from guilt. Devan, Marquess of Castlereagh, has just returned to Dahlingham, his Ireland estate, to mourn Lady Katherine, who died in a great fire the night of the ball at Dakshire -- the very night they were to run away to Gretna Green and elope. Enter Raven, found near death in his gardens with no memory of her past. When Devan first sees her, his heart nearly stops -- she is the spitting image of his lost Katherine, but her Irish brogue proves beyond doubt that she is not. From historical Ireland to the beau monde and the elegant ballrooms of Regency London, together, Devan and Raven discover the truth of her past, and a passionate love so strong it cannot be denied.

Laura Mills-Alcott currently resides in Northeast Ohio with her three beautiful children, two dogs and too many cats.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding and Mesmerizing Debut Novel .......2004-08-01

Setting - England and Ireland 1827 --- Devan, Marquess of Castlereagh, had fallen in love with the very beautiful Katherine from the moment he saw her, a mutual attraction, some would say that was pre-ordained. Moments before they were to run away and elope to Gretna Greene a great fire erupted that trapped Katherine, and no amount of heroic effort on the part of Devan could save her. Totally devastated, suffering the nightmares of Katherine's screams to save her, Devan left London for the tranquility of his Irish estate, Dahlingham. Days after his arrival he gazed out to the gardens and spied the mysterious new maid his housekeeper and her daughter had found unconscious on the grounds days before. The young woman had no memory of who she was, or where she had come from, and had been nursed back to health by his housekeeper and her daughter Collette who would name her Raven. When Devan finally sent for her, he saw the very image of the woman he had loved and lost, his beloved Katherine. Soon, she was installed in the upper floors, and treated as his guest while he tried to discover who she was. A mystery as her speech switched back and forth from an Irish peasant brogue, to a `lady' with precise and correct English speech.

Almost immediately, Devan's nightmares of Katherine stopped only to be replaced by dreams of Raven who invaded his consciousness both night and day. Raven had nightmares and dreams as well, of a time, people, and places from long, long ago, until soon the face of her dream lover became the face of Devan. Terrified that she was losing her mind, as well as her heart, Raven did her best to distance herself from Devan by using the friendship of his friend Victor, Duke of Brookshire. Was it reincarnation, a foul trick, or was it madness? History would almost repeat itself, if not for the interference of Devan's wonderful friend Victor, who would save the day for Raven and Devan and give them the chance to right a wrong that had torn the two apart 200 years before. But wait, the story does not end there, as another more surprising twist will stun the readers in this amazing sensual tale of reincarnation and second chance at love.

In this, her debut novel, the author admits being inspired by the tragic folk ballad of Barbara Allen and Sweet William. She has crafted an amazingly intense and totally sensual tale, so complex and riveting that it will simply take your breath away with emotions her vivid words evoke in the readers mind. Filled with memorable visual imagery, and stimulating dialogs you will find your emotions engaged with scenes of passion, love and betrayals. This is an outstanding, debut novel by a very talented writer that should not to be missed, and should have fans of historical and supernatural genres immediately looking to find a copy that they'll want on their `keeper shelves'. --- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicromancewriters.com ---

Absolutely unforgettable!.......2004-07-14

Set in the year 1827. Devan, Marquess of Castlereagh, lost his beloved Katherine in a great fire the night of the ball at Dakshire. They were to elope that very night. Devan leaves London for his home in Ireland to drown his grief in the bottles. Shortly after settling in at home, he looks out this library window to spy a servant tending the roses. When he sees her face, he is startled. She is the exact image of his Katherine.

Raven has no memory before being found on the lawn of Dahlingham near death. The housekeeper, Mrs. Captain, probably would have turned her out as a crazy person, but Collette, her daughter, begged to be allowed to nurse the girl back to health. By the time Lord Castlereagh returns home from London, Collette has named her Raven, nursed her to health, and Raven has a position tending to the laundry and the garden.

Since Katherine's death, confusing nightmares tortured Devan. He knows that Raven and his is connected. He decides that by bettering Raven's life and helping her learn to be a lady, he would ease his nightmares of failing to save his love from the flames. Raven, somehow, held the key to it all.

Unknown to Raven or Devan, Raven walks in her sleep every night. Raven plays out the dreams of being a lady from two hundred years ago named Mairéad. Devan follows Raven's nightly treks, not realizing she is not awake or in some sort of trance. When questioned about the outings at a later date, Raven insists HE dreamed it all. He is left to wonder why she is lying.

Through it all, Devan's friend, Victor, Duke of Brookshire, visits almost daily. He adores Raven and even courts her. As Victor comes to understand that love has bloomed between Devan and Raven, he decides to give them a helping hand. After all, someone has to known some sense into the pair.

***** Fans of Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, HEADS UP! You do NOT want to miss out on this author! Laura Mills-Alcott is quickly rising to stardom with her magical historical romances. This one will touch your heart and linger in your memory forever! I cannot urge you strongly enough to rush out and get your copy of this story. Best get hardback. You will not be able to read it only once in your life. This one will win awards! Absolutely unforgettable! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Absolutely unforgettable!.......2004-07-14

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Excellent book.......2004-02-10

I was surprised a debut book captured me as completely as this one did. If you love historical romance, especially those set in the Regency, then you won't want to miss this book. Lovely writing, steamy love scenes, and a story that will haunt you long after you've finished reading. Readers of the historical romance genre will appreciate this book's original plot. This book had its funnier moments and also its more dramatic moments. One pivitol scene in particular, where the hero finally learns the truth of the heroine's past, made me actually weep. There were a couple scenes that I thought could have been a little bit longer and more fleshed out, but even so it didn't detract from my overall enjoyment. Excellent book and a must for readers who love historical romance.

Excellent historical romance debut.......2004-02-06

I admit I looked forward to this book's release after reading a couple teaser chapters online. I love books with Ireland settings because it's one of my favorite places to visit and read about. I also admit I wished it had been paperback, because then I wouldn't have had to wait until after the holidays were over to order it! But now I'm glad I got it in hard cover because I know I'll be reading it again. It's a classic.

The story starts with the Marquess of Castlereagh returning to his home in Ireland after the death of his fiance in London. Shortly after his return, he meets a woman that's been taken in as a member of his staff, and to his shock, she looks exactly like the woman who died. He calls her to his library, hoping he's been granted a miracle, but he soon realizes this woman, Raven, is just a common Irish girl, who's suffered a tragedy so awful that she can't remember her past before the day she came to his estate.

After meeting Raven, Devan (the marquess) is freed from the dreams of the fire that took his fiance that he's had ever since the night in England when she died, only to begin having strange dreams of Raven, who calls out to him for help in these dreams.

Devan soon realizes that the only way to put an end to the disturbing dreams is to solve the mystery of Raven's past.

It's just beautiful how the author lays out the clues throughout the story and then ties up every loose end, and through it all Devan and Raven discover a precious love.

I loved this story! I could feel every heartache and victory these characters experienced. Devan and Raven are wonderful characters, but I also fell in love with the whole cast of characters, which I don't normally do. This book made me feel just about every emotion imaginable. There's passion and humor and drama. It's just a beautiful story all around.

Not only is it written very well, but the story is so original that I consider it the best historical romance I've read in a long time, and I read a lot of them. I think other readers who love historicals set in Ireland and England will love it too.

Average customer rating:

briar rose

The best book I've ever read for school!!!!
Briar Rose
Susan Wiggs
Manufacturer: Avon Books (Mm)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Wiggs, Susan | ( W ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
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Lord of the Night

Lily and the Leopard

Dancing on Air (Harper Monogram)

Vows Made in Wine (Harper Monogram)

Miranda Miranda

ASIN: 0380754304

Customer Reviews:

briar rose.......2004-11-16

I bought this book after I read the review here. I'm a Susan Wiggs 's fan, I read most of her books. I found this book the most boring and unreasonable one. It's a long and uneventful story, a few words from the hero to the heroine could clear the misunderstandings between them,instead they left the rift between them get deeper and deeper. It's a very disappointing book.

The best book I've ever read for school!!!!.......1998-06-17

I was a little wary when my teacher, Miss Roberts told us we were going to read this book, but I totally warmed up to it!! I combines romance with raw animal passion. There sure is a lot of both!! It's the kind of book that makes you tingle. With pasion that is.

4 Titles By Cates - Restless Is the Wind - Crown of Dreams - Lily Fair - Briar Rose

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4 Titles By Cates - Restless Is the Wind - Crown of Dreams - Lily Fair - Briar Rose
Kimberly Cates
Manufacturer: various
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000O7E2P8

Product Description

4 massmarket paperback Titles By Cates - Restless Is the Wind - Crown of Dreams - Lily Fair - Briar Rose

Average customer rating:

The Briar and the Rose
Rosa-Leigh
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Issues | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1413772307
Release Date: 2006-04-10

Book Description

The Briar and the Rose is the story of a young girl who would endure the unthinkable just to be free, a girl who would risk everything to have the adventure of a lifetime. She had everything worked out, but what she didn't plan on was falling for the man from whom she had tried to escape.

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