The Winter Lodge (Lakeshore Chronicles)

Book Description

On the longest night of the year, Jenny Majesky loses everything in a devastating house fire. But among the ashes she finds an unusual treasure hidden amid her grandfather's belongings, one that starts her on a search for the truth, and on a path toward a life that she never imagined. The Winter Lodge, a remote cabin owned by her half sister on the shores of Willow Lake, becomes a safe refuge for Jenny, where she and local police chief Rourke McKnight try to sort out the mysteries revealed by the fire.

But when a blizzard traps them together, Jenny, accustomed to the safe predictability of running the family bakery, suddenly doesn't feel so secure. For even as Rourke shelters her from the storm outside, she knows her heart is at risk. Now, following her dreams might mean walking away from her one chance at love.

Customer Reviews:

great.......2007-09-19

Loved this book, love this author. I start reading and don't want to put her books down. Susan makes the characters come alive.

Two things.......2007-09-12

This is the second installment of The Lakeshore Chronicles. I like the fact that she tells more than one story at a time. While this book was very good it wasn't as good as "Summer At Willow Lake". Because:
A. The Winter Lodge didn't factor into the book until the last few chapters which made the title and the description on the back inaccurate.
B. Do the words "birth control" and "safe sex" mean anything to these people? I counted FOUR pregnancies outside of marriage.
But I'm definitely looking forward to, reading the last of the trilogy, "Dockside".

Hopelessly Romantic.......2007-05-28

Where to begin, this book touched my heart maybe because it copied a portion of my life growing up. I think the way Susan Wiggs brings this book together is brilliant. This is a must read for the hopeless romantic out there. Happy reading.

Suasan Wiggs Does It Again.......2007-03-22

this is the 2nd installment in the LakeShore Chronicles and i enjoyed it immensely. If I can't get into a story I don't like I usually skip thru the boring parts and get to the good stuff but I devoured every single word, I couldn't put it down. I rated it a 5 but it deserves a 10! I can't wait to read the final installment.

nice read.......2007-03-19

Susan Wiggs has a very easy style of reading. But also compelling enough to keep you turning pages. The Winter Lodge is a "sequel" to Summer at Willow Lake but you don't have to read the first to enjoy the second. She has good character development and believable plots. A good book for a Sunday afternoon or a day at the beach.

$Heart Of Winter: Woman Hater\If Winter Comes$
Average customer rating:

It's ok for a rainy day
One of my favorite from Ms. Palmer!
Two DP Classics
Heart of Winter

Heart Of Winter: Woman Hater\If Winter Comes
Diana Palmer
Manufacturer: HQN Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0373771746

Book Description

Woman Hater

Everyone in the office described the boss's mysterious older brother as wary of the female of the species--a real woman hater. He'd been burned in the past, and now was twice shy, to say the least. So when Nicole White had to travel with her ailing employer to his brother's home in Montana, she was prepared for the worst.

What she found was a man more roughly masculine than any she'd ever met.

But Winthrop Christopher's distrust of women ran straight to the bone. Nicki knew she should avoid him, but she couldn't hide from the feelings he stirred in her. Could she ever teach this woman hater to love again?

If Winter Comes

Charismatic Phoenix mayor Bryan Moreland had already won the devotion of his constituents and was well on his way to getting reporter Carla Maxwell's vote…until she found out that the hunky leader wasn't all he claimed to be. Rumor had it the popular politician was an embezzler. It was just a rumor, Carla told herself. As a reporter she'd have to get to the bottom of it; as a woman, she wanted nothing more than to lose herself in sexy Mayor Moreland's arms. Or was that exactly where he wanted her, for reasons other than love and seduction?

Customer Reviews:

It's ok for a rainy day.......2007-06-02

I've just finished reading the book, and I am wondering what made me spent so much money in it (I live in Argentina so I paid the price plus the delivery cost). It's romance, but sad one. The heroines seem to believe they deserve to be treated bad just because of a tiny mistake, and the heroes..... they are rough, and bad tempered and treat the heroines very badly. When I finish reading a romance book, I'm usually happy, but this books made me sad.
It's an ok reading for a rainy day.... if you want to feel sad afterwards.

One of my favorite from Ms. Palmer!.......2007-05-24

Ms. Palmer is one of the best romance novelist. Her book is the first romance I've read and it sure is not the last! She brings up many great stroies that you will love to read. If you're looking for a fun, tender, loving, care, especially, the happy ever after ending! read Ms. Palmer's books.
I find it's so romantic when the male character who always seems rough around the edge become quite smitten once he meets the innocent young girl. However hard he tries to resist her in the begining will soon find it's impossible and has to surrender body, heart and soul.
All in all, it's a double thumb up. I practically will have to look for her books somemore to read.

Two DP Classics.......2007-03-05

Book Description: WOMAN HATER - Everyone in the office described the boss's mysterious older brother as wary of the female of the species--a real woman hater. He'd been burned in the past, and now was twice shy, to say the least. So when Nicole White had to travel with her ailing employer to his brother's home in Montana, she was prepared for the worst. What she found was a man more roughly masculine than any she'd ever met. But Winthrop Christopher's distrust of women ran straight to the bone. Nicki knew she should avoid him, but she couldn't hide from the feelings he stirred in her. Could she ever teach this woman hater to love again?
IF WINTER COMES - Charismatic Phoenix mayor Bryan Moreland had already won
the devotion of his constituents and was well on his way to getting reporter Carla Maxwell's vote...until she found out that the hunky leader wasn't all he claimed to be. Rumor had it the popular politician was an embezzler. It was just a rumor, Carla told herself. As a reporter she'd have to get to the bottom of it; as a woman, she wanted nothing more than to lose herself in sexy Mayor Moreland's arms. Or was that exactly where he wanted her, for reasons other than love and seduction?

Two Diana Palmer Classics, both reprints are solid stories well worth reading or re-reading. Both men may appear difficult or non-approachable initially but prove well-worth the effort in the end. Sure to please true DP fans.

Heart of Winter.......2007-01-09

These two stories are both good fast reading. They are reprints of the
earlier titles, but still worth reading again. If you collect DP you will
be glad to have these in hardback.

Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (The Immortals After Dark, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Great romance, great humor, and great imagination!
One word for this author - autobuy!
The third in the series and best so far.........WOW!
Kresley Cole + Paranormal = PERFECT!

Wicked Deeds on a Winter's Night (The Immortals After Dark, Book 3)
Kresley Cole
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1416547037

Book Description

Her breathless kiss haunts him...

Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan was nearly destroyed when he lost the one woman meant for him. The ruthless warrior grew even colder, never taking another to his bed -- until a smoldering encounter with his enemy, Mariketa the Awaited, reawakens his darkest desires. When sinister forces unite against her, the Highlander finds himself using all his strength and skill to keep her alive.

His slow, hot touch is irresistible...

Temporarily stripped of her powers, Mari is forced to take refuge with her sworn adversary. It's rumored that no one can tempt Bowen's hardened heart, but soon passion burns between them. Though a future together is impossible, she fears he has no intention of letting her go.

No deed is too wicked for her seduction...

If they defeat the evil that surrounds them, can Mari deny Bowen when he demands her body and soul -- or will she risk everything for her fierce protector?

Customer Reviews:

Great romance, great humor, and great imagination!.......2007-10-22

Kresley Cole has managed to top herself in her newest IAD installment! Not only is the romance between Bowen and Mariketa believable (and hot!), but the surrounding plot is well developed and highly creative. A wonderful read for those looking for hot romance, serious humor, and some great imagination!

One word for this author - autobuy!.......2007-10-21

Kresley Cole has done it again. I read this book, frantically between moments of real life - in one day. It was excellent in character and plotting. The twists and turns in this book were quite amazing, and Mari and Bowen are hot, hot, hot. I'm going to reread the first two, and then read this one again. Just a first rate job.

The third in the series and best so far.........WOW!.......2007-10-20

He lost his mate over 180yrs ago. The depressed Lykae, Bowen MacReive, enters the Talisman's Hie (similar to the amazing race) determined to win the prize. A key which will allow him to go back in time and save his mate from her certain death. Meanwhile, there are other players just as determined. A beautiful witch, Mariketa the Awaited, is desperate to prove herself and her powers to the House of Witches by garnering the prize. Bowen's and Mariketa's attraction is immediate, but to him it is unwelcome (he despises witches). He mustn't lose his focus even if his mind is telling him one thing and his heart and senses are telling him another. Mariketa is sick of being on the B -team (always second choice). No Lykae is going to mess with this witch and then dump her when he gets back his 'real' mate. Oh no! He's got another thing coming. She's not supposed to be the most powerful witch for nothing.

This is the third in the series and my favorite so far. If you haven't read the other two then STOP RIGHT NOW! Your doing yourself a serious injustice by not reading them. Although they are stand alone books, your missing out -a lot- if you don't read them first. 'No Rest For The Wicked' (the prequel to Wicked Deeds) is particularly important in that it centers around the same race (Talisman's Hie). Which will give you a better understanding of the race and its characters (and Sebastian is yummy too ;)).

That being said, if you loved the other books then you'll love this one. Your in for a great ride (literally). The characterizations are wonderful and rich. The H/H chemistry is sizzling. A fast paced paranormal that grabs you from the get go. There are many surprises! Cole's really got a knack for keeping her readers on their toes! I must have said OMG! at least a half a dozen times. But my lips are sealed! No spoilers here.

Another great book from a wonderful series.

Kresley Cole + Paranormal = PERFECT!.......2007-10-19

Kresley Cole delivers what is expected, another perfect paranormal romance! This story is everything you hope it could be and it is. I've been anticipating it ever since Bowen was first introduced in A Hunger Like No Other (2006). And once again, we are off and running from page one. Suspenseful, sexy and a yummy hero.
Bowen is our tragic hero - complicated, calculating and a flawed lycae who lost his one mate two hundred years ago and has been pining and wallowing in guilt ever since. When the opportunity of the Hie, the Amazing Race on steroids, presents itself with the chance to go back in time and change the outcome, he is ruthless in his pursuit. Enter Mariketa, a particularly vile form of life for Bowen - a witch - but he can't resist her. Could Mariketa be is mate reincarnated, did she cast a love spell on him? The interaction between these two characters is so intriguing and fun to read with HUGE complications you don't see coming or could anticipate. And I haven't even mentioned The Accession! All out war in the Lore between the all the factions - witches, vampires, lycae and more - in the coming books. Oh boy, are we in for a great ride.
Kresley Cole creates characters you are anxious to read about. If you are new to the series, I envy you because you're in for a treat. The other books to look for in this series: Immortals After Dark appears in the anthology Playing Easy to Get; A Hunger Like No Other, No Rest for the Wicked.
Don't miss out on Ms. Cole's historicals. They are amazing!

Average customer rating:

Simpering and simmering during the English Civil War

The Winter Prince (Signet Eclipse)
Cheryl Sawyer
Manufacturer: NAL Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451220447

Book Description

A new novel of love and war set in 17th-century England-from the acclaimed author of The Code of Love.

Praised for her "lavish use of history...and vividly detailed settings,"* Cheryl Sawyer sweeps readers back to 17th-century England at the time of the Civil War, where a royal duchess and a warrior prince fight to save a riven kingdom.

Mary Villiers, Duchess of Richmond and Lennox, is a ravishing beauty raised as the adopted daughter of Charles I of England. In 1642 she is shocked to find herself opposed to her king when he decides to declare war on Parliament and therefore on his own people. Mary embarks on a dangerous quest to help save the throne of England for its rightful monarch, but first she'll tangle with the king's charismatic nephew, Prince Rupert of the Rhine.

Customer Reviews:

Simpering and simmering during the English Civil War.......2007-07-24

Author Cheryl Sawyer attempts to bring to life the much rumored (but unconfirmed) romance between Mary Villiers, the Duchess of Richmond and Prince Rupert of the Rhine, nephew to (the eventually deposed & decapitated) King Charles I of England during the early years of the English Civil War.

Mary Villiers is daughter to the infamous George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham (infamous for being lover to King James I and for his infectious charisma & dandified living). She was a very young girl when jealousy and spite lead to the murder of her father & Mary has tried to live a spot-free chaste courtier's life in the court of her informal "adopted" family - that of King Charles I, his wife Queen Henrietta-Maria and their sons. King Charles I is famous for his ineptitude which eventually lead to the overthrow of the English monarchy, and his wife, Queen Henrietta-Maria for her excessiveness, frivolousness and Catholic fervor. We meet Mary when she is 20 and in a passionless but respectful and friendly marriage to the Duke of Richmond. Mary pays court to the King and Queen nearly without question and without asking for favors - loyalty above all.

In walks the darkly handsome, roguish P.O.W. Prince Rupert of the Rhine, followed by his reputation as a ladies man. Mary and Rupert find themselves drawn to one and other and spend a year yearning and resisting their passionate urges. This sounds like a great set up for a good romance set against political turmoil... but the story didn't deliver. The passion is under developed (too many longing gazes and hidden thoughts) and the chance encounters are hokey (like meeting in a dark tunnel beneath the streets of Oxford that no one had traveled for 200 years). The military strategy sessions and battle descriptions did not add to the love story, and the love story did not add to the political history of the time.

Mary is hard to really truly like - her unwaivering loyalty and friendship to the selfish and fickle Henrietta-Maria is frustrating, and, as written, she seems too fragile, unaware and unsure of herself to hold the interest of the worldly, gallant Prince Rupert. Rupert, on the other hand, is a quirky man who holds to a chivalric code, speaks of himself in the third person, keeps odd pets and is a savage on the battle field (all documented to be true).

I wanted to like this book - but I found it to be just "OK" and a bit too slow for my liking. Those interested in reading about King Charles I and Queen Henrietta-Maria may find their presentation here of interest, though it is secondary to the main story. Sawyer keeps their characters consistent with opinions of the time. They are devoted to each other despite their religious differences. The Queen is a bit domineering, extremely fickle, and "meddlesome" in governmental and military affairs. Perhaps it would not have been such a significant flaw at the time if she had good political instinct, but she did not. Nor did her husband - Sawyer shows him to us as the indecisive and inept ruler he was.

To clarify, I did not expect a traditional sappy "historical romance" & was thus disappointed. I enjoy well written historical novels with romantic subplots. I enjoy the suspense of courtship - the Winter Prince just didn't hit the mark. If love expressed solely by whispered phrases once every 6 months and yearning gazes is your game, The Winter Prince is the book for you.

$Bound By Honor: Mercenary's Woman\The Winter Soldier$
Average customer rating:

The author is good
I like other Diana Palmer books much better
Curl Up With This Book
Formulaic to say the least.

Bound By Honor: Mercenary's Woman\The Winter Soldier
Diana Palmer
Manufacturer: Harlequin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0373771827

Customer Reviews:

The author is good.......2007-03-23

I have read all her books. She is very goood

I like other Diana Palmer books much better.......2006-04-29

I thought that this book was ok. I would not re-read it though. This book did not lack in action and suspence though, there was a lot undercover agents, secret missions, police forces, special agents , etc... in this book that it kept me reading it. Other than that, there was hardly any romance in it. I bought this book as a romance book and it really wasn't. The second story was better than the first. In the first story, Eb and Sallie had a bitter past together and they seemed just too forgive and forget very easily. Like in one day they were friends. Then came all the action with the drug lords and Eb ended up saving the day! The second story was rushed but I liked it better than the first. It played off of the first story, so it leads off where the other ended. So, you enojy the mercs, going undercover to catch a drug lord. I think that Mrs. Palmer should have just wrote this as one big book instead of two.

Curl Up With This Book.......2006-02-25

whenever I want a 'feel good' night, I curl up with a diana Palmer book and this one is no exception. Having read subsequent books that reerred to both of these men, it was great to read their stories, and they certainly are hunky guys. Although some scenes really require a 'wllling suspension of disbelief," you'll know what romance is all about when you finish.

Formulaic to say the least........2006-01-16

First let me clarify: this is from the Media Scholar's wife. What's good about this book is its' price: it's cheap. You get two stories for the price of one. What the back cover doesn't tell you is that both stories are part of a series and are completely connected (which I, as a reader, don't love). I can live with that, though. Unfortunately, the similarities don't end there. Along with having the same characters, it has the same general plot. It is 100% predictable. The last chapter of the second story is there for the sole purpose of introducing another book, the next in the undisclosed series which- surprise- has the same plot! If you have a favorite plot and enjoy series/soap operas, then this book is for you. Another book by Diana Palmer, A Matter of Trust, is virtually the same as this one. Lucky me, I read them back to back. I most likely will not read another written by this author.

Average customer rating:

A mixed bag (three and a half stars)
Not what I expected
5 stars for Lynn Kurland, no rating for the others
Excellent Compilation
Lynn Kurland's story was great, the rest not so great

The Queen in Winter
Lynn Kurland , Sharon Shinn , Claire Delacroix , and Sarah Monette
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425207722

Book Description

From four of today's most imaginative authors come four stories of love as pure as the driven snow that will warm the coldest of hearts.

USA Today bestselling author Claire Delacroix delivers an enchanting tale of a gifted seer who receives a vision of a man whom she was not meant to marry, but was meant to love.

USA Today bestselling author Lynn Kurland spins a story of a mortal man and an elven woman who endure both the mundane and the magical in their quest to remain together.

Award-winning author Sharon Shinn writes of a brave young woman who saves her sister's magically- gifted child, only to receive an unexpected gift of her own.

And newcomer Sarah Monette's romantic novella tells of a warrior maiden trapped in a deadly storm with the only man she ever wanted, whose scars she must heal if he is ever to want her.

Customer Reviews:

A mixed bag (three and a half stars).......2007-01-15

It seems that the people who read this anthology fall into either of two groups: romance readers who love Kurland's story and mostly dislike the other ones and fantasy readers who pick the book up for Shinn's story and don't know what to make of the rest.

The plots are neatly summed up in the book description, so I'll just give you my impressions.

"A Whisper of Spring": Sometimes the impossible is closer than you think.
I'm more of a fantasy reader, so Kurland's story was very nice, life-affirming, cozy, predictable and perfectly forgettable to me. No background building whatsoever. Maybe if it were a full-length book... Well, it's obviously a part of her Nine Kingdoms series, with another story published in the anthology "To Weave a Web of Magic" and a full-length novel "Star of the Morning" coming out in December 2006, so there's still hope. Three stars.

"When Winter Comes": Fight for the ones you love and you'll get rewarded.
I love Sharon Shinn, so I liked her story very well, though it started as slow as her novels tend to, which may be annoying to unaccustomed readers. The story is a spin-off of her novel "Dark Moon Defender", the third volume of her Twelve Houses series. Even though it can easily be read without knowing the series, I suspect that in order to get a better feeling of the political/social background it would be best to have read at least "Mystic and Rider" first. Four stars.

"The Kiss of the Snow Queen": I've no idea what this story was about.
Deveraux' story was the one in the lot I simply disliked and was bored by. It's not that it was badly written. I suppose that there may even be some readers who'll love it. However, the mix of Christian faith and Norse myths combined with the fairy tale of the Snow Queen and stuffed with both modern slang and medieval archaisms was... chancy, to put it mildly. I'm not usually bothered by such things (obviously, since I love Shinn's books), but some readers who are serious about their religion may even find it offensive. And if there was any romance at all, it was not between the hero and the heroine. Two and a half stars.

"A Gift of Wings": Love heals.
I've never read anything by Monette, so I was pleasantly surprised. The best story in the anthology, in my opinion. It was maybe too obviously a 'healing' romance, developed against a background of a 'whodunnit'. Intricate world building, very interesting characters. This story is a bit darker than the other ones. What some readers may not like about it is that the heroine is obviously the stronger partner and the hero does a lot of crying, sometimes coming across as seventeen rather than thirty, but, hey, he's entitled ;-) I think I'm going to give her novels a try. Four and a half stars.

In my opinion, this anthology is such a mixed bag that each person will find a different story to his or her liking, but never all of them.

Not what I expected.......2006-12-20

I just finished reading this book last night and am very disappointed. I bought this thinking it would be a nice read for the holidays. I love Lynn Kurland's story, of which I am a great fan and own most of her books. I also loved Sharon Shinn's story. However, the stories by Claire Delacroix and Sarah Monette were a great disappointment. The back blurb states these are "four stories of love as pure as the driven snow." Don't believe it. Two of the stories are dark, depressing and have only an inkling of "love" and zero romance. Don't get me wrong, all four are excellent writers, but please don't advertise something as a romance when it isn't. I have read more romances than I can ever begin to count, so I do know what I'm talking about. A collection such as this should contain the best the authors have to offer in order to encourage the reader to buy more books by that author. All this did was make me cross two authors off my to-be-read list. My apologies for the negative review, but I feel stongly about this.

5 stars for Lynn Kurland, no rating for the others.......2006-12-13

I got this book for the first story, "A Whisper of Spring" by Lynn Kurland. I love her writing, while the other authors here just aren't my style. I love the way Lynn's stories are all clean... the romance is real love, rather than sexual "chemistry." This story didn't disappoint me. The emotion and tension is there, even though not even a kiss can be found in its pages. It is a BEAUTIFUL story of two people who discover that the chance that they never thought possible, has been given to them... to be together.

Iolaire, an elfin priness, has been kidnapped by the evil Lothar of Wychwold. Her brother seeks out Symon, the mage king of Neroche, to help rescue her. The rescue is swiftly accomplished... but Iolaire cannot return to her home... and Symon finally dares to believe that maybe he can have her as his own.

Excellent Compilation.......2006-11-27

I bought this book for the Sharon Shinn story, as I am a big fan of her Mystic and Rider series, and this story ties up a few loose ends. I also enjoyed the other stories, but the real treasure was Sarah Monette's short story, A Gift of Wings. It's a beautiful story, and extraordinarily well-written, so I give this book 5 stars for not only living up to my expectations as far as Sharon Shinn's story, but also introducing me to an exceptional new author for me.

Lynn Kurland's story was great, the rest not so great.......2006-07-30

Lynn Kurland-*****-This was a captivating story with wonderful characters. Symon was great, a perfect hero. Iolaire was an adorable heroine, and when Symon found that she was not the "perfect-woman-on-a-pedestal" he found her more endearing. Not a dull moment anywhere in this one. Well done!

Sharon Shinn-**- Almost the entire story was about the two sisters, rather than about Darryn and Sosie. I also felt like I was reading a couple of chapters from some other book. And while this wasn't slow-paced, it wasn't that interesting.

Claire Delacroix-**-This one bordered on boredom as well and the only good thing in it was "Loki." Most of the story was about how the heroine, Gerta, and Loki come to care deeply for each other on a long trek, but in the end she's suddenly supposed to be crazy for Cai? We didn't even get to know him to find out why either, because the story just stopped.

Sarah Monette-*-There's much to be said for not liking weak heros. This was horrible.

Average customer rating:

Red Light Winter: A Play
Adam Rapp
Manufacturer: Faber & Faber
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0865479542
Release Date: 2005-12-27

Book Description

It’s totally familiar but dreamlike at the same time," observes one American of Amsterdam’s notorious Red Light District in the stunning new work from Adam Rapp. Escaping their lives in Manhattan, former college buddies Matt and Davis take off to the Netherlands and find themselves thrown into a bizarre love triangle with a beautiful young prostitute named Christina. But the romance they find in Europe is eventually overshadowed by the truth they discover at home. Written with an unflinching poetic beauty, Red Light Winter is a play of sexual intrigue that explores the myriad and misguided ways we seek to fill the empty spaces inside us.

Time on Ice: A Winter Voyage to Antarctica

Average customer rating:

Sail to Antarctica
Nice to read
A little slow, but overall a good book.
Experiencing Life
I read it "in the raw..."

Time on Ice: A Winter Voyage to Antarctica
Deborah Shapiro , and Rolf Bjelke
Manufacturer: International Marine Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0071353224

Amazon.com

In 1989, Deborah Shapiro and Rolf Bjelke willingly set sail for a land of ice and snow. Their goal (reminiscent of the Age of Exploration): to captain a 40-foot sailboat, the Northern Light, from Sweden to the Antarctic Peninsula and back, and overwinter in one of the earth's most beautiful yet inhospitable places. During the 28,000-nautical-mile trip, they endured battering seas, treacherous ice flows, and complete isolation while frozen at the bottom of the world. Time on Ice is the result of their struggles and ultimate achievement. In alternating chapters, the married coauthors recount a remarkable three-year odyssey that peaks with their interment in an Antarctic winter. But the awe-inspiring vistas, seldom-seen wildlife, and personal discoveries far outweigh the dangers. This is a fascinating journey to one of the world's wildest and loneliest places.

Book Description

When they sailed their modest metal-hulled sailboat NORTHERN LIGHT safely free of Antarctica the first time, adventurers Deborah Shapiro and Rolf Bjelke vowed never to go back. But they neglected the power of the human mind to forget pain. Drawn by a compulsion to trace the route of Shackleton ... memories of awe-striking beauty ... a need to test themselves and their game craft ... and a wish to be more alone and unfettered than any other humans on Earth, they made plans to sail once again for Antarctica and to overwinter there, locked in the ice. LIBRARY JOURNAL called their story "compelling reading."

Customer Reviews:

Sail to Antarctica.......2002-01-05

An incredble journey.

Well written, alternating chapters between Deborah and Rolf. This is a wild ride. Most of us sailors/adventurers will never make this journey. Deborah and Rolf are the most likeable and articulate sailor-environmentalists that show us life from Pole to Pole. If you have any interest in Antarctica or blue water sailing, you willl find this book to be very compelling.

Nice to read.......2001-12-14

This is a very interesting book. I was amazed with their strength to accomplish their dream. The only negative aspect is that the book sometimes has a lot of details and it lacks more details about their day to day activities.

A little slow, but overall a good book........2001-09-02

While I can't quite share the enthusiasm of several of the other reviewers (Viking spirit and all that), I thought this was a solid book and enjoyable to read. It generally moves along at a slow pace, but this is to be expected given the nature of the trip. Accounts alternate from Deborah's view to Rolf's. Of the two, Deborah is the slightly better writer and she sometimes hits on long bouts of excellent descriptions of everything from the weather to their mood. Rolf's writing is more technical but provides a decent balance to Deborah's. This may not be hardcore, edge-of-your-seat adventure (though there are tense moments), but it's a good bet for anyone interested in long distance sailing, Antartica, polar environmentalism, or any combination of these.

Experiencing Life.......2000-09-21

This book is one of the few books that portrays not only the classic aspects of human adventure but the more philosiphical underpinnings of our own life experiences in the clutter of modern civilization. Time on Ice will not only take you to antarctica, but to the desolation and isolation experienced therin. The moments of beauty, excitement, distress and love all connect at a very human level. I would recomend this book to anyone, something i have never done before.

I read it "in the raw...".......1999-02-11

I have been fortunate to share Deb and Rolf's adventures; I stayed in radio communications with them throughout both their arctic-antarctic adventures, and helped edit both their books. Even in draft form, even though I knew the story in detail, its first reading was exciting. It is truly unfortunate that a lot of the material was cut during the final edit by the publisher.

I've also seen the video that was made during their stay...it punctuates their story with unforgetable images.

Book Description

Six years ago tragedy struck and Caroline Rogers had to make tough decisions to sell the family farm and put her life on hold to raise her younger siblings.Now that they're entering adulthood and her long-delayed photography career is taking off, she can almost taste the freedom.Shaken by self-doubt, Dr. Mick Larsen turns his back on his big-city psychiatric practice and settles for the small-town quiet of Redbud Mill, where he can hide his past successes and failures.To Caroline, he shows only a man who wants to put down roots and start a family--good reasons for her to stay away.Then someone starts vandalizing local landmarks she has photographed.Now Caroline must convince a man with little faith in his own abilities that he can help her find the disturbed mind in their midst.But even as she teaches him to trust himself, she must fight the temptation to trust him with her future and her heart.

Customer Reviews:

Book-A Kiss in Winter.......2007-03-17

Book arrived in a timely manner and in perfect condition; thanks!

This book is a joy........2007-02-04

Susan Crandall brings her heartfelt emotions and depth of character to her newest novel A Kiss In Winter.

Caroline Rogers has had to put her life on hold after the tragic death of her adoptive parents. She has raised her siblings Sam and Macie and she is just a few months away from them being on their own. Caroline is shaken when the old family farm is sold to hometown returnee Dr. Mick Larsen. Caroline is deeply attracted to Mick but feels she doesn't want to be tied down now that her life is just beginning to blossom.

Dr. Mick Larsen returned home to Redbud Mill in his eyes a failure. When one of his psychiatric patients commits an unforgivable act, Mick doubts his abilities to practice. He comes home to be a farmer and hopefully to raise a family. Mick would like that woman to be Caroline.

Caroline has received local acclaim as a photographer. She hopes to expand her focus to the world. But someone is out to stop her. When local landmarks are being vandalized that she had photographed she turns to Mick for help,

A Kiss In Winter is Susan Crandall at her best. Caroline and Mick have such deep layers of feelings and issues from their pasts. They don't fall in love easily and it makes this story all that much richer. The element of suspense is just the right touch to keep this story in your heart and mind long after you finish.

Wonderfully written.......2007-01-19

Wonderfully written. I appreciate a book that leaves me wanting more of the story even when it is brought to an end as only Susan Crandall can do. When is the next book coming out?

moving romantic family drama .......2006-12-31

Caroline Rogers gave up her dreams to raise her brother and sister after her adopted parents died within days of each other. She sold the family farm and got a job photographing special occasions and freelance work like a state calendar. When she sees someone move into the Rogers' farm Caroline wants to know who it is and if he will keep the spread in good condition because some of her happiest memories happened there.

Dr. Mick Larsen, a psychiatrist turned farmer, informs Caroline that he is going to work the land. He is running from his past because he realized he never wanted to be a doctor and only did so to please his father. A tragedy convinced him he was not a good doctor. Mick and Caroline feel an immediate chemistry between them but she wants to travel for national Geographic when her sister goes to college and he wants a partner who will love him and give him children, something Caroline is afraid to do. They are drawn closer together when they realize Caroline has a stalker who is escalating in violence and his targets are tied to the pictures on the calendar she photographed. Yet a relationship for these two star-crossed lovers seems impossible.

This is a fetching and moving romantic family drama that is well written and focuses on characters that are very realistic and likeable. The heroine is afraid to love after she has seen what it did to her biological mother and the hero needs love of which he never got from his father. Susan Crandall is so talented that readers will want to read her backlist because A KISS IN WINTER is everything a contemporary romance reader wants in a book.

Harriet Klausner

The Winter Pearl (Steeple Hill Women's Fiction #16)

Average customer rating:

A Charming Historical Tale
cozy romance
A Reason to Read Christian Fiction
A Cozy Read
Want good Christian fiction? Keep looking...

The Winter Pearl (Steeple Hill Women's Fiction #16)
Molly Noble Bull
Manufacturer: Steeple Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0373786115

Book Description

In 1888, Colorado was a dangerous place for a girl on the run. But Honor McCall had to escape from her drunken uncle.

She never imagined that she'd be rescued by a handsome young minister or find a place to call home in his church.

The Rev. Jethro Peters' kindness was more than she could ever repay. So how could she stay on--accepting charity while hiding the truth about the danger that stalked her and hiding her love for a man who might never return her feelings?

She had to leave, but she just couldn't seem to go--and then Christmas brought a special miracle.…

Customer Reviews:

A Charming Historical Tale.......2007-05-10

Honor McCall knew when her aunt died that life, already hard, was about to get a whole lot worse. She didn't trust her aunt's husband, Lucas Scythe, a drunkard who had raised his hand to her more than once. And who had begun looking at her with too much interest. On the same day they buried Aunt Harriet, he announced Honor would have to marry him, now. That was all the impetus she needed to run away fast and never look back, except to make sure Lucas wasn't lurking in the shadows. But getting away wasn't so simple, either. She had no money, so she had to borrow some from the church offering plate-she knew that made her the lowest kind of thief, but what choice did she have? She'd pay it back. Somehow, someday, she'd make it right.

Jeth Peters didn't know why the wary Miss McCall got his interest, but after presiding at her aunt's funeral and then seeing that she was on the same stage that he would be taking home to Hearten, Colorado, he couldn't exactly deny the spark of interest in his heart. She wasn't right for him, nothing like his late wife, Selma. So far as he could tell, she wasn't even a Christian. But when circumstances kept throwing them together and he and his mother had to step in to care for her, his growing feelings became undeniable. The question was, would she open her heart to the Lord? And if she did, would that erase the bitterness he saw in her, that was somehow linked to her uncle?

In The Winter Pearl, Molly Noble Bull weaves a tale of fear, redemption, and love where it's least expected. As we follow Honor and Jeth and Lucas through their respective journeys, we see the many ways the Lord chooses to touch His children's hearts. There are quite a few unexpected twists waiting for them, but they weather them all and continue on their path to that jewel of salvation. It takes Honor a while to realize the difference between true grace and simple obedience, but Jeth continues to lead her through it. Lucas provides the real dynamics in his continual search for his runaway niece and battle with alcohol, and I have to admit he was, unexpectedly, one of my favorite characters.

The Winter Pearl is a charming historical that will help you pass a few winter nights with pleasure. I did find myself a little frustrated with Honor for never taking anyone into her confidence, but I also enjoyed watching her grow and battle her inner demons. If you're looking for a book that will deliver a sweet story with some surprises up its sleeve, The Winter Pearl is a good choice.

cozy romance.......2007-05-09

Rain is pouring down, the grave of her dear aunt is being filled before her, and her drunken uncle is leering at her from nearby just waiting for the moment he can get his groping hands on her. Poor Honor! That's exactly the kind of pity Molly Noble Bull evokes in her writing, and it had me hooked from the start.
What choice does Honor have but to run? Her choices are few, but God intervenes in the form of Jeth.
Jeth, the minister, and God's emissary of grace--I liked him immediately. He's a gentleman of the kind you don't see very often these days--kind and sincere, and he takes his faith very seriously. In fact, there are several characters in this book that genuinely live their faith and not for legalistic purposes, but in order to reach others for Christ. It was an inspiration to me.
On the other hand, Lucas the drunken uncle, was a surprise character. He's the bad guy--the one you don't want to read any more about, because he disgusts you so much. I certainly never thought he would be one of the main characters. I half expected him to fall and break his neck, or get himself killed in a brawl right off the bat. But Bull had other plans for this scoundrel.
Without giving away the plot, all I can say is that I didn't feel the same for him at the end as I did at the beginning. The author did a superb job with Lucas. I was almost reluctant to like him. After all, he's a no-good and doesn't deserve compassion or forgiveness. (So glad God is more merciful than I!) Reluctant or not, I did end up liking Lucas and never really noticed when it happened. Well done, Molly!
The frigid Rocky Mountain winter setting is a direct contrast to this cozy romance. But it's more than that. It's a spiritual challenge to forgive and to reach out to the lost--even the most undeserving.

A Reason to Read Christian Fiction.......2007-05-01

This book was written with a Christian audience in mind and shows that by not including a lot of theological explanations of "Christianese" terms. But the heroine's struggles with understanding and trust are fights we all face.
Most reviewers discuss the hero and heroine, but one of the supporting characters in this book was especially good. Molly Noble Bull did an exceptional job in the creation of the heroine's alcoholic uncle. Many Christian books portray alcoholic characters as simply evil or dim-witted people, but not so The Winter Pearl. Honor's uncle is a character who grapples with emotional pain and the desire to numb it. He also struggles with adultery and guilt. The character is not simplistic. The book challenges our cotton-candy church mindset of reaching out to people in sin without having a discouraging ending.
(A look at Molly Noble Bull's website will also show she isn't afraid or ashamed of the stark-clear gospel of Christ and sharing her testimony of what God has done in her life.)
As a reader who reads to "escape" from the stresses of daily life, I really enjoyed this book. It was an relaxing escape that ended with the happily-ever-after-for-everybody that we all wish we could see but seldom do in real life. Books like this one are the reasons I read Christian fiction.

A Cozy Read.......2007-04-16

The Winter Pearl

By: Molly Noble Bull

In 1888 a young woman alone in Colorado is always in peril. But Honor McCall has to get away. She escapes her abusive uncle to be injured in a stage coach robbery and rescued by a kind, widowed pastor.

She starts a new life healing from her injuries in the boarding house owned by Rev. Jethro Peters' mother. Once healed, she accepts a job at the house. Sure that her uncle will find her she must save enough money to escape again.

Love and mercy are two things she never trusted or expected. But she finds both in this gentle family that employs her. Their acceptance draws her to faith and opens her heart to love.

Will her past prevent the love she finds in Jethro Peters and the miracle of Christmas? . . .

Reading this book is like snuggling up in front of a roaring fire, drinking hot chocolate on a cold winter night. Molly Noble Bull has woven a tender love story out of a harsh wilderness. And, you will be drawn into the hearts of the characters.

Want good Christian fiction? Keep looking..........2007-04-11

I probably shouldn't be reviewing this book since I just couldn't make myself finish it. I gave it a noble effort, though, and read over half of it before skipping ahead to the end...which was as big of a let-down as I had feared it would be. Let me say now that I LOVE good Christian fiction...I love it so much that I will even forgive a few minor flaws. Let me also say that I rarely give bad reviews on anything (especially fiction) because it just seems so darn mean. But this book was just too much. I just couldn't bring myself to care one whit about Honor McCall. Her character is just so naive and clueless...and not in the charming way. There is absolutely no chemistry between Honor and her romantic interest, Jeth. One minute they're complete strangers and the next, they're in love...like the romance was just a footnote somewhere that I missed. The author (Molly Noble Bull) was clearly trying to pull off a story of tragedy, betrayal, romance, conviction and redemption but it all just seemed too forced and fell horribly short of its potential. Maybe Bull intended this book for a more juvenile audience because that's really the way it reads.

My biggest peeve by far, though, is the way the message of salvation is presented in the story. The best thing about Christian fiction is the chance (albeit a minuscule one) that an unbeliever might read it and be convicted by the Holy Spirit. The problem is that Bull uses so much Christian jargon in her book that a person not raised in the church would be left scratching their heads. "Honor, are you saved?" must have been asked several times in the book and nobody bothers to explain exactly what that means. Saved from WHAT?! As I mentioned earlier, I didn't read the ENTIRE book (and somebody please correct me if I'm wrong) but I did read a majority of it and not once did anyone actually mention the true wage of sin...Hell. But "Hell" is a buzz-word for most Christians, we don't like to say it for fear of coming across too harshly. Instead, we use meaningless and ambiguous phrases like "Ask Jesus into your heart and you'll be saved." Or, to quote directly from the book "True Christians invite the Lord into their hearts and give their bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord." What?! As a believer raised in the church (with a pastor for a father, no less) I know what that means. But an unbeliever or even a new Christian would not! Poor Honor doesn't even seem to get it. She constantly questions throughout the book if she's really "saved"!

Anyway, theological opinions aside, this just wasn't a good book. I had just finished Diann Mills' "Leather and Lace" before this one so maybe it's an unfair comparison because that book was phenomenal!! As far as The Winter Pearl goes...if you're into historical Christian fiction that's captivating and well written, you're just not gonna find it here.

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