Now Face to Face

Book Description

The beloved heroine from Koen's bestselling Through a Glass Darkly returns in a passionate, unforgettable, romantic tapestry. A widow at age 20, emotionally devastated and financially ruined by the death of her husband in scandalous circumstances, Barbara Devane leaves colonial Virginia for London to confront her enemies and to pursue a deeply satisfying yet dangerous clandestine love.

Customer Reviews:

Let me try to say something nice about this book..........2007-05-28

Karleen Koen's brief biography says that she was led to write Now, Face To Face and its prequel, Through a Glass Darkly through her interest in the period. I knew little about the Jacobite intrigues of the early 18th century. Ultimately, this is what drove me to finish the book, since even though these were historical events, I was ignorant of them, and I wanted to know how it all worked out. I am also drawn to big, meaty books, and at nearly 700 pages, this volume looked great for my week-long trip.

Koen's Protagonist, Barbara Montgeoffry, Countess Devane, is someone who I'm sure I couldn't stand if I met her. In the story, this would be written off as my jealousy of her physical perfection, mental superiority, high rank, excellent connections, and ability to charm any any man living. True enough, in real life such people are hard to take too. Barbara has suffered losses both personal and financial as the story opens, but luckily everything works out by the end of this lengthy story.

Karleen Koen is an author is more likely to tell rather than show, and this diminishes the effect of the events she portrays. For example, when Barbara finally gets together with Mr. Right, they have a little flirtation, he leaves her a flower, and then there's a fade until "three weeks later", when they are an established couple. What's the point of waiting 544 pages for this woman to find love after she's been wondering if it would ever come to her again and then not showing us the delightful early stages of love?

Readers who are knowledgeable about the 18th century and care about details might be frustrated by some of the anachronisms that creep in. I'm sure the historical facts are accurate, but the devil is in the details in a good historical novel (see Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series). Some of the daily details just don't ring true.

If you are a huge Barbara fan, you will probably love this book because it features the Georgian Barbie you loved in Through A Glass Darkly. Plot and character-wise, I didn't regret reading the first book, so don't let that put you off.

Continuation lacks the luster of book one in the series.......2007-05-23

In 'Through The Glass Darkly', Roger dies, leaving Barbara a widow and responsible for his enormous debt from the South Sea Bubble scandal. 'Now Face To Face' picks up where Barbara flees London and heads to her grandmother's plantation in Virginia. In the isolated wilds of the new world, Barbara learns to carve out a space for herself in spite of her nasty neighbor Bolling. She makes friends, winds out freeing her slaves, looses her personal slave Hyacinthe, and almost finds romance.

While Barbara is away, London bustles with activity. The Jacobites are the talk of the town, supporting the return of King James and the overthrowing of King George. Jane's husband Gussy finds himself knee deep in intrigues with newcomer and actor Laurence Slane, who's not who he really says he is. He's a gosling, one of James' most trusted informers. Barbara's grandmother, the Duchess of Tamworth, comes from the country to attend cousin Tony's wedding. Her mother Diana continues her liaison with Robert Walpole, the man responsible for Barbara's debt being unforgiven and a major force for King George.

The intrigue becomes, if this is possible, a little too thick, swarming over the storyline and drowning the characters in its overwhelming description. There's a lot of repetitiveness in the intrigues of James vs George and the who's who of the Jacobites. Tony went from simple to cunning, and it wasn't a good transition. No reason for it, nor any rhyme to it until later in the book when he'd already shown his feathers. It was as if a shade had drawn over his innocence in our absence and left a character that little resembled the Tony from the first book.

Also, if your expecting a little 'Gone With The Wind' action from Barbara in Virginia, you won't find it. Barbara went from a spirited, saucy personality to a rather droll and reflective one. Between books one and two, she lost much of the spunk that made her so charming. After the tightly woven 'Through A Glass Darkly', 'Now Face To Face' comes off as a thick (733 pages) "middle" book that basically goes nowhere. We're left hanging at the end waiting for the third book in the series.

Still, 'Now Face To Face' earns a solid 3.5 stars from me in spite of its obvious faults, because the characters are fleshed out, the times are interesting, and the prose is smoothly woven into a rich, though somewhat slow paced, tale. Faults and all, I still read it through in just a few sittings, finding myself absorbed in the tale. If you're a fan, purchase it, otherwise check it out from the library first. Enjoy!

enjoyable, but does not compare to TAGD.......2007-04-24

I read Now Face to Face after reading Through A Glass Darkly and Dark Angels. Of the three books, Now Face to Face is by far the weakest and least satisfying. The ending leaves room for another sequel, but as another reviewer noted, the material left by Koen may be too weak to continue. I was dissappointed at the author's portrayal of the "mature" Barbara. I loved her character in TAGD, but felt there was something missing here. Maybe it was the lack of Roger's spirit and passion, maybe it was the not entirely believable deep love for Slane that appeared out of nowhere, maybe it was the lack of spunk that Barbara showed in the other novel (and that the Duchess shows in Dark Angels) I was also deeply dissappointed in Tony's development. Why did he need to become an angry young man who, like the rest of Barbara's amours, ignored his wife and sense of self? The author should have chosen a different direction for his life to follow.
Hyacinth's story should have been fleshed out more, and I felt that many of the episodes and sub-stories could have had more drama in order to fill in some of the holes in the Jacobite/Hanoverian plot. And what happened with the smuggling issue, Diana, and Beth/Colonel Perry?
That being said, I did enjoy the book, and was overall pleased with the work Koen produced. However, I would recommend Dark Angels to a reader before Now Face to Face, and of course, I would recommend Through a Glass Darkly to ANYONE. So fantastic it should be in everyone's personal collection. (and for those who can't find a reasonably priced copy, I obtained mine right here through Amazon and it was under 20 bucks)

Hijackers .......2007-02-02

I liike Through the Glass Darkly and was looking forward to reading Now Face to Face, but obviously it is out of print. I am not so interested in reading it that I would pay the exhorbinant prices that are being charged for a used book. I understand the concept of supply and demand from my college economics class, but really, I would be ashamed and fear for my soul if I sold a used book at such prices and certainly can live without giving my hard earrned money to hijackers for a novel. Koen's Through the Glass Darkly was good, but irritating at some points, so I cannot fathom why people would actually purchase books at hijacked prices, which results in even more higher prices for everyone else. Retarded!

I never wanted it to end!.......2007-01-16

This was a wonderful follow up to Through a Glass Darkly. While it is not quite up the the perfection of TAGD, which I would have given 8 or 9 stars if I could, it's still pretty darn good. Although most of the story was wrapped up in the end, albeit too briefly there is more story to tell and I wish there was another sequel or two (PLEASE).

Most of the original characters return, Barbara, Hyacinthe, Theresa, Grandmama, Tony, Phillippe (ugh) and Diana -- plus some new ones. The first part takes Barbara to Virginia giving her time to work through her grief over Roger's death and the South Sea Bubble scandle.

The second part of the book brings a stronger Barbara back to London and to take it by storm once again, and she's caught up in the Jacobite rebellion. And throughout, we see Barbara mature and change, as we all do in real life. It was heartbreaking to see how Tony changed over his unrequited love for Barbara -- which can also happen in real life.

As in TAGD, you will laugh and cry, just as in real life, and gather a history lesson at the same time. Some reviewers complained because there was not a whole lot of romance, but this book should be classified as historical fiction, not historical romance.

The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 2: The Romantic Period through the Twentieth Century (Norton Anthology of English Literature)

Average customer rating:

Incredibly but True
It's Required
A very complete guide to English literature
Norton Anthology of English Literature
Better for Grads Than Under

The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 2: The Romantic Period through the Twentieth Century (Norton Anthology of English Literature)

Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0393925323

Book Description

A legendary bestseller for more than forty years, this is the classic survey to the field from the Middle Ages to the twenty-first century.

With 274 authors, the Eighth Edition deepens its representation of essential works in all genres, ranging from Seamas Heaney's award-winning translation of Beowulf, Milton's Paradise Lost, and More's Utopia to the great poets and prose writers of the nineteenth century—Blake and Austen, Wordsworth and Byron, Tennyson and Barrett Browning—to twentieth-century classics of a truly global English literature—Conrad's Heart of Darkness, Woolf's A Room of One's Own, Achebe's Things Fall Apart, and Friel's Translations, to name but a few. Color plates—over 75 in all—and thematic clusters of brief and historically significant texts bring to life the cultural concerns of each period. Concise glosses and annotations, period introductions, biographical headnotes, timelines, and selected bibliographies help readers understand and enjoy the rich diversity of English literature.

Customer Reviews:

Incredibly but True.......2007-03-10

I bougth this book out of necessity, because is obligated for my English class this semester. It turn out to be pretty good. It is all poetry from the romantic period to our time. It has great writers, so as T. S. Eliot and more. I got to admmit it thought it will be dull but I was wrong. It is a great book. One thing is for sure, half the poems that I read so far are all related to death, for some reason.

It's Required.......2007-03-09

I needed this book for a college British Literature Class. There's a lot of poetry and great footnotes. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the romantic and victorian periods.

A very complete guide to English literature.......2006-12-07

This anthology provides lots of samples of the English literature from Romanticism to our days. In addition, it includes essays on some relevant literary topics, and an excelent appendix that contains information about rhetorical figures, poetic forms, etc.

Norton Anthology of English Literature.......2006-11-03

My professor was very concerned with background info of the time period and author and this text gives an introduction to each author with exactly that.

Better for Grads Than Under.......2006-11-01

This is a terrific volume, however, I would change some content to give a wider appeal. Right now, the volume is great for grad students, but limited for undergrads. Example: undergrads will like Waiting for Godot more than Endgame. I believe the choice was space-determined: Endgame is shorter. However, it would be better to do with a little less Wordsworth and a little more Beckett.

However, these are nitpicks. Good move including Mary Robinson, and the intros are terrific.

Average customer rating:

novel
An excellent book
Vivid Historical Novel
The Title is Subtly Misleading. . .
ENGLAND BEFORE THE NORMAN CONQUEST...

Avalon: A Novel
Anya Seton
Manufacturer: Chicago Review Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1556526008

Book Description

This saga of yearning and mystery travels across oceans and continents to Iceland, Greenland, and North America during the time in history when Anglo-Saxons battled Vikings and the Norsemen discovered America. The marked contrasts between powerful royalty, landless peasants, Viking warriors and noble knights are expertly brought to life in this gripping tale of the French prince named Rumon. Shipwrecked off the Cornish coast on his quest to find King Arthur's legendary Avalon, Rumon meets a lonely girl named Merewyn and their lives soon become intertwined. Rumon brings Merewyn to England, but once there he is so dazzled by Queen Alrida's beauty that it makes him a virtual prisoner to her will. In this riveting romance, Anya Seton once again proves her mastery of historical detail and ability to craft a compelling tale that includes real and colorful personalities such as St. Dunstan and Eric the Red.

Customer Reviews:

novel.......2007-09-09

ordered for my daughter (19), she loved it. shipping was very quick, and, condition of book was very good. just as described.

An excellent book.......2007-08-24

I read "Avalon" when I was in my late teens or early 20's, now at 53, re-reading it, and happy to have found it in the bookstore again, I am not disappointed. It is an excellent historical novel.

The title, "Avalon" refers to Rumon's quest, and there are other quests as well that tie in nicely with the title.

The writing flows, the language is written to sound realistic for the time period yet not hard to follow, it's as easy to read as anything set in the present day.

I was very disappointed in the publisher that allowed the terrible Foreward by Philippa Gregory. A book that has stood the test of time and been brought back into publication deserves a Foreward that is nothing but complimentary. Ms. Gregory wrote of "Avalon" what she feels is wrong with the book, to quote: "But as a novel, it is too episodic, and unstructured." She also wrote: "...it is hard to feel empathy that a good novel usually delivers."

What does "too episodic" mean? And the second quote I offer plainly shows that Ms. Gregory doesn't really believe "Avalon" is a good novel.

Reading "Avalon," I felt empathy for every character, even the nasty Alfrida. Perhaps Ms. Gregory is comparing "Avalon" to the books she has written, that I'm sure she considers "good novels." I work in a bookstore and to Ms. Gregory's credit, she has brought a lot of joy to people who buy and love her books, and I am tempted regularly to keep giving Ms. Gregory's books one more try, but I can't ever get beyond the first page in any of Ms. Gregory's books. So in reviewing Anya Seton's "Avalon," (and it is a low blow to criticize so negatively a book by a woman who has passed away), Ms. Gregory was unable to suppress her conceit in her own work along with her overwhelming ego because of her success with her books, (books that, at least to me, fall into the pulp Romance Novel category, although Ms. Gregory managed to get her books categorized as to be shelved in the Fiction bays). If I could, I would like to remind Ms. Gregory that these days, the publishing/bookstore business is very different than it was when "Avalon" first came out. If, in 47 years ANY of Philippa Gregory's books are republished, I will be surprised. But by then I'll be 100, and probably won't care, every minute will count at that age and I won't waste it trying once again to read any of Ms. Gregory's books.

The Foreward to "Avalon" is a good reason NOT to read Forewards.

The book "Avalon" is excellent. Characters that are very identifiable emotionally, good history, good dialogue, subtle and well-written. The scenes set in the Norselands are so realistic you can almost feel the climate.

Please read it and enjoy. Then read the actual history of the times; you will then be even more impressed with Anya Seton's work.

If you do read the Foreward, take the good, then take a black marker and block out the negative. Then read "Avalon" and enjoy it. It's wonderful.

Vivid Historical Novel.......2007-05-29

I almost didn't give this novel a chance. After reading Phillippa Gregory's introduction I was ready to write this off as a dry rehashing of historical facts along with some story thrown in. Gregory implies that narritive elements are thrown in and then dismissed and that the story itself provides little satisfaction.

Well do yourself a favor and don't read the intro. Ignore it. The story itself is quickly absorbing. Our hero, Rumon, is a young prince from Avignon encounters young Merewyn by chance after being shipwrecked of the coast of Cornwall. Merewyn cares for her mother, a woman suffering physically and mentally after a Viking attack before Merewyn was born. Merewyn also has royal claims: her mother tells Rumon that her father was a direct descendant of King Arthur. Knowing she is near death she makes Rumon promise to bring Merewyn to her aunt after she dies. Rumon keeps his promise, tying his destiny to Merewyn's for the rest of his life.

Is this a love story? Yes but it's not a romance. Don't read it looking for love scenes and a happily ever after. Is it an adventure? Yes but don't read it for any action scenes. Seton is a historian and incorperates several real life figures into her narrative, as well as some imaginary ones. They interact seamlessly. For me the ultimate test of whether or not a story is good is if I get involved with it. Do I feel bad for the characters and get angry at them? Yes. At times I did want more resolution than Seton provides but sometimes intersting things come from the lack of resolution here.

The Title is Subtly Misleading. . ........2007-05-15

Unless I dive into a scholarly interpretation of the title and decide that Avalon is somehow meant to be symbolic of the youthful and innocent part of ourselves we allow to be free enough to love, I have to say that the title and its relationship to the pale Arthurian thread is somewhat misleading. Even the small blurb about the what to expect in Avalon is a bit off, as I dove into this expecting a truly heart-wrenching love affair between Rumon and Merewyn, but wound up disappointed. This is not to say that Seton's flare for period writing is not at its best. I found myself wrapped up in her descriptions of life in the Viking settlements, and her court-life accuracy never fails to impress, but I truly feel that she focused so much on trying to develop a relatable Dark-Ages experience through what little history exists from that time, that she failed to create relatable and human characters. There is very little time to feel close to either Merewyn or Rumon as characters. There is hardly any lead into Rumon's sudden "awakening" in his love for Merewyn, and I truly believe that this evident lacking is a direct result of her not fleshing out the characters as well as could be. I dove into this expecting to have my breath taken away, much as I did while reading Katherine, and it just didn't happen. That is not to say it isn't a fine example of historical imagination. It just isn't the best Anya Seton book I've ever read.

ENGLAND BEFORE THE NORMAN CONQUEST..........2007-05-13

Based upon a true story, this is the epic telling of the life of a woman named Merewyn, who lived during the tumultuous tenth and eleventh centuries. Her mother had been the victim of one of the Viking raids on the coast of Cornwall. As a result, Merewyn was born. Her life was to change when a Prince of Provence named Rumon, the sole survivor of a shipwreck, was washed upon the shores near Merwyn's home.

As Rumon is a Prince of the House of Atheling, he is looking for his royal kin. Fourteen year old Merewyn, her mother having died of illness, acts as his guide. When they get to Court, Merewyn, who believes herself to be descended from King Arthur, is afforded a place in the Queen's retinue, while Rumon becomes great friends with the King. The King has two sons, Edward by his first wife, and Ethelred by his second wife, the beautiful Queen Alfrida, who is as evil as she is beautiful.

The years pass, and Merewyn, who was originally fond of the Queen, finally sees her for what she is. Rumon, however, falls under her thrall, much to Merewyn's dismay, as she has fallen in love with him. When the King mysteriously dies, Edward ascends the throne at the age of fourteen. Unfortunately, he, too, meets an ignominious end, and his younger brother, Ethelred, becomes King. He will eventually be known as Ethelred the Unready.

Against this historical backdrop, Merewyn and Rumon live out their lives, star-crossed lovers whose lives, though intersecting, are never able to be joined. They would each find themselves on a path in which happiness would elude them. How they reconcile their respective fates and where the road of life leads them makes for an enjoyable tale told by a master storyteller. Set against the backdrop of Viking raids, battle, and adventure, this is a well-researched and well-written work of historical fiction that those who enjoy this particular genre will relish.

Average customer rating:

Boring and Hoaky
Another wonderful story
Love Those Hard-Headed Heroines
Different but really quite good
fabulous read

Mystique
Amanda Quick
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0553096982
Release Date: 1995-06-01

Amazon.com

Dark and forbidding, the legendary knight Sir Hugh the Relentless is aptly named. Yet he has met his match in Lady Alice, the quick-witted, red-haired beauty who can help him find the mysterious green crystal he seeks. Soon she replaces the crystal as the prize of his dreams--but whether she returns his secret passion is another matter!

Book Description

Hailed as an exceptional storyteller, New York Times bestselling author Amanda Quick unveils another spectacular romance, a tantalizing tale of a legendary knight, a headstrong lady, and a daring quest for a dazzling crystal...

Mystique

Lady Alice approached the fearsome Warrior who had swept into Lingwood Manor like a storm. Dark and forbidding, with hair as black as midnight and eyes of molten amber, Hugh the Relentless seemed aptly named. Yet to Alice, adept at driving off suitors and handling her insufferable relatives, Sir Hugh was not someone to dread, but the answer to her dreams.

He had come for the mysterious green crystal, and would be greatly displeased to learn that it was no longer in her possession. But Alice was certain Sir Hugh could be coaxed into a deal that would benefit them both. In return for a dowry large enough to free Alice and her brother from the grasp of their conniving uncle, she would lend her powers of detection to Sir Hugh's knightly skills and together they would recover his treasured stone.

With a tongue as sharp as a dagger, the flame-haired Alice filled Hugh with fury...and a growing fascination. He accepted her terms, with one alteration: Alice must agree to a temporary betrothal and spend the winter in Hugh's great stone fortress, Scarcliffe Keep.

The bargain is struck and the adventure begins. But Sir Hugh's lifelong enemy is plotting against them, stirring up a whirlwind of treachery that threatens their fragile alliance.

Customer Reviews:

Boring and Hoaky.......2007-06-13

I cannot believe all of the 5 and 4 star ratings for this book! I couldn't wait for it to end. Very formula and hoaky dialogue. If this is any indication of how Amanda Quick writes her best-selling novels, I think I'll pass up the next opportunity to read another. The purple prose was forced and ridiculous. If this was supposed to be a satire or comedy, it missed the mark and just came across as incredibly stupid.

"He found the valley that divided the luscious hillocks and followed its course to the hot spring that awaited him." (The words of Hugh the Relentless.)--Even though this is a medievil romance--way too hoaky.

"A cold, ghostly wind wafted from the dark corridor. It carried before it the promise of doom." (this is describing Hugh entering a dark cave and Alice, the heroine senses his presence by mental telepathy or something. OH PLEASE!

"Hugh was vengeance incarnate, a dark wind that would sweep all before it."

And these ridiculous passages were easy to find--they're everywhere in this book.

I say don't bother with this one.

Another wonderful story.......2006-12-01

This was my second Amanda Quick book, and it was also a fantastic story! I loved that the heroine was so spunky and not afraid to do what she knew was right, and even when he disagreed with her, the hero still supported her actions. Wish all men were like that! This was just an all around GREAT book! I laughed so hard at the end! (But I won't spoil the surprise!)

Love Those Hard-Headed Heroines.......2006-08-06

Legendary knight Hugh the Relentless has recently been rewarded a keep and the surrounding lands. To gain his peoples trust, he must recover the mysterious green crystal and bring it back home. Lady Alice, a collector of stones, used to have the green crystal before it was stolen from her. Sir Hugh comes to collect. Lady Alice strikes a bargain to help him find the green stone in exchange for payment for funding her brothers studies and placing her in a respectable convent. When Hugh lays eyes on Lady Alice and her sharp wit, he has other ideas - a fake betrothment to pacify his people. Little does Alice know that Hugh has no intention of giving her up.

Hugh is one of the best hero's I've read about in a long time. He puts up with all the stubborness Alice can muster and never demeans her. He defends her, even when she comes to the rescue of his enemies wife and son. Alice is so hard-headed and insists on doing things her own way and Hugh is extremely forgiving. I love how the love story develops.

If you liked this one get Quick's Ravished too.

Different but really quite good.......2006-01-23

Hugh the relentless is not only a fearsome and formidable knight he is also very intelligent and uses his wits to aid him not just his physical strength.I liked that about him.When he meets the heroine Alice who is also quite intelligent he uses an unusual strategy to convince her to become engaged to him,they are both seeking the green stone,he offers her the use of his castle for her to continue her study of natural philosophy in exchange for her help in finding the green stone which was quite important to him in winning the loyalty of the people of his home.Alice had wanted to enter a convent after her younger brother became settled in a profession.Hugh offers her a bethrothal to him instead then sets about convincing her to marry him in a businesslike fashion.He convinced her that as his wife she would have unlimitted resources to continue her studies of Natural Philosophy.I was so relieved that he did not try to use passion-good old fashioned sex as a means of convincing her to marry him or trying to get her with child as so many of these so called heroes have done in other novels.When Hugh brings Alice to his home she is confronted by a fanatical monk who tries to intimidate her but in true Alice fashion she sets him on his ear winning their battle of wills quite easily until Hugh rescues the monk from her agile tongue.This confrontation with the monk and one later was a great source of laughter for me.The reason I like this book so much is that there was trust throughout the novel between the hero and heroine.He admired her integrity and she admired his honor and his strength.There was no bickering in this novel.The only little tiff was when they had made love and Alice still refused to marry him and this was quite humorous as Alice tells him he is overwrought and tries to quote church law to him about bethrothed couples engaging in premarital sex.I also enjoyed Hugh's attempt to be romantic as he commissions his messenger to write "pretty verses" that he uses to woo Alice.The villain in this novel wasn't trying to kidnap Alice to rape her he just wanted the green stone which was a relief to me,the evil villain becoming over come by the beautiful heroine routine does get tired after a while.Great book-spunky,likeable heroine and caring gentle hero.I have found that liking the hero and heroine of a romance novel greatly enhances my enjoyment of it.

fabulous read.......2003-11-17

Mystique was my first Amanda Quick book and it has certainly encouraged me to read more. I would give it 4 and a half stars, but I decided to round up.

Alice is a strongheaded strongwilled young woman bent on escaping her uncle's guardianship and helping her brother establish a future. Hugh the Relentless provides a means to that, so regardless of his reputation, Alice makes a bargain with him. Hugh wants the green crystal to make his people see that he is the true lord of his lands and Alice can find the crystal for him. In return, he has to make sure Alice gets away from her uncle and her brother can study abroad.

This all sounds very nice until Hugh decides that he needs a real betrothal for he has to find someone to oversee the household (he's very picky about food and cleaning) during the winter and to prove to his people that he is ready to settle down. Alice, thinking that it's temporary agrees. But then the unexpected happens...they fall in love.

Hugh is an amazing hero. He cherishes Alice deeply and never loses his temper with her. Even when she helps his lifelong nemesis, he doesn't embarrass her in public and declares that her word is his word and that he will always support her.

The only complaint that I have about this book is how easily and quickly the green crystal was found. However, the mystery at the end makes up for it...partially.

Overall, this book is a joy to read and you'll laugh reading about how she "controls" her husband and "brings him to heel". Amazing woman. =)

Average customer rating:

A book I have a weakness for

A MASTERPIECE

You'll love Caleb and Willow so much that you'll keep re-reading it

Sensual

My favorite "Only"

Only His
Elizabeth Lowell
Manufacturer: Severn House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Only You

Only Mine

Only Love

Winter Fire

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ASIN: 0727863924

Book Description

A gently reared lady must entrust her safety to a dangerous gunfighter Fleeing from the ravages of the Civil War, Willow Moran has nothing left but a team of prize Arabian horses. The only man who can help her on her perilous journey to the Canadian Rockies is Caleb Black ? a man as wild and unpredictable as the land he loves. And though they challenge each other at every turn, a passion awaits, as fierce and vital as the land itself?

Download Description

Willow Moran must rely on gunfighter Caleb Black to lead her from her Civil War-ravaged home to her brother's refuge in the Colorado Rockies. In the course of their journey, this spirited Southern lady will become a fever in Caleb's blood - and Willow must also acknowledge that this wild man is her destiny. Read all of Elizabeth Lowell's historical novels of the American West: Only His; Only Mine; Only You; Only Love.

Customer Reviews:

A book I have a weakness for.......2007-04-22

This is one of my favourite books. I've read it a long time ago and I have reread several times since. Let me just say that aside of the interaction between the two main characters which I found riveting it gives me very vivid images of scenery and I enjoyed the way she has of redeeming her hero's original dark intent.

A MASTERPIECE.......2006-05-31

Elizabeth Lowell has such talent, I would highly recommend all of her historical novels.

ONLY HIS is an exceptional novel. The emotions are deep and compelling,it is sexy and wonderfully romantic.

Caleb is deeply attracted to Willow's beauty and unconventional
behavior.
I adore ONLY HIS, Caleb is honorable and hard, tough, tormented.
The settings are beautifully written.

A MASTERPIECE, an excellent tale, full of emotion and feeling. The setting in the lake is wonderful.

The secondary characters are rich.
I highly recommend ONLY HIS, as one of the more entertaining reads I've encountered.
It has revenge, romance, and both a fascinating hero and heroine.

ONLY HIS is a charming story, one that you will be so glad you read.

You'll love Caleb and Willow so much that you'll keep re-reading it.......2005-11-23

This was one of the first romance novels that I ever read. I loved it. Willow is a sweet southern girl on a mission to find her brother and while Caleb has been hired to help her, he is secretly on a mission to kill said brother. However, Caleb can't help but desire Willow. In order to keep his feelings at bay, he tries to make the trip hard for her and he gets angry whenever he lets his guard down and gets close to her. Then, he decides he wants to seduce her in order to punish Matt, Willow's brother, for a crime Caleb believes that he is guilty of.

Throw in some danger, mistaken information, the sexiest shaving scene ever, and you have the makings of a fabulous romance. This romance is so vivid to me that I still remember the taste of Willow's pepermint. There is a scene where Caleb shares a cup with Willow and after she sips it, Caleb tastes peppermint. For some reason, the memory of it feels real to me--as if I can taste drinking from a tin cup and sensing a hint of mint. While I don't recall having this kind of reaction from any other romance I've read, it shows how dynamic this story is.

Sensual.......2004-12-30

I loved the story line and the characters. I thought it had just the right amount of action, character build up, suspense and loved the part where Willow "gives in". I saved the book and read it a second time and sometime in the future might even read it a third!!

My favorite "Only".......2004-08-15

I adore this book. I have one clean copy and one I have re-read until it is barely holding together. Caleb and Willow are two of the best characters I have come across in historical romance, and Lowell makes magic with them in this book. If you have ever read a book where the author doesn't focus enough on the main couple, then this is the book for you. They are alone together for most of the story, so you really get to know them. The trip they take to look for Willow's brother is harrowing, and keeps me on the edge of my seat even now that I know how it all works out. I find myself rooting for them through all their hardships, and even cheering for the horses who become almost like characters in their own right. Lowell's writing is in fine form, with vivid descriptions of the majestic scenery that make you feel like you are there, along with well-rounded dialogue and steamy love scenes that keep the reader glued to the pages. This is truly one of Lowell's best works.

The Reading Nation in the Romantic Period

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new approach to history of books and place in the culture

The Reading Nation in the Romantic Period
William St Clair
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Book Industry | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

History of Books | Books & Reading | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Publishing & Books | Reference | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0521699444

Book Description

Most people believed that reading significantly influenced minds, attitudes, and actions during the centuries when printed paper was the only means by which texts could travel across time and distance. William St. Clair offers a very different picture of the past from those presented by traditional approaches through quantified information he provides on book prices, print runs, intellectual property, and readerships gathered from over fifty publishing and printing archives.

Customer Reviews:

new approach to history of books and place in the culture.......2004-09-06

St. Clair's voluminous book is important in the inter-related fields of publishing history, history of the book, and history of reading on two grounds--its methodology and its detailed data. St. Clair's commentaries are informative, and his deductions will likely be regarded as bases for further studies. But it is the methodology and the unprecedented details on book publishing and many individual titles contained in 13 appendices of more than 250 pages which will especially draw the attention of many readers, historians, professors, and others in this area. For the appendices somewhat schematically indicate the methodology and present the data for the deductions. The author's painstaking efforts and publisher's equally meticulous efforts to accurately record, classify, and arrange the novel data in smaller type with footnotes account for the high price of the book.
Focusing on publishing and reading--the sociology of reading it might be called--of the Romantic period in England, St. Clair at first exposes the errors of presumptions and perspectives that are commonly taken for granted in understandings and in other studies of his subject. Rather than the historian's or literary critic's approach, St. Clair adopts basically that of the statistician determined to get at the truth about the presence, distribution, and effects of books in society as far as this can be found. An example of the effects on print runs of the 1774 decisions [as to number of copies printing]; The main old-canon poets printed in the tiniest of formats, the cheapest achievably at the limits of manufacturing technology; Novels published at author's expense, are but three of the hundreds of specialized categories of the volume of data in the appendices. As St. Clair rightly notes, the common presumptions and perspectives are not founded on empirical evidence such as numbers of copies printed, subsequent printings, the timing of publication, etc.; nor are they capable of uncovering and properly weighing such empirical evidence. The old presumptions and perspectives reflected the literary temperaments and sentiments about literature of such historians and others.
St. Clair uncompromisingly brings an economist's and statistician's requirements of evidence and conservative assessments of it to his magisterial study of publishing, books, readers, and the society and economy they were a part of. "How to assess influence is among the most difficult of all the methodological challenges that historians face in attempting to understand the diffusionary rise and fall of ideas" is but one of the author's remarks exemplifying his questioning of the accepted knowledge in the field and setting out his own clear, though not dogmatic, premises. A former high official in the British Treasury, St. Clair is now a Senior Research Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge University. The author, with his great respect for simple logic and plain facts along with his innate conservativism in putting forth his new views, has not cast a rock against the house of embedded ideas about publishing, books, and readers. Rather, he has put out a lodestone which is likely to reformulate the study of books and related subjects.

The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume D: The Romantic Period

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The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume D: The Romantic Period

Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Classics | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0393927202

Book Description

Read by millions of students over seven editions, The Norton Anthology of English Literature remains the most trusted undergraduate survey of English literature available and one of the most successful college texts ever published. Firmly grounded by the hallmark strengths of all Norton Anthologies—thorough and helpful introductory matter, judicious annotation, complete texts wherever possible—The Norton Anthology of English Literature has been revitalized in this Eighth Edition through the collaboration between six new editors and six seasoned ones. Under the direction of Stephen Greenblatt, General Editor, the editors have reconsidered all aspects of the anthology to make it an even better teaching tool.

The Fires of Freedom (Freedom's Holy Light, Book 4)

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Loved it.
Passion and romance in a Christian novel!

The Fires of Freedom (Freedom's Holy Light, Book 4)
Sally Laity , and Dianna Crawford
Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Romance | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0842313532

Book Description

Hostilities break out between the colonists and the English troops in 1774. Daniel Haynes is arrested and charged with aiding his brother-in-law Ted Harrington in deserting the British army.

Customer Reviews:

Loved it........2006-12-20

Great book. Great historical fiction. Pre-revolutionary war period. Told so clearly you can just picture the events as they happen. Loved the relationships in the book.

Passion and romance in a Christian novel!.......1999-06-12

I love the relationship that develops between Morgan and Prudence. I laughed and cried and enjoyed the passion. Great cover!

The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volumes D-F: The Romantic Period through the Twentieth Century and After, 8th Edition

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Excellent Resource
A Great Compilation

The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volumes D-F: The Romantic Period through the Twentieth Century and After, 8th Edition

Manufacturer: W. W. Norton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

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ASIN: 0393928349

Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Resource.......2007-03-09

I ordered this book for my literature studies and it is an excellent resource or English poetry, prose and literature. Not only was it more economical to order from Amazon, but it came sooner than expected. If you want one of the best companions for lit, this it the one.

A Great Compilation.......2006-11-23

This set contains many essential pre-romanticism texts that most college British literature classes cover. It includes many valuable works, including the full text of Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf, The Canterbury Tales, excerpts from The Book of Margery Kempe, Utopia, Donne's Holy Sonnets, Astrophil & Stella, King Lear, Gulliver's Travels and much, much more. The printing is beautiful and the binding is very high quality. I bought this book for college and, as a teacher and grad student I have come back to it many times for material or just for enjoyable reading.

Dreams of Difference: The Japan Romantic School and the Crisis of Modernity

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Dreams of Difference: The Japan Romantic School and the Crisis of Modernity
Kevin Michael Doak
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

History of Ideas | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0520083776

Book Description

From 1935 to 1945, the Japan Romantic School (Nihon Romanha), a group of major intellectuals and literary figures, explored issues concerning politics, literature, and nationalism in ways that still influence cultural discourse in Japan today. Kevin Doak's timely study is a broad critique of modernity in early twentieth-century Japan. He uses close readings and translations of texts and poems to suggest that the school's interest in romanticism stemmed from its attempt to surmount the "cultural crisis" of lost traditions. This attempt to overcome modernity eventually reduced the movement's earlier critical impulses to expressions of nationalist longing.

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