Scarlett

• Rated 4 stars

“I very much enjoyed this heartwarming and inspirational story.

A baby is left in a diner on Christmas Eve. Louise whose tradition it is to eat in this diner every Christmas Eve finds her and adopts her. Hope grows into a lovely young woman with a lot of ambition. After Louise dies, Hope's apartment is broken into and she is shaken up. A Christmas Jar shows up mysteriously on her doorstep with change in it. It comes at a very good time and Hope tracks down the origin of the jar. ”

Scarlett wrote this review 6 days ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“Cute cozy about a thief who gets out of prison and breaks parole with the help of friends to go to Vermont and find a tree where he hid diamonds. His plan is to escape to Brazil. Unfortunately the tree where he hid the diamonds has been picked to go to Rockefeller Center to be their Christmas tree!”

Scarlett wrote this review 8 days ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“
review: I read this for a book challenge I was doing this year. I normally like Martin's books and this one was not bad but not as good as some of her others I've read.

On his deathbed, Royal's father makes Royal promise he will marry the girl his father has chosen for him. Her family has money but no title and Royal is a Duke. It would be advantageous for both parties and Royal could bring Bransford back to it's glory.

While out riding one day Royal discovers an overturned carriag...more I read this for a book challenge I was doing this year. I normally like Martin's books and this one was not bad but not as good as some of her others I've read.

On his deathbed, Royal's father makes Royal promise he will marry the girl his father has chosen for him. Her family has money but no title and Royal is a Duke. It would be advantageous for both parties and Royal could bring Bransford back to it's glory.

While out riding one day Royal discovers an overturned carriage with a woman thrown out into the snow. He carries her to Bransford and takes care of her. Her name is Lily and she is a distant cousin to Jocelyn to whom he is to be wed. He falls in love with Lily.

He finds that his father was cheated out of his money by a con artist and Lily and her Uncle and Royal's friends plan a sting to get the money back.(less) ”

Scarlett wrote this review 12 days ago. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 2 stars

“I finished "The Monster of Florence" Douglas Preston and Mario Spezi. It was an ok but frustrating read. The police department in Perugia are so inept that reading this tragic story tends to make you think you are reading fiction with the Keystone Cops. They didn't secure crime scenes nor collect pertinent evidence, half the time they created their own evidence to imprison their new mastermind. There are many names thrown into the mix and no solution.

I heard on the news the other day about Amanda Knox, the American who is being tried in the same town of Perugia by the same judge who has been sued for his incompetency in the above book. I don't really know all the details of her story but if there is any question of evidence, I'd be trying for a new trial elsewhere! Her case is mentioned briefly in "The Monster of Florence" when Amanda's case first came to light in 2007.”

Scarlett wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | view 1 replies | permalink )

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.

• Rated 4 stars

“It's almost two stories in one. The main story is the story of Mattie Gorke. She's 16 and loves to write but she has responsibilities to help around the farm with her father. Her mother is dead and she has 3 sisters. Her older brother has left and won't be coming back so it's up to her. Mattie has won a scholarship to college in New York but knows she won't be able to go. The second story involves a 19 year old girl who gives Mattie some letters to burn. The girl drowns and they are looking for her boyfriend but it seems he had used an assumed name and didn't die with her when the boat capsized.”

Scarlett wrote this review Sunday, November 29 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was well written and I couldn't wait to get back to it. I had suspected the ending but wasn't sure. Very gripping story.

Towner returns to her hometown of Salem, MA after her aunt who raised her dies while swimming. She has so many memories, some good but mostly bad that she wants to forget. Her mother runs an underground railroad for abused women and doesn't have a lot of time for Towner which is fine with her.

The women of the family are all "readers" of lace. They are respected and feared in the community. There are also witches and the Calvinists each feared in their own right.

As the story moves forward, secrets start to emerge and each of the factions takes a part. Very good story. ”

Scarlett wrote this review Wednesday, November 25 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“This is the first book in the Lindy Haggerty series. Lindy has been home raising her kids when her friend Biddy calls and offers her a job because Biddy has a broken leg and needs help. Lindy gets right back into the career she left years before and is enjoying it except for having to deal with the diva Carlotta. She is too old and making a mess of things but no one seems to want to fire her although they all agree she is terrible. When Carlotta is found dead in her room, there are a lot of suspects to check out.”

Scarlett wrote this review Tuesday, November 17 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 4 stars

“This is a first time author for me and it finishes up a themed challenge also.

This book is a suspense/romance. I thought it was well done and will read more by this author.

Ellie Hill is a companion to a wealthy couple's daughter. She dresses older than she really is and makes herself look dowdy to keep her job. She is the sole support for her brother Robbie after their parents die.

She is introduced to Jack Rigg at a party and the patrons are scandalized when the sought after bachelor asks her to dance. Little does he know that he practically grew up with Ellie when her vicar father tutored him as a child.

Later, after returning to London, Ellie is dressed and disguised as a very attractive woman and card shark. She is trying to win money to pay a debt her brother has incurred. After her escort leaves her alone, she ends up in Jack's room when he saves her from a riot. Now her name is tarnished and her brother is accused of murder.

”

Scarlett wrote this review Sunday, November 8 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 2 stars

“I listened to this on audio and didn't really care for the reader at all. Listening to her swallow, and either turn pages or move in a squeaky chair and mispronounce words just wasn't for me.

Synopsis on back:

Unearthing murderers is becoming the specialty of amateur gardener Louise Eldridge. Her horticultural skills have garnered her a role on a public televinsion show. She has cultivated a controversial organic gardening approach that delights environmentalist viewers and alarms chemical-using traditionalists, drawing swarms of protesters, mounds of nasty mail, and absolutely fabulous ratings. But the bool of success fades suddenly when the society maven that Louise replaced, violently turns on her and picks a fight in the studio. Later when she winds up dead, poisoned by pesticides, Louise is suspect number one. ”

Scarlett wrote this review Sunday, November 8 2009. ( reply | permalink )

• Rated 3 stars

“This was an inspirational book about a pastor who died in a car wreck. He was so messed up the paramedics could tell by looking at him that he was dead. They checked his pulse and confirmed it, covered his vehicle with a tarp and attended to other victims. Don Piper was in Heaven for 90 minutes when he was called back by prayer. It is quite miraculous that he survived at all and endured so much pain but 18 years later he is still going strong and sharing his story.”

Scarlett wrote this review Saturday, October 31 2009. ( reply | permalink )