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.The Hour Before Dawn

by: Sara MacDonald

August 01, 2005
This is a beautiful story, masterfully told. The plot and the way it is presented is exceptionally good. The characters are well drawn and believable, drawing the reader into events both past and present with a fascination to know the truth about what happened to Saffie and why.
Sara MacDonald's books follow a theme of switching from past events to present developments, and in this story she has as many as four different threads of the plot being followed at the same time. It works really well though, and does not confuse in any way, but instead it adds dimension and hooks the reader's interest.
This is a haunting tale which delves deeply into the mind and emotions, with a spiritual angle which to me felt totally natural and added ... Read More:
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.Come Away with Me

by: Sara MacDonald

February 05, 2007
This was an absolutly brilliant book!! It was my first by Sara MacDonald and i am keen to read more by her. It was very gripping - so gripping i read it in 2 days!! A must-read in my opiion!!
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.The Villa in Italy

by: Elizabeth Edmondson

December 04, 2006
This is a cleaver, warm and at times shocking book. There are so many twists and turns that you just don't see coming. She makes the characters warm, likable and best of all believable. This is a rare gem and a must read.
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.The Memory Garden

by: Rachel Hore

August 06, 2007
I persisted with this book far longer than I should have - I could have been reading something worthwhile. Ploughed through to the half way point, expecting that something interesting must happen soon (no), not at all interested in what happened to any of the dull and one dimensional characters. I eventually skipped to the end to see what happened, which was what I was expecting. Saved myself a few hours and can now move onto something I might actually enjoy. Disappointing.
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.The Forgotten Garden

by: Kate Morton

May 29, 2008
I must admit that I was attracted to this book as it mentioned Richard and Judy's Bookclub. Not that I read all they recommend but they are usually worth a look. Then I found out that it was the author's previous book that was referred to "The House at Riverton" so I read that first.

It was good, but for me this one is better. It is set in Australia and Cornwall in the past and present. It starts with a puzzle and a rather heart rending one at that. A four year old girl is left on a steamer heading to Australia in 1912, apparently abandoned and unnoticed by the authorities. Who would do such a thing, and why?

There follows a well written multi layered story that untangles the complexities of the girls life. We see Edwardian society ... Read More:
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.The Frozen Lake

by: Elizabeth Edmondson

January 03, 2005
I didn't find this luring enough to keep my attention. I did enjoy the first 60 or so pages, but then I struggled to finish this book. Maybe it was a case of too many characters and a drawn out build up for me, because the actual story content seemed so promising.
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.A Perfect Revenge

by: Annabel Dilke

September 03, 2007
Following the glowing reviews given by other readers, I disregarded the unappealing packaging to this book and gave it a try. Unfortunately, despite an interesting premise, what could have been a gripping and enjoyable read, turned out to be mediocre and predictable. Any twists or turns in the plot were ruined by heavy foreshadowing. I would be unlikely to read another book by this author.
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.Late Season

by: Christobel Kent

May 27, 2004
This book is two stories, which eventually become entwined into one. One story is about a woman living in a farmhouse in Italy. You find out how her life changed after the war and the memories she tried to forget about a personal tragedy. The other story is about a group of English 'friends' staying in a secluded building in the Italian countryside trying to find answers for the tragic death of someone close to them. Each story has one character from whose point of view we see the proceedings, whose memories we observe and whose communications with the other characters allow us to see how the past tragedies have effected each of these characters as individuals.

The descriptions of the surroundings are vivid, whether they are describing the peaceful Italian ... Read More:
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.East of the Sun

by: Julia Gregson

June 12, 2008
This is the story of three women venturing to India in the 1920s, each with her own hopes and dreams, her own fears. While it is pleasant enough - ideal as a holiday read perhaps - it hardly excites or lingers in the memory. The writing is sufficiently fluid not to jar, but there is little to entice the reader back to seek deeper insight, nothing particularly thought-provoking, no phrase or paragraph so poetic that it must be read and re-read for the sheer pleasure of the language.

Nineteen-year-old Rose is travelling to India to marry Jack Chandler, an army officer she barely knew before he proposed and whose regiment sailed to India shortly after their engagement. By the time Rose approaches Bombay she can hardly remember what he was like and is nervous ... Read More:
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.Secret Relations

by: Annabel Dilke

August 01, 2005
I read this book based on its reviews and Amazon recommendations, but somehow I was disappointed. The writing is keenly insightful in places and the story, as it unravels, is totally believable and yet... something is missing. I found I was reading some passages more than once because I was unsure what the author meant or who was actually speaking in the text, and despite the fact I hadn't a clue what the outcome of the story would be I found myself unimpressed when I reached its conclusions. I didn't really connect with the characters due to the style of writing but on the other hand I can appreciate that the author has some talent. It just lacked punch for me. I found my mind wandering as I was reading but then some passages would really make sense as patterns of behaviour were ... Read More:
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