Svetlana's Reads and Views

Name of Book: If Only in My Dreams Author: Mariah Stewart ISBN:  B00WRBQOIW Publisher: Pocket Star Type of book: Maine, snow, winter, holidays, snowstorm, family legends, supernatural, budding romance, second chances, fatherhood, distracting the youngsters, 2000s Year it was published: 1997 (2015 reprint) Summary: New York Times bestselling author Mariah Stewart’s timeless, charming holiday novella, originally featured in the popular yuletide anthology Upon a Midnight Clear, now available as a standalone at a great price! A lively family reunion on a Montana ranch brings on a flurry of memories for a beautiful young writer—and a winter storm that rekindles an old flame—in this “warmly magical” (Library Journal) feel-good holiday gem! Characters: The main characters include Quinn and Cale. Quinn is a creative writer/illustrator and is good with kids as well as coming up with ideas for kids to do. She is also reluctant in going after what she wants and tend...

Name of Book: In the Shade of the Almond Trees Author: Dominique Marny ISBN: 978-1-5040-0073-4 Publisher: Publisher's Square Type of book: France, Post-WWI, 1919-1922? romance, relationships, love, ambition, determination, countryside, Provence, travel, business, strong women, class differences Year it was published: 1997 Summary: In the aftermath of World War I, a family estate hangs in the balance For generations, the Barthélemy family tended to the olive trees of Restanques, a sprawling property in Cotignac whose olive oil and almonds were as incredible as the countryside that produced them. But all that changed when war came to France. Robert Barthélemy never returned from the trenches, and without him, the farm is beginning to die. His widow has lost the will to live, and only the fierce efforts of their daughter, Jeanne, have kept the creditors at bay. Jeanne is spending an afternoon at home with the family’s grim financial statements when a handsome...

Day or two later Freedom is one of the first words I teached myself to write. Down in the Quarters people pray for freedom - they sing 'bout freedom, but to keep Mas' Henley from knowin' their true feelings, they call freedom "heaven." Everybody's mind is on freedom. But it is a word that aine never showed me no picture. While fannin' this afternoon, my eyes fell on "freedom" in a book William was readin'. No wonder I don't see nothin'. I been spellin' it F-R-E-D-U-M. I put the right letters in my head to make sure I remembered their place. F-R-E-E-D-O-M. I just now wrote it. Still no picture... For my take on the book, click here COMING UP 3 out of 5 (0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)

Name of Book: Gray Hawk's Lady Author: Karen Kay ISBN: 978-1-60928-974-4 Publisher: Samhain Publishing Part of a Series: White Eagle's Touch, Night Thunder's Pride. Type of book: interracial romance White female/Native American Male relationship,1832, American west,St. Louis, wilderness Year it was published: 1997 Summary: When Lady Genevieve Rohan joins her father in the farthest reaches of the American West, she expects to bring a bit of genteel English charm to his dry, academic existence. Instead, she finds her father desperately ill, and it's up to her to finish his study of the Indian and publish his work- or face the wrath of his creditors. Her troubles mount when the men hired to capture a member of the Blackfoot tribe dont' bring her a docile maid to study. They present her with a magnificent warrior- proud, outrageously handsome and simmering with fury at the loss of his freedom. The white woman is beautiful beyond compare, but Gra...

Name of Book: Lifted up by angels Author: Lurlene McDaniel ISBN: 0-553-57098-6 Publisher: Laurel Leaf fiction Part of a Series: Angels Trilogy Type of book: 1990s, Amish, community, relationship, death, angels, summer, maturity Year it was published: 1997 Summary: The companion to the Publishers Weekly bestseller Angels Watching Over Me. This inspirational novel follows the story of Leah and her friendship with the Amish family she met while hospitalized for cancer treatment. When Leah takes a summer job near their Amish community, she is happy to be near Ethan again. He is now at the age at which an Amish young man is allowed a taste of non-Amish life before committing to the adults' rules. Will Leah and Ethan's feelings for each other overcome family obligations? Characters: The characters do go through changes, at least Ethan does. Leah does too, but her change isn't as visible as Ethan's is. In this book I got to see Ethan trying to be ...

Name of Book: Song of the River Author: Sue Harrison ISBN: 0-380-72603-3 Publisher: Avon fiction Part of a Series: Storyteller trilogy; cry of the wind, call down the stars sequels Type of book: mainland Alaska, Native Americans, prehistoric novel, 6480 BCE, 6460-6459 BCE, competition, enemies, revenge, healing, war, mystery Year it was published: 1997 Summary: Eighty centuries before our time -- in the frozen interior of a place that would someday be called Alaska -- a clubfooted babe was left in the snow to die...until he was rescued by a young woman ravaged by her enemies and sworn to vengeance. Twenty years later, the child, called Chakliux, has grown to manhood and occupies an honored place as his tribe's treasured storyteller, while his adoptive mother K'os has grown cunning and cold. But in the neighboring village of the Near River People -- where he has been sent to make peace by wedding the shaman's daughter -- a shocking double murder occu...

Name of Book: For Better, for Worse, Forever Author: Lurlene McDaniel ISBN: 0-553-57108-7 Publisher: Laurel Leaf books Part of a Series: As long as we both shall live Type of book: death, widowhood, second chances, cancer, brain tumor, suicide, St. Croix, 1990s Year it was published: 1997 Summary: April thinks she and Mark will be together forever. But since Mark's death, she has never felt more alone. Then Brandon Benedict comes into her life. Brandon is lonely and angry- he and April have a lot in common. Their closeness helps them both heal. But April cannot tell Brandon about her illness. When April's medical problems suddenly return, she must decide what to tell Brandon. Can the strength of the love she has felt before help her now? Characters: April does change a great deal in the sequel, especially towards the end and tries to appreciate everyday. I also found it sweet that Brandon is there to help her and encourage her while he can. There are se...

Name of Book: Till Death Do us Part Author: Lurlene McDaniel ISBN: 0-553-57108-7 Publisher: Dell Laurel Leaf Part of a Series: As Long As We Both Shall Live Type of book: brain tumor, CF, racing, death, marriage, 1990s, wealth, true love, soul mates Year it was published: 1997 Summary: A change is coming. April Lancaster's fortune cookie tells her: Be prepared. But how could she be prepared for the news that she has an inoperable brain tumor? April's life will never be the same. Then she meets handsome Mark Gianni. Mark has cystic fibrosis, but he also has a passion for life...and for April. He shows April how to keep living in the face of life-threatening illness. And when he asks April to marry him, she's happier than she's ever been. Characters: I think I was more of told than shown the changes that April had gone through from being self-centered young woman to someone who truly loved Mark. April is a beautiful redhead, an only child of her pa...

Name of Book: The Patmans of Sweet Valley Author: Francine Pascal ISBN: 0-553-57023-4 Publisher: Bantam Lark Part of a Series: Sweet valley Saga Type of book: 1825-1972, potted American history,  Sweet Valley, wealth Year it was published: 1997 Summary: In 1825, sixteen year old Sophie, the Duchess of Edmonton, falls in love with Henry Patman, a dashing stable hand. But Sophie's sister, Melanie, has also fallen for Henry's rugged charm. And Melanie will do anything to keep Sophie and Henry apart. John Patman loses his heart to London actress Katherine Richmond. He's too poor to ask for her hand in marriage, so he swears he'll strike it rich in the oil fields of Texas. But how long will Katherine wait? Dr. Cassandra Vanderhorn meets wounded soldier Spencer Light in a World War II veterans' hospital. After he recovers, they marry, and he returns to the front. Then Cassandra receives a telegram bearing terrible news... Marie Vanderhorn has f...

Name of Book: A Marriage in the making Author: Natalie Fox ISBN: 0-373-18690-8 Publisher: Harlequin Presents Type of book: romance, island, separation, father-son relationship, adult, 1990s Year it was published: 1997 Summary: The unmarried wife Karis had been married once, and didn't intend to repeat the experience She was devoted to her baby daughter, and she loved working as a nanny to five-year-old Josh. She didn't need a husband--and, even if she did, Josh's father would be the last man she'd choose But sometimes Karis felt more like Daniel Kennedy's wife than his employee. She shared a home with him, cared for his son...and found herself longing for his kisses And now Daniel was suggesting Karis share his bedroom. Would his next proposal be marriage? Characters: The author does try to add dimension to the characters but the characters, to me personally, tend to be boring and predictable. Daniel's his fiancee's relationship ba...

Name of book: Daughters of Silence Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-00293-7 Publisher: Archway Paperback Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear, House of Whispers, Forbidden Secrets, The Sign of Fear, sequels: Daughters of Silence, Children of Fear, Dance of Death...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult,1878 , horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: April 1997 Summary: When Angelica and Simon Fear lost their two daughters, it nearly destroyed them. Now the Fears have only one mission-to summon every ounce of dark power within them, and bring their daughters back from the dead. It is to be their ultimate act of dark magic. And when it calls for the murders of two innocent girls, Simon and Angelica don't hesitate. Their daughters are waiting... Characters: In the sagas the novels aren't character driven, so of course the characters tend to be cardboard and a bit on the flat side. They do have motives but not i...

Name of book: Children of Fear Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-00294-5 Publisher: Archway Paperback Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear, House of Whispers, Forbidden Secrets, The Sign of Fear, sequels: Daughters of Silence, Children of Fear, Dance of Death...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult,1876 , horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: June 1997 Summary: Luke Fier hates hearing the townspeople talk about his younger sister, Leah. They call her evil. They say she has unnatural powers. Leah does have a strange talent-she can communicate with animals. But Luke is sure she would never use this gift for evil. At least he was sure before their parents' horrible accident. Now Leah seems so different. So angry. Luke is almost frightened of her. Could his sister's gift destroy them both? Characters: As I mentioned previously, the characters seem to be wearing masks but there is little depth beyond that. Sti...

Name of book: Heart of the Hunter Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-00296-1 Publisher: Archway paperback Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear, House of Whispers, Forbidden Secrets, The Sign of Fear, sequels: Daughters of Silence, Children of Fear, Dance of Death...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1792, 1795, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: October 1997 Summary: A medicine woman tells Jamie FIer that she knows hot he can win the heart of the girl he loves. But it will cost him. She gives Jamie a potion to drink. And that night, when the moon is full, Jamie finds himself transforming-into a wolf! With each full moon, he transforms again. But if his true love sees him while he is in the form of a wolf, he will remain a wolf...forever. Characters: Although the characters lack dimension, they are not alike and have more dimension to them. That is Laura is the selfish girl, Amanda is the girl that cares fo...

Name of book: The Hidden Evil Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-000292-9 Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear, House of Whispers, Forbidden Secrets, The Sign of Fear, sequels: Daughters of Silence, Children of Fear, Dance of Death...all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1847,1858, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published:  February 1997 Summary: Timothy has a story to tell. A dangerous story. A story that has power over those who listen to it. The power to awaken creatures best left sleeping. The power to summon the dead. It is a story of evil. The worst evil imaginable-the evil in the heart of a child. Come and listen to Timothy's story-if you are not afraid... Characters: If you read Chamber of Fear, this story is either an experiment or earlier version of it. There is the good guy and the bad guy, and of course let's not forget about the people that are supposed to fill in the...

Name of book: The Awakening Author Name: R.L Stine ISBN: 0-671-00297-x Publisher: Parachute Press Part of a Series: Fear Street Sagas: prequels: A New Fear...The Hidden Evil...Dance of Death, Heart of the Hunter, Sequels: Circle of Fire, Chamber of Fear, Faces of Terror, all the way to The Hand of Power Type of book: Young adult, 1898-1899, horror, Fier Saga Year it was published: December 1997 Summary: Everyone knows the story of the Evil. The Evil that terrorized Corky Corcoran and the cheerleaders of Shadyside High. The Evil that destroyed Sarah Fear one hundred years ago. Everyone thinks they know the story. But the true story has remained hidden. Only Sarah Fear knows where the Evil began. What it wants. And why it kills. Read Sarah's story...and discover the truth at last. Characters: The characters seem to take much more of an interesting role beyond being killed or maimed. I do think that the relationship between Jason and Sarah is a tad bit...

Name of book: Feather in the Wind Author Name: Madeline Baker ISBN: 0-8439-4197-9 Publisher: Leisure Type of book: Adult, contemporary/historical, interracial white female/native american male, romance novel Year it was published: 1997 Summary: Black Wind-He gazed out over a land as vast and empty as teh sky, praying for the strength to guide his people, and he saw her face. She came to him in a vision, a woman as mysterious as the new moon over the prairie, as tender as springtime in the Paha Sapa. And he knew his life was changed forever. Susannah-She saw his face in a faded picture, and his eyes, restless as the wind, seemed to call to her. It was said he'd been hanged nearly a century before for kidnapping a white woman, yet his story seemed unfinished. To the writer in her he was an inspiration, but to the lonely woman within he was a dream come true who would lure her across the years to fulfill a love beyond time. Characters: If I would have read th...

Lost Hopes Name of Book : The Red Tent Author : Anita Diamant ISBN : 0-312-19551-6 Publisher : St Martin's Press Type of book: Adult, "biblical", women, Year it was published : 1997 Summary: Her name is Dinah. In the bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters about her father, Jacob, and his dozen sons in the Book of Genesis. Told in Dinah’s voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoil of ancient womanhood-the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers-Leah, Rachel, Zilpah and Bilhah-the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that are to sustain her through a hard-working youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah’s story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate, immediate connection. Deeply affecting, The Red Tent combines rich story-telling with a valuable achievement in moder...

Interesting Ideas Title of Book: Dance of Death Author name: R.L Stine (Cameron Dokey) ISBN: 0-671-00295-3 Publisher: Archway Paperback Original Type of book: Young adult/children, horror, attempt at being historical Year it was published: August 1997 Part of the series: Fear Street Sagas #8   Summary:   After the bizarre deaths of her parents, Madeline never expects to feel happy again. Then she falls in love with Justin FIer, a handsome young doctor. She is warned away from Justin by a young man no one else sees, and an old woman everyone thinks is crazy. They tell her Justin is a man driven by an evil quest that destroys any woman who dares to love him. Is it too late? Can Madeline escape the curse of the Fears? Characters: The main character in this novel is Madeline Simms who lost her family recently and goes on to live with some cousins. Madeline can be described as brave and fearless to do what is need...