Martha

The kidnapping scenes (half the book) were almost too much for me, but I admire her courage & resilience.

3 1/2 stars.

I think this is the first book I've read in a long time that had a total random family connection to me! (a chocolate store) More importantly, it was very funny.

I would have rated it higher, but I didn't like the ending.

2 1/2 stars.

2?

3 1/2 stars

3 1/2 stars.

Despite an original variety of dragon on the good side and a very unsatisfactory ending on the bad side, this book was most noteworthy to me for its look at friendship, family ties, enemies, and war.

I rarely find a book that is both extremely practical and absolutely hilarious, but this one is both. I want a copy!

I find it interesting that I read this one very shortly after Black Sheep, since they have some noticeably similiarities in characters. Both books have an older (than 25) spinster who is trying to help a younger girl (niece or random stranger) with a marriage problem (one is in love with an inappropriate fortune-hunter, one not in love with her family's choice for husband). Both books have a gentleman guardian of the younger girl who shows less interest in being a guardian than the spinster believes he ought to, and who has a somewhat scandalous past and behaves outrageously & rudely (according to the strict dictates of society). The endings, however, were different and amusing in different ways (Black Sheep being the more unusual).

3 1/2 stars. Not as good as the Duel or Inda series, but much better than Senrid.

The chapter with the basic story was very good. The rest was slow & repetitive.

Miles loves plainness, abhors figures of speech, and delights in taking things the wrong way in order to confuse Abigail. He's direct, funny, determined, devoid of family feeling, and absolutely outrageous. Abby is convinced she's an old maid & is determined to save her niece from a fortune-hunter as her contribution to family. When Miles won't help her scare off his nephew, she has to look for other methods. It's hard to concentrate, though, with Miles distracting her....

1?

4

Interesting take on the nettle shirts. Overall, one of the more upbeat versions of this story (the swan brothers) that I've read. I consider that a good thing.

Alas, I didn't finish it. I felt like I was wasting my time.

Sadly lacking in her usual complexity & finesse.

3 1/2 stars.

It had some good stuff, including some I didn't know (like recipes for triticale), but also some stuff I don't foresee ever needing (like recipes for triticale).

The short stories were okay, but the long ones were just not that interesting.

How to make accurate snap decisions... and when not to trust them.

Nice conclusion to the series.

3 1/2 stars.