This story was so good... Couldn't put it down. Before I release this one, Think I'll pass it on to some friends.

This book is being mailed in trade to tuff517. Hope you enjoy

Released on Saturday, May 01, 2004 at postal release in fellow bookcrosser, postal release USA.

Mailed last week.

Received today from narfinmagic, thanks!

This was an excellent book! Amanda was my favorite character, so stoic and determined to keep family secrets until that secrecy was threatened. There's a great amount of love and pain in Amanda and a strong bond between her and Ruth. Wonderful book. I'll see if I can turn it into a bookray.

Going out on a BookRay:

irishajo - IN (US)
Saphyre - IN (US)
Sherria - CT (anywhere)
BookWearm - IA (US)

COMPLETED! Thanks to all participants for making it a success.

Heading off to irishajo!

Got this one today. Thanks for starting this one! Can't wait to read it.

I had some mixed feelings about this book. Christina Schwarz obviously has a lot of talent and great potential. The writing style was engaging (although the constantly switching point of view and non-linear technique was a bit confusing - I eventually caught on about halfway through). The book had plenty of interesting foreshadowing that kept me reading to find out what exactly happened on the fateful night that the book revolves around.

Trouble is, I just couldn't connect very well with the protagonist, Amanda. I did not care for her angry possessiveness; it seemed completely unnecessary that she clung so oppressively to Ruth. I guess for me the disconnect between what a modern woman would do in that situation and the lengths to which Amanda went was a hard one to overcome. And the fact that she left so many ruined lives in her wake in order to keep anyone from finding out the truth was to me unconscionable. I wanted to tell her, just tell the truth already, and quit trying to manipulate everyone around you!

I did like Ruth, and wish more of the book was devoted to her adult life. I think she'd make a great protagonist for another novel.

All in all I give it 7 stars.

I'll send this out to Saphyre tomorrow.

Arrived safe and sound.

Arrived today, safe and sound. I have another (huge!) bookring to finish before I start this one, but I'll get to it ASAP.

I finished this book a couple of days ago, and didn't realize that I hadn't journaled it. Oops!

I enjoyed this book, but I never got comfortable with the narrative style, switching back and forth in time seemingly randomly, and in and out of various first person perspectives. I can see that the story wouldn't have had the impact it did without this, but it made reading difficult for me.

Despite the difficulty with the narrative style, I loved the story. The author has a wonderfully descriptive way with words, and I could easily picture the island, and the little house on it, and the "white house", etc. The characters were great as well, fully drawn with intriguing quirks and personalities. I'll look forward to reading more of her work.

Thanks so much for sharing this book narfinmagic. It's all packaged up and ready to go out to Bookwearm tomorrow.

Edited to add: This went in the mail 11/22/04. DC: 0280 5213 9070 6641 1102

Good read. I gave this book a 7.
Sending it on today. Thanks,