Emma is attacked, raped and brutally beaten on the streets, and moments after her attackers fled, she was found by a passing stranger, Phil Aylmer. She is incoherent and distraught but is afraid to go to the police, so Phil Aylmer takes her home to clean her up and tend to her wounds. He calls her mother, Jacqueline Evannier, who comes over immediately. Sadly, Emma dies in her mother's arms. Jacqueline is grief stricken and turns to the arms of Phil for consolation and their grief quickly turns to passion.

Over the next few days during the funeral preparations, Jacqueline becomes more and more dependent on Phil, who is 13 years younger than her, and he quickly professes his love. She thinks she loves him also, but realizes that she is in no condition to commit to any sort of relationship with him. Jacqueline is a former ballerina who was also scarred and traumatized by a rape 10 years earlier. She decides to push for more compassionate handling of rape victims and enlists the support of an old friend, Viktor, in this quest.

The relationship between Jacqueline and Phil seems highly improbable, and I was never actually convinced that it would work out. The theme of older woman, younger man appears in other novels by this author, but in this case it seems implausible. Jacqueline eventually sorts out her feelings for Phil, and starts to realize some success in her campaign for rape victims' rights.

The characters aren't as finely crafted, empathetic and believable in this novel as in other of Allen's novels, but there are lessons to be learned in the handling of rape victims and the healing power of love.

I have to disagree strongly with the reviewer who claimed that this story lacks credibility. In point of fact, it has enormous credibility. In times of loss and grief, people are prone to do things that later they can scarcely believe they did. That is precisely the case in Gentle Stranger when, in the grip of overwhelming sorrow at the loss of her only child, the heroine goes into the arms of a man she doesn't know, seeking comfort and forgetfulness. Given that this book was written almost twenty-five years ago, it was very forward-thinking for the era. As is true of most of Allen's novels, she was dealing with important women's issues at a time when only "literary" novels purported to offer serious perspectives on matters such as rape. In some ways, this novel has a timeless aspect. And it still holds up well, even after all this time.

Well organized activities! Thanks TCM once again for making my job easier. Teachers rock!

This literature unit was a great resource in teaching about the book. I used this book to teach my second grade students. The set up of lessons made my life easy. I love the way they broke the book up into chapters and already had vocabulary lists made. The book allowed for a very integrated curriculum. I would definitely recommend this resource to any teacher.

Charlotte Yonge's "The Heir of Redclyffe" is the Victorian bestseller that many critics,along with much of her other work,are attempting to revive.I had trepidations before I read this novel.The only things I knew about Charlotte Yonge before this were - her novels were considered models of virtue and propriety and that Charles Kingsley loved her work.This was not very encouraging.But,after reading "The Heir of Redclyffe" I realized that Yonge was well worth reviving.Charlotte Yonge was probably the Victorian Christian novelist par excellence.Even they who are neither theists or Christians would be impressed with Yonge's intense conviction.Unlike most of her contemporaries her use of religion never feels perfunctory or insincere-she wrote as she believed and practiced."The Heir of Redclyffe" tells the story of a flawed yet saintly young man who is persecuted to death by his jealous and self-righteous cousin.Despite its sentimental theme the book is surprisingly restrained and ultimately moving.Its minute depiction of family life in the 1850's is so evocative -that it is worth reading for that alone.Charlotte Yonge, unfortunately,lacked the literary skill to be ranked with the best of the Victorians,but "The Heir of Redclyffe" is an original and powerful experience.

The Heir of Redclyffe is a wonderful novel that vividly depicts life in the nineteenth century. I greatly enjoyed this novel for its superb characterization. I was truly captivated by the main character,Guy Morville. He is a character that the reader genuinely admires and likes for both his nobility and humanity. The writing is excellent and the novel flows more easily than other Victorian works of fiction.

Quick Glance: Entertaining; Humorous; Great Regional Book

Jeff Diamant provides an insider's view of the infamous Loomis Fargo theft of October 4, 1997. Diamant keeps it interesting by taking readers into the mobile homes and gated communities to meet the unusual suspects behind the crime. Those readers in the Charlotte, NC region will recognize all the local spots used by the likeable looters for clandestine meetings, money laundering, and luxurious hideouts. A good read if you're looking for a comical, sometimes hilarious true crime story.

this book is part crime caper and part comedy...enjoyed every word....this story is so incredible....i think this is destined to be made into movie...are you listening hollywood....get some of your readers this material...with the right casting, this could be big time.....hope it does well in book sales as well...

This book is written in the 1800's. It deals with the romanticism period. It shows the struggle that Jane had to go through in order to find her happiness. She has to show Rochester that she is an equal to him in order to make it in life. She once said, "Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you?" This shows that Jane was different than most of the women in the 1800's. She was more determined to do things on her own, and things that only men were supposed to do. If you like books that deal with love and determination, then you will like this book.

I love this little boo

Orginally published in 1977 (that's the copyright date), you must remember that this was before the romance novel renovation. So, no hero POV (point of view, you never know what he thinks or feels), the heroine is kind of a wimp, and a cliche (for that time) story line.

Emma's boyfriend has fallen for her best friend, and while she's happy for them, she can't stand watching them being happy. She's going to illistrate the cover of a Thomas Hardy book, so she's traveling to Dorset when she crashes into a woman's car. Although the accident wasn't her fault, she tells the woman that she will drive her children to their uncle's house, where the nanny will care for them. When she gets there, no nanny, but a grumpy, anti-children uncle. Not happy about having Emma live with him, Ross lets her stay to care for the children with a escort. There is a mystery of an old rich man's relationship with Ross and a young woman too. The plot was predictable to me, but maybe not to everybody. I don't read many older romances (before the mid80s/early90s) but the ones I have have been similiar.

Charlotte Lamb's writing style isn't flawed, but the story would show its age if read now.

I really loved the book mostly because of the setting. It was a place I would like to spend a holiday at.
Sure the story didn't have many twists or turns, but you can't really expect that from a 150 page long Harlequin book. There are far more predictable and unoriginal stories in this series.

When Belinda of Balaclava, prize sow of Balaclava Agricultural College is pig napped, Professor Peter Shandy is called in to investigate. Peter is even more disturbed when the body of Miss Flackley, farrier, is found by Belinda's pen. Armed with only twenty-six sunflower seeds as a clue, Peter must solve the murder before the Senior Plowmen's Competition takes place. He also has to play matchmaker for his wife's friend, the delightful Iduna Bjorklund. This is a gentle mystery with a slightly wacky cast of characters. The first (and in my opinion, the best) in this series is Rest You Merry.

This is the second humorous mystery involving Professor Peter Shandy, his wife Helen, and the folks at Balaclava Agricultural College. This time, the local farrier, who tends to the college's horses, has been murdered, and the college's prize sow, Belinda, has been pig-napped! Can the two events be related? And are these two heinous crimes linked to a robbery and kidnapping? There is certainly a lot for Peter Shandy to investigate. MacLeod also provides romantic suspense, as new and recurring characters in several generations become attracted to each other. MacLeod seems to have had as much fun writing this book as I had reading it, especially those scenes involving the Viking-like college president, Thorkjeld Svenson. This is a book that should leave you with a smile on your face and is an excellent example of writing that combines mystery, suspense, and humor.

I was drawn to this book because I recognized so many familiar plants from my childhood among the drawings. I never suspected that the humble jewel weed or stinking Benjamins had ever had any medicinal uses. It's a very entertaining and enlightening read.

The title is somewhat misleading. I would caution anyone against using this as a serious herbal medicine text. The entries are of historical rather than medical significance, but that does lessen its wide ranging appeal. Use it to extend your knowledge and enrich your walks in the woods of the north east.

This book really interested me. It is good for anyone with a sudden burst of interest in Native Ameerican herbs. There are plenty of other books out there as well, but this was one of my favorites.

I have read Charlotte's book, "Creating A Room", and prefer it while re-decorating. "A Passion for Detail" is a "look book" and sometimes a little too precious for the average household. But it is nice escapism

Ever heard the phrase "it's all in the details?" Ever wonder just how homes that grace the pages of the best shelter magazines ever get chosen in the first place? What's right, what's wrong, how can I get my home to put on its best face? What style is really me? Former Wall-Streeter Charlotte Moss, now a well published interior decorator, builds a great argument for discovering then developing a personal interior vision. Her stylishly decorated images ooze of self-confidence and clarity of thought. Well chosen fabrics and accessories, complete with understanding and ideas behind their choices reveal insight and a good sense of humor too. Moss notes that everyone has a passion for something, and that these passions are forms of self-expression. Comfort, style, values and personality are telling signals of the quality of lives we lead. In our daily frenzied routines, Moss advocates looking at your own home from a different perspective. The book's mission promises that a more relaxed and confident home will emerge. Mission accomplished!

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was fast and It was a real cute story. My favorite part was when they were planning the plan for Emily to meet Troy in the parking lot of the theater class that their mom teaches.

This book has all the basic needs for making a book great. There is comedy, like when they are just fooling around in each others rooms. And there is love, like the love that is between Emily and Troy, and Elaine and Dean. And most importantly, there is love between the sisters. And if the sisters did not show the love for each other the way they did in the book, then this book would have gone down hill right from the begining. So in a way I learned that even in books that don't take me more that a week to read, and that barely have 130 pages, I still know that they can teach me things that I will need to know growing up. And you should never stop learning, even when kids are grown up.

It is not the most spectacular book that I have ever read. It was an easy, fast, and fun little book. "Red Hair, Too" is about a set of twins that had been separated at birth (Which comes out in Red Hair). It is about them getting to know each other. One of them lives in California with their mom, and the other with their dad in Florida. For most of the book the twins are trying to get to know each other, and their parent that they haven't lived with. In the end they get into a little bit of trouble that only a set of twins can do.