There are many advantages in having access to both the english and north american editions of Hazel Holt's books - including being able to obtain titles and formats that would otherwise be unavailable. The only difficulty is deciphering the differing titles. 'Mrs Malory: Death among Friends' is actually the ninth book, it's english title being 'Dead and Buried'. It would be interesting to know why the titles are changed. It would almost seem that american publishers think their readers are incapable of remembering author's names but expect a greater recall of a book's main character. Many of the original titles are derived from english literature but this wouldn't seem to a major drawback, British readers would not necessarily recognise the references. However the result, particularly the inclusion of 'Mrs Malory' in each title, tends to suggest that the books resemble the many series of mysteries (many of them fun to read) by American authors who have a distinctly romantic idea of past and present life in Britain. I think this does the books an injustice. They are set in a relatively affluent area of England and most of the characters are fairly intelligent, very well educated people whose lives have mostly been reasonably comfortable (besides suffering bereavement and an incredible number of murders). However, Hazel Holt has an extremely good grasp of social interaction and a sympathetic approach to humanity, with a subtle sense of humour and a touch of cynicism that ensures the books are enjoyable but never unrealistic or sentimental.

Of the other titles available, 'Mrs Malory Wonders Why ' was originally titled 'Superfluous Death', 'Mrs Malory, Detective in Residence' was originally 'Murder on Campus' and 'Mrs Malory and the Only Good Lawyer' was 'The Only Good Lawyer...' (the last subtly different!). -SW

This is a fun, colorful, and educational book. The familar characters and the rhyming verses make the book fun to read. I have a 20 month old son that loves it, he has me read it to him at least five times a day. He knows what the pictures are of and enjoys pointing them out to me. I highly recommend this book to parents. You and your child (or children) will thoroughly enjoy it.

This is the first volume in the Queens of England series of books by Jean Plaidy, who is also known to her legion of fans as Victoria Holt. It is a well written work of historical fiction that tells the story of the daughter of King Henry IV of France, Henrietta Maria, who went on to marry King Charles I of England.

Henrietta Maria, a Catholic, found herself married to Charles, a Protestant, living in a Protestant country, among a Protestant people. The English, at the time, viewed Catholics with deep suspicion, as the excesses of the Catholic Queen Mary, "Bloody Mary", the daughter of Henry VIII, were still not forgotten. A fervent Catholic, however, Henrietta would not put aside her religion, nor was she particularly discreet about her devotion to Catholicism, and, as such, was never fully accepted by the English people.

Henrietta Maria was an impetuous and pretty, young woman, fond of musical revels, fashionable clothes, and gossip. Her husband, Charles, a family man of principle and integrity, was devoted to her, and together they would go on to have a number of children. Their marriage of state, made for the purpose of maintaining a Franco-English alliance, turned out to be a true love match.

Henrietta Maria was also, however, a puppet of Rome, charged with leading Protestant England back to Catholicism. This was to cloud her judgment, at times, and cause much trouble down the road, and, ultimately, serve to pave the way for the rise of Cromwell and his Puritans. They would make her devotion to her religion and her influence over her husband a focal point for turbulence and civil war. Her loyalty and love for her husband was legendary, but not even she could keep him from the road that led to regicide.

Written in the first person, this is a wonderfully told tale of an enigmatic, little known Queen, who wielded great influence over her beloved husband. Rich with historical detail, it is an enormously entertaining novel that is rife with the political intrigues of the day. All those who love reading well written, historical fiction should enjoy it.

I checked this book out of the Cashiers, North Carolina Library and spent a week browsing it. It has many fascinating color plates of North Carolina's historical quilts. There is an early embroidered farm scene quilt that is particularly spectacular and worthy of reproduction. There are also many black and white vintage photos of North Carolina's quilters in period dress. I spent almost as much time looking at the vintage clothing photographs and the names of the women as I did the photos of the quilts. This is not a "how to quilt" book, but I think the photos and historical information in this volume would be beneficial to anyone interested in primary source research in vintage clothing and quilts of southern origin.

Back Cover: "Clotilde Collins has worked with Dr. James Thackery at busy St. Alma's Hospital in London for three years, but she's never considered their relationship as anything more than solidly professional.
Then tragedy strikes and James steps in to take charge of Clotilde's shattered world, offering her his unhesitating comfort and support.
How easy it would be to fall in love with him.
Except he's already committed to another woman......"
This is another of Ms. Neels' highly satisfying stories about the tall handsome mature doctor and the warm, devoted competent Sister that has not any idea of his feelings for her. This time the Sister is tall and striking and dating another doctor. But the hero has been very patient and has been a quietly helpful friend. The book also has all the lovely other Neels ingredients such as lifetime servants who are family, wonderful siblings and companion pets.

A continuation of the Wagon's West series by calling it "The Holts" series, this book shows great promise as it makes Tim and Janessa come to the forefront. There are four stories in this book:
1) Janessa starts medical school.
2) Tim runs off to become a miner.
3) Toby runs for senator
4) White Elk courts a chinese girl

Surprising, the stories do not conflict with each other, a problem that later books in the series would have. It is a beautifully crafted book.

It also illustrates what the rest of the books should have done. It should have stayed with Tim as the focal character in the series. By constantly switching the main characters from book to book, it weaken the series as a whole.

Highly recommended book, especially when one wants to read about prejudice towards Chinese.

From 1853 to about 1929, more than 200,000 children and several thousand adults were sent west on "orphan trains," leaving crowded urban areas on the East Coast behind. Holt's book focuses on the placing out system--from its creation to its demise--instituted by the Children's Aid Society of New York. Estimates of the number of destitute children living in the streets of New York in 1853 ranged from 10,000 to more than 30,000. Charles Loring Brace, who became secretary of The Children's Aid Society believed there was no better place for vagrant or outcast children than "the farmer's home." Placing out removed destitute children from the streets of New York City, placing them with families in the west. The system was intended to provide Christian homes and families for orphaned or abandoned children while fulfilling the demand for workers on farms in America's heartland. The author also discusses other charitable organizations that imitated Children's Aid Society initiatives. She uses oral histories, institutional records, and newspaper accounts to bring the orphan train era to life in this balanced account, highlighting both the positive and negative aspects of the placing out system. Her discussion of social and economic structures of the 19th century help readers view the topic in context. This is a "must read" for anyone conducting further research in the topic, or readers who are simply interested in this lost chapter of American history.

I am a spotted owl biologist, and I just ran into this book at a gift shop. I bought one for myself, my nephew, my friends children,. . .etc. It is really great, not only for kids. It doesn't dumb down the science (using crepuscular and other words, with a glossary in back), and the pictures are well done.

It's a wonderful book!

Considering the vast differences that the protagonists in this book undertake in this book, it is amazing that this book came off as well as it did. You have Henry in the Phillipines, helping to overthrow the Spanish there. You have Tim & others in Cuba watching the rise in fame of Teddy Rooselvelt while dealing with yellow fever. Then you have Frank still in the Yukon, getting ready to go home.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to read more about the Spanish American War.

This is a great book - it tells the real facts about shark (and other types) cartilage with none of the hype. Unfortunately, the publisher decided not to send it to the bookstores.