When I bought this book in Ireland last year, it was on the bestseller shelves in the bookstores, so Eilis seems popular in her home country. I wanted vacation reading that was literary and reflected the culture of the people in whose country I was a visitor. The book is pretty short, but I feel that is appropriate for the subject matter; it is essentially a string of childhood reminisces loosely gathered into a simple plot, which centers on a group of young pre-teen and teenage Irish and Northern Irish schoolgirls who leave their cities to attend a Gaelic-language school/camp in County Donegal (northwest, Irish-speaking, traditional region).

The short, sweet, lyrical tale is light without being fluffy, and touches on issues of sexual discovery, class and political stratification, and parent-child relationships.

The author beautifully evokes traditional rural Ireland in the 1960's as it is seen through the eyes of saucy urban schoolgirls on the brink of self-discovery.

Laurie has a way with words. She makes you feel like you are right there with the characters. A definite buy!!!

Synopsis:
Love...Jenny

When Jenny Teale wrote to Captain John Braithwaite it was her good deed to the brave fighting men overseas. John's letters- intimate, sexy, loving- made her realize she'd found her soul mate. But Jenny didn't consider herself the kind of woman a man of action like John could ever love, so she refused to tell him her name. Still their letters grew even more revealing and passionate- but it was only a fantasy, Jenny assured herself.

Then John came home, determined to find the woman behind the words.

- I enjoyed this book immensely! If you liked Letters to Kelly by Suzanne Brockmann this is a great companion book! This couple falls in love via letters but then must get past words and to truths in the light of day- sensitively drawn hero and vulnerable heroine with a nasty ex-husband make this a keeper for me! I have all of Lyn Ellis's books and enjoy each- this was her premiere book and is well worth the read!

Is vulgarity grounds for murder? Alfred Armiger had antagonized many with his greed and crass acquisitiveness. So when the ruthless beer baron is discovered dead, his head beaten in by a magnum of champagne, there is no shortage of suspects. But all of Comerford is shocked with Detective George Felse arrests Kitty Norris, the daughter of a rival beer baron, the last person to see Armiger alive, and the main beneficiary of his will! But Kitty, charming and popular, has an unexpected advocate in Felse's young son, Dominic, who secretly adores her. Passionately convinced of Kitty's innocence, Dominic sets out to find the true culprit, a hazardous undertaking that might well cost him his life!

Best known for the Brother Cadfael mysteries, Ellis Peters actually wrote the Felse series first, but until recent years, these appealing books have been out of print in the United States. "Death and the Joyful Woman," which received an Edgar Award, deserves a warm welcome from American readers. Peters has told not only an engaging mystery but a sensitive coming-of-age story as well. Characters and relationships are sharply delineated--Dominic is a highly likable teen sleuth and his interactions with his parents, especially his father, are both amusing and touching. And a subplot concerning a struggling young couple and an unusual painting--the Joyful Woman of the title--proves just as involving as the main storyline. Readers of "Fallen into the Pit," Peters' first Felse mystery, may notice that the method Dominic uses to flush out the murderer is similar to the one he employs here, but this is a minor quibble in an otherwise excellent novel. Highly recommended.

This Book, as is Peter Berresford Ellis's Dictionaty of Celtic Mythology, is in my opinon deserve 6+ stars, not 5. "Irish Mythology" is not really covered in his "Celtic mythology book, Celtic Mythology is really a continuation of of this book, covering a much broader scope. I have over a dozen "Dictionaries and Encyclopedias of Celtic Mythology, Legend and Lore" and the scope and breadth of the information covered by Mr. Ellis is excellent. As you look up each entry, a full explanation is given, and if your curosity is peaked, it is easy to look up all other referances that are mentined in the text. Stories of Irish mythology, that I didn't fully grasp before, are very clear and understandable.

... i haven't read this jack a. ellis book, but... i have read his textbook "a History of film" -- an outstanding, seemingly all-encompassing tome which has changed my life -- for the enrichment of it... based on that alone, i'd highly recommend the present work in question with the sad admission that at this time i have too much on my plate anon to add to it and must forego a forage into documentaries for now... time...

This book is essential for the at-home gardener. It catalogs techniques for transforming household herbs & fruit and veggie seeds into beautiful houseplants. Although I have yet to germinate the elusive avocado pit, I have a much brighter kitchen because of this book.

Donkey Driving by Ellis and Claxton offers completely sound and comprehensive advice to the beginning driver. Even if donkeys are not the intended driving equine, the advice is still excellent. It covers the various training methods needed, plus harness, vehicle styles, and activities. Altogether quite wonderful, and has the addition of a tiny bit of donkey humor. I have recommended it more than any other driving text.

Chapel, Tennessee Police Chief Mitch McKee answered the "damsel in distress" call. To his mental distress and to his now aching lower body's libido, Katie Sutherland was back in town. In high school, Mitch was the wild bad boy who lusted after Katie, but he barely managed not to seduce her. Now she is back for the class reunion and looks DROP-DEAD GORGEOUS.

Kate has a successful career as a headhunter in San Francisco, but on her hometown turf she is confused. She does not want to be her wealthy father's puppet so she decides to become a "bad" girl because that sounds like fun. She selects her high school sweetheart Mitch to teach her the ways of being bad since he was the baddest boy in school. However, since the marines, Mitch is a model citizen even if he ignores impractical laws. As Mitch and Kate become reacquainted, they fall in love. However, to forge a permanent relationship the couple needs to find a compromise because she is now big city and he is small college town.

Lyn Ellis shows she can go back with her warm, often humorous, sweet-talking contemporary romance. The story line is fun because the audience observes the battles between the lead duo. As Kate and Mitch struggle with their attraction for one another, their difference of opinion on what is good for her as she acts as an apprentice bad girl makes for several jocular moments. Ms. Ellis provides sub-genre fans with an enjoyable, light-hearted romantic romp.

Harriet Klausner

Step into the world of the prechritian Celts throgh there lore and legend. Dispite the shakesperian manor the book was written, in 1917, it is still worth evry miute that is spent reading it.