Quoted from review in CHOICE, Feb.02: Modeled after Ulrich's A Midwife's Tale (1990), this life-and-times, detailed, and closely written study takes its starting point from her posthumous memoir, edited by her husband and published as a model for American Protestant women in the 19th century. As a strong-willed daughter of an American revolutionary leader and mother of 11, she fashioned a life that "developed, elasticized and resisted the claims of patriarch and family." The diary's silences, especially about slavery, were sometimes as eloquent as its formulaic language of pietism. Warmly understanding of her but frankly revealing her as an unexpectedly interesting subject. Useful and recommended for teaching early American history/ women/ religion.

This is a wonderful book! Starting with Martha Laurens Ramsey's brief pious memoir, Joanna Gillespie has reconstructed Martha's life in colonial South Carolina. Reading it, I felt as if I had been plunged into the planter society of the Carolina low country during the American Revolutionary period. The close cultural and economic ties with England, the changed definition of "citizenship" as independence created a new republic, and the unspoken contradiction of a "free" nation whose economic foundation was built on slavery are all presented with amazing insight and depth. Above all, the secret heart of Martha Laurens Ramsey is exposed. Defined both by her intellectual gifts and her pious search to understand God's Providence, Martha uses her secret diary as a way to analyze the conflicting demands of husband, family and society, With extensive contextual material, Gillespie has transformed those scattered thoughts into a sensitive and complex portrait of a remarkable woman and the era in which she lived.

The year is 1724 when twelve-year-old Rachel comes to Charles Town to live with her father. Her mother died when Rachel was five and she has lived with her grandparents ever since. She makes a new friend in Sally, the tavern-owner's daughter, but their budding friendship is ended soon after the arrival of Miranda, Rachel's father's fiancee. To continue seeing each other, the girls decide to spent time on a small island near the town. They dub the island "Skull Island" after discovering a human skull near some quicksand on their first visit. They also discover a hidden lagoon, an overgrown trail, and mysterious carved symbols. Are pirates hiding stolen treasure on the island? The plot thickens when Rachel finds evidence of a secret relationship between Miranda and Mr. Craven, her father's business partner. Then her father's business is ruined when his ships are attacked by pirates. Is Miranda betraying Rachel's father? Can she save her father from disaster and keep her friendship with Sally?

Though she's now eleven, my daughter still often enjoys having me read to her when she goes to bed at night. We have been including books from the American Girl "History Mystery" series for two or three years, now. These books combine engaging stories with real historical settings, giving young readers useful insights into how people lived in those times along with positive characters they can relate to. In general, we give the books in this series four stars. This one is one of my daughter's favorites, so this is an especially strong four-star pick and we strongly recommend it.

Since her mother's death when she was just five years old, Rachel Howell has lived with her grandparents in the city of New York. The year is 1724, and Rachel is now twelve. Her father has finally sent for her, and she must make the sea journey from New York to Charles Town, South Carolina. When the ship is almost at its destination, pirates attack, and Rachel loses her most precious possession, a necklace that had belonged to her mother. When she finally arrives in Charles Town, Rachel is thrilled to finally be reunited with her father, but is devastated by the news that he plans to remarry and that his fiance, Miranda LeBoyer, will be arriving soon from Philadelphia. Rachel makes two friends, Sally and Todd, whose mother runs an inn. But at Miss LeBoyer's urging, Rachel's father forbids her to see her friends because they are from a lower class. Rachel and Sally decide to meet in a secret place, a small island near the city that they name Skull Island because they believe a pirate's treasure may be hidden there. After Rachel's father loses his fortune in a bad business deal, the friends begin to believe that his misfortune may have been caused by Miss LeBoyer, who is keeping a secret about his partner in the investment. Some very surprising plot twists follow, but I won't reveal what they are, because it would spoil the ending. I highly reccomend this book to young readers who enjoy historical fiction.

Charleston is yet another one of Alexandra Ripley's historical fiction novels. The book begins during the middle of the Civil War and continues on towards 1898. The story surrounds on the Charlestonians, all whom are related to each other somehow or the other. The Tradds, the family that it is focused on, is made up of Mary Tradd, a brainless beauty as the mother; Pinckney Tradd, the new head of the family since the father died during the war, he's worried about how he can bring money in for the family; Stuart Tradd, a young boy not even in his teens during the war, but decides that he's going to defeat the Yankees no matter what; and Lizzie Tradd, the youngest, who isn't quite like any other girl after the war.
This book describes the lives of the Tradd family, and the struggles of their attempts to earn enough the support the family. The animosity towards the Yankees and other "New People" are expressed with the Charlestonian's way of "politing them to death."
Although the book doesn't carry you to the main character, Lizzie Tradd, until you are well into the book, it is still interesting to read about Pinckney, Aunt Julia, and other extraordinary characters.
I greatly admired Charleston's old traditions, like the Saint Cecelia Ball, and the old custom of ringing Saint Michael's Bells every hour. After reading this book, you won't be left with any doubt that Charleston is a very quaint, original, and alluring city.

Boy, was this book ever hard to track down! Seems that most people who read it want to keep it for their own collection - and I just became one of them! Besides the fact that Ripley is one of my favorite authors, Charleston is one of my favorite cities, and historical fiction is my favorite genre of literature, this book caught my attention from the first page and kept it all the way until the last.
This heartwarming, often heartbreaking novel reveals the triumphs and tragedies that were 19th century southern America. From sending young men off to fight their brothers,to facing the adversity of Reconstruction, to the struggle between between races and classes, Ripley absolutely captures the latter part of a tumultuous century.
Leading us on this journey is the novel's heroine, Elizabeth Tradd, raised in wealth and finery until the Civil War leaves her family bordering on poverty. "Lizzie", despite the set-backs, however, manages to use her tenacious spirit and her magnetic charm to establish a life for herself while all the while striving to mend the lives of her family and friends.
Lizzie is truly an inspirational character that I grew to love, laugh, and cry for. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys strong characters, fine writing, and an adoration for all things beautiful.

As an avid lover of historical and romantic fiction this book is one of the best that I have ever read! If you liked gone with the wind or scarlett you will love this book. The characters are origional and inspiring. After reading this book I want to visit charleston. Also read the sequel on leaving charleston because it is wonderful also.

I just wanted to know what all the hoopla was about. It's one of those things where if you sit in front of it long enough, you eventually forget where you are and pretty soon you'll think you're in Charleston! Ha! It's true. I had lunch in the office while looking at the CD, and after walking all around Waterfront Park, and hearing the birds and everything, I felt like I had really spent my lunch break there! It sounds crazy but it's the honest to God truth!

I actually saw this last weekend in a giftshop in Charleston where they had a computer set up. People were going nuts over the thing.. There was a line to get to the computer! I didn't buy one at the time, but of course I had to eventually order me a copy. I'd never seen anything like it. You'll definitely feel like you've gone back to Charleston when you experience it. It's almost like Virtual Reality.

All I can say is that I hope they're working on more projects like this one. It's the perfect way to explore any area. I thought it was wonderful - I've been telling all my friends to check it out. If you're heading to Charleston - you've GOT to get one! Believe me, it's the most bizarre thing to go to some of the places after you've played with the CD, it's like you've been there before. Try it!

What continues to bind two old Charleston families, one black and one white together after so many years? This is the basis for Pam Durban's book So Far Back which I recently read. And while I looked forward to this book and am a lover of historical fiction, I found this book limited in describing the present and certainly the past.
At 60, Louisa Hilliard is the last descendant of a once proud Charleston family. In her mothers stately home there are still day workers who are descendants of a local black family who have worked for the Hilliard family for almost a century. When Louisa's mother dies and Charleston is hit by a terrible storm and then flood, Louisa is forced to clean out the ancestral home. Going through years of family memorabilia, Louisa chances upon a diary left by the slave Diana. Louisa curious to know about her ancestors reads Diana's diary she learns much about her family's history which before this had been a well guarded secret. In addition, she learns that Diana was not a typical slave, had a mind of her own, was severely punished for her behavior and eventually ran away from the house, possibly from the South all together. As Louisa continues to read, suddenly objects are missing and then moved to other parts of the house and Louisa wonders if Diana has returned to the house as a ghost. The more Louisa reads, the more she becomes aware of how her own life is entwined and deeply entangled in her family's haunted history. While this book was well written I didn't find it particularly interesting. It was a story which began slowly and never really took off anywhere. The characters never were more than names on a page and and overall I found this to be a disappointing read.

So Far Back is the story of two women--one a contemporary Southerner, the other her 19th century ancestor--and their shared history. When Louisa Hilliard discovers a long-buried journal of her slaveholding ancestor, she begins a journey into the past and learns about the life of Diana, a slave whose descendants have continued to work in some capacity for the Hilliard family. This novel is a rich, thought-provoking book about race, class, and the lives of women who "keep house". Our reading group chose this on the recommendation of a bookseller, and a number of us found it relevant to our own lives and to those of our grandparents and great-grandparents. Recommended for reading groups who want a book with some issues and historical backdrop.

I really enjoyed this read. I've read a lot about charleston, been there several times and had one of my most memorable(!) ghost experiences there ! This ghost story was to me utterly believable, and i loved the history of the two families intertwined over 200 years. The tourists usually see the beauty of charleston, the historic district, the antiques, the culture, the flowers, etc. This author reminds us that there was a not so beautiful side of life in this city, whether one was black or white. She brings to life the horrors of slavery and lynchings, as well as the killer climate with its heat and dampness, hurricanes and storms, poisonous snakes, the epidemics of diseases like yellow fever that struck year after year when there was no cure or treatment, and the deaths of many, including children and babies, from causes such as kitchen accidents, ulcers, and other then-unknown reasons. This gives the book a balance and makes it realistic. The main character learns to look a little deeper, and so will you. And i'm cheering for Diana--read the book and find out why.

"Death by Darjeeling" is a goodish read: rich in ambience and tea lore; and filled with quite a few interesting and eccentric characters. The detecting part of the mystery did take a while to take off, and the air of suspense and tension was not always there. However Laura Childs has provided us with a truly likable and intelligent detective in Theodosia Browning, as well as a nice supporting cast of characters in Theodosia's employees at the Indigo Tea Shop, so that eventhough I was a little disappointed with the mystery, I was totally won over by the characters and the overall mood of this novel.

Things are looking up for Theodosia Browning, proud owner of Charleston's Indigo Tea Shop -- not only is business bristling over nicely, but the Indigo Tea Shop will also be catering the garden party for Charleston's annual Historic Homes Garden Party, and a perfect opportunity for Theodosia to try out a few new blends on the public. However things don't exactly unfold as she expects them to: Bethany, an employee, stumbles onto one of the guests dead and clutching an empty teacup. Forensic evidence shows that there was poison in the teacup, and the hotshot detective in charge of the investigation seems to have zeroed in on Bethany as the poisoner. Theodosia is appalled at the situation: all kinds of rumours are swilling the streets and her business is beginning to suffer as a result; but she is also angry that the police seem to be satisfied at hounding Bethany instead of looking more closely at others who definitely have more motive than Bethany! Especially when the victim turns out to be the shady developer, Hughes Barron, who has ruffled more than a few feathers in Charleston. Theodosia is determined to discover who spiked the victim's teacup and to get Bethany off the hook. But Barron seems to have someone that aroused strong passions, and more than one suspect has Theodosia wondering if she has unwittingly put herself in harm's way...

Laura Childs has successfully transmuted the feel and flavour of the historic section of Charleston; and I found the bits of information about the different types of Chinese teas, and the correct steeping time, to be invaluable. The plot was an intriguing one, and the characters were interesting and well rounded out. Only two factors marred my total enjoyment of this novel: 1)I couldn't understand how a supposed hotshot detective who had worked with the FBI no less and who had nabbed a serial killer even after the trail was cold, could be so short sighted as to concentrate on only one suspect. This just didn't ring true to me. And 2) the air of suspense and tension was not well maintained at all, and this did detract a little from this otherwise rather excellent novel.

Barring my nitpicking, "Death By Darjeeling" was a very good read, and I'm looking forward to the next 'tea' mystery.

Theodosia Browning, proprietress of the Indigo Tea Shop of Charleston, goes a sleuthing when one of her staff is implicated in the death of sleazy real estate developer, Hughes Barron, at a society function catered by Theodosia. She feels impelled to clear her friend and save her own reputation and business. Delightful characters with wonderful names abound. The ambiance of Charleston is wonderfully captured.

A charming summer read that can be enjoyed by the young and old alike without insulting anyone's sensibilities. I found myself wanting to grab a scone and cuppa. The tea lore and recipe were a intriguing addition. Looking forward to the next book in the series. Highly recommend to ladies of the RED HAT SOCIETY.

Theodosia Browning is the 36-year-old owner of the Indigo Tea Shop in Charleston, South Carolina. Having abandoned her high profile, high intensity career as an advertiser, Theo now enjoys the joys and challenges of running her own small business in Charleston's historic district. With her dog, Earl Grey, and her little apartment over her tea shop, Theo cherishes her new life in the slow lane.

Her serenity is marred, however, when the city's most hated man-a developer with an eye toward tarnishing the purity of the historic district-is found dead after drinking some of Theo's specially blended tea. Theo and her employees are all suspect, and to save her good name, not to mention her business, Theo sets out to solve the mystery of his death.

This is a charming book, for mystery lovers and tea drinkers alike. The author takes you inside the world of tea specialists, as well as the small community of business owners that comprise Charleston's historic district. Theo and her friends are comfortably familiar, and the book is a quick, enjoyable read.

Most importantly, Childs lets the mystery drive the story. The details of tea making and the atmosphere of Charleston are supplements to the plot, as they should be. The mystery has some weaknesses, but the characters and setting more than compensate. Read this book when you're in the mood for something light and fun.

If one wishes to read a book about tea, then this is certainly a wise investment. If, however, one wishes to read a book that is well written, this is not a good choice. I knew who the villain was before reading one-fourth of the book. There is far more telling than showing--too many adverbs, too many adjectives, too many signs of novice writing. I really do not recommend this book for the serious lover of mysteries.

Theodosia is thrilled to be catering the annual Isle of Palms Yacht Race. But the perfect day is brought to abrupt end when the gun signaling the end of the race explodes and kills Oliver Dixon. While it appears to be an accident, Theo isn't convinced and begins to investigate. Soon she has more suspects then she knows what to do with. Was it the result of an ancient feud? Or maybe the new, young widow wanted control of his fortune? Or could Oliver's business investor have wanted out of his investment enough to kill?

I thoroughly enjoyed this second mystery novel (following DEATH BY DARJEELING). The plot is complex, with the clues pointing in every direction possible. I still didn't know what was going on by the end, but the ending worked. I'm not a tea person, but enjoyed the information about tea. It was well scattered throughout and didn't bog down the storyline. My biggest complaint is the author's tendency to switch view-point characters for a few paragraphs at random within a scene. It makes for confusing reading but fortunately only happens a few times over the course of the novel.

I'm already looking forward to my next visit to Charleston and the Indigo Tea Shop. This is a fun, relaxing series with a wonderful cast of characters and good plotting. Put the kettle on and enjoy.

GUNPOWDER GREEN by Laura Childs. In this second Tea Shop Mystery, shop owner Theodosia Browning knows that something's brewing in the high society of Charleston: murder. Scrumptious recipe included.

In "Slaves In The Family," Edward Ball take readers on a fascinating and exhaustive(and sometimes exhausting) look into his family's past as slave owners in South Carolina. The author delves back eight generations as his ancestors cross the Atlantic and make their claim in America near Charleston. As the title suggests, Ball explores the lives of the slaves on the family's many plantations. This is where the book is at its most interesting. Ball not only gives us historical accounts but also meets with descendants in the present day. Their reactions, sometimes positive other times wary (especially where there is evidence of an owner-slave offspring), is very good reading.

Unfortunately, in my opinion, there is not enough of that type of material in the later stages of the book. At one stretch, the emphasis seems to exclusively shift to the extensive lineage of the Ball family. Despite the genealogy chart included in the book, I found it nearly impossible to keep track of everyone. Likewise, the author's impartiality towards his family seemed to shift and in many instances Ball seemed to be on a mission to prove that the family's slaves were well treated. The book also ends on an odd note as the author travels to Africa to visit one of the sites where slaves were forced to leave their native land. There he tracks down the African descendants of those who sold slaves and asks them to atone for their ancestors' past sins as well. While the logic of the slave seller being as guilty as the slave buyer has a good deal of validity, it just comes off as the author trying to alleviate his own burdens. I did see Ball on a talk show several years ago and he did not come off this way, so perhaps the written word is simply more open for interpretation.

Nevertheless, I would recommend "Slaves" to anyone interested in geneology, early American (especially Southern) history, and/or the slave experience. Addtionally, with my interpretation as compared to others, the book is open for some good discussion/debate. There is something to be learned through out the book - but ultimately I think think that the parts are greater than the whole.

Although it took me a while to read Slaves in the Family because I had to work at keeping details straight, I found it wonderfully enlightening. I hated history in school because, as it was taught, it seemed irrlevant to the present. As I've grown older, I've seen how integral an understanding of the past is to understanding the present. Mr. Ball gives us this perspective in an honest and uncompromising fashion. This is not a book written to make Souterners feel bad--the English and the Africans share in the shame--but it does help us to understand what this legacy has done to all our lives today. Interviews and reviews that I had heard highlighted the possible intermingling of the white Balls and the black slaves, but that is not what this book is about. Rather than an expose of intermingling, it is a family history of people who often have no history. When he offers families a lineage all the way back to Africa, including the country of origin, I am awed. What a gift of personal history!

This is a wonderful recounting of the lives and lineage of white plantation owners and their slaves in the Charleston, S.C. area. The author has done detailed research on the Ball family, their descendants and the descendants of their slaves, tracing them from the 1600s down to the current day. The most amazing aspect of the book is its perspective on how personal family history intertwines with and becomes the history of the U.S. The reader feels directly connected with people and events down through the centuries, and by the end of the book, understands how interrelated all our lives are. I couldn't put this book down and highly recommend it to anyone interested in U.S. history, slavery, U.S. cultural history, or genealogy.

As a genealogist researching my ancestors from South Carolina I felt compelled to read this book. It was fascinating, although I had read Slaves in the Family, I felt like this was a continuation not to be missed. I felt deeply for the members of the Hairston family. It was sad see how Kate lost her inheritance which she deserved. All of the other slights the family is dealt but still some how the family went on. Its an important aspect of American history which you don't always see.

I was dazzled once again by the depth and scope of effort and research put into a book by Edward Ball. I was such a big fan of his first book, Slaves In the Family, I was doubtful he could equal his own work. What a nice to surprise to find that as good as Slaves In the Family was, The Sweet Hell Inside was even better.

The book follows generations of the Harleston family of South Carolina from the early 1800s to the present. Harleston was a white ancestor of the author who took a black common law wife with whom he had five children. Being of mixed blood the Harleston family lived a separate, more priviledged life than other black South Carolina residents, but one that was also very separate from the white residents. The family history is fascinating with members working in various performing and visual arts, participating in the Harlem Reniassiance, and educating some children who would grow up to be pioneers in jazz music. Its astounding that one family could have had such an influence in so many areas and that they have the documentation to prove it. Much of the documentation and oral history come from Edwina Harleston Whitlock a direct descendant of white Mr. Harleston and his former slave/wife Katie. The compilation of material provided from Ms. Whitlock coupled with Ball's narrative talent make this a must read.

I found "The Sweet Hell Inside" to be an illuminating, informative read! Being an African-American especially interested in the black/white dynamics of American history, I found Edward Ball's story of the Harlestons of South Carolina hard to put down!

The in-depth story of how the black Harleston family began, prospered, endured, and survived;the digressions Ball made re African-American parts in jazz, art, the funeral-home industry;the "Harlem Renaissance";and the very human traits of all the various characters, combined to make "The Sweet Hell Inside" a voyage of discovery and enlightenment for me. I think most other readers will find it likewise! This book is a treasure-trove of family, racial, and American history.

I especially liked this book because the author allowed the characters to "speak" through their papers, records, and other memorabilia, and via his sixth cousin,Edwina Harleston Whitlock!

I think that people who buy this book should know that many of the recipes require the use of a cake mix. It may be that when I actually make the cakes, I will regret what I write now, but until then I am feeling a little short changed. Surely Mrs. Pregnall does not use commercial cake mix in her own shop.

When this book arrived, I had trouble putting it down. It's such fun to read. I bake often, & my friends really enjoy my cakes. (I'm not a baking novice.) I tried 3 recipes from this book. Two were flops, & one was mediocre. The chocolate chip cake, & Charlston chews were gooey in the middle long after the suggested bake time. The buttermilk coffee cake was nothing special. I'd buy a different book.

The recipes in the book are super easy to make,and they taste like you have slaved over them all day long when in fact you really haven't. It's not just cake recipes (my fav. being the Choc. Chip Cake) but I shall always use Teresa's Brownie recipe for the rest of my life. There are Pound Cake recipes,Coffee Cake recipes,Snacks and Picnic Treats recipes, and many more treasures. Teresa, YOU are the real Treasure. Thanks