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reviewed by: Helen B

In February of this year, I told about Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson. Since I retired from teaching a second time a year ago, I have lots of time to read. Following are other books I read before our Read Around Sharing Group, which met in March of this year.

1. Gap Creek by Robert Morgan. This is a fiction from Oprah's Book Club. This story tells the life of a most unusual woman living in Gap Creek. Julie Harmon works "hard as a man, " so hard that at times she's not sure she can stop. People depend on her. Later, as she marries and moves on, she discovers the modern world is complex, but she carries on this hard work. To survive, she and her husband must find out whether love can keep chaos and madness at bay. I was anxious to turn the pages of this book.

2. Deep End of the Ocean by Mitchard is another fiction from the Oprah Book Club selection. This story shows the strength and love of a family. Tragedy comes suddenly when the youngest child is kidnapped. As the story unfolds, it shows us the effect of this event on the older brother who was with the kidnapped child when it happened. I found the evolving story wonderful and I shared in the characters' reward at the return of their child.

3. Rose Cottage by Mary Stewart. This is another fiction and written by a long-established English author. In this story, set in the English countryside, Kate searches for truth. This search brings her together with childhood friends and neighbors-a few of whom are suspicious of her return. However, most are eager to help. Her inquiry leads her down a trail of family bitterness, jealousy and revenge-into an exploration of her own past. Despite problems, Kate finds true happiness and true romance where she least expects it. This book kept me curious as I read about the changes and welcome Kate found in her life.

4. Stormy Petrel is another tale by Mary Stewart. This is an enthralling story of mystery and suspense, with the touch of romance-writing I enjoy. Rose looks for a quiet holiday off the west coast of Scotland. She had thought a remote and lonely island would be the ideal place to get away from it all. But, things do not turn out so idyllically-the peace of the island is shattered into a web of memory and suspicion. This is a story I did not want to leave.

5. October Song and Sanctuary are by Beverly Lewis. Her husband chimes in on Sanctuary, which gives the book an exciting flavor. These are both tales of the Amish- Mennonite religious communities. Frances gave these books to me. She grew up around these religious groups and I did too. (She wrote about these stories in March of 2002.) The stories brought many good and happy memories. The Amish people came to the small town in New York State where I lived before Florida. They were plain, simple, sod-loving people.

Helen B. adds, "When I return to NY State this summer, I shall take a ride through their country. These people are shy, so I won't see many. But, the country farms are well kept, their white-white washes hang on the clotheslines and everywhere I see the simple, good life they live."