Lovely and sweet and you can make up the story and add ...
592127
Lovely and sweet and you can make up the story and add more or less as you go through.  Something toddlers really get is fair play and responding to "niceness".
3243799
I'm a fan of Rebecca Winters because her stories are sweet and she doesn't have to use foul language or gratuitous sex to tell them. This one is no exception. One thing I noticed that I hadn't before is that there were several grammatical errors and other things that should have been corrected. They don't interfere with the story of course, but it was odd to see proofreading errors.
730171
the sounds that go with the story are absolutely irresistible!  and the story is darling- perfect for adult-kid interaction
826792
This story was a nice retelling of a classic. I loved how the author added little touches from more traditional versions into this story and I slso loved this version of Isabella and her father. Gaston was translated into a "throw away" character in this story, as least for me, he could have been left out. I liked the steam-punk aspects and how the "beast" was protrayed. I will read more by this author; and it was a sweet story with little physical romance. I would consider it both safe and chaste.
2869530
It was in general a lovely book. I wouldn't call it unique, but it is the sort of sweet heartwarming story that manages to make you feel young love all over again.
As in the summary, young Bridget Barrington is the daughter of a Catholic family living in Philadelphia. She has loved Philippe, the young French indentured servant, for years. When she tells this to her father he rejects him as a possible suitor, and her mother even more vehemently so. Philippe is sent away to his home on his word to never return to Bridge and he does so. Things are not always how they seem however, and Bridget's arranged marriage with the thirty year old Edward is deterred by a twist of events.
Not particularly striking, but I liked it for its easy going plot and lack of using too many unbelievable situations to move the plot along.
If you like happy endings, this is one you should definitely read. This is the conclusion to the trilogy, but I was fine without reading the first two, as they are further back in history than the last one.
Four stars out of five. =) Enjoy!
93805
A sweet and bitter tale, mixed together with word imagery that is simply lovely. I enjoyed the mirroring of the people's lives with the life of the orchard.
3291588
This was a sweet story about Ted and Jem - Ted is from our modern times and Jem is either a figment of Ted's cracked brain (as he puts it) or from the Victorian era of London.  Ted walks out of the theater where he works only to find himself now in 1800's London where he meets a lovely lad under a street light.  Jem is a wonderful character - the "whore" with a heart of gold.  Ted has found the man of his dreams only to find its become a nightmare in trying to get back to Jem and not only that can he bring Jem back to modern day London?  Its a lovely little tale and the narrator (I believe Shannon Gunn - he's the guy who also did Ella Frank's Logan and Tate series) did a wonderful job with the voices - both were spot on perfect.  I will enjoy listening to this one again.
3553887
There is something sparkly and magical about the way Joanne DeMaio composes her characters and settings.  The descriptive passages make you feel like you are the best friend to the main character, that you could be the cheerful store owner, and you might love to live in that beautiful New England town.  And Snow Deer and Cocoa Cheer makes you feel like you have stepped inside a wonderful wintry storybook scene. The town of Addison and its residents will definitely get you in the mood for the holidays.

It took no time at all to be transported to that enchanting New England town and introduced to Jane March, illustrator of greeting cards who is in need of a good dose of jingle. Jane is recuperating at her mothers home after breaking her wrist and losing her creative spirit for designing holiday cards. With some inspiration from her mother, a new friendship and some small town magic she begins to create again. Then there is Wes, the local mailman who is in search of something new in his life after being left jilted by his fiance before their wedding. He struggles with the pull of leaving for the West Coast where no one knows his story, and staying in his hometown with those that love and care about him.  With each raising of the mailboxs red flag at the March residence we see Jane and Wes friendship begin and slowly turn into something special.  Will Wes stay and try to forge a new relationship with Jane? You will have to read this sweet story till the end to find out.

Add in a good dose of New England charm, a couple of love deer, a few cups of cocoa, and a dash of sparkling new snow and you have the makings of another fantastic holiday story.  I thoroughly enjoyed each moment in this book and it simply made me feel happy every time I picked it up. A true feel-good story that should be on everyones must read list this holiday season.
1089306
Like the second in the series better, but this one is also lovely.
3323628
This was a sweet novella length story with a fun bonus short story following it.  I truly enjoy reading variations on Jane Austen's books particularly when they tackle a slightly altered storyline that reveals more about the secondary characters in the original and maybe another side of the principle characters.

In this one, Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet never have their parting.  Darcy does actually say his fatal words at the assembly, but arrogance is not the reason which allows a whole different scenario to take place at Rosings.

I enjoyed this sweet low-angst plot that began at Rosings and ended with a brief return to Hertfordshire.  It focused on Darcy and Lizzy who were delightfully playful with each other and tugged on by a strong attraction that left them both breathless at times.  The other thing I liked was the added time with the secondary characters like Anne de Bourgh who is vastly improved and present in this story.  Seeing Charlotte having a comfortable home with a husband while still Mr. Collins, but a Mr. Collins who cares about his wife and 'oh too funny' his vegetable garden.

This was just a quick read that was perfect for when I just wanted a warm-hearted sweet romance with two of my favorite characters.  I recommend it for any Austenesque or Sweet Romance fans.
2122218
This sweet story, while set at Christmas is not exactly a Christmas story, but is so engaging that I find it on my mind a month later. There is enough mystery, romance and surprise to delight anyone who wants a tasty morsel to please the palate. In my way of thinking it is suitable for reading to children as it is about children and cats. And the Queen's cat. Who is missing. Oh, just read it, you'll be glad you did.
4067607
This sweet story is filled with believable characters,  dialogues that were appropriate to the situations and creative romances that kept the reader's interest.
2042944
fun,sweet with details about personalities and much love within all the characters.
1322233
Maggie and the Summer Vacation Show-and-Tell is a wonderful tale that will charm and engage. The main character - Maggie - is sweet and easy to identify with as she struggles to think of an idea to present to her class. The way she solves the dilemma is heartwarming and creative - I just loved her solution and special classroom guest. I would highly recommend this lovely book!
2292131
I didn't want this book to end, in part because it was lovely and in part because I felt I was just starting to get to know the characters. While there were a couple of things that bothered me, I still gave this a 5-star (4.5 if that were an option) rating because I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt the characters were surprisingly well-rendered (more on that below).

*No Spoilers*

One of the common complaints about this book is that there are just "too many characters!" which I admit makes me chuckle a little bit. Yes, there are effectively ten main characters of this story: four parents and six children (though they are adults for much of the book). Because the families become blended, it can get confusing to remember which child belongs to which biological parents and siblings. However, it really isn't THAT difficult to set it straight in your mind, especially if you know this going into it. Write it on a post-it and stick it to the inside the cover if you need to; it's really that simple. My point is, please don't let such a triviality keep you from experiencing this story.

The other chief complaint is that the story jumps around too much, across time and between different points of view. When I first started this book I was disappointed by this and almost didn't continue reading it--that first 2-3 chapters have a very jarring structure and you aren't sure where exactly you are in the story. I'm not sure if this is intentional on behalf of the author or just oversight, but thankfully as the story continues it becomes much, much easier to follow along. I actually came to love the format in the second half of the book, as I figured out more of the storyline and grew more attached to the characters. However, if you are a reader that simply does not like stories that jump around through time and perspective, this probably isn't the story for you.

The other thing I heard from readers was that the characters weren't developed enough or that they didn't connect to the characters or couldn't "root for them." I disagree. One of the beautiful things about Patchett's writing is she can tell you everything you need to know about a character in very few words and she doesn't waste your attention by fleshing out every detail. She lets you in on what the characters are feeling only when it is necessary. I found each of the characters in this story unique in all the ways they needed to be. You find out more about some characters than others. I found myself most attached to the point of view of Franny, who is the character with whom we spend the most time. I would have gladly read a novel solely from Franny's perspective, though that would have resulted in an entirely different book. The characters of this story are very human. They aren't overly flawed or overly virtuous; they're just people. I didn't need any other reason to "root for them" than that. They each have to deal with the chaos of their lives, and they do so imperfectly.

Though Patchett doesn't spell everything out for you (which I love her for), there is a subtle theme of forgiveness/redemption in this story that I found beautiful and a little heartbreaking. The members of these two families don't live in perfect harmony, but they also don't harbor any dramatic grudges, which I found refreshing. I would have gladly read another 300 pages of this story.
1437485
I really liked the story. the way it's written can be a little off putting sometimes but all in all it was lovely.
1581235
If you (like the heroine) are a young lady of the Seven Kingdoms, you might use a dip pen and inkwell at school, or you might be so lucky as to have a portable calculor and stylus; but either way you had better be wary of staying out too late lest the queens watch demons get you. And you definitely need to finish that translating machine so you don't flunk your exam...all of which might be more difficult if you fall in love with one of your girlfriends. This is a delightful story with lovely worldbuilding and some nicely unexpected twists. Ill keep a look out for other things set in this universe.

SAMPLE PARAGRAPH

Gschu is silent, but her presence hovers close. I sense the other spirit companions tooMeis Ning and Lilis Biyuall of them chattering in their private language. Then with a *ping,* their presence winks out, like snuffed candles, and its just me and Lili and Mei.

***
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.