This seems to be a popular book. It's been asked about a few times. Regarding my stumper, O Owl with love in its eyes, I just wanted to thank everyone who wrote in and solved this year-old mystery for me. Now I can share this book with my daughter when she is old enough. This service is terrific!
It was about two children who were living in a house with a pond nearby. A girl named Miranda once lived in the house and drowned in the lake. The children are trying to find out about her, and they find her diary and a ceramic I think owl that she made when she was alive. Does this sound familiar to anyone?
I know this one and I have the book right in front of me!! I have been looking for a book that I read as a child. I've received several responses in the past from sites like this one, but none of them have been the right one. I remember that the "ghost" in the story is named Miranda--she drowned as the child. The two children who are staying at the house find her diary and a ceramic owl that she made. They are trying to solve some sort of mystery surrounding here.
Anyone have a clue? John , illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman, published Harper , pages. After her parents' divorce, Miranda and her father came to live in Georgetown with her aunt, and Miss Judith became mother and friend to the lonely little girl. Together they made roses turn blue, had a secret place in which they left small notes to each other, and created a cement owl 'with love in its eyes'. Then in a pond at the back of the property, Miranda was accidentally drowned.
Miss Judith was shattered, and Dr. Alston, unable to restrain his grief, left the family home and tried to bury the memory of his daughter in his work. Consequently, when he returned to Georgetown - for the first time since the tragedy - with his second wife and their 10 year old daughter Sherry, all mention of Miranda was carefully avoided.
And then Sherry developed a mysterious playmate - one who could not be put to rest until both she and her half-sister were once again lovingly recognized by their family. The plot, which is narrated by the budding-adolescent-next-door, Lindsey Morrow, is punctuated with seances, pregnant rabbits, and infamous psychics. I think it may have been a Weekly Reader book. A young girl moves is visiting? The neighbor has recently lost their daughter or other young female relative and things start appearing in the house that make the neighbor believe the child is still alive.
There are blue carnations which the little girl used to make by sticking white carnations into blue dye and I recall an owl with marble eyes Hope that is enough info The owl with love in its eyes is the give away. I have seen this one show up as a stumper many times elsewhere. St John, Wylly Folk, The ghost next door , This is definitely The Ghost next Door.
This info is from your solved pages Miranda Alston was deeply loved by her aunt Judith. This is definitely it Two visiting girls are trying to find the owl -- some plot with a fake seance. I just found the book it was already on your site and I missed it the other day! The Ghost Next Door and it was blue roses, not carnations! Thanks so much for having this site I've found three books that I thought were lost forever! Someone was talking of the book and I had been looking for the movie! This is definitely the book, the owl with love in its eyes gives it away.
It's on the solved mysteries page. There should be something on the Solved Mysteries about this one. John , it had lovely black and white illustrations by Trina Schart Hyman. Two girls become involved in looking into whether or not the ghost of a girl who drowned years ago in the pond behind a neighbor's house has returned. The owl with love in its eyes and the blue flower were things that Miranda had made with her grandmother whose house it is , now Miranda's father is visiting his mother for the first time since his daughter's death, bringing with him his new wife and daughter Sherry.
The appearance of the owl and flower, as well as an old riding crop, taken with Sherry's assertion that she has a new friend named Miranda, make it seem that it might be so John , The Ghost Next Door, John , The Ghost Next Door, circa I'm fairly certain this would be the book you seek.
I have loved all of St. I don't remember the carnations, but the owl with love in its eyes is in a Wylly Folk St. I am sure that this is the book that you are looking for! I loved this one as a girl, it is just scary enough, but not too scary. The story is loosely about a girl who goes to live somewhere new and discovers that the neighbors had a daughter or granddaughter named Miranda who drowned I think in a backyard pond. The part about the dyed carnations has always stayed in my mind, too. Good choice for a clue. I hope this helps. John , The Ghost Next Door.
It was probably published in the 70s or so. It was about a girl who went to visit her aunt. While she was there, she discovered a jeweled owl in a tree. Does this ring any bells? This is the book you are looking for. It was one of my favorites when I was a kid. I still own it! Two girls that live next door decide to find out if there really is a ghost next door. The jeweled owl is searched for throughout the story and is a huge part of the mystery.
Wyly Folk St John, The ghost next door. Is it possible that the owl isn't jeweled, but made of cement with amber glass marbles for eyes? If so, then this is The Ghost Next Door. Sherry Alston visits her Aunt Judith and finds an owl "with love in its eyes" that her half-sister Miranda had hidden in a tree many years before. Please see the Solved Mysteries "G" pages for more information. The book was very enchanting, and may have had something in the title regarding "secret" or "hidden" and maybe "door" or "garden".
I think that there was a character by the name of "Miles" in it. The book was read from my local public library in about , but it was not contemporary for that time, it was much older hence the name Miles. I would love to find this book again to read it to my children. It's about a young boy named Milo who enters a fantasy world through a magical tollbooth that appears in his house. Norton Juster, The Phantom Tollbooth. I loved that book too. From the back cover: A phantom tollbooth, with a map to a weird world beyond!
So Milo sets off on a fantastic voyage in which he meets: It was a book for older children, and was about a boy whose parents moved into "the family homestead," where he encountered the ghost of a long-deceased relative named Miles Dibble. The boy looked identical to Miles, who had died-I believe he drowned-after hiding a bag of gold belonging to him and his best friend who was now a very old man.
The gold had never been found, and was the source of a feud between the Dibbles and the old man's family. It is up to Miles' look-alike relative to solve the mystery of where the gold was buried, and to resolve the feud between the two families. I think that this is also a book that I have been looking for. I believe it was set in medieval times and the boy, Miles, father has disappeared and he and his mother were in difficulty until he finds whatever it is that is hidden in the wall in the garden.
I read this in grade 3 which was about 39 years ago and it was an old book then. That's the book, and I remember it very well, too. It's no longer in print according to my quick research. It was a mystery having to do with the ghost of a boy named Miles and two identical trees on opposite sides of the yard or house. It seems that Miles was entrusted with taking a sum of money home, but disappeared.
Everyone thinks he stole the money, but, in fact, he had buried it under one of the trees. He had problems with left and right, and had buried it under the wrong tree to keep it safe, and, I believe, had died protecting the money. His descendant, a boy about his age at his death, is trying to solve the mystery, since the Miles' best friend at the time, the one who thinks he stole the money, is still bitter about it, even though it is about 50 or 60 years later, and he's an old man. At the beginning of the book, the modern boy's family is moving into Miles' old house and finds the well is dry.
Miles helps the boy locate a second well. The modern boy's name may be Benjamin or Benny, but I could be confusing his name with one of the Boxcar Children. I believe this is the book you are looking for. Check the solved section for more details. Out of the graveyard comes a ghost—the ghost of ten-year-old Miles Dibble. Pug gets used to chairs that rock by themselves, shutters that bang mysteriously, and hair that stands on end. And all the while he follows clues to the weirdest treasure hunt with the ghost of Dibble Hollow.
They chase him to a river, where he is killed and his body swept downstream, and the money was never found. At the end, the boy's family makes peace with Miles' old friend a neighbor - I think he had a grandchild who was friends with the boy by finding the money, the family decides to stay in the house, and the unmarked grave where Miles was buried is found.
This is the book, a great mystery and ghost story combined. This is definitely the book you are seeking. See the Solved Mystery page under G for more details. Definitely the one you're looking for!
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Myles knows what happened, but can't say what it is, he has to lead the modern-day nephew to the clues and let him piece together what happened. He keeps humming or singing the song "The Derby Ram" because his body was discovered in a town called Derby, and once the nephew puts the clues together, and talks to the old man who found the body, he can clear Myles. I'm pretty sure this is the book you're thinking of. It is in the solved section if you want more descriptions. The Ghost of Dibble Hollow. Illustrated by Orin Kincade, cover by Dom Lupo. Scholastic Book Services, , 4th printing, Paperback with creases on front cover.
I probably first read this in '70 or so. This could be Me and Caleb by Franklyn Meyer. It is about brothers who live in a small Missouri town. There is a lengthy description of Halloween activities including greased doorknobs, stuck car horns and a "garbage-launcher. There was a sequel, Me and Caleb Again. More on The Ghost of Five Owl Farm by Wilson Gage , illustrated by Paul Galdone, published Cleveland, World "Surprised by the visit of two cousins during a vacation, Ted decides to frighten them with ghost stories about an old barn on their property.
They all too soon discover that there really are goings-on as they are led through a series of hair-raising experiences. The Ghost of Five Owl Farm. Illustrated by Paul Galdone. Pocket Books Archway paperback, , 4th paperback printing The book would have been published that year or before, so I think we are looking at a book that is pre and may have been published any time in the earlier decades of the 20th century. I do not remember the author or the title, but I do remember the book being rather small and its hardcover boards were white which was rather unusual.
There was an old woman who lived in an old house and there was some scariness around both. Perhaps the child thought the house was haunted or the woman was a witch. Eventually the child got to know the old woman who turned out to be a retired Shakespearean actress or something along those lines.
The name Julia sticks in my head, but I don't recall if that was the author, a character in the book, or it might have been a person external to the book like the woman who drove the Bookmobile! I have no other memories of the book other than that it had an effect on me as a ten-year-old girl, and I have been looking for it for years. Barbara Wersba , The Dream Watcher. I'm not certain about this one It's about a teenage boy named Albert Scully who befriends an elderly lady named Orpha Woodfin. She quotes Shakespeare constantly.
At the end of the book he finds that it was all an act and she wasn't really a famous actress in her youth. Freehof - it was recently a stumper here. In this one a teen boy named Ted encounters a pair of elderly sisters- Juliet and Mary- who quote Shakespeare. He eventually finds that there is really only one lady who is playing the role of herself and a sister. Freehoff, Lillian , Ghost of Garina Street, Sounds similar with an old Shakespearian actress.
Sounds like this is probably the one you are looking for. A teenage boy befriends two old women, both of whom quote Shakespeare frequently. One of them is nice to him, the other kind of mean.
He later discovers that they are both the same woman, a former Shakespearean actress suffering from mental illness. Thank you very much for posting my inquiry R on Monday. It was solved right away, and The Ghost of Garina Street appears to be the correct match. If I had had the patience to wade through all the old postings, I might have found the answer anyway, although this was a much more efficient way to get an answer.
This was my first time using your service and I want to tell you how delighted I am. What a novel idea you had to start this! He brings them food and helps them around the house. One lady accepts his help, the other rejects it. They both quote Shakespeare a lot and he learns it so he can talk to them, it helps him do well in English class but his other subjects suffer because he's working to try and support them.
Eventually he finds out the two ladies are actually the same person, the woman has dual personalities or is having fun with him. The lady dies in the end and leaves a fortune to the boy. I read the book in my grade school grades back around It was in with the regular fiction so it was for at least grades I have the impression it had been there for a while so I'm guessing it was published somewhere around It is so frustrating, I can remember sections of it so clearly yet not the title. There was one chapter where the boy is bring these two old ladies milk and bread because he knows they have nothing to eat in the house.
The nice sister takes it and thanks him, then disappears, then the cranky nasty one appears a minute later and kicks him out. He looks in a window and sees her gulping the food down and realizes they are one and the same person, she is just playing a game with him. I remember they are always acting out things from Shakespeare and he learns it from them and his English teacher is thrilled but his other teachers are angry because he has let his other work slide since he's helping the old lady.
Barbara Wersba, The Dream Watcher. It's about a boy, Albert Scully, who doesn't fit in at home or school, and the friendship he forms with Orpha Woodfin, an eccentric year old woman who claims to have been a great Shakespearean actress in her youth. This book is back in print. We looked for this for over a year on another stumper forum. It has been confirmed as the correct answer by someone who had the book in her hands -- all the details match.
The Disney movie was based on the book Thomasina by Paul Gallico. Opalina is a cat and the book recounts her nine lives among generations of a family. I think there is a hidden treasure. This couldn't be Finnegan II: His Nine Lives , by Carolyn Bailey , could it? It's got to be Thomasina by Paul Gallico. I think The Ghost of Opalina is definitely the book I'm looking for. I must have seen the Disney movie about the same time and blended them together in my memory.
I have reserved it through the library's loan service. It's a children's book and I remember as being on the first shelf of the library A-B authors. Thank-you very much for the great leads. They discover that grandmother's cat a tabby can talk because, in the ninth life of a cat, they acquire the ability to speak. The cat tells stories to the children of all of it's previous eight lives living in that house. I think the book was written for sixth or seventh grade levels.
I originally checked this book out from the Cedar Rapids Public Library. I've looked for it there but had no luck. I would like to purchase this book if we find it. This is the all-time favorite book of anyone who's ever read it. Maybe that's a bit hyperbolic, but probably not. Searching the web for succinct synopses to be ultra-brief, Very Important Presence Opalina tells three children of her adventures from the s to the modern day , I came across this 'net post that for some reason brought tears to my eyes: She's a very special cat and couldn't possibly be limited to nine lives.
The check will go out today. The Ghost of Opalina is a great story. Anyone looking to see it come back into print go to twolakespress. The reprint will be avaiable in the summer of A cat is used as the link maybe by following through its 9 lives? I think the cat was the narrator, telling the current generation of kids about things that happened to their parents, grandparents, etc.
I remember that one set of the kids were very strict parents when they grew up, the next generation in reaction were very permissive parents. I read it about 35 years ago. Suitable for year olds if I'm remembering right. Bacon, Peggy, The Ghost of Opalina , s, approximate.
This sounds like The Ghost of Opalina. This book is a favorite of everyone who ever read it. Since most of the limited printing went to libraries, it's hard to find and very expensive. See the Solved Mystery page. Peggy Bacon, The Ghost of Opalina. Almost certainly The Ghost of Opalina. The book recounts her life well, afterlife ;- with a family over many generations.
Sounds like this book in "Solved Mysteries. Oh, I loved this book! I'm sure that The Ghost of Opalina is the book you're looking for. She has nine lives, and she relates all of them to the three kids currently living in the house she inhabits. I think, in the end, she vanishes because her previous life was the last one, and she either is or turns into a ghost. Good luck finding a copy though! I did a search on The Ghost of Opalina , and this is certainly the book I was thinking of.
That's it and I can't tell you how impressed I am! Next time I'm in Cleveland, I'll swing on by. Thanks and have a great weekend! I remember excitedly snapping this up from the Bookmobile! I believe this is the book. Its about a girl named Lorna and her brother Jamie. They are housesitting with their parents for the summer because the owners of the house think it is haunted.
The children meet some strange people, including a crippled boy and and eccentric old woman. Plus they solve the mystery of the 'haunted' house. My copy of the book is a dark blue hard back with a silhouette of a house in a darker blue, with one window lit. I am the original poster. Thank you so much for responding to my request. Yes, I believe this is the book. I have been trying to remember this for years and am very excited about this website. This is so cool. I have called my local library and will check this out this week. Will let you all know if this was it.
This one is solved. Thank you to the responder, the title The Ghost of Windy Hill is correct. This was a favorite of mine when I was young. Ty tries to save his near-deserted hometown when he finds an old diary that he thinks says there is gold in a cave nearby. He finds the hidden cave, and although he is disappointed to realize the diary actually said it was cold in the cave, the new tourist attraction brings his town back to life anyway. This one was familiar to me, but I had to go search the attic for the book, since the title wouldn't come to me. This is from the back cover: Then Nora and Paul come to visit, and they bring Great-Granfather's diary.
The words are faded, but there under the magnifying glass they can read the thrilling words: Can they find the treasure in time to help Ty's family? The cross turns out the be formed by large cracks in the canyon wall. I believe Treasure Mountain by Florence Laughlin might be the solution. And there they find the treasure. As I recall, the hidden cave which the searchers believe contains gold in Ghost Town Treasure could only be found by locating a cross on the canyon wall.
Funny, another poster was just looking for this same book last month. This is definately the book I was trying to remember. Another clue I forgot about was the line "gold in the cave" that actually turned out to say "cold in the cave". Thanks for providing such a great service! Illustrated by Don Freeman. Scholastic, , 8th paperback printing The Ghosts by Antonia Barber , , I just wanted to thank you for your help!
I saw the information added to the e-mail I sent you and I'm going to find the book mentioned there. What are the odds that someone else would know the story I was trying to describe and with so little to go on! I really appreciate it!! Blunden" was the name of a movie adaptation of this book. It's apparently not currently available on video. When Zoe goes to live with her grandparents, she meets the ghost of her namesake, Zoe Louise, an year-old girl who died in a fire in the s -- but isn't aware of it.
Eventually, Zoe finds a way to cross over into Zoe Louise's time, and strives to avert a year-old tragedy. This might be too new - but could this be Stonewords by Pam Conrad? The haunting by the Victorian girl, the brother and sister caught in the fire, the changing of history to prevent a tragedy - all are in here.
If this isn't the right one, it's still a terrific book!! Antonia Barber, The Ghosts. James and Lucy go to live in an old country house that's falling down with their mother, who's the caretaker. They see two shadowy figures in the garden, and befriend them. It turns out they're the ghosts of two children who died in a fire in the house years ago.
James disappears and Lucy tries to find him Now that I've typed out what I remember, it's only vaguely like what you're looking for, but it might be worth checking out anyway. Well, I guess my memory is worse than I thought. After investigating through this site I bought a copy of The Ghosts by Antonia Barber thinking that it was not the book I was seeking but would still be a good read for my pre-teen. When I opened the package, I instantly recognized the front cover.
This is the book. The main character was not just a girl Their father was the deceased parent, not the mom. They drank potion in the overgrown garden and were able to go back in time to the day the murder of the ghosts from the past happened and change the past, which also changed the present. Thanks to anyone who read my original post in an attempt to help solve the mystery!
Robert Arthur, Ghost and more Ghosts , I'm not sure if this is the right collection as I couldn't find a picture of it but I know it contains the story "Do you believe in Ghosts? Another book which contains this story is The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories 2 which appears to be geared more towards adults. I can tell you the titles of each of the three stories described, but I can't be sure of the exact book. The cover description and 1 story fits one book I have, and the 2 other stories are from another.
So maybe it's from a completely different source, or maybe some memories have combined. The story about the radio host is "Do You Believe in Ghosts? Milton's Gift" and I found references online that make me think it may have been published under the title "The Man with the Golden Hand". However it doesn't contain the water ghost story. The water ghost story is "The Water Ghost of Harrowby Hall" by John Kendrick Bangs and can be found in various ghost story compilations, but the book that I have pretty much matches the book description of the query.
The endpapers are a dark black and blue with creepy images from the stories. Each story begins with a black illustration with a dark blue wash behind it, and there are some half page and full page illustrations throughout the book. A search on that title led to these 4 collections: The Water Ghost of Harrowby Hall, 2. The Spectre Cook of Bangletop, 3. The Speck on the Lens, 4. A Midnight Visitor, 5. The Ghost Club, 7. The Psychical Prank, 8. The Literary Remains of Thomas Bragdon. C sounds like Hauntings , ed.
Henry Mazzeo , illus. Edward Gorey in appearance, but not necess. The woman haunting the castle who leaves behind a puddle of cold water is probably "The Water Ghost of Harrowby Hall" by John Kendrick Bangs , found online here. This is kind of a double solution. I owned both books long ago.
You folks are miraculous. Later that night, though, he hears the footsteps of some creature shuffling by his stand. This story was in a book of other similar stories. I read the book in the early 80's but the book was probably from the 60's. Another story featured a man who was somehow cursed so he could only speak in ryhme.
Hi, I'm the person who posted C, and while I don't have a solution for you, I am fairly sure you and I are looking for the same book. Although I had forgotten them, both the plot lines you summarized the mummy and the blind newsstand owner, and the man who could only speak in rhyme immediately struck me as coming from the anthology I described in my post.
Does my description of the book cover and fragments of other story lines ring any bells for you? And, as I thought, it does seem to be the book you had in mind as well. A Google search revealed it to contain a story called "Footsteps Invisible" , which I feel quite certain is your story concerning the blind news stand owner and the mummy. I'm not sure which title corresponds to the story you remember about the man who could only speak in rhyme The Rose Crystal Bell, maybe? Robert Arthur, "Footsteps Invisible", I too have been looking for this story for years.
With the help of posts M and C, I managed to track it down!
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The story is "Footsteps Invisible", by Robert Arthur. It was first published in Argosy magazine in Thanks so much for this site! It was part of my answer for C Pretty sure the story about the man being chased by a mummy is "Footsteps Invisible" and I think the rhyming one is also a part of "Mr Milton's Gift" but I have to doublecheck the book to make sure. Milton wants to buy a gift for his wife, and the gift ends up being the gift of making money and in a wish-gone-wrong way, it's the gift of forgery and as a free bonus gift, he gets the gift of rhyming which annoys everyone because he can't speak without rhyming.
I have been thinking about this book since I was a kid. C This drove me crazy because I know I read it and I knew we had it in our library. Donald inherits a dollhouse that is a model of the ancestral home. A poor, mistreated heroine, a dour, misunderstood hero, and a mad wife locked in the attic — if that's not romance, we don't know what is! Reader, she did indeed marry him, and they lived happily ever after.
We couldn't have a romance list without Georgette Heyer, the venerable grandmother of the genre. And readers agreed, giving the nod to Venetia, her charming novel about a sheltered Regency beauty who sees the best in a notorious society rake and then convinces her family to approve the match.
Rainbow Rowell's story of two misfit kids who fall in love over mixtapes and comic books in s Omaha, Neb. While the ending is slightly ambiguous, we choose to believe Eleanor and Park got their happily ever after. We love them too much not to! Anna is looking forward to her senior year in Atlanta, Ga. But then her father decides to send her off to boarding school in Paris.
A slight exception to our happily-ever-after rule, the romance in the Queen's Thief series gets off to a rocky start in the first book. But stick around for the next few volumes in this story of a master thief who steals the heart of a queen, and then must face the reality of being king. High school golden girl Brittany Ellis finds her life turned upside down when she walks into her senior chemistry class and ends up partnered with tough guy Alex Fuentes, a gang member who longs to leave the life and go to college.
Things start to spark when Alex impulsively takes a bet that he can get Brittany into bed. Singer and guitarist Alegria Montero wants to make it big, and she's hoping that a shot on a reality show will help her leave behind her boring life of playing family parties. But when she makes it to the finals of a competition for the "next Latin superstar," she has to deal with the whirlwind of publicity, professional jealousy and a budding romance with NYU production major Jaime Lozano. If you ever got annoyed that Lois Lane couldn't figure out Superman's secret identity, try Pamela Clare's I-Team books, featuring tough-minded investigative reporters who find love while digging up dirt on everything from environmental hazards to al-Qaida kidnappings.
Nora Roberts makes her second appearance on the list writing as J. Robb with the long-running romantic suspense series, In Death. After a long debate, we named the Nora Roberts Rule after her: While many great writers were nominated, only Roberts is legendary enough to show up twice! In this classic gothic suspense story, governess Linda Martin arrives at a mysterious French chateau to take care of the 9-year-old master of the house and discovers a sinister uncle, a dashing, sardonic cousin, and a possible plot against the life of her young charge.
The ruling Psy have awesome mental powers, but no ability to feel emotions. They punish any sign of desire, and they're on the brink of war with the shape-shifting Changelings. The action begins with one Psy desperately trying to conceal evidence of her feelings and the Changeling who sees her as the key to solving a murderous mystery.
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Steampunk is more than just a fashion statement in Meljean Brook's Iron Seas books, set in an alternate world where the Mongols conquered Europe with the aid of fantastical machinery. Dive in with the first book, The Iron Duke, about a military hero who falls for a police inspector when she comes to investigate a dead body dropped — via dirigible — at his doorstep.
Human technological progress has triggered a magical apocalypse, and mercenary Kate Daniels lives in the wreckage. She relies on her skills with a sword to protect her from enemies who want the magic in her blood — enemies who kill her guardian and throw her into the path of shape-shifter Curran, Lord of the Free Beasts. Poor Prince Charming is cursed: Every woman who looks at him is instantly enslaved by love. And poor Ember turns to the dark arts in order to resist the prince's pull — but can he resist her? Bettie Sharpe reworks the story of Cinderella with, as she puts it, "sex, violence and naughty words.
Jemisin's tale of human women caught up in divine disputes is one of the best fantasy series of recent years, and also one of the most stirring romances: It's packed with gods and lovers whose bonds shape their world — and the worlds to come.
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Often described as "a Regency romance in space," A Civil Campaign stars Lois McMaster Bujold's memorable hero Miles Vorkosigan and his clone brother Mark as they scheme for the hearts of the women they love and try to keep Mark's nonromantic scheme to engineer food-producing bugs from getting out of control. In the fallen utopia of Samaria, an angel and a slave girl are thrown together in a divinely arranged marriage that proves anything but divine.
Can Gabriel and Rachel overcome their differences in time to perform the holy rite that might save their planet? There are probably more sensible books by the great Johanna Lindsey — she's better known for the pirate yarn Gentle Rogue — but none so outlandishly fun as this tale of a space-faring security officer who lands on a planet of giant leather-trousered barbarian warriors and winds up claimed by the biggest brute of them all. Charley Davidson is a part-time private investigator and a full-time Grim Reaper, meaning she sees dead people and tries to guide them into the afterlife and occasionally hunt down the people who left them dead.
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As if that weren't complicated enough, she gets caught up in a devilishly hot romance with the actual son of Satan — a relationship that only gets more intense as the series progresses. The Black Dagger Brotherhood is a band of entertainingly named Rhage, Phury, Tohrment and highly trained vampire warriors, brothers who protect their kind from vampire slayers when they're not falling for very special women.
Ward has extended the series to include relatives and friends of the original brothers, but we recommend starting at the beginning with Dark Lover, the tale of vampire king Wrath. In Kresley Cole's world, there are hundreds of paranormal races living secretly alongside humans. But every years, war breaks out — and that time is now. Vampires and Valkyries, demons and sorceresses spark and court against a backdrop of supernatural battle in these award-winning paranormal romances. When MacKayla Lane's sister is murdered, a single clue leads her into the dangerous world of the Fae and an equally dangerous attraction to two men: Novelist Carrie McClelland hopes to turn an obscure historical battle into a best-seller.
But when Carrie discovers a strange connection to the events she's writing about, her novel — about a young Scotswoman battling English spies while falling for a dashing soldier with a price on his head — turns out to be more truth than fiction. Anna never knew werewolves existed until she became one herself, and not just any old werewolf.
Anna is neither an Alpha nor a submissive but an Omega wolf, the rarest of weres, destined to bring peace to warring wolves and love to one of the country's most powerful packs. Damali Richards is a popular spoken-word artist and producer. She's also the Neteru, a special human born once every thousand years to fight the dark threat of vampires with a jewel-encrusted sword that's 7, years old.
Can she keep the world — and her vampire lover, Carlos — safe? We are the Rulers of the Night. And this is a very entertaining, long-running and hot series about immortal warriors dedicated to defending humanity. Immortality, it turns out, isn't so great without love. Set in a version of Victorian England where magic is commonplace, this is the story of Lucien Vaudrey, who returns home to take up his title after the deaths of his father and brother. But he needs to fight the magic that's killing off his line, and for that he needs the help of quiet young magician Stephen Day — who bears no love for the Vaudreys.
Four out of four panelists agree: You should read all of Radclyffe's books. Start with Fated Love, the story of trauma surgeon Quinn Maguire and the unexpected mutual attraction she feels with her boss, Honor Blake. The story really gets going when Honor begins to suspect Quinn is hiding something.
Ever since the Sept. But then Dante runs into money troubles and proposes that the two friends put on a show for a website that specializes in hunks in uniform. A killer is on the loose, and FBI Special Agent Ty Grady has been partnered with another agent, Zane Garrett, to crack the case — but it's hate at first sight between cocky, confident Grady and serious Garrett. They'll have to figure out how to stop bickering before the killer makes them his next victims. Crick Francis found his true love at the age of 8: But Crick is sure he'll never be good enough for Deacon, and Deacon is too painfully shy to admit his own attraction.
When they finally come together as adults, a misunderstanding leads Crick to make an impulsive decision that could tear them apart forever. Michael Warner has been dead inside ever since he lost his lover in a car crash. Their young daughter, too, is mourning her other father. But Michael begins to wake up when he meets Rebecca O'Neill, a former actress who's dealing with her own devastating losses. But her dream job is jeopardized when she falls for rugged footman Mack Danvers — after all, the help mustn't get involved with each other. Francine Rivers retells the Biblical story of Hosea, setting it in Gold Rush California and turning the Old Testament prophet into a sympathetic rancher who heeds a divine calling to marry an abused prostitute.
Alpha male homicide detective Mackenzie Nighthorse goes undercover in a bondage club in search of a murderess — and finds he's increasingly unable to keep his desires separate from his investigation. Especially when he meets Violet Siemanski, a young dominatrix who seems to know just how to unlock his hidden self. Lacey Meyers is divorced after 15 years of boredom and bad sex.
She just wants to have a little fun with studly young cop Hunter Anderson. Neither of them sees a future together Elizabeth Petre, the daughter of a prime minister, is a perfect Victorian wife, but her charms are lost on her cold, indifferent husband. Determined to win him over, she asks for lessons in seduction from the notorious Ramiel, who calls himself the Bastard Sheikh. At first enraged by her request, Ramiel eventually takes on the task, with the aid of The Perfumed Garden , a classic collection of Arabic erotica.
Now she prefers to shut herself off from others. She has sixteen dogs, eleven horses, a pig, and an owl. Soon she will take in yet another animal, and three strangers under her wing while trying to keep the law away from her front door. Pete Solomon, age twelve, liked dogs provided they were healthy and alive. However, when he sees a wounded large dog along the highway, he had to help.
Of course, his friend Jack is more interested in fishing than a helpless stray dog. This dog is a cross between a wolf and a dog. The dog seemed to listen and his life depended on Pete. They are not nice and inform they do not treat wild animals. However, someone gives him a tip. There is a Dr. Lucy which may help. After all, everything and everyone wants to live. It is called "survival. Lucy know --how they will become connected for years to come.
Pete also has his own pain, too much for a boy of his age to bear. Lucy is like no one he has ever met. He wishes he could remain with her, the animals and his new wolf-dog friend, Prince, while he heals. He never wants to leave. He also meets another boy his age, Justin Bell African American and they become instant friends.
Justine has a great heart and he likes this new friend and ditches his old selfish friend, Jack. However, soon Justine and Pete learn the world of grownups are not so nice. People do not like this newfound friendship. Hurt, and down on his luck, Pete decides to return to Dr. He cannot go on like this. He has to keep his visits a secret as well as his friendship with Justine. On his way, he discovers Justin badly beaten on the side of the road. He immediately goes to his rescue.
Justine says he cannot go to the hospital or police. He has been warned. He has no one to turn to but Dr. She immediately takes both boys under her wing, no questions asked. A woman who thought she liked living alone, cut off from the world. She is their protector, a rescuer; even when she thought there was no feeling left in her. Pete sees this bond between father and son, and wonders why his life is so different.
Yet despite the couple's strong attraction, the town and those around them outside of Lucy, Calvin, Justine, and Pete , are unkind. From racial tension and injustice. The boys learn the adult world is quite cruel and full of hatred. Soon there is more violence and Dr. Lucy once again is there to help. The couple soon falls in love; however, they know they cannot have a future or act upon their feelings until the laws change. After all, this is Texas in Pete is around some great new role models; however, he still has to face his own father.
He has the weight of the world on his shoulders. With the special love of strangers, Pete now has a family, as well as the others. Strong bonds are formed. Both human and animals. However, each one may have to say "goodbye for now" in hopes they will meet again. Things are not always so simple and straightforward. Great themes and parallels here.
Between a loyal dog named Prince and a woman who may find a soft place in her heart, and just maybe a shot a love and motherhood once again. Plus a boy who finds there can be love somewhere beneath all the hatred- a new family, and new friends. Four people who bond and learn many life lessons. This unlikely group may just help Dr. Lucy find her own way. A powerful, moving novel of family loss and redemption.
What an emotional and beautifully written story. The courage of Pete and unwavering love of Dr. Lucy, a woman who has isolated herself, hiding from society finds herself changing, in positive ways. Calvin, a man of wisdom and patience, and a role model for his son Justin. Hyde illuminates racial tensions, which still exist in our country today, while at the same time a perfect example of how small acts of faith can make big inroads to acceptance.
A mix of love story and coming-of-age. These four "gave" without expecting anything in return. Each had been disappointed by the world. Losses can be restored. Putting our own feelings aside. Enjoyed the tie in, with the Supreme Court ruling Loving vs. Plus our world of "need it now. We all need a lesson in patience and waiting. Just finished Waiting for Wonder: Learning to Live on God's Timeline A great example of waiting! Sometimes things or people we meet, may not be entirely random nor accidental encounters. Life knows exactly what it is doing. People are put in our lives for a reason and purpose, when our own family and friends may let us down.
Strangers become an integral part of our lives and hearts while teaching us valuable lessons. When "Goodbye For Now" is not forever. A true journey of the heart. No one tells a powerful moving story like Catherine Ryan Hyde. Ideal for book clubs and further reading discussions guide included. Sep 03, Jules rated it it was amazing Shelves: I completely fell in love with this book and the characters within it.
Catherine Ryan Hyde is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. This is a great story for animal lovers too. I actually bought this on Kindle ages ago, but kept not getting round to reading it. So when I spotted it available as an audiobook on Kindle Unlimited, I jumped at the chance to I completely fell in love with this book and the characters within it. So when I spotted it available as an audiobook on Kindle Unlimited, I jumped at the chance to listen to it.
Dec 29, Carole rated it it was amazing Shelves: Catherine Ryan Hyde knows how to write characters that I connect with better than anyone. I thought this was going to be mostly about a dog, and though that's what brings these unlikely friends together, the dog is not central to the story. It's about being a good friend, helping someone, and doing the right thing. I was in tears after a certain hospital scene. This makes my last book Catherine Ryan Hyde knows how to write characters that I connect with better than anyone.
This makes my last book of , and also my top ten of the year. View all 7 comments. All of my reviews can be found on www. This book totally hit the spot and was just the type of feel good read that I was craving. Lucy is a doctor who quit practicing after many people had objections to being treated by a woman. Pete is the sweetest kid and when he finds a dog hurt in the side of the highway he takes it to Dr. Justin and Calvin are father and son and new to town and the young boys become fast friends.
These four have no idea how their chance encounters will shape and define their lives in the future, but they all have lessons to learn and things to teach each other. She wove a story that was both beautifully tender and brimming with heavy issues, but she managed to convey a strong message without leaving me feeling like I had read something emotionally draining. There is Lucy who is dealing with the loss of her son and husband as well as sexism, Pete who is an abused child, and Justin and Calvin who are African American in the fifties, enough said there. As these four struggle with their own issues, they manage to find solace in each other and it was a truly gorgeous thing to witness.
This was an effortless read, the chapters alternate between Dr. The bulk of the story is told within the first few months the four meet, then the last half spans the course of eight years. I feel in love with all four of them, but Pete especially left a mark on my heart, he is a special kid who is wise beyond his years. This is begging to be picked for a book club read, there is so much to discuss and explore. Nov 03, Deanna Sletten rated it it was amazing Shelves: Four lonely people find each other in a small, Texas town in the stifling time-period of Lucy, who lives alone on a small ranch and cares for injured and unwanted animals.
Normally, this would be a good thing, but in , a white woma Four lonely people find each other in a small, Texas town in the stifling time-period of Normally, this would be a good thing, but in , a white woman befriending an African American man and his son was not very well accepted. And the people of the town make their feelings loud and clear.
She creates perfectly flawed characters who sneak into your heart and make you care about them. And she takes on a tough topic with grace and candor. Say Goodbye for Now is not about perfect people living perfect lives—and that is why it is such an amazing story. I received an copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Dec 07, Ezinwanyi rated it really liked it Shelves: This story grazes upon on a number of sensitive subjects. In addition, her adolescent son resented her because of her work schedule. Adding insult to injury, Dr. Armstrong was lacking in respectable patients as many people in the rural area of Texas refused to be treated by a woman. Then author also deals with the issue of child abuse and abandonment as the reader w This story grazes upon on a number of sensitive subjects.
Then author also deals with the issue of child abuse and abandonment as the reader was introduced to the life of twelve-year-old Pete Solomon. When Pete took pity on an injured wolf dog and got help from a ten-year-old black boy Justin Bell to carry the dog to Dr. Lucy, the author introduced animal abuse, racism and hate crimes into the story. This was one of those times that a makeshift family provided love, acceptance, support and encouragement in a situation where it was badly needed.
I definitely had an emotional connection to the characters because I felt bad for Pete, Justin and for Calvin and Lucy as a couple. That journey to lasting love certainly touched me. There were different kinds of love expressed in this book and it made up for the pain and hatred shown to the characters. There was an encouraging evolution in this book that gave me hope for society today.
Still, this book was really a moving and poignant read. What a wonderful book to pull on heartstrings, set in Texas in Lucy, who cares for injured or unwanted animals. Pete befriends Justin, neither of whom has a mother; however, Pete lives in a loveless home, while Justin lives in a loving one, with father Calvin. Pete and his father's relationship deteriorates over his friendship with Justin beca What a wonderful book to pull on heartstrings, set in Texas in Pete and his father's relationship deteriorates over his friendship with Justin because of race, and Dr. Lucy finds herself in the middle of a maelstrom with three houseguests after view spoiler [Justin is badly beaten by racists hide spoiler ].
There are some great moments of bonding and parting between people and between people and animals. Hyde's top rated novel. Jul 20, Babydimps Suzy rated it it was amazing. It was one of those books that you just didn't want to end. This was my first experience with this author. I can't wait to read more from her. Jan 02, Trudy rated it liked it.
So, I love this author and have read several of her books. However, this one left me a little flat. It's an awesome story, though. I just could not reach the level of emotion I should have felt while reading this. Some really horrendous events occurred here, but the characters' reactions were not realistic. They should have been "mad as hell", about some of the things which happened, but I just didn't get that while reading their dialogue. In fairness, this book has received almost al 3. In fairness, this book has received almost all positive reviews, so this is purely my opinion.
View all 3 comments. Nov 29, Melodie rated it it was amazing Shelves: Say Goodbye For Now has a lot to say. Taking place in rural Texas for through , the author beautifully brings together a disparate group of people. The perspective of the twelve year old boy is juvenile as it should be, laced through with that uncanny ability of the young to be wise beyond their years.
Lucy, the purposefully isolated doctor, runs the gamut of emotion from suspicion and exasper Say Goodbye For Now has a lot to say. Lucy, the purposefully isolated doctor, runs the gamut of emotion from suspicion and exasperation to a slow growth of love and respect as the youngster and the injured animal take up residence in her heart. Hard topics are dealt with;child abuse,biracial friendships and relationships and basic human decency. This book has taken up residence in my heart. Days after finishing it, I find myself reflecting back on the story and it's unforgettable characters.
This is the second read for me from this author. I love the interweaving of canine and human relationships.