Welcome to our discussion of More Than Friends by Barbara Delinsky. The discussion of the book itself will start on April 1 -- no fooling. Now we can talk about obtaining our copy of the book and other books we are reading. If you use subscriptions, don't forget to subscribe.

More Than Friends and enjoying it very much. I think it's an absorbing book . I got to page 300 in only one day and it's still keeping me turning the pages.

Harriet

Hi HARRIET. That happened to me too. It is a hard book to put down.

Is this a new book? It sounds familiar and just my cup of tea, however I read so many, am not sure if I have read this one.

Suzy

Welcome SUZY Q. This book was first published in 1993. Even if you have read it you might find it interesting to stop in and see what we have to say about it. We would be delighted to have you do so.

SUZY Q: In case you are interested we discussion Barbara Delinsky's Lake News in November, 2000. If you want to check out the archived discussion, Click Here.

Welcome Suzy Q. I just finished reading More Than Friends and it definitely turned out to be my cup of tea as well. Hey! It's a treat to meet you. I hope you join our discussion.

I read lots of books too and sometimes I lose track of those I've already done. As a help, I like to scroll back up to our discussion banner and read some of the plot line there. For more detailed summaries and reviews, I also like to click on the Barnes & Noble link in our discussion banner and type in the title of the book on the resulting screen. Then I click on the picture of the book that appears on the next screen.

The first time I did that I was delighted to see that while I had no obligation to buy at B & N, a lot of book details did become available, and it was easier for me to figure out whether I had read "the mystery book" previously.

One way or the other, please consider joining in our fun discussion on April 1st. The more the merrier! We sure hope to hear from you soon!

Harriet

Good morning, HARRIET. Thank you for your wonderful welcoming post to SUZY Q. A lot of good information there for everyone.

When does the discussion take place? Is the discussion the postings? Sorry, but I am just learning my way around here...I was going to get in the High Tide one but my server got knocked out for a while...I will keep coming back here to check...Thanks, Fran

I just left you a post in the High Tide discussion.

We start to discuss the story of More Than Friends on April 1. Until then you are welcome to post either here or in High Tide.

When everyone is over here, High Tide will be archived. If you are interested in the previous Romance novels that have been discussed you can Click Here.

To answer to your question -- the discussion is the postings. Anyone can come here any time of the day or night and post what they want. Then they come back at their convenience to see what else has been said. It is a conversation that is ongoing. It is just not like a telephone or a chat room. In a chat room, everyone posting is there at the same time. I prefer this format. SeniorNet has both formats.

Marjorie

I read amd loved Lake News. I will try to find my copy of More Than Friends and if I can't find it, I'll pick it up. I would love to join your discussion. My time is somewhat limited, but I'll read as fast as I can.

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

Suzy

FRAN: If you were confused by my previous post, I had forgotten to put the words "click here" in the right place. It is fixed now if you want to go to the Archives, just check my post #10.

SUZY Q: Good to see you again.

Glad to see you back, Fran. More Than Friends is an enjoyable book.

Harriet

I still can't find Cloud Nine by Luanne Rice in my public library so I settled for Rice's Crazy In Love instead. I might have to wind up buying Cloud Nine because it's been so hard to get hold of.

I found this lovely, hefty copy of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon today. It's a thick armful of a book with wildly enthusiastic rave reviews printed on the first few pages, SUE said she liked it a lot, so that's a good recommendation.

Skimming it briefly, it seems to be a swashbuckling romantic historical set in Scotland during the 1700's with the twist that the heroine is a 20th century lassie transported back in time. She falls in love with a Scottish warrior, and approaches her Scottish laird and her romance with a modern point of view. If it lives up to its reviews at all, it ought to be a very fun read. I'll let you all know if it turns into a winner for me.

I still have Legend by Devereaux in my house waiting its turn to be read. MARJORIE, I sensed you seemed to have mixed feelings about it from your comments in the High Tide discussion. Was that true? So maybe I'll try starting Outlander first.

Well, here goes. I'm going to start my lavish, bountifully sized Outlander read now. I can hardly wait to begin. Happy reading to all.

Harriet

I put a couple of romances in the Book Exchange. If you haven't been to the Book Exchange yet, check it out. There are a lot of books there just for the price of postage.

I had hoped to have my copy of the book by now (interlibrary loan), but it hasn't come in yet. I'm really looking forward to the discussion. I'm also reading Rebecca by Daphne Dumaurier again. It has had a lot of publicity in the last year as one of the best books of the century. It has been a long time since I read it.

Wynona

Good morning WYNONA. You will get the book. Whenever you get it is just fine. We won't "give anything away" when we start the discussion. I bet you will want to finish quickly as some of the rest of us have done. I haven't ever read Rebecca that I can recall.

HI I just got a notice from the library that my book is in so starting Monday I will be reading and catching up. Sounds like everyone is enjoying it, so now I'm anxious. Shirley T.

Hi SHIRLEY. I am delighted to see your post. Tomorrow I will post a couple of general questions about the book -- primarily the prologue. I find it a very engrossing book.

Happy April 1st everyone! Here are a few comments about More Than Friends to get us started. Please feel free to disagree with anything I have to say.

In the Prologue the stage is set for us to get to know the main characters in the book. This book has many people who play an important role. It starts with a picnic with 4 adults and 5 children. Using the device of Michael's (one of the children) videotaping the activities, we learn a little bit about each of these people.

One of the things I like about this book is how each of the characters in the book seems very human. They have strengths and weaknesses and react to situations in response their own personalities and experiences.

Marjorie

When I got into the book deeply, the people, the plot, the events all flowed smoothly enough. Actually, the only part of the book that required special orientation for me was the prologue because there are so many characters introduced simultaneously. I found that I had to stop reading for a few minutes and figure out the members of each of the two familles and their relationships with each other. That proved to be a rewarding job because, once done, the results eased me into the rest of the book and made the ensuing events easier to understand.

What is a "Popewell"? That bothered me for a while until I figured out that these two families, the Popes and the Maxwells, considered themselves to be a blended entity with mutual loyalties, interests, and affections. And, in their thoughts, even their names were merged because they felt SUCH a strong level of identification with each other. When young Michael describes the participants of the picnic as "Popewells" in the prologue, it seems to me that he is using an "in" reference that he must have heard other family members use when they referred to themselves in the past. I felt that the coining of the blended name celebrated the special and the exclusive way the two families perceived their relationship.

Do I agree that it's valuable or even healthy for two families to subordinate their individuality the way the Popes and the Maxwell's do? Personally, when I was a teen, I had mixed feelings about exclusionary "in" groups, perhaps because I was never one of the "insiders." I always figured that as we grew out of our teens most of us would become more open and flexible in our relationships. However, as the book starts the "Popewells," adults and children, remain a tight group and I can see that the relationship IS working well for them all. Despite their restrictive loyalties I even like them all because the author includes me, the reader, in the "in" group and confides the very human feelings of the characters.

Hey, Happy April Fool Day to all.

Harriet

HARRIET: What a good point about the blended family described in this book. The day described in the Prologue is a very happy one.

Sue, if you're lurking, I just finished the first of the Claire Randall/Jamie Fraser books. Thanks for recommending it. I just loved it and I've already loaned the next two books in the series from the library.

I thought the history was awesome, and so was the romance. Gabaldon has a knack for inserting enough historical period information to pique the curiosity and she certainly has a way with the more sensual scenes. It's definitely an epic kind of read....and so-o much fun.

Hope things are going well for you and yours.

Harriet

Hi, It's great to be back. I'm so glad you brought up the Popewell thing,Harriet. I completely missed that since I was in such a hurry to get started. I'm almost finished a romance I picked up at our library's new fiction shelf- The Water Nymph by Michele Jaffee. It's a bit steamy in parts but really I thought an exciting story. Anyway I'm just at the point in More than Friends when things have 'happened'I thought of another book I read Lost Legends of New Jersey where there was a close knit two family relationship and the father of one and mother of the other sort of hit it off. I guess my Victorian training or something comes to my mind at first-thinking how could they do that-and then I remember how human we all are-thank goodness. Dorothy

Hi Dorothy! So glad to see you. I get thrilled when many of us begin to show up.

Hi Marjorie, and everyone!

Harriet

I have just finshed reading More Than Friends for the second time. It is still a great read. So many things keep happening. Nothing is static. I was delighted with how well the characters are drawn. What I don't remember is what Sam's childhood is like.

DOROTHY: As you finish the book please keep an eye out for me and let me know what chapter it is in. Everyone else's childhood is mentioned so his must be also.

Hi HARRIET.

Marjorie

If anyone is looking in and following our discussion but does not want to comment on the book, we would still welcome a post just to say hello. All posts are welcome. We certainly do not have to agree about the book.

Hey, Everybody. I came in here several weeks ago when I bought More Than Friends and I thought I subscribed. When I started reading the book today, I found out that I missed subscribing. So far, I find the book fascinating. I had hoped not to read too much today as we have to spend lots of time in doctor's offices tomorrow and I need something good to read. But as usual, once I get started, I hate to put it down.

We are going to the beach on Wednesday and won't return until Sunday, so I won't be posting then. I hope I'll have some comments to make on Tuesday. BTW, I already think that J.D. is the jerk here although Sam and Teke are the sinners, apparently.

Harriet, I'm glad you found the Gabaldon series. I'd heard about it for several years before I found it in a used book sale at a county library. I got the first 3 there for 25 cents each and then took almost a year to find the fourth and final. I just couldn't put them down. Sue

PS: Marjorie, I've tried to correct my table as you mentioned. I'm going to try it again here.

SpringCreekSue

Nope, it still isn't right. I wanted the background color to be turquoise. Can you peek using view source and let me know what else I need to do? Thanks, Sue

SUE: I had the tapes of the Gabalon series and tried listening to them at bedtime. I got so stirred up that I couldn't sleep so I didn't finish them. After reading DOROTHY's post I thought I might try buying them. Perhaps reading a book would be better. Which is the first one. By the way, I fixed your code. You had "border color=" and "BG color=" and should have removed the spaces there. You now have "bordercolor=" and "BGcolor=."

Wow Sue! Imagine owning the first three Gabaldon books for 25 cents each. Just fantastic!

Marjorie, it was me, Harriet, that was posting about the Diana Gabaldon series. The first book is Outlander and the second one, which I'm currently reading, is titled Dragonfly in Amber. I'm really having a good time with those books so far, thanks to Sue writing about them in the High Tide discussion.

Harriet

Sorry HARRIET. I got confused. DOROTHY (IMAN) was comparing this book to another one she had read. I have also been comparing characters. I don't want to say too much for those people who haven't finished reading yet. I do believe we have another cad in this book.

Thanks for fixing me up, Marjorie. I'll go to my folder and correct those mistakes before using it again. I think Outlander comes first, then Dragonfly in Amber, Voyager, and Drums of Autumn last. There were some pretty disturbing scenes, violent and sultry sex, but fascinating.

Poor Michael in More Than Friends. He is suffering mentally as well as physically. I think Sam, Annie, and Teke are suffering terribly also. I think J. D. is just vindictive and wants to have power in his relationship with his family. These are first impressions, so I may change my mind later. Sue

SCSue

I'm tinkering again! Sue

I've been unsure about commenting past the prologue so far, Marjorie. How far into More Than Friends do you feel we should go in the next few days?

J. D. is a cad, but the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. He's a pale imitation of his super-vindictive daddy, J. S. Maxwell.

I'm impressed with your graphics, Sue. Did you learn that in a course, or are you winging it?

Harriet

I think we should probably stay with the Prologue and Chapter 1 until we can get a sense of how far everyone has read. I have read the whole book. I think HARRIET has read the whole book. DOROTHY is not finished yet. I don't know how far SUE has read or if anyone else is joining us. I think we need a couple of days, at least, to see if others will join us.

Harriet, I'm just winging it. I had tried to do it before from instructions Jeanne (I don't know her) posted her in another discussion. I made lots of errors and Marjorie, who is wonderful with graphics and HTML code, gave me a few pointers.

I'm just checking my subscriptions and will read a little more before I turn out the light. At the present time, I am on page 186. And I agree, John S. is such a pompous, overbearing know-it-all. No wonder J. D. has some disagreeable traits!

SpringCreekSue

If anyone is hesitating about writing your first post, please...come and join us anyway. We NEED you because the more people and opinions we have, the merrier and more fun the discussion will be. Remember, EVERY current participant in Senior Net eventually had to go through the trauma of writing that first literary opinion.

You don't have to have finished the book to join us because our discussion leader, Marjorie, is discussing only the first few chapters at this time. There are no wrongs or rights about the interpretation of the book....there is only each person's opinions and feelings. The variety of opinions expressed enriches a discussion. Many times, as our reading progresses, we may change our opinions about a character or situation. No one has to come to a definitive opinion about a book immediately. Nothing is written in stone, and it is O.K. to revise a stance because, in the end, reading is a very personal experience and we respect that here.

So...please don't be shy. You will be joining such lovely, uncritical people ....and we are all so very modest also.

Harriet

I've just returned from the library, and the interlibrary loan librarian told me it was on its way. It should be here by the middle of the week.

Because you all were talking so much about the Outlander series (one I have not read), I looked it up on the internet. I understand that there is to be a new one out in the next few months. Diana Galadon must be a very imaginative author!!! I'll have to put that series on my books to read list.

Wynona

Hi HARRIET and WYNONA. I just stopped in for a minute. I have to run off to an appointment. See you all later.

HI I got my book and read the prologue and 2 chapters so far. Its good reading and I am forming my likes and dislikes, I'm not real sure about Teke, is she a unhappy housewife or just not thinking kind of person? Why do fathers like JS continue having so much power on their adult kids, we have a friend whose father was like JS and our friend didn't relax ever until his dad passed away, now he' s a lot of fun and is having a ball on dads money and very frugul living, all things have to come around, my heart goes out to Michael, he really had a jolt ,I hope he comes out of it ok. what other books has this author written? Shirley T.

it seems to me that J.D.'s solution to all of life's problems is to find someone to point a finger at, and look for a way to punish his scapegoat.

There are quite a few John D. Maxwell's in this world and they are such arrogant, self-righteous people. They don't notice their own sins...only the weaknesses of others. They are short on self-awareness and high on vindictiveness and always believe they're right.

They're hard to fight because they are so convinced of their own virtue. J.D. can be a mighty infuriating character and, worst of all, in this story he has a legitimate grievance against Teke. He's capable of some nasty moves.

Harriet

SHIRLEY T: You will find Lake News by Barbara Delinsky in the Archives. It is a very good story. She has 20 books listed on the inside cover of my copy of More Than Friends.

HARRIET: I agree with your analysis of JD. He learned well as JS's son. His male role model was even more arrogant than he is.

Marjorie

Shirley, I just backtracked to your post #39 and realized that you were referring to John Stewart who is J.D.'s father. You must have been commenting on how J.S. intimidated his adult son, J.D. in chapter 2. If J.D. were a nicer guy himself, I would be more sympathetic. As it is, I'm not sorry that there is at least one person in this world who makes John David hesitate. It's amazing how similar father and son are.

But I'm sure glad your friend's problem with his dominating father finally ended happily for him.

Harriet

One of the things that I wrote down when I finished Chapter 1 was the word COINCIDENCE. It seems to me fiction is filled with it. Sometimes I am willing to accept it and sometimes I am not. In this case I was willing to accept the coincidence of Annie being away from home when Sam went looking for her; Teke reading Grady's letter at the same time; Michael coming home for permission to go on a trip; and Grady driving his truck down the street at just the "right" moment. Why is it that sometimes coincidence works and sometimes not in fiction?

Marjorie, I feel a lot depends on the skill of the writer. All fiction depends on the interplay of events and characters, but how the author manages them makes or breaks the book.

Delinsky did a terrific job of putting her plot together in a fascinating way. Don't I wish I could figure out the "X-factor" that makes one book a page turner and another book a loser! I'd then be in a position to march down to any major publishing house and offer myself as a predictor of best sellers. I bet they'd hire me for a handsome salary too! Wouldn't it be fun to be paid for reading books that I KNEW were terrific?

Ah, well...dream on, Harriet.

The part of the book that I found questionable was the rationale for Sam and Teke's indiscretion. The author asks me to agree about the possibility that each was so overcome with longing for someone else who wasn't present (Annie in Sam's case, and Grady in Teke's case), that, by way of compensation, they jumped into a sexual liaison with each other. I'd find it easier to believe that their old and beloved friendship just suddenly and unexpectedly exploded into lust. That sounds more like real human nature to me. Of course that's less forgiveable and harder to explain to their spouses.

Be that as it may be, Delinsky made me accept her choices of coincidence and I willingly entered her world. I enjoyed this book.

Harriet

HARRIET: You certainly have a point. I have never been in a position to be able to compare how I might feel to what Teke or Sam were feeling. It seemed to me that Teke was the agressor or at least that Teke had less control over her actions. Teke seemed to be somewhere else in a fantasy.

... Sam was a toucher, just as she was. He wouldn't mind this. And she needed it. The fullness of him filled the emptiness that had been swallowing her up.

Marjorie

I think Delinsky might be saying that "high emotions" can sometimes translate into sexual excitement. I have read some other books in which memorable love scenes occurred after the characters survived a life threatening event or a terrifying situation.

In Outlander by Gabaldon which I just finished, our Highlander protagonists do battle with a British patrol and Jamie successfully protects Claire. After the carnage is over they, and others of their clan are encamped for the night. Jamie approaches Claire sexually. The author makes it clear that the battle, the combat, the fear, the triumph, have all aroused explosive emotions. Even so, Jamie pleads for Claire's consent. She goes to him because her emotions are equally "high." Her mind tells her that others are sleeping not too far away and might hear them, but her body persists in considering itself a "spoils of war" trophy for the victor. Steamy stuff.

In More Than Friends Sam has just won a modern day battle of major proportions. I think his precedent setting legal victory makes him feel himself to be a conquerer in much the same sense as an olden-days soldier might be. But Sam expends his emotions on the wrong lady. Teke, for her own reasons, is also in a state of high emotion as she reminisces of her past love, Grady. I believe you are absolutely right about Teke living in a fantasy world, Marjorie. As the book progresses we learn how Grady protected a very young Teke from a powerful and ruthless aggressor during her childhood. She must have regarded him as her knight in shining armor. She too aims her volatile emotions at the wrong man.

And so we get the precipitating event of More Than Friends, the lust scene which propels all the other characters into a new path of action.

Harriet

I am starting chapter 12 and the feeling I'm getting is that maybe everyone is blowing the incident out of proportion, the kids , JD and Annie and yet if it would happen to me and it was my husband and best friend, I don't know how I would react. I can see Michael coming out of the shock and starting to like Grady, Maybe his dad is just not there for the kids. Sam is really trying hard to get things back to some order but he is having a hard time getting through to anyone. JD is starting to like his freedom and single state and realizing that he never did love Teke. He will become better off than before and maybe will be a nicer person before this is over. as far as coincidence it seems that things happen in real life like that. a split second of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. life is full of little surprizes. Its a very easy book to read and its fun to guess the ending. Shirley T.

Hi, I have a very mundane question I think-it's been bothering me how you would pronounce Teke-like in teak or like in Tex?Annie's refusal to succumb to sexual urges made me think she really had "good character' but then I wondered if she wasn't feeling so guilty already about herself and her reactions to Sam. I think JD is pretty awful but I think when you look at his father, what kind of life did he have and maybe he never learned what loving someone really means.One thing I am enjoying in this book is the way the author portrays her characters I think they seem so real.Grady is something else again- I didn't realize that he had killed Teke's father. This story really has twists and turns in the plot and I am enjoying every minute of it.I still wonder why Sam and Teke had to indulge but then we wouldn't have this terrific story.

I did go to the Library today to see if Miami-Dade's Library has this book. They do. But since the branch I use doesn't have a copy the one thing I know how to do with a computer is to request a particular book ~ I did. For today I had to settle for another one of Ms Delinsky's books.

LOUISE: Even if you don't have a copy of this book, you are most welcome to stay with us as we discuss this one. I hope you enjoy the Delinsky book that you ordered.

IMAN (DOROTHY): I seem to recall that Teke's full name is mentioned somewhere in the book. I just don't remember where. If someone remembers her full name that would probably give us a clue to the pronounciation.

HARRIET: I think you are both right about the emotional level leading to the behavior of Teke and Sam.

SHIRLEY: As I read this book I went from thinking different characters where "blowing things out of proportion" to thinking they were just right. Back and forth, back and forth.

Marjorie

Louise, Hi there, good to see you in here with a great group of people. I could not get this book but have enjoyed there posting, almost as good as reading the book. I did get High Tide but they said it all here so did not post much. Tell me about the book you did get?

Hi to all. I have not left.

Hi Marjorie, Her full name is Theadora, It was mentioned in one of the first chapters, I don't remember which one, I'm staring to really like Sam for being so persistent and not giving up on anyone. I know he will come out ok in the mess. our weak moments really can do a lot of damage. Shirley T.

SHIRLEY: Thanks for supplying Teke's full name but it doesn't help me with the pronounciation.

I just finished reading Luanne Rice's Follow the Stars Home. I enjoyed it very much. It will be on the next list I make for you all to choose from for discussion. Anyway, last night SAGE started reading it and turned to me and commented about one of the characters. My mind was with More Than Friends and her comment confused me. She was talking about the anger of the character. It was funny! Her comment made more sense when I realized what she was reading.

Marjorie

Hi, I'm on chapter 14 and I remember my aunt used to be addicted to a soap opera I think it was called 'Peyton Place' or something like that and this story is beginning to remind me of what she used to tell me about that.How many more things can go wrong or entanglements develop? At this point I seem to like Sam and Annie most.I wonder about the kids total negativism toward their parents. In some ways that doesn't click in my estimation with today's sophisticated teenager do you all think? If her name is Theodora,I guess you would pronounce her name like teak in Teke? I wonder how they ever got that nickname.Although my mom was called Tudy because her name was Charlotte and she was adamant about people remembering there were 2 t's in her name-that's what she told me anyway.

IMAN (DOROTHY): I remember having the same thought you are having about all the "entanglements" in this book. They never seemed to stop. I felt one thing that worked as a way for each person to "tell their story" was having Michael unable to respond when each one was talking to him.

I thought my book would be here by this time, but it still has not arrived. I'll just read heavily when it gets here.

I did look up Follow the Stars Home. It should be a good one to read.

Don't hold any of your posting waiting on me any more. I don't know when my book will arrive. All of this good information will just make the book more interesting and easier to read because I'll know what to look for.

Wynona

I have added a clickable in the heading for you to vote for your choices for our next book. This is NOT to stop the discussion of More Than Friends at all.

WYNONA: I hope that you get your book soon. Thank you for the OK to continue with this discussion.

I was struck by the way Jana related to Zoe the same way their mothers(Teke and Anne) related to each other. They certainly learned from their mothers. It was also clear, at several points in the book, that Jana learned a lot about how to be from her father (JD).

Marjorie

HARRIET: I sent you an email to mhmeyers@optionline.net and it was undeliverable.

JUDY LAIRD: I sent you an email to judylaird@msn.com and it was undeliverable.

the idea that Grady had killed someone. It made me much more reluctant initially to accept Teke's feelings for him. Later on when I knew that Grady had killed to protect Teke from her perverted father, I felt a little bit better about it, but not that much. I'm still having trouble with the idea of him killing someone.

The only part that comforts me when I think of Grady getting closer to Teke and Michael is that Grady talks about how he has learned to control his temper better. Grady is portrayed as a loving and responsible person, but murder is a turn-off for me.

Does anyone else have to work hard at overcoming the feelings that Grady's crime brought up?

Harriet

Hi Marjorie,

My address is mhmeyers@optonline.net. Your "optionline.net" had an extra "i" that doesn't belong. I emailed you back also.

Regards, Harriet

HARRIET: I missed your post about Grady for some reason the last time I was here. I had a problem with the murder too. Even reading the book the second time, knowing the whole story, it didn't seem very good. I also had trouble when Teke said that she would have wanted to visit him while he was in jail. That didn't seem like much of a life. Of course, I didn't have the kind of father Teke had or the provocation Grady had.

Even though I had a problem with who Grady is and how he would be a comfortable fit by the end of the story, I was very angry at JD because of the way he kept calling the police about Grady. If Teke knew who Grady was, I gave her statements about him credibility. I didn't like JD. I don't think I was supposed to anyway.

Marjorie

Marjorie, I think Delinsky wants us to think J.D. is a prime jerk. His actions and his negative comments show it. Of course, he certainly didn't have much of a model in his father.

I'm not surprised at the upset of the teenagers. I can remember when my kids were teens. They were horrified if their Dad and I were merely affectionate, especially in public. I think teens are in denial that their parents have a sex life! Later on when our oldest son was engaged to be married, he told me he was sorry for being so prudish about us hugging and kissing. We have to remember that in this story, the kids have actually shared the love of each set of parents and I think they probably feel that Sam and Teke have totally betrayed the family. Sue

I'm having trouble with email (sending) at the present time: therefore, my votes for the next book or books are French Quarter, Montana, and Star Flight.

Sorry for the interruption!

Wynona

Teke's husband, J.D., and his father, J.S. were so unlovably alike. J.S. kept on blasting Sam for his poor morals at the same time that he had extracurricular amours himself. He pursued and harrassed Sam constantly for his lapse with Teke. Yet J.S. seemed to believe that he himself, even though he had an on-going affair, symbolized everything that was fine and moral.

J.D. was cut from the same bolt of cloth as his father. He felt that his own succession of affairs didn't "count" and constantly wanted to punish Teke. He was as angry and hurt as if he had never even heard of the concept of marital infidelity. Also he used his power to victimize Grady. He seemed to have no conscience about putting another man in jail unfairly, or destroying a life without legitimite cause.

Both father and son always looked for someone to punish for any of their problems and didn't hesitate to use all of their available power to destroy a person at whom they were angry. It's really aggravating to me that neither of them ever fully acknowledged their own failings in this book.

Sue, I think that any child who grows up in a household with two affectionate parents who like to hug each other, is really a lucky youngster. Seeing two warm-hearted parents relate to each other might give any child a mighty good headstart on forming a solid marriage of his own later on.

Harriet

WYNONA: Thanks for your vote.

SUE: I like the point you raise about children not thinking their parents have a sex life. Probably even that their parents are not emotionally needy at all. It takes maturity to realize that someone else has emotional needs. I seem to forget that sometimes myself.

HARRIET: I don't remember ever finding anything to question in an anlysis you have made about a character. This is no exception. You seem to me to be right on the button with your examination of JS and JD.

In addition to the tension over the incident with Teke and Sam more tension is created with the agony about Michael's recovery. What should be done? When? Who needs to do it? Everyone has a reaction to what is happening. Then, as if that isn't enough, Will Clinger starts gossiping at school.

Marjorie

The prime candidate for female jerk is Will Clinger's mother. Her first name escapes me at the moment. I've continued to wonder just what she and J. S. were up to when J. D. discovered her on the desk swinging her shapely leg.

Poor Annie. She had such a problem with her self image. It took her so long to regain trust in Sam. I can understand her initial horror and anger at his and Teke's behavior, but they had such a good marriage that I thought she was foolish not to come around sooner. Her little "almost mistake" with the grad student helped her regain perspective. I was glad when she and Sam patched it up. I think basically Sam was a real straight arrow and upstanding citizen. Sue

SUE: Mrs. Clinger's first name is Virginia. I had the same reaction to here scene with JS. She was willing to do anything to get what she wanted -- attention. I liked Sam and Annie and was also impatient with how long it took for them to get back together.

Of course Michael was the child who suffered the greatest physical and emotional damage from Sam and Teke's indiscretion, but all the other children in the two families also had their lives changed in varying degrees.

Jon and Leigh felt that they had a green light to consummate their long standing romance. Leigh wound up pregnant and the two young people started a family of their own without being able to support themselves financially. They were fortunate that the ever-penitent Sam stepped in to help them out.

Zoe couldn't adapt to the break-up of the "Popewells." Jana's absence was very hard on Zoe and she scared everyone out of their wits by running away for a short time before she was able to see herself as a person separate from Jana.

Jana responded by siding with her father who she saw as the injured party. She showed her admiration by becoming more and more like J.D. Consequently there is the danger of a new punitive, self righteous generation being launched. I wonder what Jana will think when she becomes older and figures out that her father is NOT a saint.

I agree with all of the people who felt there was a soap opera quality to this book, but I really enjoyed reading it and felt that it was a page turner. It's kind of fun knowing all about the private lives of these two wealthy, influential families and their golden children.

Harriet

HARRIET: I agree it is fun looking in on the life of two couples who seem to have everything going for them.

I particularly liked Annie's father, Pete, and the way he chronicled the life of his family by drawing on his walls. I had a sense of the affection he felt for his family when I read that section of the book.

Hi.I really enjoyed reading this book even though I thought "what next" with the constant development of family catastrophes. I thought JD really did start to develop into a more human person at the end of the story and that was to his credit since he could have kept mirroring papa. I liked Grady too. when I was a little girl I came home from school one day on the back of a bike of a boy who had been in reform school or something like that. My mom really let me know that under no circumstances was I ever to communicate or be seen in the company of this boy. I remember thinking that my mom was wrong but of course I obeyed her. I think Grady committed his crime in a moment of passion-it was not premeditated and he certainly paid the penalty for it. But you know, I was disappointed when the author had Grady and Teke get together at the end.I would have liked it better if that had been left to our imagination how that worked out.I just thought that was too much tying up happy endings.Did any of you think that? Dorothy

DOROTHY: I don't believe that I have ever asked for and ending to have been left up to my imagination. At least not for a long time. An interesting idea. Any one else have any thoughts on this?

I just finished reading two books by Kimberly Cates (the author of Fly Away Home. They are Raider's Bride and Raider's Daughter. They are set during Revolutionary times in Virginia and England. I enjoyed them. What surprised me was that at the end of the second book there was a revelation that I was unprepared for until the moment it was made. Usually I have an inkling of what is coming. I had anticipated most of the other revelations in those books.

Marjorie

I didn't like JD but I definitely liked the way he talked to Virginia Clinger after she comes to his office and tells him what she suspects happened on Tuesday afternoon when Michael came home unexpectedly.

...Virginia said, "I'm only trying to protect you."

"By wreaking havoc on my marriage? he yelled. "No wonder you can't keep a husband." He pointed to his head. "Loose screws. How would sabotaging my marriage possibly protect me? That's the last thing it would do. Particularly with Michael so sick."

"I only wanted to help."

"You want to help? Fine. You can clean house and do laundry and make dinner, like my wife would be doing if she weren't at the hospital with my son..."

I think I just liked having Virginia being told to stop putting her nose in where it doesn't belong.

Marjorie

Me, too, Marjorie. Virginia Clinger gives women a bad name (not really--we know that all the rest of us are perfectly reasonable women!).

FYI, while we were traveling yesterday and today, I read Judy Blume's Summer Sisters. It's not exactly a romance, but is good reading. I've loved Blume's books for children and teens. She doesn't avoid difficult topics. In this book she shows us two dysfunctional families--and I like some of each family. Sue

SUE: I recently read Summer Sisters too. SAGE reads different types of books than I do and that was one she had gotten and suggested I would like. It was definitely a different kind of story. As you, I liked some of the people but not all of them.

Hi, We must be on the same wave length. I read Summer Sisters and thought it was a great story.I think I remember it was about the area near Cape Cod and I love any story that has to do with a seascape.Did any of you think that in More Than Friends one of their initial problems was too much togetherness for the families. I seem to be sharing with you all things that come up in my mind from my 'younger'years and I remember my grandmother saying to me 'Intimacy breeds contempt' Of course I don't believe that today but I wonder if that contributed to Sam and Teke's encounter and the whole families' disappointment in each other?Dorothy

Hi to everyone. I've been busy with preparations for a trip and I haven't been spending as much time as I would like with all of you.

Talking to you all about books and whatever else comes into my head has been such a pleasant part of my daily routine that I miss it when I don't write to you. I continue to visit at least once a day, but I don't always have the opportunity to write.

I've always enjoyed reading our book and finding parts to discuss with you. I've also enjoyed rereading the parts of the book that you guys may comment on, and refreshing my memory on details. But lately the time available to me is shorter and I seem to be running around more and reading less.

I miss you all. Hugs from me to you all.

Hi Judy. I think we must have posted at the same time. Thanks for reminding me. I also wish everyone a Happy Easter and Passover.

Harriet

I am back from Phoenix and glad to be home. I read the House of Sand and Fog when I was gone and enjoyed it except for the ending, I really didn't think I would like it at all. I also read Eileen Goudge's book One Last Dance which I loved and would give it an 8. Great story about 3 sisters who were going to their parents 40th anniversary party.All three sisters from different walks of life. Then the Mother shoots the Father and boy it goes from there. Hard to put down.

Happy Easter Everyone

Hi everyone. How nice to see so many posts today.

DOROTHY (INMAN): I think the closeness of the Maxwells and the Popes is what allowed the encounter between Sam and Teke to take place in the first place. If Sam hadn't thought Annie might be with Teke, he wouldn't have been their when Teke was vulnerable. I don't know whether I can assume that such closeness between two families would inevitably lead to an indiscretion or not in real life.

HARRIET: I am glad you enjoy this group so much. Your post was a pleasure to read.

JUDY: You were busy reading while you were away. Did you get a change to read More Than Friends also?

Happy Easter and Happy Passover to all.

Marjorie

HARRIET: If you want to take some books with you that we will probably discuss sometime, take Follow the Stars Home by Luanne Rice and French Quarter by Stella Cameron. I am still accepting votes until the 16th but those two have the most votes so far. I am not sure just how they will be scheduled yet. If you would rather read something that is unlikely to be discussed, Lily Fair by Kimberly Cates has only 1 vote so far from 6 people.

I think families can have the closeness of the Popewells without the problems. I just had an e-mail from a friend of 42 years--a fellow Navy wife. We each had 3 sons and husbands were in the same squadron. We spent lots of time together when the husbands were deployed and also when we weren't stationed together. No problems anywhere except for the little squabbles the kids would get into about who was up for bat first. All 6 boys have grown up now and live in different areas, but my friend, Bob, and I are still very close. Her husband died the day he retired, some 22 years ago. We all still miss him, although she's found another great guy for a partner.

Delinsky had to make a problem for the Popewells or she wouldn't have had a story. Every good plot needs a good problem. Sue

SUE: Thanks for sharing your experience. In addition to a good plot I feel that this author did a great job presenting all the characters as very complete. Even the "villans" had some redeeming qualities, except maybe JS and Virginia. Did anyone see any redeeming qualities about JS or Virginia?

Maybe JS had a father like himself and just didn't know how to love and be understanding. the sins of the parents....I'm glad that JD found out what kind of a person he really could be and he ended up getting closer to his kids and growing a lot. As for Virginia we all know someone like her and we learn to live with them. she makes the rest of us look better. Shirley T.

SHIRLEY T: I had to chuckle at your comment about Virginia making the rest of us look better. I think so.

I agree with ShirleyT that J.D. did improve at the end. His move to Florida was the right one for him and the kids. He's never going to win any prize, but he is better at the end. I can't say the same for Ms. Clinger. Sue

Just to let you know I am enjoying the post but never got the book so Thanks to all for your posts.

Last chance for voting on our next book selection. It is very easy, just go to the heading and click on the link there. I will announce the new selection tomorrow.

I just opened More Than Friends at random to see what would come up for me. I found a place, in the first half of the book, where Anne is trying to be "normal" for her children after another night of not sleeping. I remember the first time I read that how annoyed I was with her for not believing Sam when he told her what happened didn't matter. Luckily I never was in that position -- I never knew my husband had been unfaithful and had to deal with that knowledge. In the passage I was reading Anne was also missing Teke because Anne's kids needed to go shopping and Anne needed to work.

Marjorie, I was interested in your point about how hard it was for both Annie and Teke to adjust to the cooling of their relationship.

Annie and Teke and all of the members of the Popes and Maxwells had behaved for a very long time as if they were almost one large extended family. I wonder if it is sensible for two families to link their destinies together so intimately. Personally I have never had a relationship with another family that was as close as the one described in the book. While I can see the conveniences of it...for instance Teke might take Annie's kids shopping while Annie was at work...I also wonder if it all isn't a surrender of independence and self determination.

So many people to consider for every decision! It's true that each family was part of a "special in-group" and, together, they reinforced their group feelings about what was right and wrong or good and bad. Like teenagers, they always had a group to which they "belonged" that was a a guard supporting them against the rest of the world. But is the surrender of the integrity of one's own personal family worth it?

I have a hard time agreeing that the relationship at the beginning of the book was an emotionally healthy one. I don't know if I could be comfortable as part of such an extended family group. I instinctively think first of my own individual family when any problem occurs. I don't know if I could take into account the needs of another family in quite the same way.

Maybe I'm isolationist, but I've always felt, whenever the chips were down, that I cared about MY family first. Am I unusual in this feeling?

Harriet

HARRIET: My mother has three sisters. Mother and two of her sisters lived in Chicago. Still today my mother is close to her two sisters. Mother is now 91 and is the middle of the three sisters. Growing up I was always aware that a lot of decisions my mother made were in response to what her sisters would think.

When I was married, my family was never close to another family. I don't know how that would work. My family moved around the country a lot because of my husband's work. I didn't have any close friends at that time. The first 15 years of the marriage we moved 12 times. Then we were in one place for 10 years and I got involved with the schools.

I don't know if there is a right or wrong about closeness. It is certainly extremely difficult to be close to other people and maintain your own integrity. I think it takes a lot of give and take on all sides for something like that to work. I guess I like to think it could work under the right circumstances.

Marjorie

Here are the results of the vote taken for future Romance discussions:

French Quarter by Stella Cameron and Follow the Stars Home by Luanne Rice received 4 votes each..

Low Country by Anne Rivers Siddons and Star Flight by Phyllis Whitney received 3 votes each..

Montana by Debbie Macomber received 2 votes.

Lily Fair by Kimberly Cates and The Love Charm -- a Cajun story by Pamela Morsi received 1 vote each.

Marjorie

Hello all.......was wondering why my subscription didn't take me to books and here I find you moved and I didn't move with you! I never got the book as I have been gone most of the time for the last two weeks and to be honest I won't be home much until the end of May.

I just picked up Jan Karon's new book at the library....A Common Life. I have enjoyed her others so much that I am really looking forward to reading it.

Hope all is well with all of you.

Northern Joan

Hello NORTHERN JOAN. I am glad you finally found us. I have had the same problem many times when a discussion I have been in fills up and they open a new one. Half the time I forget to subscribe to the new discussion.

There will be some changes in our Romance discussions soon. I have been Discussion Leader for one year now and feel that it is time for someone else to step in. I will be Discussion Leader until this discussion closes, and perhaps, for one more book.

If we are able to find someone else to be Discussion Leader for Romance, this discussion can continue as it has been in the past -- discussing a single book in depth. Another option is for a general Romance discussion to be created where we could all participate and discuss whatever book we are reading at the time and still keep in touch with each other.

Any other ideas would be welcome.

Marjorie

First, Marjorie, thanks so much for your leadership this past year. I've really enjoyed our little group and the books we've decided to read have all been entertaining.

Which book will be the next selection? I'm going to the library today and could check it out. I will also have time to stop at the used book store next week while Bob is getting his treatment, so I'd appreciate knowing the title.

I think Harriet would make a great discussion leader. How about it, Harriet?

SUE: I second your motion that HARRIET would make a good DL. I know she is going to be away starting April 25 for about 2 weeks.

Follow the Stars Home by Luanne Rice will be our next selection. It is a great story by the author of Cloud Nine. I just finished it recently.

Marjorie

I think this discussion will take a slightly different form.

It will be under "General Book Discussions" and will have Romance in the title. From time to time we will spotlight specific books and can share on that book as we do here but without any of the pressure I feel now to wring out more and more until it is time to start a new book.

We will be able to keep in touch with each other and mention what we are reading so that we can learn about different authors.

I will let you know when the new discussion is ready. I will act as a "contact person" rather than Discussion Leader in that General Romance Discussion. From the quality of the posts and the attitude of the people who have been posting here, I am sure that will work just fine.

Marjorie

Does anyone have a suggestion for a title for the general discussion I described in the previous post?

Romance Books is obvious but seems a little tame.

Hi all.

Marjorie, your suggestions in post #97 sound really attractive and interest me a lot. I hoped that there was some way that you would want to stay in a primary position, and I'm so relieved and overjoyed to see this new solution.

You deserve BIG thanks for a job well done with all of your work as DL. You have been so wonderful and conscientious in leading these discussions. You have provided a unique format for all of us Romance readers, and you have done it with kindness, wit and patience. I would certainly miss this discussion format if it were not here. I love the idea of maintaining it in a revised form.

I found French Quarter to read on vacation. No luck yet with Follow the Stars Home. I'll try to order it in May after I get home.

Harriet

Thank you for your comments, HARRIET.

I will wait until next week sometime before even planning what our new discussion will look like.

In the meantime, this is still a place to post about More Than Friends or other books that you are all reading.

Marjorie

I think the new format sounds like a winner, Marjorie and Harriet.

Right now I'm reading Marry Me by Pat Booth. This is the first book I've read by her. I picked it up at the library because of the blurb on the cover. So far it's interesting. There are 3 heroines, all in need of change in their lives, and one hero who looks like he'll supply some of their needs--not all romantically, of course, because that would make him a jerk or cad. The women become friends at a Spa in New Mexico. One is a widow, one is recently divorced, and the third is a never married career women who hears her biological clock ticking. Sue

SUE: I never heard of Pat Booth. Do let us know if you like the book.

If everyone would keep a list of books they have particularly enjoyed, perhaps there will be a way to include authors and/or titles in the heading of the new discussion for quick reference.

Hi,Marjorie, I'm so glad too that you will continue to be our leader.I think the idea of us discussing books we are reading with each other is great.I can't think of a name to suggest for the new format but I'll mull that over the weekend. I'm off for my Saturday chores but I want to mention a good book I'm reading now These Granite Islands. It's a first book by Sarah Stonich and it's a kind of romance.Picked it up on the library new fiction shelf. More later. Dorothy

Hi DOROTHY. Did you find These Granite Islands in paperback? For some reason I prefer reading paperback books. I understand doing that when reading in bed or on the treadmill. But all the time???? I confuse myself sometimes.

Sometime this weekend SeniorNet will be moving to a new server with new software.

In preparation for that there will be a point at which all discussions become READ-ONLY discussions. That is so a copy can be made of what exists and transferred over to the new system.

Participants are requested to use the opportunity the READ-ONLY discussions give them to read back posts and make notes (on your own computer perhaps) of what you want to post in response everything is back to normal.

The staff is working very hard to make this as painless as possible to everyone.

If we're getting a new server that blocks messages for a while, I'll wish you all a fond farewell now. I'll be leaving on my trip in a few days.

Happy reading all!

Harriet

Have a great trip HARRIET. See you when you get back.

HI Marjorie, I hope you will continue on as our discussion leader, I'm still finding my way around this chat room stuff and you have helped me a lot. I'm reading French Quarter now and have really enjoyed it , Thank you for suggesting it, I'm waiting for the library to call me on the other one. I am going to keep checking in and watching for all the new postings. Shirley T.

Hi SHIRLEY. Good to see your post. I thought I had you on my email list but don't find your email address there. Do you want to be on my list?

Hi Marjorie-No these Granite Islands is hardcoverThe shelf for new fiction in our library is a beacon post for me and this book was one of the newcomers- I'm glad we're going to stick together as a group since I enjoy reading all your posts and it sounds complicated changing the server but if all I have to do is read, I think I can make that. Look forward to our discussions. Dorothy

Hi Marjorie, I have been seeing the movie FOLLOW THE STARS advertised on the tv and I'm wondering if that is from the book we are reading? maybe someone knows I sent you my e-mail adress so please put me on your list. Thanks Shirley T.

I don't know about Follow The Stars. I remember getting something else out of the video store because I was sure I wanted it. Then I realized the reason I got it was because it was a book I had liked. However, the video and the book were NOT the same. Just the name was the same. I was most annoyed about that.

Do any of the following sound like titles that would describe the General Romance Discussion I mentioned before?

• Romance: Dreamgirls/Dreamguys books
• Romance: Princess/Prince books
• Romance: Romeo-Juliet books
• Romance: Moonlight and Roses books
• Romance: Springtime and Dreamtime books
• Romance: Garden of Eden Books
• Romance: Elizabeth Barrett Browning books
• Romance: Loveable Books

Does anyone have any other suggestions? I would like a title that is easy for people to find and recognize. For that reason I put Romance: first.

Marjorie

I like Romance moonlight and roses books. that kinda tells me I would like to be part of that discussion. Shirley T.

I like Romance: Moonlight and Roses and also Romance: Springtime and Dreamtime. I think these two fit our group best. Sue

Thanks SUE and SHIRLEY. I kind of like moonlight and roses too. I would like to hear from anyone else who has an opinion or another suggestion.

Another option that I didn't list is just Romance Books without anything else. Is that sufficient?

I like just plain Romance Books. My second would be the Moonlight and Roses

As an avid reader I enjoy books of all types. Lately I have been reading Romance fiction and would like to share information about them in the same way I enjoy doing for Mystery Books. So I like "Romance Books" as the name for the new discussion. But, what ever name you choose will work for me.

I guess I will use Romance Books as the title and maybe I will be able to use the other phrases in the heading somewhere. I hope to get this set up soon.

I took the book "More Than Friends" back to the library and decided to get another by the same author. I selected on called "Three Wishes." I like it better than "More Than Friends." I read the whole thing last night. It has a sad ending. It deals with a woman who had a near death experience and was granted 3 wishes.

Louise, that was the first Delinsky that I read. I loved it, even (or maybe even especially) the weepy ending. She really has a way of making the sentimental convincing. Sue

I just recently finished reading Perfect by Judith McNaught. The ending was fine. It just seemed like it took a long time to get there. Every time it seemed the story was over there was another twist. I have found that sometimes I get so caught up in a story that I have trouble sleeping. This was was very engrossing.

I am enjoying reading Firefly Summer by Maeve Binchy. It is set in Ireland in the 1960's. Binchy set it in a small village. Many of the villagers had a chance to see President Kennedy's arrival parade in Dublin. The copyright for it is 1988.

The book exchange here at SeniorNet is a great place to find good reads. I just received Judith McNaught's book Whitney, my love. So many good books so little time.

HI Marjorie and everyone reading FOLLOW THE STARS HOME. I have read this book for the 2nd time and enjoyed it more that the first time if possible, it is a true jem of a story and it will bring tears of gladness and sadness to all of you. The last chapter is very emotional and all I can say is you will enjoy it. I won't discuss any parts yet because I know some of you have just started reading so I will keep checking in and get in on the discussions later. I heard it advertised on tv again Sat and it is a movie of this book so I will try to catch the channel,date and time and keep you posted. This is a great story for everyone . Shirley T.

I too am reading Follow the Stars Home and enjoying it. I have about 80 pages left. When are you going to discuss it. I am leaving a week from tonorrow for 3 weeks....my Scandinavian trip.

Northern Joan

I'm reading Firefly Summer right now and just getting into it. Have read almost all of the books you have mentioned in the last few posts.

Hi everyone. I am getting the General Romance Book Discussion ready. I thought that after we get that going we could informally discuss any particular books that several of us have read.

NORTHERN JOAN: It sounds like you will be leaving just about the time HARRIET will be returning from her trip. I guess it is vacation time again.

I assume that we can discuss Follow the Stars Home whenever everyone want to do so. I have only read it once and have been reading lots of other things. It would probably be good to discuss it soon if people are reading it now so it is fresh. I don't imagine the discussion will last as long as the one for Fly Away Home.

Marjorie

Petite One what do you think of Firefly Summer? I am just past about half-way. I hate to put it down to go to bed. The people have gotten so real to me. It was a bit of a slow go at first then wham I got involved with the goings on.

GINNY ANN: Who wrote Firefly Summer?

HI, the movie for FOLLOW THE STARS HOME is on Sunday the 6th at 8:00 pm on CBS the Hallmark Hall of fame movie. It should be good to compare to the book. hope everyone can watch it. I will be gone next week but will start posting again after the 12th so I can get in on the discussions then Shirley T.

Marjorie....I am not Ginny Ann but Maeve Binchy wrote Firefly Summer. I read it several years ago and liked it very much. It was one of her better books. Some of hers are real winners and others real losers!

I finished Follow the Stars Home and thought it was an excellent book. A little more to it than just fluff and romance. I like a good cry or a good laugh when I read or go to the movies. This did that.

I also finished Jan Karon's new book....A Common Life which covers the marriage of Father Tim. It was a bit strange as the previous book he was already married. But this detailed the marriage and was a good read.

Now have to finsh the book by Nora Robert that I started before I picked up the other two......they were better I guess as I just left the Roberts book while I read the others.

Northern JOan

...is my all time favorite romance read. Her regular romance novels are better than her Silhouette Romance books. But for a quick light read they are fun.

Sandra Brown also writes some great fast reads.

Yesterday I lent out to one of my best friends a very good book. It is Legends by Jude Deveroux. Recently I have started to read many great 'romance authors.'

NORTHERN JOAN: I agree about Maeve Binchy. I had a few of her books and must have started a couple in a row that I didn't like at all and I haven't pickup up any others as a result. I will look for Firefly Summer.

I like Nora Roberts when she writes books in a series. Some of her newer ones are more like mysteries. Sometimes I don't do well with mysteries, horror stories, and fantasies. They leave me too unsettled.

GAJ: I definitely agree with you about Sandra Brown. I have just started reading her books. They are good stories.

SHIRLEY T: Thanks for the time and day of the Hallmark program. I will be sure to watch or tape it.

Marjorie

Our new discussion is now ready. Come on over ---Romance Books.

If you use subscriptions, do not forget to subscribe. When no one is posting in this discussion any longer, this discussion will be archived.

Hi everybody, We are having a stretch of the most gorgeous spring weather-all I seem to want to do is sit on my porch and smell the apple blossoms and in the evening watch the planes go overhead.I am reading a Maeve Binchy book the book club at the senior center I visit has selected for this month's discussion-Scarlet Feather is the book and I've just started it and our discussion is tomorrow-oh my- but I seem to have trouble with the switch in scenes and characters-is this typical of her writing?Look forward to the romance Book discussions.Dorothy

I picked up my copy of LuAnne Rice's Follow the Stars Home today while Bob was getting his chemotherapy. I'll start reading it as soon as I finish The Wedding Raffle by Geralyn Dawson. I expect to finish it tonight.

The Wedding Raffle is a pretty good read. The setting is the territory of Texas following the fall of the Alamo and prior to becoming a state. The heroine is a widow (3 times) who is rumored to have murdered her husbands. The hero is a former Texas Ranger. There is a mystery and intrigue as well as a budding romance. This is the first book I've read by Dawson, but I would recommend it to romance readers who enjoy a Western theme.

I'll copy this post and put it in our new home, just in case everyone has moved over there. Sue

SUE: Thanks for copying your post to the new discussion. At some point we need to all move over there.

IMAN: I have only read 2 of Maeve Binchy's books and that was some time ago. I am sorry I can't answer your question. Why don't you go ask it in the general Romance Books discussion. You will find the link in the heading.

Marjorie