Do you dream of wandering through England's Cotswolds gazing at the golden stone cottages? Or perhaps you long for the cliffs and the wild sea of Cornwall. Or Scotland's purple fields of heather and crystal blue lochs may beckon you.

Whatever direction your mental wanderings may take, the works of Rosamunde Pilcher will help supply substance and atmosphere to your dreams and speed you on your way to the British Isles.

by Rosamunde Pilcher

Miss Pilcher is truly a writer for all seasons. "September" takes you to the fields and streams of Scotland's countryside. She weaves a story of friendship, family, hope, and heartbreak. She guides you through stately country homes where hard times have forced remarkable courage and resourcefulness. A wonderful read when autumn leaves are turning to gold.

(St. Martin's Paperback - ISBN: 0-312-92480-1)

by Rosamunde Pilcher

A wonderful way to lead yourself into the coming holidays. A reaffirmation of the true meaning of Christmas... love and spiritual healing. Here you will find a new definition of family expanded to include whomever you love and cherish. A love story for those who have reached "a certain age" (let's say...over 50) and for those who have given up on the possibilities of true love at any age.

(St. Martin's Paperback - ISBN: 0-312-97838-3)

by Rosamunde Pilcher

A far reaching novel set against the backdrop of World War II and covering England from Cornwall to London to Portsmouth and on to Scotland. And it transports you yet farther afield to Ceylon and Singapore. It is the story of the coming of age of two school friends, Judith and Loveday. These two are as different as day and night and yet linked by their strong spirits and determination. This sweeping saga connects two disparate families and merges them at heart level into one.

You will make "friends" here that you will keep with you forever and you'll want this story to go on and on.

(St. Martin's Paperback - ISBN: 0-312-95812-9)

by Rosamunde Pilcher

This is, perhaps, Miss Pilcher's most well known work. When I think of this book I picture blue skies, sunshine, the warm glow of summer in Cornwall. Although the setting is more often the Cotswolds, London, or Ibiza.......when I close my eyes I see the Victorian era painting of "The Shell Seekers" .....the centerpiece of the book, a picture depicting children on a Cornish beach suffused with a particular magic light. Although this "masterpiece" exists only on the pages of this book, Miss Pilcher makes you "see" it and all the wonderful, intriguing characters who come to life in this story.

"The Shell Seekers" speaks of family connections, love and loss, greed and selflessness all tied together with a seamless ribbon of literary magic.

(A Dell Paperback Book circa 1989 ISBN: 0-440-20204-3)

by Ann Dukthas

In " A time for the Death of a King", Ann Dukthas weaves a complex and enjoyable mystery. So many theories have been proposed about the death of Lord Darnley. As Mary Queen of Scot's husband, he was King Consort, but what he really wanted was to be King.

Ann Dukthas puts a new spin on the theory that maybe Mary was involved in the murder.

By introducing the character of Nicholas Segalla, she creates a different type of detective. She alludes to the fact that Segalla may be immortal. At one point in the novel, Mary asks Segalla if he ever attended her mother. This would have been impossible, as Segalla wouldn't have been old enough. Yet the Queen still feels she knows him. With this, the author gives us a feel for the times in which Mary Queen of Scots lived.

She tells a very enjoyable story full of mystery, intrigue and immortality. You also get a great knowledge of court life.

All in all, an exciting read. I give "A Time for the Death of a King", '5 queens.' :-)

Printed 1994 by St. Martin's Press New York. ISBN: 0-312-11439-7

by Aaron Fletcher

A byproduct of the American revolution was the main impetus for the settlement of Australia. Prior to the revolution England was transporting its felons to America. After the revolution the eyes of the English turned to Australia as a solution for the teeming throng of felons who could no longer be imprisoned on the Thames.

This is the saga of Australia and the pioneers who risked eveything to tame a continent. Patrick Garrity started as the illigitimate child of a female convict. He grew up in shame, unloved and unwanted. He was barely a teen when he left the city for the back country of New South Wales. Alone and hungry, he met the woman who changed his destiny and their descendents changed an entire continent forever leaving their imprint on the magnificent land down under.

A man of the ironage takes a wife of the stonage; a merger of two cultures. It is a love story entwined with history.

The book is actually written in simple and visually graphic language. The story possesses descriptive violent episodes are essential to the story line, not violence for the sake of violence. To understand the love story you have to see the tough times Mayrah and Patrick endured that drew them together. They lived, loved and endured in a rapidly changing and violent era.

This is a book I have not only read more than once but have bought copies of to give to friends as presents. Aaron Fletcher writes about people and places you can care about. This book is the first in a series of five stories following the lives of the Garrity family and their descendents. I recommend reading them all.

Leisure Books of New York. ISBN: 0-8439-3113-2

I love harmony groups, so when I hear a new one, I usually take notice.

bbMak is a new young band from England who has recently begun taking North America by storm. The band is comprised of Mark Barry, Christian Burns and Ste McNally.

Their first hit song on our shores, the self-penned "Back Here" caught my attention immediately when I first heard it on the radio. It's a catchy, melodic pop tune with brilliant harmonies and fantastic musical backing. The guys wrote the majority of the songs on the CD themselves, which I think is great. Historically, the bands who have the talent to write their own songs tend to have more longevity than the bands who rely on outside writers for their material.

The tracks that really stand out in my opinion are: "Love Is Leaving", "Still On Your Side", the hauntingly beautiful "Always", and of course, "Back Here".

In addition to this group having a lot of real talent, (and I hope they have a long and successful career,) they are also very CUTE!!! :-)

Editors rating: 5 stars.

"Sterling Moon is my favorite specialty coffee!" David E. Brown,
[Billy Joel's former lead guitarist for 11 years] Gloucester, MA

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