Isabel's Daughter : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down
Review: Hendricks captures the variety and vagueries of real life in a seamless and flawless style. Her novels impart the essence of their settings: I felt like I was in New Mexico.
Reading Hendricks' novel is a transcendental experience: I felt the lead character's emotions and sensations.
I especially like the way Hendricks creates quality men for her heroines. The romantic love stories in this tale aren't pat or formulaic---and they seem genuinely loving.
Isabel's Daughter isn't better than Bread Alone; they are both equally great!
I can't wait for Hollywood to discover Hendricks' work. Both of her novels could be great movies! Meantime, get in on the secret. I couldn't put either of Hendricks' books down. They dignify human experience, especially female experience, in the real world and are thoroughly engaging, well-crafted tales.

Rating:
Summary: How does she do it?
Review: Hendricks captures the variety and vagueries of real life in a seamless and flawless style. Her novels impart the essence of their settings: I felt like I was in New Mexico.
Reading Hendricks' novel is a transcendental experience: I felt the lead character's emotions and sensations.
I especially like the way Hendricks creates quality men for her heroines. The romantic love stories in this tale aren't pat or formulaic---and they seem genuinely loving.
Isabel's Daughter isn't better than Bread Alone; they are both equally great!
I can't wait for Hollywood to discover Hendricks' work. Both of her novels could be great movies! Meantime, get in on the secret. I couldn't put either of Hendricks' books down. They dignify human experience, especially female experience, in the real world and are thoroughly engaging, well-crafted tales.

Rating:
Summary: An Unexpected Surprise
Review: I always check out at least three books from the library, and read them in the order of which I think I will be most interesting. Isabel's Daughter, I'm sorry to say, was the last book - and it should have been the first! I started the book at bedtime one night and ended up reading until 1 A.M. I was hooked!

This book is a fascinating tale, combining a young woman's modern life with her ancient roots. The people, the landscape, the beliefs are all brought to life by Hendricks' spellbinding voice. This book is truly an unexpected surprise and I look forward to reading more from this author.

Rating:
Summary: I hope there is a sequel
Review: I am an avid reader who rarely re-reads novels, but this book was so wonderful it moved me to order it. I didn't want it to end, and I loved the author's characters.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding 2nd novel
Review: I highly recommend this book. I read it over the weekend and could not put it down. The main character, Avery, is a great storyteller and observer of others. The supporting characters are wonderful as well. Avery goes through much self discovery as she finds out about her mother's past and her own history. The setting is very much a part of the story with it's southwestern flair and mixture of anglo, mexican, and native american culture as Avery meets many people in her life. My only complaint would be that it ended! (Oh, and that I got hungry every time I read it...her description of the foods Avery eats and makes will make your mouth water!) I really look forward to more of her writing. This story reminded me in some ways of another of my favorite reads: Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver.

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down
Review: I loved this book. I usually read action/adventure books but I simply could not put this down and, while I loved the ending, I hated for it to end. The characters matter. They are real people, simple in lifestyle but rich in heart and mind. The story is compelling, emotional and fascinating. Hendricks shows that people don't need to be traveling at hyper-speed or moving in all the "right" circles to be interesting. Hendricks understands a lot about emotion and about how life's events shape our emotional selves. This book affected me in a nice and warm way and I learned a lot about herbs and Mexican-American cuisine too. I can't wait to pick up her first novel "Bread Alone." If you think this looks like just another romantic story, look again. "Isabel's Daughter" goes deeper and will never quite leave you.

Rating:
Summary: Enchanting
Review: Judith Ryan Hendricks has scored high marks once again with ISABEL'S DAUGHTER. I loved BREAD ALONE and finished it, coincidentally, the day ISABEL'S DAUGHTER was released. While wandering through the bookstore with my son on his birthday I was delighted to find her second novel. Yes, it took me four months to get to it because of all the other unread books on my shelves, but it was worth the wait. The story is interesting and beautifully written. Ms. Hendricks' enchanting style pulls you into the story and, in this case, into New Mexico, a state that is already magical to me. Avery James, the discarded orphan, is far from perfect, but she has good reason to live a life that is disconcerting. There are many mysteries in her life which she works to unravel, leaving the orphanage and traveling south into the art world of New Mexico. For those of you who already love the Southwest, this will bring it home to you in a nostalgic and romantic way. For those of you who have never visited or lived there, you'll want to change that as soon as possible!

Judith Ryan Hendricks is on my list to watch out for all future novels. She has a gift and here's one reader who hopes she uses it often and well.

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous!
Review: Judith seems to really hit her stride in this book. "Bread Alone" (her first novel) was wonderful, "Isabel's Daughter" was impossible to put down. I found her characters and the storyline fascinating. Fabulous book! This book was also an excellent selection for our book club. Can't wait for her next book "The Baker's Apprentice" due out anytime.

Rating:
Summary: isabel's daughter
Review: This is a warm enchanting story, about a foundling who struggles to discover the identy of her real mother and all the wonderful characters she meets along the way. Avery James is a strong girl who finds not only who her mother was, but discovers herself as well. This is definitely a book to cuddle up with on a rainy afternoon. I had read "Bread Alone" and thought it was delicious, but this is even better.

Rating:
Summary: Serendipitous Find!
Review: This is one of the best books I have read in years. I loved Avery and Will! I wanted the book to last forever. Sorry I finished it...more, please.