Rating: 
Summary: A well crafted story of spiritual love
Review: In "Firebird" Janice Graham provides us with a different kind of love story - one which involves love in both a physical and spiritual sense. Implausible? Not if one accepts that life is just not about the physical or concrete, but that our core is seperate from the physical skin we are encased in. Ms. Graham is well equipped to deal with such an issue and experiencing her novel is, indeed, experiencing God and the soul he creates. "Firebird" tells the story of Ethan Brown, a small town lawyer with stronger ties to being a rancher. Engaged to Katie Anne he has doubts about her and their marriage. Attending the funeral of her mother, Annette Zeldin returns home and, in trying to settle her mothers estate, she meets Ethan Brown. The attraction is strong and the two fall in love and begin a passionate affair. Ethan breaks off his engagement to Katie Anne; however, she quickly schemes to get him back and in doing so Ethan marries the woman he does not love. Tragedy, however, strikes both Annette and Katie Anne and, as a result, Ethan is torn between the woman he sees as his wife and the being which lies underneath. Sounds confusing but it is not when the reader reads this novel. There is much promise to this first time novelist and I look forward to future novels. The reason I did not rate this the highest score possible is that I would have liked Ms. Graham's prose to be a little more intricate - this book reads a liitle to simple - not that simple is bad; however, the material Ms. Graham tackles calls for more intricate, thought-provoking writing. Still, it is a wonderful read and Ms. Graham captures both the romance novel and serious fiction in one nice package.
Rating: 
Summary: Spoiled by...
Review: Following "San Francisco Chronicle" Review, (8/16/98) I was about to order this book. It sounded like a good, light read with interesting characters. BUT...the Amazon Review ruined the reading by telling the ending. Kirkus Review's first line spoils the chance of enjoying this book as a fresh reader. Thanks!
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time!
Review: This predictable and sappily written book was a total waste of time. Janice Graham tries to imitate the writing style found in both "The Horse Whisperer" and "Bridges of Madison County" and does not do either justice. The continuous dream sequences are out of place and the phony feelings portrayed make this one of the most ridculous stories written.
Rating:
Summary: Below disappointing, bordering on offensive
Review: Filled with stereotypes, amateurish writing, and hamfisted plotting, this one is like a bad joke. For a guy who studied at Yale, Ethan doesn't seem to know much about English (Yeats--a 19th c poet???), or parenting (incident with his son) or being interesting on any level. I rarely take the time to post a negative review but this one bugged me. Sorry.
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely terrific
Review: Ethan Brown loves the Flint Hills section of Kansas where he is a rancher who practices law. For years, Ethan has been seeing Katherine Anne Mackey, but only they know why neither is in a rush to get married. Everything abruptly changes when violinist Annette Zeldin comes to the town of Cottonwood Falls for the funeral of her mother. Though considered to be an arrogant Parisienne by the townsfolk, Annette strikes a cord within Ethan's heart. However, Ethan does not want anything to change his comfortable lifestyle, so instead of following his heart, he follows his brain. He becomes engaged to Katie. Still, the strings of the heart cannot be denied and Ethan quickly realizes that he has made an error. He tries to end his engagement, but fails. A second disturbance occurs when a tragic fire changes the lives of the people, including Ethan, forever. FIRERAND is a poignant, heart-stirring romance novel that will leave readers drained by all the emotions the book pulls out of them. The lead protagonists and the support cast will receive much reader empathy even as the story line requires several quantum leaps of faith that most readers will gladly do because the novel is so well written. Janice Graham will receive much deserved recognition for this love from the heartland story. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Uplifting!
Review: To all those who reviewed this book and gave it a (1) star, I just want to say--you people take life too seriously! I don't usually read "romance" novels because they are generally all alike, but this was more than "dribble", as one reader put it. It was an inspiration for the soul that love can survive and grow. Even death cannot snuff it out. Who's to say what transcends after we are gone. All I know is, this book made me feel a LOT of different emotions and it made me look at my life and my love for the people in my life and not to take it all for granted or waste it. Maybe those (1) star readers need to re-read it with a more open mind--and heart.
Rating:
Summary: Weak Characters and too Predictable
Review: I tried very hard to get into this book but I just wasn't able to. The Main reason for this is the characters which are written so weak that I just didn't care about any of them.
The story centers on a love triangle that is too predictable and belongs on Daytime Television. I do give the author credit for the unusual and unexpected plot twist in the middle but it arrives too late and unfortunetely is not enough to save the entire story.
Rating:
Summary: Ms. Graham needs a new spellcheck and a better editor
Review: Forty pages and four typos into this book, I grew increasingly irritated with the sloppiness. There is no reason a book should make it past numerous revisions by an author USING SPELLCHECK, and his/her editors and be printed with this many errors. Unfortunately, even if this book was error free, I'd still give it one star. I kept chuckling out loud in disbelief at how much the plot resembled a Lifetime Channel movie for women. Bleah! If I wanted to delve into such a trite and sappy storyline, I'd simply watch that drivel on tv. The characters are unbelievable. Ethan has a PhD from Yale AND a teaching degree from Kansas University, but he's a lawyer who wants to ranch? WHY? Annette is a pretentious snob who has lived most of her life in France, giving the author ample opportunity to toss around French phrases, showing off her prowess in the language (Ms. Graham has taught French, according to her book jacket bio.) Worst of all is the author's depiction of small town Kansans as rude hicks with slow drawls. I'm from Kansas and I've been to the region where this story takes place and she's really done a discredit to the people.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful love story from a new author
Review: Janice Graham is off to a great start with this enjoyable love story. If you're expecting a tale of heavy romance, deceit, murder and a multitude of convoluted sub-plots, you won't find much in this book. Instead, one man's love, almost like a prairie fire, starts in one place, is blown to another, and is rekindled in yet a third as relationships grow and transform over time. This story shows how death can be a rebirth (remember that title), and how loving a daughter can be as profound as loving a woman. Love's complications lead to grave happenstance; then maturity, enlightenment, and ultimately a deeper love, are born from tragedy. Happens in real life, too. I'm not the type to dwell on hidden meanings or decipher twists in the plot. So instead, I like to let myself be led wherever the story points. In that regard, this book was perfect for me. Yeah, maybe Ms. Graham isn't the world's best at epic storytelling and character development, but the people in this book are pretty strong nevertheless, with the drama really picking up toward the end. And, maybe the Kansas prairie is a little over-glamorized, but there's a great image there. These would be but minor criticisms rather than major detractors. The story flows well, is easy to read, and you'll identify with all the personalities right away. I enjoyed this book immensely, and finished it in only two days (a rare occurrence for me). Start reading, get into the flow, and you will be moved by this story. I recommend it highly.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, Romancing the Soul - Love Never Really Dies
Review: Its surprising that some readers hated this story. What's not to like? The beginning may slowly build up speed, but deep in the plot, the reader appreciates the character development. At first Firebird appears common to other romances- Man agrees to marry under pressure; A new face in town piques his interest AFTER the engagement is announced. Then watch out - a plot twist is about to blow your mind! I didn't see it coming and couldn't believe what I had just read. From there the hits just kept on coming. The plot winds through a labirynth of twists and turns like a serpentine roller coaster ride. The reader is swept along never knowing where the next drop or derailment may be. I have searched for years to find a book I simply could not put down. Firebird was worth the wait. I read it through the first night. I simply had to know how this story could possibly find resolution. Firebird courts the heart and soul. This is Miss Graham's debut novel, hopefully the first of many to come.
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