Cottage by the Sea

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding historical novel--lots of romance and suspense!
Review: A Cottage by the Sea is a fun, page-turning read. The feisty heroine charms, while drawing the reader further into the story. Her interactions with the past help to shape her plans for the present and future--a literary device Ciji Ware knows how to use to the fullest. There's a wealth of local color also, especially for gardeners and lovers of Daphne duMaurier. It's diverting and entertaining enough for an airplane ride or lounging on the beach, but intelligent enough to hold the interest.

Rating:
Summary: Leave this one on the Shelf
Review: I did not like this book at all. It seems to be typical of a particular genre where all the characters are rich and famous and wear only the best labeled clothing. The women are all glamourous, the men, model handsome.
This book caught my attention because its setting was the Cornwall of Daphne Du Maurier and supposedly its premise was similar to that of Du Maurier's great romantic classics. This could not be further from the truth. The characters in "A Cottage by the Sea" are utterly vacuous parodies; the time travel sequence is ridiculously unbelievable.
Instead of wasting your time and money on this book, pick up copies of "Rebecca", "Frenchman's Creek", "Jamaica Inn" and the "Scapegoat"; even if you've already read them, you will get more out of a repeat read than a first go at this. If you love time travel, try the Gabaldon Outlander series; although there are some improbable situations in these stories, at least they are entertaining as well as well-written with real characters who laugh, cry and speak as we do.

Rating:
Summary: NEVER PUT IT DOWN!
Review: I LUVED THIS BOOK!!!!! i read it over the summer 4 the first time & read it again 3 more times! & i'm reading it again right now! itz fantastic! i luv it! it has suspense, luv, passion, & everything a girl could ask 4! hooever it was hoo said that u should leave the book on the shelf is crazy! i luv it. & that person hoo chucked the book at pretty much the v. beginning was idiotic bcuz the book getz better! xspecially wen the x-husband shows up!