Beneath the Hallowed Hill by Theresa Crater

What you will feel when you read this book is enraptured. That is a feeling
I haven't had since I read Crater's last offering, Under the Stone Paw. These
books have more than the story in common, There is a basic feeling of rightness
here.

First, if you have not read Under the Stone Paw, I urge you to do so. That is
not only a wonderful book in its own right, but it lays the groundwork for this
story. If you choose not to, and just read this as a stand alone, that will work
for you as well.

Atlantis. Who hasn't wondered about Atlantis? Have you ever wanted to visit Merlin's
Crystal Cave? How about Avebury, England or Stonehenge? Well, pick up this book and
you will be there. You will meet faerie, and the Maidens of Avalon, too. Like Avalon
itself, this book seems to be a sum of magic, as there are far too few pages to hold
what you will experience if you read the story.

Michael and Anne travel to Glastonbury to visit the home left to Anne Le Clair by
her mother's sister. This is where the story begins, or should I say takes off?
Once in Glastonbury, they find that there is a problem with one of the Sacred Springs.
They take time off from their pursuit of the Illuminati to lend a hand. Here is where
the story begins and ends. But, ends is perhaps not the right word? I think the ending
lies somewhere in the future. I think you will enjoy the journey, but each journey has a
beginning. Pick up the book and see where your beginning lies..

Strongly recommended

The Heart Specialist by Claire Holden Rothman

The inspiration for this book was taken from the life
and work of Dr Maude Elizabeth Seymour Abbot. She was one
of Montreal's first female physicians. This is not at all
the story of her life, but a novel that takes us along the
path with a woman of that time who wanted to become a physician.

Those were still the years when women were expected to make a home
for their men, and considered ill equipped or not intelligent enough
to consider more than minimal education. To think of those times now,
it seems impossible. We have women like Dr Abbot to thank for the
fact that women are now understood to be the equals of men.

Agnes White and her younger sister were being raised by their paternal
grandmother. But although her younger sister was quiet and considered
to be ladylike, Agnes was more inquisitive. She wanted to know how things
worked. Specifically, she was interested in the human body and even as a
child revered her father, who was a doctor. She had in face taken some
of his equipment for her own. In particular she took and hid away, a microscope.
She had quietly removed it from among her fathers belongings which her
grandmother had given away, long after the man himself had disappeared.

There was a scandal, but of course Agnes believed that all of the talk was
wrong, and that her father, Doctor Bourret was not guilty of the murder of
his sister. A happy circumstance of a new governess, who was herself well
educated, but that at the knee of her own father, is what helped to set Agnes
on the path to become a physician, herself.

This is a well told and extraordinary story of a women whose struggle
to enter medical school seemed to be blocked at every turn. Finding out if
she would prevail, was a more than worthy read.

I recommend this extraordinary book to men and women alike.
Anyone interested in history, or just a good strong story will
be glad to read The Heart Specialist

Charlie St. Cloud: A Novel by Ben Sherwood

This was a book remarkable in it's beauty.
It is insightful, hopeful and filled with tragedy, but the message
I believe is to remember that things are not always as they seem.
Endings are beginnings too, and whatever we believe, truth is truth.

Charlie and his brother steal a neighbors car and sneak out to a baseball game.
their beagle was smuggled into the game too, in a backpack. They had a wonderful
time and were headed home when it happened. The thing that would change life
as they knew it forever.

Charlie lives the life of a lonely man, but it is also filled with
love and beauty. He is a good person who did a foolish thing,
This thing has been the center stone of his life until one day, another
tragedy happens. But remember, things are not always as they seem.
One seeming tragedy took away what he knew, could another tragedy
change his life yet again? Or will it be the end of Charlie?