Like MERCY, Jodi Picoult’s fourth novel, THE PACT, her fifth, is about a vulnerable man who kills the woman he loves at her request. Unlike MERCY, Chris Harte in THE PACT has […]
THE PACT by Jodi Picoult narrated by George Guidall
Cynthia
Cynthia Sally Haggard was born and reared in Surrey, England. About 30 years ago she surfaced in the United States, settling in the Mid-Atlantic region as she wound her way through four careers: violinist, cognitive scientist, medical writer, and novelist.
In June, 2015, Cynthia graduated with an MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University, Cambridge MA.
Her first novel, "Thwarted Queen," a frustrating tale (hence the title) of a woman who was nearly crowned Queen of England, was shortlisted for many awards, including the 2012 Eric Hoffer New Horizon Award for debut authors. To date, sales have surpassed 38,000 copies.
Her second novel, "Farewell My Life," a Cinderella-ish tale with not-so-charming princes who inhabit the edgy setting of 1920s and 1930s Berlin during the rise of the Nazis, won a Pinnacle Award for Historical Fiction (2019) and was a Distinguished Favorite for the 2019 New York City Big Book Awards.
MERCY by Jodi Picoult narrated by Alyssa Bresnahan
I agree with most readers that MERCY is not Jodi Picoult at her best. Unlike some, I didn’t mind the Scottish clan stuff as I felt it helped to raise the stakes […]
Reading Sundays: THE NON-AFFAIR (Part 9) a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
“Caroline, please don’t exaggerate. There must be plenty of others who could perform this service for you.” “I don’t understand.” My throat shut, so I had to swallow to open it. “I […]
THE ROAD TO LITTLE DRIBBLING by Bill Bryson narrated by Nathan Osgood
Perhaps we should get the meaning of the title over with first. For the bewildered reader who is wondering where Little Dribbling is, especially as it is not actually mentioned in this […]
THE BODY: A Guide for Occupants by Bill Bryson, narrated by the author
Despite its jokey title and a few quips, this is NOT a funny book. So if you are looking for Brysonian humor, you will be disappointed. It is, however, very interesting. Bill […]
Reading Sundays: THE NON-AFFAIR (Part 8) a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
“That was quite something.” He grinned. I searched his face, looking for—a morsel of kindness? “Want my job?” I stared at the brown leather shoes Mother had got at a Church sale. […]
Happy Holiday Season for 2020…may next year be better than this…
PRINCESS OF THE SILVER WOODS (TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES #3) by Jessica Day George
This is the final volume of the TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES series. Like Volume 2, which was a blend of the 12 dancing princesses fairy tale with Cinderella, this is a blend of […]
Jessica Day George’s PRINCESS OF GLASS (not exactly the Cinderella Story)
To say that Jessica Day George’s PRINCESS OF GLASS is yet another retelling of the Cinderella fairytale would be to mislead the reader, as neither Cinderella (named Eleanora/Ellen in this volume) nor […]
Reading Sundays: THE NON-AFFAIR (Part 7) a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
“Ifyoutakemetoyourfavoritecafe,” I remarked to the desk, “I’llorderthemostexpensivethingthere.” His silence was deadening. Unable to hold back any more, I lifted my face to his as a flood of giggles washed over me. He […]
Jessica Day George’s PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL
I loved this retelling of the TWELVE DANCING PRINCESSES. Jessica Day George adds some features that fill in the spaces and add logical sense to the gaps in the tale. We learn […]
PRIESTESS OF AVALON (AVALON #4) by Marion Zimmer Bradley & Diana L. Paxson
While THE MISTS OF AVALON, the first volume in this series was set in Britain in the five hundreds CE, when the Romans left, the Anglo-Saxons arrived and Christianity was ascendant, PRIESTESS […]
LADY OF AVALON (AVALON #3) by Marion Zimmer Bradley & Diana L. Paxson
This novel is three stories in one, and serves to bridge the time period between FOREST HOUSE which takes place from 86 to 96 CE, to 452 CE when Viviane takes over […]
Reading Sundays: THE NON-AFFAIR (Part 6) a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
I was a young lady, and wanted to be treated as such, so I wore my church clothes, a black skirt that came to mid-calf and made me look older, the white […]
THE FOREST HOUSE (AVALON #2) by Marion Zimmer Bradley & Diana L. Paxson
It is around 86 CE. Eilan, a 14-year-old grand-daughter of Ardanos, the Arch-Druid of Britannia, can already see visions and hears the call of the Goddess. All might have gone smoothly with […]
Marion Zimmer Bradley’s THE MISTS OF AVALON (AVALON #1)
To many, three is a sacred number. It is the sign of the Trinity. Three Norns twine the threads of Fate. And in this re-telling of the King Arthur Legend (told from […]
Heather Dixon’s ENTWINED
ENTWINED is author Heather Dixon’s retelling of the twelve dancing princesses set in a castle in the nineteenth century. At the beginning, the eleven sisters are faced with a double tragedy, the […]
Reading Sundays: THE NON-AFFAIR (Part 5) a short story by Cynthia Sally Haggard
“I’ve never met a woman like you before.” I held my breath as I cast my eyes down, willing my heart to stop dancing its jagged rhythm. For the first twenty years […]
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