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Title: The Look

Author: Sophia Bennett

Narrator: Helen McAlpine

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins

Language: English

Release date: 04-05-12

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Life in front of the camera is harder than it looks... When Ted is spotted by a model agency, she can't believe it. At the same time her gorgeous sister, Ava, is diagnosed with cancer. With her world turned upside down, Ted has a lot of growing up to do, some of it in five-inch platforms. Can she be a supermodel and a super sister? Or will she have to choose between fame and family?

Members Reviews:

touching story of 2 sisters and the paths their lives take them in

When I first read the synopsis for this book, I was intrigued. I thought it would be interesting to see how the author meshed the two subjects of the (in my opinion) very superficial world of modeling, and the very real, scary and serious world of living with cancer. I knew from the synopsis that Ava was the sister who finds out she has cancer, and Ted was the sister who has the modeling job.

In the first chapter we learn that Ted has no interest in the fashion industry, and Ava is obsessed with it.

This is how I *thought* the story would play out:

Ava would be jealous from the beginning of Ted's career, trying to talk her out of going to calls, trying to sabotage her career so it doesn't even become one. She would hold on to her jealousy and turn bitter and against her sister, all the while all her sister would want to do is be there for Ava in her time of need. Eventually things would come to a head, Ted would make it big, and realize at the height of her career, what was really important, and rush to her sister's bedside, where she would inevitably be on her deathbed. Once sisters reunite and get rid of their petty jealousy and anger, Ava would make a miraculous recovery, and they would live happily ever after.

Imagine my surprise when I was wrong. I was impressed with Ava's character, and her very obvious love for her sister. If it couldn't be her, it better be Ted. I was doubly impressed with Ted's character, when she shows her strength and love for her sister when they get matching hair-dos (read the book).

The author talks about all of the modeling scams that are out there and mentions them for a reason. They are real, and they are important to know about. I loved the fact that the author was very real-to-life when it came to the modeling business. She explained how things work, how things get started, how not everyone makes it big, and how no one gets pulled off the street and makes it big in 30 seconds, like what happens in the movies.

I liked the book, but there were a couple things that were not to my liking. The very biggest one, and a mistake that a lot of authors make (and seen so many times in movies, it's scary) is that she's "dated" her book: She mentions things that are hot topics currently, and in a few years, no one is going to know what she's talking about. For instance ~ "I think of Kristen Stewart â she was a great vampire. Maybe I could look like her: pale and sulky." Kristen Stewart is a fad because of the twilight books and movies. No one is going to have a clue who she is in 10 years. (Keeping my opinion about her out of this lol) there were a few times I read something she'd put in there and thought 'no, no, no. WHY'...not to pick on Sophia Bennett, I say this about anyone who does this.

The second thing is the love story, using the word story very loosely.

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Title: Two Caravans

Author: Marina Lewycka

Narrator: Siân Thomas

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 51 mins

Language: English

Release date: 03-23-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A beautiful summer's evening in a Kent field and around their two caravans a group of strawberry pickers celebrates a birthday. But what lies behind the buy-one-get-one-free offers at your supermarket and who picks our strawberries? The Ukrainians: Irina, just off the coach from Kiev, and Andriy, the miner's son from the other Ukraine; the Poles: Tomasz and Yola; two Chinese girls; Emanuel, the round-eyed eighteen-year-old from Malawi. And although he can't pick strawberries, there's also the Dog Hilarious, gritty, moving and slapstick, Two Caravans has all the ingredients that made A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian so successful.

Members Reviews:

Dark realism and slapstick humour

At first glance a comic and romantic road-movie type tale, this book also shows the darker side of the UK through the eyes of migrant workers, and reveals how easy it is for young people from other countries to slip through the net into some appalling exploitation. Fast moving, not afraid to go into some difficult places - you may never eat chicken again after the description of factory farming - it succeeds in blending dark realism with enough upbeat slapstick humour to keep you hooked and wanting to know what happens next. And something certainly will happen next!

Brilliant characters who invite you to understand

I've read the book before, but as I don't have as much time for reading these days absolutely love the audio book. The narrator is very successful at translating the finer quality of the characters which I remember from my first reading.

I've also ready 'A short history of tractors in Ukraine', and find both very inviting/welcoming. Some how the author is very successful at making you feel welcome in a world and culture which might not be your own. The author also doesn't shy away from difficult topics, and is brilliant at bringing out the best of humanity in her characters without making light of the reality they find themselves in.

Looking forward to reading 'we are all made of glue'!

Excellent

Where does Two Caravans rank among all the audiobooks youve listened to so far?

The best so far

What other book might you compare Two Caravans to, and why?

other books by the same author. Same style funny but poignant.

What does Siân Thomas bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you had only read the book?

Excellent expression and dialogue.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Made me laugh and cry. Very funny but also shows the difficulties face by immigrants.

Any additional comments?

An excellent book. Light hearted in places,funny but sad too.

We lovely this hilarious book.

What did you like about this audiobook?

Sian Thomas has a fanatic talent for reading any book by lewycka. She had us in stitches with this one. The story is gritty in places and a little sad but the characters and situation they get into are very entertaining. It certainly gives a different take on immigration and I'll certainly wash my strawberries well from now on.

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Title: Winter in Thrush Green

Author: Miss Read

Narrator: June Barrie

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-09-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 2 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

A new excitement comes to the village of Thrush Green when Harold Shoosmith, a distinguished bachelor who has chosen the village for his retirement, takes the corner house on the green. Harold is soon enmeshed in village politics and becomes involved in the private lives of his neighbours as well. His presence has a dramatic effect on Dimity Dean and Ella Bembridge and is the cause of a serious misunderstanding between the two friends.

And the villages widowed rector finds in Harold a new friend who gives him the courage to end his lonely state.

Read by Gwen Watford.

Members Reviews:

Winter in Thrush Green, perfect listening

I love Miss Read and have done since I read my mothers copies. This winter has seen snow and cold rain, so evenings by the fire, listening to June Barrie narrate have been blissful.

country life personified

Beautifully written your mind is emersed in the characters and there lives. a must read.

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Title: Tyler's Row

Author: Miss Read

Narrator: Gwen Watford

Format: Unabridged

Length: 6 hrs and 7 mins

Language: English

Release date: 01-09-12

Publisher: Audible Studios

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 3 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The two-hundred-year-old cottages known as Tylers Row, with charming leaded-glass windows and an arched thorn hedge over the gateway, are supposed to provide a haven of peace for their new owners, Peter and Diana Hale.

They plan to convert the middle two cottages into one, to create their own rural refuge. But beset by carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and bills, as well as their neighbouring tenants, the redoubtable Sergeant Barnaby and the sour Mrs. Fowler, both long-time residents of Tylers Row, the couple soon have cause to ponder their decision.

Fairacre is not the utopia they expect, and the Hales must adapt to ordinary life in a village full of extraordinary quirks. Read by Gwen Watford.

Members Reviews:

Hooray, Amazon - only a few scanning errors!

Miss Read gets 10 Stars but companies that sell flawed books should get 0. I give it 3 only because it is a Miss Read book. I have all of her hardbacks and paperbacks and would really enjoy the ebooks because of the ability to change background colors and font sizes but, after purchasing a few, only to discover huge scanning errors in the others I am giving up. No more Miss Read ebooks. BTW, always demand a refund - it is the only way Amazon gets the message - it doesn't give a damn about reviews. Also, the reviewer who mentions 'foul language' is correct - amazingly, there is foul language - I have spotted the same thing in 'Over The Gate' - I also now wonder if 'others' contributed to the writing.

If you like a mellow but entertaining read

This is a very enjoyable series. If you like a mellow but entertaining read, give these a try!

Books by Miss Read

These books are enchanting and are wonderful to relax with even though there is always an excitement plot to follow.

I wish Kindle will have all of then in a audio version, I know audio versions exist to most of Miss Read books. Please purchase the rights and let us enjoy listening to these beautiful stories

As a designer and a lover of architecture this is my favorite volume in the Fairacre series.

Tyler's Row is a series of four joined cottages. The poor landlord has rented out these cottages to Fairacre's less fortunate citizens for so long that there is no money left over for the maintenance and repair of this charming row of thatched cottages. After much thought he decides to sell up and move to a nice quiet retirement.

But who will purchase this row of cottages and what will they do with them? And what about the two feuding villagers who live at opposite ends of the four cottages? Can anyone live in peace with these two?

Read along and enjoy as the cottages are purchased and remodeled by newcomers to Fairacre, and thrill to their adventures and misadventures with the process.

I really enjoyed this volume in the series, and I'm enjoying each book in it's turn.

Buy all the Miss Read books. You'll enjoy them over and over for years.

Anyone looking for great bedtime reading should buy all the Miss Read stories. I read these to an Alzheimer's patient over the phone each evening. Not only is she able to follow the stories (with a little judicial editing my me to weed out any sad words because an 85 year old lady does not need to hear about gravestones in the churchyard). She chuckles at the subtle humor and thanks me for the word pictures of a beautiful village.

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Title: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder

Subtitle: Inspector Singh Investigates, Book 1

Author: Shamini Flint

Narrator: Jonathan Keeble

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-28-11

Publisher: Hachette Audio UK

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 13 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Inspector Singh is in a bad mood. He's been sent from his home in Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to solve a murder that has him stumped. Chelsea Liew - the famous Singaporean model - is on death row for the murder of her ex-husband. She swears she didn't do it, he thinks she didn't do it, but no matter how hard he tries to get to the bottom of things, he still arrives back at the same place - that Chelsea's husband was shot at point blank range, and that Chelsea had the best motivation to pull the trigger: he was taking her kids away from her. Now Inspector Singh must pull out all the stops to crack a crime that could potentially free a beautiful and innocent woman and reunite a mother with her children.

There's just one problem - the Malaysian police refuse to play ball.

Members Reviews:

First in a set of Short Entertaining Crime Stories

Shamini Flint is definitely worth the read.

We get a loveable but regularly grumpy "cop" along with easily disliked killers from an author that leaves suspects, all over the place.

Quirky and quick its certainly not maudlin at all for a murder mystery.

enjoyable

enjoyable story, reasonable plot, good narration,easy to listen to,would recommend and buy another book by this author and or narrator

Excellent

A good mystery told well. I would recommend this book to friends and family. I will read others by this author

Good concept...

and could be a very good TV series. But, not really sure of the novel somehow. I really liked the lead character 'Inspector Singh' but not really sure of the strength of the supporting cast.

Worth a listen as Jonathan Keeble is an AWESOME narrator. His narration of The Woodcutter.... superb.

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Title: Gods Without Men

Author: Hari Kunzru

Narrator: Rupert Degas, Kate Harper, Lorelei King, Kerry Shale, Trevor White, Andrew Wincott

Format: Unabridged

Length: 14 hrs and 34 mins

Language: English

Release date: 10-11-11

Publisher: Whole Story Audiobooks

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 11 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

The California desert. A four-year-old boy disappears, plunging his parents into the public hell of a media witch-hunt. But the desert is inexplicable and miraculous, and the family's fate is bound up with that of all those who have travelled before them through this brutally powerful landscape. Multilayered and a compulsively readable, Gods Without Men is a heartfelt exploration of our search for pattern and meaning in a random and chaotic universe.

Members Reviews:

Wow!

I purchased this novel only because it was on special offer. I had never heard of the author but I liked the sound of the plot and thought if I didn't like it I hadn't spent a fortune, and if nothing else was happy because some of my favourite narrators (Rupert Degas, Lorelei King, Andrew Wincott) were doing the narration. The brief synopsis given by audible, sadly, does not give any idea of what a strange, disturbing, haunting piece of writing this is. To even try and explain the plot, which is told partly in flashback but not in a linear way, would take far too long. Centred around a strange rock formation in the Southern Californian desert, which seems to act as a focal point for all sorts of bizarre characters, some recognisable from recent true historical events, including the financial meltdowns of major economies, the war in Iraq and war atrocities, abducted children, suicidal 'religious' cults, trash TV and shallow celebrity culture. It's all here.

End of world cults, bible-obsessed visionaries, Wall Street speculators, whiz kid computer software designers and rednecks whose paths all cross over centuries, with a common theme of Native American, Christian, Judaic and Eastern mystic texts and a recurring theme of real or imagined strange sightings in the skies. All I can say is that this is one of the most compelling listens I have ever encountered on audible. The narration is quite simply superb, and I was not surprised, and pleased if a little frustrated, that the ending did not neatly tie up all the threads. If you like your listening material to be way out of the ordinary, this book is certainly for you.

Book ended with too many questions unanswered..

Perhaps my expectation that a book should end with the majority of key questions/resolved, is a bit naiive, perhaps it should have been subtitled "Book 1 of the Raj trilogy" . At least I wouldn't have been surprised when the book ended with the plucky family heading out across the desert.

ET and hippies!

Native Indians, drugged out hippies in a commune and seemingly sane individuals experience strange hallucinations in the desert. We slip back and forth over the decades with members of these three groups, while the hunt is on for a missing autistic boy.

The use of multiple narrators was a good touch, especially King and Shale who are favourites of mine; the missing star is because the end was a bit abrupt and I didn't quite understand it.

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Title: The Grief of Others

Author: Leah Hager Cohen

Narrator: Pam Ward

Format: Unabridged

Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-30-11

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Ratings: 3.5 of 5 out of 15 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Is keeping a secret from a spouse always an act of infidelity? And what cost does such a secret exact on a family? The Ryries have suffered a loss: the death of a baby just 57 hours after his birth. Without words to express their grief, the parents, John and Ricky, try to return to their previous lives. Struggling to regain a semblance of normalcy for themselves and for their two older children, they find themselves pretending not only that little has changed, but that their marriage, their family, have always been intact. Yet in the aftermath of the baby's death, long-suppressed uncertainties about their relationship come roiling to the surface. A dreadful secret emerges with reverberations that reach far into their past and threaten their future. The couple's children, ten-year-old Biscuit and thirteen-year-old Paul, responding to the unnamed tensions around them, begin to act out in exquisitely---perhaps courageously---idiosyncratic ways. But as the four family members scatter into private, isolating grief, an unexpected visitor arrives, and they all find themselves growing more alert to the sadness and burdens of others---to the grief that is part of every human life but that also carries within it the power to draw us together.

Moving, psychologically acute, and gorgeously written, The Grief of Others asks how we balance personal autonomy with the intimacy of relationships, how we balance private decisions with the obligations of belonging to a family, and how we take measure of our own sorrows in a world rife with suffering. This novel shows how one family, by finally allowing itself to experience the shared quality of grief, is able to rekindle tenderness and hope.

Critic Reviews:

"An engrossing and revealing look at family . . . Leah Hager Cohen writes about difficult subjects with unfailing compassion and insight." (Tom Perrotta, author of Little Children)

Members Reviews:

Gag me with a gargantuan gynormous gyroscope

INSUFFERABLE!!! The author must have had a dictionary open on her lap while she wrote this tripe. I am sorry that I purchased the book--kept hoping it would be worth my investment--nothing but regrettable--I can't believe she is considered to be a good writer--perhaps she hangs out with Franzen.

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Title: The Pub Across the Pond

Author: Mary Carter

Narrator: Kirsten Potter

Format: Unabridged

Length: 12 hrs and 12 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-30-11

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 90 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Sometimes leaving home is the only way to find where you truly belong.

Carlene Rivers is many things. Dutiful, reliable, kind. Lucky? Not so much. At 30, shes living a stifling existence in Cleveland, Ohio. Then one day, Carlene buys a raffle ticket. The prize: a pub on the west coast of Ireland. Carlene is stunned when she wins. Everyone else is stunned when she actually goes.

As soon as she arrives in Ballybeog, Carlene is smitten, not just by the towns beguiling mix of ancient and modern but by the welcome she receives. In this small town near Galway Bay, strife is no stranger, strangers are family, and no one is ever too busy for a cup of tea or a pint. And though her new job presents challengesfrom a meddling neighbor to the pubs colorful regularsthere are compensations galore. Like the freedom to sing, joke, and tell stories and, in doing so, find her own voice. And in her flirtation with Ronan McBride, the pubs charming, reckless former owner, she just may find the freedom to follow where impulse leads and trust her heartand her luckfor the very first time.

Critic Reviews:

Superb storytelling and fun and fantastic characters make this a story not soon forgotten. (Romantic Times)

Members Reviews:

a romance read, disappointing for me.

I loved the story idea behind this book, and basically enjoyed the story itself; but there were too many "romance story" interjections for me, and I couldn't skim over it like I would in a printed version. I enjoy mysteries, thrillers, literature, and historical fiction, but generally don't care for the light romance novels, and this tended toward the latter, in my opinion. There was also a conversation at the pub that disgusted me because I thought it was just thrown in for the language alone, The F word is thrown around quite casually, so if it bothers you, beware. That in itself didn't bother me as much as the unnecessary bar conversation. I did like the turn the story took at the end, so that it did end well. The narrator was excellent for this book.

If you don't like the F bomb, don't listen to this

Would you be willing to try another book from Mary Carter? Why or why not?

No, I didn't appreciate the language

Any additional comments?

Wish there would have have been an explicit language warning on this book

Disappointment

The reviews for this book were good but I was disappointed. The continual use of THAT four letter word was overwhelming,. I actually didn't finish the book.

Kinda silly

I bought this because I enjoyed the narrator so much in Spymasters Lady. She performed well in this audible, too. The story was a little silly. If you like simple characters and a not very realistic plot this is for you. This is not life changing fiction but good for the beach or a commute listen.

Ugh! I couldn't get through it. Bad writing!

I love all novels, of every genre. This story line and plot seemed so interesting! Right up my alley. But I could not get through it. I made it maybe 25 minutes in, and I had to stop. Clearly the author is a great storyteller, but not a great writer. Every line is, "he said" "she said" "he said" "she said" "Ronan said" "Sarah said" "Katie said" "Declan said" -- it not only gets exhausting, but it completely takes away from the story line and frustrates me.

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Title: Comfort and Joy

Author: India Knight

Narrator: Anne Flosnik

Format: Unabridged

Length: 7 hrs and 18 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-27-11

Publisher: Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Ratings: 3 of 5 out of 6 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

If Bridget Jones had two exhusbands, three children, and invited her entire extended family over for Christmas

Its December 23, and Clara Dunphy is running around Oxford Street like a chicken with its head cut off trying to pick up a few lastminute bits and bobs. Despite the frenzy, the twicedivorced mother of three loves Christmas and always wants to make it perfecta challenge even in the best of times but particularly when family means an extended network of inlaws, outlaws, exstepfathers, and hangerson totaling sixteen. Is the madness of Christmas really worth it?

Clara is a witty, blackly funny everywoman who will win over anyone who has ever longed to shut out the holidays with a giant martiniand some olives.

Critic Reviews:

Riotously high in laughs and glamour. I defy a festive grump not to be cheered by it. (Independent (London), a Book of the Year)

Members Reviews:

Not the usual sappy Christmas Story

Hmm what to say about Comfort & Joy, first of all this isnt your normal sappy with a good moral Christmas story it is more Sex in the City meets AbFab Christmas story. And that is exactly what I liked about this book it was fun and had many laugh out loud moments, but not one you want to listen to in public without earbuds in it does get a little racy in spots but that is half the fun of this book.

I liked the characters in this book, Clara was trying to do the best she could and I like that she included not only her exes but their families too so her children would still have family there for Christmas, which I found very refreshing. She is a bit of an A personality when it comes to planning the big Christmas meal and was happy that on the third Christmas in the book they went to Marrakesh and she let others do much of the work.

I related to Clara so much, trying to plan the perfect Christmas for a bunch of people youre not sure you even want to spend time with let alone whats supposed to be a happy holiday. But I loved how she handled it, I myself would have drank much more! I loved Claras wit and sarcasm, I am a bit sarcastic myself so I enjoyed this aspect of Claras personality immensely!

Anne Flosniks flawless narration helps this book along at times and who knew she had such good comic timing, she embodies Clara and all the other characters, as always Annes narration was spot on!

Just a warning if you are reading or listening to this in public there are some laugh out loud moments and you may get sideways glances from people around you, I would also recommend not eating or drinking anything while reading especially the first half or you may ruin your book and/or your clothes from spitting whatever you have eaten or attempted to drink!

If you like your Christmas stories on the bawdy, funny side I highly recommend this book. Just dont go into it thinking you are getting a heartwarming sappy read because thats not this book!

4 Stars

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Title: Veil of Roses

Author: Laura Fitzgerald

Narrator: Angela Dawe

Format: Unabridged

Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins

Language: English

Release date: 09-26-11

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Ratings: 4.5 of 5 out of 29 votes

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

Publisher's Summary:

Tamila Soroush wanted it all. But in the Islamic Republic of Iran, dreams are a dangerous thing for a girl. Tami abandons themuntil her twenty-seventh birthday, when her parents give her a one-way ticket to America, hoping she will go and wake up her luck. If they have their way, Tami will never return to Iranwhich means she has three months to find a husband in America. Three months before shes sent back for good.

From her first Victorias Secret bra to her first ride on a motor scooter to her first country line-dance, Tami drinks in the freedom of an American girl. Inspired to pursue her passion for photography, she even captures her adventures on film. But looming over her is the fact that she must concede to an arranged marriage before her visa expires. To complicate matters, her friendship with Ike, a young American man, has grown stronger. And it is becoming harder for Tami to ignore the forbidden feelings she has for him.

Its in her English as a second language class that Tami finds a support system. With the encouragement of headstrong Eva, loyal Nadia, and Agata and Josef, who are carving out a love story of their own, perhaps Tami can keep dreaming and find a way to stay in America.

Critic Reviews:

A gorgeously authentic voice. Fitzgeralds narrative is infused with wit, warmth and compassion. Of you like cross-cultural books, you wont want to put this down. (Kavita Daswani, author of Salaam, Paris)

In this winning debut, Fitzgerald has crafted the powerful story of one womans courage to look beyond the life that she has been given a poignant and uplifting novel full of charm, wit and grace. (Beth Kendrick, author of Nearlyweds)

Members Reviews:

Rooting for freedom

This is a lovely story that was extremely well narrated. It is so well performed that I found myself completely inhabiting the soul of the protagnist, even as I wanted to shake sense into her. Each of the other characters was also made incredibly real. A highly recommended book.

FANTASTIC book!!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

YES! I have!

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character, Tamila. I know, I'm a real original. She is just so real. I know many immigrants, many from Iran, and she is just how they are. Her fears, her anger, her confusion..it's all palpable.

I also love that it shows that all middle eastern people aren't bloodthirsty terrorists. Here in America, there is such a broad-brushed idea that they are all bad. It's so not true, not at all, and I'm glad this book paints a picture of that.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene is when Tamila meets Ike for the first time at Starbucks. The confusion she has for the term "free sample" and the ensuing bout of fear she has when Ike won't let her pay, is hilarious while letting you see how her fear was so real.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

See how daunting "the land of the free" can be for someone who has never had freedom.

Wonderful read

What does Angela Dawe bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?

The narrator's voice ably conveys different characters' ages, ethnicity and sex with subtlety and charm.

Any additional comments?

I read the sequel first, "Dreaming in English" and loved it. "Veil of Roses" is just as wonderful.