Here I Stay

Rating:
Summary: Awful!
Review: I was halfway through this book and wanted to throw it against the wall, it was that bad. I have read her works before, and they were very good -- but not this one. It was not scary at all. The heroine was very unlikeable--in fact everyone was. I was definitely very disappointed in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Good- it choked me up!
Review: Like all Barbara Michaels' novels, Here I Stay is a superb book. I couldn't put it down. Michaels recreates the atmosphere of a country inn in a small town with consummate skill, and the characters are cleverly drawn. If you've read this author's works before, you know that she relies on certain formulas, and most of them are again in evidence here. So what! They are formulas that work, and Michael's tale is, as always, intelligently written. Be forewarned: the heroine of this particular novel is bitter, extremely unlikable, and astonishingly old-ladyish for 31. Nevertheless, that doesn't stop her from being believable, and it shouldn't put you off from this wonderful, suspenseful book.

Rating:
Summary: 100% Enjoyable
Review: Like all Barbara Michaels' novels, Here I Stay is a superb book. I couldn't put it down. Michaels recreates the atmosphere of a country inn in a small town with consummate skill, and the characters are cleverly drawn. If you've read this author's works before, you know that she relies on certain formulas, and most of them are again in evidence here. So what! They are formulas that work, and Michael's tale is, as always, intelligently written. Be forewarned: the heroine of this particular novel is bitter, extremely unlikable, and astonishingly old-ladyish for 31. Nevertheless, that doesn't stop her from being believable, and it shouldn't put you off from this wonderful, suspenseful book.

Rating:
Summary: Great anti-cliché
Review: Since I don't like romantic novels -that is, novels that are centered on the romance between the characters- I began to read this with extra caution and a pinch of prejudice. I also bore in mind that it is extremely difficult to find a "gothic" novel that is not full of the usual "blood-curdling" clichés. But I knew this author already as Elizabeth Peters and thought that she narrated wonderfully well with a great sense of humour, and I had heard such good things of her as Barbara Michaels that I decided to give it a try .... Boy, was I wrong! This writer is particularly good at character building (more so than in the Amelia Peabody series, where the characters are funnier but more like charicatures), so much so that we feel we are getting to know real people. This is especially the case with the main character, Andrea, who is bound to learn a great lesson and evolve throughout the story, and from whose point of view the events are told.The romance comes really as a natural consequence of the evolution of these characters, and it is never forced or far-fetched -and, of course, thank heavens!, it is not a romance between physically perfect, young and extraordinary people, but quite a realistic affair between two common middle-aged persons. The "gothic" atmosphere is never cliché and it is very intelligently contrived, so that rational, intelligent readers don't have to laugh or feel indignation...It is, well, there and not there (I can't say more without revealing). But the most important thing is that this novel centers on the evolution of well-built, round characters and the lessons they learn about life. The romance is part of this evolution, and never the most important element, and the "gothic" is part of the setting and never full of clichés or the justification of the events. I expect to read more from this author soon.

Rating:
Summary: AN EXCELLENT READ!!!!!!!
Review: This is such a great book!! B.M. is such a great writer. She makes you get so involved in the characters and you feel like you'r right there, with them.I felt as if I knew Martin,Jim, and Andrea.The supernatural events that occured gave me the chills.I didn't want the book to end!!!This is a must read if you love Barbara Michaels-or if you love a really good mystery!!

Rating:
Summary: Richly textured, well written, but .....
Review: This is the story of a woman and her younger brother inheriting a house from a great aunt ... yes, a haunted house. There are just enough spooky things in this story to satisfy those who like a little bit of ghostliness in their books -- not a lot of ghostly stuff though. This book was very well written. Ms. Michaels described her characters so well you come to care about them. One flaw to this book is that the main character is not a very nice person, she's downright nasty most of the time -- sarcastic. She was not a sympathetic character at all. You come away from this character thinking she is a complete jerk. The characters around her are wonderful "people" and they are often hurt by her sarcastic words. No she absolutely has no redeeming qualities. Also, there is a surprise ending that I found very disappointing. That all said, I gave this book a 4 because it was well written and held my attention until the very end. Get your copy from the library if you must read it. Save your money. This book is not a keeper.

Rating:
Summary: Pretty good
Review: This novel is set in a bed & breakfast in rural Maryland. The three main characters are Andrea (a single-minded, self-focused young woman), Jim (her much younger brother), and Martin (a journalist staying at the inn). These characters are interesting and well drawn, but I feel that the book would have been far more compelling if it had been told from Jim's point of view rather than Andrea's. The conclusion would have been more satisfying, in my mind, if we knew more of what Jim experienced. A pretty good book, but not one I will read again.

Rating:
Summary: Yet Another Good Book by Michaels
Review: While I read this book hungrily and bonded with all of the characters, the ending left me feeling disinterested. I agree with the reader from Maine that the story would have been much more interesting if told by Jim, to whom all the supernatural things are happening. It was still a good book, though, and I recommend it to any Barbara Michaels fan.