Rating: 
Summary: I cried my heart out this is the best book I have yet read!
Review: "Through A Glass Darkly" is the most, heart-wrenching, attention grabber, poignant, love story that I have yet read. The details of the late 1700's in England and France captured my attention and the way Koen writes the characters feelings, thoughts, and actions that literally passed through me and into my very core. It has the strength to make even me, a very tough, and hard pleasing person, cry and worry over the characters' dilemmas. Since I do not have much time on me, I must wrap things up. This is the best novel that I have read so far its twists and turns kept me turning pages from early morn to late at night wondering what would happen next until everything ended. I love this book so much I went out and bought it right after I finished (I had rented the book from the library when I first read it) it! I would totally recommend this book to any fan of: heartbreaking love affairs, old English/French history and of course a long, hearty 743 page novel to pass the time reading.
Rating:
Summary: Epic and timeless
Review: I read this book about a year after it was published, and I loved it. Recently, I decided to purchase it and read it again, and now I love it even more. Karleen Koen does a phenomenal job of taking the reader past sympathy for the characters, and actually making you feel empathetic as you read the book.
Barbara is a timeless heroine, going from naive first love to the disillusioned acceptance of her married life, she starts the book as a child and emerges a young, strong, woman.
This book possesses all of the things that make historical romance great: diverse characters, rich descriptions of opulent settings, politics, corruption, fashion and manners. But the underlying themes of unconditional love, and undying faith are the things that really make this a novel worth reading.
Although this book appears voluminous and long, the story is so well written and plot driven that the 700+ pages seem not to be enough.
Barbara and Roger made me cry, Diana made me laugh. Much like life, this book offers the bitter and the sweet. Excellent writing and enriching reading.
Rating: 
Summary: I COULDN'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN AND HAVE NO IDEA WHY!
Review: I guess it is the wonderful writing that made "Through a Glass Darkly" such a compelling page-turner. I loved all the descriptions of the British aristocracy (or should I say the 'idle rich'?) during the early 1700's. And I was intrigued and repulsed by the images of the French royalty (and their patrician friends and acquaintances) and the lurid and decadent details of their nightlife. Learning about the workings of Tamworth, the lovely estate that is central to the story was absolutely fascinating. When I read a book, I like to transport myself into the principal character (or the female who is closest to the lead). Even with the 'Harry Potter' series, I can visualize myself (quite easily) as a student at Hogwarts. I could not see myself as Barbara Aderley. I can't imagine falling madly in love with a man who was almost 30 years older than me WHEN I WAS TEN! Throughout the entire novel, we are constantly reminded what a good, kind, honorable, and decent man was Roger Montgeoffry. I'm sorry; I just couldn't see those qualities. To me, he was a selfish, thoughtless individual who lived a very immoral and depraved life. And I am not referring to his 'little secret'! He was a horrible husband who had no qualms about leaving his fifteen year old wife (for more self indulgences) immediately following a horrible tragedy. Throughout all of this Barbara remained in love with Roger--I can't understand it. Wouldn't these events have been an impetus to sever the relationship (for most normal people)? I also felt cheated because supposedly Roger had promised an explanation for his actions--and we never received it. I love fairytales--any book or movie where there is joy and most definitely 'happy ever after.' There is very little joy in this saga; very few people are kind and there is a lot of death (read with kleenex). I really wanted something good to happen to Barbara, Therese and to poor Tony (who started off being fat, stupid and insecure and then morphed into movie star good looks, confidence and intelligence) but nothing ever did. I recommend THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY to anyone who enjoys a well-written historical novel. If you enjoy a warm fuzzy book, then read Rosemund Pilcher (my preference!).
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I first read this many years ago...and have read a a couple of times since. It's one of my favorite historical fiction novels & is probably the book that got me into historical fiction. I think it's a fantastic read!
Rating: 
Summary: Good book...
Review: There were things that I really liked about this book and some that I wasn't too crazy about. I'll start with what I liked. The first part of this book was very good. It was interesting to see Barbara slowly work her way into Roger's heart and life, little by little. I also liked the suspense that was added by the author's little hints about this "great secret" about Roger. The part of the book set in France was also really good. I really liked learning about French society during that period, especially the "behind the scenes" look. My favorite part, though, were some of the secondary characters. Roger's two employees, White and his manservant (name?), were hilarious. I also really liked Therese and Richelieu. The author also didn't spare details about the less pretty side of life in this time such as rotten teeth and smallpox epidemics that nearly took out whole families at a time. One of my main complaints about this book is how just as you hit the climax and Barbara finally finds out Roger's "big secret", the author skips to four or so years later. That's what I was waiting to read about and I felt cheated. The reader learns these things in flashbacks from Barbara. We even missed out on her affair with Richelieu. Also her behavior after she finds out about Roger is a little cliche and frankly I just found Barbara plain annoying throughout most of the book. Another problem I had, which is a small one, is Barbara's age. I know that it was common for older men to marry younger women, but I couldn't get past the fact that he was older than her parents, by a lot! Also I didn't care for such a young heroine, she was just a child. This might not bother other people, but I just get tired of reading about such young heroines. All in all, this was a good book, and I kept turning the pages to find out what would happen. There is a sequel which I also plan to read.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining
Review: This is a really fun read. It's not at all difficult to read, in fact it may even be on an adolescent level of literature or less. Like I said, it is fun and entertaining, appealing to the baser senses.
This is one of those books where you begin to care about the characters (not unlike a soap opera) and think about them for a long time afterwards. Therefore you must follow them to see where the story goes. I thought that Diana Alderly was as fascinating a character as Ingrid Magnuessen from White Oleander, or even as much as Scarlett O Hara.
One odd thing was that, the very first line ever uttered from Barabara was when she called her maidservant a slut for not letting her know when her mother had arrived in chapter one. For the rest of the book Barabara was someone else entirely; she was admirable, determined, caring, doting, and maternal to loved ones, so on. It was mildly bizarre that that was the first quote from her, but other than that, its a fine read.
You buy the books you know that you will want to read again, and I would buy this.
Rating:
Summary: Great balance of history and fiction!
Review: I have read both this book and its sequel both twice thru, it's that great. The author's ability to blend historical fact into such an interesting plot line is amazing. Most books I read that try to involve historical politics tempt me to skip ahead due to boredom, but not this book! The characters' individuality makes for realistic interaction and conflict. I couldn't help but read this book in no more than five or six sittings. It really is quite a sizeable book, but if it's the type of reading that catches your attention, pick it up, set yourself down, and prepare for one of the most realistic, captivating, enjoyable treks into the fictitious past.
Rating:
Summary: What a wonderful, wonderful, lovely book...
Review: ... Whoever shelved this book with romance novels was dead wrong. It is far, far more substantive than the usual watery romance fare. To begin with, Roger, the main male character, the heart of Barbara Alderley's desire, possesses all the qualities of a romance-novel hero, with one little flaw. Which, of course, I will not reveal, lest Amazon axes yet another one of my reviews. Suffice it to say, it is not his fear of heights or bad memories about a cold-hearted mother (standard romance novel "dark secrets") that will pain Barbara, his wife. In addition, the book is far, far darker than most romance novels are. There is death--quite a lot. People die, children die, smallpox comes and wipes out whole families. (Koen's descriptions of smallpox and its consequences are stomach-turning and heart-breaking at the same time.) By the end of the book, Barbara will suffer so much that the fortitude she shows is absolutely remarkable (somebody said she was winy; most modern heroines would have long been on Prosac, if they had to go through what she goes through in the book). Another reason why it is not a romance novel is that the characters are complex. As i said, Barbara was wonderful--and a difference between the Barbara of 15 at the beginning of the book, and Barbara of 21 at the end of the book is startling--and vivid. Both her grandmother, the Duchess of Tamworth (the entire family is painted, rather masterfully, from the Marlboroughs), and her mother, Diana, are wonderful. You love the former, you want to murder the latter. Roger is, of course, a true fallen angel--and he manages to enchant you absolutely, much like he enchanted his young wife. And of course, the most controversial (I think) character in the book--the absolutely evil, but captivating and tragic, Roger's friend, Philippe, Prince de Soissons. Finally, it is quite unlike a romance novel in that it provides the reader with an amazing amount of historical detail. Koen did an astounding amount of research, including on-site research in England and France. She manages to describe the contemporary English (and French) society with such masterful strokes, you really feel THERE. Their weddings, funerals, theater, everyday life, clothing, sex, death, food, the court, history--everything. All of that said, it is not a historical novel, either--the single historical event described in much detail is the terrible South Sea Bubble crisis of 1721, in which the lives of characters become entangled. Indeed, I think, this book quite stands out amidst women's novels--it is meticulously researched, fascinating, beautiful, poignant, sad, and very life-affirming. Perhaps the best book I've read in the past year.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic
Review: This is one of my favorite books. I have read it many times & never tire of it.
Rating:
Summary: What a wonderful book!
Review: I have read this book probably 7 times and each time I cannot put it down. A truly wonderful historical romance that is flaky in its dialogue sometimes, but always intriguing. Its follow-up, Now Face to Face, is also worth reading, but not quite as good.
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