Magnolia

Rating:
Summary: The Civil War is OVER!
Review: Ginny Aiken does a wonderful job of portraying life in a small southern town. (I should know, I grew up in one!) A delightful read, not just about restoring an old mansion and finding a treasure, but one of self discovery and finding the treasure of love. A good way to start a series, you will want to keep up with the Bellamy sisters and their southern hospitality/hostility!

Rating:
Summary: The War of Northern Agitation by Southern Belle's!
Review: Ginny Aiken does a wonderful job of portraying life in a small southern town. (I should know, I grew up in one!) A delightful read, not just about restoring an old mansion and finding a treasure, but one of self discovery and finding the treasure of love. A good way to start a series, you will want to keep up with the Bellamy sisters and their southern hospitality/hostility!

Rating:
Summary: The Civil War is OVER!
Review: Ginny Aiken's account of the romance between aConfederate-loving Southern Belle and the Carpetbagger Yankee is about100 years too late. I live in the South and I don't automatically distrust every person I meet who hails from above the Mason Dixon Line. Yet, Ms. Aiken's Magnolia Bellamy hires a Yankee restoration expert and immediately distrusts him just for his birth venue. This is totally antiquated and a ridiculous premise for a love story. I plowed through this Christian-based novel, disliking the heroine and her silly old lady friends for their vapid and unrealistic Southern dialogue and actually felt sorry for the poor hero Clay for falling in love! Ms. Aiken was way off base in her portrayal of a modern Southern working woman of the new Millenium. I've lived in the South all my life and have NEVER heard anyone use the expletive "Flapjacks!" Sophomoric, amateurish and a total waste of time.

Rating:
Summary: Culturally inaccurate but fun
Review: I found this book to be culturally inaccurate because I have never heard of a southerner being distrustful of a northerner just becuase they were born in the North. I was born and raised in south Alabama and found the reactions to Clay to be completely unrealistic. However, I also found the book to be completely entertaining and I actually read it in less than a day (and I have a 3 year old and a 2 year old). I liked it and have already reserved Lark, the next book in the series, at the library. Enjoy the book, but please don't take the prejudiced opinions and behavior of the lead character seriously!

Rating:
Summary: One fun read!
Review: I had a blast. I especially enjoyed feeling part of their idiosyncratic community and getting close to the characters (warts and all!) When will we get our next visit with them?

Rating:
Summary: One fun read!
Review: I had a blast. I especially enjoyed feeling part of their idiosyncratic community and getting close to the characters (warts and all!) When will we get our next visit with them?

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book!
Review: I totally disagree with the reader from Memphis,Tennesse who gave this book 1 star and totally insulted Ms. Aiken and the way she wrote this book. OK, it may be a fact that most people in the South don't automatically dislike and distrust people in the North. But guess what? this is just a fictional story with fictional characters and the reader from Memphis,TN didn't need to be so critical. Anyway I thought this was a great story! I gave it 5 stars. But that's just my opinion. But you should read it and decide for yourself. I can't wait to read the following books in this series! Good Job Ms. Aiken!