A Light on the Veranda

Rating:
Summary: Ciji Ware scores again!
Review: An ardant fan, having read Cottage By the Sea,Island of the Swans, and especially Midnight on Julia Street (set in New Orleans & our introduction to Daphne Duvallon), I am thrilled with Light on the Vernada! Ware's weaving of a comtemporary story along with history of a hundred year's past, and the accuracy and detail she brings into the story are fascinating. A chat line said her next book will be set in San Francisco. Please write faster, Ciji Ware!

Rating:
Summary: Ciji Ware scores again!
Review: An ardant fan, having read Cottage By the Sea,Island of the Swans, and especially Midnight on Julia Street (set in New Orleans & our introduction to Daphne Duvallon), I am thrilled with Light on the Vernada! Ware's weaving of a comtemporary story along with history of a hundred year's past, and the accuracy and detail she brings into the story are fascinating. A chat line said her next book will be set in San Francisco. Please write faster, Ciji Ware!

Rating:
Summary: A Richly Rewarding Read
Review: As someone well acquainted with Natchez, setting for A LIGHT ON THE VERANDA, I found this book to be an honest reflection of a unique town lost in time. It's both engrossing and entertaining and shows a vivid familiarity with the Mississippi landscape, both past and present, as it gracefully weaves dual story lines. In no way a frothy romance, VERANDA is a richly rewarding read brimming with local color, humor, sexual tension, environmental issues and even a fun glimpse into the world of jazz bands.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting read
Review: I think I would have given this book a 4 star if so much did not happen to our heroine so quickly. I thought the writing was very well done. The characters both in the present and past had depth and interest to them that kept me reading. Both Daphne and Sim had their own emotional baggage that they had to work through, and did an admirable job in doing so. This is a story of a growing relationship, not your typical, h/h meet and fall instantly in love story (though there are elements of that too). Sometimes I thought they fell back on their preconceived ideas and previous habits too readily, but I suppose that is human nature and added some realism to the story. Both were at fault during these scenes and eventually talked through their problems.

Although this story stands pretty well on its own, it does help if you have read its predecessor Midnight on Julia Street (Daphne's brother's story). One of my smaller criticisms of the story is how dysfunctional this family is (as well as its ancestors). Between the self-centered mother, apathetic father, "interesting" aunt, and psychotic jilted ex, I thought things went a little too far. The only thing that brought it back to the credible and enjoyable for me was the tie-ins to the past. There were just enough of these to keep the story interesting, but not enough to bog the plot down. It is interesting how Ms. Ware does not have the present characters know the intricacies of their predecessors lives (which is what usually happens in these stories). We realize that everyone knows and is related to everyone else, but the true meaning of the previous generation's stories was lost. Some rumors came down through the families, but watching Daphne learn the true stories was interesting and well done. There are no assumptions made and then proven, Daphne slowly unravels the past story and its significance today.

Ms. Ware obviously has done her homework on the Miss-Lou area and it shines through in her writing. This a an enjoyable story to read, and I would not miss out on it, just be ready for a lot of going-ons. I will VERY rarely say this, but I thought there was too much going on.

Rating:
Summary: An interesting read
Review: I think I would have given this book a 4 star if so much did not happen to our heroine so quickly. I thought the writing was very well done. The characters both in the present and past had depth and interest to them that kept me reading. Both Daphne and Sim had their own emotional baggage that they had to work through, and did an admirable job in doing so. This is a story of a growing relationship, not your typical, h/h meet and fall instantly in love story (though there are elements of that too). Sometimes I thought they fell back on their preconceived ideas and previous habits too readily, but I suppose that is human nature and added some realism to the story. Both were at fault during these scenes and eventually talked through their problems.

Although this story stands pretty well on its own, it does help if you have read its predecessor Midnight on Julia Street (Daphne's brother's story). One of my smaller criticisms of the story is how dysfunctional this family is (as well as its ancestors). Between the self-centered mother, apathetic father, "interesting" aunt, and psychotic jilted ex, I thought things went a little too far. The only thing that brought it back to the credible and enjoyable for me was the tie-ins to the past. There were just enough of these to keep the story interesting, but not enough to bog the plot down. It is interesting how Ms. Ware does not have the present characters know the intricacies of their predecessors lives (which is what usually happens in these stories). We realize that everyone knows and is related to everyone else, but the true meaning of the previous generation's stories was lost. Some rumors came down through the families, but watching Daphne learn the true stories was interesting and well done. There are no assumptions made and then proven, Daphne slowly unravels the past story and its significance today.

Ms. Ware obviously has done her homework on the Miss-Lou area and it shines through in her writing. This a an enjoyable story to read, and I would not miss out on it, just be ready for a lot of going-ons. I will VERY rarely say this, but I thought there was too much going on.

Rating:
Summary: You have a treat in store with "Light in the Veranda"!
Review: I was trying to save Ciji Ware's new book, " A Light on the Veranda," as a fun read for my next vacation. However, I picked it up just to get a peek at what Daphne would be up to, since "Midnight on Julia Street" was one of my favorites last year. I subsequently found myself engrossed, reading "A Light on the Veranda" from cover to cover in one week. I was fascinated by the way the author wove the past and present in two story lines whose similarities were so intriguing that I couldn't wait to see how it all would get resolved. It was particularly interesting because I haven't spent much time in the South. Now I feel I know much more about plantations, local culture, etc. So much of this has to be real! I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: You have a treat in store with "Light in the Veranda"!
Review: I was trying to save Ciji Ware's new book, " A Light on the Veranda," as a fun read for my next vacation. However, I picked it up just to get a peek at what Daphne would be up to, since "Midnight on Julia Street" was one of my favorites last year. I subsequently found myself engrossed, reading "A Light on the Veranda" from cover to cover in one week. I was fascinated by the way the author wove the past and present in two story lines whose similarities were so intriguing that I couldn't wait to see how it all would get resolved. It was particularly interesting because I haven't spent much time in the South. Now I feel I know much more about plantations, local culture, etc. So much of this has to be real! I highly recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: HISTORICAL FICTION AT ITS BEST!
Review: If you enjoy historical romance fiction, A LIGHT ON THE VERANDA is a must read! Even if you've never been to Natchez, you'll feel like you are there as you read about the main character, Daphne Duvallon as she abruptly changes her life style and occupation. The story has many twists and turns, even a ghost or two.....Just as you think you know what is going to happen,another obstacle stands in the way of future happiness for Daphne. You will love the rich history of Natchez, the story and the characters in this book.

Rating:
Summary: A Light on the Veranda
Review: Just got done reading A Light on the Veranda and found it a wonderful story full of details of life in the antebellum south, the life of both classical and jazz musicians in New York and New Orleans all tied up with a ribbon of a "modern" romance set in the historic City of Natchez, Mississippi. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down.

If you haven't read any of Ciji Ware's books, you are missing out on a "good" read. I can't wait for her next book to be published!!!