Rating: 
Summary: I KEN THE PLEASURE
Review: I do admit that this book starts out verra slow. But once past the Scottish Gathering of 1770 in the hills of North Carolina , it really does pick up. Her characters are wonderful, sexy and way too literate for the backwood country but then this book is also about Time-Travel. Their way of life on the farm at Fraser's Ridge is so healthy, sensible and full of love, it makes me want to move there and start my chores. However, thay do have to contend with things like white ghost bears, the regulator ( Anti-English rebel ) uprisings, hidden gold from France, manipulative rich family members, snake attacks, lightening strikes and nephews returning from the Mohawk nation with books full of Latin time-travel information. You never know what is going to happen next. I found the book to be hugely entertaining. I also enjoyed the play of languages in Gaelic, French, etc as well as the songs and the English useage of the era. In addition, Mrs. Fraser's work as a surgeon/doctor in that time where she combined local medicine with her future medical knowledge was rather fascinating. And, of course, this book sets the stage for the book that will cover the American Revolution. I look forward to it!
Rating: 
Summary: Only for the most diehard Outlander fans
Review: Outlander was one of the most richly rewarding books that I've ever read, a wonderful blend of action, romance, history, wit and humanity, written with great intelligence. I felt that Gabaldon maintained this blend to a great extent through Dragonfly in Amber and Voyager, with their incredibly varied venues and characters. Even though I was somewhat disappointed with Drums of Autumn, which was much narrower in scope and venue than the previous books, I would still have recommended the series to anyone. Unfortunately, The Fiery Cross cannot be recommended to any but the most passionate Gabaldon fan. The story is lacking most of the qualities of the earlier books; all that is left are the main characters and several unrelated, minor plot lines that could justify a short novel (certainly not 1000 pages). The remainder of the book is filled with excruciating and repetitive (albeit generally well-written) detail about mundane aspects of the main characters lives over a very short and largely uneventful span of time.One of the biggest disappointments that I had with this book was the lack of any interesting new characters. The previous books introduced lots of fascinating, richly-developed "side" characters -- Jack Randall, Colum and Dougal MacKenzie, Geillis Duncan, Jenny Fraser, John Grey, and many others -- while The Fiery Cross is a total failure in this regard (all significant characters have been introduced in the earlier books). All in all, this book does not add anything to the series, and can easily be ignored by all Outlander fans except those who are desperate to spend many boring hours with Claire and Jamie.
Rating: 
Summary: Diana, Where was your Editor?
Review: What a disappointment! I loved the first 4 books in this series, and eagerly awaited this one. Too bad! She rambled on and on for over 1000 pages. The plot was almost impossible to find, and the descriptive passages would have been good, had a decent editor gone at them with a red pencil. I know there is another book in the works. I recommend the author focus on plot, character development, and conciseness. She has done better before, and conceivably could do so again.
Rating:
Summary: Not a swashbuckler book
Review: But who could live at that kind of pace anyway?? Do you remember what it is like when you first fall 'in love' with someone? Where everything revolves around your love and you have boundless energy? Then, life happens and you stop living on adrenaline, but if you have built the foundation of your love and your life properly, things can still be just as sweet. That is how I this book felt to me. It was still sweet without all the running around trying to save the world. I read the bad reviews before checking the book out at the library, and began the book with some trepidation. But, I had no problem switching back and forth mentally from the chapters told from Clair's perspective to the ones that related the details of the other characters. I think overall, this book is still a very good book, even if it doesn't quite manage to measure up to the first ones in the series. No one hits a home-run every time they step up to the plate. This one is merely a triple. That said, I dislike the character of Brianna and her rude behavior. I keep hoping to find there is more to her than just a spoiled snot, but so far we have seen little of that. I do hold out hopes for her in the next story as she did stop biting Roger's head off over every little thing a bit towards the end. Roger needs to stop letting her walk all over him. Nobody likes a hen-pecked husband. And..... please! let us get rid of Stephen Bonnett! It seems like they killed of Blackjack Randall (finally) and since Jamie no longer had an anti-hero counterpoint and also since he is aging, they just gave Stephen Bonnett that role as Brianna's anti-hero. Can we quit with the horrible-nasty-bad guy-who can't be killed no matter how hard you try-characters?
Rating: 
Summary: Why?
Review: I am such a Gabaldon fan. And, oh, Jamie....{{{sigh}}}. Are there any other romantic heroes besides him? I remember reading "Outlander" and telling all my friends it was the best book I had ever read. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for this latest installment. I've had it since day one and I have not read past page 21. It's too tedious and I feel like Jamie and Claire have lost their passion. As far as Brianna and Roger - well I think they are boring and I think they've only been introduced as young lovers because Jamie and Claire are gettin' old. I'm still giving 3 stars in hopes of convincing myself it's worth reading and maybe I'll at least get my money's worth.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyed it but not as much as the others
Review: After reading Diana Gabaldon, it is always hard for me to switch to traditional fluffy romance novels. She has a special way of weaving a tale that I have always enjoyed. However, while I enjoyed reading this book, I did not like it as much as the others. It took me a while to get into the book as a good portion of the beginning takes place over just a few days. I also did not like the depth that she went into on the babies. My guess is a lot of people read these books to escape from babies, and don't want to be reminded of their crying, etc while reading. All in all it was a nice read, but not as good as the others. I still anxiously await the next installment.
Rating:
Summary: Slow to start .... then aggressively builds
Review: This book really tried my nerves to begin with. I had waited so long for this to come out then the first 200 pages ... well let's just say I bought the book in December of last year and I finished the first 200 pages about 2 weeks ago. But, once I cleared the first day of the Gathering it was all good from there. I do hope there is going to be at least one more book, this book kind of builds steam for the next book. Some great things happen in the last 700 pages, but I just think Diana has more to do with Jamie and Claire. I'll admit I am a little biased, I prefer to read about them. Brianna and Roger sort of get on my nerve, but they are growing on me. Give this book the effort ... it truly is worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: Not outlandishly brilliant, but very good nonetheless.
Review: I did not enjoy the Fiery Cross as much as I did the previous installments in the "Outlander" series for many of the same reasons as some of the other reviewers did - the book focus too much on characters other than Jamie and Claire, and there is not a definable plot. Still, the parts with Jamie and Claire *are* quite good, and I no longer really *mind* Roger and Brianna. As for the book being boring... well, although there's no definable plot, there still is a considerable amount of humour and action. My advice to fans of the series who found the book lacking in excitement is to read W.O. Mitchell's "Who Has Seen the Wind?" and Virgina Woolf's "To the Lighthouse" . After that, "The Fiery Cross" will seem to move at the speed of a hurricane.
Rating:
Summary: waited 3 years to be bored?
Review: this is so boring i could not stick with it. i read hoping to find the good parts. outlander has some pages that could turn quickly into pleasure and suprise.not to be found in this one. it should not have been released.i LOVE all the others but this time out , jamie and claire were not the couple of old. this book reminded me of the rewriting of gone with the wind.i will know more about the next one out before i buy.
Rating:
Summary: Keep them coming!
Review: I couldn't disagree more with reviews that report this book as "boring". This book lets the reader in on the wonderful intricacies of Jamie and Claire's evolving relationship, as well as introduce the reader to several new captivating characters and relationships. I get tired of non-stop drama and crisis situations. In this book Diana does something different by allowing the reader to connect with the characters and experience what life is really like on "The Ridge". I personally love the quirky personalities who have settled there as well as the imperfect reality of relationships Gabaldon explores. I love this series and am very sorry to have finished this wonderful book. I can't wait for the next one!
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