Rating: 
Summary: Great reading...and not just for the beach!!!
Review: I have to admit that AN ACCIDENTAL WOMAN is my first Delinsky book, but it will not be my last. This wonderfully woven story about a tightly knit community thrown into turmoil over the discover that one of their 'adopted' own is a fugitive is everything a good book should be. Delinsky takes you into the heart and soul of her characters and she creates them with enough human frailty as to make them believable. Lake Henry, New Hampshire, and its citizens are honest, hard working and take care of their own. When federal agents show up at the home of Heather Malone and accuse her of being a woman named Lisa who killed the son of a very powerful politician, Lake Henryites are shocked. And no one more is more surprised than Poppy Blake, Heather's best friend. Confined to a wheelchair for 12 years since a snowmobiling accident, Poppy is determined to live a normal and independent life. She has her circle of friends and her life is organized and orderly, until Heather's arrest. Enter Griffin Hughes, the investigative reporter with more than a passing interest in Poppy and his own issues. He's there to help Heather, but he's also intrigued by Poppy. He met her when he was in Lake Henry to do a story on Poppy's sister and cannot get Poppy and her independent self out of his mind. Delinsky weaves the Poppy/Griffin love story with the Heather/Lisa mystery with great ease. I felt as though I had been to Lake Henry, seen the snow, experienced the wind and lived through the thrill of a sap run. This is not just a 'beach book.' You'll be thinking about Poppy/Griffin/Heather and the wonderful people of Lake Henry long after summer has gone! Enjoy!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Another almost boring book by Barbara Delinsky
Review: Heather and Micah Malone live a storybook life in New Hampshire, with two adopted daughters and a town devoted to being close knit. I loved the way the author began the story, with a creepy "Here I come" kind of way. The FBI wants Heather, claiming she isn't Heather at all, but one Lisa Matlock, who is wanted for murder in California. The clues weigh heavy against her. Her common law husband is crushed and tries to believe in her while realizing she has never mentioned her past to him. Her dear friend Poppy, a paraplegic decides to take the case on, refusing to stay by Heather's side throughout whatever ordeal may ensue. Heather insists that she is Heather and NOT Lisa, and this is some terrible mistake. She is terrified for her life, and her heart aches for the girls and Micah. In the meantime, Poppy meets Griffin, a reporter, who admits he just mentioned Heather's remarkable similarity to another case he had once worked to a reporter while in town last spring on another story. That reporter ran with it and now it is a mess. Poppy doesn't ever want to forgive him for that, but there is something about him that keeps drawing her closer and closer. As a paraplegic, Poppy doesn't believe she will ever find or want love again, but Griffin moves into a cabin across the lake and is determined to help Heather. Heather's two girls want Mommy, desperately, and they cannot understand what has happened. Everyone keeps telling them that Mommy has taken a trip and will be back soon. With a lot of sadness and a pinch of loneliness, this author does a fine job with a strong plot.
Rating: 
Summary: Could Have Been Better
Review: Heather Malone?? Lisa Matlock??? Who is the woman living with Micah Smith and his two girls, Missy and Star? That's the question on everyone's mind when the Feds show up to arrest Heather Malone for flight to avoid prosecution. Then it seems as if everyone's friend Heather could be a murderer! This scandal has the whole town talking. And it brings Griffin Hughes to town to help solve the case. Griffin not only wants to solve the case but to become more than friends with Poppy Blake, who is wheelchair-bound from a snowmobile accident. An Accidental Woman had a good storyline with the Heather/Lisa plot. This storyline takes a detour and becomes the love story of Poppy and Griffin. Their story takes center stage and the Heather/Lisa story becomes the secondary storyline in this book. The character of Heather, who I thought would be the main character but wasn't, barely says anything throughout the book. She seems spineless and not to seem to care about herself or her supposed loved ones--Micah and his daughters. I thought this book was a little too technical with the description of syrup making. I found the parts with Micah and the neighbors in the sugarhouse and sugarbush boring. I could have lived without the sugar lessons. To me this seemed to add nothing of importance to the story. It just filled up space on the pages, making this book longer than necessary. I think this book could have been cut down by a hundred pages and been better. There was just too much "filler" to the story. I have read two other Delinsky novels with a "who are they really" plotline and liked them much better. The story Heather/Lisa should have been the main focus of the book but it becomes obvious this is just a way to get Griffin to Lake Henry so he can charm Poppy. This book wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I was looking forward to a suspense story with maybe a touch of romance thrown in. This story disappointed me. The main story fell flat and the characters were not very real to me. I really didn't care about them that much. If you're thinking of reading this book borrow it from your library. It isn't worth buying.
Rating:
Summary: Could Have Been Better
Review: Heather Malone?? Lisa Matlock??? Who is the woman living with Micah Smith and his two girls, Missy and Star? That's the question on everyone's mind when the Feds show up to arrest Heather Malone for flight to avoid prosecution. Then it seems as if everyone's friend Heather could be a murderer! This scandal has the whole town talking. And it brings Griffin Hughes to town to help solve the case. Griffin not only wants to solve the case but to become more than friends with Poppy Blake, who is wheelchair-bound from a snowmobile accident. An Accidental Woman had a good storyline with the Heather/Lisa plot. This storyline takes a detour and becomes the love story of Poppy and Griffin. Their story takes center stage and the Heather/Lisa story becomes the secondary storyline in this book. The character of Heather, who I thought would be the main character but wasn't, barely says anything throughout the book. She seems spineless and not to seem to care about herself or her supposed loved ones--Micah and his daughters. I thought this book was a little too technical with the description of syrup making. I found the parts with Micah and the neighbors in the sugarhouse and sugarbush boring. I could have lived without the sugar lessons. To me this seemed to add nothing of importance to the story. It just filled up space on the pages, making this book longer than necessary. I think this book could have been cut down by a hundred pages and been better. There was just too much "filler" to the story. I have read two other Delinsky novels with a "who are they really" plotline and liked them much better. The story Heather/Lisa should have been the main focus of the book but it becomes obvious this is just a way to get Griffin to Lake Henry so he can charm Poppy. This book wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I was looking forward to a suspense story with maybe a touch of romance thrown in. This story disappointed me. The main story fell flat and the characters were not very real to me. I really didn't care about them that much. If you're thinking of reading this book borrow it from your library. It isn't worth buying.
Rating:
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: I was disheartened to read some of the reviews from this book. However, this doesn't take away anything away from my thinking. I loved this book from beginning to end. The ONLY thing that frustrated me is calling Lisa Heather after the fact. I loved this small town and all it's inhabitants and people sometimes really aren't what or who they seem to be. I haven't read any of Delinsky's other books, but won't hesitate to pick one up now!
Rating:
Summary: A CELEBRATION OF FRIENDSHIP AND LOVE
Review: If Jennifer Wiltsie weren't already a favorite reader, she'd quickly become one with this rendering of Barbara Delinsky's touching story set in Lake Henry, New Hampshire, during maple syrup harvesting season. Delinsky creates an inspiring heroine with Poppy who is now a paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair following a dreadful snowmobile accident that took the life of her companion. She struggles with both the past and the present. Another woman, Heather Malone, has been a resident of Lake Henry for more than a dozen years. The companion of a widower, Micah Smith, and his two daughters, Heather is thought of as quiet, reserved, thoughtful. Thus, it comes as a great shock when she is arrested for murder. Her arrest came about because of a remark made by writer Griffin Hughes to his brother, an FBI agent. Thus, Griffin feels compelled to solve the mystery surrounding Heather. Delinsky, as in the past, tells an absorbing story that is also a celebration of the powers of friendship and love. - Gail Cooke
Rating:
Summary: A sequel to Lake News
Review: Peaceful Lake Henry is disrupted again when a local woman is arrested on a fugitive warrant - charged with being a woman who fled from a crime scene in California 15 years earlier. It had become a cold case, but now it is active again.
There are two main intertwined plots, one being the case of the woman charged, Heather Malone who has lived in Lake Henry for the past 14 years, and the other being a renewed relationship between Griffin Hughes and Poppy Blake while Griffin uses his resources to get to the truth of Heather Malone's case.
When you stir a pot, a lot of things come to the surface, and many details are revealed about various people's pasts. Most people have things buried, and sometimes it is better to bring them out into the light and move on with life. There are a number of sub-plots including Polly's past accident, Griffin's missing sister, and a past relationshiip of Polly's mother.
Along the way you learn a lot about making maple syrup from the sap of maple trees. It is apparent why the genuine product is relatively expensive. The early season light syrup is even more expensive, and is hard to find, but you can probably find a source using a Web search.
Rating:
Summary: MyShelf.com Book Reviewer
Review: Step into the peaceful valley of Lake Henry. Be blown away by the
trials and tribulations that it holds... Poppy Blake's closest friend, Heather Malone, has been arrested. It is up to Poppy to step in and take charge and to provide the support that Heather's family needs. Although confined to a wheelchair as a result of a snowmobile accident, Poppy refuses to let life's hardships stand in her way. Poppy's strength and courage is the foundation that bonds the family together. How will she feel when she learns that the person who has betrayed her best friend is the same person that she has developed feelings for? Secrets have a way of unrevealing, just when you least expect it. . . Writer Griffin Hughes first met Poppy while doing a news story
involving her older sister. He immediately was attracted to the
fiercely independent determination that Poppy displayed. How will he ever be able to tell her that, by a slip of a tongue, he is
responsible for his closet friend incarnation? From the moment you turn and read the first page in Barbara
Delinksy's AN ACCIDENTAL WOMAN, you quickly see that you are
experiencing one of the most touching and thought provoking novels in 2002. Always when I select a Barbara Delinsky novel, I
mmediately know that I am in for a very rewarding experience. By
reading this book, there is no way you can not back up and read
Heather's prior story. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED . . .
Rating:
Summary: Might have to love these characters from elsewhere
Review: The story line was going well, but lost steam. The book was more about Poppy and Griffin (which was lovely) and sugar making (too much time given to it) than the "accidental woman". I did enjoy the book, but wish it gave more details about how Heather/Lisa got to where is she was. If it were written as a love story between Poppy and Griffin or stayed more on course with the Heather/Lisa plot, I would have given it 4/5 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Two stories in one: A sort of melodram
Review: This book actually contains two stories. The main characters are Poppy and Griffin. The drama of Heather is the main event, and the storyline is related with solving secrets of Heather.
I could not decide whether I really liked this book or not. I gave it four stars because there are lots of rubbish stories on the bookshelves and this one deserves some stars if you compare to others.
One early morning, the FBI agents come to Heather Malone's and Mircah's & Mircah's two daughters home in Lake Henry with an arrest warrant and demand that she is Lisa Matlock from California who is wanted for a murder. The events start, everybody including lifepartner Mircah realizes that they know nothing about her. Heather totally refuses to talk and never open her innerself as if she is dump.
Her friend Poppy, a paraplegic, determines to help to whole family.
The problem of the book is the ending. I could not understand what happened at the end of the book. Of course, it was clear but somehow lacked of deep emotion. Just like that, It ended! I am still curious about so many things. Such as why there had to be a soap opera chapter in the end?
Ms Delinsky usually repeats and gilds the sentences unnecessarily. As a result, the book has 500 pages. As I pointed out before, better than the average.
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