Rating: 
Summary: Very long and slow!
Review: It was about page 225 before something happened and then it just ended at 600+. I usually like a long book but this one was a bit of a slog. I kept reading expecting 'more' but it never happened.
Rating: 
Summary: I think this book was Maeve Binchy's best.
Review: Maeve Binchey is my favorite author. I have read most of her books and I think that this was her best. I have read it 3 times and each time it gets harder to put down. I was drawn into the life of the twins and the ups and downs of this family were enough to bring you to tears. I will keep reading it again and again until she writes her next book!
Rating:
Summary: Another great one!!
Review: Maeve Binchy has done it yet again, another great book you simply can't put down. Mountfern is transformed from a sleepy small town into a soon to be bustling tourist place by a 'coming home' Irish american. Secrets are let out of the bag and lives changed by brash and monied american. I would now love to read a sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Great Reading!
Review: Ms. Binchy has the ability to transport the reader to another time/culture and make it utterly believeable and fascinating. This is my third Binchy and I cannot wait to begin another. Her characters are rich in character and their feelings and hopes and dreams can be identified with no matter where you live.
Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful story of the ironies of life.
Review: The story like all Maeve Binch books was well written and gave a picture of a loving and inspirational town. The town goes through ups and downs. there are the characters you can't get enough of and the characters you feel you've wasted too much of your reading time on. I felt that there had to be more, some of the characters were left hanging without there situation being resolved. As the reader I want to be able to have the whole picture, I want my favourite characters to have a happy ending or an ending at all would suit me. The irony of the story touched me, and made me realize whatever your dreams are they're not always dreams that can be lived out. Although the downs out weighed the ups (so much tragedy, not enoough happiness) you had a feeling that this is what real life is like. Always thinking that your life has had not enough good things to over power the bad, is the impression the book gives
Rating:
Summary: Firefly Summer
Review: This book draws you in, all the family quirks and characteristics, the love, the trials, and the humor. This is another of her excellent books and I have to say I have read them all and she is one of my favorite authors. I just wish she would write another!
Rating:
Summary: An Enchanting Tales of a small town
Review: This book just made me want to cry at some times. I even shouted out loud at some of the things that Kate did. But i stayed up one night just to finish the book, until 2am, so i highly reccomend this book. email jaimene@collegeclub.com
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful storytelling
Review: This is a beautifully told story. The exposition and character development take a little while, but it's worth the wait. Binchy's characters are so full of life, you feel like you're living with them in the village. The paths of all the different characters entertwine so nicely. The conclusion is unexpected and yet totally appropriate. A wonderful read, Binchy is a master storyteller. My other favorites of hers are The Copper Beech, Circle of Friends and the Lilac Bus.
Rating:
Summary: Great author, decent book
Review: This is a story about the Ryans of Mountfern, a small town in Ireland. The Ryans, Kate and John, run a pub that is connected to their house and are busy with the raising of four young children. We enter the scene as the neighboring mansion has been bought by an American developer of Irish origin. He plans to replace the structure with a hotel of majestic proportions in hopes of replacing the legacy set by the family that lorded over his poor ancestors.So the American entrepreneur transplants his motherless son and daughter to Ireland. This is the tale of how the two interact with the neighboring townspeople, and how the family's arrival upsets the balance that has held in the town for many years. Along the way some disasters, and a lot of learning, take place. I enjoyed the depictions Rachel Fine, the interior decorator, and Sheila Whelan, the town postmistress. Their good taste and discretion are qualities to aspire to. I also learned a lot about certain types of cases and the strategies involved. The book offered many pearls of wisdom, although at times the story got a little boring. I was somewhat apprehensive in picking up this book because of all of the negative things I had heard about it from Maeve Binchy fans. I gave this book 4 stars because the story is vintage Maeve Binchy, but if she wasn't one of my favorite authors, it would be more like a 3 star review. I believe from the writing style that this was one of her earlier works. The editing leaves much to be desired, with scenes flowing into each other without her typical star divider. With more editing, the book could have been made a little more palatable - at times I was wondering if it would ever end! But true to form, Binchy finished off the story fairly well and tied up some of the loose ends. Overall I do recommend this book to faithful fans of her work. Don't be afraid to skim through some of the pages. I did that every now and then to move the story along. As it was, it took ages to finish, a lot longer than most of the books I have read lately. Read this one if you dare, but keep your expectations low.
Rating:
Summary: Great author, decent book
Review: This is a story about the Ryans of Mountfern, a small town in Ireland. The Ryans, Kate and John, run a pub that is connected to their house and are busy with the raising of four young children. We enter the scene as the neighboring mansion has been bought by an American developer of Irish origin. He plans to replace the structure with a hotel of majestic proportions in hopes of replacing the legacy set by the family that lorded over his poor ancestors. So the American entrepreneur transplants his motherless son and daughter to Ireland. This is the tale of how the two interact with the neighboring townspeople, and how the family's arrival upsets the balance that has held in the town for many years. Along the way some disasters, and a lot of learning, take place. I enjoyed the depictions Rachel Fine, the interior decorator, and Sheila Whelan, the town postmistress. Their good taste and discretion are qualities to aspire to. I also learned a lot about certain types of cases and the strategies involved. The book offered many pearls of wisdom, although at times the story got a little boring. I was somewhat apprehensive in picking up this book because of all of the negative things I had heard about it from Maeve Binchy fans. I gave this book 4 stars because the story is vintage Maeve Binchy, but if she wasn't one of my favorite authors, it would be more like a 3 star review. I believe from the writing style that this was one of her earlier works. The editing leaves much to be desired, with scenes flowing into each other without her typical star divider. With more editing, the book could have been made a little more palatable - at times I was wondering if it would ever end! But true to form, Binchy finished off the story fairly well and tied up some of the loose ends. Overall I do recommend this book to faithful fans of her work. Don't be afraid to skim through some of the pages. I did that every now and then to move the story along. As it was, it took ages to finish, a lot longer than most of the books I have read lately. Read this one if you dare, but keep your expectations low.
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