For a first book by an author,this is very good.The only
objection I had,was the style of the linked characters
each telling their story.I thought it jumped around in the
beginning and I had to go back and check their status,with
each chapter.
That said,the story draws you into the failed romance of
Dr. Fran Wren,a New York City physician,and her failed
medical mistakes.Franny decides to leave her fiance,and
return to her roots in Waco,Texas.
Outside of Waco,is a women's prison where Franny's
Uncle,Dr. Wren,spent some of his time attending to
the patients.Dr. Jack Wren,dies suddenly and Franny
is asked to temporarily take his place.
Reluctantly,Fran agrees to treat the women,some who
are on Death Row.The women she finds herself assigned
to are distinguished by names like Satan Killer,The
Black Widow,(a serial bride who poisoned her husbands),
and Karen,who is HIV-positive,and sentenced to die.
Karen was terribly abused by men all her life-but she
also took innocent life and that is debated in this
book,along with Capital punishment.
It ends with almost an O.Henry ending,impossible
to guess.
I hope Ms. Ward writes more books.I am waiting

Mrs. Bosley presents this small,but remarkable book to
help others.Mainly parents who may not be aware of certain
difficulties encountered when adopting an older child,or
one who was hard to place in a family.
Rather,than scare adoptive parents,I think this will
enlighten them.They will be quicker to ask for help with a
child with an Attachment Disorder,and Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.
Mrs. Bosley regrets some of the old-fashioned advice
regarding her daughter.She wishes she listened to a Mothers
instinct and held her during tantrums,although she was
told to let the chid work it out.
Education was stressed,and the importance of a diploma.
But a child who never develops social skills is at a total
loss in our society,where first you must communicate and
understand other people.
Anna was probably given more than her adoptive mother realizes.
I thought it was miraculous Mrs. Bosley's marriage held
together,and her older sons remained unscarred by the
upheavel of bring Anna into their midst.
Futher,I commend the telling of this story,so another
family will not feel they have failed.She continues to be
an advocate and facilitator of a support group for other
parents whose chidren have this double diagnosis.
I hope she lets us know how Anna continues in her Adult
life,if there is progress with age and training.

Laura,a middle-aged woman,who makes quilts as a
work/hobby,(hence the title)comes from an average middle
class family,or so she has thought.She returns to her
homestead,where her father has become hospitalized.
Laura has a brother Steve,and a sister Caroline,a moody
woman.
Neither daughter has been close to their beautiful
mother,or to each other over the years.
A family secret-created so the children will not know
the suffering in the family,has been slowly
destroying this family.
Once you begin reading you cannot put this book down,
until you see how the situation is resolved.
At times,your mind plays tricks on you and you are
unsure yourself,how to deal with the raw, overwhelming
emotions of Laura,Caroline,and their Mother.
Laura's husband Pete is able to put a compassionate look on
the situation and offer advice from a distance.This is
beneficial to Laura.
In the end,it will be up to the children and the
parent,to settle an old score that left some members
damaged.

Each time I pick up this book to read,I find more mystery
and symbolism.There is the story of Orleanna,and Nathan,her
husband.This plays a big part.Then there are the four
sisters,different as sisters always are in any family.

I believe the author used the sisters'different stories
to show us their growing pains along with the great
struggle of Africa,itself. I remember the events of
1960,when I was a young girl in school.Daily they were
published as these nations,who were formerly under
European colonialism asserted them-selves into the
modern world. After my third reading and reflecting,
I wanted to ask the author,if she was showing us
Africa through the missionaries' daughters.

Take self absorbed Rachel,with her white blonde hair,
yearning for Breck special formulated shampoo,while
Congolese chidren are starving within feet of her. It
was only natural she would find a haven in South Africa
during apartheid.She left her Family,but she never left
Africa.

Leah,the dominant twin,who admires her missionary Father,
(the most narrow dominerring man around)she embraces
Africa,wholeheartedly,to the point of marrying a sweet
Congolese teacher and bearing his sons.She names her
little sons the names of rebel men.She exults in
her hunger and poverty,(but I found her tone judgmental.)
She too is tied to Africa,forever.

Adah,the next twin,told she was deformed at birth,is
quite a genius.She watches and absorbs Africa.Usually
ignored,she invents her own language,when not reciting
Emily Dickensian's poems.She returns with her Mother
to Georgia,where a neurosurgeon cures her of her
handicapped way of walking.She is proud of her normalacy
In private,she locks the door and returns to her crippled walk.
Is she cured emotionally ?She is a Dr. specializing
Tropical studies for Africa.She too carries Africa in her blood.
First,going forward in her physical progress,then retreating
to the old ways,so like the Congo she left.

Next,lovable little Ruth May.She too never leaves Africa.
For a different reason.

There is so much to think about.Those were my thoughts
without revealing this fascinating story.I believe the author was expressing more, and this is an undertone in the Novel.
It is like the old saying.A Novel is like an iceberg,you
read the 10% that is showing,and beneath lies 90% of the
unseen story.

I knew from the cover this would be a book to indulge
my senses.The small house pictured with a white couch,
with a black embrodiered pillow,centered in the middle
along with a vintage candolier drew me in.

Every page has a treat for the eyes.White panelled
walls,stone walls,and small white beadboard in the
bathroom's.A beautiful blue fabric couch centered in
an old-fashioned three window setting.Simple but
elegant.

It shows some new cottage rooms,some a combination:
Vintage with new,and some with more vintage style.
There is a smorgasbord for every type of decorating,
and true appeal for every age group.Some very talented
designers left their mark in the rooms.

I keep going back to this book for ideas and just
pleasure.It helps me to relax.

Some fascinating finds were the gothic arches for
book storing.Also,the crisp white porches with pillars,
that seem to be making a comeback.Hoorah!
Their were multiple bathroom choices allowing you
a different vision.

The flea market style in this book was above what is
usually associated with the words flea market.
It is used successfully because the objects found have such
potential.

At the end,are shown easy displays to copy if you
are starting out,and don't quite know what to do to
achieve a personal look.

Audrey Hepburn chose to never write her autobiography because
she was afraid of offending someone inadvertandly by
careless revelations.

Her son,Sean,writes a loving tribute of this lovely lady
whose beauty shines through on every page,as it did in her
films.Films such as "The Nun's Story",the musical "My Fair
Lady"and Truman Capote's "Breakfast At Tiffany's."

He also writes of how important his Mothers'work in UNICEF
became to her,in her later years,and in turn to himself.

Audrey was born in Holland and during World Warll she
suffered from malnutrition, brought on by a diet consisting
of tulip bulbs and water.She often went without food all
day.After the war ended,she was a beneficiary of UNICEF.
She understood the chidren of the Third World and their
suffering better than many celebrities.

In many ways,it is refreshing to read of Ms.Hepburn from
her eldest son's point of view.(Audrey had a younger son
she adored named Luca Dotti)from her second marriage.
This is a true love story.

For any woman who admired Audrey Hepburn,this is a
perfect Mother's Day Gift.For anyone,this is a
gift and the proceeds go to the "Audrey Hepburn
Children's Fund."

This is a Novel but the characters have such strong person-
alities, you are drawn into the story.
Sara,fifteen years old an honor student,who falls for the
tough guy.The type of boy no mother wants her girl to date.

The adoptive parents, Eva and George who literally adopt
young Sara before her baby's birth,but whose feelings
change when they must deal with her strong emotions after
her daughters'birth.Jack and Abby,young Sara's parents,
who ache when they see their daughter hurt,and want her baby.

There are no enemies here. Just a lot of good people, who
while trying to do the right thing,manage to hurt each other.

Over the process of many years,Anne,the adopted baby
grows up,the open adoption having failed.The adoptive
parents moved away and somehow failed to tell Anne about her
adoption.

Anne is a teenager when she finds out her situation and
feels betrayed by all.

This sets all the earlier problems in motion again.
However,the birth mom,Sara,is older and wiser.So are the
other people involved in Anne's drama.Although,Anne re-awakens
their pent up emotions.The earlier turbulance is handled
in a more mature way.

This is a book you don't want to end.It would be great
to have a sequel.

I would call chic country,a place that is relaxing,
renewing and comfortable,as the author shows in so many
different ways.
First is,Blue and White Country.These are ageless
colors that represent the sky, water and purity.This
can be attained without a beach house purchase.Combine
blue and white on a shelf.Whitewash old bricks.Keep
areas with blue and white pristine clean and they will
be a comfort.
Second, Patriotic Country.It is very popular now and
old fashioned toys,flags, and pewter all reflect God
and Country, and a certain sense of individulism.Not
for everybody but attractive,nontheless.
Cottages by the sea,look stunning with minimal blue
and white.Wicker chairs in brown or white,this is the
third choice.
Next,Formal Country,a type rarely seen.This appeared
to be Spanish or Western,with hand carved furniture
and dark beamed ceilings.A close relative of mine
built a summer home in the 1920's.It had carved Vic-
torian furniture and imported candlesticks.It was a
combo of Tudor-Spanish with Jacobean furniture and heavy
lead paned windows.As with many families,it became the permanent
dwelling after the Depression.
Next,a change with Eclectic Country,drawn from many good
sources,especially Collector Style.It tends to balance us in our
high-tech civilazation.The best is usually drawn and compatable.
Harmonious groupings of ironstone dishes mixed with unique
quilt squares.Rustic Country,is what most people have in mind,

when you say Country.Birdhouses,recycled items,weathered wood
and vintage items.Very likeable section,Collectors Style.
I personally liked the arragement of the Family photos on one
wall.All in different frames they tell a family history,instead
of the new all black frames so popular now.
It also show how to group them with effect.Many other retro
collections are shown to advantage.
Lastly,is decorating with White, where you can never go wrong.White rooms with cedar brown beamed ceilings that lift the eye.Vintage white iron headboard and nostalgic birds and
birdhouses.Plain white mirrors in a bathroom.And of course lace pearls and strewn white roses.Who could co wrong with this.
Every time, I look at this book I find more examples of what
I missed.In its' own way,this book tells a history of my
America.

In an earlier review,I wrote it was wrong for the young
Anthony,a medical student to consider dating Michelle,
another Dr.'s patient.I was fully aware she was not his
patient.However,in Nursing School and other professional
fields a six month period out of the medical or psychiatric
Hospital must elipse,before you date a patient.I blame
Anthonys'superiors for giving the go ahead.I now question
whether this is still taught to students.
Patient's are at their weakest and most vulnerable in the
hospital.I have seen two persons fired on the spot for
disobeying this rule.Case closed.

This is the saddest book of child abuse I have read since
Christina Crawford wrote " Mommie Dearest " a quarter of a
century ago.It was written by Julie Gregory so eloquently,I
could not put it down.
Julie's mother convinces her, that she ( Julie )is an
invalid and must take medications like attenlol 25mg.,for
her heart.The medications make Julie feel sick and tired
most of the time.Sometimes the dose is doubled according to
her mother ((Sandy's) whim.This is what Munchausen by Proxy
is about.A caretaker,in this case the mother makes a helpless
child suffer, in order to garner attention for herself and
have re-affirmation from a Doctor in authority.
It is the worse scenario of child abuse,because it goes
unrecognized.
The father,who has been diagnosed as schizophrenic,does
not allow the mother to refer to their son,several years
younger than Julie as sickly,and nearly kills her the one
time she mistakenly does.This saves Danny some abusiveness.
The children witness these savage fights.
The family lives isolated in a trailer with concrete walls
and additions.The mother takes in veterans and foster
children,thereby making money for herself and wastes it on
pairs of hundreds of shoes,for herself and lifesize
ceramic animals for the trailer.
The foster chidren are mistreated, and the mother encourages Julie also to physically hurt them-but Julie has human feelings
and only pretends to.Her Mother thinks this will bind Julie to

her,making them closer.
Julie has no girlfriends,and the one time she did confide
in a new friend,the results were disastrous.Her new friend
did not believe her and dropped her after telling most
of Julie's classmates, that Julie made up stories.
By this time, Julie has reached her teen years.Her mother
continues to make sure she is sickly,and has had a heart
catherization performed on her.
Sandy, then convinces a physician to do a deviated septum repair
of the nose and to shape it less Roman.In other words,
repair the septum,so she can breath, then for no reason improve her nose structure.
Deviated septum repair is more painful than most people
realize.People used to be hospitalized four days and it was a
last resort for polyps and painful sinusitis. Most people decline having it done,when the procedure is described to
them.
I almost stopped reading at this point,but continued,
after checking the picture of Julie on the back flap of her
book.
I did this several times to re-assure myself,that Julie
survived her horrendous childhood.
There is a great deal more to the story,but suffice it to say
Julie survived this horrible Munchausen by Proxy.
Through,educating herself,and staying away from the woman
who was her mother,Julie states,she rose like a Phoenix
from the ashes.After much time and therapy,she checks out
Mama again, to convince herself,to look for change, for
apology?
Sandy,her mother,has adopted two children in Montana.
Nothing has changed but location.
Julie bravely saves their lives armed with her childhood
files and evidence from Ohio's childrens services.Julie who has grown into a beautiful woman with an ethereal quality, has
given us her story so we the public,and the professionals
she teaches,are made aware of this insidious abuse of helpless
children by their caretakers.
Thank You,Julie,and may the rest of your life be better.