Amelia's Secrets: An Historical Novel

such fun and interesting reading- i wish it had been longer--very well done-made me go to the internet for more info-- just loved it !am buying the ghost one now !

I first met Maggie de Vries via the Internet when we were, by the most serendipitous chance, both completing novels at the same time, using the same publisher. Her novel and mine cross plot lines briefly; the hero in mine is the victim in her's. Her characters are wonderfully multi-deminsional, who, most realistically, struggle with conflicting emotions and impulses. The story delves quickly beneath the thin veneer of proper Victorian behavior, exposing the community's darker secrets. As an author, I am reluctant to say anymore for the simple reason that I don't want to spoil the reader's enjoyment. I will say that after reading "Amelia's Secrets" I found myself emailing Maggie. demanding a sequel, and for that matter, pre-quels! Andrew B. Suhrer, Author: "The Flying Dutchmen" The Flying Dutchmen

I just finished reading Amelia's Secrets last night. Kudos to the author, Maggie Carter-de Vries, for an impeccably researched, exquisitely detailed, beguilingly written novel. What a stunning achievement. Her meticulous use of storyteller John's personal "voice" throughout the book is masterful. John's professional role is clerk of the city council; he is charged with assiduously recording all city business deliberations and civic activities for posterity. By showing us the world through John's sharp eyes and well-measured words, the author draws the audience into actual events as they unfold. Instead of being a passive onlooker, the reader is vividly immersed in the drama of daily life in 19th century Fernandina: a virtual front row seat for everything from elaborate weddings to runaway church fires; from masquerade balls to murder trials. This technique lends authenticity to every word in the book. Brilliant! Since multiple engaging story lines are dangled in front of us, could the author be setting the stage for a sequel? According to a local voodoo priestess, John's longed for future with his young fiancée Pauline may not be in the cards. What will be the outcome? Does the local doctor-to-be return home to practice? What becomes of the murdered man's widow and six children? Will the reformed prostitute find true happiness with her sea captain? The human dramas portrayed are moving and compelling. A follow-up would be tantalizing. Personally, I'm now REALLY looking forward to reading Carter-de Vries' new book, Ghosts of Amelia. Thanks in no small part to the author's eloquent literary skills, we plan to return to Fernandina soon. We want to explore the Bosque Bello cemetery, experience the harbor by boat, take a narrated walking and/or carriage tour, sample new restaurants, ferry over to Cumberland Island, and continue to enjoy an area we have come to love. Amelia's Secrets is an irresistible tale so filled with historical detail, it could serve as a guidebook for anyone interested in glimpsing a well-preserved corner of Florida through the lens of a bygone era. Jean T. Penny, RN, PhD, ARNP Pennywise Healthcare Consulting Need a Penny? Call Jean! [email protected]