Keeper of the Crystal Spring

Ok, I haven't really read in about 15 year because of my busy life style but then I threw out my TV recently and said "Hey, lets get on with life before it's over!". Oh, I've tried reading books throughout the years and I have a pile by my bed to prove it but none of them caught my attention after the second page so there they've laid. I saw 'Crystal Springs' in a store that had a moving sale and bought it for $.50 and standing there reading the first paragraph, I was floored! It hooked me in a way that books used to in my 20's and I couldn't wait to get it home. I read it right after work for two days until midnight came and the majority of it on Saturday until my eyes would not stay open anymore (from 10AM to 12 midnight - 14 hours straight!! (well, except for potty breaks and food : ) and finished it Sunday morning. Folks, you will LOVE this book!!! I have already lent it out to my best friend and plan to pass it on to my sister afterwards. The only thing that I didn't love about it was that it ended! I promise you this, you will also love it. I just wish there was a sequel!!!

I don't usually care far fantasy - I'm more into history and historical fiction. This book gives a picture of everyday people and everyday life in the time of the Norman conquest, with just a little fantasy thrown in to sweeten the pot. I could not put it down and read until the wee hours each night till I finished it, then wished I hadn't finished! I loved the details about healing with herbs and how the people managed to live thro the winter. It didn't dwell on just the wealthy. This is the kind of "history" that grabs my imagination.

...This story is the tale of Aldyth, goddaughter to the local healer/seeress, Sorina, and who has versed Aldyth well in the knowledge of herb lore and caring for the sick. There are many ills in the village, many caused by the vindictive and tyrannical ways of Lord Ralf, who runs the surrounding villages and even the nuns in the Abbey like slaves in the boondocks rather than peasants in a village. Aldyth, like many villagers, puts up with Ralf's ways, in short because of their small band of Saxon resistence to the Norman invasion. The "Starlit Path", as it is known, is something of an Underground Railroad of second century Britain; helping fugitives from the Saxon/Norman battles to saftey overseas or in south England. Aldyth and Sirona are two helpers of this Path, as is the outlaw/rogue/dashing Bedwyn, a childhood friend of Aldyth's, who desperately pursues her in madness of love/lust, it is hard to tell some of the time. Of course, a twist is thrown in the story as King William cracks down on outlaws and "runners", as the Saxon fugitives are known, causing holes in the Path and spies trying to collapse the last stronghold of Saxon resistence. In the village, though, there is a new face, as the son of Lord Ralf- Gandulf- returns from France. Of course, this man- who is quiet, steady, and intense compared to the passionate, risk-taking, adventurous Bedwyn- falls head over heels in love with Aldyth. The brawling that takes place between Bedwy and Gandulf on May Eve is not so much idiotic as just plain amusing.There are some lewd actions in the book, and, like me, you may not feel obliged to read them. I skipped over those pages, and the story picked up beautifully where it had before the...exchanges. This book is a very satisfying read. The authors have most of their facts right, and even if you feel that in the first part of the book it is predictable, please, for the sake of a story well written, keep reading. Better the predictable book take an unpredictable turn then the unpredictable turn predictable. A job well done, Naomi and Deborah Baltuck.

I can not say enough about this book. I Loved it. I had long since lost interest in reading books, More content to spend my time on my computer and on line. This Book brought me back and held my attention. The story has everything, Mystery, Romance, intrigue, and oh so much more. I did not want the story to end. It brought to life my imagination with its tale of Enmore Green and the Crystal Spring. I found myself drawn to this book every night and in my dreams. It made me laugh, it made me mad and it made me cry. I would recommed this book to everyone. I would love to see this book made into a movie.