The Spanish Pearl

I've read through the reviews and I think they do a great job of telling you what the book is about. I really appreciate reading them. I just ignore the few that give everything a 5. What really cracked me up were the people that got a little hung up on the time travel part. I do read for escape and this book was a great way to get away. One of the reviews made a comment about violence and outrage at lesbians for giving the book good reviews. I'll be honest, I didn't really read beyond the first few lines because I didn't want to waste my time. Yes there is a bit of violence but it wasn't anything more than kids today watch on t.v. (yes I did say "kids today" guess I'm getting old) I'm guessing the author was trying to make it more authentic so it seemed like she really did travel back in time. Okay now I'm just being stupid. Read the book and have a little fun,

Friend has added a sparkling example of lesbian fiction at its best. Very well written, tightly edited (such a rarity) and with a fresh compelling story, this book is a great find. Friend develops the characters surrounding her extremely likable main heroine smoothly and completely. I totally enjoyed this book and can't wait for the sequel.

THE SPANISH PEARL isn't quite like any time travel novel I've ever read before. For one thing, eleventh century Spain wasn't a historical period I felt knowledgeable about. But it doesn't matter! The history is dealt to the reader with a light hand, and 1085 AD is a perfect backdrop for this wild romp. The observations Kate Vincent, our plucky heroine, makes about eleventh century Spain through her contemporary eyes are priceless. When she first encounters a band of what she thinks are guys doing an historical re-enactment, one of them asks her if she needs help. She says yes and then thinks: "What a nimrod. I was out in the middle of nowhere by myself. What did he think I needed - a French vanilla latte?" (p. 29). Kate simply cannot believe what's happened to her, and her slow realization of the truth is comical. "Another, less plausible, totally fantastical explanation kept creeping in, but I repeatedly pushed it away. Time travel was for rabid fans of Star Trek and Stargate, not for me" (p. 43). It's some time before Kate finally accepts that she's been transported back in time, and an immediate concern is that she must live without Diet Coke. But very quickly, she realizes that eleventh century Spain isn't going to be a good place for a twenty-first century American who has few useful skills. She can't throw a knife straight, much less wield a sword, isn't used to horses, doesn't know the culture, and can't fight worth beans. Luckily she does speak Spanish and know a bit of the history of the time, but if not for Luis Navarro, the leader of a band of mercenaries who puts her under his protection, Kate would be in a very bad place. Like dead. Instead she's caught up in the politics and power struggle between the Christians and the Moors, and she has to risk everything to figure out how to get back to her own time. But first, she's going to make friends, fall in love, and get in and out of terrible predicaments. Her attempts to escape a harem, dungeons, and from various captors are often suspenseful and occasionally hilarious. This is a rollicking good tale, full of adventure, humor, romance, and high stakes suspense, for Kate's friends and foes are not always who or what they seem. It will take all the smarts and patience of a severely decaffeinated woman to figure out what she wants, not to mention how to actually get home. The author does a terrific job with characterization, lush setting, action scenes, and droll commentary. This is one of those well-paced, exciting books that you just can't quite put down. ("Just one more chapter... Uh oh, I need to find out what happens next... Can't stop now - just a little further!). If you're like me, soon enough you'll realize it's three a.m. and you can't stop devouring it until you get to the wonderful conclusion. An excerpt from the sequel, THE CROWN OF VALENCIA, is included in the back of this book, and I would strongly suggest avoiding that. The sequel isn't out until November 200

Wow. After the first chapter, I really wasn't sure exactly how to react to this book. However, I kept reading and found it impossible to put down. It starts with two women in Spain who are planning to adopt a child, Arturo. Arturo is ill, so they have to wait. While waiting, they play tourist visit local attractions. Having different interests, they eventually split up to see separate sites. Kate, the main protagonist, visits an old cave and finds herself transported several hundred years back in time. Initially, Kate isn't sure what happened and is convinced she's in the company of a troupe of actors. However, when she's forced to live in a harem, wear strange clothes, and witness a myriad of odd happenings, Kate finally realizes what she's experiencing is real. On top of all Kate is dealing with, she finds herself falling in love with Luis, a "man" who rescued her and is keeping her safe in this strange world. Under the pressure of newfound feelings, Kate deals with the angst and guilt related to cheating on her partner in present day. However, as she learns Luis' deeply-guarded secret, Kate begins to truly question whether she really wants to go home. This book took some real "out-of-the-box" thinking and a great imagination. A little odd a first, this reader wasn't sure what to expect. However, the characters are wonderful and extremely well-developed. They are not the typical wealthy, gorgeous, successful protagonists one sees often in this genre. Instead, they are inherently smart, crafty and unquestionably interesting. The author does a fantastic job describing the color and pageantry of the 11th century landscape. She describes people, places and things so well it's almost like the reader is there with Kate. I recommend finding a quiet spot with a large block of free time before starting this one. I will draw you in and won't let go. Thank goodness Friend set up a sequel in the last pages. I haven't read Friend's earlier book, "How I Learned..." but it's on order. A truly talented author that shows a lot of promise, she's sure to have a big following that will grow with each new publication.

I'm a book snob, and have NOT been impressed with most LGBT genre writing. A romance? Not for me - I thought. This beautifully crafted, well-researched historical adventure romance was so engrossing that I read it completely through in a single weekend. It kept me reading long past my bedtime. The characters are multifacted and engaging, the settings are artfully sketched and appeal to all of the senses and the way the story unfolds actually has turns that surprised me - which is hard to do. This is a great book to read if you want to travel this summer, but can only afford a book or two - I felt like I had traveled throughout Spain, and been to visit its cultural treasures. Set in 11th century Spain with a time-travel twist, the heroine wrestles with acceptance of the strange events that overtake her life, with betrayal, infidelity, parenting, naughty harem clothes, and love with an unsuitable stranger. And which of us can't identify with that? Well, maybe not the naughty harem clothes, but I was inspired to sign up for belly dancing classes. Wonderful, despicable villians and complicated, brave heroes make this a really fun read. There are lots of satisfying intimate moments between all kinds of people that are credible and not lurid - no cringing over adolescent-grade pillow talk. The lesbian aspects of the novel are important parts of the story but are not THE story, so any one would enjoy this book, I feel. Its treatments of friendships, love, courage and personal growth are universally applicable.