A Light on the Veranda [Mass Market Paperback]

Light on the Veranda is another great novel by CiJi Ware. I just love Ms. Ware's novels. They are always full of romance without being overly mushy. This novel is a richly descriptive story of past and present of local families who have lots of skeletons in their magnolia scented closets and the past has a way of catching up with the future.

A wonderfully researched story of very real people with fragile emotions and a city rich with history, of a past when women were controlled by the men in their lives and the morals of the times. When reading this book I could almost feel the humid atmosphere and feel the grandeur of the southern mansions. Ciji Ware does an awesome job of weaving the two stories together seamlessly where dreams are reality. The story is not all honeysuckle and mint juleps as there are unsavory characters and sad circumstances in both the past and the present, but the charm of the old south is definitely a lure that draws the reader in.

Light on the Veranda is the sequel to Midnight on Julia Street with a lot of the same characters. I would recommend that you read these books in order as to get a better understanding and feel for the people and locations. Again I highly recommend all of Ciji Ware's books. you will not be disappointed.

I think I would have given this book a 4 star if so much did not happen to our heroine so quickly. I thought the writing was very well done. The characters both in the present and past had depth and interest to them that kept me reading. Both Daphne and Sim had their own emotional baggage that they had to work through, and did an admirable job in doing so. This is a story of a growing relationship, not your typical, h/h meet and fall instantly in love story (though there are elements of that too). Sometimes I thought they fell back on their preconceived ideas and previous habits too readily, but I suppose that is human nature and added some realism to the story. Both were at fault during these scenes and eventually talked through their problems.

Although this story stands pretty well on its own, it does help if you have read its predecessor Midnight on Julia Street (Daphne's brother's story). One of my smaller criticisms of the story is how dysfunctional this family is (as well as its ancestors). Between the self-centered mother, apathetic father, "interesting" aunt, and psychotic jilted ex, I thought things went a little too far. The only thing that brought it back to the credible and enjoyable for me was the tie-ins to the past. There were just enough of these to keep the story interesting, but not enough to bog the plot down. It is interesting how Ms. Ware does not have the present characters know the intricacies of their predecessors lives (which is what usually happens in these stories). We realize that everyone knows and is related to everyone else, but the true meaning of the previous generation's stories was lost. Some rumors came down through the families, but watching Daphne learn the true stories was interesting and well done. There are no assumptions made and then proven, Daphne slowly unravels the past story and its significance today.

Ms. Ware obviously has done her homework on the Miss-Lou area and it shines through in her writing. This a an enjoyable story to read, and I would not miss out on it, just be ready for a lot of going-ons. I will VERY rarely say this, but I thought there was too much going on.

Full of breathtaking romance, loaded with historical and contemporary detail, sometimes light-hearted and at other times heart-wrenching, Ciji Ware's A LIGHT ON THE VERANDA is a winner.

New Orleans-born professional harpist Daphne's life took a turn for the better when she walked out on her wedding to the rat of the century. But now she's in Natchez to play her harp at her beloved brother's wedding. There she meets Simon, a man vastly different from the rodents she usually encounters. The attraction is immediate, mutual, and startling. For Daphne's music conjures visions from the past involving another Simon and her ancestor, another harp-playing Daphne. The historical Daphne's sad, tragic life can't be changed. Does the modern Daphne have the courage to change hers? Especially since the rat, vicious as ever, is back and has her in his sights.

Ms. Ware interweaves the similar and yet different stories of two women across two centuries who share problems still all too common. Male betrayal, greed and cruelty can wreak havoc in a woman's life, then and now. The historical Daphne, born into a frightful situation, had no control over her lot. The modern Daphne does, but only when she sheds her female indoctrination in submissiveness and fights back.

But even within the past and present world of male privilege, decent men exist. The historic Simon was one, and so is the contemporary Simon. Those of you who read my reviews know I like honorable heroes, and the modern Simon is one of the best. Utterly masculine, strong and yet vulnerable, protective but not patronizing, Simon is a spectacular hero. He's also gorgeous, which doesn't hurt. *g* Lucky Daphne.

Since most girls today are still trained to be subservient, the modern Daphne starts out as a bit of a doormat. But in the face of the rat's spiteful cruelty and with some help from Simon, she blossoms into a strong, determined woman able and willing to chart her own course. Good for her.

With charm, poignant characterizations, heady romance and lots of scrumptious detail that bring past and present vividly to life, Ms. Ware's A LIGHT ON THE VERANDA is a fantastic book.

Note, A LIGHT ON THE VERANDA is the sequel to Ms. Ware's MIDNIGHT ON JULIA STREET. If you're like me and hate coming in on the middle of a series, read Midnight on Julia Street first. A LIGHT ON THE VERANDA contains spoilers for MIDNIGHT ON JULIA STREET.

ARC provided by Sourcebooks