Hello! I have just recently found this forum and I am ecstatic! I'm a "stay-at-home" mom (which is a misnomer because I'm almost never 'at home')of four children (ages ranging 4-20). Previously I have been employed in construction/design in the Atlanta area. (Yankee born) Reading has always been a big part of my life since I was a small child. I've enjoyed many different genres, historical fiction is likely my favorite with fantasy being my least. My reading is smattered with biographies, and non-fiction, but fiction definitely tops everything. I have a tendancy to go on reading jags and then take a month or so off from reading, but I always come back. Presently I am on a "big read" quest to read every book on the Pulitzer Prize winning list for fiction. I also need to finish the Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series, somewhere along the way she has published three more books without my knowing...guess I haven't been paying attention. My favorite author is Kaye Gibbons. I often post "on the fly" so I apologize ahead of time if sometimes I don't make sense...thank you and have a nice day!

Hello all! Am I too late to join this conversation? I now that Barbara Cartland was discarded as the author of the novel you are looking for, but there is one book she wrote that seems to meet all the requirements. Here is the summary (maybe it will ring a bell?): "Lady Marisa Berrington-Crecy had decided to write a bookÂan amusing, scandalous, gossipy book that would set Edwardian society on its decadent ear. And what better place to gather information than Vox Castle, home of the Duke of Milverley, an attractive widower noted for enjoying the favors of married women. So Marisa set off disguised as governess to the Duke's young daughter. She was resolved never to fall in love with any man until she met the Duke and found him to be devastatingly handsome. The Duke himself was inflamed by Marisa's pure, innocent beautyÂher Titian hair and luminous green eyes. But one day he unexpectedly discovered her manuscript and, in a violent rage, banished her from his house. Only then did Marisa realize that her one, true love might be lost to her forever." The protagonist (redheaded, green eyes, white skin) wear a spectacular green gown during one of the dinners at the DukeÂs house. The dress is mentioned several times during the novel because she looked so beautiful, so "breathtaking" that even one of the DukeÂs guests went to her bedroom in the middle of the night to seduce her. The book is called "Lessons in love" and you can find it in Amazon for 1 cent. Here is the part of the description of the gown: "Of green tulle it was spangled all over with tiny diamante. The train was a froth of tulle frills which were echoed by the clouds which framed her white shoulders. The décolletage was slightly daring for an unmarried girl, but Marisa did not care." Here is a link that might be useful: Amazon link with cover of the book: photo of the green dress!!

There are a couple of very hard hitting quotes in today's selection. Thanks, Don.

That was a long. but very good start of the day quotes. Can't but agree with most of them and the second quote very much reminds me of my parents. They taught me tolerance in a time where it was not the thing to do.