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Shining Through
Susan Isaacs Book Review

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Plot Summary of Shining Through
"This book is hard to pigeonhole into the romance category since it is a totally captivating and unexpected blend of action, adventure, romantic fiction and spy thriller! Witty and funny, sensitive and romantic, this book has a soap-operaesque quality to it. You will not be able to stop turning pages once you pick up this book. Made into a movie with Michael Douglas and Melanie Griffith (1992) the book far surpases the single plot-line that the movie gave, and fills the reader with rich wonderful characters you won't soon forget."
Kathleen, Resident Scholar

"It's 1940 and Linda Voss is in love with her boss, John Berringer. He's not overtly attracted to the German-Jewish secretary from Queens, even if she is remarkably intelligent and following the news of the war about to overtake Europe. No one is more surprised than Linda when she ends up in John's bed, and then pregnant. He does the right thing by her and they get married, however, his heart still belongs to his ex-wife, who left him for another man. Nan has money and class, and knows how to keep her opinions to herself, unlike Linda, who suspects that her husband is ashamed of her. When she miscarries and finds out that John has been cheating on her with none other than Nan, she leaves him and finds herself working in Germany as an undercover agent. Although she has no experience, she is perfect for the job, given her perfect Berlin German and quick intelligence. The risks Linda takes in life and love make for a great read. It's absolutley a can't-put-down book that you'll wish you could finish in one sitting."
Darina Milovanovich, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Shining Through
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of story - 1930's-1950's
Love Triangles/Polygons Yes
What kind: - one man-two women
Action/suspense subplot? Yes
Action: - spies
If one lover chases another... - she chases after him
Children/Pregnancy Yes
Children/Pregnancy: - Get accidently pregnant

Main Male Character
Profession/status: - spy - business executive
Age/status: - 20's-30's - 40's-50's
How sexual is this person? - several sexual encounters
How romantic is this person? - not very romantic
Sex makes him - confused - guilty
Sex has bad effect on him Yes
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - very athletic - average physique

Main Female Character
Age/status: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - secretary
How sexual is this person? - a few sexual encounters
How romantic is this person? - very romantic
Sex has bad effect on her Yes
Sex has good effect on her Yes
Effect of sexing - a better lover - blissful
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Northeast
Europe Yes
European country: - Germany
Misc setting - Fancy Mansion

Style
Person - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
What % of story is romance related? - 30%
Sex in book? Yes
What kind of sex: - vague references - descript of kissing
Focus of story - Her
Consequences of sex - pregnancy
How much dialog - mostly dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to Shining Through
Hindenburg 1937 by Cameron Dokey
Where Two Ways Met by Grace Livingston Hill
War Story by Sara Hely
Pearl Harbor 1941 by Nancy Holder
Jackie's Heart by Ellen M. DuBois


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