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Kaveny's Bookshelf
This month "Kaveny's Bookshelf" will be featuring two fascinating items from a publisher I made
contact with at World Science Fiction Convention in San Jose California last labor Day Weekend.
Interestingly enough I just realized that we will both be exhibiting at the Kalamazoo International
Medieval Conference at Western Michigan University May 8-11. Chivalry Bookshelf publishes
books about Arms &Armour, Medieval History, and Western Martial Arts. They also publish new
works and significant reprints in there area. It is well worth taking a trip to their Website. I know
when I did I spent the better part of an hour there http://chivalrybookshelf.com/
"Highland Swordsmanship: Techniques of the Scottish Sword Masters" by Sir William Hope,
Donald McBane (Editor), Mark Rector (Editor), Paul Wagner Trade Paperback: 208 pages ;
Dimensions (in inches): 0.41 x 11.00x 8.52 Publisher: Chivalry Bookshelf; (November 15, 2001)
ISBN: 1891448153 Price $29.95. This wonderful book makes my wish I were back in the
Scottish Highlands, which I really have, two connections to. One is simple and straight forward
since three years ago as part of our annual United Kingdom Road trip conference pilgrimage we
visited the Scottish City of Inverness near Loch Ness located on the beautiful River Sky, which is
the gateway to Scottish Highlands.
Before we toured "The Highlands", my wife insisted that we visit the site of The Battle of
Culloden the last battle in Great Britain fought April 16 1746 in order that she might view the site
of the battle which was fictionalized by a writer she is researching Diana Gabaldon. What my wife
did not was that according to my late Uncle Peter Dunn Sr. 1907-1994. My ancestors on my
mother's side of the family, fought for the Jacobite cause in the Franco-Irish cavalry regiment,
Fitz-James's Horse, under the leadership of commander, Colonel Robert O'Shea. When we visited
the Culloden site of the great Jacobite defeat I would not get out of the bus because I though my
ancestors had run in disgrace. My more recent research seems to indicate that this was not the
case, since they fought as mounted cavalry and severed on Bonnie Prince Charlie's right flank,
they may have still fled the battlefield but at least they did so in style. The story goes back even
father than since it seems I come from a family of Catholic Mercenaries who always seemed to
fight on the losing side. I am not sure how much of this is true but my Uncle did made enough
money in the corporate world to properly researched.
"Highland Swordsmanship" is a bit like a time travel machine which takes the reader back to the
period 1692-1746 in that it recreates two classic fencing manuals Sir William Hope's "New
Method of Fencing", and Donald McBane's "Expert Sword-Man's Companion" in one volume.
The manuals are presented from two very different perspectives complete with over 100 diagram
figures and pictures. Sir William hope gives the reader a kind of evolving aristocratic perspective
in which whatever blade weapon is available is thought of as a means of protecting aristocratic
live and property on the mean streets highways and byways of the early to mid 18th century.
Donald McBane's manual gives you a view of swordplay in the first half of the 18th century from
the standpoint of someone who had lived it down and dirty.
McBane lived the life of soldier, gambler and brother-owner who acquired his skills as a
swordsman through the rough-and-tumble soldier's life soldier in Marlborough's army. He did it
all, bloodthirsty combat, duels, and drinking, whoring and outright robbery. His techniques were
proven in the blood of his angry opponents. Mcbane's firsthand account is of his days on earth
preserved and included at the beginning of his manual, which alone is worth the price of the book.
There must be some fiction writer out there who could turn a professional meeting between these
two authentic historical figures into a wonderful work of fiction. If I wrote such a story and I
might I would have them team up rather than fight each other. What I particularly liked with this
item was the mix of contemporary 18th Century material with present days photographs.
The second item I would like to bring to your attention is just as interesting as the first: "Arte of
Defense: A Manual on the Use of the Rapier" by William Wilson, Filippo Vadi Trade Paperback:
176 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 0.60 x 11.16x 8.48 Publisher: Chivalry Bookshelf; (November
4, 2002) ISBN: 1891448188 price $24.95. This work represents a collaborative bridge, which
spans over six centuries, since Filippo Vadi was a late 15th Century Italian Renaissance fencing
master who compiled his work in a number of manuals. These manuals in the their original form
would cost as much as a top of the line computer if you could even ply them out of their owners
hands, and it contains over 200 photographs figures and reproductions from Renaissance
texts.
William Wilson is a 20th and 21st fencing and Western Martial arts master, and founder of his
own school whose goal is to keep Renaissance edged weapons martial arts alive. This is a
practical manual with easy to follow diagrams, and information photographs which step by take
intricacies of the mastering of a number of weapons through a series of logical steps leading to
advancement for beginner, intermediate and advanced practitioner. Though not a martial artist my
self I am no stranger to these arts or weapons since I was a college and semi-professional
heavyweight wrestlers and have worked out with a number of martial artists. The trick with this
book of course is one doe not just read it, one works through and uses it as a basis to master the
moves and weapons. I remember once as a presenter at the Leeds 2000 International Medieval
Conference In England I got into a fascinating discussion with a Master of Arms From The Royal
Armory. We talked about the comparative function of head fakes in fencing and American
Football complete with us stalking each other around the room as the rest of the panelist cleared a
space for us to move around each other.
I feel that both of the items met a growing need for people to get into history and get their hands
dirty and even perhaps their knuckles rapped and bruised. My single recommendation is that both
of these books appear in hardcover editions with library bindings as editions to high school,
college and reference libraries. I based on my own background in library and information studies I
would recommend that if these books appeared in this form that because of their great potential
popularity that the would be best place in the non- circulating reference or reserve collection.
Perhaps another interest use for these books might be as a supplement to a physical education
elective, perhaps as an alternative to as dance program. Both these items have a great educational
potential.
Philip Kaveny
Literary Editor
Midwest Book Review
Klausner's Bookshelf
Echoes of Angels
Caitlyn McKenna
Zumaya
ISBN: 1894869419 $22.00
In 1989 in a Scotland rehab center former model Julienne Hunter knows it is time to restart her
life after kicking the drug habit that almost killed her six months ago. Still she has lingering fears
before she returns to the public caused by the brutal slashing of her face by her abusive maniacal
former husband, James. When her deceased mother's estranged family offers hospitality to
Julienne, she sees an opportunity to learn why her mother fled her Virginia home. Julienne also
knows this solace will enable her to mentally heal. Her matriarchal grandmother welcomes
Julienne with love, but Morgan Saint-Evanston, who her mother hated, prefers she stay away
from Blackthorne Manor forever. Though Julienne and Morgan argue, they are also attracted to
one another. Still she wonders what is the secret that drove her mother into the night and worries
why he plans to vanish shortly. Julienne also frets over a nightmare in which Morgan kills her and
she commits murder too, but soon she will find out that the truth is so much greater with worlds
at stake. ECHOES OF ANGELS is a tremendous, extremely dark and graphic gothic fantasy. The
story line grips the audience from the moment her grandmother's lawyer drops the invitation on
the heroine. Fans will admire Julienne, who at first survives what seems as overkill, but instead
cleverly prepares her for her destiny. Morgan appears to be a classic gothic hero but is actually an
immortal from another dimension. The weakness of this powerful fantasy is that the audience will
want to read book II of the Keepers of Eternity series immediately following completion of this
triumphant opening gamut.
Spirits of the Once Walking
Babs Lakey
AMF Limited
ISBN 1928857051
Randolph Boodles is the owner and manager of Choices, a rehab center for alcoholics and drug
addicts. He is also a hard core drug addict who abuses his wife and children, and rapes the
children in his program. As relaxation, Randolph enjoys trolling for someone to rape and kill
which is how he met Kandle. He offers her a lift in his slick Jaguar and she accepts but it isn't long
before she realizes he is going to hurt her. She bails out at an abandoned car junkyard. She meets
Elise Sanders who relishes freedom after being kept in jail awaiting trial for murder in which the
jury found her not guilty. The media dubbed her as Avenger- Woman. Elise is able to chase
Randall away but he is not through with either woman or the friends of the Avenger. He rapes
Kandle in a cemetery and attacks Elise's friend Mary. He stalks them until Elise decides to
uncover his identity to keep she and her friends safe. The protagonist is a strong-willed woman
who is determined never to be a victim. She realizes that in a violent society sometimes vigilante
justice is the only recourse to get the vermin off the street. The villain in SPIRITS OF THE
ONCE WALKING is a caricature of evil and as the book progresses he descends into madness,
making him more violent than ever. The cat and mouse game between victims and perpetrator is
fascinating to watch unfold and readers will want to read the other two Elise Sanders novels
because Babs Lakey is a writer who delivers.
Scratch
Troon McAllister
Rugged Land
ISBN: 1590710061 $23.95
Golfer "Fat Albert" Auberlain was a rising star until he suddenly lost his distance and precision,
leaving him worse than a hacker. His buddy golf hustler extraodinaire Eddie Caminetti sees
Albert's woes as a chance to make some easy cash and maybe even help his former caddie. Eddie
enlists genius Norman Standish to develop Scratch, a golf ball that flies straight off the tee. Eddie
advertises the ball and charges one hundred dollars for a dozen. Between his campaign and the
cost, everyone believes Eddie's claims and wants to buy Scratch leading to fights and riots even in
the most sedate pro shops. Golf ball supplier Medalist worries about the impact of Scratch on
their market share, so the board sues Eddie's company. However, no one out-hustles Eddie
whether it is on the golf course or in courtroom as the truth prevails. This is an entertaining sports
legal procedural that takes delightful divots and drives at golf fanatics, sports hypocrites, sports
equipment manufacturing firms, and frivolous law suits. The story line has eighteen holes of
amusing moments, but Eddie is too perfect as he out-lawyers the pros, making too easy a course.
Still filled with humor at every hole, SCRATCH has moments that it birdies, but overall scores
par.
Sunday Jews
Hortense Calisher
Harcourt
ISBN: 0156027453, $15.00
Jewish Zipporah Zangwill married Catholic Peter Duffy. They have five children together.
However, over the years, the former philosophy professor Peter's health degenerates until he
becomes mentally incompetent and physically incapacitated. Zipporah takes Peter to Italy so his
fiends and peers will see how far he has deteriorated. In Italy, Zipporah receives help with her
spouse from an Israeli nurse, Debra Cohen, who vanishes immediately following Peter death. As
the years go by, widow Zipporah inherits a fortune from a friend and takes a wealthy lover. She is
now a senior citizen and her five children are now middle aged with adult children of their own.
Finding a clue to Debra's disappearance, Zipporah's grandson Bertram searches for the missing
Sabra though many years have passed since she vanished. This is an interesting character study
that looks closely at a mixed religious family with a Catholic patriarch and a Jewish matriarch
guiding them over the years. The story line enables the reader to see life as Zipporah, Peter, their
children and grandchildren live it. Though the action is limited, fans of a deep slice of life will
relish this delightful family drama.
Guilty Little Secrets
Connie Lane
Dell
ISBN: 0440237467, $5.99
ATF Agent Rosie Malone enthusiastically works undercover as a showgirl at Las Vegas' Silver
Swan in a quest to find information on the sale of stolen 9A-91 Russian Assault Rifles. Recently
killed Gus Friel worked at the Silver Swan when he engineered the illegal arms sale. FBI Agent
Mack MacDougal also goes undercover at the Silver Swan, but much more reluctantly than Rosie
because he is working as a stripper, a job he held in college. He seeks a drug ring allegedly
operating out of the Silver Swan. Sparks fly when Rosie meets Mack when he tries to rescue her
in a back alley. However, each wonders about the other's suspicious behavior to the point that
they conclude the other is the miscreant they seek or an undercover FED. Besides that they both
agree that they are falling in love although they fear what they will learn about the other person.
Fans of undercover police procedural romances will relish this delightful tale that pokes fun at the
"cooperative" nature between government agencies. The story line is fun more for romance
readers since the romantic story line serves as the prime theme with the charming lead couple
falling in love while doubting the identity of their beloved. Readers will not feel guilty for fully
appreciating Connie Lane's enjoyable tale.
Shadow Magic
Karen Whiddon
Love Spell
ISBN: 0505524910, $5.99
Price Egann of Rune rejects the throne of his people because he feels incapable of ruling based on
failing to keep his deceased brother safe. He speaks from his heart when he refuses to accept the
binding to the Amulet of Gwymyrr. However, Fiallan the Wise insists Egann must possess the
amulet until the throne is occupied. Though Egann wants to say no, he feels he has disappointed
his mentor and his people by shirking his duty so he accepts the role of amulet keeper. Once he
darns the amulet, Egann's world vanishes and he finds he is journeying onto the mortal plane in
467 AD. However, a mortified Egann also realizes he has lost the amulet. He believes that
Deirdre of the Shadows, a dancer with power, stole the amulet. However, she recognizes her
accuser as the male of her dreams. As they defy human and fairy logic by falling in love, Egann
knows what he must do to regain the amulet from a killer seeking to steal his beloved Shadow
Dancer too. SHADOW MAGIC is an enchanting historical fantasy romance that will entertain
fans of both genres. The story line enables the audience to believe that Egann and the Fairy are a
real species. The action is fast-paced as Egann chases after the amulet while the love subplot is
delightful due to the fabulous lead couple. The key that proves Karen Whiddon is an adept
conjurer is how the magically interwoven romance, fantasy, and adventure into a charming
chronicle that captivates her crowd of readers.
Improper English
Katie MacAlister
Love Spell
ISBN: 0505525178, $6.99
American Alexandra "Alix" Freemar travels to England to get away from distractions in order to
write a steamy romance novel. She has two months to succeed or her mother will add this on to
the list of basic screw-ups that Alix has caused. She sublets a friend's London flat. She meets her
upstairs neighbor in her borrowed digs when Alix struggles to open the apartment door. Scotland
Yard Inspector Alexander Black catches Alix "breaking and entering' when her key fails to open
the lock and so she uses an awl to "teach" the bloody lock a lesson. Sparks fly from the start, but
she wants a summer spree and he wants a lifetime fling. This is an amusing Anglo-American
contemporary romance that never takes itself seriously. Alex is a delightful somewhat
stereotypical English stiff upper lip character. Readers will feel schizoid towards Alix. On the one
hand one laughs at her antics and reactions; on the other hand want to scream at her to grow up,
which she does at the end. Though profanity is used, but properly interwoven into the plot,
IMPROPER ENGLISH is a genial romantic romp.
Spellbound In Seattle
Garthia Anderson
Love Spell
ISBN 0545525372, $5.99
Although it was discovered how to combine physics and sorcery over a half-century ago, not all
states have passed laws that makes it legal to practice. Even though Petra Field doesn't have a
magical bone in her body, her parents are both powerful wizards so she had to move to a place
where magic is acceptable. Seattle is a Mecca for wizards and since Petra now lives and works
there; she calls a wizard agency to remove the magical bloodstain from her carpet. When Vorador
answers Petra's cry for help, he's more interested in the woman than the rug. When she denies the
sparks that flare between them, the wizard tries to remove the bloodstain only to find a hole in the
floor under the rug that leads to the Hotel California in another dimension. Vorador realizes that
Petra's cat is the sister of his partner's lover. Someone placed an amnesia spell on her so she
doesn't recall who tried to murder her sibling. Petra stubbornly needs to find out who bewitched
her carpet while Vorador prefers she keeps out of it so she stays safe. Both of these wannabe
lovers are in danger from a powerful wizard who hides in plain sight. Garthia Anderson has
written an enjoyable romantic urban fantasy that will appeal to fans of Rosemary Edgehill and
Jody Lynn Nye. On an earth where magic works, readers will want to believe in the fantasy. The
protagonists squabbles are a form of foreplay that add a piquant sense of humor to the story line.
It is to be hoped that Ms. Anderson will write more stories in this fascinating universe.
Highland Fling
Tess Mallory
Love Spell
ISBN: 0505525267 $5.99
In 1605 Scotland, Griffin Campbell is expected to marry Maigrey MacGregor as heir to his clan's
chieftain. However, Griffin has not only never been with a woman, but he suffered a childhood
trauma and vomits at the thought of just a kiss. He thinks of his friend Jix Ferguson who traveled
back in time from the twenty-first century, but has returned to her home married to his clansman
Jamie. He ventures inside the cave she described and touches the crystals. The next thing he
knows is that he is in the Scottish home of Jix and Jamie in her century. A bewildered Griffin
meets Jix's friend, University of Texas Physicist Doctorate student Chelsea Brown. They hit it off
immediately, but his female phobia stops him from making love while she feels too mousy for the
muscular warrior. They travel to Texas where he sees a picture of his seventeenth century cousin
Duncan about to be hanged in 1882. Griffin and Chelsea find the crystals and as they fall in love
journey to rescue his kin. The sequel to HIGHLAND DREAM, HIGHLAND FLING is a wild
time travel ride that takes readers on a trip through three different centuries. The key to the story
is that the displaced individuals do not easily adapt to their new world especially Griffin who, for
instance, tries to kill small barbarians hiding inside a box that Chelsea calls a TV. The story line is
loaded with action and the crystals provide a time mechanism though Jamie's explanation of magic
seems displaced. This is a winner for those readers who relish a romantic Back to the Future.
Written in the Stars
Nan Ryan
Love Spell
ISBN: 0505525100, $5.99
In 1895, Benjamin Star leaves San Francisco for Denver at about the same time that Diane
Buchannan leaves DC for the Mile High City. Benjamin was raised by the Shoshoni who rescued
him from a fire as an infant, travels like a native; Diane rides the train to join her grandparents
who raised her when her parents died. Diane plans to help her beloved family with the financially
failing "Colonel Buck Buchannan's Wild West Show" as a trick rider and lariat artist. Employees
of the show led by the Cherokee Kid bring in a savage dubbed "the Redman of the Rockies".
Though afraid of him, Diane feels sorry for the captive. Unable to ignore the ignorant brute, she
frees him, but he abducts her. On their trek she pleads with the "Beast" to free her when he
suddenly speaks perfect English because he is Benjamin. After overcoming the shock that he is
not some feral savage, Diane frees the attraction she hid from herself and soon she and Benjamin
fall in love. However, the nasty Cherokee Kid wants Diane for himself and he will not stop until
he kills the Beast and takes the Beauty his style. Indian romance readers will gain much pleasure
from Nan Ryan's latest tale, WRITTEN IN THE STARS that is more of a westernized Beauty
and the Beast. The action-packed story line never slows down even before the abduction. The
lead couple is a delight and most of the support cast provides depth to their personalities.
However, the Cherokee Kid is so nasty he subtracts from a powerful historical romance.
Waterloo Station
Emily Grayson
Morrow
ISBN: 0060013974 $21.95
In 1938, young American Maude Latham leaves her home in Longwood, New York to attend
classes at prestigious Oxford University. As Maude adapts to life in England, she realizes that her
tutors treat her as a second class citizen or worse because of her gender. That changes when
twenty-seven year Stephen Kendall replaces an ailing professor as Maude's tutor on the romantic
poets. As they go over in depth the works of a lesser-known poet, A.L. Slayton, Maude and
Stephen fall deeply in love. However, he is married so though they enjoy each other's company
nothing in the long run will come of it. When the Battle of France ends and the Battle of Britain
begins, Stephen joins the military while Maude becomes a nurse. Separated by the war, chances of
this couple deeply in love with one another ever attaining a permanent relationship seems nil, but
then again both are big fans of the Age of Romanticism. WATERLOO STATION is an old
fashion love story that uses WW II as a backdrop to a delightful romantic tale. The lead couple is
a charming duo whom obviously belongs together, but chances seem remote that they will. The
story line is character driven with limited action; although the war impedes on life, in this novel it
serves to bring out the qualities of the cast. Fans of a fervent love story will cherish Emily
Grayson's moving tale.
Children of the Storm
Elizabeth Peters
Morrow
ISBN 0066214764, $25.95
By December 1919, the Great War is finally over. Amelia Peabody and her husband, the famous
archeologist Emerson, are in their Luxor, Egypt home along with their extended brood. This
includes their son Ramses, his wife Nefret, and their two children, Emerson's brother Walter, his
wife Evelyn, their daughter Lia and her husband David and their children as well as Emerson's
illegitimate half brother Sethos and his bastard daughter Maryann. Emerson and Amelia's friend
and colleague Cyrus Vandergelt has found a well preserved tomb in the Deir el Medina, the same
place where Emerson is working on an archeologist site. Soon afterward, a trusted worker
disappears with some of the treasure and his murdered body is found in the desert. A woman
pretending to be the goddess Hathor kidnaps Ramses, but he escapes before he finds out what she
wants. Maryann is attacked and someone sabotages the boat they are traveling on. None of the
incidents form a pattern that makes any sense but Amelia knows someone is weaving a web
around them and intends to trap them in it. It is fascinating to read about three generations of
Emersons in the same book. CHILDREN OF THE STORM is the fifteenth mystery starring
Amelia Peabody and it doesn't get any better than this. Elizabeth Peters brilliantly shifts from the
first person to the third person so readers always know what is going on the minds of the
characters. Old enemies reappear while the heroine of this amateur sleuth novel works overtime
trying to figure out who is waging a vendetta against her and her family.
Yesterday's Dreams
Erika M. Feiner
Five Star
ISBN: 0786243082 $26.95
In 1945, the retreating German army destroys the bridges and ferries that enable passage across
the Rhein. This virtually cuts off the Village from the Fatherland and leaves it wide open to the
invading allied forces. Not long afterward, the American army enters the Village as an occupying
force. Villager Lisa Forster sees a tall Yankee soldier as he parades into her hometown. He
notices her too and both share a smile of acknowledgment. Not long afterward, Andy Merrill and
Lisa start seeing one another, soon fall in love, and want to marry. However, though she is a
civilian, the brass considers her an adversary of the United States, as the American leadership
does not condone fraternizing, let alone marrying, the enemy. This is an entertaining WW II
romance that provides a deep vivid picture of the impact of the American army on a nearly
defeated Germany. The story line contains a delightful romance between two wonderful lead
characters that the audience will adore. However, it is the historical perspective that makes this
novel have cross genre appeal and is worthy of a sequel perhaps starring Andy's Thor-like buddy
John "Red" Starbuck with a sidebar on how well Lisa and Andy are doing and if they gain
acceptance in the post war era.
Death and the Ice Box
Linda Berry
Five Star
ISBN 0786252332, $25.95
Ogeechee, Georgia with its population of 3,412 is just right for Trudy Roundtree who returned
home after the death of her husband. She is the only female police officer in Ogeechee. She visits
friends clearing a dump when an old icebox flies open and the body of a dead woman is found
stuffed inside. The autopsy shows that a blow to the head murdered the victim at least twenty
years ago. Trudy has no idea of the identity of the woman but as she looks at back issues of the
Ogeechee Beacon she notices that in 1969 a Donnie Burkhalton died in an automobile accident.
She later discovers that his fiancee dumped him and disappeared on the same day. Dental records
show that Donnie's fiancee is the victim. Although the case is over three decades old, Trudy is
determined to see justice done by catching a killer. DEATH AND THE ICEBOX is a cozy police
procedural that gives an accurate depiction of what life is like in a small southern town. The
heroine is independent, upbeat and believes police work is her calling. The mystery itself is
complex and intricately woven into the story line and there is a plethora of suspects but the
stumbling block in figuring out who the killer is comes down to motive. Nobody, at least on the
surface, had any reason to see the woman dead. So Trudy has to delve deeper and recreate events
that happened years ago. Using people's unreliable memories, Linda Berry knows how to keep her
readers' interested so that they finish the book in one sitting.
Sweet Grass
Dee Marvine
Five Star
ISBN: 0786251115, $26.95
In 1886 Lindstrom, Minnesota, twenty-nine years old Lili Tornquist believes her life is over as her
father is remarrying after fifteen years as a widower. The new spouse will take over the household
that Lili has run for more than half of her life. When a letter comes from a distant cousin Gunnar
Jorgeson asking Lili to marry him, she decides to accept and moves to his Montana sheep ranch.
Gunnar leaves claiming business almost upon Lili's arrival. However, she meets people coming
through who stop for grub. This includes mine worker Tom Hawes and mine lawyer Charles
Weatherby. When her marriage fails because he is "not manly" when it comes to women so will
not make love to his new wife plus he has an alcohol problem, Lili moves to Butte. Charles and
Tom, who has become a union organizer, court her while she works as a singer, the only work she
can find. She likes both men, but she wonders if she loves either of them? If yes, she has to
wonder if she will she consider marriage if either proposes following the shambles of her first
marital endeavor. SWEET GRASS is an engaging frontier romance that brings to life Big Sky
country in a realistic manner to include pollution, strip mining, and unsafe working conditions.
The story line vividly describes late nineteenth century Montana through the interactions of the
ensemble cast. Though Gunnar never provides a strong rationale for why he asked Lili to marry
him or how he knew so fast her change in status, readers will appreciate this colorful Americana
tale.
The Fourth of July Wake
Harold Adams
Five Star
ISBN: 0786230002, $25.95
Former TV news anchor Kyle Champion reluctantly accepts the invitation from his old college
buddy Matt Kreuger to attend a memorial service for the latter's deceased dad. Actually, the
invitation was offered because Matt's sister-in-law Marcia demanded he ask Kyle. She knows
Kyle has had some success in solving homicides and Marcia wants Kyle to investigate the death of
her father in law, P.J. Though officially P.J. died of a heart attack, Marcia feels his four-decade
younger second wife Sorah killed him because she inherits everything in his revised will. Matt
drives the three hours from Minneapolis to the remote "Kreugerland" cabins near Bent Line Lake.
There he meets the family he met several years ago when he stayed at the cabins. He also finds
Sorah to be quite charming and not at all like a murderous Jezebel. As he unenthusiastically
discusses the death with everyone remotely involved, Kyle begins to uncover disturbing
discrepancies that makes him wonder if perhaps P.J. was murdered. THE FOURTH OF JULY
WAKE is an interesting amateur sleuth mystery that readers will enjoy because of the depth of the
ensemble's secondary characters. In spite of his TV exposure, Kyle remains a charming idealist
though he loses some of rosy optimism due to the results of his inquiries. Though why the
dominating Marcia would stay as a second fiddle seems stretched, this cozy will delight fans that
will wonder along with Kyle whether a homicide occurred and if so did Sorah really murder her
elderly spouse?
Kittens, Cats and Crime
Ed Gorman (editor)
Five Star
ISBN: 0786250321 $25.95
This anthology lives up to its title as felines become involved in crime including solving and
interfering as the cats risk their nine lives. The collection includes eleven delightful yarns from
some of the genre's more powerful authors, but none of the contributors consistently feed the
frenzy of cat lover sub-genre; in other words no Louie or Sneaky Pie, etc. making an appearance
as a protagonist or author. Still the tales are well written and cover a wide spectrum of
subclassifications so those fans of cat capers will loudly meow for KITTENS, CATS AND
CRIME.
Conch Shell Murder
Dorothy Francis
Five Star
ISBN: 0786250291 $25.95
Though she has partnered with former Miami cop Mac McCartel for two years, former
schoolteacher Katie Hasworth has been bonded and licensed as a private detective for a few
months. Her confidence is limited so she is hesitant to take on a murder investigation especially
with her mentor out of town even though her landlady and friend Diane Dade asks her to look
into the death of her mother Alexa Chitting. Reluctantly Katie agrees to investigate the homicide
ruled a robbery gone bad by the Key West police and concurred with by Mac. Katie begins her
inquiries at the scene of the crime, Alexa's office, where the culprit killed the victim using a conch
shell that ironically symbolizes birth. Katie finds an obscure bullet that the cops overlooked and
believes more than just a robbery occurred as Alexa was changing her will. However, she wonders
who were the losers if Alexa had signed her revised will and would one of them kill to keep his or
her inheritance? Katie learns the answer as she becomes a target when she gets too close. This
engaging private investigative tale hooks readers because the heroine lacks confidence yet
courageously seeks to solve the homicide against staggering professional odds. The story line
reads more like an amateur sleuth cozy as the violence is left off the pages and Katie is learning on
the job. Katie is a delightful individual and the support cast enables the audience to understand
her, especially her fears, much better even when they fail to cooperate. Fans will enjoy Dorothy
Francis' straightforward Florida (no major whackos) mystery.
Ride the Wind Home
Christina Kingston
Jove
ISBN: 0515135100 $6.99
In 1814 her father a vicar married sixteen year old Diana to Huntley. Her new spouse is a nasty
brute who abuses his young bride. When his friends trap her in an ugly situation, Michael David
Lawrence, the Duke of Smythington and a member of the Lucky Seven, intercedes. Following
that incident, Diana refused to accept crap from her ugly husband even when David vanishes.
Four years later, Huntley has been dead for over a year, but her father wants Diana to marry Lord
Runsfield. She never told him what an abomination her first marriage was, but refuses to wed
anyone though she wishes her savior David was available. David has just returned to England
after being held prisoner by a Barbary prince. He seeks internal peace and so he decides to wander
until he recovers his equilibrium before taking over his dukedom. David sees Diana traveling by
herself and decides he must keep safe the woman he fell in love with four years, not realizing she
may be his healer. RIDE THE WIND HOME is an enjoyable Regency romance that stars two
delightful lead protagonists. The story line is exciting although the country seems loaded with too
many repulsive aristocratic males. Still the tale catches the audience attention from the moment
the two stars meet and never releases the reader until the final climax.
All He Ever Wanted
Anita Shreve
Little Brown
ISBN 0316782262 $25.95
Professor Nicholas Van Tassel knows he is a stuffy and pedantic professor of Literature and
Rhetoric, who is more comfortable at Thrupp University instead of at Cambridge thirty-five miles
away. He surprises himself when he acts the hero when the restaurant he is dining in bursts into
flames. He escapes and helps other people until he sees Etna Bliss, with a small child in her arms,
and falls instantly in love. He pursues her with a ferocity that won't take no for an answer even
though he sees that he is the one enamored, not her. When she finally accepts his proposal she
makes it clear she doesn't love him but he doesn't care because he needs her. They have two
children over the years and Professor Van Tassel is reasonably content until he finds out that his
wife used her inheritance to buy a place he knew nothing about. He is so furious that he threatens
divorce and is shocked when she quickly agrees to the idea. He does all in his power to convince
her that she is making a mistake, using some very underhanded methods to get his point across.
ALL HE EVER WANTED was her love but he had to make do with her tepid affections and at
the first sign of trouble, their marriage built on quicksand quickly sinks. The protagonist is telling
his tale in the first person narrative on a train over thirty years since he married Etna and he is
analyzing the marriage, as if it was a project. One can't help feel sorry for him, a basically good
person who had to settle for less than he wanted.
Soul Circus
George P. Pelecanos
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316608432 $24.95
The case against drug dealer Granville Oliver is so tight that state execution is a sure shot
especially since his deputy Philip Wood testified against him. Desperate, Granville's attorney hire
DC private investigator Derek Strange to coax Wood's former girlfriend Devra Stokes, who once
filed a brutality complaint against him, to testify so she can destroy his credibility leading to life
instead of death for his client. At the same time, Strange's partner, former cop Terry Quinn's has a
client, pathetic small time hood Mario Durham, who hires him to find his missing girlfriend Olivia
Elliot. Mario is the older brother of the head of the notorious Six-hundred Crew in Washington
Highlands. Terry knows his client lies about love forever, etc., as Terry wants his stolen drugs
that she took from him. Other sleuths also work cases, as DC is a place for job security for private
investigators. The eleventh appearance of Derek Strange is a powerful private investigative tale
that shows how little society is doing to help teens make it. The Durham siblings are on the career
path of criminality with no detours. Even prison time will do no more than slow down the pace of
their fall. Guns and butter are the market place as both can be purchased easily and relatively
cheaply. Still even with such a strong message, the tale is loaded with action, plenty of life and
death scenes, and the return of long time characters like Foreman, and a surprise guest appearance
by Nick Stefanos. This gritty urban thriller will leave most readers agreeing with the hero's
thankful belief that his home is an oasis of love and care in a deadly desert.
Lost Light
Michael Connelly
Little, Brown
ISBN 0316154601 $25.95
Hieronymus "Harry" Bosch takes an early retirement from the Los Angeles Police Department,
but after ten months out of work, he needs something to fulfill him. He takes out his personal file
on Angella Benton, a young woman found murdered in the entranceway of her apartment
building. She was a production assistant for Eidolon Productions; the company was robbed of 8
million dollars thirteen days after Angella was killed. A connection was never found but two of
the marked bills surfaced, one on a terrorist heading to Mexico and the other found by FBI agent
Martha Gessler who notified LAPD Detectives Cross and Dorsey. Five days after that call,
Gessler turns up missing and is now presumed dead. The case goes dormant when Detective
Dorsey is murdered in a robbery gone bad and his partner is totally paralyzed. The LAPD doesn't
want Harry reopening the case without telling him why and the FBI claims Homeland Security as
they try to shut him down. Harry, being Harry, goes his own way and almost loses his life in a
shoot-out where he is vastly outnumbered. This Harry Bosch novel is very different than the other
twelve books in the series. It is told in the first person so readers know what the hero is thinking
and feeling at all times. He is no longer a policeman with a badge that will make people talk to
him so he has to act like a private investigator and get what he needs to solve the case by other
methods. The ending is a shocker but it is not the end of the series, just the end of that phase of
the hero's life.
A Kiss to Die For
Claudia Dain
Leisure
ISBN: 0843950595 $6.99
Legendary bounty hunter Jack Skull arrives in Abilene seeking a serial killer stalking women in the
area. To Anne Ross, Jack is the MAN, as he seems so exciting. Anne especially notices the way
people healthily avoid Jack and that when he forces interaction, most people are uncomfortable
around him until they can safely get away from him. Knowing that failed marriages run
throughout her family and she doesn't want to add to the family legacy, Anne believes he can keep
her from marrying someone she refuses to spend her life with. Jack has enough on his plate
tracking the murderer who has killed young ladies' all over the state. He has no time for this
innocent miss, but also feels he needs to keep the feisty Anne safe from his prey as she fits the
victims' profile. However, insuring her safety from a killer seems mild compared to keeping her
protected from him. This is an engaging Western romance that stars two delightful lead
protagonists who the audience will cherish. Jack is an intriguing hero who believes he has crossed
the line too often for Anne to love him. Anne is an intrepid individual who loves deeply but does
not trust in forever. Though the final emergency seems improbable, readers will relish this
charming story.
After the Ashes
Cheryl Howe
Leisure
ISBN: 0843951737 $5.99
In 1872 New Mexico Territory, bounty hunter Christopher Braddock seeks out stagecoach robber
Corey Sullivan, the weakest link of a gang that killed the driver. At Corey's spread, he meets the
outlaw's sister Lorelei who will do anything to keep her brother safe. Although he believes
nothing she says as he hates southern belles, Christopher makes it clear that he will take her
brother to jail, but his prime goal is to catch the gang leader Mulcahy. After talking with Corey,
Lorelei visits Braddock in his hotel room to offer a deal if he would keep her sibling safe. He ends
up buying her food and protecting her, pretending she is his wife when temporary Deputy Marshal
Langston arrives to arrest her for abetting a criminal. Soon Braddock accompanied by the
Sullivan siblings is on the lam from the law even as he falls in love with Lorelei. Western romance
fans will appreciate the fine story line of AFTER THE ASHES. The tale is filled with action, but it
is the strong cast that makes it fun to follow. Braddock is the brooding hero who still is fighting
the Civil War inside his head until Lorelei returns him to the living. Lorelei is the ultimate family
loyalist perhaps too much so because her manipulative brother does not deserve her love or her
assistance. Cheryl Howe writes a charming American romance that will please sub-genre
fans.
The Very Virile Viking
Sandra Hill
Leisure
ISBN: 0843950641 $6.99
In 999 AD Norselands, widower farmer Magnus Ericsson raises eleven children, ranging in age
from infant to teen, by himself. Saying no more kids, Magnus vows to remain celibate. He also
needs to spice up his life so he takes ten of his brood with him (one is married) on a sea trip, but a
mysterious fog traps the vessel within its darkness. In present day Hollywood, Angela Abruzzi
along with her family struggle to save the family vineyard, Blue Dragon, currently not producing
any wine. Angela thinks a Viking movie filmed at Blue Dragon will save the Vineyards.
Meanwhile her grandmother worries about Angela and prays a man will come for her single
granddaughter. Magnus and his family land at Holly and Wood in Angela's time. Because of his
garb and accent, everyone thinks Magnus is an actor. Angela is persuaded to keep an eye on him
to keep him out of trouble. As he battles modern times, Magnus finds Angela is the real challenge
as she makes him desire an end to his vow of celibacy. Up front this is not a Carpenter type novel.
Instead readers obtain an amusing time travel romance that is outrageously funny when Magnus
voices or acts on his observations. The plot avoids the one book joke by placing Magnus and his
football team into varying scenarios. Angela is a charming counterpoint trying to provide
normalcy, but failing because she loves her displaced actor. Fans of contemporary Viking tales
will obviously enjoy this novel, but so will anyone who appreciates a very humorous almost
slapstick story.
A Treasure to Hold
Kathleen McCarthy
Leisure
ISBN: 084395146X $5.99
In 1827 England a thief sneaks into an aristocratic home to steal a chest. He is caught in the act
and pulls out a gun to bluff his adversary. However, everything goes further wrong and he
accidentally kills his opponent before fleeing into the night. Worse, he lost one of the two gold
keys needed to open the chest. Sebastian Merrick vows to bring to justice the assailant who killed
his cousin. He has one of the keys to the only stolen object, a chest that contains a chalice. His
investigation leads to France with Reynaud Andrassy as the killer. Sebastian abducts Reynaud's
stepsister, Isabelle Saint-Simon. As the jailer and the prisoner fall in love, he remains adamant that
he will bring down her beloved sibling and to do his duty by wedding his cousin's widow though
he knows he will give up the only treasure he wants to hold. A TREASURE TO HOLD is an
exciting late Regency romantic suspense that is filled with plenty of action, but mostly focuses on
the relationship between the two lead protagonists, or perhaps in this case for the most part
antagonists. Though plenty of action occurs, the theme of the tale is simplistic: duty vs. love.
Sebastian feels obligated to his cousin and his family while Isabella shares his ethics especially
concerning her stepbrother. Though the finale is tied together too perfect, historical readers will
appreciate Kathleen McCarthy's enjoyable novel.
Sweet Release
Pamela Clare
Leisure
ISBN: 0843951699 $5.99
In 1730, shipbuilding mogul Alec Kenleigh warns his younger brother Philip that he went too far
when he failed to live up to his responsibility. Philip claimed the teen he abandoned with his child
growing inside her was a whore. An angry Alec insists Philip should have taken care of the
woman, who died trying to abort the baby. Not long afterward, Alec is beaten, given a new name
of Cole Braden, and shipped to the Commonwealth of Virginia as an indentured servant working
off a fourteen year conviction for defiling women. For a few pounds, Cassie Blakewell purchases
Cole to work on her large plantation. She quickly realizes this is no ordinary criminal as Alec
displays business acumen. Cole insists his real name is Alec and needs to regain his identity to
prove his innocence. Cassie and Cole begin to fall in love, but nothing can come of their feelings
because he would hang for such a crime. Meanwhile, an unwanted suitor pushes his case to marry
Cassie adding pressure on Alec who needs his freedom to marry the woman who believes he is
telling the truth. SWEET RELEASE is an exciting Colonial romance that grips the reader with
action and plenty of romance while also insuring the cast seems genuine. The story line is
fast-paced as Alec struggles to regain what he lost and much more. Cassie is a strong woman
whose trust in her beloved is the extra impetus he needs to clear his name. If this novel is any
indication of Pamela Clare's talent, fans of historical romance have plenty of reasons to
rejoice.
What About the Kids
Judith S. Wallerstein and Sandra Blakeslee
Hyperion
ISBN: 0786868651 $23.95
When it comes to the children (including adults) of divorce parents, Judith S. Wallerstein is
considered the self-help guru based on the insightful THE UNEXPECTED LEGACY OF
DIVORCE. Her newest effort to help families is a discerning collaboration with Sandra Blakeslee
that provides a how to guide book to assist divorcing or divorced parents with helping their
children survive the break up of the marriage. The authors insist that the former spouses must
straighten themselves out rather quickly so that they can be there for the children (think airline
oxygen mask instructions). Infants and toddlers need immediate assistance while adapting to
changes in care and nurturing. Preadolescents require empathy and the knowledge the parents will
be there as they struggle with the emotional bombs of change. Teens will manipulate the guilt of
the parents better than Machiavelli so provide empathy and understanding, but also remember the
parent has feelings too. Even adults have issues that their splitting parents must not ignore. Other
topics provide insight into the before during, after, and second marriages with a thorough index to
further assist the reader. This is a well-written complete guidebook encouraging the divorcees that
with integrity they can handle the grenades their resentful, often angry children and perhaps their
former partner toss at them.
Pattern Recognition
William Gibson
Putnam
ISBN: 0399149864 , $25.95
Market researcher Cayce Pollard is considered a guru when it comes to selecting potential
products and advertising campaigns that will make it. Recently hired by advertising giant
Hubertus Bigend to evaluate a new logo, Cayce travels to London to meet with her client. She
pulls no punches when she informs him that she thinks it will fail. Impressed by her fortitude and
insight, Hubertus hires Cayce to look into a series of Internet film clips attracting a large
world-wide cult following. Hubertus believes the pixel filmmaker is an advertising genius. Cayce's
preliminary work leads to someone breaking into the London flat she is temporarily staying at and
hacking into her computer. Soon the investigation sends Cayce global as she quickly links her
inquiries to that of her spook father presumed dead in the World Trade Center disaster Unlike his
usual futuristic global paranoia caused by Big Brother surveillance, PATTERN RECOGNITION
is a present day thriller focusing on the same themes but through real world elements and patterns.
The story line is more cerebral than action loaded as William Gibson paints a "cyber" tale that
allegorically tears into the soulless patterns of modern society including email. Cayce is a heroine
representing the hope that the dismal patterns of the present will not lead to an even bleaker
future as the trends seem to imply. Mr. Gibson provides a taut thought provoking tale, but not for
action fans.
Dirty Work
Stuart Woods
Putnam
ISBN 0399149821 $25.95
Stone Barrington serves of counsel to the New York law firm of Woodman & Weld, which means
they are one step removed from any dirty work that has to be done for their high paying clients.
Stone is asked to find someone to take pictures of Lawrence Fortescue cheating on his heiress
wife so that, according to the terms of the prenuptial agreement, she can get a divorce and not
pay him a cent in alimony. While the man Stone hires takes pictures, he has dinner with Carpenter,
a beautiful espionage agent he met in England last year. When Stone retrieves the pictures,
Carpenter recognizes Lawrence as one of the agents in her unit who quit the service. The woman
in the picture Marie-Therese, a deadly assassin who blends as well as a chameleon into her
surroundings killed him. She has a vendetta against those people in Carpenter's unit and has killed
most of them with the exception of three people. Carpenter intends to get her before Marie-These
kills her but Stone is the wild card in this spy game with no rules. The protagonist of this novel
stays true to his own moral code even if it means working against his current lover. Stone brings a
touch of class to the spy game, not waiting for foreign nationals who are supposedly the good
guys, to make a hit on American soil. The antagonist of this thriller is easy to understand and even
sympathetic when she agrees to a truce that Stone arranges. Stuart Woods knows how to tell a
good story while showing his audience just how ugly the spy game can get.
Skyhook
John J. Nance
Putnam
ISBN 0399149805, $25.95
A black ops operation is in effect called the Skyhook Project, a way for pilots on the ground to
control military aircraft that won't or can't return to base. The system is being developed by
Uniwave Industries but one of their final tests fails and the system locks in to place at fifty miles
above ground. The pilots manage to regain control and another test is scheduled for Friday. When
Ben Cole, the designer of the software for Skyhook, looks at the code, he sees several strings that
don't belong. While he is trying to figure out who put the extra code in, a seaplane goes down in
the same area where the military operation takes place. After the coast guard rescues the pilot and
his wife, a very prejudicial FAA examiner revokes the pilot's license. His daughter April and her
lawyer friend Grace are prepared to use any means to expose this injustice. The American
government knows Skyhook is responsible for the seaplane's mishap and will do what is necessary
to keep the real goal of the project secret. John J. Nance does for action thrillers what John
Grishan has done for legal thrillers. The story line is fast paced with plenty of action scenes, but it
is the characters who make this book a tremendous hit. April and Grace are two mid-twenties
women willing to take a risk and fight the federal government to see justice prevail so their loved
ones don't suffer. They make the novel though Ben is heroic in his own way.
Birthright
Nora Roberts
Putnam
ISBN 0399149848 $25.95
In an innocuous mall, a mother comforts her three-year-old son taking her eyes off her
three-month-old daughter, when someone kidnaps the baby. Twenty-nine years later Suzanne
Cullen watches a TV news clip about a Maryland archeological dig when she instantly recognizes
her daughter, the site's archeologist Callie Dunbrook. When Suzanne makes contact with Callie,
the forensic archeologist is sure the woman is lying because she knows she is not adopted.
Suzanne plants just enough doubt in Callie's mind for her to sneak into her father's private files
where she is shocked to see the adoption papers. Her parents swear that they adopted her in good
faith through a lawyer who specialized in private adoptions. Callie vows that she will find the
people connected to the black market scheme and expose them. Her ex-husband Jake is backing
her all the way. There are some people who want the past to stay buried and are perfectly willing
to kill to make that happen. Nora Roberts has written a very creative romantic suspense thriller
where innocent bystanders having nothing to do with the black market adoption scam are killed;
thus adding a touch of authenticity to the taut plot. The heroine and her ex-husband, who are
slowly working their way back to each other, realize that some amoral person lacking any
conscience is using misdirection to confuse and wear them down. Callie is a strong resilient
woman who bends but never breaks even when the shocks and traumas keep happening.
BIRTHRIGHT is a splendid drama that cannot be put down until the finale.
The Quilter's Legacy
Jennifer Chiaverini
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0743236130 $22.00
In 1899, New York Eleanor Lockwood knew she had a bad heart from the Scarlet Fever she
contracted as an infant and her parents did not expect her to live much longer. They both kept
their distance and her only adult loving came from her nanny Amelia Langley who genuinely
adored her charge. The Lockwoods hoped their family fortunes would be reversed when their
elder daughter married a rich man's son who would pump money into the family business. Abigail
had plans of her own and eloped with her father's rival leaving Eleanor to marry the jilted groom.
Eleanor couldn't go through with it and eloped with Fred Bergstrom and went to live with him in
his home at Elm Creek Manor in Pennsylvania. Years later, Eleanor's daughter Sylvia is dismayed
that her sister sold her mother's five beautiful quilts. One of the Elm Creek Quilters locates a
website whose purpose is to reunite quilter and quilt. From the replies she gets on the Internet,
Sylvia accompanied by her fiancee Andrew set off on an odyssey to find out the history of each of
the quilts once they left the family. Past and present are played out in alternating chapters so that
readers get a feel for what Eleanor's life was like and how Sylvia reconnects with her mother who
has been gone for more than half a century. Jennifer Chiaverini's fascinating family saga, rich in
period detail and showcasing characters who though elderly continue to live life to the utmost.
This is a superb novel in a heartwarming series.
The Jesus Thief
J R Lankford
Great Read Books
ISBN: 0971869413 $26.95
In 1978 scientists tested the Shroud of Turin. Most of the team concluded that it was not an
artifact from biblical times. A few dissenters felt the Shroud potentially had two construction
periods in which the cloth was woven and that limitations on where to test to protect the item
resulted in only the edges evaluated and a questionable conclusion reached. Now the Church
bestows a great honor on New York Catholic Dr. Felix Rossi as he has been selected to conduct
scientific testing on the origin of the Shroud. In Turin, unable to resist even while feeling guilty,
Felix steals two threads from the Shroud. His plan is simple. If these are bloodstains with intact
DNA on the Shroud, Felix plans to clone them even as he wonders if that is truly the remains of
Jesus Christ and who will serve as Mary. Felix will soon find himself and his family at the center
of a religious controversy and conspiracy as people stand divided on the topic of the Second
Coming. THE JESUS THIEF cleverly avoids the Apocalypse Now that seems to be the prime
thread of many Second Coming novels. Instead the story line brilliantly merges current and future
speculation of science to tell a delightfully action-packed parable of the Second Coming. The cast
is solid starting with the obsessed Felix and the story line is fast-paced and loaded with detail, but
this powerful tale belongs to the allegory that applies current science and scientific theory to The
Second Coming.
Liberty
Stephen Coonts
St. Martin's
ISBN: 031228361X $25.95
Russian General Petrov sells four decaying from age nuclear warheads for two million American
dollars to Islamic terrorist Ashruf, known more often as infidel killer Frouq al-Zuair. Anna
"Modin" Mickhailova observes the sale and later notifies her boss Russian spy chief Janos Ilin
about it. Ilin informs retired Rear Admiral Jake Grafton about the sale and that the four warheads
are heading to America. Grafton briefs the President. The Greek freighter carrying the warheads
vanishes while a terrorist cell in Florida waits for further instructions. Meanwhile Jake ignores the
ranting of the absurd bureaucracy demanding he follow the rules (and a few laws too) when he
orders the military and Coast Guard to use radiation detectors at the East Coast ports of entry. He
knows the consequences if he fails to catch the terrorists before they disembark. LIBERTY is an
action packed thriller that is at its best when it focuses on either of the testy testosterone twins
Frouq or Jake. A subplot involving an irate maniacal Vietnamese seems inane and the stereotyping
of the government agencies as inept seems too easy and trite. Still fans of complex multiple
sub-plots will appreciate this high-octane tale.
Home to Trinity
Delia Parr
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312270984 $24.95
In 1831 Trinity, Pennsylvania, a tired and saddened midwife, Martha Cade, returns home after
handling the premature birthing of a stillborn. Still, she looks forward to tomorrow when her
seventeen-year-old daughter Victoria returns home after running away six months ago. To her
joyous surprise, Martha finds Victoria and another woman waiting for her. After the hugs and
introductions, Victoria informs her mom that she will be going back to New York with June
Morgan. Martha loses her temper and insists that her daughter stay home, but Victoria says she
has a position with June and her husband. Later that night, June explains that Victoria works on
the Morgan women's magazine as well as writes poetry. As Martha struggles with what is best for
her family a visiting midwife gives her advice that will prevent her from alienating her daughter
forever. Martha finds it easier to give advice than to accept it. This family drama is an engaging
historical tale that enables the audience to observe how people lived in the Keystone State in the
early 1830s. Martha is an intriguing personality as she fails to follow the advice she gives others
when it comes to her beloved daughter. The rest of the cast enables the reader to better
understand the heroine and or the era. Though lacking heavy action, readers who appreciate a rich
Americana novel will gain much pleasure on this visit (or any of the previous trips) to Trinity.
Restored to Death
Nancy Bell
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312276567 $23.95
Post Oak, Texas is a very tiny town where everyone seems to know one another, even their
darkest secrets. To the surprise of the locals, the single father of a teen, Judge Jackson Crain, is
seeing a visiting outsider preservationist out in the open. However, the county magistrate, like
everyone except one person, has no idea who strangled his sister-in-law Dora Hughes and a
transient. Jackson investigates, as he needs to know. Still, in spite of the two murders, the women
continue to meet at the Knit Shop to share tidbits about anyone who is not there. On the other
hand the men never gossip except over coffee at the Wagon Wheel. While chitchat seems to be
the cottage industry of Post Oak, the killer has struck at least twice but will the law figure out the
identity in time to stop the culprit before he or she kills again. RESTORED TO DEATH is an
interesting small town regional mystery that brings to life the townsfolk (and a few corpses) so
that the reader understands down home Texas. Jackson is a delightful main character, but even he
seems overwhelmed by the obvious typecasting that engulfs him. The who-done-it pales next to
the ensemble cast so that Nancy Bell's tale is not quite a Biggie.
My Sister Jill
Patricia Cornelius
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312312288 $22.95
During World War II, Jack Wheatley was a Japanese prisoner of war for three and a half years.
When he was released he went home, but was never the same. Since coming home, he and his
wife Martha have six children. As the children grow up Jack is mentally abusive towards his
family members while Martha is somewhat negligent being too tired to do more than care for her
spouse. The oldest child, Jill raises the other five kids. Over the years, each child finds his or her
own way to avoid dad. Jill battles her father at times, but mostly hides in books and later in
anti-war movements and sex. Johnnie, perhaps the recipient of the most abuse, is weak and sleeps
away life. May designs clothing on any scrap of paper she finds. The twins Door and Mouse lean
on each other. Only Christine can reach Jack as she loves his war stories, but even she often fails
when he becomes obstinate and hard. MY SISTER JILL is an insightful look at a dysfunctional
family in which the father never fully recovers from his war years so the children suffer the
consequences. The story line engages the reader who empathizes with the plight of the children,
but scorn Martha for behaving pathetic and helpless in protecting anyone including herself. Thus
the audience receives a taut heart wrenching character study that provides a powerful look at a
family in trouble.
Lucky Stars
Jane Heller
St. Martin's
ISBN 0312288489 $24.95
She loves her mother but budding actress Stacey Reiser really wishes that she would get a life.
Stacy is tired of her mother's frequent phone calls, unsolicited advice and suggestions on how to
hold on to a man. Even though there is not a man in her life at present, she is getting roles in
movies and televisions shows instead of commercials. When Helen Reiser sells her home in
Cleveland and moves close to her daughter in L.A. Stacey goes into shock. Stacey becomes
persona no grata in movieland when Jack Rawlings of Good Morning Hollywood trashes her part
in a movie. Through a quirky set of circumstances Helen becomes the star in a series of tuna fish
commercials, which leads to her to becoming a Hollywood icon. Stacey is happy for her mother
even though she has to take a sales job to pay the bills. She becomes very concerned when her
mother falls for a man with a shady reputation. Stacey, with the help of Jack (the pair are now an
item), try to dig up some evidence against him because her mother won't have her daughter
dissing her boyfriend. LUCKY STARS is a first class dramatic comedy starring two strong-willed
women who are experiencing role reversal. Readers will find themselves chuckling out loud at
some of the conversations these two women exchange. The romance between the actress and the
film critic adds another layer of complexity to the plot, as does Stacey's antipathy of her mother's
beau. Jane Heller is a talented writer whose latest work crosses genre lines with this lush witty
melodrama.
Deadly Caress
Brenda Joyce
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312989431 $6.99
In 1902 New York, Police Chief Rick Bragg asks bluestocking amateur sleuth Francesca Cahill to
help investigate a homicide as she has had some previous success. At first the police thought the
deceased was artist Melinda Neville as the body was found in her apartment, but Francesca
identifies the corpse as Grace Conway, the mistress of her brother Evan. The art studio was
trashed just like that of Evan's artist fiance was last week. Francesca's sibling is the link between
the two crimes is the prime suspect. As Rick and Francesca work closely together to uncover the
identity of a killer, they struggle with their love for one another that cannot be fulfilled as he is
unhappily married. Though his wife left him to travel Europe for four years, she is back and
expects to restart their relationship. His half-brother Calder Hart adds to the mix as he informs
Francesca she will soon become his fiancee. The fifth Cahill tale includes several unexpected
personal twists that add excitement to a delightful historical mystery that uses amateur sleuth and
police procedural elements. The investigative story line is fun to follow as Rick leans towards
Evan being guilty while Francesca plans to prove his innocence. Though the personnel rectangle
slows down the who-done-it, fans will enjoy seeing the directions the lead couple goes setting up
some intriguing scenarios for future installments.
The Winter Mantle
Elizabeth Chadwick
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312312911 $6.99
In 1067, William the Conqueror has become the King of England and Normandy. To secure his
hard-earned throne, he holds hostage many local nobles including the Earl Waltheof Siwardsson
of Huntingdon, who remains a noble because he did not fight at Hastings. Shockingly, Waltheof
finds he desires William's Norman niece, Judith and even more surprisingly they make a match of
it even while treachery lurks behind every niche and cranny. Two decades later, loyalty has
become even more complex as William recently died and his two kingdoms divided between his
older sons. Many of the Conqueror's followers believe that the middle son should have received
nothing instead of sitting on the Normandy throne. Waltheof's oldest daughter, Matilda marries
her father's former squire Simon de Senlis. Matilda and Simon want to live and love in peace, but
once again treachery and shifting alliances make life as dangerous if not more so than when her
father was an English hostage in a Norman court. Though the story of William and his sons have
been told numerous times few efforts match the thrilling saga provided by Elizabeth Chadwick.
The story line focuses on people wanting peace and love yet caught up in an age of immense
chaos and turmoil fostered by treachery, hatred and betrayal. Real people and recorded
information of the period provide fans with an exciting historical novel that is probably as much
factual as fictional, all elements interwoven into a cohesive delightful tale that William readers will
cherish.
The Longing
Wendy Lindstrom
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312982844 $6.50
In 1871 Fredonia, New York, angry sawmill owner Kyle Grayson accuses his friend and mentor
Tom Drake of trying to ruin his business by failing to make payments. Suddenly, the upset older
man collapses and dies from a heart attack. Feeling guilty that he caused the fatal cardiac arrest,
Kyle buys Tom's lumberyard so that the man's widow and daughter are taken care of, as he
promised Tom just before his former guide died. However, the lumberyard is in disarray and
heavily mortgaged making its value almost worthless. Kyle goes to stop the deal, but is not only
too late, he is caught alone with Tom's daughter, schoolmarm Amelia. They are forced to marry,
but she fears making love because she lost her virginity to attorney turned banker Richard
Cameron years ago. As Kyle and Amelia fall in love, secrets between the newlyweds and his best
friend slowly surface that threaten to end their relationship before it truly begins. THE LONGING
is an engaging Americana romance that, though the story line contains too many secrets weighing
down the plot, remains an exciting Americana tale that focuses on Kyle, who was jilted by his
fiancee for his brother in the first book SHADES OF HONOR. Amelia is a wonderful protagonist
who brings to life the place of the young single female in post Civil War society. Kyle is a
workaholic with a conscience. Though his buddy's final actions seem out of character, fans of
historical romances will appreciate this novel and long for the next stories starring a different
single Grayson sibling.
Tongue Tied
Richard Stevenson
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312309740 $22.95
New York based Jay "J Bird Plankton is a typical right wing shock radio DJ. However, his
harangues obviously upset some people because he has become the target of a campaign of
harassment and pranks by the Forces of Free Faggotry, a 1970s gay rights group long since
extinct. Because of his former ties to the three Fs Albany private detective Donald Strachey is
hired to learn what they want, end any threats, and save J-Bird's image, which is more important
than his life. Donald manages to locate two former members, but both deny any involvement nor
accept any of their middle-aged colleagues harassing anyone. However, the attacks escalate until
J-Bird's gay bashing sidekick is kidnapped. With the help of a former three F member, farmer
Thad Diefendorfer, Donald tries to rescue the victim. Fans of gay mysteries will enjoy the sharp
digs at politicians and radio jocks that used and use the homosexual community to further
personal ambitions. The mystery is secondary to the jabs and hooks that Richard Stevenson
throws at the bashers with their divide and conquer philosophy. Readers who want a strong
investigative tale need to look elsewhere, but those in the audience who relish a series of left right
humorous combos will want to read TONGUE TIED because Mr. Stevenson is anything but that
with this amusing tale.
Sensei
John Donohue
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312288123 $23.95
In Brooklyn, New York, Homicide Detectives Mick Burke and Art Pederson pick up the former's
younger brother Connor for two reasons. First a witness Robert Akkadian testified that he saw
first hand the bad blood between Connor and murder victim Mitchell Reilly. Second they need a
martial arts expert, which, though the part time Dorian University professor would deny, he fits
the bill. The killer left his name in blood, "Ronin", a masterless samurai. Due to an Internet link,
the cops learn that Mitchell is not the first victim as the Los Angeles police share information with
their New York counterparts that someone called Ronin killed an expert there. Other homicides
follow with Connor and his SENSEI Master Yamashita trying to end the debacle by capturing the
culprit. SENSEI is an exciting thriller that is at its best when the sociology of the martial arts
groups is explored. The amateur sleuth and police procedural subplots are also fun to observe, but
seem red belt when compared to the black belt insightful interrelationships that John Donohue
provides with fervor and pleasure. The victim's motives seem stretched (perhaps only to this
couch potato). Fans of martial arts mysteries will relish this delightful tale and expect Connor to
return in more top rate novels like this one.
Jinn Matthew
B.J. Delaney
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312276702 $24.95
By May 1943, the war in the South Pacific is a deadly island by island fight with moth sides
suffering high casualties. However, the American marines and the Japanese military fighting on
Bougainville Island find something else to terrorize them besides the war. They hear sick laughter
in the night followed by a light where they gaze upon soldiers from both sides hung, impaled,
beheaded, and a "creature" ripping through the stomach of a dead man from the inside. Private
Eric Davis feels fortunate to escape when the Gallo picks him up, but the American vessel is
promptly sunk. In 2007, undersea movie documentary director Pierre Devereaux directs an
undersea filming of the wreck and subsequent raising of the Gallo. When the ship is brought to
Boston, strange murders begin. Detective Will Jefferson investigates a double homicide following
by more killings. Soon Will concludes that the culprit is a supernatural serial killer. Though too
many sidebars cause clutter, this delightful blending of the horror genre with a police procedural
and elements from other genres provide readers with a powerful tale. The story line is action
packed regardless of the setting's era or locale. The key characters change depending on location,
but enhance the feeling of terror. Quite descriptive and exciting, the JINN is a novel worth
reading as the cretin comes across as a real nasty antagonist.
Dragon King's Palace
Laura Joh Rowland
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312282664 $24.95
In 1682 (actually the Genroku Period Year 7) Lady Keisho-in, mother of the shogun, decides to
take a trip. The imperial mother demands Reiko (the wife of Sano the samurai chief investigator),
the pregnant Midori (the spouse of Sano's assistant Hirata) and Lady Yanagisawa (the wife of the
second-in-command Chamberlain Yanagisawa) accompany her from Edo to Mount Fuji. None of
the three invitees want to go, but each feels they must as loyalty demands so. The Dragon King
attacks their retinue resulting in deaths of the protectors and the four females incarcerated at a
ravaged island palace. The Dragon King sends a note to the Shogun demanding the execution of
Police Commissioner Hoshina if he wants the return of his mother. The shogun assigns
Yanagisawa and Sano to work the kidnapping case, but anyone with ambition sees an opportunity
to gain favor by rescuing Lady Keisho. Yanagisawa manipulates the situation to his own benefit,
as he prefers men to his wife. The clock ticks closer to a demented individual killing harmless
women even Midori who just gave birth in captivity. Though THE DRAGON KING'S PALACE
is typical of a historical abduction mystery, the locale and the characters make this novel unique
and wonderful. The story line remains fresh though this is Sano's eighth tale because of the
insightful look at an era when palace intrigue rivaled Machiavelli and the samurai code rules.
Through the actions, reactions, and thoughts of a deep cast, readers obtain a delightful historical
investigative tale whose enchanting center is seventeenth century Japan.
Slightly Abridged
Ellen Pall
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312281854 $23.95
Author Juliet Bodine writes Regency romances under the pseudonym Angelica Kestrel-Haven.
Juliet is having trouble with her latest work because the hero is not the rake she usually uses. So
when an octogenarian fan Ada Case Caffrey asks to meet over tea in Manhattan, Juliet, who
normally says no, agrees as they have exchanged letters for several years. Ada has more energy
that a teenager on a sugar high and gets Juliet and others to escort her all over the big city. Ada
also shows Juliet pieces of letters of the apparent memoirs of Harriette Wilson, perhaps the most
infamous of the Regency courtesans. Juliet arranges for Ada to meet with Dennis Daigrault,
owner of Rara Avis, a store that deals in antiques. However, Ada storms out feeling Dennis is
short changing her, but also fails to return to her bed and breakfast while a blizzard socks the city.
Not long after she is reported Ada missing, NYPD Detective Murray Landis has Juliet identify an
elderly homicide victim who is Ada. Feeling guilty for failing as a host, Juliet begins making
inquiries even as Murray searches for a killer and a lost manuscript. This engaging Manhattan
amateur sleuth story with some of police procedural elements adds realism to this fun tale due to
Hurricane Ada. The key characters are a delightful grouping, but each feels the impact of Ada
taking over the city and their lives even after she is murdered. SLIGHTLY ABRIDGED is a fine
cozy that leaves the audience waiting for book three of the Muses mysteries.
The Darkness Gathers
Lisa Miscione
St. Martin's
ISBN 0312283598, $23.95
True crime writer Lydia Strong has won a Pulitzer Prize, but is most proud of her reputation as a
supporter of the underdog. Following an author tour, she receives a tape from someone named
Tatiana and a letter from an anonymous person asking Lydia to come to Miami to help Tatiana
and "all the other girls in need of rescue". Lydia's sixth sense tells her this is no hoax and an
Internet search leads to Tatiana Quinn, the stepdaughter of a wealthy Miami industrialist, who has
disappeared without a trace. Lydia and her significant other Jeffrey Mark fly to Miami and meet
the local police detective in charge of the case. He wants their help because his investigation is
going nowhere. When they interview the Quinns, they feel something is wrong in their reactions.
They question the maid who is killed before she can give them any information and when her
daughter meets with them she is murdered also. The Miami police, the FBI and the Albanian
Mafia warn them off but they refuse to heed the advice. They remain determined to find Tatiana
alive or dead, a decision that puts them in jeopardy many times over. Lisa Miscione is a bright
new star in the mystery constellation, a writer who tells a good story while creating characters
that readers will care about. Romance fans will love THE DARKNESS GATHERS because
interwoven into the dark and gritty story line is the beautiful relationship that just keeps getting
stronger between Jeffrey and Lydia. This is only the author's second hook and it is not difficult to
predict that Ms. Miscione will be tomorrow's superstar.
Blood Relations
Rett MacPherson
St. Martin's
ISBN 0312301715 $23.95
Torie O'Shea loves living in the tourist town of New Kassel, Missouri with her husband and three
children. She knows almost all the other residents and where the skeletons are buried because she
is the Granite County archivist. What she doesn't know she can find out which is why she is so
good at solving homicide investigations. Due to the drought the Mississippi River is so low that
for the first time since 1919 the steamboat the Phantom is visible. Rumor has it that there was a
huge amount of diamonds on it when it went down and the journalists and even a university
professor are looking for a good story. One night when Torie and her friend are out walking she
hears a groan near where the boat is located and discovers the body of the college professor
whose skull is bashed in. Using her investigative skills and information gathered from interviewees
and out-of-state contacts, Torie learns why the Phantom sunk over five decades ago, but who the
killer is remains to be solved. In addition to working yet another homicide investigation, Torie
must cope with the knowledge that she has a half-sister she never knew about, but she does both
with an aplomb that will make her the envy of readers. Torie is one of the most likable heroines a
reader will find because she loves her family and friends and is not afraid to show and act on her
feelings. Rett MacPherson is a talented writer who provides a complex, multi-layered
mystery.
Murder Off Mike
Joyce Krieg
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312310269 $23.95
In Sacramento, California, Shauna J. Bogart hosts one of the top rated radio talk shows in the
area. She receives a call from Rudy, who claims brown suits killed a man at the address where
Shauna's mentor and fellow radio emcee Dr. Hipster lives. Not long afterward, the police
substantiate that Dr. Hipster committed suicide, something that Shauna refuses to accept as no
one lived life fuller than her friend. Adding to her disbelief is an apparent note of unrequited love
addressed to her, but she knows otherwise, as they were buddies. Unable to accept police
Lieutenant Gunderson's unofficial position, Shauna begins her own inquiries. She starts by seeking
a missing logger tape that contains a warning code from the Hipster to her. Her investigation
leads to a strange pact that place her in danger from a source that she would never have
anticipated anything but hugs and kisses from. Readers will quickly comprehend why MURDER
OFF MIKE won the St. Martin's first novel contest, as the delightful amateur sleuth tale is
fast-paced and insightful into talk radio. The story line provides the audience an intriguing look at
talk radio including the warning that the media's dwindling independents are rapidly being
replaced by national syndication. The characters especially Shauna and her call in loonies are a
delight to follow. All of this resides inside a strong investigative who-done-it and why. Perhaps
the only complaint is this reviewer wants Hipster's collection.
My Dearest Cecilia
Diane Haeger
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312282001 $24.95
In 1837 at a West Point ball, Cadet William Sherman sees the sister of a peer on the dance floor
with one of the recent graduates. He intercedes over the anger of her partner to claim the
remainder of the dance with Cecilia Stovall, a beautiful southern belle. The two hit it off, but
William is not good enough as far as the aristocratic Stovall brood is concerned. Her parents
whisk her off to Europe though she continues her correspondence with dear William. However,
ultimately they force her to marry a wealthy planter and he eventually takes a wife. During the
Civil War, they meet and realize the passion and love still remains strong between them. However,
will his love for her prove stronger than his military march to cut the south in half by avoiding her
home and her city? Or will he butcher one more place when he brings the horrors of war to the
populace? MY DEAREST CECILIA is an engagingly deep romantic historical fiction novel based
on the true star crossed love between General Sherman and Southern belle Cecilia Stovall. The
story line provides insight into Sherman turning him into a full person and not just a war hero or
"Butcher" depending on your perspective. Diane Haeger uses real persona and events to anchor
her fictionalized account of the two-wannabe lovers. Fans receive a strong tale that will send
much of the audience seeking THE SECRET LIFE OF KING GEORGE IV; another romantic
historical novel that along with this book shows Ms. Haeger has carved out a unique niche for
herself.
White Wolf
David Gemmell
Del Rey
ISBN 0345458311 $24.95
Once he was a general of a great army, with much wealth and vast estates who waged war on the
enemies of the women he loved, the woman who ants to take the throne of the Naashanites. He
possessed the magical swords of Night and Day and no man could best him in battle but when he
helped put Jianna on the throne, he realized her first love was power and so he left her. Jianna
puts a price on his head and people believed Skilgannon was dammed because of the atrocities he
committed while at war. For two years he sought peace as a priest but the outside world found
out him and forced him to flee. In the city of Mellicane, the legendary Joinings, men and beast
magically melded into one, were on the loose and Skilgannon along with another hero, the
legendary Druss warrior, repelled the attacks. They joined forces to rescue a little girl held
hostage by Skilgannon's greatest enemy, a child greatly beloved by Druss. Both knew this may be
their last battle but they are true heroes determined to rescue a child from a madman. David
Gemmell knows how to write a winning sword and sorcery tale starring a tortured hero (much
like Elric of Melinbone) it is impossible to dislike him despite the atrocities he committed. The
story line is fast-paced and rich in color with a villain reminiscent of Hannibal Lechter. Druss is a
half-century in age and his time is passing yet he still has the power to instill fear into his enemies'
hearts. WHITE WOLF is a stirring fantasy that will please fans of the genre.
Darwin's Children
Greg Bear
Del Rey
ISBN: 0345448359 $24.95
Eleven years ago the scattered human endogenous viral activation (SHEVA) retrovirus caused
mutations leading to the birth of a different human species (see DARWIN'S RADIO). Instead of
welcoming the genetically enhanced humans, the old generation, many of which are the parents of
these kids, fears and detests their offspring. Much of the phobia comes from the unknown, but
also from the propaganda beat that these new humans will ravage the old race. The government
established special laws and agencies to keep these children uneducated and targeted for death for
almost anything. There remain small cells of non-enhanced humans who want to do the right thing
with the preadolescents that are growing up in isolation. Amongst this minority, scientists Kaye
Lang and Mitch Rafelson, live in exile under the watchful eye of Big Brother yet still quietly raise
their daughter, Stella, a SHEVA child, who seeks her own kind. If EMAC finds her, the camps or
death will occur and the current suburban Virginia exile of Kaye and Mitch will seem mainstream
compared with what the Feds would do to them. Readers will better enjoy this seemingly
stand-alone novel if they first peruse DARWIN'S RADIO, where the evolution began. The theme
of DARWIN'S CHILDREN and the previous book is frightening especially with the
counterinsurgency and negative reaction as if the children were devils. Though much of the latter
half of the plot depends on luck and coincidence, fans of deep tales with strong scientific roots
and powerful messages will relish this novel of the old humans trying to keep the new enhanced
species from dominating the future.
The Spider's Touch
Patricia Wynn
Pemberley Press
ISBN: 097027274X $25.95
In 1715, Lord Gideon St. Mars remains exiled in France, as he is considered an outlaw in
England. Though he enjoys his freedom he needs to prove he was not a Jacobite murderer (see
THE BIRTH OF BLUE SATAN). His friend, Hester Kean still resides at Gideon's beloved
Hawkhurst since her companion her cousin Isabella married the replacement aristocrat. Pretender
King James offers Gideon the return of his estate if he joins his cause. Gideon sees this as a
chance to right the unfair injustice he suffered so he agrees. James sends him to England to meet
with the head of his army to learn when the rebellion will begin. However, when Gideon sees
Hester enter the home of a Jacobite, he warns her to beware of whom she befriends. Not long
afterward a murder at a Theater private box points towards Isabella's brother as the culprit.
Hester asks Gideon to clear the Hawkhurst name as only he as the Blue Satan can do. THE
SPIDER'S TOUCH is a delightful sequel that fans of historical novels will relish perhaps even
more than mystery afficiandos. Much of the book sets the era and location with fascinating tidbits
that enable the audience to feel Gideon's frustrations accented by no rights except in exile or
rebellion and how James the Pretender impatiently waits for his men to move. The murder
mystery and the appearance of the Blue Satan come late in the tale, but the who-done-it is clever
and Gideon is a delight whether he darns his alter ego or not. Patricia Wynn provides a winning
story that early eighteenth century readers will appreciate.
The Briar And The Rose
Laura Mills-Alcott
LTD Books
ISBN: 1553165802 $16.99
In 1827 Devan feels consumed with grief and guilt because he failed to save his beloved Katherine
from the fire. Drink fails to help so unable to cope, Devan flees London for his Irish home. When
he arrives in Ireland, Devan sees a ghost as he observes an urchin uncannily resembling Katherine.
Devan brings Raven into his home though her tale is peculiar as she suffers from amnesia. In
exchange for room and board, Devan asks Raven to tell him if she recalls any of her lost
memories. As he watches his guest act, he wonders if he might be the victim of a clever con or the
recipient of a second chance at love. Raven dreams of a life, but it is not her nineteenth century
existence. Instead she relives the seventeenth century life of Mairead, the secret lover of aristocrat
Seamus. Mairead believed he betrayed their love, so she cursed him, but once she learned the
truth failed to free their souls before they died. How their tragedy connects to Raven and Devan
requires reading the novel. The Briar And The Rose is a strong historical paranormal romance
that brilliantly uses nineteenth century tidbits (and to a lesser degree from the 1600s) to anchor
the otherworldly elements into a warm tale that readers of both sub-genres will relish. Devan and
Raven make a delightful couple and through her dreams the audience will see what happened to
the secret love between Mairead and Seamus without slowing down the plot. Laura Mills-Alcott
provides fans with a memorable story that will make its audience demand more haunting love
stories like this one.
The Craving
T.K. Shields
LTD Books
ISBN: 1553168879 $TBA
After dealing with a haunted house and an island that appears and disappears at will, one would
think that Jackson Rutledge, part time sports columnist for the Toronto Star and full time mystery
writer, and his partner Sabrina, also a writer would have had enough of the supernatural.
However, Sabrina is working on a book about shapeshifters and the natural born werewolves
want to stop her. One of them eats her editor, intercepts her e-mail, and tries to arrange a mating
with Jackson. By the time they figure out what is happening, they decide to travel to the small mill
town of Atschen to talk to the one person who might be able to help them. Professor Gunther
Velben has settled in Atschen because he knows there is a large population of werewolves in the
area. His mission in life is to destroy as many of them as possible and he believes he can kill all of
them at their special ritual when they all gather together. Jackson and Sabrina are drafted into
helping them, a risky endeavor that may cost all of them their lives. There is nothing romantic or
likable about the werewolves in THE CRAVING because they are bestial cannibals who love
human flesh. T.K. shields has written a very exciting horror story in which the lead couple battle
because it is the right thing to do. They do not look at themselves as heroes but as people who
want to exterminate a deadly animal that is inimical to humanity.5` This is an exciting, at times
gory book.
Sleeping Beauty
David Halliday
LTD Books
ISBN 1554160983 $TBA
A young woman leaves Canada and arrives by plane to an unnamed village in a country where
everyone refers to everyone as citizen. Ann is looking for her grandfather but nobody seems to
have heard of him and she is forced to confess that he committed suicide. She wants to know why
he left her alone in the world and while she continues on her quest, Ann notices some very odd
things about the village. She can't find a way out of there because all roads lead back to the
central source. One resident is overheard saying that nobody has left the village in five
generations. The village is infested with spiders that leave a stench in every building in the town.
Inanimate objects talk to their owners and Ann discovers a cat named Sam that actually talks to
her. She feels as if she is living in a nightmare and her greatest wish is that she would wake up.
SLEEPING BEAUTY is a series of vignettes, one scene seamlessly slipping into another, some
featuring Ann and others showcasing inhabitants of the town. There is a growing sense of
uneasiness as one fact after another is revealed and at times, readers will feel as if something is
crawling on their skin. Fans of Bentley Little will appreciate David Holiday's horror tale.
Magic's Silken Snare
Elizabeth Gilligan
Daw
ISBN 0756401275 $6.99
In the mid-eighteenth century, Tyrrhia is a haven for all races and religions including the Romani,
who are vested in magic and control the silk trade. Luciana, the Duchessa di Drago, is a powerful
mage who knows that her beloved sister died at court before official word came. She learns that a
practitioner of the dark arts stole her sister's body and Alessandra's spirit knows no peace because
it is used in evil spells. Luciana needs to find her sister's body and release her spirit so it can pass
on. To do so she must locate the wizard who killed her sister and take her revenge on him. When
her husband, her one and only love, joins her at the court those who want to replace the present
king and queen (Stefano's sister) drag them into regal intrigues, but the plotters are the reason
Alessandra was murdered. By thwarting them, Luciana avenges sister and makes sure the Romani
have a home. When Luciana tries to find her sister's body on the palace grounds, she faces an
enemy she never expected to exist. The imaginary country of Tyrrhia is situated where Sicily now
exists only this kingdom is much larger and stronger than Sicily ever was. The romance of the
estranged Duc and Duchessa is pivotal to the story line as the two star-crossed lovers try to find
their way back to each other. The religious and racial tolerance that exists in Tyrrhia is another
reason for many to want a strong Roman Catholic nation like France or Spain to annex the
country. Elizabeth Gilligan has created a fascinating realm that readers will want to revisit in
future novels.
Hidden In Sight
Julie E. Czerneda
Daw
ISBN 0756401399 $6.99
Humanity has colonized the stars and co-exists with many special humanoids as well as other
sentient races but no species will tolerate the existence of a Web-being. They are near immortal
shape-shifters that can eat intelligent life and turn living matter into more of their own essence. A
mindless Web-being called Death destroyed a whole world and many of the inhabitants on it.
Essen, the only Web-being in the vicinity of Minos XII, is a gentle, caring soul whose web was
destroyed by Death. She and her human, Paul Cameron have made a life for themselves on Minos
XII, working in exports until a friend finds out Essen's true nature and tries to kill them. They
escape to a waterworld planet where they learn Skalen, the only surviving member of Essen's
former web, has out-maneuvered them. She makes her presence known because she needs them
to go with her to Picco's Moon, the place where they were born to avert an interstellar war and so
that the two-web beings can settle their differences once and for all. Essen is one of the most
unique and refreshing sentient beings ever created by an author and it is easy to see why readers
will cherish her. After six centuries of life, she is still an innocent who reveres life and regrets that
people can't see past the surface of what she is. Pail is the one person who cares for her, as she is,
a man who understands her nature and still cares deeply for her. They have a relationship that can
only be severed by death. Their adventures together make for a strong outer space science fiction
tale.
Guardian of the Promise
Irene Radford
Daw
ISBN 0756400783 $24.95
Griffin Kirkwood was supposed to be this generation's Pendragon but he turned his back on his
magical heritage to become a catholic priest. His twin brother Donovan was too weak to pick up
the mantle so the Pendragon skips a generation. Griffin's daughter Deidre and Donovan's son Hal
journey to France with familiars to prevent the massacres that are imminent. While working the
spell, Hal is captured by El Lobison and turned into a werewolf. He escapes and keeps his
distance from the family for many years while Deidre becomes a spy for Queen Elizabeth I. Time
after time Deidre helps prevent the plots of Mary, Queen of Scots to oust Elizabeth. Mary
eventually goes too far and forces Elizabeth to act. Knowing that if Mary is executed, Philip of
Spain's armada will launch, Deidre begs Elizabeth to stay her hand. When her efforts fail, Deidre
is willing to use powerful magic that may end up killing her to keep England safe but Hal refuses
to see the love of his life die. The Merlin's Descendants series uses magic to explain pivotal
historical events that played a key role in the history of Great Britain. Although never formally
invested with the title, Deidre is her generation's Pendragon because she puts England's need
above her own, willing to give her life to see her country stay free. Hal is more of a tragic heroic
figure who doesn't succumb to his werewolf nature and is a proper mate for Deidre even if they
are first cousins. Irene Radford's latest novel is a magnificent fantasy epic using real historic
events and people to make the story line seems believable.
Horrible Beginnings
Edited by Steven H. Silver and Martin H. Greenberg
Daw
ISBN: 0756401232 $6.99
This horror anthology provides fans with the introductory story that seventeen reader favorites
started their illustrious respective career (dej… vu with last month's MAGICAL BEGINNINGS).
The contributions are fun to read if only to compare the opening gamut of a renowned author
with their most recent work. Each tale provides an introduction that brings further focus on the
writer. The collection is well done with delightful selections from a virtual who's who of the
genre, but the quality varies though none are horrible. As with MAGICAL BEGINNINGS,
HORRIBLE BEGINNINGS is for more the die-hard horror guru than the occasional horror
reader.
Beneath the Raven's Moon
Emily LaForge
Pocket
ISBN: 0743456130 $6.99
Catherine Carmichael learns that she has been named as one of the heirs in her Uncle Malcolm
Blount's estate. Catherine has not seen her deranged uncle, an author compared with Poe for his
horror tales, since her mother fled their jointly shared upstate New York castle over two decades
ago. Though she does not need the money, the London Symphony Orchestra concert pianist is
curious about her renowned relative and wants to find out anything about her father who vanished
just before her mother and she fled Ravenswood Castle. At the castle, Catherine meets three other
beneficiaries, actor Everett Steele, an illegitimate cousin Billy Fortune, and her uncle's agent
Madeline Treadwell. The estate lawyer Jacob Steiner plays a video in which Malcolm manipulates
everyone from the grave as he did in life to play in his game of inheritance. As Everett and
Catherine fall in love strange things happen as if the castle possesses an evil presence that no one
can escape as the ice has stranded everyone. BENEATH THE RAVEN'S MOON is an intriguing
modern day gothic romance with an eerie Twilight Zone twist that will shock the audience. The
story line has all the elements of the sub-genre so much so that readers will feel the foreboding
atmosphere through Catherine's concerns and contrast that with her growing love for Everett.
Though some purists may dislike the closing coil, Emily LaForge knits a delightful tale that most
gothic fans will savor.
The Devil You Know
Liz Carlyle
Pocket
ISBN: 074343787X $6.99
Late at night, renowned rake Bentley Rutledge runs into Frederica d'Avillez in the hallway while
everyone else sleeps. Freddy is upset because the man she thought would marry her, Johnny
Ellows is betrothed to someone else because his family believes she is not good enough for them.
Bursting into tears, Bentley provides comfort, but soon Freddy kisses him. Already dreaming of
Freddy, Bentley finds himself a willing partner to her seduction though he tries to put a halt to
their activities. That night, knowing he deflowered a virgin, a stunned Bentley leaves for his home
to regroup and to prepare himself to marry Freddy. However, neither Freddy nor her family
comes after him. Soon, Bentley hears that she is to marry someone else. He attends a ball hosted
by her family and confronts Freddy. Later he realizes she is pregnant with his child. He demands
they marry, but Freddy insists she will not. Forced to marry, they both realize that their attraction
is love, but will either willingly admit that their marriage is the best thing that has happened to
either of them. Though somewhat by the standard fans of Regency romances will relish THE
DEVIL YOU KNOW due to the delightful cast especially the lead couple. Bentley is an
interesting protagonist raised as a hedonistic rake by his decadent father in a case where nurturing
overcomes naturing unto he admits he loves Freddy. The heroine is a charmer not afraid to admit
that she is more at fault than her beloved for the seduction that "ruins" both of them. Together
they provide the audience with a fun historical tale.
Twisted Web
Tom Grace
Pocket
ISBN: 0743463749 $6.99
Killkenny travels by air to the Lake Vostok research center in Antarctica. Scientists are elated
over discovering new life in this isolated ecosystem more inclusive than any other found on the
planet. Killkenny tests some new equipment so he sky dives, but seconds after leaving the plane, a
surface to air missile destroys the transporter. Killkenny lands safely and manages to disrupt the
terrorists who have taken control of the research station. Though he stops one air transport from
leaving, the other escapes with the prize of what was found deep in Lake Vostok. Killkenny
informs the CIA even as he begins tracing ice ski planes and investigating a murder by a business
associate in which the evidence, including DNA, proves he killed his partner and his ex wife. The
CIA assigns reluctant CIA Agent Tao to come in from the cold and work with Killkenny. As the
duo begins to follow the international money trail, they realize DNA and immortality is what the
bottom line is all about as the murder and the stolen life forms tie together like the double helix.
TWISTED WEB is at its exhilarating best when it is a DNA espionage thriller. When the story
line (near the end) turns into a macho action thriller (to include females), the plot remains
exciting, but loses some of the edge that made the novel different. Still fans will receive immense
pleasure from Tom Grace's adventure novel.
Little Sister's Last Dose
Alex Minter
Pocket
ISBN 0743463315 $9.95
Felix Novak and Soraya Navarro were the best of friends as were their fathers who were partners
in the New York Police Department. During a drug bust, Billy Navarro is killed and Franklin
Novak is branded a coward for not backing him up. Franklin's wife leaves her husband taking their
two children to a rural Oregon town where they learn to hate their father. At nineteen, Penelope
Franklin comes to New York and travels the club circuit until she dies of an overdose. Her
brother Felix comes to New York to find out what happened to his sister because she called him
to say she was frightened and in over her head. He hooks up with Soraya who also wants to learn
the truth. She saw Penelope at one of the clubs that her boyfriend manages. Felix sees his father
for the first time in twelve years and joins him in his investigation. They learn Penelope was
murdered and all the concerned parties are determined to catch the killer no matter what it takes.
This is a chick-lit mystery starring two young adults (one of them a college student), who has the
strength and courage to investigate the death of someone they love and the wisdom to handle the
truths they learn. The club scene comes alive in LITTLE SISTER'S LAST DOSE and readers will
understand why the drug of choice, OxyContin is so dangerous. Alex Minter's first installment of
what will be a mystery trilogy is so good that the audience will want to read the next two books
as soon as they are published.
Messing With Mac
Jill Shalvis
Harlequin Temptation
ISBN: 0373691181 $4.25
Though her two new friends that she rents rooms to recently found love, Taylor Wellington
expects to never fall into that disgraceful state. She does not need love to tell her how to live as
she has observed relationships through her uncaring mother. She not only expects to grow old
alone, she looks forward to it. In South Village, five miles from Los Angeles, Taylor has hired a
contractor to renovate her Victorian style home built in 1902 that she recently inherited.
However, though they start off poorly as he thinks she is a spoiled princess, Taylor and contractor
Thomas "Mac" Mackenzie are attracted to one another. Although they begin to fall in love she
holds back because she knows he still loves his ex-wife while he wonders if she cherishes someone
more than him. Unless these two non-believers clear the air, a chance of a lifetime will become
memories that love hurts. MESSING WITH MAC is a lighthearted romantic romp that
delightfully closes Jill Shalvis' warm South Village trilogy. The story line never takes itself
seriously so the audience can sit back, relax and just enjoy the heated tale. Though Taylor's
mother is unbelievable, fans will appreciate this contemporary romance.
Revealed
Joanne Rock
Harlequin Temptation
ISBN: 037369119X $4.25
Jackie Brady manages to eat based on what she makes as a Zing-O-Gram girl even while she
dreams of one day composing children's music. Perhaps her head is in the clouds, but Jackie
attends the wrong party dressed in a cat costume held together by duct tape. Jackie sings Happy
Birthday with such a sexual overtone that it is a wonder that the recipient Greg De Costa does not
have cardiac arrest. Greg feels the passion that he wants to loosen and cannot resist a kiss that
stuns both of them. However, when she lands on her two feet, Jackie realizes that Greg is the
manager who will interview her tomorrow for a job. He simply believes he met a stripper. She
plans to be professional that is musically, but Greg once he realizes she is serious about music
wants more. As a duet they emit heat that turns into a fiery concerto. The romance is fun as
readers observe Greg struggle to overcome his first impressions caused by the initial
misunderstanding. However, both act more like teens than adults so that the audience wonders
whether this couple should form a duet, as someone needs to be the lead singer. Still fans of
lighthearted contemporary infernos will alternate between amusement and fervor as this author
rocks the music world.
The Boy Toy
Eugenia Riley
Harlequin Blaze
ISBN: 037379083X $4.50
In Texas, Allison Tracy informs her two best friends that she is sick of men and all the work it
takes to forge a relationship with the losers she dates. She is tired of killing herself when the male
acts so selfish and demanding everything their way. Allison has considered swearing off males
entirely. However, the successful pharmaceutical saleswoman decides she likes sex so much she
will find herself a boy toy to use until she tires of him and then replace that dud with a new stud.
At Westview Motors, service writer Pete Chisholm services Allison's vehicle and flirts
outrageously with his customer. Normally she would have told this moron where to go, but this
time she decides the hunk is perfect for a brief fling with no attachments. However, as they spend
time together in and out of bed, they fall in love, but neither wants to be the first to admit they
want to remain permanently together. THE BOY TOY is an engaging contemporary romance that
stars two individuals who represent the foibles of modern relationships. The story line moves
forward rather quickly as the lead couple revises their desires. Fans will love the heat of this torrid
tale.
Kelton's Rules
Peggy Nicholson
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373711190 $5.25
Following her divorce and the remarriage of her cheating spouse, artist Abby Lake accompanied
by her ten year old son Skyler leaves New Jersey to drive to Sedona, Arizona to start over though
her son hates leaving because he still believes his dad will return. When her bus overheats, Abby
stops and searches for water. Desperately needing to return home, Skyler drives the bus but the
pet cat gets stuck under the break. Skyler stays calm as Jack Kelton helps him stop the runaway
bus before anyone is injured. The vehicle needs repair forcing Abby and Skyler to stay in
Trueheart, Colorado for awhile. Divorce lawyer Jack has rules never to get involved with
someone recovering from the marital wars, but likes Abby anyway. She has her own law built
from the ruins of her marriage to never depend on a man. As they become acquainted and his
tomboy daughter enjoys the female influence in her life, Jack and Abby break all the rules and
laws. However, the other member of a potentially loving quartet still believes his father is
returning as promised so he sabotages the growing relationship between his mother and the
enemy. This is an enjoyable contemporary romance that adds a deep look at the aftermath on
individuals of a divorce. Abby trusts no male while Jack knows the bitterness people feel when the
forever love fails. However, it is Skyler's reaction that adds the tension as he firmly expects his
parents to get back together. Though his dad is a coward for lying to his son, readers will relish
this warm family drama.
Baby By Chance
M.J. Rogers
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373711166 $5.25
In Silver Valley, Washington, True Nature magazine photographer Susan Carter visits the White
Knight Investigations agency. Though he has no time for a drop-in as the family firm normally
only accepts appointments, private investigator David Knight listens to her. Susan wants David to
locate Todd, who she met six weeks ago at a self-improvement seminar and shared sex. Pregnant
with his child, she wants to know more about him. David pleads with her to tell him her entire
story, but when he believes she failed to do so he refuses to take her on as a client. David is
unable to forget Susan so he checks into her only to learn that the ring she wore was from her
deceased husband of several years. He finds her while she is on assignment; and when she faints,
he carries her and her pack to his vehicle. As he works her case, they fall in love, but she doubts
that he can love someone else's baby even when David risks his life to keep Susan safe when the
inquiries lead to danger. The story line is at its best when David displays his sleuthing skills. While
desperately seeking Todd, Susan hooks the audience with her calm caring constitution except
when her heart heats up for her hero. Though the intrigue subplot adds tension, it feels contrived
and reduces one side of a potentially angst equilateral triangle. Still fans of contemporary romance
will relish BABY BY CHANCE, as the pleasant primary pair provide a strong tale and set the
stage for more White Knight Investigations.
The Men of Thorne Island
Cynthia Thomason
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373711204 $5.25
Fort Lauderdale CPA Sara Crawford learns that she has inherited Thorne Island on the Ohio side
of Lake Erie from her Aunt Millie who she has not seen in fifteen years. Her aunt's Cleveland
based attorney admits he has not seen the property, but the brochure he sent her makes it look
wonderful. Sara changes her post April 15th vacation plans from Aruba to Ohio. However, the
island is nothing like the brochure, as the Cozy Cove Inn needs plenty of work to become
habitable though four men live there. Apparently her aunt leased rooms to these recluses for
twenty-five years at one hundred dollars per person. Though she wonders how these gents conned
her aunt, to her surprise she finds one of the hermits Nick Bass quite attractive and he
reciprocates. However, as they squabble and fall in love, he keeps a few secrets about his past
from her including his true identity fearing that once she learns the truth it could end their
relationship which was built without trust. THE MEN OF THORNE ISLAND is an amusing
romance with serious undertones that will grip the audience through the lead couple, the other
three rascally hermits, additional secondary characters, and a yellow VW Bug. The story line
provides the audience with delightful dialogue often humorous, yet it continually reminds the
audience that everyone needs somebody to need them. Cynthia Thomason writes a contemporary
romance that will turn the sub-genre into hermits for a few hours.
Scoring
Kristine Hardy
Harlequin Blaze
ISBN 0373790821 $4.50
Becka Landon serves as team trainer for the Lowell Weavers minor league baseball team. Though
there are a bunch of young hunks, Becka has sworn off males after the fiasco of her last boyfriend.
Former baseball superstar Mace Duvall provides hitting instruction as the league's roaming batting
instructor. He career was cut short by an accident, which leaves Mace with nothing, as baseball
was his life. When Mace sees Becka, he knows he has one week to get her in his bed as his
personal trainer. However, Becka wants nothing to do with him, believing he is just a womanizer.
Becka and Mace bet with him winning the payoff being an evening of sex. After paying off, she
sneaks away, but he refuses to leave. They play a game of wagers, but love has become part of
the ante if he can overcome his belief that his life is over and she can learn to trust. This is an
engaging sports romance that is at its most amusing best when the protagonists play a game of
king/queen of the hill. Neither of these strong individuals will back down, but both struggle to
embrace love. The story line gains some unnecessary tension when Becka, who has become
Mace's biggest believer as a coach, fails to support him during a controversy, but Kristine Hardy
still hits a homer with this take me out to the ball game romance.
Fresh Air
Charlotte Vale
Allen Mira
ISBN: 1551666820 $23.95
For the most part, Lucinda Hunter has not left her Connecticut home in twenty-seven years.
Rarely she will leave to go into town, but that takes quite a struggle for her to achieve.
Shockingly, Lucinda is the daughter of the late great actress Lily Hunter and a noted screenwriter
in her own right. However, when her mother died, Lucinda learned that her father was a black
man. Unable to cope with not knowing whether she belongs to the white or black race, both or
neither, she became a hermit. Lucinda looks out her window to see a young African-American
female playing in her yard. The girl invites Lucinda outside. Surprisingly she goes and soon a
bond forms between the nine-year-old Harlem resident Katanya Taylor, in town as part of the
FRESH AIR program, and the recluse. As they become better acquainted, Kat helps Lucinda
overcome her agoraphobia one step at a time. FRESH AIR is an engaging contemporary tale that
showcases how modern communication systems enable an individual to hide from society as
everything can be ordered on line. The story line focuses on friendship, as everyone needs
someone to care about. Lucinda is an incredible lead character and though Kat acts more like an
adult than a preadolescent, readers will find her charming too. The support cast provides the
audience deep insight into Lucinda as Charlotte Vale Allen gifts her fans with a deep
psychological drama.
Home Before Dark
Susan Wiggs
Mira
ISBN: 1551666731 $24.95
After living for the past fifteen years in New Zealand and photographing much of the world, Jessie
Ryder returns to her hometown of Edenville, Texas near Austin. Jessie suffers from a debilitating
illness that will leave her blind, so she needs to see her biological daughter Lila one last time.
Years ago Jessie became pregnant after making love to Ian Benning, who later met, fell in love
with, and married her sister Luc. Jessie hid the father's identity from everyone and her newly
married sister and husband adopted Lila and loved her as their own. Jessie wants Ian and Luc to
tell Lila the truth about whom is her biological mother. As the trio struggles with what is best for
Lila, the teen engages in hill hopping which leads to the death of another passenger. Meanwhile,
Jessie falls in love with widower neighbor Dusty Matlock and his little girl. However, Jessie does
not trust relationships so as she loses her sight she flees, but not before the Bennings tell Lila the
truth. HOME BEFORE DARK is an engaging relationship novel that contains a delightful
extended cast. Much of the tale focuses on Jessie, yet readers also learn about the other key
characters. Although why Jessie felt that Lila had to know the truth is never fully explained, the
audience will savor this warm modern day family drama.
Private Lives
Karen Young
Mira
ISBN: 1551666790 $6.50
In Houston, Jesse and her mother Gina D'Angelo live with Newberry Award winner Elizabeth
Walker. Though opposites, Gina and Elizabeth have been friends since they met as foster children
two decades ago. The D'Angelos moved in with Elizabeth following the kid's father Austin
Leggett throwing both of them out of his home. Gina has since asked for child support, but Austin
refuses to pay and counter files for custody. Though he hates this case, attorney Ryan Paxton
represents Austin because his client's father, a senior partner in their firm, asked him. Ryan implies
that Gina and Elizabeth might be gay and rips both in other ways when they testify. Still, the judge
rules joint custody. Austin persuades Angela to accompany him to discuss the finding, but she
refuses to give away what their daughter needs. He bruises her. They meet again, but Gina ends
up comatose after a car accident. Ryan believes that Austin caused the accident and helps
Elizabeth because the shocked Jesse is the most important person in this fiasco. Soon Ryan and
Elizabeth fall in love, but both know Jesse comes first. Though Austin shows no redeeming
quality and his behavior after Gina is comatose seems out of character. However, PRIVATE
LIVES hooks the audience because of the rest of the extended cast. The story line is fast paced,
but contains delightful sidebars that make the lead couple seems so real as both want what's best
for Jesse. Fans of romantic suspense will encourage Karen Young to reveal the PRIVATE LIVES
of Elizabeth's two sisters who make strong appearances in this terrific work of romantic
suspense.
Final Exit
Laurie Breton
Mira
ISBN: 155166660X $6.50
The fourth victim is an eighteen-year-old North Dakota resident who has come to Boston to
attend school. Her murder leads to the Boston police to set up a task force headed by Lieutenant
Conor Rafferty to stop the serial killer rapist before someone else dies. The FBI sends profiler Dr.
Carolyn Monahan to help solve the case. Ten years ago, Conor and Caro were engaged until
someone murdered her sister while she lingered in bed with her beloved instead of picking up her
sibling as previously arranged. Unable to face the guilt, Caro left town and joined the Feds.
Though he hates having the FBI involved and more so Caro, Conor realizes her profiling skill
helps especially as a tool to eliminate those most likely not to be the killer. As their attraction
rekindles, Caro becomes the focus of a clever murderer whose apparent current terror is not his
first as he sends unique photos of her sister's murder to prove otherwise. Though the culprit when
revealed by Laurie Breton seems strange, readers will find fascinating this strong serial killer
romance that intelligently weaves elements from both genres into a taut thriller. The story line is
loaded with action focused on a triangle between Conor and Caro in love and the killer playing cat
and mouse with both of them, but mostly Caro. The insight into profiling is superb taking much of
the mysticism out of it yet brilliantly used to further the plot. Police procedural and romantic
suspense fans will want to read Laurie Breton's enjoyable tale.
Naughty Marietta
Nan Ryan
Mira
ISBN: 1551666766 $6.50
In 1872 Galveston, Texas, septuagenarian Maxwell Lacey nears death but needs to right the
wrong he committed when he tossed his pregnant unmarried daughter from their home
twenty-five years ago. Maxwell cannot do anything for his deceased daughter, but wants to see
his granddaughter Marietta Stone before he dies. Only her poster as a diva in the Central City,
Colorado opera house keeps him alive. Maxwell uses his wealth and influence to save former
confederate officer Cole Heflin from the gallows. Cole agrees to bring Marietta to Maxwell in
exchange for $10,000 that the pardoned felon will provide to the widowed mother and sister of a
deceased friend. In Central City Cole attends the opera where Marietta performs. He is stunned by
her beauty, but shocked when she sings in front of the packed house because her voice stinks.
Cole learns that a middle-aged patron sponsors Marietta and three of his henchmen guard her
around the clock. Cole abducts Marietta from underneath the protection of her local patron. As
she tries every trick, including seduction, to gain her freedom, he safely takes her past her patron's
chasing guards, Comanche, mountain men, and buffalo. On the trail they fall in love but she
resents his forcing her to see her detestable grandfather. This is a fun western romance that is
loaded with non-stop action though Marietta's protectors seem a bit too pathetic. The story line is
absolutely superb when Marietta and Cole battle one other for control of a relationship that
changes from captive to forever love (no Stockholm syndrome with this couple). Sub-genre fans
will have a good time reading NAUGHTY MARIETTA.
Embrace the Twilight
Maggie Shayne
Mira
ISBN: 1551666685 $6.99
The enemy tortures Colonel Willem Stone to provide them the names of the American spies inside
their training camp. Will denies there are any, insisting technology enables the United States to
know their plans. When the pains becomes too hard to consciously handle, his mind vanishes into
some other place so that he will not reveal the names of the thirteen people working undercover
for America. This place inside his mind looks like an ancient world consisting of Gypsies and
vampires. One Gypsy has his full attention as Sarafina is so full of life, but she is changed into a
vampire in front of his eyes. Not long afterward, Will regains consciousness in a hospital, but the
memories of Sarafina seem so real to him and where he dredged it up from is outside his
understanding, but he assumes it is a fantasy. That belief ends when he meets Sarafina and quickly
falls in love with her. However, though she loves him too, she does not trust him because he failed
her twice as her guardian spirit and she refuses to take strike three especially when he spends an
inordinate time protecting the child who may prove the savior or destruction of her kind.
EMBRACE THE TWILIGHT is the typical Maggie Shayne magic of taking the impossible and
making it seem not only real, but also entertaining as well. The story line is loaded with non-stop
action yet the lead protagonists are an intriguing duo and vampires seem like a bona fide species.
Fans of vigorous vampire romances will appreciate Ms. Shayne's latest achievement that never
slows down until the end.
The Red Branch Tales
Randy Lee Eickhoff
Forge
ISBN: 0312870191 $29.95
The thirty stories that make up THE RED BRANCH TALES come from twelfth century Ireland
translated into modern English with the beautiful lyrical prose that Dr. Randy Lee Eickhoff has
brought to all his previous translations. The tales provide common themes of life among the
various clans with the title providing an obvious clue as to what to expect. The stories vary in
content with many dealing with heroism, war, and romance. The anthology is entertaining though
like much of medieval literature, formal language is sprinkled with baroque eloquence and
comically lewd capers. Also included are "Fragments" of incomplete tales and proverbs. As usual
Dr. Eickhoff provides a marvelous collection, that will be of interest to English majors and those
readers who recently savored The Canterbury Tales or Beowulf.
Lady Robyn
R. Garcia Y Robertson
Forge
ISBN: 0312869959 $26.95
For someone born in mellow California in the twentieth century, Lady Robyn of Pontefract has
reasonably adapted to living in the fifteenth century. She blames no one but herself for her present
displacement as her white witch dabbling transported her to 1461 and the War of the Roses. To
avoid blunders, she uses her palm pilot to help her keep score between the Lancasters and the
Yorks though often she errs on whose side someone belongs. Robyn has become engaged to
Prince Edward, but problems exist for the duo. His family believes she is beneath him and wants
their relationship to end. Meanwhile, aristocratic men want her killed as a witch, jailed for betting
on the wrong side, or seek sex with her. Though a kind nurturing soul to all she meets, the noble
female spouses want her dead. With reality intruding on history classes and romantic images,
Robyn feels happy about her life, but would not mind returning to fast food California. This is an
engaging time travel romance that is clearly for fans of the series. New readers will feel more
displaced than Robyn did when she first appeared in 1461. Robyn is a pragmatic and delightful
lead protagonist and the rest of the ensemble either provides insight into her or the chaotic era.
Fans of R. Garcia Y Robertson will enjoy the latest entry, as it is a fun tale.
Sims
F. Paul Wilson
Forge
ISBN 0765305518 $25.95
In the near future, two brothers Mercer and Elias Sinclair formed a company called SimGen that
spliced chimpanzees and human genes creating a new life form, Sims that is neither human nor
chimp but a sterile hybrid. Sims have forty four chromosomes and humans have forty six but the
most crucial difference of all is that Sims are considered property even though they can think, talk
and pray to the same God humans worship. They are leased to individuals and corporations but
SimGen owns them and this situation is very repugnant to Romy Cadman who works for a secret
organization headed by Zero. He is dedicated to forcing the public to accept Sims as a branch of
the human family. Patrick Sullivan is approached by a group of Sims who desire to form a union.
What starts out as a task becomes a cause as the attorney comes to believe totally Sims deserve
civil rights. What the public doesn't know and Romy and Patrick are only beginning to learn is
that there is a shadow organization within SimGen that will go to any lengths to protect their
experiments and dirty secrets. This work is science fiction though the technology to create a Sim
outside of the game world seems just around the corner. The story line is exciting, fast-paced and
scientifically based raising powerful social issues that should be dealt with sooner than later. F.
Paul Wilson is well known for his repairman Jack Horror novels but readers should note that
SIMS is totally different but just as creative and cutting edge.
Cyberterror
R.J. Pineiro
Forge
ISBN: 0765303930 $25.95
In San Antonio, terrorists access the computer program that regulates the flow of natural gas.
They dramatically increase the pressure on the system resulting in uncountable leaks into private
homes and other buildings, which in turn leads to numerous explosions throughout the area.
Thousands die and The Alamo City turns into a prison cemetery reminiscent of the fire bombings
of World War II. More than just the United States is in a panic as much of the developed world
wonders if their home will be part of the next assault. Two decades of experience as a
counterterrorist fails to prepare Tom Graham for the type and magnitude of this attack. He knows
the old rules are gone and he needs outside the societal crypt type thinkers and a software
Einstein to prevent future rapes via the American cyber-infrastructure. Tom mobilizes FBI Special
Agent Karen Frost and obtains the services of computer guru Michael Patrick Ryan. The war is
engaged as the threesome supported by the Federal Counter Cyberterrorism Team try to follow
back the hacking path that led to the San Antonio wasteland. As President Bush claimed Bin
Laden the threat after 9/11 and Hussein as the threat in 2002, R.J. Pineiro provides a cautionary
tale that describes the seemingly real threat is through cyberspace. The theme of
CYBERTERROR is protection to the computer-managed infrastructure is weak and subject to
hacking. Though the characters serve more as good guys vs. bad guys stereotypes, this
action-packed thriller will haunt the audience with its message of no escape for the innocent if the
cyber weaknesses of our support systems is not fixed yesterday.
The Gryphon's Skull
H.N. Turteltaub
Forge
ISBN: 0312872224 $25.95
About three centuries BC, the merchants Menedemos and Sostratos sail the Aphrodite across the
Aegean Sea from Rhodes to deliver cargo in Athens. Menedemos captains the vessel while his
cousin Sostratos handles more of the scholarly side of the business. Of course the two bicker over
everything with Sostratos being a back seat driver and Menedemos a pseudo intellect. On this
particular journey, the argumentative duo obtains the skull of a strange looking bird that Sostratos
believes is a gryphon, which proves the existence of the mythical beast. Menedemos dreams of
receiving plenty of loot at an auction as he figures the philosophy schools will compete to buy the
gryphon skull. As the relatives argue, fuss, and fight over the bird, they must also deal with the
typical hazards of the open sea ranging from pirates to warring countries to spoiled aristocratic
relatives, but mostly they contend with one another. THE GRYPHON'S SKULL is a delightful
ancient historical novel that brings to life Greece through the eyes of a strong cast, especially the
delightful lead characters. The story line is action-packed, filled with real tidbits and persona, but
also contains much amusement especially when the cousins bicker, banter, and bother one
another. Fans will relish this trek and want to read the combatant cousin's first novel, OVER THE
WINE DARK SEA.
Heretic Sun
Elaine Corvidae
Novel
ISBN: 1591050839 $TBA
Thraxis the powerful black wizard and his barbarian wife Arrow, a trained warrior, have traveled
to the Sanctum Minoris of Gypta to see the parents who relinquished him at birth to be raised by
the Athraskani Vilhardovin in the Sanctum Majoris. When his former mentor learns that he is alive
and well she and the Black Council journey to Gypta to try to bring him back in line with the
tenets of his order. Arrow becomes friendly with Thraxis' sister Thiacene, a black wizard
masquerading as a red one so she can live with her family. Before the council and Vilhardovin
arrive, Thraxis is exploring some ancient ruins trying to discover the ruined city of Xaqqara.
When the council arrives, they journey to the city that was destroyed by magical wars and find
that there is still magic in the city. There is danger there as well because the wizard's ancestors
almost destroyed themselves using knowledge that is destructive in nature. Arrow wants to leave
the city but Thraxis and most of the Athraskani want to learn the secrets of the ancients, but those
seeking that knowledge risk their lives for some things are better left alone. HERETIC SUN, the
sequel to TYRANT MOON is an action packed romantic fantasy that will be enjoyed by romance
and fantasy genre fans. Elaine Corvidae is a wonderfully creative storyteller who knows how
makes her audience adore her naively innocent hero as he overcomes magical and mundane
obstacles while staying true to his beliefs. The heroine is his complete opposite but their
relationship works because they believe in each other. Hopefully, readers have not seen the last of
Thraxis and Arrow.
The Choosing
PhylissAnn Welsh
Novel
ISBN: 1931696772 $18.95
Port Marcus Captain Feenix, personal guard to the High Priest of the Sea Elves, is irate with the
god Mac Lir for turning her into a helpless dolphin once a month. That is why her sworn enemy, a
Night Elf captured her. That Night Elf Prince L'Garn of Cragimore believes this acerbic human
slave will enable him to learn about her strange species. L'Garn desperately desires control of the
human half of his blood that fills him with shame and unwanted feelings that leave hum unsuitable
to one day sit on the Night Elf throne. However, already attracted to one another, these two
proud obstinate individuals remain unaware that Mac Lir chose them as the means to save the
Elven by bringing peace to the species. The demon god Tuatha plans to exterminate the elves
from the seven Cella worlds with genocide complete on one, Earth, and this orb Tylana expected
to be accomplished soon. Book two of PhyllisAnn Welsh's the Sylvan Wars Saga, the
CHOOSING, is a descriptive romantic fantasy that follows on the success of the first novel (see
The BINDING) by retaining the complex genuine feeling realms as the adventure unfolds. Ms.
Welsh makes Tylana seem real through her support cast who provide the depth so that the
audience knows they are visiting a vivid locale that cannot be imaginary. L'Garn and Feenix are a
delightfully strong duet whose respective essence stays consistent even when each one falls in love
with the enemy or subject to the Sylvan creator Mac Lir matchmaking manipulations. The
audience will choose this novel and series if they want a fun fantasy.
The Binding
PhyllisAnn Welsh
Novel Books
ISBN: 1931696861 $17.95
On Earth, the Sylvan race has just about vanished with only a hint of blood surfacing in a rare
human child. Mac Lir, the God who formed the Sylvan elves, believes one of his peers Tuawatha
is behind the eradication of his children. Mac Lir sees the same genocide that occurred on Earth
beginning to happen on the planet Tylana. Mac Lir sets in motion a plan to save his children. An
Earth human child with Sylvan blood will bind her soul with the Tylana Sylvan high priest to forge
a new and stronger race. Widow Korrene Greenwood begins writing an epic novel about the
Sylvan Elves. Her hero is Rendolin, who seems to be haunting her dreams. Korrene worries that
she is losing her mind as she feels Rendolin is stalking her. She decides to destroy her manuscript
but he manages to stop her by persuading her that her actions would end his world. They begin to
adopt her manuscript's main story line to forge a plan to save the elves of Tylana, but will she
accept the fate that Mac Lir has in store for her? THE BINDING is an absorbing romantic
fantasy. The main plot is exciting because readers will believe in the world of elves. Rendolin is a
classic hero who will leave readers panting for a taste of his magical essence. Kory does not come
across as a world savior as she seems to struggle with depression and loneliness and that makes
her all the more ral to the audience. The star-species' relationship is beautifully told and the war of
survival is exciting. Similar in respect to the Never Ending Story, PhyllisAnn Welsh provides an
entertaining opening installment to the Sylvan War Saga.
The Immortal Part
Christopher Wakling
Riverhead
ISBN 1573222399 $24.95
He is a junior lawyer at Madison & Vane, a very prominent English firm, helping one of the senior
attorneys working on a brief that would advise UKI on the refinancing of two of its subsidiaries
through U.S. investors. Lewis Penn is a very methodical, by the book lawyer who is successful
because he doesn't make mistakes. At the meeting, he makes a very good impression but he makes
what will ultimately prove to be a fatal error when he walks out without taking the file. Instead of
admitting his blunder, he sneaks back into the meeting room and takes the file and makes a copy
to be sent to his counterpart in the United States. When he gets a chance to look at the file, he
realizes it is the wrong one. It contains criminal information that the client would never give away
and when they learn of the error they make it plain to Lewis that he must return the file or suffer
the very real consequences. THE IMMORTAL PART is the story of a decent man who makes the
wrong decision to keep from getting into trouble with his company. One small error in judgment
plunges him into a whirlpool leading to additional poor indiscretions and the comission of some
criminal acts. The protagonist learns too late that every action has its consequences that often
can't be fixed or changed. Christopher Wakling has written a masterful work of psychological
suspense.
The Lamplighter
Anthony O'Neill
Scribner
ISBN: 0743243498 $25.00
In 1886 Edinburgh residents become frightened when a series of brutal murders occur and an
eerie grave-robbing incident happens. The brass assigns Inspector Carus Groves to solve the case.
Carus is a sanctimonious egotist writing his memoirs every evening, but turning the accounts into
more of an autobiographical fiction piece than a biography. He sees himself as a hero on
adventurer rather than a plodding cop though on this serial killing case he has doubts about
himself. Retired due to age, Edinburgh University Professor of Logic and Metaphysics Thomas
McKnight and his Irish friend Canavan, fired as the watchman of the cemetery where the grave
robbery occurred, begin their own inquiries. The duo searches for a seemingly supernatural person
who apparently tore an adult into pieces. The clues lead to publisher assistant Evelyn Todd, who
returned to her home city where two decades ago she lived as a Dickens poster girl orphan. She
knows too much detail about the crimes so McKnight and Canavan try mesmerism, Freudian
psychoanalysis, metaphysics, and other isms seeking her link to the terror of the night. The
atmosphere of a terrorized Edinburgh will be felt by the reader once the prologue is finished and
the tale moves forward to 1886. The story line grips the audience as the reader compares the two
investigations, but wonders if the culprit is supernatural or human. The cast is cleverly drawn to
add depth to the tension while showing the foibles of the lead players. Fans of historical suspense
thrillers where the tension just keeps growing will want to read Anthony O'Neill's terrific tale but
remember to keep the lights on.
The Mistress of Alderly
Robert Barnard
Scribner
ISBN: 0743236882 $24.00
Former renowned actress Caroline Fawley enjoys her life as a kept woman living in Marsham
Village with two of her three children. Caroline enjoys the weekend visits of her married lover
Marius Fleetwood, who pays her bills including residing at the luxurious Alderley Mansion.
Accompanied by Marius, Caroline attends her oldest daughter Olivia's opera performance. Marius
sneaks away as he usually does when he comes to an opera, but plans to return just prior to
curtain call. Olivia is a success, but Marius fails to return. The next day, the police ask Caroline to
look at the murdered corpse of an elegantly dressed man, who she identifies as Marius. As she
worries about the future, the truths she believed about her lover begins to prove false, making her
wonder about her beloved and why anyone wanted him dead. Though the story line takes its time
to introduce the players, readers will relish the wait for once the plot shifts into gear, it never
slows down until the end. The characters are fully developed even those who are off stage like
Marius' wife so that the audience has a feel for what motivates the cast though much of what is
learned about the victim proves untrue. Robert Barnard provides the audience with an
entertaining mystery that emphasizes the main and support cast.
The Given
Sharron McClellan
ImaJinn
ISBN: 1893896889 $TBA
When the people at her village including her father discovered she was a Trancer, a person with
strong mental powers, they kicked Aria out of the town. To her family she was dead. She made
her way to a tower where Trancers are trained to use their abilities for purposes of good and after
Aria made love with a warrior, her Given, she would become an apprentice. Talon was to be her
Given, to initiate her into the rules of womanhood but a coupling that was supposed to be based
on passion only, turned into something so much more. Aria becomes pregnant with Talon's child
but on the day she goes into labor, the Reapers attack, killing all but Aria who they thought they
left dead. They take with them Aria's best friend Iliana and Aria's newborn. When Talon discovers
what was done, he vows to destroy The Reaper leader who he believes killed his son. When he
journeys to their hideout, Aria insists on going with him because she knows her son lives and
wants to find him and keep Talon from doing something he will regret. Sharron McClellan is a
new name in paranormal fiction but with her talent she will quickly become a fan favorite. She
creates an interesting world populated with characters that are colorful, complex and stubborn in
their belief systems. The love story between the hero and the heroine doesn't overshadow the
quest story line that is very romantic in its own right. This reviewer hopes that Iliana, who has
sacrificed so much for Talon and Aria, is given her own story complete with a happily ever after
ending.
Beneath A Rising Moon
Keri Arthur
ImaJinn
ISBN 1893896382 $TBA
On an alternate earth, werewolves live on reservations and for the most part receive the same
respect as human beings. They have strict birth control methods so they don't overwhelm the
human population and different packs live in the same area. On the Ripple Creek Reservation, the
Golden pack is more traditional believing that one's morals prevent a mating until the true soul
mate is found. The Silver pack holds that free mating is necessary and hosts wild parties at the
mansion the week before the full moon. This month, Neva Grant of the Golden pack is at the
mansion to infiltrate the Sinclair pack because several women were attacked and killed except for
her twin sister Savannah who nearly died. She seduces Duncan, the wildest one of the bunch, and
he claims her, through magic for the rest of the week. He too is looking for the murderer and
thinks Neva might be a link to the culprit. By the time these two lovers have sorted things, Neva
is attacked and Duncan kidnapped by two werewolves with hidden agendas. Fans of Laurell
Hamilton and Charlaine Harris are going to love this werewolf series. Keri Arthur creates a whole
culture out of the werewolf mythos and makes the reader believe in the species because of her
intricate plotting. The werewolves police themselves by the rangers who are part of their society,
a situation very similar to Native Americans living on the reservation. BENEATH A RISING
MOON is howling good fun.
Overfall
David Dun
Pinnacle
ISBN 078601542X $6.99
Sam is sailing his custom made vessel Silverwind off British Columbia when he sees a woman on
South Windham Island jump into the water. The men on the supposedly uninhabited island make
no effort to help her so Sam, risking his life, manages a daring rescue. His unexpected passenger
is wealthy internationally famous movie star Anna Wade. She was on the island visiting her
brother Jason who is employed by a shady company that is working on a top secret project that
will be of interest to terrorists and third world dictators. Jason slipped her a heavily encrypted
CD-ROM that she is supposed to deliver to a certain scientist. Sam, a free-lance intelligence
agent, who is in charge of a computer with unlimited storage capacity, is sucked into helping
Anna free her brother and also cure the sibling of what the people in Grace Laboratories did to his
mind. OVERFALL is an action-packed thriller starring a very reclusive hero and a very exuberant
heroine who strikes sparks off each other from the moment they meet. Their unusual courtship
(for lack of a better term) eases the tension when the tale begins to boil and overcomes the
coincidence of the rescuer having the perfect skills for this endeavor. A prime reason besides the
action that David Dun's novels are so much fun to read is that he explains the science on a level
that reader can understand without looking down at the audience. This book deserves a sequel
because there is a very big loose end that deserves tying up.
Cold Quarry
Andy Straka
Signet
ISBN 0451208439 $5.99
In Nitro, West Virginia, Falconer Chester Carew is working his bird Elo when the falcon suddenly
disappears. Chester is able to track him via a telemetry recoverer, but he walks into an ambush
and is murdered, shot in the back. Attending the funeral is fellow falconers Frank Pavlicek and his
former partner in the NYPD Jake Toronto. Chester's widow wants to hire Frank, who now works
as a private investigator in Virginia, to find out who killed her husband. The police tell her it was
probably a drunken hunter but Mrs. Carew thinks the Stonewall Rangers, a local right wing militia
group, had something to do with it. As soon as Frank starts asking questions and stirring the
locals up, he is asked to "stand down" by the local police, the FBI and the ATF who have a sting
operation in place that takes priority. Frank isn't one to back off and that is a good trait because
he learns that the stingers are about to be stung. The protagonist, Frank Pavlicek is a strong willed
character who is so loyal to those he cares about that when Mr. Toronto is arrested, Frank does
everything in his power to help him. The events that take place in this book are a reflection of the
persistent atmosphere of the United States government following the events of September 11,
2001. Andy Straka not only knows how to weave current events into his story line, but also he
creates an exciting thought provoking who-done-it.
Murder of a Snake in the Grass
Denise Swanson
Signet
ISBN 045120834X $5.99
When she turned eighteen, Sky Denison couldn't wait to leave her hometown of Scrumble River,
a small town an hour and a half outside of Chicago. After doing two terms in the Peace Corps,
she went to New Orleans where she earned a psychology degree and was engaged to a wealthy
Creole aristocrat. When he dumped her, she returned to Scrumble River, broke, disillusioned and
homeless. Her uncle Charlie used his influence to get her a position as psychologist for the school
system and in the time she has been home, she has made a place for herself in the community. She
is therefore very unhappy when her ex-fiance Luc St. Amant turns up wanting to reconcile and
needing her to sign some papers that would put her on the board of the foundation that would
help abused children. She is so upset that Luc is in town that she doesn't even want to get
involved in the latest homicide case, but circumstances conspire to get her to investigate the
mystery because that is the only way her ex-fiancee will be able to leave town. Denise Swanson is
one of the better new writers of amateur sleuth mysteries, a writer who shows the problems of the
big city are just as prevalent in a small town. The heroine has gone from a shallow depressed
person to a woman who is making a difference to the students who are under her care. Readers
are going to love MURDER OF A SNAKE IN THE GRASS.
Shelter from the Storm
Michael Mewshaw
Blue Hen
ISBN: 0399149880 $23.95
In Central Asia, American researcher Kathryn Matthews takes in a "wolf" boy who just
materialized from the nearby wilderness. The natives believe animals raised the lad as he behaves
as such. At about the same time, middle aged American Zack McClintock arrives in country
seeking his missing son-in-law after recently receiving a ransom note demanding one
million-dollars. A second letter also arrived demanding instead of cash that Zack take a boy to
America for treatment. The US State Department tells Zack to go home, but instead he goes
deeper into the country escorted by the Russian Mafioso, Misha. Zack meets Kathryn and her
"ward", the wolf boy, among other characters carving out a post Soviet enclave, but wonders
where his in-law fits in this chaos. SHELTER FROM THE STORM is an engaging suspense
thriller that showcases a nameless post Soviet State country struggling to find its identity in a
strange world. The story line is action-packed. However, the plot fails to fully grip the reader
because Zack's mission seems not only out of character, but it is also never totally understood
why he went overseas and in country for someone he apparently does not like. Still Michael
Mewshaw is a colorful author whose latest tale will provide shelter for sub-genre fans from the
storms of boredom.
The Fifth Victim
Beverly Barton
Zebra
ISBN: 0821772155 $6.50
In Cherokee Pointe, Tennessee "gifted" Genny Madoc "sees" the ritual murder of a teen through
the eyes of the killer. She informs her cousin, county Sheriff Jacob Butler who knows to trust in
her visions. He finds the corpse of Susie Richards based on her input. On his own time, FBI Agent
Dallas Sloan has been hunting the killer of his niece for about a year. He believes a serial killer
murdered four women and drank their blood, before a final homicide in which the culprit cut out
the heart and probably ate it. He thinks this killer has followed this pattern four times in different
locale and once he learns about the death in the Smoky Mountains, he believes round five has
begun. Dallas arrives in an unofficial capacity and finds himself half in love with the bewitching
Genny though he scoffs at her powers. As three more die, he and Jason conclude that the killer
wants Genny next. Both men willingly risk their lives to keep her safe. Though some of the antics
of Genny's wannabe lovers seem unreasonable and the man that her best friend loves seems inane,
readers will appreciate this strong romantic suspense. The lead couple is a delight as she knows
and he doubts, but both need each other. The serial killer is an intriguing character who seems so
shadowy and frightening while the police procedural is top rate. Readers will be pleased with this
taut tale and look forward to the two upcoming novels starring the heroine's best friend and the
sheriff respectively.
Consignment
Grant Sutherland
Bantam
ISBN: 0553801872 $23.95
US Ranger Ned Rourke wanted to be the best he could be when he served in the Gulf War and
took a bullet in Africa. With pressure from his wife to come home, Ned leaves the military he
loves to accept a civilian sales representative job for Haplon Systems, a firm that sells military
merchandise, mostly arms, to terrorists and mercenaries. Ned obtains a big sale at a trade show at
about the same time someone kills his competitor and former West Point roommate Dmitri
Spandos. Although the police think it is a freak accident from a misfired range bullet, Ned thinks
Dmitri was assassinated due to his role as a covert Pentagon operative tracking illegal arms
exports to enemy powers and terrorists. Angry with himself for being one of those peddlers and
seeking revenge for his buddy, Ned goes after the smugglers because honor is at stake even at the
possible cost of losing Fiona. Setting the stage is critical for this expose undercover tale, but that
also leads to a slower pace. Those readers who get over the shock of the crisp foreign sales (ever
wonder where the weapons come from?) will become engrossed in a deep condemnation of a
corrupt system. The warning story line works because Ned displays the best of the army adhering
to the values though he knows the price could be all else he cherishes. The action picks up
towards the middle when the novel switches gear into more of an action thriller. Fans will
appreciate Grant Sutherland's eye opening cautionary tale even while sales continue to put the
troops in jeopardy.
Dead Aim
Iris Johansen
Bantam
ISBN 0553802461 $24.95
She is a celebrated photojournalist who covers some of the most tragic news stories of our time.
She is on assignment at Arapaho Junction, Colorado where a dam collapsed causing a landslide
that has buried many people alive. Alex Graham helps with the rescue efforts along with her friend
Sarah Logan and her rescue dog Monty. When Alex arranges a helicopter pick-up at the top of
the gorge, it is blown out of the sky by two men trying to kill her. The two killers triggered a
second landslide but there is no evidence to support Alex claims. The authorities think it was a
result of the dam breaking but Sarah and Alex disagree. Sarah's husband whisks her away after
she gets injured and gets Judd Morgan to watch over Alex. Judd, a black ops agent, is marked for
assassination after seeing something he shouldn't have seen. Alex and Judd realize they are dealing
with a conspiracy that has it's origins in renegade FBI and CIA officials and the executive office.
They have to expose the conspirators before America experiences a deja vu tragic destruction of
another Camelot. DEAD AIM is a fantastic action thriller that brings back beloved characters
from other books written by the author. The two protagonists become romantically involved but
that is a secondary plot that is overwhelmed by the non-stop action of the main theme. The
respective vulnerability of both the hero and the heroine rings true and endears themselves to the
readers but what is really exciting is how they travel different roads to take them to the same
point. Iris Johansen will make the New York Times bestseller list with this dynamic and thrilling
novel.
Afterlove
Robert Rosenblum
NAL
ISBN: 0451207866 $22.95
High school teacher Kate Weyland was to drop her four year twins off at school before going on
for a job interview. However, when she dropped an earring and ruined her outfit searching for it
forcing her to change, she asked her beloved husband to run the kids off to school before his
work. However, during a high speed chase a police car accidentally plows into Jim's vehicle killing
the father and son at the scene and the daughter dying at the hospital. A nurse tells the stunned
Kate that her little girl asked not to be placed on life support just before expiring. Desperate for
anything, Kate wonders about the possibility of an afterlife, so she visits those who claim they talk
to the dead. Her trek sends her to Nantucket, where she meets the weird Gabriel Farr only to
learn he was the focus of a murder case in Hawaii. Though Kate mistrusts him even after his
explanation of being a Good Samaritan by informing the Hawaiian five-O of visions he saw. Will
he channel the grieving widow to her cherished family while offering a new love or is he a con
trying to get a lonely mourner in his bed? This inspirational romance will touch the soul of
readers, especially those who suffered a tragic loss with no prior warning. The story line does turn
soap operaish at times as Robert Rosenblum turns up the angst. However, fans will relish
shedding a few tears along side of Kate as she seeks solace and understanding to why bad things
happen to good people.
Sucker Bet
James Swain
Ballantine
ISBN 0345461754 $21.95
On the Micanopy Indian Reservation in the Florida Everglades, Nigel Moon, a former drummer
for an English rock band, won eighty-four hands of blackjack in a row. The dealer, Jack
Lightfoot, did it on purpose at the instructions of his partner Rico Blanco who intends to run a
scam using Moon's money. The chief of the tribe Running Bear is watching the security tapes but
can't see how this scam went down so in desperation he calls in a consultant. Tony Valentine,
founder and president of Grift Sense, finds the cheaters who try to rip off the casinos. He has a lot
of experience doing that because he used to work as a police officer in Atlantic City when
gambling was first legalized there. When he arrives on the reservation he figures out how the
scam was run but a quick job soon gets very complicated as he becomes involved in tribunal
justice and stopping Rico's scam. Along the way, he wrestles alligators, gets shot at and is almost
killed by an out-of-control Rico, owing his life to a super intelligent monkey. If this book sounds a
bit crazy, that is because it is a typical James Swain gritty yet humorous wild tale that also
educates the readers in the ways a con artist can rip off a casino. The protagonist is a
sixty-something year old honorable man who always stays true to his principles and values even if
it makes him seem rigid to all the lesser mortals. SUCKER BET is a sure bet.
Blind Run
Patricia Lewin
Ballantine
ISBN 0345443225 $23.95
Three years ago, Ethan Decker worked for the CIA. His assignment, along with his team was to
assassinate a rogue agent known as Marcia Ramirez AKA the Spaniard. Something went wrong
and Ramirez got away but someone on the team killed an innocent child. Not long after that, The
Spaniard killed almost everyone on Ethan's teams as well as Ethan's son Nicky. Ethan holes up in
the desert but one-day the only living member of his former team, Anna Kelsey shows up with
two children. She dumps them on Ethan and leaves but before she can get very far the Spaniard
kills her. The kids tell Nathan that they and other children have been living on Haian Island off
Washington State since birth. None of the children has ever been off the island and from what
they say to Ethan, he realizes they are part of a black-ops secret project. Back in the game again,
he grabs his ex-wife Sydney one step ahead of the assassins and both of them eventually realize
they have to go to the island to free the children, a task that seems suicidal because Ethan knows
who he has to go up against. Patricia Lewin has written a "two thumbs up" action packed thriller
filled with plenty of harrowing chase scenes and fats getaways. The sparks fly between the two ex
agents, which becomes welcome relief from a taut suspense story line. Fans of Hopper, Gerritsen
or Burke will want to read BLIND RUN, a great debut novel by one of tomorrow's
superstars.
High Stakes
Kathy Herman
Multinomah
ISBN 1590520815 $11.99
Baxter is a very small town where everybody knows everyone else, a place where a stranger sticks
out immediately. When eighteen-year-old, Angie Marks arrives in town, people start whispering
about the stud in her nose, the very visible tattoos and the black nail polish. Many people think
she is dangerous but the town millionaire Patrick Bailey see beyond appearances and hire her to
be his housekeeper. He ignores the warnings of his daughter and his grandson's new wife, even
when she disappears and is suspected to be with murder suspect Tully Hollister. He believes that
there is a rational reason why Angie is gone and his faith in her remains steadfast. When Tully and
Angie are finally found, the town learns Tully kidnapped Angie but didn't harm her. He thought
she had information that would exonerate him on the murder charge. Patrick takes her back and
learns the real reason she came to Baxter and then proceeds to do everything in his power to see
that she gets what she needs. Patrick is a very wise and astute character who sees beyond surface
appearances. Angie is a young woman who desperately needs someone to love her for herself and
Patrick does just that because he sees the goodness and gentleness within her. He goes out of his
way to show his acceptance of her and she in turn shows her devotion to him by being the best
worker he ever employed. Kathy Herman has written an inspiring tale that isn't preachy yet gets
her message across.
The Rescuer
Dee Henderson
Multnomah
ISBN 1590520734 $12.99
They met when they were children in a Chicago orphanage. When they were old enough to leave,
they legally change their name to O'Malley and moved into a home together. They were closer
than most blood families so that when one of them died, the only member who doesn't have a
significant other or is connected to God can't handle the loss. Stephen quits his high-pressure
EMT job and heads off for parts unknown, running away from the pain that he can't cope with.
The only person he keeps in touch with is Meghan Delhart, a former trauma nurse who was
blinded in an automobile accident five years ago. When Stephen finally returns home he buys a
home in Silverton, Illinois, and is practically Meghan's next door neighbor. As he slowly comes to
grips with his sister's death, he begins to fall in love with Meghan but she is strong in her faith and
won't allow herself to love someone who doesn't share her religious beliefs. THE RESCUER has
to rescue himself and he does so in slow painful steps while his heart is breaking which
immediately engages reader empathy. The hero is a good man who has seen so much tragedy in
his young life and it is only when he is able to connect to God does he find the peace of mind he
has been seeking for years. Dee Henderson has written another enthralling inspirational romance
that showcases a character trying to cope with a terrible trauma.
Passing into Light
Sharon Ewell Foster
Multnomah
ISBN: 1590520661 $12.99
African-American Shirley Ferris Mills remains grieving the death of her beloved spouse, who died
for his country in the Gulf. She decides she and her two preadolescent children need escape from
the haunting memories of their current life and to simply start over. So she leaves Huntsville,
Alabama to drive to the Davis area of California. Along the way, the police stop her believing she
may have stolen her car. When that is cleared up and she is freed, Shirley is about to continue her
journey when a white teen Windi, with who she shared a cell, asks for a ride to Tyler, Texas.
Shirley agrees though she was not planning to go to Tyler despite her beloved Mother Johnson
living there. In Tyler, as she heals through embracing the Lord and the love of Mother Johnson,
Shirley meets her high school prom beau Tony Taylor. They begin to fall in love, but the path to
happiness remains filled with issues that might test Job. This is an exciting inspirational tale with
romantic and social elements imbued inside the powerful story line. The tale hooks the audience
because the ensemble cast seems genuine as they represent a slice of life. Though dialects add
authenticity some readers will feel that slows down the speed of a delightful mellowing yet upbeat
novel.
Yesterday's Dreams
Danielle Ackley-McPhail
ViviSphere
$16.00
She would do anything for her beloved ailing father so Kara O'Keefe knows she must sacrifice the
only asset she owns her beloved violin given to her by her grandfather years ago, but medical bills
for cancer treatment must be paid. Knowing and doing are not the same as Kara delays the
inevitable wandering the city until she finds YESTERDAY'S DREAMS and meets Maggie
McCormick, a Sidhe who realizes what Quicksilver the violin truly is: a magical piece of the
owner's soul. Lucien the collector sees an opportunity to add Quicksilver and Kara to his booty.
He will do whatever it takes to possess both. As Kara struggles with the existence of the Sidhe
and magical objects, she joins forces with Maggie, her first mentor since her grandfather died, to
battle the evil Lucien. YESTERDAY'S DREAMS takes the typical fantasy theme of good vs. evil,
but places it in modern times with modern day dilemmas as opposed to the usual medieval fare.
The setting and Kara's disbelief make for a fabulously fresh tale that hooks the audience from the
moment Lucien sees his prey. The prime characters appear real enabling the audience to believe
that the magic is real in the music. Though changing narration perspective can become jolting at
times, readers will appreciate Danielle Ackley-McPhail's wonderful novel.
Once He Loves
Sara Bennett
Avon
ISBN: 0060519703 $5.99
In 1072 at a Yorke party, singer Briar Kenton feels this night she will have the opportunity to
destroy Lord Radulf, whom she has hated for two years. She believes Radulf murdered her
stepmother leading to her father, considered a traitor by the king, committing suicide. Briar plans
to use her body to seduce her enemy, make him hers, and destroy his happiness with his wife.
Briar flirts with the man she believes is Radulf, but is actually the disgraced former knight Ivo de
Vessey. Ivo and Briar make love and his tenderness and how much she feels for him shocks her.
When she learns that Radulf did not come to the party because he misses his wife Lily, she angrily
tells her bed partner to leave. To her shame she knows she cannot go after Radulf after meeting
the kind Ivo, who feels a strong need to protect Briar. They begin to fall in love, but a defrocked
knight and a daughter of a traitor have no prospects together especially when she loathes his
employer. Though Briar's behavior can become irritating to the reader and her plan on how to
gain revenge seems weak, ONCE HE LOVES is an exciting conclusion to a marvelous medieval
trilogy. The tree tales interconnects through the cast, but each novel can stand-alone. The story
line, like its predecessors (see THE LILY AND THE SWORD and THE ROSE AND THE
SHIELD) is action-packed and colorful so that the era comes to full bloom. Sara Bennett finishes
her miniseries with a wonderful conclusion that readers will appreciate.
Slippery Slopes & Other Deadly Things
Nancy Tesler
Perseverance Press
ISBN 1880284588 $13.95
This year the annual International Association of Biofeedback Practitioners is being held at the
Snowridge ski resort in Sunnyville Vermont. The attendees include Carrie Carlin, who has a small
practice in Bergen, New Jersey. She is particularly excited about this conference because the
guest speaker, Dr. Hubert Freundlich, has made a significant breakthrough in the field, one that
Carrie can use in her own practice. At her first meeting with Hubert, he makes a pass at her in a
hot tub filled with people, one of whom is his wife. At lunch the next day his assistant, Charlie
Anders drunkenly hints that he has something on the good doctor. Shortly after that, he is
murdered and Carrie gets involved when it's is discovered he was wearing her scarf. It turns out
that her friend Dr. Joe Golden had the scarf in his possession and was going to give it back to her
before it mysteriously disappeared. Joe also got into a fight with the victim one hour before he
was killed but Carrie is sure he is innocent and intends to prove it over the objections of her
significant other because he doesn't want her to be used as bait by an overzealous policeman. This
amateurs sleuth tale showcases a heroine who is prone to take risks even when she is only
indirectly involved in a homicide investigation. She is exasperatingly stubborn and so good
hearted that readers find themselves rooting for her and wanting her to back off while also feeling
sorry for her lover who has to put up with her. Nancy Tesler knows how to write an extremely
exciting who-done-it that can't be put down.
Death, Bones, and Stately Home
Valerie S. Malmont
Perseverance Press
ISBN 1880284650 $13.95
In the year that Tori Miracle has lived in the small town of Lickin Creek, Pennsylvania, she has
tried her best to fit in but her detractors blame her for the death of their beloved congressman and
the destruction of the historical house and courthouse buildings. She still has hopes of being part
of the community so she volunteers to write up the brochure for the stately homes tour. For the
first time, the group has managed to get permission to put Morgan Manner on the tour but when
Tori and her best friend Alice Ann examine one of the outbuildings, they discover old bones
covered in a tuxedo. Tori learns it is probably the body of Rodney Meellot, a high school music
teacher, who eloped with the art teacher Emily Rakestraw. A few days later the remains of Emily
are found in Bride's House. Tori is sure the two murderers are connected so she starts asking
questions of the townsfolk and that is when the attempts on her life begin. It has been a long time
since a Tori Miracle Pennsylvania Dutch mystery has been published but it has been well worth
the wait. DEATH, BONES, AND STATELY HOMES is a charming cozy with many amusing
and whimsical moments. Valerie S. Malmont also interweaves a social issue sub-plot into the main
story line, which makes the tale even more realistic without taking away from the who-done-it.
Ms Malmont is one author who never fails to deliver a fascinating story.
Old Flames
John Lawton
Grove/Atlantic,
ISBN: 0871138646 $24.00
In 1956, Nikita Khrushchev visits England. Because he can speak Russian, having moved from
there as a child, Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Frederick Troy is assigned as Khrushchev's escort,
his (and the English) interpreter, and English spy. Most cops would loath the assignment, but
Frederick even more so because of his espionage assignments during WW II and his gut belief
that his father was a spy and traitor. As Khrushchev gets ready to depart (to Troy's relief), in
Portsmouth Harbour the mutilated body of a navy diver Lieutenant (R) Arnold Cockerell is found
though his wife says the corpse is not him, but provides no explanation as to where he is.
Evidence leads to the conclusion that Cockerell, a furniture salesman, apparently was a spy, but
no one confesses that he was employed by them, leaving the police to wonder for whom did he
work? Troy is involved in that case and wrapping up his spying on Khrushchev, but also has
personal problems to contend with, as his family detests the past resurfacing and his former deadly
KGB old flame making a return into his life. OLD FLAMES is a powerful espionage tale that
plays out on two levels. First, the story line is an atmospheric Cold War spy novel set at a time
when England and the West are shocked by the Philby-Burgess scandals and Khrushchev is
screaming nuclear burial. The ploy also provides a subtle humor to all the spy and counterspy
activity. Troy keeps the tale together as the audience receives a terrific espionage thriller cleverly
inter-wrapped with a probing police procedural like a Moebius Band.
Vapor Trail
Chuck Logan
Harper Collins
ISBN 0060185732 $24.95
Last year in Stillwater, Minnesota, elementary school teacher Ronald Dolman was put on trial for
molesting six-year-old Tommy Horrigan but despite the overwhelming evidence against him, the
jury voted to acquit him. Somebody took the law into their own hands and murdered Ronald, an
action the media and the public approved of wholeheartedly calling him or her "The Saint". A year
later "The Saint" kills a priest in the confession booth because he was supposedly molesting little
boys. Sheriff John Eisenhower deputizes private investigator Phil Broker (see ABSOLUTE
ZERO) so that he can legally question Harry Cantrell who he suspects of knowing the identity of
the Saint. After Phil gets the information from Harry, he is supposed to escort the policeman to a
detox facility. Harry doesn't intend to make life easy for Broker who he holds responsible for the
death of his wife and the Saint is not making it easy for the police. She has gone from vigilante to
serial killer: methodical, organized and deadly. Author Chuck Logan has written an exciting police
procedural thriller starring a protagonist whom tries to work on the right side of the law even
when it cost him his friendship with Harry. The plot is full of red herrings, misdirection and
unexpected twists and turns making VAPOR TRAIL an exciting roller coasters ride of suspense.
The author ensures that the reader will read his next book by telling the audience where the hero's
daughter can be found.
Painted Lady
Peter Abresch
Intrigue Press
ISBN 1890768472 $24.95
Elderhostels are trips that senior citizens take when they want to see the country or do things they
have never done before. Jim Dandy (a part-time EMT/physical therapist) and Dodee Swisher (an
artist with her own gallery) fell in love at their first Elderhostel and have gone on others as a way
of being together since they live in different states. Their latest trip is by motorcoach traveling the
old Santa Fe Trail but even before they start, a murder occurs. While Jim waits for her in a hotel
hospitality suite, Dodee conducts business. He sees a woman dressed in Indian clothing falling
from the roof and is the first one to reach the dead woman. They later find out she was a shaman
who supposedly knew the whereabouts of the Mayan Falcon, a gold statue with diamond eyes.
Jim and Dodee notice someone is following them and a few a days later someone kidnaps her by
someone who thinks Jim has the statue. After a mad chase by Jim and the Elderhostel bus driver,
Dodee is rescued but the kidnapper gets away. When their next door neighbor is killed it's obvious
that somebody thinks Jim has the statue or knows where it is located. Dodee is determined to
solve the mystery so both her and Jim will be safe. It's great to have Dodee and Jim reunited after
such a long time away; the duo are even more down-to-earth and raunchy than ever. The couple
is living proof that love and sex don't fly out the window after fifty or does brain matter dissolve.
The protagonists are sharp and able to figure things out when younger and supposedly wiser
heads fail miserably. PAINTED LADY is a charming mystery that gives the reader a good visual
of the Santa Fe Trail.
Sunshine and Shadow
Earlene Fowler
Berkley,
ISBN 0425189558 $22.95
There is a lot going on in the life of Benni Harper, San Celina's curator at the Sinclair Folk Art
Museum and Artist's Co-Op. Emma Baldwin, the author of the teenage Molly Connors mysteries,
is back in town and has donated her Crazy Quilt to the exhibit Benni has put together. Benni is
delighted that the woman she interviewed in college is back and hopes that they can become
better acquainted. Benni's husband, Chief of Police Gabe Ortiz also has a friend visiting. Luke a
former LAPD police officer is now a private investigator who is in town on a case and looking
into possible family he has in the area. When Luke's body is found with fifteen stab wounds, Gabe
takes the homicide very personally. However, not quite as emotionally as when someone starts
stalking his wife by messing up her car, sending her threatening photographs and even taking
potshots at her. Gabe is afraid that somebody is taking revenge on him by going after his wife but
Benni thinks that the stalker is not connected with Gabe at all, but with somebody else in town.
Each Benni Harper mystery is better than the previous one because the characters change and
grow. Readers see how Benni's seventy-something grandmother adjusts to her new marriage, and
how the heroine's cousin and best friend act like marriage is an institution made just for them. For
the first time, using flashbacks, Earlene Flower gives readers a glimpse into the marriage of Benni
and her first husband and the connection he had to Gabe. SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS is a five
star mystery.
Mrs. Jefferies Pleads Her Case
Emily Brightwell
Berkley
ISBN 0425189473 $5.99
His peers admire him; his subordinates emulate him; His superiors think that he is the perfect
policeman in Scotland Yard. Very few people have any inkling that his servants, who adore him,
use their connections and their wits to help Inspector Witherspoon solve his homicide cases. The
housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries uses guile and flattery to subtly direct the investigation. Aside from
helping their employer, his servants like working behind the scenes to see justice done and know
they had a part in making it happen. Mr. Westover's death was originally ruled a suicide but
Inspector Witherspoon's superior wants him to take another look at the case because the victim's
landlady knows he was not the suicidal type. When the inspector begins his own investigation, he
discovers that the victim was in a locked room with the key outside the door. He also learns that
he was very angry just before he was shot and it was had something to do with work. Using
information subtly given to him by Mrs. Jefferies he begins to get an inkling as to who committed
the murder. MRS. JEFFRIES PLEADS HER CASE is a charming, upbeat British police
procedural cozy. Readers might guess early on why Westover was killed but they won't be able to
deduce who the perpetrator is because many of the suspects had means and opportunity to
perform the deed. Emily Brightwell, the author of this long running series, has written another fine
work that fans Of British cosies will just love.
Deceit
Clare Francis
Berkley
ISBN: 0425188442 $14.00
After several months in which former Parliament member Harry Richmond remaines missing at
sea, his wife Ellen accepts the official ruling that he is presumed dead. Her upper-class friends and
his political cronies presume Ellen is a grieving widow and treat her accordingly, though she knew
her marriage was in trouble. At Harry's funeral service, a former military associate of Harry during
the Falkland Islands War, Richard Moreland attends. As Ellen thinks suicide due to amateur
seaman Harry going out on a yacht in dangerous weather, the police wonder if murder occurred.
Already worried about the future of her two children with the mountain of debt her dead husband
left her with, Ellen learns more about Harry's questionable financial dealings, alleged wrong
doings as a soldier, and perhaps sexual abuse of his adopted oldest daughter. Only Richard seems
to be on Ellen's side in seeking the truth of what happened to Harry, but she questions his agenda.
Though the tale starts off a bit slow as Clare Francis introduces the cast including a dead Harry
and their relationships, once the story line shifts into gear it never slows down. Readers will find
Ellen a delightful enigma until the climax. Is she the victim only trying to protect her children or is
she the killer trying to hide her own misdeed? Fans will take tremendous satisfaction trying to
determine who the real Ellen is, but Ms. Francis cleverly hides the truth in plain sight and it is not
revealed until the taut climax.
Cape Light
Thomas Kinkade and Katherine Spencer
Berkley,
ISBN: 0425188418 $13.95
Life in Cape Light might seem idyllic to Bostonians, living one-hour drive to the small coastal
town's south. People know each other and even greet one another as family and friends are
important to the residents. Thirtyish Jessica Warwick takes a leave of absence from her Boston
banking job to return to her hometown to help her older sister, the village mayor Emily, care for
their mother, recovering from a stroke. Jessica is bored of the limited social life whose activities
either centers on the church or the Clam Box diner. She cannot wait for her duty to end so she
can rush back to the exciting big city and her developing romance with cultured Paul Copperfield.
Meanwhile the Clam Box owner Charlie Bates decides to run against Emily in the upcoming
mayoral election for he believes Emily is a poor leader. Surprising even to herself, sophisticated
Jessica is attracted to Sam Morgan, a church attendee handyman. With all this engulfing the two
siblings, Cape May remains a haven to most of the villagers. CAPE LIGHT is an inspirational tale
that brazenly tries to persuade readers into wholesome living through Christian messages. The
story line contains numerous subplots focused on the trials, tribulations, and inner beliefs and
strengths of several residents (more than just described above). Though tending towards sugary
melodrama with little action, readers will relish how each key protagonist deals with their personal
problems through love, friendship, and the Lord.
The Thai Amulet
Lyn Hamilton
Berkley
ISBN 0425190064 $22.95
Thailand is an exotic place and when William Beauchamp goes there on a buying trip, he sends his
wife Natalie a fax saying he is not coming back. Unable to keep the business going and care for
her severely handicapped daughter, Natalie sells the store and lives off the profits. Two years later
her resources are nearly depleted and Will has gone missing, not seen at his home or store in
Bangkok for months. She needs to know if he is alive so she can get a good divorce settlement or
dead so she can collect on his insurance. Lara McClintoch, the owner of an antiques store in
Toronto, Canada, is going to Thailand on a buying trip and agrees to look into the matter for
Natalie. She learns that Will was working on a book about a vicious killing that happened to an
American in the 1950's but no trace of his computer or manuscript is found. She starts asking
questions about Will and the missing manuscript that stirs up some people who want certain
skeletons (literally) to stay buried. Lyn Hamilton has written an amateur sleuth tale that shows
why visitors are fascinated by Thai culture. The protagonist is like Sherlock Holmes on the hunt
and when she picks up the scent she stays with it even if it means making people uncomfortable.
THE THAI AMULET is a fascinating tale about greed, treachery, betrayal and murder, and
readers won't rest until they find out what happened to Will and why.
Chocolate Quake
Nancy Fairbanks
Berkley
ISBN 0425189465 $5.99
Food columnist Carolyn Blue accompanies her husband Jason to San Francisco where he is going
to attend a scientific convention on toxins. She, being a dutiful daughter-in-law, gives Jason's
mother a courtesy call, but only gets her answering machine stating that she is in the San
Francisco Jail on a charge of first degree murder. When she tells Jason about it, he doesn't take it
seriously since his mother, a radical feminist, has been in jail plenty of times due to the protest
marches that got out of hand. Exasperated with her husband, Carolyn takes matters into her own
hands and visits Vera Blue in jail where she learns that her opinionated mother-in-law antagonizes
the guards and her fellow inmates. Carolyn gets really upset when she hears her mother-in-law
isn't taking the charges very seriously. With the police convinced they got the right person in
custody, Carolyn decides to start her own investigation and winds up getting shot at by an
unknown person who objects to her snooping. CHOCOLATE QUAKE is a scrumptious mystery
that takes the reader on a tour of some of the most popular restaurants of San Francisco. The
heroine is a gutsy woman who takes matters into her own hands when she realizes her husband
and his mother refuse to deal seriously with the situation. There is a surplus of suspects who
wanted the victim dead so Carolyn has her work cut out for her if she wants her mother-in-law
out of jail before they head home to Texas.
Murder In A Heat Wave
Gretchen Sprague
Dunne
ISBN: 0312276621 $22.95
After ten days visiting her son and his family in California, retired attorney Martha Patterson
returns to New York City after an all day trek home. Just wanting to go to sleep in her air
conditioned Greenwich Village apartment, Martha finds the cooling device is broken and the
hotter than a match stick heat unbearably wilting her brain. Perhaps it is jet lag, a senile moment,
or just heat stroke but Martha insanely agrees to run for the cooperative board at the urging of
her irate neighbors. Management representative Rashida Grant needs to obtain a copy of the air
conditioning maintenance contract to give to the board's lawyer. Her efforts to reach the board
president Arnold Stern have failed and since he listed Martha in case of an emergency she calls her
to enter his apartment. They find someone murdered the vilified Arnold. NYPD Homicide
Detective White quickly learns that everyone detested Arnold. Though quite reluctantly, Martha
begins her own inquiries. Though the amateur sleuth elements depend too heavily on coincidence,
fans will rejoice with the third Martha Patterson Greenwich Village cozy. Martha and the other
tenants provide a slice of small village life within the high rise New York tenement. The action is
mostly off screen, but fans will enjoy summer in the city with no spoons full of love shared by any
of the cast.
Call Waiting
Dianne Blacklock
Dunne
ISBN: 0312303483 $24.95
In Sydney, Australia, Ally Tasker is not excited being an art teacher, but likes the steady income
her job provides. The same can be said about her dependable but significant other, dull as most of
her students boyfriend, yet likes the idea of steady dating him. When her grandfather dies, Ally
goes to the Highlands to settle the estate. There she meets Matt and his teenage daughter. She
likes both, but at thirty-five is not sure she wants a man helping her. Ally's best friend since they
met attending art school together, ad exec Meg Lynch seems to have it all (at least to Ally) with a
solid marriage, a strong career and a precocious child. However, Meg envies Ally's lack of ties
that enable her to leave town without a looking back even if it is to only attend a funeral. Meg
begins an affair that requires lies and alibis until her husband leaves her. Two hours apart, Ally and
Meg use CALL WAITING to help one another work through their personal landmines in a quest
to obtain nirvana. Though the story line follows the typical path of chic lit, CALL WAITING is a
delightful tale due to the charming but confused lead characters enhanced by a wonderful look at
Sydney and the rugged Australian Highlands. The antics and angst of Ally and Meg are amusing
though somewhat overkilled, as they seem to land in one problem after another in their quest for
happiness. Dianne Blacklock provides an entertaining Aussie chick lit tale.
The Chestnut Tree
Charlotte Bingham
Dunne
ISBN: 0312307594 $24.95
In 1939, much of Europe prepares for the "little war" while politicians on both sides claim it will
be over before the year is out. All over England, civilian residents rehearse how to behave in the
case of invasion or air assaults. In the fishing village of Bexham facing France, the locals
understand that a Nazi invasion could come through here or some of the nearby other Sussex
ports and most males join the military. Even vets from the "Great War" sign on to serve in the
Senior Corps. Their wives, mothers, and daughters adapt to a world where France quickly falls as
the Bexham villagers, mostly female relatives of the soldiers, are determined to help defeat Hitler.
The younger generation whose lovers will die on the continent or become MIA defend their
country joined by their mothers in ways no one could have fathomed in 1939. In this little village,
nothing but the sacred Chestnut Tree will ever be the same even when their men come home
victorious and expect the pre war status quo to return. THE CHESTNUT TREE is an intriguing
character study cozy exploring the metamorphosis of English women during World War II. These
courageous females become the mothers and older sisters of the 1960s women's movement.
Readers will cherish these feisty characters who do what they must to help their country win
except revert back to their subservient prewar role once victory occurs.
Scarecrow
Robin Hathaway
Dunne
ISBN 0312308515 $22.95
When Dr. Jo Banks, a family practitioner with an office in a ritzy medical building, loses a patient
due to a misdiagnosis, she can't handle the guilt. The fact that her patient was a child makes the
pain all the more excruciating for Jo. She heads out of New York with no destination in mind,
winding up in a dinky motel where she ends up treating one of the guests. The owner of the
Oakview Motor Lodge, Paul Nelson, is so grateful that he asks her to serve as the region's on call
motel doctor. It doesn't her take to long to realize that she no longer wants to practice anymore in
New York. She returns to break up with her boyfriend and sublet her apartment before going
back to the Oakview Motor Lodge where she's given her own room and a cabin to make into a
private office. She likes her work as a hotel doctor and is slowly building up her practice, making
a place for herself in the community. When she is kidnapped, everyone from miles around gets
involved in the search to find her. The heroine is a truly fine doctor because she sees behind the
business of medicine to its basic calling and the patients sense this and accept her. SCARECROW
is a smooth and bloodless amateur sleuth tale where the doctor comes to the attention of some
pretty shady people due to a believable set of circumstances. Robin Hathaway has created a
winning series that will appeal to anyone who likes the author's delightful Doctor Fenimore
cozies.
Contest
Matthew Reilly
Dunne
ISBN: 0312286252 $24.95
Radiologist Dr. Stephen Swain and his elementary school aged daughter Holly are in their Long
Island home relaxing after a day at the hospital and school respectfully. However, aliens feel the
widower will make a good participant in their cross species death contest based on Stephen's
efforts that ended a violent problem. The ETs teleport Stephen and Holly to the New York 42nd
Street Public Library to play in a deadly game of survivor. The rules are simple: win or die. Seven
species will compete until only one is left standing to confront the Karandon, a killing machine
who has carved up the library security guard. Escape is impossible as a deadly electrical field
encloses the building and immovable wrist bands will incinerate any of the contestants. Let the
games begin. The reader needs to move past technologically advanced aliens hosting deadly
games sort of like an intergalactic Roman Forum (and several other questionable actions). If the
reader can pass that critical go, the story line packs quite a wallop as the taut action leads to the
audience rooting for the home team. Somewhat mindful of a Kirk Star Trek show (see "The
Gamesters of Triskelion" episode), readers who relish action to the nth degree will join the
ultimate survivor CONTEST, but with a galaxy of skepticism along for the ride.
Derailed
James Siegel
Warner
ISBN: 0446531588 $23.95
Life is quite predictable for Charles Schine. Every weekday he catches the 8:43 train leaving
Babylon, Long Island for Manhattan where he works as an advertiser. At home and at work
Charles bored as he feels choked by the needs of his wife and his diabetic daughter, and the
demands of his job. With his wife off to her job, the impossible occurs as Charles misses his
commute due to his daughter's last second needs. He catches the 9:05, but that twenty-two
minutes changes his life as he meets the also married Lucinda. Charles now rides the 9:05 as he
harmlessly flirts with Lucinda. This leads to a hotel rendezvous, but his first affair goes astray
when an armed man breaks into his room, beats up Charles, and rapes Lucinda. His spiral into hell
spins further out of control when someone tries to blackmail Charles, but instead of paying the
fee, he hires a thug. His effort to return to suburban normalcy only sends Charles deeper into the
quagmire with his life rapidly falling apart. DERAILED is an exhilarating thriller, as the numerous
woes (much self-inflicted) that pile on Charles would exacerbate Job and maybe some readers.
Charles starts out as a sympathetic character, but his irresponsible actions to cover the hole he
dug will change the reactions of the audience towards him, the accomplishment of the novel.
James Siegel paints quite a picture of a person making one judgment error out of the need of
having something joyous in his life that leads to a series of calamities and a powerful action
packed character study for fans.
The Fifth Angel
Tim Green
Warner
ISBN: 0446530859 $24.95
Though the proof is overwhelming that repeat sex offender Eugene Tupp raped the fifteen year
old teen, the New York Judge rules key evidence was illegally obtained by the police and not
admissible. Apparently, the search warrant was for Tupp's house and not his garage. Former
prosecutor and highly regarded attorney Jack Ruskin is irate that while his daughter lies
semi-comatose this animal will receive a slight slap of the wrist instead of locking him away
forever. Jack needs vengeance and he finds it by killing an Upstate sex offender. Tasting blood
and not feeling fully satiated, Jack is obsessed with wanting to exterminate sex offenders. He uses
the net to find his prey, but soon the FBI realizes that a serial killer is murdering sex offenders.
Special Agent Amanda Lee begins searching for a culprit, who she sympathizes with as she has a
child and her partner was recently killed by a child abuser. Though the premise has been used
before (Bronson), THE FIFTH ANGEL starts off as if the reader will receive an action packed
yet philosophical look at defining justice. However, once Jack turns into a typical serial killer, the
story line intensifies the action at the expense of moving the audience into the gray definitions of
justice. Tim Green provides a strong thriller that many fans will say could have been brilliant.
And All the Saints
Michael Walsh
Warner
ISBN: 0446518158 $24.95
In 1892 Leeds, England Owney Madden was born to Irish parents who decided to cross the
Atlantic and make their fortune in New York. However, Owney's dad died before he left the
British Isles, but his mother went ahead with their dream. Accompanied by her three children, she
moves to New York's Hell's Kitchen. By the time Owney turned ten, he belonged to the Gophers,
an intimating Irish gang. His prime lesson in Hoodlum 101 was that the real money existed in
politics. So he turned to Jewish gang leader and Tammany Hall big shot Monk Eastman as his
mentor. Advancing to Hoodlum 201 and 301, Owney learned the art of a well-placed bribe and
what to do when the heat became too hot. He was involved with bootlegging during Prohibition
and later turned to show business. Ultimately even after the Feds gave him an advanced lesson on
closing the books, Owney cut a few last deals before moving to Hot Springs, Arkansas where he
died in 1964. This biographical fiction blends the known facts of Madden's life with delightful
period vernacular and tidbits into a strong account of one of the more famous twentieth century
gangsters. Readers who enjoy tales like the Untouchables or Scarface will want to read Michael
Walsh's fast moving story that is so loaded one must keep saying this is fiction as it seems as if the
author interviewed and quoted the gangster. Where is Robinson or Raft with Mae West to play
herself because this character and book will fascinate the audience including Hollywood.
Talon of the Silver Hawk
Raymond E. Feist
Eos
ISBN: 0380977087 $24.95
High in the ice capped mountains live the peaceful Orosini. The villagers celebrate the
Midsummer ritual, while a boy by himself seeks his vision before returning to Kulaam Village as a
man. A couple of days have passed when he notices carrion flying over a nearby village, which
means many people are dead and no one is removing their bodies. He rushes back to his village,
but falls. When he regains his equilibrium, a hawk is perched on him seemingly informing Kieli he
can protect or seek vengeance. The lad knows he is now a man, TALON OF THE SILVER
HAWK. At his village, he finds genocide before the assailants severely injure him. When he
regains consciousness a few days later, he learns that Robert de Lyis saved his life. Talon begins
paying his life debt to Robert by performing simple chores like serving guests properly. Robert
knows that Talon has one objective in life: avenging the destruction of his people by Raven and
his horde. Unknown To him is that Robert has hopes that Talon will prove to be the world savior.
Raymond E. Feist returns to his trademark Midkemia (see the Riftwar Legacy) with an exciting
first book in the "Conclave of Shadows" series. Once the slaughter is complete, the plot relocates
to Kendrick's establishment. There the story line slows down with no epic adventure, but as it did
during the opening action laden mountain chapters and the latter "Mercenary" sections of the
book the tale enables the audience to comprehend the essence of Talon. Mr. Feist's feisty fans will
feast on this fascinating fantasy.
Sleep Tight
Anne Frasier
Onyx
ISBN 0451410777 $6.99
Mary and Fiona were the best of friends so that when Mary stumbled over her murdered friend's
body in their tree house she was devastated. The fact that her sister Gillian hated Fiona and
defended the man who confessed to killing her almost destroyed her. When Gavin got out of
prison, Gillian got him a job, an apartment and gave him moral support. Mary becomes an FBI
agent while Gillian becomes a police officer for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in her
hometown of Minneapolis. When two teenage blondes are abducted and later found dead, Gillian
and Mary find themselves working on the same case. As more teen-age blondes turn up murdered,
the officials believe they have an organized serial killer on the loose, one that wants to make
Gillian his next victim. SLEEP TIGHT is a chilling, taut and electrifying serial killer novel with an
antagonist who will send chills of fear up the spines of the reader. In the midst of so much
tragedy, it is heartwarming to see the wedge between the sisters dissolves to the point where they
become friends. Anne Frasier has written a novel so terrifyingly ugly yet realistic, many readers
will need a night light when they go to sleep.
A Visible Darkness
Jonathan King
Dutton
ISBN: 0525947140 $23.95
In West Palm Beach, Floridian Billy Manchester believes that at least five elderly
African-American widows have recently been murdered to collect their insurance money. The
police accept the medical examiner's official position of natural causes and the insurance
companies agree, paying the benefactor. Billy asks his buddy, disabled retired Philadelphia cop
Max to investigate. The deaths involve ailing African-American widows over eighty from Fort
Lauderdale, who sold their life insurance to a viatrical purchasing company. Max agrees with the
assessments of the professionals that this is a waste of time, but works the streets anyway
especially after meeting the daughter of one of the deceased. Soon he begins to hear noises about
invisible Eddie, who even the nastiest drug dealers fear, but is he a loose cannon serial killer or an
"agent" of corporate greed. With suspense thrillers like this one and his debut THE BLUE EDGE
OF MIDNIGHT, Jonathan King will become very visible to the reading public quite quickly. A
VISIBLE DARKNESS is an action packed investigative tale that grips the audience because the
characters are very realistic, even Eddie, who most people have met some time in their life. The
chills grow though Eddie is introduced as the murderer at the beginning. A visible history of
South Florida over the past century is a bonus brilliantly interwoven into the powerful plot. More
novels like this winner will mean fans will recognize that this author lives up to his surname.
The White Road
John Connolly
Atria
ISBN: 0743456386 $25.00
South Carolina lawyer Elliot Norton calls his pal Charlie Parker to help him with a case in which
his client a black man has been accused of murdering his white girlfriend, the daughter of wealthy
powerful parents. Charlie would like to help his friend, but is concerned about leaving his
pregnant girlfriend Rachel alone. He fears that their enemy Reverend Aaron Faulkner will retaliate
for the deaths of his murderous son and daughter though he is standing trial for killing his
congregation members and other people. Charlie reluctantly travels to South Carolina, but
arranges for Rachel's protection while he is away. In the South, Charlie becomes involved in a
world where hatred is the norm and the pretrial may prove deadly for the defense team. Though
perilous, Charlie investigates the case that leads him to several other murders and a trip to hell
down THE WHITE ROAD coaxed by a malevolence beyond anything he ever faced before even
while evil stalks Rachel back in Maine. John Connolly provides an exhilarating Parker tale as the
audience receives more than an investigative novel. Readers obtain a taste of the historical South
cleverly interwoven into the drama as well as a powerful crime story occurring in two states.
Parker is at his best as he tries to solve a mystery, stay alive, keep his friend and client safe, and
struggle with being in two places at the same time in order to insure no harm comes to his
beloved. Readers will want to travel THE WHITE ROAD and when attaining the final destination
will look for previous Parker treks (see THE KILLING KIND).
The Price
Joan Johnston
Atria
ISBN: 0743454324 $23.00
Outside his professional life, Luke Creed feels he is a failure. He despises his stepfather, a
Blackthorne, whom everyone else in Luke's Creed family seems to respect and love. He is a
divorcee who rarely sees his two children, ten year old Brynne and six year old Midge. On the
bright side his hard successful work at DeWitt and Blackthorne, one of the country's biggest law
firms, is paying off as he expects partnership next year. Luke is assigned to settle a wrongful death
suit that Mrs. Anastacio filed against his client, Hyland Pharmaceutical. Apparently four children
have died from "misuse" of D-Free, a pill that replaces needles for sufferers of Type I Juvenile
Diabetes, a disease that Luke knows first hand because his oldest daughter suffers from it. His
opposing attorney is his high school sweetheart Amy Nash, who left him because his heart was
overflowing with hatred towards the Blackthornes. As he learns more about the real danger from
the drug first hand and a colleague dies under mysterious conditions, Luke realizes he is on the
wrong side of the table. He knows he still loves Amy and agrees that the deadly D-Free must be
removed before other children including his Brynne dies. The latest Creed tale stars the one
person still holding a deep grudge Luke. He is an interesting lead protagonist and Amy is a
delightful idealistic counterpart. The story line is very exciting and showcases the dangers of
Juvenile Diabetes though the thrilling conspiracy subplot starring the "Evil Empire" takes away
from the prime theme. Still, fans will enjoy Joan Johnston's latest Blackthorne-Creed novel and
simply want more.
Suspicious Origin
Patricia MacDonald
Atria
ISBN 0743423585 $19.95
When Kevin Carmichael wakes up one night, he sees his neighbor's home on fire and he rushes
out to try and save them. He manages to save ten-year-old Zoe but is unable to get to her mother
Greta who dies of smoke asphyxiation. Luckily, Zoe's father Alec was out of the house at the time
so the child has someone to cling to in this tragedy. Alec calls Britt Anderson to tell her that her
sister has died. Though the siblings were estranged, Britt races to their side. When Britt arrives,
the surviving father and daughter are staying at a neighbor's home. Zoe takes to her immediately
but Alec is cold and rude. When the investigation into the fire shows that arson was involved,
Britt begins to gather evidence that shows Alec is the perpetrator. It is only after he is arrested
that Brett begins to doubt Alec's guilt. She does her best to prove his innocence, but her efforts
nearly gets her killed by somebody who wants Alec found guilty. Patricia MacDonald, well known
for her suspense thrillers, has written a work that rivals the novels of Marry Higgins Clark. The
protagonist is a feisty woman who fights for her beliefs and is then not afraid to admit she might
have made a big mistake. The story line moves along at such a brisk pace that readers will finish
the book in one sitting and then put it on their keeper shelf, because it is too good to give
away.
Second Glance
Jodi Picoult
Atria
ISBN 0743454502 $25.00
The town of Comtosook in rural Vermont is a quiet, bucolic place while nothing very much ever
happening until the day that Rod van Vleet, on behalf of the Redhook Group, buys a piece of land
from Spencer Pike. They intend to raze the house and build a shopping mall but the Abenaki
Indians are protesting the sale saying that it is on Indian burial ground. From the time Pike's
signature is put on the bill of sale a lot of supernatural happenings begin to occur. The sky is
raining rose petals, the land that van Vleet bought is frozen solid even though it is august and the
building crew hears strange sounds. Ross Wakeman, one of the walking wounded meets Lia, a
beautiful woman who seems to fear her husband. When he discovers that she is a ghost he looks
into a crime that happened in 1932 and with the help of a local police officer manages to solve it
and bring the victims home again. Ross, a man who has cheated death many times, finds he has to
outwit it once more when the victims he brought back as well as his nephew find themselves in
mortal danger. Jodi Picoult has outdone herself in writing SECOND GLANCE, a novel that is the
best work she has ever written. It has elements from three different genres contributing to the
main storyline but it is so unique it defies classification. Genre fans and readers who like literary
works will have their needs met with this outstanding novel. The protagonist in this novel, a man
who defies death is a true hero because when danger threatens those he cares about, he takes
action and by doing so finds redemption.
Blues From Down Deep
Gwynne Forster
Kensington
ISBN: 157566920X $24.00
Almost forty, Regina Pearson has always felt like an outsider in her home on Oahu, but now also
feels all alone since her father recently died. She knows nothing about her extended family except
that her parents left the Southeast United States without a look back four decades ago. Her
mother died when she was two and over the subsequent years her father refused to talk about
their life in the states. Regina finds an envelope postmarked from the year before she was born
from a Maude Witherspoon of New Bern, North Carolina with no letter inside. She makes
inquiries and soon makes contact with her Aunt Maude van der Kaa, who invites her to visit the
family. Regina goes stateside hoping to bond with her relatives, but instead finds individuals filled
with animosity and distrust of everyone else. Only retired Army Colonel Justin Duval, whom she
met over hotel business, makes her believe her fairy tale that a family can be full of love and trust.
BLUE FROM DOWN DEEP is an intriguing relationship drama that uses a twist on Roots to
enable the audience to observe dysfunctional families hiding behind lies and deceit. The story line
could have turned melodramatic and soap operaish, but Gwynne Forster avoids that pratfall by
making much of the cast multidimensional and several simply nasty and filled with their own self
worth. Thus the audience recives a strong look at an extended Southeastern African American
family predominately through the eyes of the "Hawaiian" newcomer.
Crossed Bones
Carolyn Haines
Delacorte
ISBN 0385336594 $3.95
The Mississippi Delta and her home Dahlia House are in Sara Booth's Delaney's blood. She will
do almost anything in her power to keep them both, even work as a private detective. Almost
anything excludes marrying a man from her social set and letting him take care of her even though
Jitty, the ghost of her great great great grandmother nanny, wants the last Delaney married. Sarah
Booth is enjoying the land, her house and her dog when she is dragged into the homicide
investigation of the famous blues musician, Ivory Keys. His wife Ida Mae Keys wants Sarah
Booth to prove that while blues singer Scott Hampton didn't kill his friend and employer Ivory.
The two men met in prison and shared a vision that music could be the bridge between the races.
Circumstantial evidence points to Scott as the perpetrator and if Sarah Booth doesn't find the real
perpetrator soon, the town of Zinnia will erupt into violence. CROSSED BONES is a
well-written colorful mystery that gives the reader some terrific insight into the workings of a
small southern town. The heroine is strong, independent and straightforward, and not your typical
southern belle; while her partner is all those things and lends a sense of comic relief to the plot
when it begins to boil. Sarah Booth is attracted to the bad boy musician but not enough to give
him her heart while the man she really wants reconciles with his wife. Readers will empathize and
sympathize with the heroine, hoping she will get the perpetrator and collect her fee.
Emerald Reflections
Jim Howell and Barbara Carraway
PublishAmerica
ISBN: 1591295041 $19.95
Following three harrowing months of caring for her cancer stricken mother, whose treatments
apparently are working and her Dallas boyfriend of two years Brad Foster abruptly dumping her,
Casey Tompkins escapes her personal woes and the summer Texas heat. She travels to the
EMERALD REFLECTIONS Bed & Breakfast in Belfast, Maine. Casey hopes to write her
second novel, but her computer fails to operate. The owners ask their friend widower Alex
Kettner to fix Casey's laptop. Alex is attracted to Casey, the first female he has shown interest in
since his wife Carole died from a brain tumor three years ago. He cannot deal with feelings of
betrayal because he loved his deceased spouse whom he was married to for twelve years. Casey
finds Alex fascinating, but questions whether she should seek a man when she is on the rebound.
Both rationalize that she is here to write a book on an 1853 romantic tragedy. Fate intercedes as
they coincidentally meet at the same restaurant and agree to share a table. Soon, love starts to
flourish, but is it enough for something permanent? Fans of a charming contemporary romance
starring two delightful lead protagonists will cherish EMERALD REFLECTIONS. The story line
adheres to its main theme of love blossoming between two deserving, but wary warriors. A
subplot involving the tragic 1853 tale of love is not only smoothly incorporated into the prime
tale, but actually propels forward the main story. Readers who enjoy a picturesque locale with
endearing characters and a straightforward love story will peruse this novel and demand more
works by Jim Howell and Barbara Carraway.
Crossroads of Twilight
Robert Jordan
Tor
ISBN: 0312864590 $29.95
The world slowly moves on, but has reached a period of crossroads whether its is individuals,
people, or nations. Decisions will prove pivotal, as the turning point in the Wheel of Time seems
at hand. However, many have reached different crossroads and twilight is now for choices that
must be made even when the options seem negative. Perrin considers obtaining help from those he
does not trust to help liberate his incarcerated wife. Not sure what to do except flee from the
Seanchan, Mat takes the abducted daughter of the Nine Moons, Tuon with him while she
seductively toys with him. The sieges at Tar Valon and Caemlyn continue unabated leaving
insiders to ponder an escape attempt. Egwene the Amyrlin tries to unite the rebel Aes Sedai
against the Dark One and considers an alliance with the Asha'man. The Dragon Reborn has
eradicated the Dark One from the True Source, but wonders if he should negotiate with the
Seanchan or perhaps Perrin for the next trial. Everything is slowly changing with any one decision
could prove the pivotal turning point in the Wheel of Time. Book ten of the Wheel of Time series
adds depth and complexity to an already deeply textured landscape. However, as been the case of
the last few books, the numerous involved subplots seem on a slow speed treadmill as no forward
motion occurs and little action happens. Fans of Robert Jordan will cherish learning even more
about the prime players as they struggle to decide what to do next as few writers can dig as
insightfully deep as this author does. However, readers who relish action need to look
elsewhere.
Hidden Talents
David Lubar
Tor
ISBN: 0765342650 $5.99
When it comes to adult authority. junior high school student Martin Anderson cannot keep his
mouth shut as he rejects the constant advice with smart answers and insults. He has been expelled
from six schools, the boy scouts, and the little league. He rides the bus to his final destination the
prison-like Edgeview Alternative School, an institution used to lock up the violent and other
losers (where is Pink Floyd when you need them?) Martin realizes he must be on the cutting edge
to survive the ready fists of bully Bloodbath and the shock therapy of Warden, (make that
Principal) Davis. On the plus side Martin meets four fellow weirdoes with special psychic powers.
Torchy lights fires without matches or lighters; Cheater copies test answers from anyone sitting
anywhere; Lucky steals anything; and Trash trashes stuff. Martin believes his only power is what
adults label acerbic while he would say satirical tongue. The five losers band together as Martin
discovers his HIDDEN TALENTS and try to stop a plot to shut the school of last resort down.
Though the climax seems out of character for the magnificent five, the Harry Potter crowd will
enjoy their misadventures. The quintet is at their diabolical best when they interrelate with one
another. Although much of the key secondary cast seems stereotypical, readers will enjoy sharing
a pizza with Martin's beleaguered parents as they and the young audience will wonder what will
he do or say next.
The Wonder Clock
Howard Pyle
Tor
ISBN: 0765342669 $5.99
The narrator of the twenty-four stories (plus an introduction) finds a special clock in Father
Time's attic, which strikes on the hour with songs and puppet dances. "Four and twenty
marvelous tales, one for each hour of the day" all start with a verse to coincide with that particular
hour. Drawings are included to add further depth. Each ends with a morality lesson, which never
interferes with the story, but helps wrap up that entry. This nineteenth century collection is
remarkable in different ways depending on the reader. The tales provide insight into daily
household life and the morality of a bygone era. The contributions also furbish delightful fairy
tales for the young at heart that are enhanced by superb figures of speech and tremendous
illustrations with a finale moral lesson. This collection is a winner and will send many a reader
searching for other works by Howard Pyle.
Crossfire
Nancy Kress
Tor
ISBN: 0765304678 $24.95
The end days seem apparent for the troubled earth so Mira Corporation CEO Jake Holman and
his company manager Gail Cutler decide to build a starship The Ariel to escape. They sell passage
to six thousand wealthy patrons from an assortment of earthlings. The group travels through
space before establishing Mira City on the planet Greentrees. The settlers meet the Furs, who are
also from off world. Subgroups of Furs behave extremely different from others with some violent
and some passive, but no mixing of behavior within a subgroup. Not long afterward, an alien ship
arrives containing the Vines. Though the colonists' military wing attacks the newcomers in vain,
the Vine remains peaceful and seeks talks. The expatriate earthlings learn that the Vines and the
Furs are at war. Soon a Fur ship attacks the Vine vessel and captures Jake, Gail, and other
humans. To keep Mira City and Earth safe from a Fur assault Jake (and company) must destroy
the force field that protects the Vines' homeworld. Though not quite at the level of the Probability
trilogy, CROSSFIRE is a terrific first contact tale loaded with action as the three species seem
genuine and the key characters whether human, Fur, or Vine seems real. However, what makes
this action packed outer space tale so strong is the competing battle of philosophies as ideas are
fully discussed yet interwoven so as not to slow down the hyperspeed pace. Though the ending
will disappoint some readers, Nancy Kress will once again take the genre by storm with her usual
cerebral action adventure thriller.
The Return of Santiago
Mike Resnick
Tor
ISBN: 0765302241 $25.95
More than a century has passed since the disappearance of the legendary rebel outlaw Santiago,
alleged killer of hundreds of planets and untold number of people. Over the years the fable of
Santiago's feats have grown exponentially among the Inner Frontier to where he has become
immortal and will one day return. Minor criminal Danny Briggs accidentally finds a manuscript of
the Black Orpheus that records the deeds of Santiago the Revolutionary. Realizing what he
possesses and the information the epic poems provide on Santiago, Danny concludes that the
revolutionary outlaw tried to protect the Inner Frontier from the corruption of the human
Democracy. Danny assumes an alias of Dante Alighieri and adds new stanzas filled with heroes
and villains to the tome while seeking amongst the toughest outlaws, someone to become the new
Santiago. Fans of the wild, Wild West in outer space will relish the sequel to Mike Resnick's
SANTIAGO. The adventurous story line explodes into a faster than the speed of light thriller once
Danny concludes that Santiago was not just a thief and begins his quest. The support cast that he
meets consists of a wild bunch of eccentrics. Fans of Pecos Bill in Outer Space will appreciate
THE RETURN OF SANTIAGO and clamor for re-release of the legendary first novel.
The Usurper's Crown
Sarah Zettel
Tor
ISBN 0312874421 $27.95
When it is discovered that the princess and heir of Isavalta is a sorceress, the emperor and
empress ask the powerful sorcerer Avanasy to teach her how to use her powers. Over the years
the two become friends until a political marriage is arranged to Kacha, the nephew of the king of
Hastinapura. The princess falls in love with him, but Avanasy warns her that he is treacherous and
not to be trusted. His charge turns on him sending him into exile. When the two are wed, she
doesn't realize that Kacha is taking over her duties and replacing her loyal supporters with his own
people. Only when it is almost too late does she see Kacha for what he is and flees the kingdom,
ordering a loyal retainer to find Avanasy and bring him to her at a place she designates. When
Avanasy hears her summons, he is posing as a fisherman on Sand Island in Wisconsin. He stands
ready to return to his homeland to help the empress defeat her enemies but he brings with him
Ingrid Loftfield, the woman he loves, the wife who will sacrifice much to give her husband what
he desires. This novel takes place twenty years before the events in A SORCERER'S TREASON
and it is just as good as its sequel. Readers watch the empress grow wiser and stronger, willing to
admit she is wrong and take steps to rectify the problems her emotional blindness brought about.
Avanasy is a true hero torn between duty and love while the mere mortal Ingrid contains more
inner strength than the two sorceresses do. THE USURPER'S CROWN is an enchanting reading
experience.
Dark Path
Walter H. Hunt
Tor
ISBN: 0765306069 $27.95
The war between the birdlike Zor and humanity is over with the two species now at peace. Still
not everything is idyllic in the galaxy. Known for their psychic ability, the Zor panic when the
High Lord dreams of a nightmarish assault from the feral species residing in the racial memory of
his people as demons. Also two human vessels have vanished and a rescue effort to save the
missing crew fails. On the Cicero Naval Base, Commodore Jacqueline Laperriere and her XO
Ch'K'te the Zor learn that the "demons"(aliens) have used their powers to change shapes to
infiltrate the outpost. The Vulh with their mind control abilities and their talent to phsyically
mimic anyone including a commander and an XO have arrived. The only hope for mankind is
Jacqueline, but her superior thinks otherwise, while the Zor believes she is the reincarnation of the
legendary Zor hero Qu'u, here to defeat the Vulh if she can find the ancient weapon that
succeeded once before. THE DARK WING was an exciting war of the worlds that showcases a
new talent in the military science fiction category. THE DARK PATH is a better tale as Walter H.
Hunt provides incredible depth to the interspecies relationships yet never loses sight of the action
expected by sub-genre readers. The story line is superb because the audience obtains a stronger
understanding of the Zor, better insight into how humans relate to this species, and introduces in
flaming red terror the Vulh. Obviously the military crowd will enjoy this thriller, but outer space
sci fi fans will appreciate the novel too.
Signals
Kevin Randle
Ace
ISBN: 0441010393 $5.99
Post doctorate physicist Sarah Bakker detects the signals that act radically different than anything
observed before. Though remaining skeptical, as SETI has had false alarms before, Sarah believes
the signal is emanating in an area of space where no star is near enough to cause a natural
phenomenon leading to the possibility that intelligent life has been detected. TV journalist Rachel
Davies links Sarah's story to a UFO nut case that State Senator Jason Parker sees as an
opportunity to add United in the front of his job resume. He is in a partnership to further the
needs of himself, Davies, graduate student Steven Weiss and UFOlogist Jonathan Travis at the
cost of the truth. His actions lead to the Army establishing the Galaxy Expedition Team led by
Captain Thomas Hackett. As Thomas and Sarah become acquainted and attracted to one another,
they seek the truth, which is out there on the edge of the solar system. The opening novel of a
quartet is an engaging tale that sets the stage for the remaining books. Manipulators for personal
gain battle with those who face the reality that they are coming, but for what purpose and will
they stay? Sarah is a delightful idealist who wants to do the right thing. Thomas is a charming
career soldier who will follow orders, but do his best to insure the right thing occurs. Jason and
his cohorts are a cynical foursome though in some ways Jonathan does not quite fit into the
group. Fans of first encounter tales will relish Kevin Randle's book that leaves SIGNALS, the first
book in The Exploration Chronicles a Sci Fi junkie's triumph and will have fan eagerly awaiting
the next book in his series.
Red Thunder
John Varley
Ace
ISBN 0441010156 $23.95
In the not too distant future, NASA has invented space technology used by Ares Seven to travel
to Mars, but it will land two weeks after the Chinese make the first red planet landing with people
aboard. Manny and Dak, two college students, want to become astronauts more than anything
else and they get to meet former astronaut Travis Bussard when they almost run over him in their
jeep. Travis was drummed out of NASA because he was an alcoholic and he doesn't intend to
change that condition until four young men and women give him a reason to remain sober.
Travis's cousin Jubal, an idiot savante, invents a new form of energy that when inserted onto a
spaceship, can take the crew to Mars in under a week. Jubal wants America to be the first country
to walk on Mars. Manny, his girlfriend Kelly, Dak and his girlfriend Alicia agree with him. Travis
thinks they are all crazy but helps them build a ship that will take them to Mars when Jubal
informs him that there is a fault in Ares Seven that destroy the ship before it lands. Travis doesn't
want that to happen because his ex-wife, the custodial parent of his children, is on board the Ares
Seven. John Varley has written a first rate science fiction novel starring five unlikely heroes who
end up doing the country proud. Jubal, the creator of the space drive, takes pleasure in simple
things even though his patents are making him billions of dollars. RED THUNDER would make a
great movie because it has plenty of action, romance and suspense. This work will appeal to fans
of Robert Heinlein's more sophisticated works.
Dragon Moon
Alan F. Troop
Roc
ISBN 0451459202 $6.50
They occupied the Earth long before man existed and still interact with humanity when it is
necessary. They can look like humans when they choose but in their true form, they see Homo
sapiens as prey and food. Peter DelaSangre is a wealthy dragon living on Caya Dela Sangre, an
island he owns off the Florida coast with his four-year-old son Henri. His wife is dead, murdered
by humans who betrayed him, which is why he has little to do with humanity as possible. His
wife's sister Chloe is coming into heat so Peter's journeys to her home to mate with her because he
cares for her. Once the mating is accomplished, they tell her parents who are displeased but allow
the mating ceremony to begin. Midway through the rite, Peter is poisoned. By the time he's
recovers, Chloe's brother is masquerading as him and holding his son as hostage. Both Chloe and
Peter risk their lives to save Henri with the latter forced to battle his wife's father and brother to
the death. Although the hero of this book is non-human and thinks of us as fodder one can't help
but admire the man who loves his son so much. He can't be judged by people standards though
personification makes him seem somewhat human but he remains at all times (though it is
sometimes hard to remember) another species. Peter has a good heart and his mate is his match in
every sense of the word. There is a lot of action in DRAGON BLOOD but it is the characters that
will win the hearts of the reader. Alan F. Troop does for dragons what Alice Borchardt has done
for werewolves.
Enemies
Lee Hogan
Roc
ISBN 0451459199 $6.99
He was a visionary who saw that the Republic, which earth was a member, was about to devolve
into civil war; Andre built a colony in the Lucifer system called Belarus. It was comprised of
colonists of Slavic descent, one very much like Russia and the other republics of the former Soviet
Union. when civil war came, Belarus was easily able to repel the invaders but that was not the
worst of their problems. The planet was inhabited long before the colonists arrived by those who
came to be known as the Enemy. The Enemy was determined to destroy the colonists but
biotoxins that Andre released kept the Enemy from destroying his home. Still civilization was set
back to Tsarist Russia and when the new Union came to bring back Belarus into the fold, the
world would not adhere to the union's new Bill of Rights. Women with birth defects caused by the
biotoxins were forced to wear shrouds on their face and had no rights. Yet one of these female
lowlifes, the niece of the Tsar, tries to save her people and in doing so, that of the Enemy.
ENEMIES is an enjoyable and richly entertaining work that combines Tsarist Russia and chemical
warfare in an outer space fairy tale. The contrast of the modern technology that the Union Star
Men have and the medieval life of the people living on Belarus makes for natural conflict. The
heroine should be bitter because of the restrictive prejudicial laws that apply to her disfigurement
but instead she is an independent thinker who does her best to save society.
Harriet Klausner
Senior Reviewer
Midwest Book Review
Cindy's Bookshelf
Mulligan Magic
Deb Stover
Jove
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
ISBN 0515133701 320 pages $5.99
In return for his protection and silence, Mrs. F promises to provide ex-cop Nick Desmond with
the proof he needs to exonerate himself and to avenge his father's murder. She needs discretion,
loyalty and the best bodyguard money can buy. As the widow of a mobster, and mother to
Fazzzini Junior, she knows danger first hand. After all, her son runs one of the most successful
drug operations in the country. To protect her grandchild from her son's criminal lifestyle, Mrs. F
orchestrated Erin's kidnapping years ago. Erin has been living in a convent in Ireland, carefully
protected from her shady family. Now she is eleven, and Mrs. F wants to take her to
Ballybronagh, Ireland. She wants Nick to be their bodyguard and provide protection.
With a teaching degree, Maggie Mulligan looks forward to beginning her career. While Riley and
Bridget's marriage broke the curse on Caislean Dubh, the castle still leaves her with a sense of
unease. So she takes up residence at the Mulligan cottage instead of joining her family at Caislean
Dubh. Maggie soon meets Nick, and they cannot deny their mutual attraction. But whispers and
ghosts promise danger unless they can right an ancient wrong.
Author Deb Stover continues the Irish legend in MULLIGAN MAGIC. The sequel to
MULLIGAN STEW, MULLIGAN MAGIC combines romantic suspense with paranormal
elements for an exciting novel readers will treasure. The return of favorite characters provides
delightful continuity for fans of the previous novel, but MULLIGAN MAGIC sparkles as a
stand-alone with Stover's characteristic flair for creating memorable characterizations and a rich
Irish landscape. Nick's struggle with a myriad of emotions even as Maggie offers her heart
provides a powerful storyline that springs vividly to life. MULLIGAN MAGIC comes very highly
recommended.
Serpent's Dance
Larry Brooks
Signet Penguin Putnam Inc.
374, Hudson Street, NY NY 10014
ISBN 0451207955 451 pages $6.99
When her sister's death is reported as suicide, Bernadette "Bernie" Kane does not believe it.
Peggy would not have leapt from a sixth floor hotel window over a broken love affair. Although
her sister's life had been through into upheaval over the discovery of her unfaithfulness, Peggy
seemed happy enough over the looming divorce and affair with computer CEO Wesley.
Bernie enlists the aid of long time friend Eric Killen to locate the illusive Wesley, intending to
prove his link to Peggy's death. Eric's research leads them to Wesley Edwards of Oar Research in
Scottsdale, Arizona. Bernie cleverly arranges employment as a contractor, and engages a game
meant to exact vengeance. Soon, however, Bernie finds herself caught in a maze of deception,
secrets, and blood lust.
Author Larry Brooks pens an addictive suspense with SERPENT'S DANCE that readers will find
mesmerizing. Seductive vengeance turns deadly when complex contradictions trap key players.
Despite her resourcefulness, Bernie is ill prepared for secrets that go beyond her imagination.
Wesley presents an enigmatic profile that at one baffles readers even while drawing them in. The
sexual players known as Damian and Diana provide evocative, dangerous imagery and almost
incomprehensible madness in a world where the serpent's dance is everything. An intriguing read
filled with crisp prose detailing a dark and dangerous world, SERPENT'S DANCE comes very
highly recommended.
The Chestnut Tree: A Novel of the Women of World War II
Charlotte Bingham
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
ISBN 0312307594 336 pages $17.47
Blackouts, rationing, and fears of invasion inspire all citizens to serve in varying capacities. From
net making to fire watches, older citizens find their nitch while the younger generation enlists, or
finds other areas of service. Husbands and lovers leave loved ones behind, often never to return.
Against this powerful backdrop, four women in a small English village reveal their stories in this
powerful account.
The cast of characters is varied. Beautiful, shy Judy Melton, daughter of a naval hero longs to
marry, but her suitor does not meet her class-conscious parents' expectations. Her best friend
Meggie Gore-Steward shares her grandmother's fiery, rebellious spirit, learning the enemy has a
human face. Mathilda Eastcott discovers the dangers of love and service. Rusty Todd, the tomboy
daughter of a local boatyard owner, displays dazzling determination.
As rumors of war sweep our country, author Charlotte Bingham pens a poignant novel set at the
beginning of Word War II in Britain. The chestnut tree, planted as rumors of war begin by the
local tomboy, lends an air of permanence in an uncertain world, thereby becoming a powerful
metaphor for life. In this timeless narrative, Bingham deftly captures the fears, loves and
motivations that drive people in service and to give their lives to a purpose much larger than
themselves. In addition, Bingham skillfully explores the role of women and their inability to return
to their previous lives after having achieved equality. A beautifully rendered novel, THE
CHESTNUT TREE comes very highly recommended.
Living Proof
Peter J. Thompson
Berkley Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014-3658
ISBN 0425189066 352 pages $6.99
Ramon Willis bravely accepts his fate as he goes to his execution. An innocent man, Ramon soon
discovers that his supposed death leads to a horrifying secret. He has become part of a military
run experiment, and he is expendable. While Ramon survives a test injection longer than any of
the other subjects, three weeks is sufficient to order his termination. Fortunately, a soldier with a
conscience comes to his rescue, giving him life to allow the truth to surface.
Now Ramon is on the run, depending on journalist Lena Dryer to help. She had been writing an
expose on Texas executions, and witnessed Ramon's death. His sudden reappearance offers her a
chance at headlines and prestige-if she can live long enough to make the dream come true.
Together they must stay alive long enough to find someone who will believe their improbable
story.
Author Peter J. Thompson provides a plausible, horrifying look at possibilities in this debut
offering. With a plot that could have been torn from newspaper headlines, Thompson combines
biological warfare, conspiracy theory and medical experiments in this suspenseful thriller that
readers will find impossible to put down. Ramon has a history of petty, though not violent, crime,
rescuing his character from the usual absolute innocence. Lena thinks of headlines before any
other priorities, resulting in unexpected tragedy. While flawed people, together Ramon and Lena
make a memorable team. Although some of the plot may be a bit predictable, it is written with
sufficient punch to keep the reader glued to the pages. Strikingly rendered and thoughtful
executed, LIVING PROOF comes highly recommended.
Unfinished Dreams
Pamela Johnson
Echelon Press
P.O. Box 1084, Crowley, TX 76036
ISBN 1590800583 Ebook: $4.00 - $8.00 Trade Paperback $9.00
Medical bills and caring for his dying father left Gabe Russell facing foreclosure despite his
promise to his father to save the family farm. Now he makes a living at repair, side stepping randy
widows and dreaming of regaining his birthright with his work on a graduate degree in
agricultural science little more than a memory.
After two years of struggle and heartache, Tess Graham is ready to start over when she receives a
promotion at work and an in for the perfect home. The farmhouse needs repair, however, and she
requests help from the local handyman. She does not realize that Gabe suffers from mixed
emotions as he works on the place that was his home. Despite the obstacles between them, things
begin to heat up until secrets erupt.
In a powerful mix of romance, dreams and hope, UNFINISHED DREAMS will capture readers'
hearts. Both Tess and Gabe are strong characters, determined to overcome the past and set their
own course for the future. Unfortunately, they find themselves at cross-purposes over their
respective dreams. Author Pamela Johnson demonstrates a mesmerizing ability to weave a story
with fluid grace even as her characters confront difficult choices and circumstances.
UNFINISHED DREAMS comes very highly recommended.
Just 4 Play: Harlequin Blaze No 82
Cindi Myers
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790864 256 pages $4.50
Jill Sheldon revels in the pleasures life offers, seeking fun in work and play alike. When she saw
the Help Wanted sign in the window of Just 4 Play, she knew the job was tailor made for her. In
the six months she has worked there, Jill has cheerfully sold sexy toys and lingerie. Then her boss
Grif dies, willing the shop to his staid nephew.
Mitchell Landry views his inheritance as a business opportunity. He intends to close the current
business and use the space to open a five star Chinese restaurant. Jill intends to change his mind
by demonstrating the value of the shop. Indeed, she believes a little seduction is in order and
intends to familiarize Mitchell with the delights of the shop's merchandise.
Opposites collide in the latest playfully sinful offering from Cindi Myers. Fur lined handcuffs heat
Mitchell's tumultuous passions. Indeed, Jill's playful daring forces Mitchell to recognize the
phoniness of his current existence. With a girl next-door face and the motivation of an erotic
temptress, Jill introduces him to the wilder side. But for a woman who wishes to remain in
control, Mitchell threatens her need to separate sex from her emotions. Author Myers's
imaginative combination of toys and eroticism, love and emotion makes JUST 4 PLAY one of the
best Blaze offerings yet! An extraordinarily fun read.
Sweeping The Bride Away: American Romance No 963
Michele Dunaway
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373169639 248 pages $4.75
With a failed romance behind her, Cassidy Clayton accepts a proposal from the boy next door.
Unfortunately, with her prospective mother-in-law Lillian also next door, tensions increase as
Lillian insists on making all the wedding arrangements in the guise of "helping". Even looking like
an overstuffed marshmallow in the wedding dress Lillian selects does not convince Cassidy to
speak up for herself. When the city inspector comes two weeks before she closes on the sale of
her house, Lillian's interference leads to four pages of repairs and a desperate search for a
contractor who can do the work.
Waiting for her best friend at a local watering hole, Cassidy meets Blade Frederick. With his
casual bad boy look, she never suspects that he owns the bar or a million-dollar construction
business. She accepts his business card and, when she cannot find anyone else to handle the work
on her house, calls him out of desperation. Even though Blade's company does not do residential
work; he is more than willing to help out. But Blade continues to present himself as blue-collar
worker. After all, he does not believe a man like himself deserves a woman like Cassidy.
Author Michele Dunaway presents considerable emotional entanglements in SWEEPING THE
BRIDE AWAY. Cassidy grouses about her future mother-in-law but still manages to comply with
Lillian's unreasonable demands. She knows she is settling with Lillian's son, yet cannot bring
herself to act. Moreover, Blade goes along with his partner's nebulous plan to use Cassidy's
political connections for his own purposes. The unfortunate result is that SWEEPING THE
BRIDE AWAY lacks the flow and polish that usually characterizes Dunaway's work. By the time
Cassidy finally takes control of her life, readers may have already grown too impatient to care.
Nevertheless, there are classic Dunaway moments that truly sparkle, as when Cassidy finds herself
rained in at Boy Scout camp. SWEEPING THE BRIDE AWAY comes recommended.
Brazen & Burning: Temptation No 920
Julie Elizabeth Leto
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790538 249 pages $4.50
When Sydney "Slow Burn" Colburn reaches her lifetime goal of debuting at the number one slot
of the New York Times best sellers, she is left wondering, "now what?" Now what indeed. After
all, she loves her career, she has money, and her love life is varied and remarkable. Yet something
seems to be missing. So she sets out to find Adam Brody, the sexy man to whom she refused to
risk her heart. She is ready to explore possibilities. She is not ready to discover that Adam has
amnesia, and does not remember her.
Previously, Sydney has studiously followed her self-imposed rules that protect her heart. Sex is
fun and frivolous, never emotional. She never spends the night or talks of allowing a relationship
to evolve to the next level. And under no circumstances does she give her heart. Adam was the
only man she ever came close to breaking her rules with, and she reacted by departing quickly.
When she returned from a book tour, he had disappeared, his condo sold, his business gone. Once
she finds him, Sydney is determined to either remind him of what is forgotten, or to create new
memories.
Author Julie Elizabeth Leto sears the pages in this second offering of the series The Bad Girls
Club. With a searing heat and dazzling characterization, BRAZEN & BURNING easily lives up to
its title. Sydney revels in her sexuality, never apologizing for her varied and remarkable past nor
regretting it. Adam's amnesia affords her the opportunity to discover if she can capture his heart
even as she maintains her bad girl ways. Indeed, their memorable encounter of making love under
the sprinklers will live in the reader's imagination! Once again Leto demonstrates her remarkable
style as she combines the thrill of exhibitionism and the tantalizing possibilities of a sizzling plot.
Daring, sexy, and fabulous, BRAZEN & BURNING comes very highly recommended.
The Ballad of Dixon Bell: Superromance No 1118
Lynnette Kent
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373711182 304 pages $5.25
Lovely Kate Bowdrey never really noticed the quiet, unassuming boy in high school. Nor did she
suspect Dixon Bell's depth of emotion. So when he quietly disappeared from the small town of
New Skye, North Carolina, Kate did not really notice. Dixon returns years later for the girl he left
behind when he learns of her divorce from J.T. Larue. Kate had adopted J.T.'s son and daughter,
loving them as her own. J.T. seemed to have no compunction about leaving his family to go live
with a sexy bimbo.
Divorces are not final for a year after separation in North Carolina, and Kate has no intentions of
dating again. But Dixon's quiet perusal awakens needs and desires she has almost forgotten. Too
bad living in a small town means living under a microscope of gossip and innuendo. Worse, real
estate developer J.T. has set sight on Dixon's ancestral home Magnolia House as the sight of his
next project, and will stop at nothing to take the property or bring trouble to Dixon those people
he cares for.
Author Lynnette Kent pens a richly lyrical novel in THE BALLAD OF DIXON BELL. This
second novel in the At the Carolina Diner series continues savoring the ambiance of a small town,
even as a family finds healing and love finds a second chance. Kate struggles with family
obligations and the scrutiny of a small town while Dixon gently courts her heart. Readers might
recall her son's prank of setting of fireworks in public in the previous novel, and will chuckle at his
return. But teens are not ideal characters and seem to find a way to land themselves in a passel of
trouble as they struggle with relationships and growing up. Kent handles racial challenges with
grace and power, lending the secondary plot unexpected punch. In additon, Miss Daisy, Dixon's
grandmother, adds lovely sparkling energy with her part-I want a grandmother like her. A
memorable read, THE BALLAD OF DIXON BELL comes highly recommended.
Hidden Treasures: Superromance No 1117
Judith Arnold
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 373711174 304 pages $5.25
Wannabe earth mother Erica Leitner forsakes her Harvard background for peaceful Rockwell,
New Hampshire. She has traded the big city for gardening and baking, and if her skills are a bit
limited, that does not dampen her enthusiasm. But then, Erica has never seen zucchini take over a
garden before, either. While planting said zucchini in precise rows six inches apart, she and her
eleven-year-old helper Randy, who works for cookies that are preferably store bought, discover a
hidden treasure. Someone buried a wooden box in her garden. When Erica cannot open the box,
she invites a former professor from Harvard who specializes in antiques to have a look. The
discovery sets the small town on fire.
Jed Willetz returns to his hometown only to dispose of grandfather's ashes, planning a quick
departure. When he stops at one of the town's eight bars to track down his father, Jed overhears
news of the big discovery in Erica's backyard. Interested because it was his grandfather who sold
Erica the property, Jed decides to investigate. Soon Randy's father hires a lawyer to insure his
son's share, and tensions escalate. Jed finds himself defending Erica's claim even as media feeds
the frenzy as t-shirts are printed, souvenirs planned as, of course, the grand opening of the box is
anticipated.
Author Judith Arnold admits to playing a delightful "what if" game with HIDDEN TREASURES.
The small town of Rockwell springs to life with a varied and eccentric cast of characters. With
eight bars, one on every corner, gossip spreads quickly! Erica's charming belief that she can learn
baking and gardening from a book leads to wonderful touches of humor. While remaining on the
slightly silly side, HIDDEN TREASURES provides a delightful escape from reality that readers
will truly enjoy. Recommended.
Baby By Chance: Superromance No 1116
M.J. Rodgers
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373711166 304 pages $5.25
Susan Carter prides herself on handling problems herself without asking for help. But when the
most unexpected event of her life now leads her to looking for assistance from a private detective,
she turns to White Knight Investigations and David Knight. Three years of grieving her husband
led Susan to a public grief seminar. Unable to complete one of the exercises, she fled only to be
followed by a kind man in similar circumstances. She knows only that his first name is Todd and
that he is the father of her baby. After revealing the most intimate details of her life, however,
David turns down the case.
Baffled as to why a woman as forthright as Susan would come for help wearing a wedding band
but not saying anything about being married, David turns down her case. It takes a bit of
investigation to discover she is a widow and the knowledge changes David's opinion regarding
taking her case. Indeed, everything about Susan is one uncomfortable surprise after another.
Young widows whose husbands have been dead three years do not usually wear their wedding
bands. David sees her as vulnerable, pregnant woman who needs his help, but refuses to take
advantage of her by pursuing anything personal. Normally a man who follows his own rules, he
may find it impossible, however, when it comes to Susan.
Author M.J. Rogers pens a delightful romance in BABY BY CHANCE. Weaving a pregnancy
from a one night stand into a convincing storyline that leads the heroine to someone's else bed is
challenging feat, but one Rogers meets with grace and verve. Susan's normally controlled world
spirals out of control with her pregnancy, yet she handles the challenges with style. David's
equally controlled world spirals out of control with her appearance in his office. As they seek the
father of the baby, their unexpected romance cannot help but charm readers. Rogers demonstrates
a remarkable ability to turn an impossible situation into a compelling tale of love. BABY BY
CHANCE comes very highly recommended.
The Men of Thorne Island: Superromance No 1120
Cynthia Thomason
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373711204 304 pages $5.25
The men of Thorne Island have enjoyed their peaceful reclusiveness for the last six years and do
not welcome change. They each pay $100 a month for their solitude, and hold an agreement
promising no rent hikes for thirty years. But the death of their hostess and the passing of the
island to her niece promises profound change. Sara Crawford, number cruncher extraordinaire,
intends to transform the island into a paradise for tourists to enjoy.
When Sara arrives, Thorne Island does not match its slick appearance in the brochure supplied by
her lawyer. Instead, the dock is about to tumble into Lake Eerie, the porch desperately needs
repair, and the archaic electrical system is a fire waiting to happen. But the biggest challenge is its
stubborn occupants that resist change, led by Nick Bass who conceals profound secrets.
Author Cynthia Thomason pens a compelling tale of healing and transformation in THE MEN OF
THORNE ISLAND. Her fluid style sparkles like sun upon water, complete with breezy
characterizations and polished plotting. The island becomes an entity unto itself, sheltering its
damaged occupants and, when Susan arrives, inspiring them to healing. Readers will find it
difficult to leave behind these remarkable characters that inspire chuckles and sighs.
The Diva Diaries: Harlequin Blaze No 74
Karen Anders
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790783 Mass Market Paperback 256 pages $4.50
As she lies dying, Jenna Sinclair's grandmother asks that her lost diary and erotic jewelry be
reclaimed. Her grandmother had sought passion in the arms of many men, and explains that for
the diary to surface now would cause harm to important families. Jenna has possession of one of
the diaries, and the other lies concealed in a desk that had been sold to rancher Sam
Winchester.
Little does Jenna suspect her own unawakened passion. She pours her gifts into her music, having
become a concert violinist. So Jenna arranges to help in Sam's fund raising project for a local
hospital in return for experiencing ranching first hand for two weeks. She does not dare risk Sam
discovering her true reasons for being at his ranch. But from their first encounter, Jenna's desires
become a powerful motivation to discover far more than the hidden diary.
Author Karen Anders pens a sensual treat with THE DIVA DIARIES. The glimpses into the
diaries are sensual and intriguing, providing a powerful backdrop to newly awakened passion.
Jenna's journey of self-discovery contrasts sharply with Sam's disillusionment, proving they both
have a lot to learn about themselves, each other, and love. The resulting tale proves Anders's gift
for vividly realizing a fun, sensual tale with memorable characters and interesting toys that lend
the novel a breathtaking intensity. THE DIVA DIARIES come highly recommended.
Sarah's Baby: Superromance No 1111
Margaret Way
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373711115 304 pages $5.25
Deep in the Australian outback, Koomera Crossing contains a marvelously diverse population
ruled by the iron hand of Ruth McQueen. A ruthless woman who loves only herself and her
grandson Kyall, Ruth will let nothing stand in the way of her goals--especially not a
fifteen-year-old pregnant girl by the name of Sarah Dempsey. When the girl refuses to have an
abortion, Ruth spirits her away, arranging a private adoption and depriving the girl of any moral
support from friends and family. When the baby dies, Sarah is devastated. Sarah eventually
accepts the financial support Ruth offers, attending a boarding school and later pursuing a degree
in medicine.
Fifteen years later, Sarah's mother dies, and she returns to Koomera Crossing for the funeral. An
old friend who is dying suggests that she take his place as the town's doctor. Sarah refuses to be
intimidated, however, by Ruth's threats. She renews her relationship with Kyall, but does not tell
him the secrets of the past. But decisions of the past dictate the present, and refuse to remain
hidden, casting Sarah and her second chance with Kyall in grave danger.
Author Margaret Way's SARAH'S BABY moves with the stately grandeur, sweeping through the
Australian outback and exploring a deceptively simple land that conceals unexpected danger. Rich
characterizations come alive with treacherous passions and carefully concealed secrets, including
a dominating matriarch complete with cruel machinations. The first of a five book series spanning
varied product lines, SARAH'S BABY comes highly recommended.
Revealed: Harlequin Temptation No 919
Joanne Rock
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 037369119X 224 pages $4.25
When her bodacious rendition of Happy Birthday reveals more than she intends, Jackie Brady
carries the situation with aplomb. While Zing-O-Gram had intended a stripper entertain the bar
crowd, they were not disappointed. But Greg De Costa instinctively covers her with a tablecloth,
realizing that the impromptu strip tease was not Jackie's intention.
Unfortunately, their chance encounter throws shadows on Jackie's motivations when her demo
tape lands on Greg's desk. As the general manager of Station WBCI, he needs new talent to do
voice-overs. But their sizzling encounter precludes a professional relationship. When he makes his
reservations clear, Jackie declares it also precludes a personal one.
At odds, they agree to part ways, only to be brought together unexpectedly by one of Greg's
clients who prefers wild jungle ways to the sedate job Jackie originally applied for. Worse, the
client demands that Greg oversee the project. Perhaps it is time for Jackie to find out if the
superstition is true that an artist can only achieve her best when she has experienced the ultimate
passion.
Author Joanne Rock has a gift for sizzling amusement, as she once again vividly displays in
REVEALED. Whether dressed in a cat suit or in a leopard bikini, Jackie's determination to
succeed never flags. A self made man, Greg knows what it takes to succeed as well, and fills the
role with a sophistication that carefully masks his rough beginnings. They both know that Jackie's
impulsivity guarantees an impossible relationship, yet their fabulous chemistry draws them
together again and again. A quirky, amusing romp, REVEALED comes very highly
recommended.
Small - Town Girl: Superromance No 1121
C.J. Carmichael
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373711212 304 pages $5.25
When their son nearly dies in a car accident, Julie and Russell Mathew suddenly shift priorities,
centering their lives on their son. Their son Ben spends a month in a coma and more months in
recovery. Gradually, their conversations seem to center only on the immediate challenges. Then
the problems they've ignored or denied for years smolder into life when Russell announces he has
quit his job as a professor in Vancouver so they can move to the tiny rural town in Saskatchewan
where he grew up.
Angry and resentful that Russell makes such life altering decisions without discussing it with her
first, Julie resigns herself to the move. She thrives on big city life, her quickly advancing career,
and the amenities available in Vancouver. She does not look forward to the small, ordinary house
they will live in or her nearby in-laws. But Ben's enthusiasm encourages her to give the move a
try. Unfortunately, Russell's former girlfriend teaches at the school where Russell will teach, and
suddenly Julie faces challenges and surprises she never expected.
Author C.J. Carmichael has a gift for capturing the heart of the challenges of life that bring her
characters vividly alive. As readers know, love doesn't suddenly get perfect at the altar, despite
the idealism of fiction. Romance authors are catching on, however, as Carmichael so gracefully
demonstrates. Julie and Russell certainly learn that, if even if they have been together for years,
secrets of the past, mistakes of the present, and personal insecurities have a way of presenting
surprisingly new challenges. Secondary characters are likewise believable, especially Julie's
mother-in-law who never quite stopped wishing for a different sort of wife for her beloved son.
Despite these characters flaws, however, the people of Saltspring are beautifully realized,
charmingly flawed, and spring vividly to life. Readers will certainly hope that Carmichael has
many more books planned for this rural Saskatchewan town and the delightful characters that
dwell there. SMALL-TOWN GIRL comes highly recommended.
Another Man's Wife: Superromance No 1112
Rebecca Winters
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373711107 304 pages $5.25
Air Force pilot Nate Hawkins cannot help feeling shocked when he sees the widow of his friend
Scott Pierce. Her pregnancy certainly post dates the last opportunity Scott could have been home,
and the perceived infidelity leaves him outraged. Perhaps his own attraction to the widow also
plays into his perceptions as well. But when he learns the circumstances of Laurel's pregnacy,
Nate quickly offers his friendship and support.
Laurel had loved her hot shot husband and had hoped this baby would repair the rift between
them. Before flying his fatal mission, Scott had certainly been pleased to learn that the fertility
treatments were successful. Laurel values Nate's support, but struggles with guilt regarding
Scott's memory. Nate likewise struggles to reconcile his feelings with the knowledge that he is in
love with ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE, even as Laurel tries to convince him there is room for her
husband's memory, and love for him as well.
Author Rebecca Winters pens an absorbing tale in ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE. Nate's harsh
judgement of Laurel begins the novel with an element of strong emotional tension that carries the
reader through the entire novel as Laurel and Nate struggle with challenging emotional issues.
Scott's powerful presence from beyond the grave forces Laurel and Nate to confront the past and
the present in equal measure. Unfortunately, Laurel's too understanding position denies the novel
the strength and depth that characterizes Winter's best work. Nevertheless, ANOTHER MAN'S
WIFE will please her most ardent fans, coming recommended.
A Dash of Temptation: Blaze No 72
Jo Leigh
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790767 256 pages $4.50
Tess Norton needs a date to a society gala where she intends to approach an investor so she might
make the move from plant lady to the rich and famous to flower shop owner. When her employer
Dash overhears her conversation regarding the event, he offers to be Tess' escort for the evening.
Suddenly Tess is thrust into the world of the wealthy and powerful, feeling much like Cinderella.
While she shares an extraordinary chemistry with Dash, they agree that anything beyond this one
night is simply impossible.
Dash has never known anything but the privileges of wealth, but seeing his world through Tess'
eyes removes the jaded feelings. She makes him feel vibrantly alive and leaves him longing for
more than the media king image he has created for the family business. When they yield to the
sensual pull between them, both Tess and Dash and stunned by the results. But while Tess knows
Dash is certainly a man to do, she also knows he cannot be a man to marry.
The second of Men to Do series, A DASH OF TEMPTATION will tempt readers to forget
everything else as they loose themselves in this erotic Cinderella story. Rather than ashes, Tess
works in dirt, but her sense of humor and lack of pretentiousness provides a refreshing respite for
Dash, a man accustomed to starving starlets. Suddenly sex and emotions are impossible to
separate, yet Tess simply does not fit Dash's world. The result is a marvelous sensual romance
that will make reader's toes curl. A terrific read filled with playfulness and sin; A DASH OF
TEMPTATION comes very highly recommended.
The Phoenix Encounter: Intimate Moments No 1208
Linda Castillo
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373272782 $4.75
Twenty-one months ago Robert Davidson barely escaped war-ravaged Rebelia with his life. The
subsequent months of rehabilitation provided way too much time to grieve Lily Scott, a
passionate journalist that refused to leave the country. As he watched, the pub where he left her
was blown to bits, presumably leaving no survivors in its decimated rubble. But when Robert
returns to Rebelia on a mission, he finds the woman he left behind alive. Only now she has a
baby.
Scars from the past motivate Lily to provide the orphans of Rebelia all the help that she can. With
a deadly dictator in power, she believes she has the knowledge to take him down. But she never
intended for her son or for Robert to become pawns in her deadly game. She tries to conceal the
truth of her son's paternity, along with many other secrets, in order to protect Robert.
Unfortunately, fate will expose all of her secrets in a deadly game she cannot win alone.
Readers will find Linda Castillo's THE PHOENIX ENCOUNTER impossible to put down. This
fast paced, complex romance has all the elements for the perfect romantic suspense: powerful
characterizations, life threatening danger and fast paced plotting. Resourceful, intelligent and
determined, Lily is the kind of woman that survives dangerous situations with grace. She is also
believably flawed, attempting to protect those she loves from the dangerous game she plays.
Robert initially blinds himself to the obvious, yet his ingenuity protects those he loves. In addition,
continuities are surprisingly complex, with threads that must neatly tie to other novels, and can
challenge the most seasoned authors. But Linda Castillo handles her part of the series with
finesse. THE PHOENIX ENCOUNTER works well as part of the series or as a stand-alone. THE
PHOENIX ENCOUNER comes very highly recommended.
Little Girl Lost: Superromance No 1113
Marisa Carroll
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 373711131 304 pages $5.25
In an act of desperation, a young man forces his girlfriend Beth into the car and flees into a
snowstorm. They leave behind their newborn daughter and the woman who delivered her in the
park. In the days ahead, widow Faith Carson falls in love with the tiny infant. When the storm
clears and she works up her courage and registers the child's birth-with herself as the mother. She
tells everyone that she delivered the child alone at home during the storm. She had also read of a
fatal car accident about a hundred miles away, and assumes the child's parents to be
deceased.
Over two years later Hugh Damon traces his sister's faint memories to Faith's butterfly farm,
called The Painted Lady. His sister's amnesia and subsequent recovery from the near fatal accident
have left her deeply scarred. Nightmares of snow and butterflies haunt her. But she has no
memory of the child doctors say she bore only hours before her subsequent injuries. When Hugh
meets Faith, however, he finds himself longing to believe her story. When the birth
father's wealthy parents arrive demanding the truth, Hugh knows it will take miracles to resolve
this emotionally complex situation and allow love to survive.
Author Marisa Carroll gives amnesia a unique spin in LITTLE GIRL LOST. Rather than a
primary character suffering from amnesia, it the secondary character's amnesia that provides
pivotal emotional drama that affects all of the characters. Issues of truth, values, and the meaning
of family all deeply challenge each character. Faith proves herself to be a remarkable mother,
leaving Hugh questioning the value of revealing the truth, even when subterfuge betrays the truth
he has always told his sister. The result is a character driven novel that touches the heart, coming
highly recommended.
Child of Their Vows: Superromance No 1114
Joan Kilby
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 037371114X 304 pages $5.25
On the day of his thirteenth wedding anniversary Max Walker receives a stunning reminder of the
past. He and Kelly had been dating for two years, but his parents discouraged their plans to marry
after her graduation from high school. During a forced summer apart, Max became temporarily
involved with another girl with unexpectedly permanent results. An unplanned pregnancy ended in
adoption, without Max ever seeing his child or telling Kelly. Now he holds a letter from his
twelve-year-old son Randall Tipton, who would like to meet his biological father.
After four children, all girls, Kelly finds unexpected fulfillment in her new career. While she and
Max had planned five children, Kelly struggles to keep up with her demanding career and family
and cannot imagine taking on responsibility for another infant at this point in her life. She and
Max are going through a rough time with not enough time and too many responsibilities already.
So when she learns of a child by anther woman, Kelly moves out, supposedly to care for her
grandmother who has an injured ankle. Rediscovering love and finding forgiveness seems nearly
impossible for these wounded hearts.
Author Joan Kilby pens an impressive story that tackles the challenges of love, career and change
in CHILD OF THEIR VOWS. Max and Kelly's story does not follow the usual format of ending
at the altar; instead, it begins thirteen years later when these high school sweethearts confront
secrets and challenges that shake the very foundation of their commitment. Kelly proves herself to
be a vulnerable and flawed heroine, finding forgiveness difficult if not impossible. Max is a typical
man, unwilling or unable to discuss his emotions and ignoring problems until they bite him in the
ass. Yet their shared history, their children, and their love lures them back again and again, as they
struggle to redefine their roles and their family. Their daughters sparkle, revealing the wit, angst
and joy appropriate to their ages. But it is Max's son Randall who really captures readers' hearts
with his need to connect to family and eagerness to please. A powerful, emotional drama, CHILD
OF THEIR VOWS comes highly recommended.
eBook Shelf:
The Bottle Ghosts
# 6 of the Dick Hardesty Series
Dorien Grey
GLB Publisher
1028 Howard St. # 503, San Francisco, CA 94103
ISBN: 1-879194-7-32 e-Book
When a new client arrives in his office reporting a missing lover, Dick Hardesty's first reaction is
that the guy has taken off for whatever reason. He begins his search by visiting the bars the
missing man frequented. Soon Dick learns that police triage missing persons; and they relegate
alcoholic, gay men to the bottom of the heap. When he questions his police contacts regarding
police procedure with missing person cases, Dick gets unexpected results. Desk rookie Marty
Gresham is working on a master's degree in criminology and decides to use his work for his
thesis. Gresham went back several years looking at missing persons, and discovered an
unexpected pattern. Single men, ages 26 to 40, that were heavy drinkers or acknowledged
alcoholics have been disappearing. Indeed, four have disappeared within the last six months.
Suddenly Dick once again finds himself confronted with a crime far bigger than his initial
investigation; one he cannot walk away from. On the surface, Dick simply investigates yet another
series of murders. But the subtext of the gay lifestyle, of relationships and desires, of hidden
motives and concealed pain, lends THE BOTTLE GHOSTS remarkable depth. While readers will
identify with secret demons, most find help or learn to live with the pain of our individual bottle
ghosts. Each scene is carefully crafted with hints and red herrings enough to delight the most
demanding mystery lover. Moreover, Grey's prose absolutely resonates with powerful emotion
and tragic decisions, with painful need and dangerous desire. THE BOTTLE GHOSTS provides
powerful reading on a number of levels. In addition to a terrific mystery, readers are privy to
Dick's personal world. As Dick's relationship with Jonathan plays out, readers are given a glimpse
at a different side of gay relationships not previously explored by Grey's work. Dick no long
allows, well, little dick to run his life although we are still privy to intimate thoughts of lust at
times. Instead, Dick explores the world of a monogamous relationship structured by love and
trust. Such a transformation does not mirror a heterosexual's expectation, and yet the similarities
and differences will be as surprising and as enlightening as Dick's previous sojourns through clubs
and baths. Furthermore, Dick has never had first hand experience with alcoholism. Grey's
treatment of the subject is remarkably insightful. And it is these remarkable complexes that lend
varied layers to this fascinating text.
Fantasy Fix
Christine Warren
Ellora's Cave
Sexual Content NC - 17
eBook/Multiple Formats MS Reader (LIT)
ISBN # 1-84360-361-6 Mobipocket (PRC) ISBN # 1-84360-362-4 $6.20
After a bit too much wine, five friends discuss the subject of sexual fantasies, agreeing to help
each other live their fantasies. Only one member of the group had been in a monogamous
relationship, but that relationship recently ended, and the friends agree that Reggie is their next
project. Despite her protests, Reggie's friends insist that she take her turn.
Without her original fantasies available, they make her pen five new ones, and promise to fulfill
two at the same time since she had to wait so long. So Reggie chooses four fantasies that would
seem impossible to fulfill, as well as the secret desire of her heart: a vampire who likes to take the
upper hand.
Surprisingly, the two fantasies chosen can come true. In a Gothic nightclub in the heart of East
Village, Dmitri Vidƒme sits at the bar surrounded by those who only wish to be vampires. Instant
attraction leads to sizzling chemistry when Dmitri reads Reggie's mind and her heart's desire.
Author Christine Warren pens a sizzling erotic delight in FANTASY FIX. Bold and daring
fantasies of bondage and submission are carefully balanced by loving respect, resulting in an
exciting and scorching read. Reggie struggles to reconcile her vision of a modern woman with her
secret desire, even as Dmitri promises forbidden pleasure. Warren has a gift for convincing
characterizations, as even secondary characters sparkle. Indeed, readers will be seeking out
further adventures with Graham's story in FUR FACTOR very quickly! With a marvelous balance
between light and dark, amusement and sensuality, FANTASY FIX comes very highly
recommended.
Bandy Bandana
Susan Sundwall, Annie Applefield (illustrator)
E & E Publishing
1001 Bridgeway, #227, Sausalito, CA 94965
Adobe eBook Reader
ISBN 0971989869 $3.95
Author Susan Sundwall and illustrator Annie Applefield combine their talents in the charming
picture book for young readers BANDY BANDANA. Bandy's perchance for a different bandana
each day offers the opportunity for color, days of the week, and counting practice. Young readers
will delight in the charming puppy that wears a different brightly colored bandanas every day of
the week. BANDAY BANDANA comes very highly recommended.
More than Magick
Mary Taffs
Awe-Struck E-Books
2458 Cherry Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
ISBN 1587493764 eBook/Multiple Formats $4.50
Two months with her lifemate have not convinced the skeptical Diana to turn her life over to
Goddess. An adept, Diana could bring especially strong gifts to the Balance, if only she would
yield and dedicate herself to service. Now sight dreams bring torturous messages to Diana as she
helplessly watches a man abusing a woman. Despite her determination to not serve Goddess,
however, Diana cannot stand to see a woman tortured, even if she is an enemy. Soon word comes
to verify Diana's dream: Carla of Ocean Magick has been abducted.
Carla's disappearance leads to an investigation as to how Ocean Magick's Barrier could have been
breached. It is quickly determined that the Guardian of Ocean Magick has lost his ability to do
magick. Consequently, Win is named Guardian Pro Tem of Ocean Magick. But with Diana's
refusal to serve Goddess, he will have to work with another High Priestess. Their new assignment
will bring about self-exploration, trouble to their relationship, and unexpected danger.
Once again author Mary Taffs brings a powerful understanding of the metaphysics of magick to
this fascinatingly created sequel of MAGICK. In MORE THAN MAGICK Taffs combines
magickal elements and paranormal skills for a gripping read readers will treasure. Diana and Win's
relationship faces tremendous challenges as they struggle with responsibility and secrets of the
past. With Taff's talented pen, emotional complexities are convincing, realistic, and well
developed. Favorite characters from the previous novel make appearances as well, especially Mr.
Bill, the delightful feline with a mind of his own. MORE THAN MAGICK comes very highly
recommended and will leave reader's appetite whetted for the next novel in this fantastic
series.
Cindy Penn
Senior Reviewer
Midwest Book Review
http://www.wordweaving.com
Shelley's Bookshelf
A Superior Mystery
Carl Brookins
Top Publications
12221 Merit Drive, Suite 750, Dallas, TX 75251
ISBN: 1929976178, $14.95, www.amazon.com
Carl Brookins has a history as a freelance photographer; mystery reviewer; Cable TV
administrator; a Public Television program director; and a faculty member at Metropolitan State
University in St. Paul. A Superior Mystery is a Michael Tanner follow-up to his first mystery,
Inner Passages.
Michael Tanner us a successful public relations executive from Seattle. His second wife, Mary
Whitney, is an heiress to an industrial empire. Both share a love of sailing. When Michael receives
a call from a lumber recovery firm in Ashland, Wisconsin, he and Mary decide to go to hear their
pitch and check out the area of Lake Superior as tourists and sailors. Mary's family has logging
roots in Ashland, which seems to be more than a coincidence. But when Michael and Mary
repeatedly find themselves targets of someone intent upon bodily harm, the plot heats up,
particularly when they discover Mary's first husband may be behind some of the mischief:
"'I can think of a couple of reasons,' Mary paused and took a drink of beer while she organized
her thoughts. 'He already knew a lot about how I think and he must have remembered that the
Whitneys cleared some of this land. He could easily find out about you,' her hand reached out and
tapped Tanner's, 'and the firm. Could he have concocted a scheme to take some kind of revenge
on me? Or on both of us?' She looked at Tanner and he saw the concern in her eyes."
A Superior Mystery is a well written yarn containing some of the finer things one would associate
with a mystery: deep water; storms; car crashes; sailing; and wealth. Michael Tanner and his wife
Mary are interesting and wealthy characters who lead a life not unlike the Harts from Hart to
Hart. They bring in just enough glamour to entice the reader. Add the mystery of sailing, and all
sorts of fun near-misses jump out of this plot.
Carl Brookins knows his sailing, and he also is keenly aware of how to engage the reader. His
knowledge of public relations and industry is also central to the flow of the plot, and he handles
these things assiduously. A Superior Mystery contains more than just a simple murder...this tale
goes back in history and uses the past to make sense of the present. A delightful read.
A Short Life on A Sunny Isle
Hannah Blank
Hightrees Books
515 East 72nd Street, New York, NY 10021 0965277844
ISBN: 0965277844, $24.95, hardcover, 1-212-517-5828, www.amazon.com
Hannah Blank has a long familiarity with Europe, having lived there in the 1950 as a student, then
working with the Army in its Paris finance office. She also lived on Ibiza when it was a pristine
place before jet setters invaded. She has degrees in philosophy and operations research. She
presently lives in Fairfield County, Connecticut and New York City.
Alphonse Dantan, the popular Inspector of the Paris Police Judicare is back with his rich and
elegant wife, Judy. The setting is 1955, and the couple travels from Paris to the island of Ibiza to
visit their painter friend Miri Winter, who is living there as an artist. When one of the local house
maids is found by handsome and educated local Tomas Bonet, and later pronounced dead by the
inept local doctor, friends and family fear that the police will look no further. Bribes are made,
Tomas remains "safely out of reach" of the police, and Dantan agrees to carry on a quiet
investigation of the matter:
"Dantan said, 'Naturally I'll do what I can to help, but I must tell you I do not intend to be
assertive in any criminal investigation. The local police have not invited me to join any
investigation, and I believe they would be justifiably perturbed if I injected myself unofficially. I
am here with my wife Judy on vacation, to visit her friend Miri and sightsee. I'll do what I can to
help but only whatever I am able to do discreetly and without interfering with the police
investigation.'"
A Short Life on A Sunny Isle is a remarkably low-key cozy with interesting characters and a lush
background. Relationships between the various friends and acquaintances of Miri Winter provide
plenty of material for subplots, as well as effectively disguising the real killer until Dantan puts the
pieces together. Dantan himself is a honorable man who is in love with his beautiful, generous,
and flamboyant wife, who keeps everyone around her comfortable and having fun. The murder,
while important, almost fades into the sunny life Blank describes on the island. Her descriptions
resemble a paradise, where even the fisherman are interesting and sexy. A Short Life is prime
reading material for lazy summer days, and Inspector Dantan is a most logical and understated
hero. One can't help liking this series. It is full of sun and fun.
A Cold Case of Murder
Jean Marcy
New Victoria Publishers
PO Box 27, Norwich, VT 05055-0027
ISBN: 189228118X, $12.95, www.amazon.com
Jean Marcy is in fact a mystery writing duo of Jean Hutchison and Marcy Jacobs. Long time
partners, they reside just across the Mississippi river from St. Louis, where Marcy works at a
shelter for battered women. Jean is a retired teacher.
Private Investigator Meg Darcy is hired by Diane Mann to find out who her daughter, Jessica's,
mother is. Diane is married to a retired cop, who follows an all too familiar pattern of abuse. She
wants to leave, but is afraid she'll lose custody of her beloved daughter. Meg quickly learns that a
prominent family, Heitner, is now Doug Mann's employer. Could there be a connection? Meg
starts digging into the past to discover that there was an unsolved murder around the time the
Manns would have gained custody of Jessica. Booth Heitner was on the scene, but was he
involved? No one wants to give out any information:
"Colleen had her own thought. 'How did Booth take Teresa's death?' Twyla snuffed out her
cigarette with extra vigor. 'Can't tell you. He didn't show up for the funeral. I haven't seen him
since. He just dropped off the radar screen.' She gave a wry smile. 'Sometimes I see his name in
the papers.'"
The fourth in a series of Meg Darcy mysteries, A Cold Case of Murder presents the reader with
delightfully developed characters caught in an interesting pulp situation. Meg Darcy and police
detective Sarah Lindstrom have a romantic relationship that is heavy, but undeclared; Sarah is
herself fighting off the homophobia of her police department; and crooked cops keep littering the
landscape. Meg is determined to solve Jessica's birth mother's murder, even if she has to put life
and limb on the line, which she repeatedly manages. Sara Lindstrom is still reeling from the death
of her former partner; a tragedy for which she blames herself and her profession.
The team of Meg Darcy conjure up a denouement Nevada Barr and V.I. Warschawski would be
proud of, making use of old tunnels which run under and around the old Heitner Brewery. A Cold
Care of Murder is an excellent follow-up to the first three novels in the series. Great read!
The Turtle Mound Murder
Mary Clay
Inspirational Fiction
PO Box 2509, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170-2509
ISBN: 0971042950, $15.50, www.amazon.com
Mary Clay is a pen name for Linda Tuck-Jenkins. Her first novel, Starpeople: The Sirian
Redemption was voted First Runner-Up for Best Visionary Fiction of 2001.
Move over, Steel Magnolias; move over, First Wives Club. "The Daffodils" have arrived. Named
for "Divorced and Finally Free of Deceitful, Insensitive, Licentious Scum," the Daffodils are
comprised of Penny Sue Park, Ruthie Nichols, and most recently, Rebecca Leigh Stratton, who is
newly divorced from her assets stealing; two-timing lawyer husband Zack. The Daffodils decide
to take a trip to their college retreat, off New Smyrna Beach, but Leigh discovers a body on the
beach within twenty-four hours of their arrival:
"Then, my finger touched something cold and hard. I leaned forward and grabbed... a cold, stiff
foot! It was like a bad dream the one where someone is chasing you, and you try to scream but
can't. You open your mouth, straining, yet no sound comes out."
Women are women and men are men in this twist of gender stereotypes. The men are never
around when you need them; keep turning up as corpses; and the women have to pick up the
pieces, all the while muttering about their connections with the DAFFODILS.
THE TURTLE MOUND MURDER is an entertaining book with strongly defined characters who
romp around New Smyrna Beach reliving their college days; tripping over dead bodies; and in
general creating havoc and fun. Penned in the best Southern Belle with tongue firmly in cheek,
Clay's characters are seen through straight woman Leigh's eyes. Her two pals are flirty and flaky,
but she loves them and sees the trio through a string of mishaps that would bowl over a lesser
person who was not going through a devastating divorce.
Witty and hilarious, The Turtle Mound Murder engages the reader from the very first page. Mary
Clay writes with a sure hand, and Penny Sue, Ruthie and Leigh are all personalities most women
have grown up with and can relate to. The jokes are insiders that all women relate to, making this
a Shelley choice for a great read.
Deadly Dance
Darville Knowles, M.D.
Milligan Books, Inc.
1425 W. Manchester Ave., Suite C, Los Angeles, CA 90047
ISBN: 0971974985, $15.95, www.milliganbooks.com, (323)750-3592
Darville Knowles current resides in Las Vegas, where he practices medicine. But he hales from
Miami, Florida, and has a native's viewpoint of the socioeconomic problems of the area. He
incorporates it all into this thriller/mystery.
Dr. Evander Parker is a prominent psychiatrist with a beautiful socialite wife, until he begins to
treat one John McIlvane. Dr. Parker is used to dealing with extreme neurotics, but John McIlvane
is definitely a sociopath. He is also, in reality, Salvatore Roselli, a gangster who is looking for new
ways to prove his manhood. Roselli quickly turns Dr. Nash into a fugitive from the law, as his
wife and secretary are murdered, and his office is "torched." Dr. Nash becomes homeless, and
only has one friend in the world, the larger-than-life Taylor Nash. Nash believes Parker is
innocent, particularly when he discovers Roselli's involvement. Roselli sends a "tough" to murder
Dr. Parker, and Nash is there to greet him...
"'Because I gave him the money that same evening,' Nash replied, walking toward Slick. 'And I
know something else.' Nash's voice was low, deadly. He now stood directly over Slick,
brandishing the razor, which glimmered in the light from the kerosene lantern. 'I know he was
going to meet you, because he told me so. Only, I never figured you would kill him, if he had the
money.'"
Deadly Dance is a brilliantly written plot which hooks the reader from page one until a very
satisfying end. It is a murder most bizarre, with enough twists and turns and a final, understated
by deadly denouement. The characterization is classic: a clueless doctor caught up in a chain of
events not of his own making, who is lucky enough to find an unusual benefactor. Knowles
includes a fascinating take on the Miami underworld of drugs and murder, which he threads
through the plot to keep the action sharp and the characters in constant danger. Deadly Dance is a
"can't put it down" thriller, designed with enough action to keep the reader glued to the book.
Medical information permeates the story, as well as legal meanderings. Knowles leaves no rock
unturned to present this edge-of-your-seat tale. Knowles leads the reader to the depths of despair
for the characters and then ties everything up into a neatly packaged ending. Great read!
Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer
Midwest Book Review
Laurel's Bookshelf
Hominids: Volume I of The Neanderthal Parallax
Robert J. Sawyer
Tor Books
1403 Flatiron Building, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
ISBN 0-312-87692-0, 448 pages, $25.95, 1-888-330-8477, Hardcover, www.tor.com
This author won the Nebula Award for good reason if Hominids is an example of his work. I
devoured the book, sympathized and empathized with the characters, and eagerly anticipate
beginning Volume II. Be prepared to make an emotional connection you did not expect. This
work of science fiction is beguiling, and the story teller masterful.
Ponter Boddit is a physicist still grieving over the loss of his wife. Humorous and gentle hearted,
he now shares a home with his long time friend and colleague, Adikor Huld. Adikor is the
computer genius who brings Ponter's quantum physics theories to life. Both men are
Neanderthals, living in a world where humans as we know them went extinct before recorded
time. When their latest experiment unexpectedly succeeds, Ponter is transported into a parallel
world - modern day Canada - where he is first rescued, then nurtured by curious strangers.
Louise Benoit works far below earth's surface in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory complex.
When a Neanderthal in modern dress materializes out of nowhere into a tank of heavy water, she
and her colleagues rescue him from drowning first and ask questions later. She and the company
doctor, Reuben Montego, rush the strange specimen to the hospital and then begin to evaluate
their situation. X-rays prove that they do, indeed, have a fully developed Neanderthal man on
their hands. They call in one of the world's most honored paleoanthropologists in the field of
Neanderthal research, Dr. Mary Vaughan. When DNA sampling proves that Ponter is genetically
Neanderthal, Louise, Reuben and Mary band together to protect him and learn more about his
world. Meanwhile, in his parallel universe, Adikor is up on murder charges because of Ponter's
sudden disappearance.
It all seems so incredible, but from page one this author makes it work beautifully. The bewildered
Ponter learns to like and respect his Homo Sapiens counterparts. They in turn appreciate and
admire his intelligence and personality. Before long, the differences between Neanderthal and
modern human fade, replaced by friendship and a growing fondness between Ponter and Mary,
made more poignant by her history with males.
The contrast between Ponter's world and ours was indelibly detailed in Hominids. Ours is noisy
and messy, with vehicles roaring and factories belching foul smoke. His is quiet and peaceful by
design, where wooly mammoths graze quietly outside his bedroom window and violence is rare.
Ponter's sorrow on learning that most of the familiar animals in his world have been hunted to
extinction in ours was heart breaking.
In short, yes, Mr. Sawyer drew me into this science fiction fantasy and the lives of his characters.
Technically precise background information aside, it was the humans in this story who kept me
reading. I'm hoping Humans, Volume II, will pick up where Hominids left off. This book is highly
recommended reading for adolescents and adults.
A Puma Like Gold
William H. Reid
Adventure Book Publishers
ISBN 1-55313-196-7, 236 pages at 18.99 US, www.puzzlesbyshar.com/adventurebooks
William H. Reid does not disappoint with his second book about Jack Rogers, university
professor. I loved Eagles Watch, where the very caucasian Jack learned he had the heart and spirit
of an Apache. In this follow up, Jack Rogers aka Jack Two Leggings stops fighting the inevitable
and takes his adventure a step further.
In A Puma Like Gold, Jack finds a note from his friend Fawn StarRising, directing him to a
particular spot in the desert. Once again he is up against his old nemesis Dead Sage, the powerful
Paiute drug dealer. But this time, Jack must face the dark powers without Fawn or his loyal
girlfriend Christy. His is a mostly solitary spirit quest. His powers increase, and he meets his spirit
protectors and guides, the pumas. To his Native American friends, Jack is no longer Two
Leggings. He becomes Pumas' Brother. He is a white who walks in both worlds - native and white
eye - and calls down power at will from the Creator.
I confess to a weakness for Native American spiritualism, but that is not why I love Mr. Reid's
books. I love them because they are exciting, intriguing, and for the truths revealed in them. I
appreciate the prose that takes me with Jack Rogers to the desert or mountains and makes me
hang on every word. If you like action and adventure and enjoy being immersed in a story, give
any book by this author a try.
The Cat's Lair
C.H. Foertmeyer
iUniverse.com, Inc.
2021 Pine Lake Road, #100, Lincoln, NE 68512
ISBN 0-595-23778-9, 195 pages at 14.95 paperback, www.iuniverse.com
An imaginative story line and the author's thought provoking lessons on life made The Cat's Lair
delightfully different. This is the second C.H. Foertmeyer book I've read and won't be the last.
The way he tells a story is distinctly his own, and I like the way his mind works - "outside the
box."
This unusual tale begins when Jim Preston finds an old map sealed in a mason jar while he's out
metal detecting. The map is of Father Mountain in Colorado and an area named Cat's Lair. Jim
Preston lives in Illinois and is so intrigued by the map that he decides a road trip is in order. His
pal since childhood, Red Porter, takes time off work and tags along for the ride. In a sleepy little
burg named Clermont, the friends stop to eat at the Hummingbird Cafe and meet a lovely young
woman named Laura. Despite being a local, she knows nothing of the Cat's Lair but has hiked and
camped on Father Mountain often. Jim and Red are decent, friendly sorts, so she agrees to guide
them in their search.
The author does not keep his readers hanging long before the mystery of Cat's Lair is revealed. In
a deep pristine forest that looks like man never stepped foot in it, the map leads them to their
destination. The three adventurers breathe air untainted by the modern world, drink pure sweet
water from a crystal lake, and stumble onto a realm hidden since time began.
An invisible portal leads Jim and Red into a secret world, manned by beings with powers beyond
human comprehension. A benign Father - God? An Alien? - has placed these Observers and
Guardians of the Kindred on Father Mountain from the day of Creation. Inside Cat's Lair, time is
concentric, curvilinear, converging on itself in ways Jim and Red cannot decipher at first. They
move forward and backward in time, searching for their own existence while Laura waits, lives
out her life, and finally dies in old age without ever seeing them again. And that is just the
beginning of this tale!
Except for some mild swear words, The Cat's Lair is suitable reading for teenagers and adults.
The cover is sturdy and attractive and the print easy to read. And this is unusual for a subsidy
publisher, but the price is the same whether purchased from the iUniverse, Amazon, or Barnes
and Noble websites.
Good job, Mr. Foertmeyer! What's the next intriguing subject in your writer's
repertoire?
Time Out Of Mind
Solara Vayanian
ISBN 1-893302-21-0, 184 pages at 14.95 paperback
Dandelion Books - Tempe AZ
www.dandelionbooks.net or www.GoOff.com for purchase
If you were given two options - inventing more machines to pollute the earth and creating
unnatural monstrosities OR carrying candles and singing in the wind - which would you choose?
The option you prefer should tell you whether you are a part of the solution, or the problem faced
by the Earth of our time.
In this fascinating tale about the last days of Atlantis, Solara Vayanian draws chilling similarities
between that ancient culture and our world today. America, especially, should heed her words.
Once a shining beacon to the known world, Atlantis courted its own destruction, just as America
is today. Make no mistake. The ancient primordial powers of darkness and light are doing battle
in the world around us. Good versus evil. The author speaks with thrilling prose and stunning
universal truths in an effort to get our attention. World events are leading to another
cataclysm.
The characters are compelling and charismatic. Despite the power of loving priestesses and wise
priests, Atlantis is in its last discordant days. Light-filled Atlantians and Orion's Lords of Light are
pitted against greedy, power seeking subjects in Atlantis who work in tandem with the Dark
Lords of Rigel. Evil comes in clever disguises - shape shifters, abominations of nature, and evil
Zenetrians - bent on claiming every known galaxy as their own.
The people of Atlantis had drifted from days of glory towards mediocrity. They had forgotten
how to live in harmony with the land. Their bodies, minds, and spirits were no longer in tune as
they had been once. Integrity and unity in the populace as a whole had become conflict and chaos.
They had forgotten how to embrace themselves with joy and radiate the peace of unconditional
love. Sound familiar? Atlantis caused its own demise. Will we? The light of love unending is the
answer. Can we heed it? Love is the only true healer. Are we capable of believing that?
The author's descriptive passages are top rate, and her characters imaginative. There are lessons
to be learned in Time Out of Mind, and converts to be won by the Powers of Light. I hope Ms.
Vayanian and her sisters prevail.
The Prince Must Die
Gower Leconfield
Dandelion Books
ISBN 1-893302-72-5, 179 pages, $14.95, paperback, www.dandelionbooks.net or
www.GoOff.com
The author of this book uses a pseudonym. Given the controversial subjects and scenarios of The
Prince Must Die, a hidden identity might be in his best interest.
Wow! This one is a political thriller in the best British tradition, with a few dashes of good old
American action and excitement thrown in for good measure. I don't very often say this, but it has
MOVIE written all over it.
A select few powerful, wealthy, and well-placed British subjects have devised a plot to rid
themselves of Prince Charles. The glory days are over for the Realm, and the Crown, the British
Pound, and the Church of England no longer stand for anything. Race riots, unwanted
immigrants, and neo-Nazi influences are tainting their elite existence. In their minds, Prince
Charles is a socialist who has forgotten the importance of position, so Prince William will make a
far preferable King. Prince Charles must die to make room for William.
The assination plot fails and must be revised. The group engineers the death of several citizens
who threaten their secrecy. Detective Inspector Stanley West is on the case. He makes a dogged
and determined adversary and a memorable character. Stanley loves being British and all that used
to stand for. He misses the old Tory England, where fairness and decency prevailed and certain
things were simply not done. Keeping a stiff upper lip is his mantra, and protecting the Royal
Prince is his goal.
Oh, these characters were very well drawn and believable. In addition to Inspector West, I
particularly liked the privileged doctors, Michael and Monty Rogerson and the stunning, cross
dressing accomplished bisexual Christian Von Oberman.
Intrigue and double dealing MI5 and MI6 operatives abound as Stanley West attempts to solve
the convoluted plot to kill his prince. Along the way we learn some fascinating bits of British
history. The author keeps this plot moving at breakneck pace, and pulls it all together nicely.
This is indeed the stuff good movies are made of. (Think the Bruce Willis and Richard Gere
version of The Jackal.) Recommended for adult readers due to sexual content.
How to Have a Husband and Live With Your Lover (at the same time)
Pamela Peled
Dandelion Books LLC
ISBN 1-893302-34-2, 77 pages, $9.95, paperback, www.dandelionbooks.net and
www.GoOff.com
This book was a charmer. Witty and sensible, irreverent and wise are adjectives that came to mind
as I read it. Pamela Peled writes in an appealing conversational style, as if she were discussing life
and love with her best friend.
How to Have a Husband and Live With Your Lover is not exactly what you might imagine from
the title. Ms. Peled says it far better than I could:
"...when life with the current model goes flat. Don't even go there. ...it won't take long to discover
the laundry load is identical."
In other words, it's far preferable to have your husband and your lover rolled into one manageable
package.
Ms. Peled goes about making her point in an intriguing fashion, by comparing advice from a
1950s Home Economics handbook to 21st century standards. The comparisons were often
hilarious, but also steeped in common sense.
I liked this author's personable writing style and humor. In addition, she gives an honest
accounting of marital relationships that work, and why they sometimes don't. It's well worth the
read.
Thief of Hearts - Book One of the Lambert Series
Victoria Taylor Murray
PublishAmerica
ISBN 1-58851-559-1, 229 pages at 19.95, www.publishamerica.com
Move over Danielle Steele and Grace Metalious and make room for your new rival. I know
mentioning Grace Metalious dates me, but she was after all the one time reigning queen of sizzling
sex and quirky characters. And Grace has nothing on this author.
Upscale East Bay Lambert sets the locale for this first in Ms. Murray's Lambert Series. This chic
haven for the very rich offers everything that jaded appetites might want and more. Scandalous
behavior is the norm, and intemperance in all activities is encouraged. Everything from drug and
alcohol excesses to swinging or perverted lifestyles are overlooked at Lambert.
Nouri Sommers is somewhat of a lamb amidst the pack of wealthy jackals who frequent Lambert.
She has past loves but is now very married to the handsome and powerful Ethan, with just one
little problem. The sexy Ethan isn't quite as sexy as he looks. At least, not where his young bride
is concerned. Night after night she sits alone in their huge mansion, pouring her heart out in a
journal to ease her loneliness and longing for her husband. Lonely bride + inattentive husband is
bad enough, but add in two men who adore Nouri and the mix turns spicy. Clint Chamberlain is
Ethan's lawyer, nursing a secret passion for Nouri. He's more than up to the task at hand, but will
Nouri stray? And then there is Charles Mason, the private eye Nouri hires to track her errant
hubby's activities. That Mason is her one-time lover only adds fuel to the already combustible cast
of characters. And I haven't even mentioned Clint's mentally deranged wife, Becka, or Nouri's best
friend, the deceitful Genna.
Before the last page, new relationships will be established and some will end in murder. Nothing is
really resolved for Nouri or her dashing suitors. You'll have to read book two in the Lambert
series if you want answers. That's what I intend to do!
Recommended for mature readers due to strong sexual content.
Den of Deception
Richard Alan Nelson
PublishAmerica
ISBN 1-59286-362-0, 173 pages at 19.95 paperback, www.publishamerica.com
Mr. Nelson has done it again, with a twist that distinguishes this second book from his first,
Hiding Places. What makes this second book different is the extra added spice of romance. That's
right. Macho good guy action, seriously bad bad guys, and romance all rolled into one tight
package. I enjoyed it!
Jon Roman runs a successful firm that can and does investigate or research anything his clients
need doing. The handsome and self-confident Roman comes from an accomplished military
background. What he can't do himself is reliably accomplished by his friends Buck Winston and
Maxwell Funk. The skirt chasing but skilled Buck and the computer geek / hacker Max work
hand in glove with Jon on every project.
When Dr. Brianne Richard hires Jon to solve her mother's twenty-year-old murder, that's when all
hell breaks loose both literally and figuratively. Brianne sets off quiet fireworks in Jon from
minute one, and she is not immune to his masculine good looks and quiet strength. It might have
been a match made in heaven from first meeting, if not for fighting for their lives.
The man Brianne always believed was her mother's murderer is killed. Both Buck's knee-caps are
shot out and Brianne's fingers - priceless posessions to a surgeon - are broken by thugs. CIA
spooks are dogging the couple, and the New York Mafia is not far behind. Such vicious attacks
on his friend and the woman he secretly desires bring out the warrior in Jon. And that is just the
tip of the iceberg. In Den of Deception, nothing is what it seems. Tangled cover-ups that date
back to World War Two, dark family secrets, and a complex mystery set the pace. It's not a good
time for the capable Jon Roman to have his mind on the pretty surgeon if he wants them both to
survive.
The author does quiet macho heroes and contemptible bad guys very well. Action and intrigue is
Richard Alan Nelson's hallmark. That he has added romance - and done a fine job of it - brings
tasty flavor to an already fine mix. Good job, Mr. Nelson. Bring on number three!
Confessions of a Shanty Irishman
Michael Corrigan
PublishAmerica
ISBN 1-59129-228-X, 215 pages at 19.95 paperback, www.publishamerica.com
Michael Corrigan has a gift to share. From the erin green covers to the morsels of his memories
within them, the author serves himself up to the reader like a meat and potatoes stew. Alternately
dark with pathos, then light with sudden bursts of humor, this story lives. The author's way with
words is purely Irish, through and through.
His San Francisco home is shared by an old country grandfather who worked hard and proud to
make America his home; a calm and sensible grandmother who unfailingly nurtures all three men
she loves; and a handsome father who works and pays the bills despite his losing battle with the
demon drink. Moving in and out of the Michael's life are kinfolk who are all apples off the same
Irish tree, each with their own personality and contribution to the author's childhood memories. A
mother who abandoned her Irish Catholic husband and infant in search of fun is an occasional
visitor, a mystery throughout the author's life.
Mr. Corrigan cooks up a fine, rich broth with his memories. I was intrigued by his family, his
lifelong friends, the nuns who taught him as a child, and the priests who took him from innocent
altar boy to a manhood full of doubt about his faith. A genetic love of drink plagues him from
early on. His struggle with the Irish Catholic faith is honestly relayed through thoughts or spoken
words. And his appreciation of the fair sex is sometimes humorous or sad. But it was the author's
relationship with his father that, for me at least, put the shine on this novel. His father dies young,
a dissipated remnant of the once darkly handsome charismatic man who raised his son without a
mother. The author's memory of that day haunts me:
"The old days of Irish wakes with ice lifted off the corpse for drinks had passed.
Now it was only a rosary, and relatives listened to the priest reciting before the open coffin. I
wondered if the Vikings weren't right to put the body on a ship and riddle the vessel with fire
arrows, rather than lay the body out for morbid viewing.
I couldn't accept that plastic-looking empty husk as my father. Thomas. It was too much of a
contradiction, a furious denial of what he had been in life. Where was the person who took the
wheel of his brother's boat and waved at the home movie lens? When would we hear that warm
baritone again with its Bing Crosby resonance?"
Confessions of a Shanty Irishman is selling well and finding an audience. Deservedly so. Michael
Corrigan's voice is strong, resonant. I like to think he inherited that resonant voice from his father,
and that somewhere in the afterlife, Thomas Corrigan is proud.
Highly recommended.
Forbidden - Book Two of the Lambert Series
Victoria Taylor Murray
PublishAmerica
ISBN 1-58851-594-X, 408 pages at 29.95, www.publishamerica.com
Book Two of the Lambert Series picks up where Thief of Hearts left off, with two murders to
investigate and storms brewing in Nouri Sommers' life. Nouri is a somewhat trusting and
ingenuous heroine who finds herself embroiled in several layers of deception. Her inattentive, drug
addicted and twisted billionaire husband Ethan has disappeared without a trace. Two old lovers
who cannot seem to get her out of their systems - attorney Clint Chamberlain and investigator
Charles Mason - are jockeying for her favors. And to top it all off, a man who shows all signs of
being her one true soul mate enters the picture. Gabe Baldwin is the friend and ex-partner of
Charles Mason, and a homicide detective in Boston. And all this plays out against the privileged
backdrops of Lambert, Boston, London and Paris.
Unsolved murders that suggest Nouri's involvement are just the tip of the iceberg in Forbidden.
The Chinese Mob rears its ugly head, stalking Nouri for unknown reasons. Friends turn against
friends in vicious retributions for past imagined sins. Even Gabe Baldwin's considerable skill is not
enough to protect her from the double dealing friends and enemies that stalk her. Gabe is a man of
honor, determined to avoid what he considers to be "forbidden fruit" as his attraction for Nouri
eases into love. Gabe's tortured character was my favorite, but Ms. Murray does a grand job of
developing all of her interesting characters.
I'll simply have to read the next two books in the Lambert Series now. The author left me
hanging, curious, wondering how these threads would be connected in the end. Will Nouri
survive? Will truth, honor, and justice prevail? Will Gabe's pain be eased or must he suffer all his
life? I can't wait to find out!
Recommended for mature readers due to strong sexual content.
Prisoner of the Heart
Annette DeLore
PublishAmerica
ISBN 1-59129-304-9, 214 pages at 19.95 paperback, www.publishamerica.com
Dakota Deer is a Federal Agent under deep cover. Recruited at a very young age while in military
service, for twenty years he has served his country well, without complaint. His cover is as a lifer,
imprisoned for murder. Not even his parents know Dakota's situation is a lie concocted by the
Feds. To them, he's always been a loving boy and man, intelligent and calm at the center, not the
sort of man who would murder anyone.
Dakota makes the most of a solitary life. His existence isn't all that bad. He creates beauty out of
wood and precious metal with his hands in the prison shop, and loves his parents from a distance
as best he can. Agent Deer is focused and respected by peers and prisoners alike, and is the only
undercover operative answerable directly to the President of the United States. Dakota fulfills
every covert assignment given by his President, then returns to prison to resume his act as
convicted felon.
Dawn Brown is trapped in an abusive marriage. Gone are her hopeful high school days when she
and her friend Dakota Deer held hands and talked for hours. Except for four sweet children, all
marriage ever got for Dawn was beatings, broken bones and violent sexual assaults. Tom Brown
is a master of mind control and manipulation. He's decided Dawn should die to make room for the
next Mrs. Brown. Dawn isn't as dumb as her husband thinks, and escapes with her children to
make a better life somewhere. She finds a job, secures a home, and hopes for a brighter
future.
Dawn and Dakota begin writing each other after years of having no contact. Despite his being in
prison for life, Dawn is attracted to the gentle loving spirit of the man. To her detractors, her
answer is that she's never felt more loved by any other man in her life. Dakota is very quickly in
over his head, remembering the sweet young girl he loved in silence as a teenager. Everything he
does as man or Agent is soon focused on making life secure and safe for Dawn and her
children.
The author has created a sweet love story between two decent people. The unusual premise was
handled nicely, and all loose ends were tied up in a very heart warming and satisfying way. Good
job, Ms. DeLore!
Bushwhacked
Fred Dungan
PublishAmerica
ISBN 1-59129-388-X, 197 pages at 19.95 paperback, www.publishamerica.com
It isn't very often that I'm at a loss for the proper words to express myself, but the reading of this
book left me all but speechless. Not only did this author attack sacred cows we taxpayers have
long suspected to be less than sacred, but he did it with logical and engrossing prose. Three
detailed appendices and a seven-page bibliography support his contention that we've all been
"bushwhacked" by experts at the game.
Fred Dungan is a obvously a self-reliant man who takes his responsibilities as a citizen seriously.
His avowed belief is that we are all bound by law and honor to keep our house in order. By
"house", he means his house, my house, your house and our common home, the United States of
America. The evidence he sets forth proves rather disturbingly that we have not been paying close
enough attention to our obligations as Americans.
From the national heartbreak of September 11 to environmental nightmares, from homeless
two-job families to the legislators who feather their own plush nests in perpetuity, from women in
the military to the Enron scandal, Mr. Dungan leaves no dirtied rock unturned. And he pulls no
punches. He asks hard questions and provides answers that inform and outrage. Among the
questions he asked that I found most intriguing were:
a.. Exactly WHO is really responsible for postal workers "going postal"?
b.. Are our brains being short-circuited by technology?
c.. What would we do if the social order in America suddenly crumbled?
d.. What is the ONE WORD that set back 200 years the freedoms of human rights and religion in
the USA? (I'll give you a hint. WACO.)
e.. Do we LIKE being misgoverned, misrepresented and systematically fleeced by corrupt and
money grubbing politicians, and do we even care enough about our land and the people in it to
stop them?
f.. Do citizens ignore the damaging effect of soft money because we have grown complacent from
soft living?
There's much more to Bushwhacked than this small attempt at a lucid review. Very little escapes
the microscope the author forces us to look through. It was well-written and honest. I applaud the
messenger and his powerful message. In my opinion, this book was well worth the read.
His Father's Son: Dante's Rage
Diana Bennett
PublishAmerica
ISBN 1-59286-090-7, 324 pages, $TBA, paperback, www.publishamerica.com
Sometimes I read a book that I just KNOW will have sequels. Dante's Rage
fits that description. For her first book, Diana Bennett has taken an unusual premise for her
storyline and introduced a memorable cast of main characters. Her book will no doubt be labeled
Horror genre, but I prefer to think of it as good versus evil.
In the beginning, Giovanni and Juliano are boyhood friends grown to adulthood. They've made
interesting pastimes out of chasing women and occasionally robbing and killing. It's all grown
rather distasteful for Juliano, but Giovanni thrives on every bit of skullduggery. When a suspicious
lurker named Ezra offers Giovanni immortality and absolute power, he goes for this unexpected
gift in a big way. Giovanni gets his absolute power via a priceless amulet, and Juliano receives
wisdom from a ring he cannot remove.
Immortality comes with a price. Both must feed on the spirit - the soul - of others to survive.
Giovanni takes to such evil with a vengeance and grows in power. Juliano fights the need to take
the lives of innocent people, and thinks his solitary thoughts. He wishes to be mortal again, but
knows he is the only one who has a hope of controlling his old compadre.
Both men father sons who are as opposite in temperament as their sires. Dante is filled with
seething rage like Giovanni, and Jerome is soft natured and thoughtful like Juliano. In older years,
Dante and Jerome establish an uneasy friendship. Dante demands total devotion in everything.
When Jerome falls in love with an innocent young girl, Dante stays true to his nature and steals
their happiness in ways intended to be vile and lasting.
Through each ensuing generation, the evil wrought by Giovanni stalks their children. Dante's rape
of Jerome's betrothed produces a son, Antonello. When Juliano decides the evil has gone far
enough and takes Dante in hand to change his fate, the boy's marriage produces a daughter,
Raven.
All characters are bound together by either immortality or blood. Good battles evil to the end,
leaving questions unanswered and the hint of future sequels. Ms. Bennett develops her characters
well, complete with all their frailties and strengths. I'm counting on a sequel and thinking maybe
Her Father's Daughter: Raven's Revenge?
Facing Me
by Stephanie Sawyer
PublishAmerica
ISBN 1-59129-529-7, 101 pages, $16.95, paperback, www.publishamerica.com
If this book does not inspire you, nothing will. And I don't mean strictly Christian inspiration,
although it is that too. This is an amazing first person story.
From childhood, the author struggled with epilepsy of the petit mal type. It was a bleak existence
for a child, with little support or understanding from family or peers. She grew up thinking
epilepsy was a shameful thing, a condition to hide, one that made her past, present and future
hopeless. Doctors medicated her, sometimes to the point of toxicity, and told her there was
nothing they could do. Not until college years when she met her future husband did Stephanie feel
safe, loved, and accepted.
Despite her husband's love and support, life does not get easier. Her study of and love for music is
put on hold. Children come along, financial worries threaten. And through it all, the spectre of
"seizure invasion" looms, to strike with regularity. When she meets a special doctor with a
positive persona, her life is changed. Surgery turns out to be the godsend he has promised it
would be in her case. Life looks brighter for awhile, despite setbacks. The blessing of a nurturing
mentor with a can do attitude leads the author back to the music she always loved. She resurrects
her musical artistry and pours it into passion borne of pain.
Facing Me documents one woman's trials, defeats, and triumphs with painful honesty. If you
struggle with epilepsy, or know someone who does, I recommend you read this book. Or if you
simply enjoy well written non-fiction, give Facing Me a try.
Laurel Johnson
Midwest Book Review
Shirley's Bookshelf
The Chocolate Formula
Larry Altman
Adventure Book Publishers
http://www.puzzlesbyshar.com/adventurebooks/
adventure@puzzlesbyshar.com
ISBN# 1-55313-220-3 Download $3.99
I have always been drawn to stories about World War II since I was a little girl and heard my
father speak of the horror of that time. I knew I would be interested in this new read.
The Chocolate Formula begins with the past and takes you swiftly to the future. Five children,
that were patients of the evil Dr. Josef Mengele are the key to this story. Now grown up into
prominent
figures, he needs them to fulfill the evil plan that the New Fuehrer, who no one even knew existed
until now , must have to complete his mission of world
domination.There is an element in their blood that is needed for the Chocolate Formula.
Pandora is a private spy organization and Yaacov Ben-Azor of Pandora is about to battle for his
own life and the world against the New Fuehrer Manfred Kleber.
The five American Jews suddenly begin to disappear as the New Fuehrer is having them
kidnapped one by one. Tessa Clark, an Oscar-winning movie star, overhears the plot for her
kidnapping and runs to Yaacov Ben-Azor for help.
He had just completed an interview with her. He is not sure if she is to be trusted, but has no
other recourse then to take her with him on his quest to stop the New Fuehrer.
I loved this book. It was chock full of adventure, espionage, and mystery. You will cringe when
you find out what the Chocolate Formula does to a human. An evil diabolic plan that had to be
stopped
at all costs.
I highly recommend this read, it will keep you on the edge of your seat, I promise. Don't miss this
one!
Interview with Jonathan Yardley:
Readers: I have to say that I was surprised and honored that Mr. Yardley allowed me to interview
him, I believe you will find this very interesting. Let's begin!
S. Johnson: Mr. Yardley, I understand you have been reviewing book for over 40 years. Would
you tell us a little about your beginnings.
J. Yardley: My first book review was actually published, I believe, If my memory serves me
correctly in the fall of 1964.
S. Johnson: You were a book editor for the Greensboro Daily News in North Carolina, is that
correct?
J. Yardley: I was an Editorial writer there, I guess I was about 25 years old and my principal job
was an editorial writer, but I did their weekly book review page on the side.
S. Johnson: May I ask you, were you always an avid reader and is that why you chose to review
books?
J. Yardley: Yes essentially. I come from a family of readers, my father was a school- teacher and a
minister and my mother was in the first graduating class of Pennington College. She was a mother
and a housewife primarily but she was a devoted reader, so I grew up with books all around me,
and I had the example of my parents as avid readers.
S. Johnson: Thank you Mr. Yardley. I wanted to ask you, how is a book chosen to be reviewed at
Washington Post? Do you have a choice?
J. Yardley: I have the choice of the books I review, although Washington Post Book World has a
staff of about 6 or 7 people, and I consult with them to make certain that the same book doesn't
get reviewed twice. Basically, I make my own choices.
S. Johnson: Do you only review for the large publishing houses?
J. Yardley: There is a tendency in that direction because they are known quantities but I'm always
receptive to work published by small presses, the problem is there are an awful lot of them and it
takes time to sniff your way through it and there are a certain amount of things that have to be
overcome; but I think I certainly can speak for myself and I think for many others when I say that
people who are responsible professional book reviewers are certainly aware that small presses and
unknown authors deserve attention.
S. Johnson: Thank you! If I as an author were seeking a review from Washington Post, would I
go about doing that?
J. Yardley: Authors should not undertake that unto themselves. It introduces a personal element
into the equation which complicates matters for the reviewer. Publishers are accustomed to
sending review copies to book review sections depending on how big the publishing house is and
how much money they have for publicity will dictate how many books they send out and how
many papers the Washington post book world receives. I don't know; 20,000 books a year,
something like that. We review or mention about 2500 of them so obviously most of them fall by
the wayside including some very good books. The basic thing is that the publisher gets the review
copy of the book to the review section and then the book can just take it from there.
S. Johnson: Thank you! May I ask you this, and I don't mean this in any derogatory way, I would
just like to pick a little bit of information. When someone gives a review, it is of course their
opinion of that book, now isn't it in a way like this: One person over here really enjoyed the book,
while another did not. How do you feel reviewing that book, knowing that your review will touch
the author's world and their future? How do you balance that in your reviews?
J. Yardley: Well, my first obligation, any reviewer's first obligation, is to the people who read the
reviews.
I'm certainly bent on not serving authors. Obviously I or any other reviewer, owe an author a fair
review, but we don't owe an author a review just because the book exists.
We have to make choices of which books are most appropriate for the space we have and the
readership we serve. We don't, for example, review highly specialized technical books because
those are not within the interest of our circulation.
S. Johnson: Thank you! Let me ask you about e-books. Do you review them?
J.Yardley: That is a complicated problem for us because the whole question of ebooks is still very
new. The systems of distribution is still very primitive, the mechanism for e-publishers to get their
work to the attention of main stream book review sections are still pretty disorganized. A lot of e
publishing is essentially vanity publishing which we do not review. We are very much aware that
the world of book publishing is changing and we have given a lot of thought to the question of
electronic books, but we haven't quite resolved it. There is a huge volume of them. Most of them,
I'm afraid are fairly mediocre, and the problem for us is to try and figure out which of the ones
warrant our attention.
S. Johnson: Thank you. May I ask you a few things about publishing in general, get some words
of wisdom from you for our readers. May I ask you how do you feel about self-publishing?
J. Yardley: If people want to take that risk, which is an extradionary long risk and want to invest
their money and their time and their hopes in it, they are welcome to do it. I think it is fairly
foolish because the distribution, the system for trade books is so complicated and so glutted
already. Walk into a bookstore sometimes, Bordens or Barnes and Noble and take a look at just
how many books are in there and try to figure out what the odds are that any one of those books
is going to come to the attention of any perspective buyer. It's hard enough for the books to go
through legitimate publishers with established distribution and marketing systems. The people
who self-publish strike me, have always struck me, as slightly foolish. But as my father liked to
say 'a fool and his money are soon parted'; and if that's what people want to do they're welcome to
do it, but their self-published books, as the term is currently understood, is just to say vanity press
books. They would not get reviewed under any circumstances with the Washington Post Book
world.
I should mention, that we understand that the rise of the electronic books has changed or has the
potential to change the nature of what is called self publication and we are aware of that and we
are trying to figure out how to deal with that, how to discover self published internet work that is
worth while and should get our attention. It's a very difficult problem for us.
S. Johnson: Mr. Yardley, let me ask your opinion on Print On Demand Publishing Houses.
J. Yardley: The Print on demand is potentially a very interesting phenomenal. Obliviously print on
demand is a potentially interesting way of bringing out books of specialized interests that might be
too expensive to publish in conventional ways.
It is a way for authors and publishers to reach readers in a pretty efficient fashion and we
recognize this way. We have run some articles about the phenomenon of POD and it's another
aspect of this brave and confusing new world of publishing that we will have to come to terms
with.
S. Johnson: Changing the subject a little, how do you feel about authors having an agent?
J. Yardley: I think it is absolutely necessary. The reason is, as book publishing exists now an agent
can in effect exist as the first reader, as the first editor, at least the conventional book publishers in
New York and Universities are now thoroughly accustomed to working with agents whose
reputation they know and whose judgment they trust and It's very hard for a perspective author to
get a manuscript because generally it's not looked at.
That doesn't mean that a perspective author should take just any agent that walks down the pike.
The author should look into the agents reputation and the kind of clients that he or she represents
and be satisfied that the fee the agent charges is fair and so forth and so on, but a good agent is a
very valuable ally for an author.
S. Johnson: Could you tell us about your winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1981?
J. Yardley: Well that was for work that was published during the year 1980. I was at the time still
employed by the Washington Star as it's book editor, it was a considerably smaller operation then
we have at Book World at the Washington Post. I wrote a weekly book review for the
Washington Star, it ran Sunday in the book section and I won the Pulitzer for works written in
1980. There were 10 book reviews; that is the maximum that you are allowed to submit for
criticism for the Pulitzer and frankly I don't remember what any of them were. It was fiction and
non-fiction. A pretty broad range of books, and it was a very nice honor and 3 months later the
Washington Star was dead. I don't think there is a direct connection.
S. Johnson: I don't think there is a direct connection either Mr. Yardley! This is a question I
would like your opinion on. There are many reviewers and interviewers that would like to land a
job in a well know publication. Can you give any advice on how they could go about doing
that?
J. Yardley: I have to tell you that in all honestly that the most discouraging aspect to that question
is that there are almost no such jobs.
That is the honest answer to the question. I am the only person for example, with the Washington
Post as a full time book reviewer. My colleague, Michael Dirda comes close to being that, but he
does other editorial work as well. There are I think three book critics at the New York Times who
could be called on-staff book critics. The Los Angles Times no longer has one. There are a
number of book editors, people who put out book pages, most of whom do something else with
their book reviewing obligations.
Most book reviewing in American newspapers is done by people who work on freelance basis. I
have to tell you in all honesty that is not a remunerative line of work but The Washington post we
pay $350 for a standard life book review and by the standard of other papers that's high and you
can imagine a lot of work often goes into that for what produces a fairly small paycheck. I think
that lots of people obliviously find it satisfying to do freelance reviewing for other publications.
The book world would be in a great deal of trouble if there weren't such people, but I often look
upon my career as a book reviewer with some astonishment that I was actually able to pull it off
and to make a living of sorts out of it. There just aren't that many jobs and I'm not sure what is
going to happen in the future as the nature of book publishing changes, as the internet changes,
the nature of reading and the distribution of works and so forth. I think I am very lucky to have
gotten into book reviewing at the time, in the history of American journalism because I think it
would be much harder now.
Contact Information:
The Washington Post- http://www.washingtonpost.com
Book World - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/style/books/
I want to take this time to thank Mr. Jonathan Yardley for allowing me to interview him. Many of
the people I seek to interview never even take the time to decline. Mr.Yardley cared enough to
take a few moments out of his busy schedule to help enlighten you and I with some interesting
facts about the world of publishing and reviewing. I found Mr. Yardley to be extremely friendly
and willing to help in anyway that he could. Thank you Mr. Yardley.
Shirley Johnson: Commentary
There are many questions I wish I had now asked Mr. Yardley. I have to admit readers that I was
a tad nervous as this interview was done via telephone, something I am not used to. I like to sit
with a person and talk to them, see their expressions, read their body language, or express myself
in an email question to them. It's rather awkward on the telephone to form your questions; the
seconds it takes that would not be noticed via a personal side by side interview, seem to be an
Eternity when you're dealing with airwaves.
True, I am still a babe in the interviewing circle. (It's nice to be a babe in something, since my age
certainly doesn't fit that bill!) However, I'll get better at this as time goes on, at least I hope I
will!
The one question I would have asked Mr. Yardley that I truly am sorry I did not, is this.
"I understand why large newspapers review the books of the bigger houses; they must supply
what their readership is expecting. However, perhaps a review area catering to the less intellectual
and more to the common man would bring more readers to the paper, fulfilling a need that is not
yet met. Why not hire someone who is willing to undertake reviewing the little guys. (I'm sure any
reviewer would jump at that chance, even for a very small paycheck.) E-books, small presses,
even self-publishing, give those authors a chance to be recognized. I have read and reviewed some
wonderful books that were published by these places. My voice is a tiny one, but a paper as
widely respected as The Washington Post could launch them where they deserve to be, at least
give them a fighting chance. Why not have one small section for those reviews. You could even
call it, "Review for the Little Guy."
That would be my question readers and I am sorry I did not ask it. One final note! (I know, I
know; will this woman ever stop writing?)
There are many categories of readers in the world, because some only like to read romance
novels, paranormal novels, sci-fi novels, does not make them illiterate; it is their preference, and is
really what makes the world go round. That is what makes America the great country she is! We
are a people of diverse interests in every area of life, perhaps this is the secret of why so many
newspapers no longer carry a book review section. Perhaps it isn't that people are no longer
reading, but the majority of them are not reading the books that are chosen for reviewing. Thus,
the interest in that area is small! I understand these books are great, but perhaps they are not great
in the eyes of the little man, who already lives in a world that is full of turmoil more than they care
to remember at the end of the day. Perhaps they want to read a book that will give them a little
laughter, a little romance, a little chill, and will take them away, if just for a moment of time, from
the pressures that we are now facing.
Have you ever ended a long hard day and turned on your TV to watch a sitcom? For a half hour
you sit there and for that length of time you are lost in a world of make believe that requires
nothing of you, and for that short amount of time you the watcher can allow someone else to
solve the problems, or be the fool, whichever the case may be.
I want to encourage you, the little guy, the new author to continue on and not be discouraged.
Perhaps you will never be reviewed by the big boys, but you fill an important place in the world of
reading. Don't judge yourself with this one or that one, but continue to let those words flow from
your heart onto your paper. You have something to say, a story to write, a tale to be woven. You
are our doors into another world, another life, a great adventure. Keep giving us those doors,
without them we would die! Hold onto your dream and keep whispering a prayer that soon your
star will shine! It can happen!
Only Once In A Lifetime
Alejandro Grattan
We-Publish
4301 McPherson Av. Suite 105-4692 Laredo, TX 78041
ISBN# 1-931335-36-2, 331 pages, $18.95, http://www.we-publish.com
I want my writing to be seasoned with just the right words in this review for Alejandro Grattan's
outstanding novel " Once In A Lifetime." I have read and reviewed countless books, some have
brought me quiet pleasure, some adventure, some fear, but this novel touched something deep
inside of me.
The author takes you on a journey, a journey of the life of Francisco Obregon. Introducing you to
Francisco at the age of 10, you see him struggling to survive in his native country of Mexico. He
meets an American couple that will have a hand in bringing him to America and his destiny.
Francisco's life is filled with one heartbreak after another. You will share with Francisco the death
of his wife and son and walk the desolate road of forgotten dreams that torment him for years to
come. Thinking he will never again taste happiness ,Francisco contemplates taking his own life,
but first he must find a home for his beloved dog. On this quest Francisco meets a woman who
touches something inside of him that he thought had died many years ago. Perhaps Francisco will
once again smile.
It is a deep moving novel, one that touches your spirit and moves your heart, but it is not only for
Francisco that you weep. No! It is for all the pain and misery that surrounds us in this world we
live in and the suffering of our fellow man.
Although the novel brings out the plight of Mexicans and also the struggle they have in this
Country, I do not feel this alone is the story-line. It's not just a story about a Nationality, but
rather the story of one mans struggle that represents many others, many faces, of many
colors.
No man, no Nationality has a patent on hardship. We all, in our own way, must play out the cards
that have been dealt to us. There are success stories and there are stories of tragedy. I believe
Francisco took almost a lifetime to realize this and to understand that we must continue our life
until the cards are all played out.
This novel is indeed about one man's life. You will travel with him and experience his thoughts,
his emotions, his pain. But in this, you will also search your own, and I pray become aware of
others.
Highly recommended! A very good read.
Interview with Alejandro Grattan-Dominguez:
I chose to interview Alejandro because I was very impressed with his novel, "Only Once In A
Lifetime."
(Please see review in this column) His writing style was excellent and he wove his main character
into my heart. I won't soon forget this novel. This author has much experience under his belt, a
screenwriter, an editor and a book author;
I believe we can learn from his words. Let's begin!
Q/ Alejandro, please tell us how long you have been writing.
ALEJANDRO: Prior to trying my hand at writing novels which came about when I moved to
Mexico in 1987, I had spent some 25 years in the American film industry, during which time I
wrote 14 screenplays which were either purchased or optioned (some more than once), and
directed five feature films.
Q/ That is quite an accomplishment to have under your belt. Please tell us how many hours a day
you spend writing.
ALEJANDRO: I usually work from 8 till 11 each morning, and from 3 til 6 each afternoon. But as
I am the editor of the largest English-language monthly publication here in Mexico, not all of the
above-mentioned time is spent on my novels. At present I am finishing what I hope will be the
final rewrite on my latest novel, which as with my previous books, has an Hispanic element to
it.
Q/ As I have stated, I truly enjoyed your novel, "Only Once In A Lifetime." How long did it take
you to complete, and what inspired you to write this book?
ALEJANDRO: As you know from reading the forward to the book, before it was a novel it was a
movie based on a screenplay which I wrote. As noted in the forward, the movie was the first
feature film ever about Mexican-Americans, and because of that, we had a great deal of luck with
it. Despite this, however, I felt there was still a great deal to be told about my protagonist,
Francisco Obregon. The movie takes place over the course of one week in 1975 in the Echo Park
barrio of Los Angeles. The book begins in 1940 in a fishing village in the highlands of Jalisco,
Mexico. As for what inspired the initial notion, I suppose part of it was because my mother was
Mexican, and I have always had a deep love for her native country. Moreover, all the films I had
seen prior to the time I wrote the script had dealt with the Mexican characters in a very
derogatory way, e.g., usually as drug smugglers, prostitutes, shiftless drunks, etc. I wanted to
correct that impression, show characters who while flawed had a certain dignity to them. But on a
more personal level, I wrote the novel as a gesture to my deceased brother, who had been
enormously influential in helping me make the movie from which the book is based. Writing the
book was one way (perhaps an overly sentimental one) of "closing the circle."
Q/ Are your characters based on people that you know, or have known?
ALEJANDRO: As with most writers, all the characters in everything I have ever written are
usually based in part on people I have known. "Francisco Obregon," however, was not based even
in part on anyone I have ever know; conversely, the characters of "Adrian Grant," "Claire
Ballinger" and "Sally O'Toole" were roughly based on people I had met in the movie
industry.
SPJ: You certainly have met some interesting people!
Q/ Please tell me this, what do you want your readers to walk away with after reading your
book?
ALEJANDRO: I think you summed it up quite nicely in your review. My hero is a Mexican, but
his dilemma was a universal one that had little if anything to do with his ethnic background.
Moreover, I wanted a reader to believe that there are some "second acts" in life (despite what
Scott Fitzgerald once told us). One of the recurring themes in my work (if themes is not too
high-falutin' a phrase) is that we often remain so mired in the past that on a sometimes insidious
level, we don't even realize that we are failing to participate in the present, nor sadly enough,
pre-empting our future, as well.
SPJ: I could not agree with you more. I always tell authors, the stars come out every night, even
if you can't see them....and.....perhaps one day your star will shine!
Q/ Do you think writing this book changed you in anyway and if so how?
ALEJANDRO: As I mentioned earlier, there was no real-life model for the protagonist of the
novel. However, in writing about him, I found myself learning some of the same lessons which he
did over the course of the story. Finishing the book, I could see that I had also been living too
much in the past. More than anything, "Francisco" made me more alive to the possibilities of the
future.
SPJ: Yes, reading your book did the same for me!
Q/ You have a wonderful way of giving your characters life, I still feel as if Francisco is a real
person and my heart aches for him. (I'm such a softie!)
Tell me, do you think this is a gift some writers have or a craft that can be learned?
ALEJANDRO: As a screenwriter, I learned early on that one should first ascertain what a
character wants more than anything else, then what keeps him/her from getting it, and how this is
finally resolved. Another device is to figure out what a character prizes most about his life, and is
the last thing he wants to lose. One of my favorite motifs is how often people don't get what they
think they want, but rather, almost by divine intercession, end up with what they truly needed all
along. Then I like to work on the externals. Especially how a character moves--which can say a
great deal about how a character feels about himself.
SPJ: That is food for thought! Thank you!
Q/ Do you think you will ever do a sequel to "Only Once In A Lifetime?" I like closure and a
happy ending! I would like to know that Francisco got married again and got rich off his
paintings! If not, I'm just going to pretend that happened! (As you can see I really get into the
books that I read and review! *smile)
ALEJANDRO: Sorry, Shirley, but I am just about played out on old Francisco. Strangely enough,
however, there is some interest in buying the book to remake as a movie. As I mentioned, the
former version starts in 1975, with the scene where the zoning inspector arrives to tell our hero
that he can no longer grow farm produce without a license. The book opens in 1940, and a film
made from it would be quite different in many details. There are several scenes set in LA which
were not in the movie, not to speak of all the stuff down here in Mexico. Incidentally, the video is
for sale on amazon.com
SPJ: Perhaps one day you will change your mind, until that time, I will believe for a happy
ending!
Q/ In my reviewing I have had the honor of reading some outstanding works. I know that they
may never have the opportunity of seeing their work wide spread. Do you have any advice for
authors trying so hard to promote their work? Any little secrets that you might be willing to share
with them?
ALEJANDRO: In two words, perseverance and polishing. Never give up, and never stop trying
to improve the manuscript. There is a Hindu saying that "when the student is ready, the Master
will appear." I think one can almost safely say that when the manuscript is ready, a publisher will
appear.
Q/ It is very discouraging for many new authors to find a publisher. I hear their heart cries over
and over again in letters that come to me. Did you find it difficult to publish your first work and
what would you tell these authors in the form of encouragement?
ALEJANDRO: Mine was a curious case. It took me five years to write The Dark Side of the
Dream, and two years to find a publisher. The book, which is historical fiction, deals with a
Mexican family who migrate to the U.S. soon after the commencement of World War II. My
problem was not with getting the ms. rejected, but in simply getting anyone to read it! On
repeated occasions, the envelope came back from NYC unopened. Then I heard about Arte
Publico, and though their brochure stipulated that they wanted only a few paragraphs, (rather than
the standard three chapters), I sent them the entire 650 page manuscript. It must have made a
thud when it hit their editor's desk. Then I heard nothing for several months, and had gone back to
my feckless task of sending out the ms. to the publishing houses in NYC, when I received word
that Arte Publico wanted the book. One of the best days of my life.
On my second book, Breaking Even, (an Hispanic-oriented, coming-of-age story set in the 50s in
West Texas), it took me two years to write it, and about two weeks to get it published (by the
same publisher). So I suppose the only rule is that there is no rule.
SPJ: I suppose you are right! When will that star shine? Just keep seeking writers!
Q/ It is almost as difficult to obtain an agent as it is a publisher. How important do you feel it is
for a writer to seek one out?
ALEJANDRO: Over the years, I have had two excellent agents for my screenplays. Both ladies
knew the market, knew who could green-light the purchase of a script and knew who not to
waste any time with. In Hollywood, this latter knowledge is invaluable. You can make a career of
taking the right script to the wrong buyer. Or the wrong script to a reputable buyer. However,
years later when I started writing novels, I had no agent, and was flying blind over territory I had
never seen before.
I was lucky to have made the connection with Arte Publico. I was also lucky to become
associated with We-Publish, which though a very small press, has gone out of its way to promote
the book. I am especially beholden to their Merchandizing Director, Marlena Robertson, for doing
such a marvelous job.
Q/ Where would you like to see yourself in your writing career in 5 years and what are you doing
to obtain that goal?
ALEJANDRO: I am currently at work on several novels. The one closest to completion is called
The Stuff of Dreams, and like most of my work has a Hispanic element. The ms. is based on an
award-winning screenplay of mine. Another novel is entitled Hollywood and Vine, a murder
mystery set in the twilight zones of the film industry, and deals with a former child movie star,
who now in his 30s harbors dangerous delusions. The third book is Whereabouts Unknown, a
political thriller set in South America in 1946.
As for where my career will be in five years, I am reminded of the old joke: "Know how to make
God laugh? Tell Him your plans." Still, as I now own the rights to all three of my novels, I am
hopeful that they can be merchandized in the future in a manner which will allow me to
comfortably go on writing. At present, I am also (if I didn't mention this before) the editor of El
Ojo del Lago, the most widely-read English-language monthly publication in Mexico, but I look
forward to the day when I can devote my full attention to the little stories which I so love to
spin.
SPJ: I had never heard that joke, but I love it! Thanks for sharing it! I am sure you will obtain
your goal and spin many a great story for us all to enjoy!
Q/ Do you feel being the editor of El Ojo del Lago has helped you with your 'book writing
career'? -----
Alejandro: Most definitely! In editing other writer's work, it has made me all the more conscious
of the flaws in my own. A little book which also has helped me along is the classic The Elements
Of Style by Prof. Strunk. There is no book on writing (other than Lajos Egri's The Art of
Dramatic Writing) which I recommend more highly.
Q/ Do you review books in your publication? If you do how are those works chosen for
review?
Alejandro: The books we chose to review usually have something to do with Mexico, or are
Hispanic-oriented in some way. A third criteria is if the book was written by one of our many fine
local writers. Ajijic is, incidentally, a Valhalla for writers, and has been for many years. It was here
that Maugham wrote much of The Razor's Edge, where Tennessee Williams wrote the short story
which later became A Streetcar Named Desire, and where many years earlier, D.H. Lawrence
penned The Plumed Serpent.
SPJ: Very interesting! Thank you!
Q/ How important do you feel obtaining a review of one's work is for an author?
Alejandro: Reviews, especially good ones, are great! Yet I have found over the years that there is
sometimes more to be learned from a bad review. Over the course of a 25-year career as a
writer/director, it was the more tepid critiques, especially if they came from well-established
reviewers, which opened my eyes the most (not to speak of definitely clearing my sinuses!),
teaching me lessons that favorable reviews rarely did. But the encouragement derived from a
favorable review is worth something the average person will never know.
SPJ: I would have to say, to be honest, I like the good reviews a lot better! My sinuses have
been
cleared too many times! :0) I understand what you are saying, I just need to learn to apply it!
Please use this space for anything you would like to share with our readers. Perhaps about
yourself, your books, or publishing in general. Any final words or an answer to a question that
you wish I had asked, but did not.
Alejandro: Very little comes to mind, Shirley. I might remark on the great differences between
writing novels and writing for the screen. With scripts, there is no emphasis at all on the language.
The narrative sections of some of the best scripts ever written could have been slapped together
by a reasonably-talented high-school student. But in novels, the language is of great importance.
Making the transition was difficult for me, though ironically, part of what has caused my work to
be published (I think) is that even while some of my prose has been downright clunky, the stories,
along with the characters and the dialogue, got me up the hill--and for that I can thank my
screenwriting background.
----------Okay, Shirley, that's it. Mucho thanks!
SPJ: Mucho thanks to you as well Alejandro. I have enjoyed this interview with you and thank
you so much for sharing your heart with us. I encourage our readers to seek out your works.
They will be blessed by your writings. I wish you great success in the days ahead in all you decide
to do! God's speed!
Works By Alejandro Grattan-Dominguez
The Dark Side of the Dream, Breaking Even and Only Once in a Lifetime. The first two novels
were published by Arte Publico, one of the largest Hispanic-oriented publishing houses in the U.S.
The last book was published by We-Publish, which is based in both the USA and Mexico.
Contact Information:
Alejandro Grattan-Dominguez: e-mail: grattan@laguna.com.mx Mailing address: Apdo. 446,
Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico
Book Purchasing: http://www.we-publish.com
Hookers, Tricks and Cops
Loren Christensen
Adventure Book Publishers
Adventure@puzzlesbyshar.com
ISBN# 1-55313-086-3, 153 pages $5.99 Download,
http://www.puzzlesbyshar.com/adventurebooks/
"Hookers, Tricks and Cops, is not your everyday book. No, this one will make you sit up and take
notice. Think the world of prostitution is bad? You just don't know the half of it. Mr. Christensen
writes from first hand knowledge, being a retired police officer, he tells the true story of the
interaction between the three, Hookers, Tricks and Cops. He will answer the questions that have
been whispered behind close doors.
The stories are true encounters that Mr.Christensen and his fellow workers have had. Often sad,
sometimes humorous, he gets down to the nitty-gritty of lives age old profession. Who are these
women and men who sell something so precious for so little? Why do they do this and where do
their lives go after their youth and innocence has long departed them? This book takes a hard,
accurate look and answers these questions and many more.
I was surprised at some of the comments and attitudes of the prostitutes and tricks myself. Mr.
Christensen takes away the myth of the innocent victim and allows you to see things as they really
are. Not a pretty sight, I might add!
This is not a book for the tender of heart, as some dialog is crude but necessary in keeping with
the content of the story.
"Hookers, Tricks and Cops!" Interesting, sad, humorous, violent and sobering at the same
time!
Quite a read! Thank you Mr. Christensen for shedding a new light and answering many unasked
questions. And....for those who maybe
thinking of taking a little ride down to the Red-Light district of your hometown.......maybe
you
might want to read this book first. You may just decide to stay home and be thankful for the
wonderful family you have!
Interview with Loren Christensen:
I chose to interview Mr. Christensen because I feel he writes on topics that we would like to
know about but just didn't know who to ask. I found him extremely charming and loved his
outlook on life. I believe you will enjoy this interview, let's begin.
SJ: Loren, I have read and reviewed two of your works. "Crazy Crooks" and "Hookers, Tricks
and Cops". I have to say I really enjoyed those books. What was the hardest part for you as you
wrote them and how long did it take you to complete these works? Also, please tell us why you
decided to write books on these subjects? What inspired you?
LOREN: Thank you for your kind comments. Of the two, Crazy Crooks was the easiest because I
had collected these stories, 700 of them, over the eight years I edited The Rap Sheet, a monthly,
tabloid-sized newspaper published by the Portland (Oregon) Police Association. So when I
decided to do the book, I looked at the pile of stories I had and then organized them into
categories, burglary, robbery, and so on. I edited them for clarity and removed the location where
each incident occurred and the names of all the participants. All this took roughly two
months.
Hookers, Tricks and Cops took about eight months because I was working on another book at
the same time. During my 25-year career with the Portland Police Bureau, I often worked
prostitution areas (no, I didn't request them). So when I got the idea for the book, I first dug into
my noodle to recall stories, impressions and characters related to what I call the street dance of
cops, tricks and hookers.
When I exhausted my stories, I called officers I knew had worked uniform and undercover in
high-prostitution areas. While I was interested in their stories, I nudged them for their impressions
and feelings about the people with whom they interacted. One female officer in particular had
worked decoy (dressing like a prostitute and strolling the dark streets) for several years. I
interviewed her for four hours digging not only for stories but also for her insight into the tricks
who tried to buy her favors.
I also interviewed several hookers who were active in various prostitution organizations that
support them in their jobs. One in particular was the president of an international prostitution
organization. Interestingly, this woman used to work for the Los Angeles Police Department.
I wrote Hookers, Tricks and Cops because I wanted to reveal this subculture, if you will, that few
people, other than the participants, know about. I wanted to show that the stereotype applied to
hookers, tricks and cops are usually far from reality. Not all tricks are perverted or stepping out
on their wives, though some are. Not all hookers are abused and drug addicted; some really enjoy
their work. Though there may be cops who partake of hookers, I never saw or heard of it
happening in my 25 years. In fact, most are disgusted by the trade and put up a fuss when ordered
to work prostitution missions.
SJ: You did a great job on both of those books. You use humor in your books and I like that. I
am sure you have seen more horror than any of us can imagine in your line of work. Do you feel
writing these books has been a form of release for you?
LOREN: Well, I'm really a funny guy. No one laughs harder at my humor than I do. Seriously, I
don't think I've gotten any kind of psychological release from my books. My objective is to inform
the reader about these relatively unique worlds in which I have had the privilege and sometimes
misfortune to work. I've also written about the culture of skid row - Skid Row Beat - about the
psychology and post-traumatic stress involved when officers are forced to take a life - Deadly
Force Encounters -- and the concept of warriorhood based on my experiences in Vietnam, on the
PD and as a martial artist for nearly 40 years - Crouching Tiger: Taming the Warrior Within.
SJ: I need to do somemore reading of your work Loren. I think I am missing out on a lot! What
would you hope your readers will take away with them after reading your books?
LOREN: That their perceptions of these worlds just might be off.
SJ: I know mine was off to some degree. Your books were definitely an eye opener, and for that I
thank you!
Did you find it difficult to find a publisher?
LOREN: This probably sounds awful, bit I really haven't. The only book I had a struggle selling
was The Mental Edge to the first publisher (I later got the rights and resold it to another
publisher). I queried probably 25 publishers before a Canadian publisher accepted it. Actually, I've
always thought the reason it sold then was because the female editor thought I was a woman. The
female version of my name is Lauren, but a lot of people don't know that. I never did correct her
when she would write, "Dear Ms. Christensen."
SJ: That is funny! What advice would you give to fellow writers in their search for a
publisher?
LOREN: Begin with the small houses. They treat you well and, since they publish just a few
books a year, they aggressively push your book.
I think too many writers try to start at the top. Yes, the occasional first-time writer sells the big
one, but that is so rare that it's big news in the publishing biz and in the writing magazines. I began
writing about 25 years ago. I first sold to bodybuilding, martial arts and men's adventure
magazines. I spent about five years writing for them, all the while learning the craft and building
my confidence. Once I felt I was ready, I ventured out to bigger magazines, such as Reader's
Digest.
I've always felt that there are zillions of writers better than me. Therefore, to get my stuff
accepted, I had to be very knowledgeable of my subject, find the right slant and approach the right
publisher. All the clich‚s are true: know your stuff, organize it well, find the right magazine or
book publisher and don't sit on your mailbox. Once you have sent it out, get busy with your next
project.
SJ: Some great advice there, thank you Loren! Please tell us how long you have been
writing.
LOREN: I began writing in 1977, but didn't really hit the markets until about 1981. I used to
write in longhand in my police car on lunch and coffee breaks. I wrote about 30 articles and five
books that way. When I retired from the police department in 1997, I began writing full time.
SJ: Well, whatever way you did it certainly proved successful. Please tell us how many hours a
day you spend writing.
LOREN: I've had this schedule for the last five years. I get up at 6am, stagger sleepily up to my
upstairs office, check email, see how my books are doing on amazon.com, and then wave my
family off at 7am. Then I pound the keys until about 3pm. I have a huge office, half of which is a
weight gym, and my martial arts school is attached to my house. So whenever my brain gets
fuzzier than usual, I pump a little iron or go out to my school and punch the bag. Major tip: You
absolutely must do something physical every day because it does wonders for your writing. And
take it easy with the coffee and cookies.
I usually have two books going at the same time, which I'm trying to make myself not do
anymore. It's a killer stress wise. This past year, I've been working on two big books - one on
nutrition and the other on the psychology of combat with Lt. Col. Dave Grossman. Grossman's
last book, On Killing, was nominated for a Pulitzer. On top of this, I made four martial arts
instructional videos in Boulder, Colorado. So with writing two books and practice and rehearsal
for the videos, I've about had it. Never again (until the next time).
So that I don't come off like Hulk Hogan or Rambo, you should know that I've answered all these
questions while an eight-week old kitten, Lexii, has been nestled inside my sweatshirt. I feel like a
mother kangaroo.
SJ: Ah! A strong, talented man with a tender heart! Great combo! You certainly have a lot of
works published. Tell us, do you think writing can bring in enough income for a person to make a
decent living?
LOREN: You need either one or two hot books out there or you have to churn out material as if
possessed. It's dangerous to venture into full-time writing before selling consistently, and you
have at least two or three good-paying magazines or book publishers that buy from you
regularly.
SJ: Let me ask you this where do you see yourself as a writer in 5 years and what are you doing
to accomplish that?
LOREN: Probably doing the same thing, though hopefully I'm better at it. What I'm discovering is
that the more you hammer out articles and books, the more editors want from you and the more
opportunities that come up. The secret? Keep at it. As I mentioned earlier, I'm an okay writer
(and that's not phony humility) but I just keep churning the stuff out. Also, to keep my sanity, I
write on as many subjects as I can. That way I stay fresh and have a reputation in two or three
completely different fields.
SJ: Good idea! Tell me, do you think writing is a gift or a craft that can be learned, or perhaps a
little of both?
LOREN: A little of both. I definitely wasn't the best student in school, but I shined in English
because the power of words fascinated me, even as early as the 6th grade. As early as I can
remember, I had a gift for story and for using words in writing to get a laugh or make people feel
an emotion. I thought that was cool even when I was 13 years old.
Other than a college class on how to write radio commercials, I've never had formal training.
Everything I've learned along the way I've picked up from books and magazines on writing,
especially the Writer's Digest book club, and from reading other writers analytically.
Do you need formal writing classes? I'm sure they are great and I wish I would have taken them,
but I'm proof that not everyone needs them.
SJ: Again Loren, however you learned it, it certainly is working for you. Do you spend anytime
reading other people's work? If so, in what genre do you read?
LOREN: I try to read a book a week, nonfiction and fiction. It's all good for your mind, not only
the information you take in, but all the elements of writing that you absorb.
SJ: I agree with you. I know reading and reviewing has broardened my horizon and taught me a
lot about writing styles. Do you belong to any writing group and do you have someone you
bounce your work off of before submitting for publication?
LOREN: No. I've co-authored a couple of books and shared the process of those projects with
my co-authors, but none of my friends write. I usually don't share much of the process with
friends or family because they just can't relate and aren't terribly interested. They just look at me
like I'm a dweeb when I complain about taking two hours to polish a paragraph.
SJ: Do you ever have the dreaded writer's block and if you do, what do you do to remedy it?
LOREN: Never have. Just lucky, I guess.
SJ: Very lucky indeed!
Loren, would you please use this space for anything you would like to tell our readers about
yourself, your books, or tips that they can use to better their chances of publication.
LOREN: While writing is an art form, it's also a business and should be approached as such.
Learn all that you can about the craft and know that the learning never stops. Study other writers
as to why and how they made you feel something. What was the technique that made it work?
When you read something that didn't work, but should have, study it to see how it could have
been written more effectively.
Package your article or book with total professionalism. Don't guess as to how it should be done;
find out exactly. That package tells a lot about you as well as the content of the writing. Send a
sloppy package, and the editor can only assume
your information and research are sloppy, too.
Don't try to impress with fancy, $10 dollar words. It looks like you are trying too hard to sound
intelligent and no one will read more than a page, anyway. Write simply and always look for the
easiest way to say something with the fewest words.
Lastly, write at least five days a week. It gets easier the more you do it.
SJ: Thank you so much for all the great advice you have given to our readers and for sharing your
life as a writer with us. Readers, if you haven't read any of Loren Christensen's work, I suggest
that you do. His writing is refreshing!
Thank you Loren for allowing me this interview and I truly wish you the best in your future. I
believe you have a lot to offer the reading world!
Contact Information:
Loren W. Christensen -Email: lwc123@aracnet.com Website: http://www.lwcbooks.com
Please see reviews of Mr. Christensen's work in this month's column and last months!
Works by Mr. Loren Christensen:
MARTIAL ARTS: The Way Alone, Paladin Press, Fighter's Fact Book, Turtle Press, Fighting
Power, P Paladin Press, American Kata, Paladin Press, Solo Training, Turtle Press, Anything
Goes, Paladin Press, Way of the Warrior, Paladin Press, Nutrition for Martial Artists, Turtle Press
and Speed Training, Paladin Press
LAW ENFORCEMENT: Deadly Force Encounters, Paladin Press, Skid Row Beat, Paladin Press,
Hookers, Tricks and Cops, Adventure Publications e-book, Far Beyond Defensive Tactics,
Paladin Press, Skinhead Street Gangs, Paladin Press, Street Gangs, Pocket Press, Crazy Crooks,
Adventure Publications e-book, Gangbangers, Paladin Press, Defensive Tactics for Law
Enforcement Officers, Martins Press, The Mental Edge, Delta Press, Crouching Tiger, Turtle
Press, The Mental Edge, Paladin Press, On Combat, Brassey's in 2004, Missing Children, Coles,
How to Live Safely in a Dangerous World, Delta Press
Interview with C.E. Winterland:
DO I NEED TO JOIN A WRITER'S FORUM?
I have been asked this question numerous times since I have become a reviewer/interviewer. I
believe this must be a personal decision for you, the writer! However, I wanted to bring to you
some insight from a Webmaster of one such sight. I chose to interview C.E. Winterland, fellow
author and operator of MINDSIGHT FORUM, a great place for authors to share their hearts. I
think you will be very interested in what he has to say and that it will help you make that decision.
Thank you CE for allowing me this interview with you. Let's begin!
SPJ: CE, please tell us about your works, a little background of yourself if you will. How long
have you been writing, why you decided to write, what you hope for yourself in the future as a
writer, or anything you feel is relevant.
CE: My completed works include: Awareness: Book 1 of Mindsight (America Hourse, 2000
9-58851-933-3) Hunger: Book 11 Mindsight. The Dragan - a philosophical fantasy novelette,
Feast of Vengeance - a short backstory piece of the antagonist from the Mindsight Series,
Darkwell Seekers - a short science fiction story.
I'm currently working on: Wandering: Book 111 of Mindsight, Recovering Earth - a science
fiction novel, Talonian Chronicles - a stand alone fantasy novel, Quest - a stand alone fantasy
novel, and Dgunja - a stand alone fantasy novel. I have several other works in progress, but
among them all, the bulk of my time goes into Wandering and Recovering Earth.
I've been writing for 18 years, and I was originally inspired to write because I love to read great
speculative fiction and found myself thinking..."What would it be like if this happened instead..."
as I read some of my favorites. The starting point of most speculative fiction is just that...What
if...? Though I definitely have a bit of the escapist in me, the trouble with speculative fiction for
me is that I'm also fairly analytical. If the analytical part of me kicks in while reading almost any
work (with the possible exception of mysteries or similar) I'm already well outside of being drawn
into it. I suppose, in a way, my own passion for writing stems from a desire to silence that
analytical side, or at least elegate it to trying to figure out the little mysteries that crop up in most
good fiction. At first it was a bit of a childhood daydream, really. But a few things stand out as
giving me the momentum for pursuing it as more than a 'hobby' as my parents love to refer to it;
ironic that many of them were direct results of decisions my parents made when I was young.
First among them is an education in the public school system whereby I was really blessed with
four solid years of talented English teachers. I can remember creative writing exercises as a
freshman, where I would turn the entire classroom into a satire, or would parody the school itself
with a biting sense of humor, thinking it was all quite funny. . The first time I heard one read back
to the class by the teacher, I was really surprised. It was those half-dozen teachers that
overbalanced the scales in favor of the liberal arts over a continued education in science and
mathematics.
In regards to my future as a writer, well...that's just the question, isn't it? I think I have the chops
to be successful, I think my tales ae interesting, and those that have read my work and been nice
enough to criticize seem to like it well enough. But this is a very fickle market, and I'll admit to a
certain laid-back approach to the business of convincing people to represent or publish my work.
the more I get involved in it, the more difficult it is to ignore that there's a lot of the 'who you
know' aspect to getting your work published by reputable (and thereby viable) means. Since I
don't know many people in the publishing world, and have time enough to visit one local
conference per year, holding my breath in waiting for a good publishing deal would be foolish. My
future as a writer definitely requires the services of an agent, and if I'm ever able to put my
manuscript into the hands of some, I'll find out whether indeed I have the chops I hope I do. Of
course, since I've been shopping the Mindsight Series for so long, each book around 200,000
words, much of my lack of success may have a good deal to do with sheer weight and page count
in the end. I've had a number of agents and editors explain in very painstaking (and thereby kind)
detail regarding the COGS of publishing - the cost of publishing and marketing a 200,000 word
novel, and the subsequent retail pricing scheme. That retail price skyrockets in the POD venues of
today, where the paper is thicker, and the print runs smaller and more costly per until.
SPJ: CE, that was really interesting and I mean that. Publishers, you really need to take a serious
look at this man's work. It's great! CE, you are the webmaster of the writer's forum
MINDSIGHT, would you please tell us how long MINDSIGHT has been in operation and why
you decided to start this site?
CE: Mindsightseries.com has been in existence now for three years. Being a computer geek, I
recognized early the possible uses of a website toward promoting a writer's career. AS a site, it
originally began as just that, ad space for the Mindsight Series and my other works. What it has
become in the last two years is nothing like what I originally envisioned, but has been very
pleasing.
The bulk of what mindsight series.com is these days resides in the Mindsight Forum part of the
site. The Mindsight Forum began during the early downfall of another site of which I was a
member. Writer's Island, the brainchild of Ward Kendall, was a means for new writers to gather
and discuss where we all were, namely as newly contracted authors with a certain publisher. What
we learned as a group of authors was that we were quite a force when we put our heads together,
for learning about the businesses, about the craft, and about the many,various things that writers
think about. Writer's Island, for several reasons that are none-too-clear, fell by the virtual wayside,
and as I had the webspace, I took up where it left off with the Mindsight Forum.
The Mindsight Forum is an online webforum for authors and writers. There are a few other
authors' sites out on the web that offer workshops, critiques and other author-related forums,
such as Orson Scott Card's hatrack.com. The Mindsight Forum offers unregistered use to
interested writers and registered sections for forum regulars. I believe that the spirit of what a
group of writers and authors can achieve lives within the pages of the Mindsight Forum. Since the
major part of the quarter million hits per month the site gets comes from the forum, I think that
those visiting feel much as I do - that the site is a useful, informative tool for writers and
authors.
SPJ: It certainly is CE. Tell us this, what made you chose the name Mindsight for your
forum?
CE: Well...though it seems to follow naturally from the name of my fantasy series and site name, I
did actually thing about what to call it. Ultimately I followed through with the mindsight name for
the same reasons that I use it on my series. It suggests something. To me, it signifies a depth of
thought with a word that sits on the tongue or in the front of one's thoughts with a familiar ring. I
also like it for the fact that it's not a real word (or that you won't find a definition of it in
Webster's) being a speculative fiction author, that fits well with me. Actually , after two years of
interacting with the fabulous people on the forum, the term 'mindsight' has grown in my mind. The
forum regulars are a group of folks that are not only intelligent, but are people of an indomitable
quality that know there are mountains of obstacles before them, yet both individually and as a
group not only aim to tackle them, but know they will. These are people not easily discouraged by
the difficulties of becoming successful authors, and when one shows signs of a little
discouragement, the others pick them up, dust them off, and help them to see and hurdle the next
set of obstacles. Three years ago you could not have convinced me that I would be good friends
with people I had never met. It is very interesting what a gathering of like minded authors can
achieve - even on a wide-open venue such as the world wide web.
SPJ: Thank you CE, please tell us, how important do you feel it is for a writer to become involved
with other writers in such sites as The Mindsight Forum and why?
CE: The most important thing a writer can do (aside from research :)) is meeting and talking to
other writers.You can only bounce your work off of your friends and relatives for so long before
you get sick of hearing things like "Wow!" You wrote a book!? Cool." or "I think it's so
wonderful that you can stick it out to write a whole novel." You need input from people who
know what it is about. You need to be able to discuss things like how to "show, don't tell", or
how to achieve the quick, staccato tempo of an action scene. Beyond the craft of writing though,
it is critical that a writer looking to publish learns what he or she is getting into. There are a LOT
of traps out there, and legalese that will tie your stomach in knots for months or years if you aren't
careful. Other writers may have experience to draw from, and 9 times out of 10 they will share it
with you. Beyond that there is the networking factor. If you want to knock down the doors of the
publishing world and announce to the world " I have the next bestseller!" you'd better know who's
door you're knocking on, at least to know you're not going to find yourself speaking broken
english to Marda the cleaning lady, who loves your work but, sadly, has been banned from XYZ
agency for taking manuscripts home from the slushpile. And you can't send that query letter to
attn:
"Dear
Agentguyorladywhoprobablyisn'tgoingtolookatmyworkanywaysowhyamIevensendingthis".
It's much better to at least have a name, other authors can help you there, and probably will.
Eventually you need to get critiques from other writers. Your (insert friend or family member
here) may tell you they like the story, or that they don't...but they generally can't tell you WHY.
You need to be able to ask that question - WHY doesn't this paragraph work? You need to know
why. Think of it this way...when the auto mechanic tells you he needs $2000 to fix the clinkety
noise you heard coming from your trunk after you saw him pull his head out from under the hood,
what are you most likely to ask him? What if he doesn't know?
SPJ: Good reasoning CE, thank you for the widom. I have to say CE that your site has been and
is still a blessing to me. I like the way you allow the people to speak what is on their hearts, their
fears, doubts and even their anger. I also like the way you let them share their victories.
CE: Well, writers and authors are on what you might call a "need to know basis" - and believe
me, we all need to know! Writers may be introverted in a lot of ways, but human beings are social
creatures. The Mindsight Forum is a community. I went into it thinking that, and try not to
interfere with the momentum it generates for itself. The people there are excellent folks from all
walks of life and interests, and the way in which we can come together and help each other, or
answer a tough question, or even research a question if someone needs it, is really a great thing.
One of the things I'm working on for the site is a kind of networking roster...which will list the
contact information for a user and give optional areas for fields of expertise and knowledge, etc.
That way, when someone has a question relating to espionage, police work, romantic places...you
name it...they can find someone to ask or have an offline conversation with.
SPJ: CE that is wonderful, but since you have such an open policy isn't it true that some come
only to discourage and basically undermine the good that Mindsight is doing for authors? Please
tell us how y0ou handle these situations. I'm sure it can be very discouraging to you!
CE: People are people everywhere. We've had our bumps over the last two years. The Mindsight
Forum is an open venue for discussion. Sometimes that means we are reading about issues we
agree with, and sometimes issues we do not. So long as what is being said is true or reasonable
and doesn't leap off the cliff into the pit of nonsensical blithering, it's fair game. The one thing that
I find interesting is that those who come to do harm always end up looking foolish in the end
because the Mindsight Forum is a place where people are reasonable, and able to hold their own
very well in an argument (in the academic sense of the word)
It is very aggravating when someone comes on with some kind of agenda. I learned very quickly
that these people feed on confrontation however, and have been practicing patience and a cool
tongue (I grew up in a construction family business, and know more than my share of colorful
exclamatories). We haven't had one of those visitors for a while now, but when next one comes,
surely someone will engage him or her in discussion that will incite them to nastiness, and most
likely they will get ignored thereafter. If they persist, a healthy dosing of logical argument
generally either quiets them, or causes them to self-destruct in a mighty hail of cursing and virtual
foot stomping. The only thing you can really do then is sit back and watch the firewords, while
gently attempting to keep your friends from running headlong into the fire trying to put it
out.
SPJ: Wow! I suppose that can be quite intense CE! Let me ask you this, what has being the
operator of Mindsight done for you?
CE: I thought it would be easy....'If you build it, they will come' sort of thing. In the early days of
the forum, I had forgotten that people are people everywhere, until I was reminded. I do admit to
a little selfishness regarding the site. I spent a long time searching for information about
publishing, knew there were pitfalls, but didn't know exactly where or what to look for. When
after that time I still got into a nasty situation, I wanted a tool for myself to keep abreast of the
happenings of the publishing world. That tool was presented to me in the form of Writer's Island,
and when it went down, I knew I had to put up the Mindsight Forum.
Though it is not quite the same as sitting at a table full of authors critiquing work, the forum is
very useful for critiquing, for craft discussion, for publishing information, etc. I have gotten
critiques and hints and tips and tricks there that I likely would never have found otherwise.
Running the website is almost as easy as writing a letter, really. You simply load up the coded
information and there it is. Running the Forum however, has proven quite a bit more difficult. Part
of me wants it to be autonomous, and run its own accord, regardless of whether I'm there or not,
but the rest of me knows that there has to be a focal point, someone who can take charge if
necessary, and be fair in doing so. That is something this venture has taught me: fairness. I don't
always agree with discussions on the forum, but I can't just say "You can't talk about that 'cuz this
is my forum!" That would be silly.
SPJ: Running a forum certainly does not sound easy! My hat off to you CE. One thing, I am told
that some forums become very 'clicky' (you mean cliquery,no?) and newcomers do not feel
welcome. Do you feel this is ture and do you try to keep this from being a problem in your
forum?
Sticky note from SPJ: As you can see CE made a correction or perhaps a suggestion to my word
'clicky'.....the word 'clicky', I have to say comes from my childhood....that is how we said it, that is
how we spelled it...right or wrong! *smile*...HOWEVER...this is what a writer's forum is all
about...sharing, correcting, learning! So, I have left that in here for you, the reader, to see the help
that is out there.
Back to CE!
CE: I have seen that in action. But the Mindsight Forum folks are a pretty open minded bunch,
and I believe we have all come to recognize the value of others' views. This is an interesting topic.
I don't visit too many other forums, but every so often we'll have an anonymous visitor come
in...one of these nefarious 'trolls' whose sole ambition in life seems to be to come and mess with
people trying to have an online discussion...and one or two of them have made mention of the
regulars turning on them. One such fellow actually had the gall to post some very nasty things
about one of our regulars, and when everyone came back at him and chastised him for his totally
uncalled-for comments, he whined that everyone was picking on him...amazing.
I don't think I have to try to keep the clique mentality out of the Mindsight Forum, though the
regulars are a fairly tight knit bunch by now, and welcoming new ones regulary. I try to make a
point to offer a warm greeting to new posters, let them know they are welcome to post what they
like. I realize that sounds like an open invite to the so-called 'trolls', but everyone gets a chance to
join or start a conversation. Those that turn (or start out) nasty all get the same treatment: explain
yourself, and state your argument clearly, and know that comments of a personal nature are
heavily frowned upon. I have been forced to ban a few of these anonymous visitors for behavior
worse than you might find on a fifth grade schoolyard (or verbiage you might hear in maximum
security penitentiary), but most often, when these types are tasked with rational, logical
arguments, they seem to get bored with their inability to rise to the challenge. The Mindsight
Forum is a venue for writers and authors to discuss the craft and business of writing, and is no
place for "my daddy can beat up your daddy". Writing is not the easiest thing in the world, and I
think many of us just don't have time to brandy gutterspeak with those who aren't interested in
either teaching or learning something.
SPJ: A big Amen to that CE! How much time must you dedicate to the operation of your site and
does anyone share in the cost that surely you undertake in keeping it running?
CE: More time than I want to think about, and not enough to be satisfied with. Part of my
personal adventure with the website is figuring it out. I've been wrestling today with some tricky
things about web-based databases, and I know I won't be satisfied until I've unravled the trick. I
guess that's part of who I am though. I remember being firmly scolded by my father when I was a
kid for having taken apart 8-track players, radios, toy cranes, etc...But, who do you think he asks
to program his television and VCR?
I suppose I could estimate that I spend about 10-20 hours per month on the website, not that it
needs it. It would run just fine without my tinkering. As far as the cost goes...that's all on me - and
there's a good reason. The front end of the site is still dedicated to my work, and always will be.
From the main page you get to whereever it is you would like to go. Actually, for the moment
that isn't exactly true. I've recently started working on flash applications for the site, and the one I
built first (as usual) is quite cumbersome. I have provided all of the regulars a by-pass route
around that for the moment.
But that's really only part of the reason. The other reason is this notion I have that the world wide
web (including e-mail, etc...) is a tool. The last thing I want from a tool is for it to take on a mind
of its own at times. When I first looked into software for the webforum, I tried to do it for free -
there are lots of free message board scripts out there. What I found was that no matter which free
version you chose, you got pop up ads galore, which is something I truly loathe. I suppose the
internet is new and all, but how long is it going to take these people to realize that an intelligent
user of the web not only doesn't click to view the ad, but very likely remembers it with a disguest
that makes them refuse to even acknowledge any product by that company? Anyhow, I tried the
free route for about two seconds, then decided that if the forum was going to be what I wanted
out of it, it was going to cost....and it did. I use Discus for the message board scripting, and it is a
great platform, and cost about $150.00
Lastly, many have told me that with the amount of traffic I get that I am a fool not to rent out ad
space. Well perhaps I am a fool. But when I'm looking for ads for junk I don't need on the web,
they are easy enough to find. The only ads you see on Mindsight now are the banner ads of some
of the regular mindsight users that link straight to their own websites - nothing more. Mindsight
series.com is my site, and I intend to keep it that way. My general answer to those who think I'm
being foolish is that if I had a bunch of ads popping up all over, I'd lose the traffic I've got now,
including myself since I have very little patience for things like that.
SPJ: I have to say, I hate those pop-up advertisements as well. I won't even look at what theyare
selling and would NEVER buy whatever it is for. It's so frustrating (Just thought I'd vent a little
bit here too folks!)
CE, Do publishers ever frequent your site and give any input?
CE: We have had a publisher or two come along. We've had a few webzine publishers drop in
(usually to advertise a writing contest, which is great, as long as they don't abuse it), and have one
registered user venturing into publishing, and one who comes out of the book printing
industry.
We have a few publishing community people drop in from time to time, such as the members of
Writer Beware, who are very helpful with their comments and answers to some pretty pointed
questions.
Actually I would love to see more of them, and invite them to the forum. As authors hungry for
knowledge and looking for some of the answers to tricky questions, any discussion from agents,
editors, publishers, and publicists would be welcomed.
SPJ: Alright everyone! You heard CE's invite....come on down!
I'm curious, who do you feel has been the most interesting visitor you have had on your site?
CE: Now this is a tough question....it's kind of like "what is your favorite novel?" Isn't it? In terms
of satisfying our unending hunger for knowledge about the publishing world, Victoria Strauss and
Ann Crispin are great about filling in the blanks for us. In terms of enduring interest, new users
are always good for stoking the discussions and keeping the information fresh. Generally the most
interesting visitor is whomever posted last in a particular discussion area. The forum can be very
addictive, and there are times when I can't wait to get home from work to see what's gone on
while I've been away, and new posts in the "writing craft" section, the "workshop", or the "word
smithery" often draw my eye first.
SPJ: CE, is there any avenue you would like to see your site venture into in the future? Some vein
yet unexplored for writers?
CE: I've been wanting to add a section to the site for graphic artists for a long time. Another idea
I've had is to set up a book purchasing system on the site, but that would be rather time intensive
to kick-off. I'd really like to see more work on the Patch Workman collarborative thread, but that
already exists. As far as veins unexplored....I've thought a little about having something like an
online training course - where registered users of the forum could share some of their expertise
and knowledge with other writers. Beyond those things, I'm always open to new ideas, and keep
my eyes peeled for interesting tools that I can put out there for writers to use.
SPJ: Any ideas for CE readers? CE, with all the comments you see on your site everyday, tell us,
what are some of the things you see that truly burden an author's heart?
CE: The one thing that always incites a host of emotions from me is to hear another writer or
author say " Maybe I should just give up". This is not a phrase I would enjoy hearing anywhere,
but to see authors and writers with talent and a love fo the craft say things like that really just eat
me up. 99.9% of the time it is because of things like rejection slips, or treatment by one of the
nasty 'companies' out there trying to stick it to those of us who aren't adequately prepared for the
cutthroat pitfalls lying in wait for hungry new authors. Unfortunately, in many cases, to be
adequately prepared means you've been run through the ringer at least once, and that ringer can
have some pretty heavy consequences for bright-eyed new authors receiving that first
contract.
Next to that though is the unending discussions about how difficult it is to get someone reputable
(or at least honest) to look at your work. One thing that's come to light lately is something I
experienced myself - and this from very reputable companies....It goes something like this...you've
been looking at query submissions for years and years, know them backward and forward, know
and have prepared all the variations therein (50) pages here, "Introduction" letter there, 1 page
synopsis over yonder, 5 page synopsis with such-and-so, "brief" outline thataway....) and to top it
all off is this phrase "clearly printed using a laserjet or inkjet printer, or very clear copies". The last
two rejection slips I received from top tier AAR agencies were copies from a "dear author" form
template that must have been on about their 50th generation because I found myself squinting to
attempt to read, "I don't feel it is right for me at this time", or "keep in mind that agent responses
are subjective", or "due to the high volume of submissions, we are now only accepting queries by
referral". The first thing that goes through my head when I see a letter come back from an agent
that is cockeyed by about 30 degrees on the page is, "Aren't you the one that said in BIG BOLD
LETTERS, original clean print, or very clear copy?!"
The face of the matter is, I write epic novels weighing in at about 400 to 500 pages. A 1 page
synopsis I can do, but if you don't like my query letter (which I don't do so well), what good is it?
In the end, I'm not going to sell anyone my ability to write query letters, or synopses, or outlines,
but a story that grabs you and keep you in such thrall that you think about it at your day job and
find yourself telling your friends and coworkers about it because it's on your mind.
SPJ: CE, I felt like you were talking about my life, and I'm sure many of our readers feel the
sameway.
Thank you for being so open with us. In hearing their heart cries on your forum, what would you
like to tell publishers on their behalf?
CE: Unfortunately that analytical part of me understands their side as well. Other than the same
muttered comments that anyone can hear on the wind at any time from the thousands of authors
complaining into it, I'm not sure at this point what to say. Publishers and agents and editors are
mindbogglingly busy with their day jobs, we actually DO understand this. But I also work a day
job, run a website, write epic novels, play music, etc....etc...At this point I have heard so many
"how to write a query", "How to write and sell a novel in less than a year", and "here's a trick for
catching that editor's eye" stories that I could probably write a 'how-to-wade through "how \-to"
guides' guide. What would I like to tell them? How about this: "It takes about 10 seconds to write
"thanks, but no thanks" in ink on a query response, less to just sign your name. If yhou've actually
read the thing, you're at least a minute invested already. Show us all that we aren't actually
sending our letters to the ACME Automated Rejection Center plant and that there's a real human
being that held that stupid query letter in their hand and read it."
SPJ: I say Amen again! CE, what advice would you like to give to new authors that you feel
might help give them a boost on their way to publication?
CE: Write because you love to. REad because you love to. Pay attention to others' writing. When
you read a book you can't put down, read it again and again until you stop reading it for
enjoyment and cant take it apart piece by piece to understand WHY COULDN'T I PUT THAT
BOOK DOWN?
There are many different writing styles as there are writers, but there's aonly one voice - yours.
Tell it like you tell it, but please be sure you understand how to construct a sentence. When you
hear the phrase "show, don't tell" don't spend your life trying to understand it - it is not the sound
of one hand clapping. I will use an example from a work I was recently critiquing to illustrate....I
don't want to read"....and he came to a beautiful ranch house." 1)I'm very opinionated, and what
you find beautiful, I may not (to put it gently). 2) What the heck does "beautiful" mean? 3) Why is
it beautiful? - or perhaps more importantly - why is it beautiful to the character from whose point
of view you are seeing it? How about something like:.."he topped the hill and found a small ranch
house nestled among the firs by the river, its walls echoing the sounds of stirring cattle and
birdsong through a breeze that carried the scent of apple blossoms to his nose." Or maybe the
scent of the stockyard is more beautiful to you, I don't know.
In the end, if you love to craft the story, the publishing will come. Don't be afraid to ask for
another writer's advice. I tend to spit out accidental, complicated sentence structures and often
end up backing myself into a corner where you don't know who is kicking and who
receiving...sometimes all it takes is another eye to look at it, and it can be as simple as changing a
single word.
When you do start looking around for publishers, agents, or editors, know what you are getting
into. PUblishing is NOT a liberal artform. The people making the decisions are BUSINESS
PEOPLE, and you are a factory trying to sell them a product on their level. On that level, it's not
about the meaning behind the story, or the great way you described the ranch house on page 86.
It's about how many copies can the partnership you make with them sell, and that is as cold and
hard a fact as you will likely find. That's lesson 2. Lesson 2 ends up being - those are the guys you
want to be partners with if you want to get your work out there.
Shirley's Sticky Note:
I don't know about all of you, but I felt this was a great interview. Thank you CE for being honest
and open with us about so many topics. I know I have learned a lot from you.
Also, I want to congratulate CE and Mindsight Forum for being in 2nd place in the Preditors and
Editors 2002 Readers Poll (just under Author's Den) for the category of "Writers Discussion
Forum."
That is wonderful!
For my 50 cents ( I would say 2 cents but since I don't get paid for any of this anyway, I might as
well up my salary), I believe that all writers would benefit from joining a writer's forum. You will
find friends, people of like-mind, fresh ideas and maybe even a publisher or two might stop by.
You never know! Check out Mindsight Forum, I truly believe you will be glad that you did.
Contact Information:
CE Winterland: cewinterland@mindsightseries.com
Mindsight Forum: http://www.mindsightseries.com
Comfortably Numb
Guy N. Jones. Jr.
1st Books Library
2595 Vernal Pike, Bloomington, Indiana 47404
http://www.1stbooks.com
e-book ISBN: 1-4033-8469X; Paperback ISBN: 1-4033-8470-3;
Dustjacket ISBN: 1-4033-8471-1; 536 pages
I have to admit as I first began to read Comfortably Numb, it was difficult for me to keep my
mind on the story, but I pressed on and I am so glad that I did. The background and the setting of
the characters is vital to the meat of the story that awaits you.
Drew and Jamie are as close as friends can be, both computer Guru's, Drew talks Jamie into
signing up for the military. Jamie is reluctant as she is strongly against killing in any form, but her
life is about to change. After graduation, they both received orders to attend ABM training at
Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Their final assignment would be with Joint STARS at Robins
AFB. There they would be onboard aircrafts helping to find targets and fixing any problems that
might arise.
Jamie was a natural using the radar. She could predict the enemy's air-to-air tactics and tell the
fighters what they needed to do, but Jamie still could not settle the issue of killing in any form in
her heart.
It was at Robins Air Force Base in Georgia that Drew and Jamie met Captain Lee or better
known as "Weed." To me, this is where the story truly begins. Weeds takes Drew under his wing
and although his training is controversial he is one of the finest.
This part of the story was very good as you learn about "Weeds" and read intently as he teaches
Drew more then he would learn from a text-book. Jamie also profited by his unique training, and a
bond is formed between the three. There is so much activity now in this work that it is impossible
for me to give you a good overview, but I'll tell you, you will not be bored!
The story moves on and you find the crew onboard a plane helping our men in North Korea. We
have, of course, Weeds, Jamie and Drew, our main players in this novel. We then come to dear
sweet Alpha Hotel, as the crew liked to call him. Aircraft Commander of the plane that Drew,
Jamie, Weeds and the rest were now in, flying over North Korea, where they should have never
been.
Weeds insisted that they quickly leave the area but Alpha Hotel, in his arrogant way would not
allow it. He would not admit that his errors had brought the plane into enemy territory. A struggle
incurs onboard the plane and Weeds is knocked out by a lucky punch from Alpha Hotel.
The plane crashes in enemy territory and only a handful survive, including Jamie, Drew, Weeds
and Alpha Hotel. This is where the story gets really intense as they are captured by the North
Koreans and are tortured and some are killed.
My adrenalin was flowing and I couldn't read fast enough to see what was going to happen. I
wanted to jump into the pages and stop the pain and suffering I was reading! How intense is
that?
Mr. Jones does an excellent job of making you one with his characters, letting you feel their
emotions in this see-saw read of adventure. You will cringe at the torment the young women go
through at the hands of the evil North Koreans, and your heart will break at the death of some of
the characters. Can people be so cruel and is it indeed a foreshadow of things to come and things
pasted? I shudder at the thought!
I will tell you this, it has a surprised ending, but not before it twists and turns and takes you on a
ride of your life! I loved it!
Highly recommended! A wonderful read!
Interview with Guy N. Jones:
SPJ: Guy, thank you for doing this interview with me. Would you please tell our readers how long
you have been writing?
GUY: Your welcome Shirley, thanks for asking for the interview. I like to tell people who ask this
question about my first book, Super Jones, written when I was in 8th grade in Columbia,
Missouri. That short, but very well read little book was hand written in a small Spiral notebook
and was contained my personal observations of all then went on at Oakland Junior High School. If
there had been print on demand publishing back then it would have been an instant 8th grade best
seller.
My serious effort at writing fiction started when I retired from the Air Force in January of 2000.
At that time I knew I could write what I wanted and say what I wanted without the censure that
comes with being in the military. I had a lot to say, and saying it by writing fiction was the best,
and the most entertaining way for me to share my experiences with anyone who cared to read my
work.
SPJ: I have to say Guy that you certainly have a gift for writing. Would you please tell us what
genres you write in and if you have any plans to expand in any other areas.
Guy: Comfortably Numb is in the suspense/thriller genre, and though set in the secret world of
Joint STARS, the Air Force's newest spy plane, sequels will not necessarily be set in war time, or
pure military situations. However, the characters from Comfortably Numb will return - that I can
promise. The sequel to Comfortably Numb, tentatively titled Comfortable No More, is well
underway and picks up where the first book left off. This book will have you on the edge of your
seat from start to finish with much less character development. This book should be out by the
summer of 2004.
SPJ: I really look forward to reading Comfortable No More, more suspense? The joy!
GUY: I also have a stand-alone book due out this summer called Kathryn's Wall, which I'm
co-writing with a long time friend, Milissa Watkins. I will be using the pen name of "Jesse Taven"
for this work so as to not confuse the fans of Comfortably Numb. Kathryn's Wall fits more into
the genre of heavy drama and interaction between the sexes.
SPJ: That sounds very interestesting as well. I really enjoyed reading and reviewing "Comfortably
Numb." How did you come with up that storyline? Also, how did you decide on your title?
Guy: I'm honored that you enjoyed my work, thank you. The storyline was inspired largely by my
experiences in the Air Force, and from flying on Joint STARS during the Kosovo War. During
that war I realized in a very personal way how innocent and vulnerable those of us in the military
really are. We are in the various branches of the military to defend and protect the United States
and our interests, but in the case of Kosovo, I learned that we are also a political tool too easily
used by politicians to fight political battles and wars. In short, we put our lives on the line for
politics and not national security. In my mind, asking me to possibly sacrifice my life so that a
President can say he did something for world peace while in office is wrong. I felt used and knew
that as soon as I retired from the Air Force, I had to speak my mind on this subject. Staying
Comfortably Numb to how our military can be used as a political tool, is a subtle reality the men
and women of our armed forces face every time they are sent into harm's way. They don't
question their President - they just go. My book highlights what can happen when the deceit runs
a bit deeper and the military is sacrificed in order to achieve economic goals. It hasn't happened
yet, as far as we know, but the possibility that we could go to war to protect commerce is no
longer an impossibility.
Sticky Note from SPJ: I think I will leave any comments from myself out of this. *smile* Thank
you Guy for your opinion, that is certainly what America is all about, being able to speak how we
feel. God Bless America! Now, please tell us how long did it took you to complete this
work?
Guy: From start to finish it took me just over two years to write. It could have taken less time,
but I wrote a 1200 page manuscript to start - much more than necessary. Editing it down to just
over 500 pages took some time, and taught me some important lessons in writing.
SPJ: Your characters are so colorful. Are they fashioned after people you know or have
known?
Guy: Most of the characters are completely fictitious, but a couple are composites of many people
I've known over the years. I did have some excellent people to model Jamie and Drew after, but
Weeds and Alpha Hotel do not exist.
SPJ: I rather wish Weeds did exist, I liked him. As for Alpha Hotel......well! How much research
did you have to do before writing this work?
Guy: Well, technically I did 22 years of research. That's how long I served in the Air Force.
Writing about Joint STARS was easy, because I was a crewmember on that jet for three years.
Comfortably Numb really was written using all my experience in Joint STARS, and the Air
Force.
SPJ: Your experience certainly allowed you to write a wonderful work. Write what you know
about has worked for you Guy! Will you do a sequel or series from this work?
Guy: Absolutely! The sequel is underway and has a tentative title of Comfortable No More. I
hope to have it ready for publishing by summer of 2004. The characters of Jamie, Drew, Weeds,
and even Alpha Hotel will all be back in what will be a nonstop action thriller from beginning to
end.
SPJ: The age old question is now coming up. How long did it take you to find a publisher for
your work/s?
Guy: Like most new authors it took a while, and I spent almost a year looking, I went through the
query and rejection process. The quite most often used in the rejection letters was, "We are only
working with established authors at the present time." It wasn't difficult for me to see that the
major publishing houses, and even some of the minor ones, didn't have the time to consider an
unknown. That's why I chose to self publish using 1st Books Library. My goal is to sell enough
books to get the attention of the major publishing houses and be treated as an "established author"
rather than a complete unknown.
SPJ: I have heard the same statement over and over again Guy by so many gifted 'unknown'
authors. I hope one day the 'big' houses will understand how much talent is out there. Now for the
next question. How many hours a day do you spend writing?
Guy: I wish I could say I spend two or three hours a day writing - that would be my bliss.
However, writing doesn't pay the bills yet, so I write when I can. That often means 30 minutes in
the evenings, or a couple of hours on the weekends. I used to travel a lot for my full time job, so I
often took advantage of the flights to and from Europe to write for a few hours at a time. One day
I hope to be able to say I spend an average five to six hours a day writing.
SPJ: I hope you do as well Guy. Do you have a special place that you write?
GUY: Yes, I have an office in my home, a space that belongs to me and me only. When I'm in that
room and the doors are closed, I'm in my own little world and able to find the flow much easier
than anywhere else I've worked.
SPJ: Do you ever experience the dreaded 'writer's block' and if so what do you do to remedy
it?
Guy: I guess I'm lucky in this regard. I've never had a period where I couldn't sit down and find
the flow. The stories I write always seem to write themselves and all I have to do is try to keep
up.
SPJ: That is a true gift my friend! Has any one person been instrumental in encouraging you along
the road in your writing career?
Guy: There have been a couple of people who encouraged me to write. My American Literature
teacher, Minnie Howard, was one who gave me a push now and again. She had a special way of
getting some of us to write, and I'm lucky to have been one of the recipients of her gifted style of
teaching.
SPJ: I love hearing that. I have had several authors tell me it was one of their teachers that gave
them the 'push'. Keep it up dear teachers, your work is not in vain! Guy, where do you hope you
will be 5 years from now in your writing career and what are you doing to obtain that goal?
Guy: I hope to be writing full time and promoting my work as well. What I'm doing to obtain that
goal now is writing as much as I can, and also doing as much of my own publicity an public
speaking as I can. On occasion I am able to co-host a local talk radio program where I can plug
my book, and I've written some Op-ed pieces printed by local newspapers. I was also recently
featured in a story in the Atlanta Journal Constitution about Joint STARS and the jet's recent
deployments to southwest Asia. Those types of opportunities continue to present themselves and
help to convince me that in five years I may indeed be a full time writer.
SPJ: How important do you feel it is for an author to have an agent? Publicist?
Guy: I'm learning that an agent is critical if you want to make it past the entry level as a
self-published author. I'm hoping to find an agent soon and am in contact with one in LA who
may take me on as a client. An agent knows the business and has the contacts necessary to get
foreign translation rights, and maybe the motion picture deals.
SPJ: Guy, many authors tell me that writing their work has changed them in some way. What has
the writing of your book done for you, has it changed you in anyway?
Guy: Writing the book took me to a new level in my intellectual growth. Not that it made me any
smarter, or better than anyone, but it exercised my brain in ways it hadn't been exercised in years.
I think I became sharper, more aware, and more on top of my daily life. It was cathartic as well,
and a healthy way to get things off of my chest. On the down side, perhaps, is that writing the
book made me a very critical reader. I find it more difficult to read for pleasure now as I
subconsciously look for what another author was thinking when he, or she wrote the way they
did. Sometimes I can stand up and cheer for them, but there are also times when I have to ask,
"What were they thinking when they wrote that?" Of course, I'm sure other authors who read my
book do the exact same thing - it's just part of the business.
SPJ: Interesting! What do you hope your readers will take away with them after reading your
work?
Guy: I want readers to see the men and women in our military as real people, and not just
automatons that do the mindless bidding of politicians. I want my readers to enjoy the read and
feel the journey the story will take them on, but I also want to make them think. I hope my
readers put the book down and think about how we use our military and how our leaders are, or
are not held accountable for how they spend the lives of our young men and women
volunteers.
SPJ: What was the hardest part in your book to write and why!
Guy: The first chapter was definitely the hardest. I must have written and re-written that chapter
100 times. Character development is very important to the overall success of my story line, but
getting the reader hooked at the beginning and still developing the main characters was not easy.
Some might say I still didn't quite get that done, but I think, as you said in your review, the meat
of the story relies on the reader's familiarity and identification with the characters in the book.
SPJ: Yes Guy, I agree. Although it was quite detailed in the beginning of your work, it was
needed for the rest of the story. Do you become one with the characters in your book and feel
they are a part of you?
Guy: Oh yes! Jamie, Drew, Weeds, and many others are in my head even now. They have stories
to tell and want them written sooner rather than later. I can't say that I'm any one of them
specifically, but they are all part of me. I can say this, when I'm writing for different characters, I
do try to roll play in a small way and picture a scene through their eyes, feelings, and perspective.
I think that's why so many of my readers have commented on how real the characters seemed to
them, and how they felt what they felt. As the writer, that meant I had to change gears in a scene
many times, especially during dialogs, but it wasn't that hard to do. In fact, it was fun - almost like
having multiple personalities and getting away with it.
SPJ: I like that Guy, multiple personalities. I have never heard it put that way! You are indeed a
writer! Do you have any advice for new authors out there? Any little tips that could be of help to
them in their writing career?
Guy: I will say this, all authors and writers should write from their heart. Be true to what you
believe is important in a story, and do your best to help your readers see what you see, feel what
you feel, and know the places you know. However, it's just as important to be open to, and work
closely with your editor. Have a very thick skin and be ready for the criticism. Everyone will have
suggestions, and some will be worth noting, but be humble and appreciate those people who read
your work and took the time to comment.
SPJ: Very good advice! If you could speak to publishers on behalf of writers that are seeking
desperately to have their works published, what would you say to them?
Guy: The big guys in New York better beware of small publishing houses and unknown authors.
Some of those houses bank on their one big horse, only to find out that the horse has aged and
can no longer race. The small publishers and the advent of Print On Demand publishing are going
to change the publishing industry, and they aren't even going to know what hit them until it's too
late. So, if they want to find the new horses who can sell books, they should pay close attention to
the authors who believe enough in their own work to self-publish. There are lots of gems out
there - don't be afraid to turn over a stone to find them.
SPJ: Is there something you wish I had asked you that I have not that you would like to share
with our readers?
Guy: I think I've gone long enough. Thank you again for the opportunity to talk about my work
and the wonderful world of writing.
Thank you so much Guy for this interview. Readers, Comfortably Numb is an excellent read. I
believe you will enjoy it. I also want to thank Guy for a great interview. I always love learning
about an author, hearing their heart, their hopes and dreams. I know it will be exciting one day
when I read their names in all the big papers, reviews and publishing news. I can say, "I knew
them when!", "I interviewed him/her back in ----." I look forward to that with great joy, because I
know it will happen!
God's speed to Guy, the best of everything!
Comfortably Numb published by 1st Books Library, Nov 2002, is my first published work of
fiction.
Contact Information: www.1stbooks.com/bookview/12464 and www.authorsden.com
Buttercups For Jesus: Reflecting His Light in Your Life
Nancy M. Segovia
Booklocker Publishers
http://www.booklocker.com
ISBN: 1-59113-299-1, 108 pages $11.95 Paperback
I am always very alert when I read a book about Jesus and the Word of God. Being a Pastor and
having ministered for over 20 years, I have read and heard just about everything that can be said,
in one way or another, concerning the Word of God and bringing followers closer to Him. I have
found that it is a rare thing to find a gem that keeps the integrity of His Word in tact, but still puts
a fresh anointing on the writing. Nancy Marie has done just that.
Her work, "Buttercups for Jesus" uses the tender comparsion of a lovely buttercup and how it
reaches for the life flow of light to survive; and how we, as Christians, must also reach for the
light of our life, Jesus!
She tells you stories and opens her own life and heart to the reader in a gentle and confessional
way that touches your soul, and shows you how to have a closer walk with Him. Not through
condemnation, but through a mutural understanding of the characteristics of mankind, identifying
with the reader the faults that we must all overcome.
I believe one of my favorite parts in the book was Chapter 10, "The Lifter of My Head." I, as
Nancy Marie, have always loved that verse found in Psalm 3:3. Nancy tells of the popular form of
execution in the Old Testament times. When a person was convicted of a crime they, would face
being beheaded, what a thought! A pardon could only be granted by the King. He would walk
along, and if he lifted that person's head as he awaited his execution, then would he be
pardoned.
It truly sent chills through my body knowing that is what the Lord does for us. That is just an
example of the little tid-bits that she includes in this beautiful book of woven words of love for
you the believer, and searcher as well.
I recommend this read for Christians,and for seekers who want to know more about Him , for tiny
morsals of life are written on these pages. I believe this one may have been given a kiss of
approval from the One of whom it so highly exalts. Good job Nancy! I'm sure He is well
pleased!
Interview with Nancy Marie Segovia:
I wanted to interview Nancy because, as a Christian, I truly enjoyed reading her work. I felt it
would be interesting to get to know Nancy a little better. I'm glad I did.
SPJ: Nancy, thank you for doing this interview with me. Would you please tell our readers how
long you have been writing?
Nancy Marie: I have been writing since 1984 about 19 years total. I sold my first piece six months
after I started writing.
SPJ: Nancy that is really impressive, would you please tell us what genres you write in and if you
have any plans to expand in any other areas.
Nancy Marie: Currently I am only writing for the Christian inspriational market. My first book
"Star" was an inspirational romantic suspense novel. My second book, "Buttercups" is a
non-fiction inspirational devotional. In the past I have written magazine articles, been a newspaper
journalist, and have sold both children's stories, poetry, and adult short fiction.
SPJ: I really enjoyed reading and reviewing "Buttercups For Jesus." It's a great work. What made
you decide to write this?
SPJ: That is a long story but I'll try to shorten it. I had just finished reading a book called, "The
Story of a Soul," the autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux - who is also called "The Little
Flower of Jesus." A fellow in my church called, who is listed in the dedication, called me a day or
so later and as we were talking he called me "a little flower for Jesus" Well, with my natural bent
to put myself down, I thought, "Yeah, if I'm a flower, I bet I'm a weed." Then I thought, "Well if I
have to be a weed, I'll be a pretty one. A buttercup." And, thats where the basic idea came
from.
SPJ: Nancy, how long did it take you to complete this work? And how much research did you
have to do before you began writing?
Nancy: Around five weeks start to finish.
Well, not a whole lot of research, since much of what I learned was based on personal experience
or on my studies in school. Now, if you count my school studies, I guess that would be a lot of
research.
SPJ: I believe life experience being a Christian was a great deal of your 'research' Nancy. How
long did it take you to find a publisher for your work/s?
Nancy: Not too long, I just asked Booklocker about it on a Saturday, and they accepted it the
next Monday.
SPJ: Nancy that is some fast moving, good for you! How many hours a day do you spend
writing?
Nancy: Depends upon what you call writing. Being in school, I am writing tons of essays each
week which really limits my time for my creative writing. Thank God, this is my last semeseter of
school, so I imagine I will be doing more of the kind of writing I love to do.
SPJ: Do you have a special place that you write? Perhaps with special things around you!
Nancy: I wish. Right now my "office" is in a corner of my family room. If I need to do any serious
writing, I get up early before everyone else so I don't get distracted so much.
SPJ: It sounds as if you are dedicated Tell us, do you ever experience the dreaded 'writer's block'
and if so what do you do to remedy it?
Nancy: I have once, that was after I discovered how dreadful my previous publisher really was. I
was so discouraged I didn't write for almost a year. I got around that two ways. First by getting
Buttercups published, and second by trying real hard to forgive my previous publisher. I don't
think I've completely accomplished that particular objective, but I am working on it.
SPJ: I am sure you will overcome that obstacle Nancy. Has any one person been instrumental in
encouraging you along the road in your writing career?
Nancy: An English instructor in a junior college told me I had talent and ought to pursue it. It was
the first time in my life that anybody saw anything good in me. I believed her, and was published
six months later. I dedicated my first book to her.
SPJ: That is quite an honor to give to someone, she truly must be special. Let me ask you this;
where do you hope you will be 5 years from now in your writing career and what are you doing to
obtain that goal?
Nancy: I hope to be supporting myself with my writing instead of supporting my writing, like I am
now (grin). I have a good agent who is helping me accomplish that goal.
SPJ: Yes, that I beleive is every writer's dream. I hope you achieve it. Now here is another
question for you. How important do you feel it is for an author to have an agent? Publicist?
Nancy: I don't know much about publicists but I do know about agents and having a good agent
is very important. Notice I said good agent. There are a lot of agents out there and not all of them
have your best interests in mind. Finding a good one is critical not only to your publishing success
but also to keep you motivated and believing in yourself and your talents.
SPJ: Very true Nancy, a good agent can mean all the difference in the world to an author. Now, a
question about you. What has the writing of your book done for you, has it changed you in
anyway?
Nancy: Writing "Buttercups" was a wonderful experience. Every word, every sentence seemed to
come directly from God. I learned so much as I wrote it. Only now, when I fall on my face, my
husband who has read it, tells me, "Nancy you know better than that. Where's all that faith you
wrote about." ARGH - what's a girl to do?
SPJ: I believe your words did come from the Lord, it is a wonderful book Nancy. Tell me, what
do you hope your readers will take away with them after reading your work?
Nancy: I hope it leads them to a better understanding of how much God loves them, and how
much we need to love Him and others in return.
SPJ: What was the hardest part in your book to write and why!
Nancy: The personal stories were very hard to write. I kept thinking, "Who's going to want to
read this?" And, "Nancy, are you sure you want to air your dirty laundry before the whole
world?" And, 'You're going to be the laughing stock of the whole church?" I could go on but I
won't.
SPJ: Nancy, you did a great job of identifying with the reader, dirty laundry and all. Thank you. I
would imagine writing something like this can be very stirring. Did you feel this emotion when
you were writing your work?
Nancy: Oh yes, it was a very emotional and exciting process. Everytime I turned to Scripture
something new opened up. Learning was the most enthralling process I experienced while I wrote
the book.
SPJ: How important do you feel it is for authors to
get reviews for their work? Many of them get confused and don't know where to ask for reviews,
do you have any advice for them on this?
Nancy: I think reviews are very important, even if they don't generate sales, which I sure hope
they do. But even if they don't they are important because it gives you feedback on how the
readers are receiving your work. In addition you can use them in promotional and marketing
materials, and that will generate sales. I found reviewers by doing an Internet search on
www.google.com. I simply put "lists of book reviewers" in the search line and came up with
several different lists that had about 100 book review sites and periodicals to choose from. Then I
went through them one by one and contacted the ones I thought were appropriate for my books.
You really don't want to send a sci-fi novel to a web site that only reviews romances. They won'[t
appreciate it and you will be wasting you time and money.
SPJ: Do you have any advice for new authors out there? Any little tips that could be of help to
them in their writing career?
Nancy: The only think I can say, is the same thing lots of writers say. "Don't give up. Believe in
yourself and your skills even when the rejection letters are two inches thick and nobody has a
good thing to say about your work. Just keep on writing and believing. If it can happen for me, it
can happen for you.
SPJ: Words from the heart readers! Nancy, if you could speak to publishers on behalf of writers
that are seeking desperately to have their works published, what would you say to them?
Nancy: I would say, quick looking for the mega-bestseller and start looking at the real talent that
is out there. Talent that will turn you a profit in the long run, if you would just give them a
chance.
SPJ: Do you belong to a writer's forum and if so how important do you feel this is to a
writer?
Nancy: Yes I belong to a writer's forum, and I think they are essential if you don't belong to
another type of writing group. Either a real-time writers group or an on-line writers group is a
great way to get your work critiqued, bounce ideas around, and most of all support you through
the long process of getting published. I know my old writers forum was directly responsible for
my not giving up a few years back. I was ready to quit writing forever, and would have, if not for
their encouragement.
SPJ: Is there something you wish I had asked you that I have not, that you would like to share
with our readers?
Nancy: Only that writers should write about what they know, what they feel, and what they
believe. That is where powerful writing begins, in the heart and the mind and the soul of the
writer. The writer should have passion about what they are writing because if they don't the
reader will not have a passion about the work either.
SPJ: Would you tell us something about your other life, the non writing one, and how life
experience has effected you as a writer?
Nancy: Well, I am a mom (mother of 5 daughters), a wife, a grandmother (2 granddaughters), and
avid fisherwoman, a prize-winning cook, and a lousy housekeeper. I do needlepoint and crochet. I
am happily married, a full time college student with a B.A. in Religious studies and this fall I will
be pursuing an M.A. in Religious Education. My life experiences directly affected my writing. My
first published book was base on my experience as a victim of domestic violence and my second
published book, "Buttercups" is based on my fumbling attempts to walk with the Lord.
Would you please use this space for anything you would like to tell our readers about yourself,
your works or publishing in general.
Nancy: My books are available on Amazon.com
Please give the names of your published works and the publishers of such.
Nancy: I have two published books "When You Wish Upon A Star" published by AmErica House
Publishers, and "Buttercups for Jesus:Reflecting His Light in Your Life" published by
Booklocker.com
Contact Information:
My web site is www.nancymarie.com and I can be reached at nancymariewrites@cs.com. My
regular snail-mail address is Nancy Marie, P.O. Box 358, Divide, CO 80814.
Thank you Nancy for allowing me to do this interview with you. I have read and reviewed many
books. I have had my share of inteviews with many different authors, but I sincerely hope for the
very best for you as you travel along this winding road that all writers must walk. I feel you have
a gift of writing and I pray you use it wisely and enrich others lives with your words! God's
blessings on you and your work!
Shirley Johnson
Reviewer/Interviewer
Midwest Book Review
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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