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MBR Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 8 August 2005 Home | MBW Index

Table of Contents

Donovan's Bookshelf Harold's Bookshelf Klausner's Bookshelf

Laurel's Bookshelf Shelley's Bookshelf Shirley's Bookshelf

Donovan's Bookshelf
Handknits for Kids
Lucinda Guy
Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, N. Pomfret, VT 05053
1570763100 $23.00 1-800-423-4525 www.traflgarsquarebooks.com

Over twenty original hand-knitted designs for kids ages 2-5 offers a range of styles for all seasons and pairs fun cartoons with bright color photos of finished products in HANDKNITS FOR KIDS: 25 ORIGINAL DESIGNS. Yarn, needle and gauge details accompany step-by step instructions knitters will easily follow.

Mog Time
Judith Kerr
Collins/Trafalgar Square, Dist.
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, N. Pomfret, VT 05053
0007193602 $24.99 1-800-423-4525 www.traflgarsquarebooks.com

Six stories of Mog the cat will make perfect read-aloud choices for parents seeking warm tales to involve the kids at bedtime. MOG TIME: 6 STORIES ABOUT MOG presents a cat which has been whimsical for thirty years: six of the most popular tales are included here, celebrating the cat's popularity for new generations and including plenty of Mog color drawings on every page.

The New First Dictionary Of Cultural Literacy
E.D. Hirsch, Jr.
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116
0618408533 $15.00 www.hmco.com

All the facts kids in grades 1-6 should have at their fingertips - and their parents, to help them out - are packed into THE NEW FIRST DICTIONARY OF CULTURAL LITERACY: WHAT YOUR CHILD NEEDS TO KNOW. Parents typically find themselves less than helpful when asked to help a child with common denominators or world history questions: here are 3,000 definitions, with entries organized by subject area and an index and organization which lends to parent/child interactions. An excellent reference encouraging answers to common school questions and homework.

Time & Eternity
Antje Jackelen
Templeton Foundation Press
81 Maple Avenue South, Westport, CT 06880
1932031898 $29.95 1-800-621-8476 www.templetonpress.org

You might think a book titled TIME AND ETERNITY belongs in the science review section, but if the subtitle, THE QUESTION OF TIME IN CHURCH, SCIENCE, AND THEOLOGY, isn't a tip-off otherwise, the chapters covering links between knowledge of time and religious perspectives certain supports its feature here. Scholar Antje Jackelen blends science, religion and philosophy to consider modern understandings of time, eternity, and more, using texts of church hymns in English, Swedish and German to consider relationships between God, time, and mankind. From connections between time and the Trinity to Christian understandings of death to overall Biblical references to time and its nature, TIME AND ETERNITY is a stimulating read.

Contemporary Asian Pools And Gardens
Karina Zabihi and Chami Jotisalikorn
Periplus/Tuttle, Dist.
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
07894601766 $30.00 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Homeowners interested in landscape architecture ideas from Asia will want to watch for CONTEMPORARY ASIAN POOLS AND GARDENS, a survey of modern design options in new Asian gardens, from paths and sculptures to water features. Gorgeous, bright color photos of modern garden designs explore different home layouts, materials options, and what helps create the atmosphere of an Asian garden setting.

Randall International
PO Box 7628, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624
www.randallonline.com

Three outstanding new titles offer not just design options, but historical backgrounds on their developments and contemporary interpretations of classics. Charles Randall and Melanie Bysouth's DREAM WALLS (1890379077, $19.95) is the second title in the 'Dream' series, covering all types of wall coverings from wallpaper and paint to stone and paneling. Over 700 color images accompany a fine historical background of wall choices and design, and a source guide offering homeowners ideas on where to locate specialty items - including handy websites for more extensive browsing by manufacturer. Kathleen Stoehr's DREAM FLOORS: HUNDREDS OF DESIGN IDEAS FOR EVERY KIND OF FLOOR (1890379085, $19.95) examines flooring for both home and workplace, pairing color photos with explanations of pros and cons of each type of floor choice. Add details on maintenance and actual style numbers for specifying flooring choices and you have a handy reference source catalog as well as a designer's manual of tips. Charles T. Randall's ENCYCLOPEDIA OF WINDOW FASHIONS: 1000 DECORATING IDEAS FOR WINDOWS, BEDDING AND ACCESSORIES (1890379034, $19.95) completes the extensive references in covering all kinds of coverings, from draperies and blinds to shutters, toppers, and bedspread and pillow matches. From historic treatments to modern options and cost-saving styles, all kinds of treatments for all budget levels offers a satisfying catalog of choices.

Six Secrets of Successful Bettors
Frank R. Scatoni & Peter Thomas Fornatale
Daily Racing Forum Press
100 Broadway, 7th Fl., NY, NY 10005
1932910964 $24.95 www.drf.com

If you play the horses and want to win, you can't be without SIX SECRETS OF SUCCESSFUL BETTORS: WINNING INSIGHTS INTO PLAYING THE HORSES. This isn't just a single man's strategy, but a discussion of who consistently wins at a racetrack - and what their secrets are for successful gambling. Research and interviews have identified the winners through two dozen pro player insights - and the traits they share. Using business analysis with traditional handicapping methods and lessons from these pros, a model has been developed to assure wins. Read it and use it.

Langenscheidt Publishers
46-35 - 54th Rd., Maspeth, NY 11378
www.insightguides.com

Two excellent 'Eating In' titles in the "Insight Guides" series to local big-city restaurants, bars, diners and pubs are highly recommended destination-oriented take-along totes: their slim size lends to pockets, their clear descriptions of neighborhoods and local offerings provide plenty of history and background beyond a mere establishment listing, and each establishment listing includes hours, affordability ratings, websites and descriptions. With all this offered you'd think the content would be well-packed and dull - but there's a host of color photos to enliven the books even further. So if you're heading for New York City be sure to bring EATING IN NEW YORK (9814120-812, $10.95), and if it's Paris, don't forget to pack EATING IN PARIS (9814120790, $10.95): the abundance of detail - including color maps - is extraordinarily handy.

Barrier-Free Travel
Candy Harrington
Demos Medical Publishing
386 Park Avenue South #201, New York NY 10016
1932603093 $19.95 www.demosmedpub.com

From wheelchairs to walkers, there's a host of accessible travel options available to travelers, and the second updated edition of BARRIER-FREE TRAVEL: A NUTS AND BOLTS GUIDE FOR WHEELERS AND SLOW WALKERS covers all aspects of such travel; from maneuvering a wheelchair through new airport security systems to locating the right travel agent and understanding disability laws and rights. Both domestic and overseas travel are covered, cruises and land travel alike, and information is based on logistics and changing environments as much as common sense. No other book delves into the needs of mobility impaired travelers, from special oxygen requirements to challenges in hotel rooms. An essential reference.

Used Book Lover's Guides
Book Hunter Press
PO Box 193, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598
www.bookhunterpress.com

Travelers who are also book hounds will find there's one particular guide which is a 'must' to back on any browsing vacation, and that's one of Book Hunter's USED BOOK LOVER'S GUIDE titles. You can get a print book to take along of either of these latest for $19.95 each- or you can obtain a subscription to their online service and get the print version of the same guide for $25.00. THE USED BOOK LOVER'S GUIDE TO CANADA (1891379003) packs in over 800 used book dealers by location, offers a specialty index to narrow down the choices, and easy travel directions. Ditto for the second revised edition of USED BOOK LOVER'S GUIDE TO NEW ENGLAND (1891379938), which includes the same format and packs in the maps and comments about shops. From number of volumes in the collection to hours of operation, these books are much more than mere listings - they're bibles of information.

In the Realm of Rivers
Sue Walker & Dennis Holt
NewSouth Books
PO Box 1588, Montgomery, AL 36102
1558381722 $39.95 1-334-834-3556 www.newsouthbooks.com

The Mobile-Tensaw Delta is part of Alabama's history, providing an ecosystem rich in animal and plant species and, like most such systems, is currently threatened by urban development. Prose, poetry and non-fiction narrative by Sue Walker blends research - interviews with scientists, historians and preservationists as well as hunters - with Dennis Holt's stunning color photos of animals and nature to provide a fitting tribute to the lasting importance of Alabama's Mobile-Tensaw Delta region.

Garlic and Sapphires
Ruth Reichl
Penguin Press
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
1594200319 $24.95 1-800-847-5515 www.penguingroup.com

Ruth Reichl was a well known food critic for The New York Times: so well known that she began to suspect her restaurant appearances were being met with bias. So she went undercover as a critic to get to the meat of the real restaurant experience, overcoming the barrier to anonymity by wearing disguises. It's hard to review a restaurant when your face as a food critic is well known by every professional restaurateur in town: GARLIC AND SAPPHIRES takes a look at the real results of dining, telling of her development of the 'double review' experience contrasting her meal as a known critic and again, the same service and food as an anonymous member of the public.

Church Suppers
Barbara Greenman, Editor
Black Dog & Leventhal
151 West 19th St, New York NY 10011
1579124534 $19.95 1-800-722-7202 www.bdlev.com

Churches across the country submitted their best recipes for this collection: some fifty cookbooks from across the country presented their 'perfect dish' for church socials, represented in wide variety in CHURCH SUPPERS: 722 FAVORITE RECIPES FROM OUR CHURCH COMMUNITIES. The lay-flat binding which is also hardbound with title on spine makes it easy to both locate and use the cookbook, the hardcover format makes it durable in contrast to the usual flimsy paper church presentation, and the dishes, ranging from Pecan-Crusted Swordfish to Chicken Gumbo, are easy to make and tote. No color photos, but the easy format doesn't need them.

Harvard Common Press
535 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118
www.harvardcommonpress.com

There are numerous sauce books on the market; but most focus on cream or Italian-based red sauces for pastas and don't hold nearly the variety nor applications of GET SAUCY: MAKE DINNER A NEW WAY EVERY DAY WITH SIMPLE SAUCES, MARINADES, GLAZES, DRESSINGS, PESTOS, PASTA SAUCES, SALSAS AND MORE by Grace Parisi (155832237X $17.95). An addition plus is its international focus, which adds the zestiness of Thai chilies, the coolness of Indian Tandoori, or the Southwest influence of tomatoes and corn salsas to the mix. Another major plus: GET SAUCY is arranged by type of cooking to be paired with the sauce, from Pan and Stir-fry sauces to Marinades, making it easy to pick a sauce for an intended dish. And when the time comes for dessert, don't leave out Lauren Chattman's ICEBOX DESSERTS (155832271X, $17.95), packing in dozens of no-bake desserts which are a snap to prepare. The line-up includes puddings, pops, cupcakes, truffles and even pies, presenting a wide diversity usually not seen in competing 'no bake' dessert guides. Many of the dishes are the author's own creations, furthering the unique touch of ICEBOX DESSERTS.

Taylor Publishing
4501 Forbes Blvd #200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com

Three excellent cookbooks feature unusual themes and inviting dishes. Anne Lindsay Greer McCann's THE LOW-FAT, LOW-CARB SOUTHWEST COOKBOOK (1589791789, $19.95) appears in a new edition packed with recipes and tips for reducing fats and carbs. In case you're wondering, the original book entitled ULTIMATE LOW-FAT MEXICAN BOOKBOOK has been completely revamped and revised to include McCann's own Southwest dishes. Try a low-fat Chili Cheese Puffs, Black Bean Turkey Chili, or Tortilla Pizzas for maximum flavor impact, and learn how to reduce carbs and fats in the process. Dotty Griffith's THE CONTEMPORARY COWBOY COOKBOOK: RECIPES FROM THE WILD WEST TO WALL STREET (1589791568, $16.95) isn't just for the campfire: Western cooking has evolved into urban fare and here both traditional recipes and contemporary versions of Western foods. What sorts of dishes are Western? Try Rancho Smoked Sirloin, Green Beans with Sweet Onions, or Buttermilk Pie with Blackberries: hearty trail food adjusted for modern tastes and modern kitchens. Joseph Carey's CREOLE NOUVELLE: CONTEMPORY CREOLE COOKERY (1589791304, $29.95) features recipes from a range of New Orleans chefs who redefine traditional genre recipes with new additions and tastes. How? Chef Joseph Carey is himself a native New Orleans chef, so he's in the perfect position of authority to demonstrate Shrimp Creole, Crayfish Ravioli, and more.

Hippocrene Books
171 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016
www.hippocrenebooks.com

Two lovely new additions to Hippocrene's cookbook specialties are recommended picks for cooks seeking authentic - even unusual - fare. Jose Sanchez-H.'s MY MOTHER'S BOLIVIAN KITCHEN: RECIPES AND RECOLLECTIONS (0781810566, $24.95) is as much a memoir of the author's Bolivian childhood as it is a recipe collection packing in his favorite dishes. From Fake Rabbit and Tongue with Wine to a fava-bean infused Chuno Soup for potato fans, many of the dishes here are simply unavailable elsewhere. Brian Yarvin's FARMS AND FOODS OF THE GARDEN STATE: A NEW JERSEY COOKBOOK (0781810833, $18.95) provides an examination of New Jersey's farms and recipes alike - but don't expect regional American alone; like most of the U.S., New Jersey's dishes have been changed by the melting pot influence and thus an Indian Chicken Vindaloo, Italian-Style Stewed Peppers, and Portuguese Kale Soup reflect the state's ethnic influences. No color photos, but the easy recipes don't need 'em.

ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373
www.esri.com/esripress

Three excellent new computer titles focus on GIS statistical programs, one of the hottest newer employment fields around, providing some basic and important keys to linking GIS functions and programs with real-world mapping needs. The second updated edition of Tim Ormsby, Eileen Napoleon, et.al.'s GETTING TO KNOW ARCGIS DESKROP: BASICS OF ARCVIEW, ARCEDITOR AND ARCINFO (158948083X, $59.95) has been updated to include ArcGIS 9, and presents a technical workbook packed with insights on the three GIS products which make up ArcGIS Desktop. Step-by-step exercises teach the basics from mapmaking and spatial analysis to using the software features, while a fully functioning 180-day trial version of the latest software on CD-ROM makes it easy to learn first, buy later. For a narrower focus, choose Ian Masser's GIS WORLDS: CREATING SPATIAL DATA INFRASTRUCTURES (1589481224, $49.95), presenting a leading world authority's overview of SDI, from its evolution to its local, national and transnational developments. A technical discussion of spatial data systems in different countries lends to a global understanding of different reports and concerns. David Arctur and Michael Zeiler's DESIGNING GEODATABASES: CASE STUDIES IN GIS DATA MODELING (158948021X, $39.95) both analyzes domain data models which represent commonly used GIS data sets, and analyzes them for commonalities in practical GIS database designs. GIS professionals will welcome a technical survey of designs from real-world case studies, from river networks to federal lands surveys, cartography and more. All are highly recommended choices for the professional and student GIS mapper.

Cisco Press
800 East 96th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240
www.ciscopress.com

Three weighty technical new Cisco guides provide overviews and solutions for systems managers and administrators. Stefan Raab and Madhavi W. Chandra's MOBILE IP TCHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS: REAL-WORLD SOLUTIONS FOR MOBILE IP CONFIGURATION AND MANAGEMENT (158705132X) tells how the internet and wireless communications are changing how people access information. The challenge is effectively moving data across different networks, and Mobile IP is reviewed as one solution to this problem, standardizing operations and addressing its practical applications. Lay readers will be able to access this and even more so, Jim Doherty and Neil Anderson'' HOME NETWORKING SIMPLIFIED: AN ILLUSTRATED HOME NETWORKING HANDBOOK FOR THE EVERYDAY USER (1587201364, $24.99), which explains how anyone can build a home networking system. From networking computers and securing them against hackers and viruses to going wireless and understanding the latest home networking options, HOME NETWORKING SIMPIFIED is written in simple enough language that all ages can easily understand how to get the most of the computer system. Technical network managers involved in IP communications systems will want to keep Danelle Au, et.al.'s CISCO IP COMMUNICATIONS EXPRESS: CALLMANAGER EXPRESS WITH CISCO UNITY EXPRESS (158705180X, $70.00) close at hand. Not for the amateur, CISCO IP COMMUNICATIONS EXPRESS packs in detailed technical information not available in other resources, showing how to use product features more effectively, providing solid examples from real life to help in the configuration of the program, and aiding in common troubleshooting problems. Any taking the CCIE Security written exam will want to use Henry Benjamin, CCIE's CCIE SECURITY EXAM CERTIFICATION GUIDE, SECOND EDITION (1587201356, $79.95) as their basic guide. CCIE as an important security certification - and is one of the most highly valued networking certifications one could obtain. Here's an in-depth, detailed study tool for the 2.0 exam version, which has been updated and reviewed b past and present members of the CCIE Security team at Cisco.

Yahoo! To the Max
Randolph Hock
CyberAge Books
c/o Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
0910965692 $24.95 www.infotoday.com

Yahoo! Has a lot to offer these days, and if all you do is using it to occasionally surf web sites, you're not taking full advantage of the latest options. Ron Hock's user-friendly guide to these tools covers everything from communications and e-commerce to investment. Tips offer valuable insights into how to most effectively use these tools, from understanding Yahoo Groups and how they function and are moderated to selling items on auction sites. An essential guide geared to the common Internet browser.

Secrets of the Game Business
Francois Dominic Laramee
Charles River Media
10 Downer Ave., Hingham, MA 02043
1584503998 $39.95 charlesriver.com

Game developers won't want to miss the second updated edition of SECRETS OF THE GAME BUSINESS: a programmer's development guide which covers everything from changes in how the game business works to starting up your own game company. Middleware, licensing, working with producers, pros and cons of global or country deals, and more are all covered in an important review of how the industry as a whole operates.

Peachpit Press
1249 - 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710
www.peachpit.com

Two outstanding new titles shine above competitors in their approaches to popular topics, and are highly recommended picks for discriminating library holdings, promising lasting lending value. Cynthia L. baron and Daniel Peck's FILEMAKER PRO ADVANCED FOR WINDOWS & MACINTOSH (0321199561, $29.99) is another fine Visual QuickPro Guide; this teaching how to use the Visual QuickPro approach to master the advanced facets of Filemaker Pro. From using conditional scripts and importing data in batches to mingling FileMaker with other common programs and creating relationships and subscripts, FILEMAKER PRO ADVANCED is simply a 'must' for any beyond the beginner stage. Cher Threinen-Pendarvis' THE PHOTOSHOP AND PAINTER ARTIST TABLET BOOK: CREATIVE TECHNIQUES IN DIGITAL PAINTING (0321168917, $44.99) will especially appeal to artists who use digital media and want to know the finer points of using the artist tablet with Photoshop. Projects are presented on a step-by-step basis to enhance learning of drawing and composition through practice, and chapters cover basic concepts using this method to teach basic composition and conceptual processes in the digital world. Plenty of color photos drive home the points and add interest.

Adobe Press
345 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110
www.adobepress.com

The 'Classroom in a Book' series is designed to offer training workbooks with as many visual examples as the actual classroom would offer, and as much detail as a teacher would provide - complete with QuickTime Movies on CD, tutorials from Photoshop itself, and tips by Julieanne Kost. The result is a virtual home classroom in Russell Brown's ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS2 CLASSROOM IN A BOOK: THE OFFICIAL TRAINING WORKBOOK FROM ADOBE SYSTEMS (0321321847 $49.99). From adding depth and vector drawing to a Photoshop image to even more advanced techniques such as setting slice options and liquifying a layer, any owner of Adobe Photoshop's CS2 version will want this as their 'teacher': it's a virtual bible of basics. Don't leave out Amy Standen's MAGGIE TAYLOR'S LANDSCAPE OF DREAMS (0321306147, $40.00), either: Taylor's digital photo collages created through Photoshop offer a Surrealistic focus on animals and people alike, using objects found on eBay and in flea markets, a scanner, and Adobe Photoshop to produce unusual results. From idea to execution, MAGGIE TAYLOR'S LANDSCAPE OF DREAMS shows how Photoshop users can accomplish similar results. As much an art display as a Photoshop book, this is also recommended for Surrealist art fans.

Sybex
1151 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501
www.sybex.com

Three new computer guides promise long-term reference importance. Dan Gookin and Robert Birnbach's EBAY PHOTOS THAT SELL: TAKING GREAT PRODUCT SHOTS FOR EBAY AND EBYOND (0782143814, $29.99) teaches home seller how to create high-quality photos using basic digital camera and some tricks of the photography trade. From taking initial good shots to creating props from items found at home and knowing how to use a camera's features, EBAY PHOTOS THAT SELL covers the many common problems beginners face, and how to overcome them. Usders of the MAYA program will welcome George Maestri's MAYA AT A GLANCE (0782144047, $24.99): unlike competing Maya tomes, it uses a color visual approach to pack pages with graphics supplementing 'how to' descriptions. Pair these visuals with easy step-by-step tutorials and you have not just a reference, but a workbook packed with examples by a director and producer. For a more complex guide, turn to Alias Learning Tools' third edition of THE ART OF MAYA (1894893824), which delves further into UV coordinates for maximum texturing, 3D texture placement, tesselation, and more. From adding special effects to understanding their properties, Maya users beyond the beginner's stage will welcome a guide to the finer art of tweaking Maya productions.

Adobe After Effects 6.5 Magic
James Rankin & Anna Ullrich
New Riders
1249 - 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710
0321267230 $39.99 www.newriders.com

Over twenty projects designed by motion graphics pros are designed to illustrate solutions and tips of using Adobe After Effects 6.5, using real-life projects to illustrate more advanced techniques of the program for those who already have the basics down. From using third-party effects and animating layers to designing an animated collage and using dynamic text-animation sequences with pre-built presets, ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS 6.5 MAGIC: 22 UNIQUE PROJECTS 100S OF TECHNIQUES takes users to the next level of expertise.

Jeff Gordon
Jeff Gordon with Steve Eubanks
Atria Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
0743499778 $13.00 www.simonsays.com

Race car fans all know the name Jeff Gordon: here's his own memoir of his racing life, JEFF GORDON: RACING BACK TO THE FRONT-MY MEMOIR. 16 pages of lovely color photos display Gordon at different ages and phases of his racing career, while his memoir speaks of his long experience behind the wheel from the California junior circuit to his professional status today. From triumphs to failures and disappointments, Jeff reveals experience and feelings in a vivid memoir.

Larceny and Old Leather
Eldon Ham
Academy Chicago
363 West Erie Street, 7th Floor East, Chicago, IL 60610
0897335333 $25.00 1-800-248-7323 www.academychicago.com

Want a humorous review of baseball's less than finer moments? LARCENY AND OLD LEATHER: THE MISCHIEVOUS LEGACY OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL gathers some winners for baseball fans to enjoy: snippets of history which range from incidences of spitballs, grease balls and corked bats to stealing and spying between competitors. Any interested in the bizarre, entertaining side of baseball will consider LARCENY AND OLD LEATHER a real winner: engaging, fun, and packed with history.

Boxing Mastery
Mark Hatmaker with Doug Werner
Tracks Publishing
140 Brightwood Avenue, Chula Vista, CA 91910
1884654215 $12.95 startupsports.com

Any boxing would-be pro serious about learning the sport simply must obtain a copy of BOXING MASTRY: ADVANCED TECHNIQUE, TACTICS AND STRATEGIES FROM THE SWEET SCIENCE for supplemental reading. It illustrates and tells how to cut off the ring, fight off ropes, cultivate various hooks, and combine single punches into a uniform strategy. Packed with 900 black and white action photos, boxers receive clear visuals on how to hone strategy and refine routines. Mark Hatmaker has produced numerous instructional videos and tapes as well as other fighting books; his background lends to an important guide supplemented by co-author Doug Werner, himself the co-author of two best-seller boxing guides.

Catch Wrestling
Mark Hewitt
Paladin Press
Gunbarrel Tech Center
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder,CO 80301
9781581604733 $20.00 1-800-392-2400 www.paladin-press.com

Wrestling fans have an excellent history in Mark Hewitt's CATCH WRESTLING: A WILD AND WOOLY LOOK AT THE EARLY DAYS OF PRO WRESTLING IN AMERICA. Catch wrestling appeared in North America in the late 19th century and quickly become one of the most popular sports from Europe. The evolution of an elite group of catch wrestlers and their sometimes-brutal achievements is covered in a fine survey which also explores promotion, gambling, audience influence on the sport's evolution, and much more. Catch wrestling is now re-emerging as a self-defense system, making Mark Hewitt's history more important than ever.

Sport Classic Books
21 Carlaw Avenue, Toronto, Ontatio M4M 2R6, Canada
www.sportclassicbooks.com

SportClassic specializes in vivid, memorable sports references but two stand out from any competitors as particularly important and very highly recommended for any sports reference collection. Donald Dewey and Nicholas Acocella's TOTAL BALLCLUBS: THE ULTIMATE BOOK OF BASEBALL TEAMS (1894963377, $19.95) brings all 124 teams to life, including 6 long-gone leagues which were part of professional baseball's early years. Coverage from 1871 on describes the evolution of baseball franchises, presents statistics as well as anecdotes of the sport, and packs in 300 black and white photos of team history. Avid fans who already own TOTAL BASEBALL: THE ULTIMATE BASEBALL ENCYCLOPEDIA will find this companion volume fills many gaps and rounds out the reference information, making both together a virtual bible of references. JANET GUTHRIE: A LIFE AT FULL THROTTLE (1894963318, $24.95) includes Guthrie's autobiography plus an introduction by fellow female sports pro Billie Jean King. From Guthrie's Florida roots and involvement in flying airplanes to the years she spent campaigning her own sports cars at tracks around the country, finally to achieve many commendations as a winning female racecar competitor, A LIFE AT FULL THROTTLE offers inspired, even passionate writing and reflection on what it means to be a woman driver in the male-dominated racing circuit.

The Hitting Clinic
John Stewart
Burford Books
32 Morris Ave., Springfield NJ 07081
1580801315 $12.95 www.burfordbooks.com

Baseball players and coaches alike who want drills for better hitting will welcome John Stewart's player's handbook THE HITTING CLINIC: SKILLS AND DRILLS FOR BETTER HITTING. Here's a professional how-to course from a pro scout who knows what he's talking about: everything from the right bat and grip to stance, swing types and more. Black and white drawings throughout provide clear illustration in this 'coach in a book'.

Arcadia Publishing
420 Wando Park Boulevard, Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
www.arcadiapublishing.com

If it's regional California history which is of interest, especially vintage black and white photos and details on local areas seldom given much publicity coverage in more general California history books, don't miss Arcadia's rapidly-expanding regional California collections comprising their 'Images of America' series. Each book is a virtual masterpiece of detail, with many appropriately narrowing the focus to an area of larger cities such as San Francisco, which rarely enjoys closer neighborhood inspection. Thus the latest additions of Robert W. Bowen's SAN FRANCISCO'S PRESIDIO (0738529869, $19.99) and Robert F. Oaks' SAN FRANCISCO'S FILLMORE DISTRICT (0738529885, $19.99) assembles fine images which serve as the foundation for telling Presidio and Fillmore area history. From the Presidio's roots as home to the Ohlone natives to its later use as a military base, and the Fillmore District's cosmopolitan beginnings and home to a large Jewish settlement, vivid vintage photos bring changing times to life. Travel outside the City to nearby communities and Arcadia doesn't leave you hanging, either: choose from Sabine Goerke-Shrode's FAIRFIELD (0738528889, $19.99), once home to the Patwin Suisuni Indians whose Chief Solano was one of the few native landowners in California in the 1830s, the Dixon Women's Improvement Club's DIXON (9738529729, $19.99), another Solano County exploration which details the community's change from a prosperous farming region to a quaint small town; Dean L.McLeod's BAY POINT (0738529079, $19.99), telling of the nearby High 4 small area which began from smaller neighborhood roots and changed its name to Port Chicago during the depression, only then seeing the restoration process which it needed; and Daniel Kasser's DOWNTOWN STOCKTON (0738529427, $19.99), telling of a gold rush town which became a major city. You don't have to be a native or even a visitor to appreciate these lovely coverages, which pack in not only vintage photos but insights into underlying influences to local change. Arcadias extensive image histories are rapidly expanding throughout the state: go further from the City and bring along Leroy Radanovich's MARIOPSA COUNTY (0738529494, $19.99), one of the original 27 counties of the state which is located in the Sierras and has a colorful history, from gold mining to modern times. Author Randovich is a photographer and a longtime resident, so he's in the perfect position to not only gather the images, but tell the stories of his home city. Laura L. Alioto's SEAL BEACH (073852980X, $19.99) reveals a history of the Southern California beach town which was originally begun as Bay City and changed to Seal Beach after mail to San Francisco, the 'City by the Bay', was thwarted. Alioto is president of the Seal Beach Historical and Cultural Society and provides a rich collection of images and stories. Norma H. Gurba's LANCASTER (0738529818, $19.99) tells of a town created by a railroad's needs and a real estate developer who purchased the land from the railroad and oversaw its development. 200 historic images from the City of Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery's holdings are presented by author/curator Gurba and enlivened with plenty of local color. Arcadia is developing and expanding their 'Images of America' theme across the country: Yanni Tsipis' BOSTON'S BRIDGES (0738535710, $19.99) is only one example of an outstanding feature narrowing the Boston survey to it's remarkable bridges and spans. Tsipis holds degrees in civil engineering and urban planning, and is in the perfect, unique position to cover this aspect of Boston's bridge and engineering history.

The John Deere Story
Neil Dahlstrom and Jeremy Dahlstrom
Northern Illinois University Press
310 North Fifth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115
0875803369 $24.00 1-815-753-1826 www.niupress.niu.edu

The John Deere tractor is a foundation of American history and THE JOHN DEERE STORY: A BIOGRAPHY OF PLOWMAKERS JOHN & CHARLES DEERE is an essential key to understanding its evolution and importance. While modern lay readers immediately think of John Deer as the inventor of the steel plow, in reality he began as an indebted blacksmith fleeing debt in new England who set up shop on the Illinois frontier and designed a new plow which began his involvement inventing a wide range of farm equipment. His vision of a supply company furthered not only his own inventions but the rise of the midwest farmer, providing reliable, affordable equipment which fostered the industry as a whole.

American Traveler
James Zug
Basic Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
0465094058 $25.00 1-800-242-7737 www.basicbooks.com

John Ledyard dreamed of walking the world and in the mid 1700s set off with just an axe, a pipe and two dogs to survey the world. James Zug provides his story in AMERICAN TRAVELER: THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF JOHN LEDYARD - THE MAN WHO DREAMED OF WALKING THE WORLD. Ledyard's ability to relate to people of all classes despite his Connecticut gentry roots and his ability to travel across half the globe by raising support from various individuals and groups makes for a vivid piece of American history and culture, telling of a self-made man's hard work and dedication to adventure.

Living Smart New York City
Craig Wroe
Limelight/Hal Leonard
7777 W. Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213
0879103086 $16.95 1-800-637-2852 www.limelighteditions.com

Newcomers to seasoned Big Apple residents will find LIVING SMART-NEW YORK CITY an essential key to budget-minded living in the big city. From stress reduction and health clinics to bargain shopping areas for clothing, provisions, and books, LIVING SMART NEW YORK CITY is packed with recommendations for locating all the good, affordable things in the city.

The New Bullwhip Book
Andrew Conway
Loompanics Unlimited
PO Box 1197, Port Townsend, WA 98368
1559502444 $12.95 www.loompanics.com

Ever felt like cracking the whip for real? Then Andrew Conway's unique NEW BULLWHIP BOOK is just the ticket for you: all it requires is ownership of a bullwhip and reading skills. Three basic cracks are presented in step-by-step instructions easy for whip owners to follow. From follow-through on the crack to analyses of what went wrong, THE NEW BULLWHIP BOOK is loaded with detail.

Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111-7701
www.amuniversal.com

If it's a collection of comics from popular newspaper syndicated features which is needed, chances are Andrews and McMeel will have it: they specialize in producing compilations of strips from the best of cartoon strips across the country and produce works of such high consistent quality that even if you haven't had prior exposure to a particular artist, the book will still prove attractive. Among the latest recommended picks: Baby Blues fans will relish Rick Kirkman & Jerry Scott's DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF CHILDREN (0740750054, $16.95), juxtaposing black and white and full color strips of the latest highlights from the 'Baby Blues' family-oriented comic strip about harried parents and demanding kids; Pat Brady's ROSE IS ROSE: RUNNING ON ALTER EGO (0740751271, $10.95), an aptly-named exploration of the Rose is Rose comic strip character who has two personalities: her conservative everyday demeanor and an inner wild 'motorcycle woman', Number 10 of Patrick McDonnell's Mutts comics is WHO LET THE CAT OUT? (0740750062, $10.95), packed with black and white strips about a simple dog's view of life; Bill Amend's ORLANDO BLOOM HAS RUINED EVERYTHING (0740749994, $8.95) provides a fun account of a precocious kid with a big imagination. Paul Gilligan's NO COLLAR, NO SERVICE (0740750038, $10.95) provides a funny survey of a dog who can't seem to follow the requirements of his owner, Vic Lee provides a contemporary gathering of modern comments on life in PARDN MY PLANET (0740751298, $10.95), telling of a modern couple's encounters with life; Tony Cochran's AGNES: I HAVE TAMPERED WITH THE DIVINE PLAN (0740750003, $10.95) packs a Dilbert-type humor into a small girl's body and comments on life's ironies; sharks take on new underwater meaning in the 9th Sherman's Lagoon collection by Jim Toomey A DAY AT THE BEACH (0740751301, $10.95), fans of Lynn Johnston's 'For Better or For Worse' will appreciate a STRIKING A CHORD (0740753150, $10.95), presenting the ongoing growing-of-age of a close family which experiences further dventures as the kids grow into adults; Stephan Pastis' third Pearls Before Swine collection NIGHTHOGS (0740750097, $10.95), returning the characters of Rat, Pig, Goat and more to the realm of fantasy and talking strange animal encounters; and the new Zits collection by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman, THRASHED (0740751174, $10.95), which gathers the 9th collection of Zits comics centering around the self-centered teen's selfish and often one-sided, fun world.

Greenwood Press
PO Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881-5007
1-800-225-5800 www.greenwood.com

These fine new sets and titles will appeal to high school, college and public library holdings with excellent references certain to receive constant consultation. Jon L. Wakelyn's BIRTH OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS: ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE ANTIFEDERALISTS (1313317399, $199.95) uses a 2-volume set to blend biographies with major writings on the topic. The Antifederalists opposed the US Constitution because they felt state governments should hold more power: their campaign against the Constitution failed, but they succeeded in making the Bill of Rights a strong part of the document. Volume 1 of the set provides biographies of well over a hundred prominent figures in the movement, from Samuel Adams to Benjamin Gale, with each listing receiving up to several pages of background detail. Volume 2 gathers speeches and writings of the movement, along with historical notes to help readers place them in context. Primary documents include pamphlets and broadsides as well as speeches and articles, while the volume's organization by date of state ratification conventions allows users to understand the on-going debates. Readers interested in helping young adults understand teen abuse will want to be sure Joan F. Kaywell's USING LITERATURE TO HELP TROUBLED TEENAGERS COPE WITH ABUSE ISSUES (0313307156) is part of the collection. Featured fiction includes such diverse young adult novels as Chris Crutcher's IRONMAN, John Marsden's SO MUCH TO TELL YOU and many others. Each novel receives a synopsis and a discussion of how it relates to a particular abuse issue, as well as a survey of how counselors and teachers may use the novel as a stepping stone for communication and understanding. Martin Manning and Herbert Romerstein's HISTORICAL DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN PROPAGANDA (0313296057, $69.95) packs in well over 300 entries covering the range of American history as it examines styles, approaches and contents of American propaganda campaigns. From events and publications fostering such propaganda to government agencies and private organizations, hapters provide historical reviews, discussions of mechanisms of propaganda, and bibliographic references for further research. Steven D. Gish's biography DESMOND TUTU (0313328609, $29.95) includes original quotes from Gish's own interviews with Tutu as it follows his progression from boy to man, the evolution of his social consciousness, and his struggles against apartheid. His perseverance against all odds makes for a particularly strong account. Barry Moreno's ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ELLIS ISLAND (0313326827, $75.00) provides a fine A-Z compendium of Ellis Island people and events, tracing important paths in immigration, tackling major subjects and history pertaining to immigration trends and laws, and serving as an excellent high school or public library reference for any patrons studying U.S. immigration history.

Star Wars Empire V. 4: The Heart of the Rebellion
Welles Hartley, et.al.
Dark Horse Comics
10956 SE Main St., Milwaukie, OR 97222
1593073089 $17.95 www.darkhorse.com

Princess Leia is the leader of the rebellion and the one woman whose courage can turn the war: four stories in THE HEART OF THE REBELLION follow her actions, providing a graphic novel short story collection covering her first experiences with armed rebellion to her romance. Striking full-color panels throughout provide vivid eye-catching action and drama suitable for any Star Wars fan.

Diane C. Donovan
West Coast Editor

Harold's Bookshelf
Radical Gratitude
Ellen Vaughn
Zondervan Publishing
5300 Patterson SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49530
ISBN: 0310257492, $19.99, 237 pp.

This is a book of transformation designed to help change your point of view to one of gratitude toward God and as a result a life of peace in the midst of turmoil. The text if filled with anecdotes that illustrate a true attitude of radical gratitude extending far beyond the common conceptions. Do you want to get past obstacles that interfere with your joy in life? The answer is to practice the presence of gratitude.

Ellen Vaughn gives practical ways you can recover your joy in life. We all know we have the ability to choose our attitude. The problem is that although we know this to be true we often find that we are unable to actually do it in difficult circumstances. This book teaches how to make gratitude the prevalent attitude in your life. Focused on Christ and everyday thankfulness this book is sure to change many lives. Radical Gratitude is highly recommended to everyone.

Russell the Sheep
Rob Scotton
HarperCollins Children's Books
1350 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
ISBN: 0060598484, $15.99, 40 pp. Ages: 4 - 8

A delightfully funny story about Russell the sheep and his trials as he tries to fall asleep. What do you do when no matter how hard you try, you just can't fall asleep. Russell tries everything from a pillow to counting stars to counting sheep. Laugh along with Russell and he finally finds a way to fall asleep. Humorously illustrated and a just plain fun read, Russell the Sheep is recommended for all young children.

Harold McFarland
Senior Reviewer

Klausner's Bookshelf
Panic
Jeff Abbott
Dutton
ISBN: 0525949046, $23.95, 368 pp.

Twenty-four years old documentary filmmaker Evan Casher feels he owns the world and the universe is next in his grasp. The reasons he feels euphoric on life are his career seems on the verge of major success as he is in demand and he cherishes his girlfriend Carrie, who seems to reciprocate his high regard. When his mother calls in a state of panic, a stunned Evan races to Austin to insure she is okay. However, he arrives as someone brutally murders his mother and tries to kill him too. Evan knows he is fortunate to escape with his life and that only because some weird former CIA operative Gabriel rescued him. On the run, Evan begins to learn what he thought was his heritage is a total fabrication. He has no idea what is going on or who to turn to for information. He quickly realizes he must trust no one including the agent who saved his life, law enforcement, the CIA, or even his maybe biological father he seeks for answers. He wonders if he has turned paranoid as Evan even questions whether Carrie was part of the fraud that he once called his life. PANIC is a powerhouse of a thriller filled with twists and turns that keep readers guessing what is going on. Evan is a terrific center holding the tale together while coping with his shock that nothing about his life is true. The support cast adds depth to this Kafka existence in which the beleaguered hero feels like the Prisoner starring in a deadly version of The Truman Story.

The Grizzly Maze
Nick Jans
Dutton
ISBN: 0525948864, $24.95

Grizzly bear guru Timothy Treadwell spent thirteen summers living amongst these giants. He became a media favorite because he was always available for a quote. In 2003 while camping in the GRIZZLY MAZE of Alaska's Katmai National Park, Treadwell and his girlfriend Huguenard were attacked and eaten by the bears that he loved. The occurrence captured on tape was the first known human death of this kind in eighty-five years. Nick Jans explores what happened piecing it together like a sleuth on an investigation. Besides covering that gory incident the author looks deep into Treadwell's life so that the audience understands what drove this self-proclaimed expert who defied biologist' beliefs that his contacts were not good for the bears. However, what makes this insightful bio more than just retro sensationalism is the wider discernible perspective in which the author discusses human interactivity with animals in the wild. Mr. Jans makes no apology that he feels this type of interaction is foolish bordering on insanity. Readers will enjoy this deep biography but especially the wider scope that Mr. Jans explores in depth at a time when mankind is tearing down the wilderness.

The Real Lucky Charm
Charisse K. Richardson
Puffin
ISBN: 0142404314, $4.99, 80 pp.

Though taller and perhaps a better athlete than her brother Marcus, Mia Robinson was only allowed to cheer for her sibling at his basketball games until now. The Titans are going coed so Mia tries out and makes the squad. Her dad gives Mia a good luck charm that she believes works as she plays quite well on the court. However, her belief in the magic soon has her missing practice and the coach is ready to bench her even if she is a star. Will Mia learn her lesson that she is the magic through hard work and talent not her father's gift or will she be benched permanently? The sequel to THE REAL SLAM DUNK, THE REAL LUCKY CHARM is a whimsical tale starring a wonderful young protagonist who believes the charm has made her a star not talent or hard work. Mia is the center of the solid story line, but gets strong support from her brother, her parents, and her teammates. Older elementary school children will appreciate Charisse K. Richardson's fine slam dunk tale.

The Silver Anniversary Murder
Lee Harris
Fawcett
ISBN: 0449007308, $6.99, 256 pp.

Christine Bennett Brooks gets a phone call from a woman who tells her that a body will be found later that day. After hearing another voice in the background and a loud sound like a gun going off, the phone calls ends abruptly.. Thanks to some quick thinking on Chris's part, the police are able to find out the address of the party who phoned her. When they arrive the apartment, rented out to Holly and Peter Richards is totally devoid of furniture. The house has been cleaned with bleach and the only thing they find is a phone and blood on the floor. A few weeks later the body of a woman is found presumably the woman going by the name of Holly Mitchell. There is no record of any Mitchell by that name in any of the city of state databases and Chris soon learns think they were using the name of Rosette Parker and Charles Proctor. His body is found a few days after his wife's was located with a bullet in his chest. Chris meets their daughter Ariana when run into one another at Ariana's parent's apartment. She tells Chris that her parents were on the run since she was a little girl constantly changing names and moving every few years. Chris takes a liking to Ariana and together they trace her parent's footsteps to find out who was after them and hopefully find their killers. Once again Lee Harris delivers a cleverly constructed who-done-it that is full of false leads and red herrings. This is one of the toughest cases the protagonist has ever solved because nobody knows why Ariana's parents were on the run and why someone called Chris to get her involved in the investigation. Readers will come to care about Ariana and hope she finds the answers she is seeking. Chris wants to do everything in her power to her find the answers to mystery her parents took to their grave. This wholesome and deliciously entertaining mystery with a great support cast will please Lee Harris's many fans.

Dearly Devoted Dexter
Jeff Lindsay
Doubleday
ISBN: 0385511248, $22.95

Miami-Dade police forensics lab blood spatter analyst Dexter "the Avenger" Morgan obsesses in euphoria when he slices and dices a person, but he also is selective in who he carves up choosing the dregs of society, and psychopaths especially serial killers. He recently notched number forty, homicidal pedophile photographer Steve Reiker and eagerly awaits his next victim. A serial slicer Danco apparently leisurely over a few weeks surgically removes extremities from his victims who he keeps alive as he slowly mutilates them one body part at a time. When a still alive Salvadoran Manuel Borges is found, he has no body part hanging off his torso; the medical examiner estates he underwent at least a month of torture as some of the slits left by the carved off body part healed. Dexter admires this newcomer to the slice and dice game, but also decides to stop this rival although some DC outsider Kyle Chutsky claims lead until he is abducted and loses a finger with more to follow. Now Dexter goes hunting to find the killer. As with DARKLY DREAMING DEXTER, DEARLY DEVOTED DEXTER is a wild macabre perhaps insane South Florida police procedural starring a psychopathic hero who enjoys the finer things in life, eviscerating serial killers. How crazy Dexter is comes out loud clear when unlike his peers and his adversary in the police department who are horrified by Danco's work, the Avenger recognizes a fellow artisan albeit one that he must stop. Readers expecting a High Noon showdown between two professional slashers will enjoy the duel when it occurs but will wait for quite a while as Dexter the sleuth investigates.

Double Cross Bind
Joel Ross
Doubleday
ISBN: 0385513887, $24.95, 372 pp.

On December 1, 1941, American Thomas Wall becomes alert in a London asylum though he aches all over. He is recovering from severe wounds received in battle on Crete where his Canadian unit was slaughtered due to a betrayal. Thomas's diplomatic brother, Earl, sold his troops out to the Nazis. When Thomas recovers fully, he plans to confront and probably kill his sibling. British M15 intelligence officers coax Thomas to work with them masquerading as his brother in order to gain information from captured German spy Sondegger and protect the Twenty Committee of double agents. Sondegger gives him clues to microfilm that contain Japanese information on a pending attack of American Pacific bases. Needing help, Thomas turns to his former lover and now Earl's British Intel wife, Harriet, but he quickly wonders if that was an error as he struggles with who is a friend and who is a foe. DOUBLE CROSS BLIND is a rousing World War II espionage thriller that sub-genre fans will gain immense pleasure from. Ironically though the reader knows the big picture event that will happen in less than a week, the beleaguered hero tries to obtain the information to prevent or at least prepare for the attack. Though the secondary characters come out of stereotypical espionage 101, Joel N. Ross provides an exhilarating tense thriller that grips the audience due to its reluctant champion, a soldier forced into the cold.

Street Level
Karyn Langhorne
Harper Torch
ISBN: 006074782X, $6.99, 384 pp.

In DC the vicious 52nd Street Crew led by prison escapee Jango, a local fief, rules the neighborhood through violence. Currently the gang is mugging Guy Brooks until former Ranger Thea Morris led here by her psychic skills rescues the battered victim. He calls her his angel, but she says she is a Ghetto Cinderella who needs to leave before the cops arrive. Jango is coming for Thea while she protects a child from him and his crew and searches for the boy' missing mother. Her goals are to send the abusive gang lord back to prison and reunite mother and son. Her visions paint a deadlier landscape that contains no happily ever after as she and Guy appear inside Jango's torture chamber. She concludes that to protect the man she believes she loves she must keep him at all costs out of her showdown with Jango, but Guy refuses to heed her pushing him aside as he needs to be at the side of his princess. This is an exhilarating dark paranormal romantic suspense with the emphasis on the action that culminates in a contemporary gender bending High Noon. The story line leaps from one action scene to another while readers never quite catch their breath as we root for the fabulous protagonist, whose prime ally is Maurice the 9 mm to defeat her evil adversary. As the author did with A PERSONAL MATTER, Karyn Langhorne provides a strong deep urban tale that this time looks at STREET LEVEL life.

Only You Can Save Mankind
Terry Pratchett
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060541865, $15.99

Twelve years old Johnny Maxwell loves to play computer games especially those with alien battles. His favorite game at the moment is ONLY YOU CAN SAVE MANKIND in which he battles the ScreeWee. However, something weird out of virtual reality happens when a ScreeWee Captain announces to him that she and her troop surrender and ask for safe passage back to their sector of space. She explains that this is no game for when a ScreeWee dies they really are dead. A stunned Johnny does not know what to do with all these prisoners of war as he is only a preadolescent. Adding to his burden is when he sleeps he seems to enter the computer world in which he can only wake when he dies as the Americans bomb Baghdad in Gulf War I. Written during the first Gulf War, ONLY YOU CAN SAVE MANKIND is a powerful condemnation of war as a means to solve disputes. The story line targets the preadolescent crowd, but adults will enjoy the action-packed tale as the bewildered hero makes a plea for peace. Making no apology with his in your face claim that we are all humans whether we live in America, Darfur, Iraq, North Korea or ScreeWee, Terry Pratchett argue we need to live together in peace and harmony instead of sending our young (that is someone else's children) to fight when we ought to seek respectful peaceful solutions to a crisis.

Men from Boys
John Harvey (editor)
Dark Alley
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060762853, $13.95

The sixteen short stories and one novella (Andrew Coburn's My Father's Daughter) focus on men coming of age when faced with a crisis that makes each protagonist have to use a path that will hopefully leave them with self-esteem and respect. Interestingly none of the characters are similar in temperament, varying in social or economic class and even age as some boys do not become men until their thirties and older. The settings also vary from Manhattan to the World War I front and obviously differing time periods. What they have in common is that each tale is a superb suspense thriller with the center being a boy turning into a man trying to cope with difficult situations that mature someone rather quickly and that the authors are all men. John Harvey of Charlie Resnick fame brings together a virtue hall of fame of male suspense writers and each hits a thrilling home run.

They're Not Your Friends
Irene Zutell
Three Rivers (Crown)
ISBN: 1400097584, $12.95

Valley girl Charlotte "Lottie" Love promises her dying mother that she will never become an actress. To keep her death bed vow, but taste Tinseltown, Lottie becomes a correspondent reporting on the misbehavior of the stars for Personality magazine. Her boss assumes Lottie is a bimbo wannabe so she plans to prove to him that she is a serious entertainment reporter by obtaining an interview with media reticent rising star Chris Mercer. She has two prime rivals. British journalistic has-been Lem Brac, who desperately misses the three martini lunch paid for by his "clients" hopes Mercer is his return ticket to the classy bars. The other adversary, the magazine brass' favorite son New Yorker Mike Posner, has reported numerous exclusives that he made up. As the trio struggles to be the feature gossip columnist, ethics is flushed down the commode. The key characters are stereotypes coming out of gossip magazine casting 101 starring in a shallow plot that readers will love and laugh. The office wars are cleverly handled with zingers and dirty tricks yet an interesting code is adhered to especially by the three competitors. The cosmetic surgery reminds this reviewer of two mercenaries in Swamp Thing comparing injuries. In other words nothing is sacred in THEY'RE NOT YOUR FRIENDS as Irene Zutell lampoons the ooze at the bottom of the LaLa Land food chain.

The Myth of You and Me
Leah Stewart
Shaye Areheart (Crown)
ISBN: 1400098068, $22.00, 288 pp.

The letter contained a handwriting that looked familiar to that of the recipient twenty-nine years old Cameron Wilson. It came from her former best friend Sonia Gray; they have not talked to each other in eight years. Now Sonia wants her to come to her wedding in Cambridge. Her employer and companion, nonagenarian Oliver Doucett pleads with her to go see her former friend but Cameron refuses still feeling that Sonia betrayed her. Oliver dies, but leaves one last request of Cameron. He wants her to deliver a wedding gift from him to Sonia. Stunned Cameron realizes her two best friends were communicating. Cameron honors Oliver's last wish of her, driving from Oxford, Mississippi to Sonia's house, but she is not there. She thinks back on when they first met in Clovis, New Mexico and became best buddies and later when Sonia was seeing Will Barrett who Camazon as she was called for her height hid her love of him. As Cameron tracks down her missing friend, she finds Will who she still loved and others from her past, but wonders what will happen when she runs into the girl she loved as her sister until she committed the ultimate betrayal. THE MYTH OF YOU AND ME is a fantastic look at friendship from the perspective of a person who felt her best friend betrayed her so she deserted her former pal. The story line follows Cameron as she tracks Sonia, but also looks back on her relationship with her beloved "sister". Readers will want to know what Oliver tried to give Sonia and Cameron, what was the betrayal and root for a happy ending with this insightful look at friendship.

Senses Working Overtime
Naomi Nash
Smooch (Leisure)
ISBN: 0843954043, $5.99

Teenager Kaylee suffers from synesthesia, which provides her with a different way to perceive her environment; that can prove a handicap when the world she has been forced to adjust to radically changes. She is in Manhattan having cut school on the hottest day of the year so far when a black out shuts down the city making it difficult for anyone to cross the harbor to Brooklyn where Kaylee lives, but her condition makes it that much more difficult for her to get home. Frightened she gets her first break when she meets Ramon who promises to help her cross the bay to her home. On the way they pick up his sister Rosa. The trek in the darkened city turns dangerous as two-legged predators are on the prowl looking for easy prey. The teens look like easy pickings for the marauders canvassing the city for mugging victims. Only her new friend Ramon, risking his life, keeps Kaylee safe on the journey home. Having the beleaguered heroine have Synesthesia seems unneeded as the excitement of a teen in trouble during a blackout makes for an exhilarating thriller. The story line is action-packed yet the key cast members, Kaylee, Ramon, and Rosa seem real especially with the danger of a city out of control looking to devour the innocent. Readers will appreciate this fabulous teen thriller that never lets up as the audience will wonder if Kaylee will make it home in time.

A Patchwork Family
Charlotte Hubbard
Leisure
ISBN: 0843955511, $6.99, 374 pp.

In 1866 Kansas, Meredith "Mercy" Monroe and her spouse Jake own one of the Holloday Stagecoach line rest stops. The couple works hard to insure the travelers receive the best possible attention whether it is her renowned cooking or his handling of horses and the coaches. Though the work is hard, both Monroes feel they live a good fulfilled life much more than the affluence they left behind in Philadelphia. Perhaps their only regret is a lack of offspring. That changes when driver Michael Malloy brings two abandoned children to the ranch stop. He asks the Monroes to take the kids in as he knows they have with their help Nathanial and Asa. Though they have doubts, the pair follows the Lord's way and they make a home for Billy and Christine Bristol. Though facing many hardships and tragedy, Mercy through her inner strength and her faith remains the center of her extended family. A PATCHWORK FAMILY is an inspirational Reconstruction Era novel. The story line enables the audience to obtain a deep look at life on the Great Plains in the late 1860s through a strong fully developed ensemble with Mercy as the hub. Mindful of Little House on the Prairie, Charlotte Hubbard writes a delightfully deep and rich mid nineteenth century inspirational Americana tale.

A Dollar Short
Karin Gillespie
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0743250117, $19.95

In Cayboo Creek, South Carolina, Wagon Wheel waitress Chiffon Butrell wins a video store's Be-a-Movie-Star contest, but cannot go to Hollywood because her baby is ill. Instead her handsome husband Lonnie heads west where he meets actress Janie-Lynn Lauren and forgets his wife and three kids back home. Chiffon loses her job and she cannot pay her bills because Lonnie has had his paycheck sent to California. Her friends want to help, but they are distracted with other matters. Elizabeth is about to give birth and the remaining Bottom Dollar Girls sisterhood are busy raising money for the Cayboo Creek Senior Center. Chiffon turns to her estranged sister Chenille to help her with her crisis accentuated by the media descending on Cayboo Creek like vultures seeking dirt on Lonnie. The sequel to the BOTTOM DOLLAR GIRLS, A DOLLAR SHORT is a fine look at modern life in a small rural southern community invaded by the outside world. The story line is amusing as the Bottom Dollar sisterhood goes about protecting their own, but also serious with the serious subplot of Lonnie abandoning his children besides his wife. Readers will appreciate this regional slice of life tale especially when the barbarian horde assaults the townsfolk who treat the outsiders like parasites that need special handling. This is one contemporary that is not A DOLLAR SHORT of fun.

Trophy House
Anne Bernay
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 074327055X, $24.00, 288 pp.

On Cape Cod, the residents are depressed as the one year anniversary of 9/11 occurs. Children's book illustrator Danforth "Dannie" Faber is sad and somewhat guilty because her life is near perfect while summering on the dunes of the Cape. She and her spouse MIT anthology Professor Tom is an ideal couple and their two adult children seem to be doing well. Perhaps the only glooms are that she dislikes the lover of her daughter, Beth and wealthy Mitchell Brenner has built an affluent monstrosity in the middle of Truro. However, her perfect life begins to unravel when Beth comes home heartbroken as her lover dumped her. Stunned Beth quit her job as accessory and make-up editor at Scripy teen magazine. An even worse shock is Tom leaves Dannie for someone younger. Upset but refusing to mope, Dannie finds solace with a publishing peer. TROPHY HOUSE is an intriguing character study that focuses mostly on a middle age woman whose life radically changes when her long time spouse leaves her, but also provides a look at other individuals like a nouveau riche show-off, etc. However, this is clearly Dannie's tale. Thus, after the initial shock is over, Dannie begins to regain her equilibrium seeking solace elsewhere. Though action readers need to visit a different house, Anne Bernay writes a fine contemporary fiction novel that stars a strong ensemble cast kept together by the strong lead protagonist.

Shredder: Iron Angel
Karen Koehler
Black Death Books
KHP Industries
P.O.Box 588, Effort, PA 18330
ISBN: 0976791420, $15.00, 286 pp.

Almost every night in the quiet like town of Morningvale, Kansas, high school senior Amy Perry is beaten by her drunken police officer father. When the pain gets too bad and the anger rages out of control, Amy uses the power of the glimmer to keep her father away from her. Everyone knows the secret of the Perry household but nobody does anything about it and soon the town will have more to worry about them a child abuse. Soon being hit will be the least of Amy's woes. In the catacombs below the town teen club known as the Iron Angel, Cyn, a disturbed and alienated teenage girl has made a pact with Azazel, the Shredder of Human Souls. This entity is bound by iron in a statue and needs thirteen human souls to break free. Amy meets Grendel; a Bane who is a soulless immortal who never sleeps nor eats and can heal from any injury. Grendel informs the teen that she too is a Bane, born to be the one to send the Shredder back to hell. As she sheds her humanity to fight in the upcoming battle, it is her human love for her younger brother Charles that will determine whether she contains the resolve needed to win victory from a being more powerful and older than Lucifer. In the new millennium one of the premium writers of cutting edge horror is Karen Koehler with her distinctive gothic style, vivid imagery and dark characters. Amy is an attractive "coming of age" character who goes from fighting her fate to accepting the mantle of responsibility thrust upon her; this endears her to readers. Azazel is fascinating in a macabre malevolent way. Their confrontation makes this book worthy of a Bram Stoker award nomination.

Crimson Snow
Jeanne M. Dams
Perseverance
ISBN: 1880284790, $13.95, 256 pp.

In 1904 South Bend, Indiana, student Erik Johanssen rushes to the Studebaker Mansion to ask a favor of his older sister, the housemaid Hilda. Upset because his favorite teacher Miss Sophie Jacobs failed to show up at Colfax School and knowing his sibling solved mysteries that baffled the police, he wants Hilda to search for the missing teacher. Hilda says she is unable to leave her job at this time, but will meet with him later at the nearby firehouse where her boyfriend Patrick Cavanaugh works. Not long afterward, the local newspapers scream out that someone murdered Sophie, whose body was found in a shed. Hilda prefers to stay out of this case, but Erik pleads with her. Believing her younger brother needs closure through justice, Hilda begins making inquiries into who might have been the victim's boyfriend as rumors surface that she was pregnant. The latest Johanssen amateur sleuth historical tale combines a deep look at social issues of the times like a Swedish Lutheran unable to attend her best friend's Irish Catholic wedding due to religious reasons and emphasizes the gap between rich and poor inside a strong who-done-it. The homicide occurs somewhat into the first half of the tale so for the first quarter readers obtain a look at the era through the perspective of several characters, especially the heroine. The who-done-it is cleverly designed to keep readers guessing while also fostering further insight into Chicago at the turn of the century.

Paradise Lost
Taffy Cannon
Perseverance
ISBN: 1880284804, $13.95, 286 pp.

At the Paradise Plaza Women's Health Spa in Santa Barbara, guide Lora Emerson leads an early morning hike of two customers, TV star Vanessa Wyatt and Stanford coed Holly Constantine on a walk in the Las Padres National Forest. Not too long into the walk, two thugs assault the three women with pepper spray. Lora's eyelids are taped shut and she is tied to a tree. The assailants take Holly and Vanessa with them. As Lora is rushed to the hospital in severe pain, Santa Barbara Police Detective Suzanne Mathis investigates. The Parks for the People kidnappers send an email to the Paradise Plaza home page demanding a ransom to build parks in weird locales. Holly's entertainment lawyer mother Constance goes berserk partially because she brought her daughter here to lose weight not herself. She yells at the cops including FBI Agent Eric Stonehouse and the spa management while her husband drinks to forget how he will raise $8 million demanded by the kidnappers. In their own ways the two victims negotiate with the culprits to make their stay a little more comfortable as for Holly this is no worse than staying at the spa with her mother. Change that, this much better. PARADISE LOST is a terrific crime thriller due to the strong cast. Readers will appreciate Holly, who plans to make life changes if she survives negotiating with the kidnappers in a different way than the whining sexy Vanessa. Holly's parents are a hoot as her mother rips skin off everyone who has the misfortune to fall into her sphere while her father hides from his wife with alcohol. Fans will take immense pleasure with Taffy Cannon's strong stand alone acerbic thriller.

In The Ruins
Kate Elliot
Daw
ISBN: 0756401925, $25.95, 544 pp.

Three millennia ago, the Horse People (centaurs) and seven sorcerers from seven different human tribes wove a spell that sent the Ashioi (elves) into the aether. Now that Liath, a half-human, half daimon of fire has stopped Anne and her agents from renewing the spell, the Ashai and their land has come back to Earth causing a cataclysm of epic proportions. Millions died in the resulting earthquakes, flooding of the seas and volcanic eruptions. The sun doesn't shine very much or as brilliantly, making it almost a certainty that famine is coming. The only reason Liath stopped the spell from being rewoven is that if it was; the very earth could have been destroyed. She makes her way back to her husband Sanglant who is now the king regnant of Wendor. They travel through lawless, lifeless and unstable lands making Sanglant realize that he wants to make Wendor a haven of peace and stability in a world gone mad. The old alliances are gone as rulers vie for even more power and land; there are those who would like nothing better to see Sanglant and Liath gone from the political scene. This book does not end the Crown of Stars saga but readers will find themselves glad of it because there is still much of the story to be told. Series fans will want to know what the Ashai will do and how Sanglant and Liath will deal with their enemies including the church who regards them as a heretic because of her use of sorcery amongst other dangling threads. Kate Elliot, an excellent fantasist, writes lush and lyrical scenes and uses her characters to scale down cosmic events to a human scale.

Darkscape: The Rebel Lord
R. Garland Gray
LTD
ISBN: 1553164806, $16.00

In 3210 the solar system peace between the clans is fragile. Many pray that the upcoming peace conference will strengthen those wanting cooperation rather than war. However, one of the attendees, Commander Lin Jacob Rama leads an attack on Clan Douglas on Ceres. He takes Lachlan de Douglas, heir to the clan, prisoner. Combat pilot Lieutenant Kimberly Kinsdale worries that madness is taking over her commander's mind. She fears the assault and abduction of Lachlan will lead to clan warfare. Her only hope to prevent what seems like Rama's deliberate sabotage of the peace conference is to rescue Lachlan, which she succeeds in doing though she is branded a traitor and deserter. As the two warriors try to expose a deadly conspiracy that has the planetary clans at war, they fall in love, but saving humanity remains the prime directive. The premise behind the Darkscape tales is simply placing pre-Culloden Scotland in outer space; thus clan wars are all over the solar system and where they are not, hostilities are one incident away from exploding. Kimberly is a remarkable protagonist struggling between performing her duty by doing the ethically correct thing vs. loyalty to her superior officer and her clan by obeying orders. Her dilemma makes the early segment of the story line very appealing while the rest of the tale continues that strong ethical exciting start. For instance, Lachlan is terrific in the co-lead role as he must sacrifice his personal quest for vengeance for the better good of all the clans. Together they make quite a force though the enemy seems quite insurmountable. R. Garland Gray provides readers with a superior stimulating space opera.

The Big Over Easy
Jasper Fforde
Viking
ISBN: 0670034231, $24.95

In Reading, England Nursery Crimes Davison Detective Jack Spratt is upset that his latest open and shut homicide case fell apart as the court declared those three murdering pigs not guilty of first-degree murder of Mr. Wolff. However Jack has no time to wallow over his next meal as he is assigned the case of Humpty Dumpty who fell from a wall. Assigned to work with Jack is quite contrary rookie know-it-all Mary Mary. Jack and Mary, Mary dig deep into the world of yoke learning that Humpty's life was in the dumps. His wife divorced him for womanizing with more women than the king has horses and men. His former lovers hated him enough to want to see him fried. So many suspects wanted HD scrambled and had the opportunity as the victim liked to sit on a wall and think, but the nimble Jack and his sidekick Mary two times struggle to figure who would commit the act. This is a weird often satirical and amusing police procedural in which nursery rhymes serve as an alternate world. The story line is clever and literary to the point that writing about solving crime receives more accolades than solving the crime. The little encounters with nursery rhyme characters are fun sort of mindful of Shrek. However, the irony of the story line is that the sidebar nursery rhyme anecdotes though fun at times overwhelm the plot; if only Jack was as nimble as Thursday.

When the Day of Evil Comes
Melanie Wells
Multnomah
ISBN: 1590524268, $12.99

In Texas, when she first saw the chalk white, totally hairless skeletal man at a faculty picnic, psychology professor Dr. Dylan Foster thought he was a cancer victim, not a survivor; he introduced himself in the cold lake water as Peter Terry. Presents begin showing up and he seems to come out of nowhere any time of day. Worried Dylan concludes Peter is stalking her. Weirdness always follows his eerie appearances like the necklace, her dead mother's wedding ring buried with her and the overwhelming odious odor. Finally troubles assault people associated with Dylan to include a suicide of a healthy colleague and the insanity of a seemingly hale and hearty student. Other strangers visit her discussing her theology degree. Dylan does not understand what is going on, but knows she is at least in a battle to maintain her sanity. She begins digging to learn the truth behind who Peter is, why he haunts her, and what is harming those she knows. She soon finds a link to a nasty incident three decades ago that has enabled evil to grow and foster with each new death. Only Dylan can stop this malevolence, but he must risk her life to do so. This is an intriguing tale in which the eternal war between good and evil is fought within each person's soul. Dylan is a reluctant heroine drawn into a skirmish that she does not understand nor particular wants to be involved in, but also knows she cannot disavow as Peter, who constantly shows up, frightens her on sight and always lead to tragic aftermaths. Though the Peter dilemma is never fully resolved, readers will enjoy this strong mystical war.

Dark Star: Confessions of a Rock Idol
Creston Mapes
Multnomah
ISBN: 1590524721, $12.99, 397 pp.

Everett Lester and DeathStroke are musical superstars; however fame and fortune are not as fulfilling as he thought that would be. He turns to drugs and alcohol to fill his emptiness and to Madam Endora Crystal, his personal psychic for spiritual guidance. Through Endora's guidance, Everett turns his back on Christianity and encourages his impressionable young fans to do likewise. However, Everett soon finds himself on trial for the murder of Endora. He is depressed with no hope for the future. As he contemplates suicide his only regret is badly injuring a teen fan. The letter from Karen of Topeka, Kansas makes it clear she dislikes his music but prays for his soul. No one has ever cared what happened to him except when the music sold. More letters arrive and soon Everett begins to wonder why he crossed to the Other Side instead of turning to Jesus. Though he still faces the possibility of capital punishment, Everett is beginning to find solace with Jesus, but he wonders if it remains too late for him to give his lost soul to God. This is an interesting character study that showcases a lost soul who has fame and fortune yet feels empty. The beguiling story line shifts between Everett's present woes and his memories while she knows he needs Jesus to save his soul. Profanity and implied drug abuse add depth to the characterizations of Everett and the band, and the Jesus is where it's at message can feel heavy handed at times but fans of insightful modern day Christian fiction will want to read Creston Mapes' strong realistic tale of salvation.

Shred of Evidence
Kathy Herman
Multnomah
ISBN: 1590523482, $12.99, 400 pp.

Former newspaper editor, Ellen Jones and her husband Guy, a lawyer, have moved into their new home Seaport, Florida. Ellen works on a novel while Guy commutes to Tallahassee to practice law. At a supermarket Ellen meets two other newcomers depressed and lonely Julie Hamilton and her two years old daughter Sarah Beth. Not long afterward, Ellen is at a diner when she overhears a conversation that accuses Julie's husband Ross of child abuse. Out of fear for the child and the mother Ellen reports what she heard to police chief, who says he will make inquiries. Not feeling that is enough, Ellen investigates Ross. She soon realizes her initial opinion and that of others that he was an abuser seems wrong although he is someone with a shady deadly past as a newspaper article claims he killed two boys, ran over his own son, and is the prime suspect in the disappearance of two missing girls. Ellen fears she waited too long too speak out as Sarah Beth has vanished. The story line grips readers who will worry that Sarah Beth perhaps has been killed by parental abuse, which overshadows the return of the Baxter series stars Ellen and Guy in the first Seaport saga tale. The story line serves as a reminder not to jump to conclusions especially based on gossip and rumors (mindful of Harriet the Spy). Though the moral message is overly pounded with unnecessary cul de sac sidebars, fans of the Baxter tales will enjoy the relocation of the stars.

Billy Goat Hill
Mark Stanleigh Morris
Multnomah
ISBN: 1590524063, $17.99

In 1958 Los Angeles, infant Matthew Parker stops breathing. His parents and two older brothers are stunned with his death. Not long afterward, their dad deserts his family leaving their emotionally numb mom to bring in income. Eight year old Wade takes care of his six years old brother Luke. Still boys will be boys as the two siblings along with pal Gooey climb Billy Goat Hill to cardboard slide down the Crippler at four in the morning when they run into Scar, Miss Cherry and their gang. Already frightened Wade tries to brazen their way out when murder occurs. They escape, but as usual no one is there for Wade who is there for Luke; he turns to the Dodgers and Charlie Neal and Duke Snider as imaginary friends. Now forty, an age he never expected to reach, Wade looks back at his life. He is at a crossroad in which he can join the materialistic world of his biological father or he can turn to the heavenly world of the Father. He thinks both deserted him along with his mother when he was eight; only the imaginary Duke and Luke was there for him. BILLY GOAT HILL is a deep look inside a man whose childhood is shattered when neither of his parents coped with the death of their youngest. Readers will empathize with Wade who lost more than just his innocence during that year; he lost his beliefs in God and adults. Scar in a twisted way becomes his role model. Readers will cherish this powerful character study while asking the same question that Wade ponders about going home to a nightmare of grief, alcohol and homicide.

Rolling Thunder
Mark Mynheir
Multnomah
ISBN: 1590523768, $12.99

Governor Ronald "Mac" MacClartney is irate, embarrassed, and fears he could be a one term leader when the Orland Sentinel broke the story of Dylan Jacobs placed in foster care at four years old six years ago only to vanish. Acting like a Mack truck running over everyone in his path, Mac demands instant answers, which a Grand Jury would take to long to provide. Florida Department of Law Enforcement sends its best team, Agents Tim Porter and John Russell to find the child. While the police partners follow the trail, John past rises to haunt him. His estranged father, Frank Moore has been paroled after thirty-three years at Union Correctional Institute in Railford, Florida for murdering his wife. Frank pleads with John to give him a second chance saying he has changed since he found the Lord. An idealist who believes in second chances John wants to refuse his murdering dad's request to see any family member especially John's wife Marie and their children Brandon and Joshua. However, he also knows how un-Christian he behaves if he fails to forgive the man who sired him but also destroyed his childhood. ROLLING THUNDER works on two fronts, the police procedural thriller and the family drama. When John follows the clues to the disappearance of Dylan, the audience receives an exciting investigative tale; when the plot concentrates on John's personal dilemma of not wanting to forgive his father, readers obtain a deep introspective character study in which the hero's private debate impedes on his official capacity. Mark Mynheir provides a strong inspirational mystery.

The Birdcage
Marcia Willett
Dunne
ISBN: 0312327757, $24.95, 384 pp.

In 1956 Dunster, though married to Marina and raising a son Piers together, Felix is unhappy with his loveless life though he loves his son. He meets Angelina when he attends the theater as she is performing on the stage. They begin a tryst as he visits her often at the Birdcage. He is falling in love with his Angel and cherishes her delightful young daughter Lizzie, who thinks Felix is the dad she never met. When Marina learns about her husband's infidelity, she forces him to decide between his second family and his son. Four decades later, a grieving Lizzie, whose mom just died, needs to understand why Felix abruptly dumped them. When she catches up to the man who was so kind to a girl that needed attention, she hides the truth that she is married to a philanderer. Felix is happy to see Lizzie and introduces her to Piers. With Lizzie as the catalyst the estranged relationship between father and son heals, but she knows she lives a lie from the two men she cares so much about. The vital element in this deep relationship drama is the significant cast members seem genuine whether it is the 1950s or the 1990s. The story line focuses on the characters especially Felix in the first half and Piers and Lizzie in the latter segment of this profound drama. Readers will emphasize with Felix as he chooses his beloved son which means Marina over his treasured Angel and her dearly loved daughter. Fans will be pleased with this strong family drama starring wonderful fully developed protagonists regardless of the decades that the subplots occur.

Nora Jane: A Life in Stories
Ellen Gilchrist
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316058386, $14.95

As a child, Nora Jane Whittington loved her grandmother's Blue House where the youngster learned that she is the product of generations of strong women who are not afraid to take charge as it is a God gift for them to use their strength when needed. At nineteenth she heads west where her mentor Sandy teaches her to rob people using a prop gun. In the San Francisco Bay area, she tries to rob bookstore owner Freddy Harwood, but instead of leaving him in a wasteland, she ends up sharing his hot tub. She loves both her men and soon gives birth to twins. She chooses Freddy and with him raises their daughters in Berkeley. Over the next two decades, Nora Jane continues her belief to gravitate towards those you love; others follow her lofty ambition. All is joyful in Mudville until Freddy has leukemia. Now Nora Jane has her toughest task of all: bringing all her love into nurturing her beloved. The fourteen short stories have appeared in other publications over the years, but the novella Fault Lines is a new entry that adds to Nora Jane's cycle of life and love. The tales are all well written as most fans already know, but for the first time they appear in one book. The poignant effervescent heroine is perhaps at her best in NORA JANE A LIFE IN STORIES because the well written often amusing bit, always with a serious undertone, comes across more as a biographical fiction than anecdotal shorts. The novella enhances Ellen Gilchrist's wonderful collection.

Trace Evidence
Elizabeth Becka
Hyperion
ISBN: 1401301746, $22.95, 336 pp.

Medical Examiner's Office forensic scientist Evelyn James and homicide detectives Bruce Riley and David Milaski stare at the young woman in chains and her feet stuck inside a bucket of cement drowned in the Cuyahoga River. Making matters worse Mayor Daryl "Mobbuster" Pierson arrives; he was once Evie's lover before she married and since divorced her cheating spouse Rick. At home, their teenage daughter Angel blames the split on Evelyn while Rick and his girlfriend Terrie play the good guys. A second victim surfaces, the mayor's daughter Destiny making the case the top story. Evelyn crosses the thin line into cop territory fearing her daughter might be part of the inner circle of targets of a serial killer as she begins seeing a pattern. The killer becomes aware that the forensic scientist is closing in on him so he plans to lure her into a trap. David, who was attracted to Evelyn from the moment they first met overlooking that first corpse by the Cuyahoga, worries about the safety of the scientist he is falling in love with, but he may not be enough to keep her safe from a clever consistent killer. Readers who appreciate the details will enjoy this strong forensic police procedural. The heroine is a super person who enjoys her work and worries about her relationship with her daughter even while fighting an attraction to the new homicide detective. The suspense takes somewhat of a back seat to Evelyn on the job and at home, but though the tension is not stratospheric, the investigative depth seems genuine, candid, and insightful making for a fine tale held together by its star.

Bloody Mary
J.A. Konrath
Hyperion
ISBN: 1401300898, $22.95, 307 pp.

Cook County Chief Medical Examiner Phil Blasky informs Chicago Violent Crimes Unit Detective Jacqueline "Jack" Daniels that the morgue has a slight problem, a pair of extra arms handcuffed together. Jack and her partner Herb Benedict, thinking that the 100 plus degrees outside is cooler than their office, stop by the morgue where Jack's handcuffs link the arms. Soon other body parts surface at the morgue as if an insider is toying with the medical examiner and the cops. After several people are killed, the two cops finally catch the apparent culprit aspirin popping Barry Fuller; Jack and Herb feel they have stapled the case shut until the accused takes a lie detector test. While the serial killer case looks suddenly lost Jack's home front turns weirder then ever when her mom, assisted by her former son-in-law Alan, moves in with her while her current boyfriend Latham Conger wonders what is going on; for Barry a new list of Jack's circle now exists. BLOODY MARY is a zany roller coaster police procedural that the alternates perspectives between the cop and the killer. The story line starts off grippingly eerie, picks up weirdness and speed, but slows down towards the middle as readers know too much, only to suddenly detour yet accelerate into hyperspeed once Fuller is caught but apparently will walk due to lack of evidence. Jack's personal life adds craziness that is so out of control that a serial killer aimed in some perverse way at her seems like a lark. Fans will need to toast Jack with a WHISKEY SOUR for handling her personal life with chocolate and a murder investigation as her escapes.

The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805
Richard Zacks
Hyperion
ISBN: 1401300030, $25.95

In the early nineteenth century, Tripoli ruler Bashaw Yussef uses a force of pirates to terrorize the seas (nation sponsored terrorism even in early 1800s). Countries have choices to either pay him for safe passage or risk the seizing of their ships. Most nations choose to remit the fee. America is the exception refusing to bow to any form of tyranny. Instead, the tiny US Navy sets up a blockade off North Africa, but the Philadelphia runs aground off Tripoli; the 300 man crew is enslaved. Outraged President Jefferson sends diplomat William Eaton to allegedly negotiate with the abusive Barbary pirates though he also has a secret agenda to cause regime change. This is an interesting look at a rarely detailed chapter of early American "diplomacy". The first part of the book reads almost like a historical action thriller as the audience is gripped by what really happened. When the negotiations occur, the account slows down, but remains insightful and intriguing (no wonder the media pushes for hostilities - those are more exciting than back room diplomacy). Known for his bio on Captain Kidd (see THE PIRATE HUNTER) Richard Zacks provides an excellent insightful look at the Jefferson presidency with this powerful, deeply researched historical description of the Barbary Pirates encounter.

Naked Truth
Amy J. Fetzer
Brava (Zebra)
ISBN: 0758211031, $14.00, 352 pp.

Undercover secret agent Alexa Gavlin has lost one month of memory somehow chemically erased, but has no idea why though she is confident that she knows who. She knows that her peers branded her a traitor and are coming for her. Alexa trusts no one as her only objective is to survive until she can prove she did not betray her country and name who set her up for the fall. Former marine Killian Moore wants nothing to with his former world of black operational retrieval, but he is an expert so has been ordered to take Alexa back in custody dead or alive. Although he believes she cost him his career he still wants to refuse the mission, but is given no choice; he must retrieve her or else. When he catches up with Alexa, she is nothing like he expected. His beliefs are destroyed and he wants her to be innocent, but he wonders if he is thinking with the wrong head as he knows she is the best con artist in the government. Alexa knows he has come for her and should run from him, but her heart wants to trust Killian with her life and her soul. NAKED TRUTH is a thrilling espionage romantic suspense that never slows down whether the heroes are undercover or under cover. Alexa and Killian have reasons to distrust one another and no logical argument to rely on each other except for their attraction, which both believe is undependable yet keeps them together. Fans of action-packed non-stop thrillers with a critical romantic subplot will enjoy the female spy alone in the cold until love joins her.

The River Devil
Diane Whiteside
Brava
ISBN: 0758207948, $14.00, 384 pp.

In December 1871 in New York Nicholas Lennox will do anything including kill to insure he controls the wealth of Rosalind Schuyler though he plans to marry her first. A stipulation in her inheritance insists that if she marries in the next fifteen months she loses control of her money. To avoid that fate especially with the dangerous Nicholas, Rosalind flees west hoping to hide until she can claim her wealth without any proviso. To hide in plain sight, Rosalind dresses like a man, but Nicholas seems to be closing in on her. At a poker game, she meets Mississippi-Missouri riverboat captain Hal Lindsey. She is attracted to him but fears revealing her gender; he knows that "he" is a she and he needs to learn why because he wants her too. Diane Whiteside's latest devilish tale, THE RIVER DEVIL, is a terrific historical romance that stars two likable lead protagonists, a vile villain, and the rivers with their riverboats. The story line cleverly meanders like the rivers that flow throughout the descriptive plot. However, the cast makes this a fine novel as readers will root for Nicholas and Rosalind (perfect name for a woman disguised as a man) and appreciate the return of the stars of THE IRISH DEVIL in a secondary role.

Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?
Gemma Bruce
Brava
ISBN: 0758211414, $14.00, 304 pp.

"Wicked Widow". On Long Island, Mathilde Sims hired Women-Tek private Eye Hannah "Nan" Harrington-Scott to investigate her wealthy husband Rupert when she notices that a James Bond clone is doing likewise. She decides checking out Damon Connelly is more fun especially when he reciprocates by inspecting her with enough heat to melt her clothing off. "Man with a Past". A decade ago teen Geena Cole helped Cabot Vandermeer III escape town before he is arrested as a killer. He has come back with a need to prove his innocence and a greater desire to kiss the neighbor who helped him flee. Cab hires private eye Geena to find proof that he is not a murderer though his real motive is winning Geena. "Love Bites". Delia Petrocelli hates her life as a boring socialite married to a wealthy loser. Geena assigns her to investigate whether Ben Michaelson killed his last lover as the victim's sister insists. As she stirs her mark's juices, she falls in love with him, but the evidence seems to point towards his guilt, which could mean he might kill his next paramour, her. These three former bad girls turn wicked women investigative romances are fun to follow because the female stars and the men they nab make for a fun fine time for the audience. It will not take a sleuth to know that Gemma Bruce has provided a fabulous who-done-it anthology.

Not Just For Tonight
Susan Johnson, Katherine O'Neal, & Diane Whiteside
Brava
ISBN: 0758206968, $15.00, 336 pp.

"American Beauty" by Susan Johnson. In 1889 Epsom, England, American Evelyn Sweet knows her horses while Marquis Nicholas DeLacey has the reputation for the best stable in England. With the Derby coming up shortly, they agree that their thoroughbreds belong together while each plans to make love with the other. "Dr. Yes" by Katherine O'Neal. In 1912, following three annulled marriages due to certain marital problems, rich San Franciscan Sierra Winston travels to Buenos Aires seeking to become sexually liberated. British expatriate sexual therapist Dr. Alistair Lange plans to be her liberator but also sees her as a sexy distraction who can seize a damning political document he desires to possess almost as much as he wants to possess her. "The Seduction of Mrs. Rutledge" by Diane Whiteside. In 1863, his father warns Colonel Brett Rutledge that if he fails to take a bride soon he will have him removed from the military. Knowing he can do this, Brett visits his childhood friend Venetia Davidson to ask her to be his wife. Though twelve years have passed since they saw each other in Maryland, Venetia accepts as she worries about her future. However, she vows to never fall in love as that only leads to pain, but Brett has mounted an assault on the heart of the woman he loves. These three heated historical romances star wonderful protagonists who grip the audience in each case. Readers will appreciate these naughty yet nice novellas.

The Matchmaker
Jamie Denton
Brava
ISBN: 0758210124, $14.00

He is the ultimate matchmaker insuring that the dead receive what they deserved, but did not get out of life. He insures that the recently departed and their soulmate spend eternity together even though he may have to expedite moving the survivor on. Former FBI profiler turned deputy sheriff Greer Lomax fears her current assignment that brings back the memories of why she fled the agency and the agent she loves. Two years is not enough to rid herself of her nightmares, but the court demands she exhume a corpse now. Greer is stunned as the deceased shares his last resting spot with a dead woman. She needs help so she asks her former lover FBI agent Ash Keller to investigate. Ash still loves Greer, but is angry that she left him. AS they work together to uncover the culprit, the matchmaker believes they are a perfect couple to spend eternity together. THE MATCHMAKER is a tense serial killer suspense tale with a strong romantic subplot. The killer is cleverly employed so that the audience along with Greer slowly see a picture of a maniac murderer matching the living with the dead. The relationship between Ash and Greer accentuates the troubled case. Though similar in tone to police procedurals involving a psychopathic serial killer like Copycat, Jamie Denton hooks her audience from start to finish with this taut thriller.

Larger Than Life
Alison Kent
Brava
ISBN: 0758211120, $14.00, 309 pp.

Smithson Group agent Mick Savin awakens in West Texas wondering how he ended up there. He knows he was attacked, hog tied and dragged before being left to die by Spectra hoods while on a mission in the New Mexico desert. Mick soon learns that former attorney Neva Case saved his life. She saw his battered dog on a remote road and followed the canine until she located the tattered bleeding Nick. She took him to safety. He is already grateful to her for saving his life, but soon also admires Neva as she left her urban legal practice to manage the Big Brown Barn shelter, which protects young girls from being sold into polygamist marriages. However, Mick is concerned that someone wants to put Neva out of business permanently even if that means killing her but he refuses to allow any harm to come to the woman he now loves. The latest Smithson Group thriller is an electrifying espionage romantic suspense novel that starts off at supersonic speed, accelerates, and never slows down until the climax. The story line is loaded with action, but also contains two terrific congenial yet tough lead characters whose love for one another comes at the right time as first he needs her nurturing and then she needs his protection. Alison Kent has added a winner to her Smithson saga.

Painted Kiss
Elizabeth Hickey
Atria
ISBN: 0743492609, $24.00

In 1944 Vienna, septuagenarian Emilie Floge fears the Nazis either absconding with or viciously destroying her most prized possessions. Willing to risk her life to see they are safe, she flees Vienna with the only things she thought important in her life, a portfolio filled with the drawings of her beloved Gustav Klimt. On the trek to her Austrian countryside hideaway, Emilie reflects back to when she was a teenager and first met her Gustav in 1886 Vienna. Her father hired the near starving artist to provide her with some rudimentary drawing lessons. .Over time they became lovers inspiring each other to greater heights though he also was a womanizer. She became a renowned designer while his paintings became popular. He turned to her for inspiration as she was his motivating muse for his most reflective work, The Kiss. This is a well written biographical fiction starring two intriguing individuals who's on and off love affair enhanced their artistic endeavors. The story line is loaded with historical insight especially Vienna in 1944 and the late nineteenth century; this makes for an interesting comparative analysis. Though the book is too crammed with sidebar details that never fully get integrated into the prime story line, fans of novelizations of real life persona will take much delight with what inspired the renowned PAINTED KISS.

Fury
Robert K. Tanenbaum
Atria
ISBN: 0743452909, $25.95, 396 pp.

Twelve years ago five Bedford Stuyvesant teenage gangbangers were convicted of raping twenty-eight years old new mother Liz Tyler when they caught her jogging from Brighton beach towards Coney Island; they left her dead under a pier. After a decade behind bars for four of them, the one who turned witness had died; Enrique Villalobos, a lifer at Rikers Island, confessed to the crime as the lone assailant; Kings County DA Kristine Brennan admits that the only DNA found at the crime scene besides the victim matched that of Enrique. Politically ambitious attorney Hugh Louis demands the immediate release from prison of the Coney Island Four and persuades the oldest Jayshon Sykes to sue the city for $250 million. Since Brennan capitulated, Mayor-elect Denton demands New York's Acting District Attorney Butch Karp to defend the city. Meanwhile, Butch's wife Marlene Ciampi, defends visiting Russian Professor Alexis Michalik from the rape charge of NYU graduate student Sarah Ryder. While the married couple struggles with highly visible cases, they hear rumors that murderer David Grale, thought dead, is alive, and that terrorists plan to blow up Times Square at midnight on New Year's Eve. The seventeenth Karp-Ciampi legal thriller is terrific when the story line focuses on the two rape cases; on the other hand the terrorists and Grale subplots seem cartoonish and unnecessary in comparison. The lead duet remains as fresh and solid as ever as they work difficult cases under the media spotlight and the heated political reactions to the negative publicity of being on the accused side of both fights. Though the ending is obvious, fans of the series will cherish this installment and look forward to the next one, already set up.

Once Upon a Prince
Holly Jacobs
Silhouette Romance
ISBN: 0373197772, $4.25, 187 pp.

In Erie, Pennsylvania, Shey Carlson intercedes when she agrees to keep Prince Eduardo Matthew Tanner Ericson of Amar away from his chosen bride, one of her two best friends Princess Parker Dillon (see ONCE UPON A PRINCE). Shey succeeds in her mission taking the Royal pain on her motorcycle while Parker marries her beloved Jace O'Donnell. Tanner leaves town not because he is embarrassed or hurt by losing his princess to a private sleuth, but because he is confused how by his attraction to Shey. Tanner now knows what he wants and returns to Erie to persuade the co-owner of the Monarch Coffeehouse and Titles Bookstore that she is his caffeine and together they can have a fairy happily ever after. Though she loves his kisses and caresses, Shey is unable to accept the possibility of her being a regal outside of a cafe. The second royally Pennsylvania romance is a fun contemporary tale starring a wonderful outgoing protagonist and the regal who loves her. The return of Shey's pals adds a sense of belonging to the warm tale. Tanner is terrific as she struggles with his upbringing as a prim proper prince and his desire to ride the wind with the wild woman he cherishes. Readers will enjoy this story, the previous one and look forward to the final entry in a charming trilogy, ONCE UPON A KING.

The Contestant
Stephanie Boyle
Silhouette Bombshell
ISBN: 0373513666, $4.99

A former Olympics diver who won a silver medal at Sydney has a will to win in all competitions because the win was done with a broken hand. Talia Mooney knows why she is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Her father owes $50K to Rocco, a loan shark known for breaking bones of late payees. Talia looks over her rivals and thinks she has an excellent chance of winning the million dollar winner take all prize though she acknowledges her prime competitor on the Ultimate Endurance reality TV survival show is the in shape former cop Reuben Serrano, who makes no pretension that this is a team sport as he plans to go alone. However, a storm strands the contestants and crew on the isolated island. Not long afterward, someone decides to change the rules of the game by killing off opponents. Talia wonders if she can trust anyone as any of the other marooned folks could be the killer although she is most wary of Reuben as she fears her judgment of him due a strong attraction. Perhaps being an ex-cop, he is even more suspicious of his competition although his libido screams for teaming with Talia. THE CONTESTANT is a fabulous romantic thriller starring two real individuals with flaws that make each hesitant to fall in love. The exciting story line is mindful of Ten Little Indians (especially the Hugh O'Brien movie) with the TV reality show twist modernizing the plot. Fans of action-packed pot boilers will enjoy this strong romantic suspense.

Once a Thief
Michele Hauf
Silhouette Bombshell
ISBN: 0373513631, $4.99

One year ago Rachel Blu fled France to escape from her mentor Christian who raised her to be a master thief. She relocated in the American Midwest using her thieving skills to become a security consultant. Her current assignment, keeping a priceless gem safe, will make her reputation. However, the impossible has occurred and the gem is stolen and she knows who the thief is because only her former mentor could have pulled off such an impossible theft. Rachel knows that if she fails to recover the gem she will be the prime suspect especially when her previous occupation surfaces. She also concludes she needs help from a specialist when she begins her quest to regain the stolen gem. Thus she goes to friend and thief Jason Marland not knowing that turning to him in her hour of need will prove even more complex to her heart than stealing back the gem. This intriguing romantic suspense will grip readers with its cat and mouse contest between the teacher and the student. Rachel is a terrific protagonist who chose the right side of the law over the morality of her instructor. Jason is her perfect foil as she grants to herself that she loves him but also detests him due to his profession. Christian steals the show though his appearances are comparatively brief as he is not evil yet stealing is in his blood except when he suffers the severe head pains. Michele Hauf provides a fun thriller as it takes a thief to catch a thief.

Hot Pursuit
Kathryn Jensen
Silhouette Bombshell
ISBN: 037351364X, $4.99

NASA scientist Dr. Kate Foster assumed her troubles would be in space not on earth. Instead someone broke into her secure lab holding a gun on her and seven members of her staff, stole valuable data, and "abducted" a HW-1 satellite that she operates. She assumes that the intruder is a corporate espionage agent from a rival of her prime funding Alternate Source Energy Corporation (ASEC) until this Zed kills one worker and shoots and abducts another. Civilian anti-terrorist expert and retired marine colonel Daniel Rooker is hired to find the criminals and recover the information and the satellite. As he begins his inquiries with Kate, the thieves demand ransom money from the government. He questions Kate as if she is the felon and is even harsher with her about her loyal crew as he is convinced someone inside had to expedite the caper. She cannot give credence to his theory that she has a traitor on her team though that is the only plausible way the theft could have occurred. Instead she knows each person personally and each one is dedicated, knows their stuff, and has cleared security checks. As they dispute who is behind the escapade yet work closely together, Kate and Daniel fall in love. HOT PURSUIT is an exhilarating thriller that never slows down from the moment that Zed enters the NASA Weston Research Facility until the final confrontation. The relationship between the scientist and the anti-terrorist expert starts early with a dispute over alarms and continues arguing over the turncoat and even over falling in love. Kathryn Jensen writes a fun romantic suspense thriller filled with plenty of action and a neat final twist.

Courting Danger
Carol Stephenson
Silhouette Bombshell
ISBN: 0373513658, $4.99

A scandal involving sleeping with her boss Harold Lowell cost wealthy Palm Beach criminal defense attorney Katherine Rochelle her job at the U.S. Attorney's Office. So when she feels a proper amount of time has passed she opens up a partnership with two friends, Carling Dent and Nicole Sterling. Her Aunt Hilary orders Katherine to defend family friend Lloyd Silber accused of killing Grace Roberts. Katherine reluctantly agrees and cautiously hires private investigator Gabriel Chavez to make inquiries; her hesitation stems from her attraction to the ex-cop and not his competency as he is acknowledged as one of the best. As he digs up information, the case takes a wicked spin as it is connected to the disappearance of her grandparents years ago. Before deciding whether she should recluse herself due to a possible conflict of interests as she always wanted to know what happened to her relatives, someone tries to kill Kate. Only Gabriel keeps her safe, but she wonders who will keep her heart safe once he steals it. Fans of romantic legal thrillers will enjoy this stirring tale. The story line stars an attorney struggling to regain her reputation shattered when she had an affair with her boss; both losing their jobs. Though Gabriel is a fine male lead, Katherine is the star from her first sterling performance bringing to heel a felon, a judge, and a prosecutor in the courtroom until the final efforts to prove her client innocent and learn what happened to her grandparents. Readers will want more stories starring the "Debt, Default, and Miscarriage" legal team especially COURTING DANGER.

Happily Never After
Kathleen O'Brien
Signature Select
ISBN: 0373836562, $5.99

Thomas Beckham thought Sophie Mellon was the most beautiful woman he ever met. He courted her and proposed to her; she accepted. However, as the wedding day grew nearer he saw a dark insane side to his fiancee. She also pales in comparison to the sweet kind hearted bridesmaid Kelly Carpenter. Unable to marry his lunatic betrothed and half in love with Kelly, Tom flees New York for Atlanta. Though most members of the Mellon wedding party assumes the runaway husband fled with the bridesmaid that everyone could see he ogled, Tom and Kelly went their separate ways in spite of their attraction to one another. Neither thought it appropriate to build a relationship off the misery of someone else. A decade has passed when someone begins killing the Mellon wedding party. Kelly fearing for her life and thinking Tom must be a target too looks him up. Though ten years since they have seen one another, both have thought of the other many times and realize the desire is as strong as ever. Assuming unhinged Sophie went off the deep end, they team up to keep one another safe while trying to stop a matrimonial serial killer. HAPPILY NEVER AFTER is an exhilarating romantic suspense with a strong cast that will have the audience reading the novel in one sitting to learn why Tom jilted Sophie and whether Sophie is, as the lead couple suspect, the killer wiping out her extended Mellon family. Though the motive seems twisted, the story line never slows down gripping fans until the end. Kathleen O'Brien writes a solid contemporary romantic thriller, which asserts you can't go home.

Not Without Proof
Kay David
Signature Saga (Harlequin)
ISBN: 0373836716, $5.99

The International Diamond Dealers Association wants to hire Stratton O'Neil to uncover a thief stealing valuable gems from their members. Stratton insists he is out of that business, but the offer is so good so he accepts the IDDA as a client. The prime suspect is a Houston dealer Am Leonadov, owner of Leonadov Diamonds. Insisting he needs her ability to speak Portuguese, Am shocks his assistant Jennifer Rodas by taking her on a business trip to Rio, the first time his assistant goes on the road. However, someone kills Am in his hotel room and targets Jennifer next. Stratton, who followed them to Brazil, rescues Jennifer. He concludes she is an innocent dupe, but someone needed her and her boss out of the way. When the lead couple meets and remains on center stage the story line is a gem of a romantic suspense; when the sidebars push the stars off the stage, the tale slows down as the audience feels overwhelmed by seemingly excessive subplots. Stratton is a fabulous hero who wants to get out of the game, but has one last play in which the stakes are the highest he ever participated with, the safety of his beloved, and innocent soul. Fans will appreciate this strong suspense thriller.

Velvet, Leather & Lace
Suzanne Forster, Donna Kauffman & Jill Shalvis
Signature Spotlight
ISBN: 0373836546, $5.99

"Red Velvet" by Suzanne Forster. Several months ago playboy Jamie had the night of his life with Lorna, but stupidly walked away. Now, the CFO of Velvet, Leather & Lace needs someone built just like her to pretend to be him with the media as everyone wants to meet the "women" behind the successful "Hot at any age, sexy at any size" lingerie catalogue company. As he tries to persuade her to masquerade as a female him, they fall in love, but she does not trust him with her heart and he does not trust him with her heart either. "Black Leather" by Donna Kauffman. VLL partner Samantha is a control freak at work, but also uses her acumen in her sex life needing to always be in charge. Her lover Marsh wants her to let go and let him be in charge in bed even some of the time or else he will leave in spite of being in love with Sam. "White Lace" by Jill Shalvis. VLL graphic designer Mia needs help when her set is not right so she turns to her best friend Jake to fix her problems. Jake agrees but wants more than gratitude from the woman he loves. These three steamy VLL romances heat up the sheets as each well written tale makes the case that mixing business with pleasure with the right person is hot and sexy.

Making Waves
Julie Elizabeth Leto
Signature Spotlight
ISBN: 0373836538, $5.99

During the divorce hearing, the Prince of West Palm Beach Daniel Reese and his team selected by his powerful father lie on the witness stand that his soon to be ex-wife Tessa Dalton is a sexual deviant as they want part of her wealth. The proof they insist that she sleeps with any male is that she writes erotic fairy tales that they hint are her memoirs. The media loves scandal especially that of a socialite and she becomes the nymphomaniac butt of their stories and jokes. Her friends flee her side as they do not want her deviant taint to touch them. Surprisingly nationally acclaimed reporter Colton Granger is the exception as he defends her in his column while attacking the father-in-law. Colin has a reputation for honesty and encourages Tessa to get back into writing. She does, but it is not the same until he collaborates with her. As they work together, they fall in love, but someone plans to use the smut written with the slut as a career move not caring what happens to either Colton or Tessa. MAKING WAVES is a solid contemporary romance starring two intrepid lead characters and a powerful secondary cast. The tale focuses on how a powerful individual can manipulate and buy public opinion with innuendoes, hyperboles, and fabrications if the media fails to do its job. Readers will especially root for Tessa to overcome her reluctance to trust anyone after her reputation is nuked by her vicious former father-in-law.

The Anglophile
Laurie Gwen Shapiro
Red Dress (Harlequin)
ISBN: 0373895291, $12.95, 320 pp.

Thirty-five years old Shari Diamond has been fascinated with Anglo-Saxon history since she met Christopher Robin as a kid when he starred in her copies of the Winnie classics. Studying for her PhD in dead languages at NYU, Shari searches for the last known person alive who speaks Volupuk as she has for several years. In Chicago to give a talk on Volupuk, she meets British bloke Christopher "Kit" Brown, who makes her forget her boyfriend back home Kevin Bernstein. However, to her shock, Kit is studying Volupuk and insists the last user lives near York. Ignoring Kevin's concerns, Shari rushes to England where she meets a boy from her past, but neither Owen nor Kevin hold a candle to Kit until she learns in a garden his secret connection to the last speaker of Volupuk in the world. Besides highlighting the rapid loss of languages as the world grows smaller through modern day communications, THE ANGLOPHILE is a fine chick lit tale starring a dynamic heroine, her Jewish New York stereotyped mother and the men in her life. The story line focuses on the rivalry between Kit and Shari in search of the last known user of a shortly to be extinct language. When that is gone, like many languages which are oral only, cultures die. The romance is an 18 carat diamond that includes the efforts of Kevin and Owen to compete with Kit for Shari's heart, but it is the language that steals the show though that plays a minor role in this fine thought provoking tale.

Marrying Up
Jackie Rose
Red Dress
ISBN: 0373895305, $12.95, 368 pp.

Dr. Martingale suggests to his high strung client, Buffalo Bugle obit columnist Holly Hastings to write her own obituary, which she does. By doing so Holly realizes she is lonely in spite of fine friends and her life is boring. When she sees the Marilyn Monroe film How to Marry a Millionaire, she decides to make that her quest culminating with How to Book, but mostly so she can begin living her own life rather than precariously that of dead people. With the help of girl pal George, Holly takes a leave of absence and begins searching for a wealthy mate; this means leaving Buffalo, which may have been the millionaire capital of America but that was two centuries ago or so. After several aborted efforts, Holly thinks she has found her affluent hunk in San Francisco so why is it that Remy next door is the one that touches her soul. Holly comes across as shallow as she chooses to seek money over a loving nurturing relationship until Remy makes her reconsider her choices. The amusing story line is somewhat inane, but chick lit fans will appreciate this MARRYING UP to a millionaire romantic romp.

With or Without You
Carole Matthews
Red Dress
ISBN: 0373895453, $17.95, 432 pp.

Four strikes and you are out. At least that is what Dunstan and Bradley advertising specialist Jake tells his live-in girlfriend Global Magazine Publishing Assistant Editor Lyssa. Four times they tried in vitro fertilization, four times they failed. Jake cannot deal with Lyssa's obsession to become pregnant and leaves, but fails to inform her that he has moved in with a mountain climbing wealthy amazon beauty Neve. Stunned by his abrupt departure and further shocked that he is living with Lara Croft, Lyssa decides to go out and do something crazy to reclaim Jake's heart. Since Neve is climbing Mt. Everest, Lyssa takes a leave of absence from My Baby to do like wise. While Jake finds he misses Lyssa and detests some of Neve's selfish actions, his ex meets American tour guide Dean, who shows her a vast world at her beckoning starting at the top of the Himalayas if she takes a chance. The key to this chick lit romance is the metamorphosis of Lyssa from a brain with one icon: that of pregnancy to that of daredevil adventuress; those who can accept her sudden change of heart will appreciate this fine tale; those who can't need to pass. Readers will emphasize with Jake who is frustrated with Lyssa's obsession until they learn he already has another squeeze even before strike four. Chick lit fans will enjoy this interesting look at a young woman seeking her groove at the top of the world.

The Daughter He Never Knew
Linda Barrett
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373712898, $5.50

On the night of graduation from Pilgrim Cove High School, his twin bother died in a DUI incident. Jason Parker, unable to cope, fled the sanctuary of his grieving family and left behind his girlfriend Lila Sullivan though he loved both. Over the years Jason became a successful songwriter, but avoided returning to his home where ghosts live in his mind. However, now nine years since he took flight, Jason finally comes home. To his shock, he finds he left a piece of himself with Lila as she has raised THE DAUGHTER HE NEVER KNEW by herself, but not for long as she is engaged to marry. Jason now realizes what he lost when he ran from his demons. He wants a second chance with the two women that mean everything to him, but the older one distrusts him to stay with them when the going gets rough and the younger one is warily adjusting to her biological father. The latest Pilgrim Cove romance focuses on two likable protagonists and the usual delightful support cast including stars from previous tales. Interestingly in spite of Jason's cavalier treatment of Lila and THE DAUGHTER HE NEVER KNEW, the audience will want a happy ending for this fine trio though like the lead pair readers will remain uncertain to the end whether Jason regains what he lost. As usual Linda Barrett escorts her fans through another fine Pilgrim Cove engagement.

Judging Joshua
Mary Anne Wilson
Harlequin American
ISBN: 037375082X, $4.99, 249 pp.

When his father suffered a heart attack, Joshua Pierce left the Atlanta Police Department to come home to Silver Creek, Nevada to help his dad and to work as a deputy in the sheriff's office, temporarily at least in his mind. While on mobile patrol, Joshua stops a speeder. The check of the plates reveals a stolen vehicle so he arrests the driver Riley Shaw who insists she is driving the car legally to San Diego. However, her confirmation in Chicago fails to back her because the owner Alvin Nyland is out of pocket at the moment. As Joshua learns about Riley's arresting past, he begins to fall in love with his vivacious prisoner. She reciprocates and feels great affection for his beloved daughter JJ, but believes that someone who should one day soon become the elected sheriff cannot afford an albatross of a spouse with a mile long rap sheet of a past. Besides she knows he loves his late first wife Sarah. When the air is cleared she will leave with JJ's drawings, but her heart will remain behind. JUDGING JOSHUA is a joyful Return to Silver Creek for readers and ultimately the title hero. The story line is fun to follow as Joshua adheres to police procedures with his handling of the potentially stolen car scenario, but outgoing Riley makes him want to throw away the book not just because of his attraction, but with her tender nurturing of his daughter because inside his heart he knows the truth. Readers will enjoy this fine tale.

Homeward Bound
Marin Thomas
Harlequin American
ISBN: 0373750838, $4.99, 249 pp.

After spending much of the last seven years in College Station, Heather Henderson returns to her hometown of Nowhere, Texas to allegedly bury her father, who died when he fell asleep in bed with a lit cigarette. However, Heather knows she is not coming home to honor her abusive dad who never cared one iota for her; she is returning to confront her knight in shining armor Royce McKinnon, who as an older teen took care of her after her mother fled from her father. She plans to demand he explain why he rejected her three years ago. Royce cares for others, which is why the rancher became mayor. He still sees Heather as a rebellious adolescent needing food, water, and at times shelter and protection. She wants him to see her as a nurturing capable grown-up willing to care for him while he minds others for Heather knows that her adulation of her hero has turned into adult love, which she believes deep inside his heart her stubborn champion reciprocates. The latest "Homeward Bound contemporary romance is a fine tale starring a rigid soul who feels a need to be responsible for everyone in his sphere of influence and the woman who matches him in degrees of obstinacy who demands that she be responsible for him at times. Readers will believe this couple belongs together, but wonder if Heather is still hero worshipping and also ponder why Royce rejects what is obvious. Although Royce can become irritating with his Bushian principle of my way or the highway, fans will welcome this refreshing small town Texas tale.

Almost a Family
Roxanne Rustand
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373712847, $5.50

Divorced from her husband and having adopted three preadolescent children within the last ten months would be enough to send anyone over the edge. However merging into a family and relocating to start her new job as Blackberry Hill memorial Hospital Administrator seems nothing to Erin Lang compared to having Dr. Connor Reynolds on the staff. Back in college Erin was attracted to Connor, who became married to her now deceased cousin Stephanie. Worse she has a secret about one of her children that Stephanie made her swear to hide from Connor. As Connor and Erin avoid their attraction to one another, she is concerned over the number of deaths at the hospital that should not have occurred. She begins to investigate only to

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