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Cynthia Penn's Bookshelf
A Cry in the Dark: Intimate Moments No 1299
Jenna Mills
Silhouette Books
233 Broadway, New York, New York, 10279
ISBN 037327369X $4.75 256 pages
From the "Family Secrets" series -- Highly recommended A cry in the dark awakens the first
generation of those people who were genetically altered during experiments in the sixties. They
hear
a child, but their own children are fine, yet they each know something is very wrong. At that very
moment, six-year-old Alex is kidnapped. His mother, Danielle Caldwell, has gypsy blood and a
gift
for precognition. Once she made a mistake using her gift, which resulted in her child's father's
death,
and now she has turned her back on her gift and the family who would have her use it. A string of
clues brings Liam Brooks to Diana's door. After his wife's death, Liam has dedicated himself to
bringing Titan down. Uncertain as to how, Liam is convinced that Titan is connected to Titan. He
does not understand Diana's adamant refusal to accept his help or his own determination to offer
it.
Guarded and emotionally repressed, Liam is surprised at his reactions to Diana and his sudden
need
to bring her child home. Author Jenna Mills pens a compelling and evocative kick off to the
"Family
Secrets: The Next Generation" series. A CRY IN THE DARK grabs the reader from the
beginning
and never lets up with its intense emotional stake and unexpected twists. The use of paranormal
gifts
is handled with finesse as Diana confronts her past and her abilities. Liam's pain haunts him,
blocking
him from any emotional connection to the present except the driving need to bring Titan down;
that
is, until he meets Diana. His powerful internal conflict adds just the right balance to Diana's
struggle.
A masterfully rendered tale, A CRY IN THE DARK comes very highly recommended.
Forbidden: Blaze No 129
Tori Carrington
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 037379133X $4.50 256 pages
From the "Sleeping with Secrets" series -- Very highly recommended A year ago and a half ago
J.T.
West rocked her world, and just as she broke up with her husband, disappeared from town. So
Leah
Dubois Burger has spent the last year recovering from a broken heart, a divorce, and the
resentment
of her eleven-year-old daughter. Now she verges on recommitting herself to her ex-husband and
making her daughter's dream of them as a family come true. Then she sees J.T. at the local Kroger
and her world tilts again. J.T. did not want to leave Leah, and he returns because he has to know
if
they share more than sizzling chemistry. Every time they are together they share mind blowing
sex,
but he wants to know if Leah's heart is involved as well. Unfortunately, J.T. is a man on the run
and
cannot offer Leah the future that she deserves. No matter how good the sex is or how much either
of them might want more. Author writing team Tori Carrington has a gift for creating sensual
romance that meets reader's high expectations of the Blaze line. But they also have a flair for
characterization. This husband/wife team consistently gives both the male and female characters a
unique roundness, as especially demonstrated in FORBIDDEN. I admit that this is the first series
romance I have encountered that the heroine has an affair that breaks up her marriage, and on the
brink of remarrying, returns to the forbidden. And J.T. is defiantly a forbidden pleasure.
Moreover,
Leah's ex-husband is not a bad man, neither having abused her nor treated her particularly badly.
They simply did not have a good marriage that satisfied both of their needs, thereby depriving
Leah
the standard moral clauses that excuse pursuing another man. Certainly Leah faces choices that
many women confront with courage and strength, however challenging and difficult this real-life
situation might be. While this is a plot that could go badly awry with reader sympathy, Carrington
makes the forbidden both understandable and forgivable The result is a sizzling, sensual and
daring,
making FORBIDDEN very highly recommended.
Perfect Switch
Lisa Plumley
Brava Books
Kensington Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue, New York NY 10022
ISBN 0821773429 $5.99 384 pages
Very highly recommended While her twin sister sports glitzy sequence and glamour, Meredith
Madison prefers her Birkenstocks. Neverthelss, the museum advertising historian decides to
assumes
her twin sister Marley's glamorous movie star identity for a couple of weeks and some pizzazz to
her
life. The invitation she co-opted includes a limo and a hunky escort named Tony Valentine. But
Meredith does not realize that the invitation also includes a contract to teach movie star insider
inforation at Valentine Studio's actors fantasy camp. Meredith immediately explains the case of
switched identity; unfortunately, Tony does not believe her. That is, until the first day on the set
when she makes ridiculous mistakes and displays a decided lack of star glamour. But with Marely
honeymooning and Valentine studios in financial straights, Tony has no choice but to persuade
Meredith to transform from klutz to sophisticate. Meanwhile, the sizzling chemistry between them
is
enough to create an inferno. Author Lisa Plumley has a gift for comedic romance, delighting yet
again with PERFECT SWITCH Although twin tales seem to be all the rage at the moment,
Plumley
manages to add her own unique twists for a refreshingly different approach. Meredith quickly
reveals her identity to Tony, who refuses to believe her until her decided lack of acting skills
proves
her word. Tony needs Meredith to successfully play the part of her sister or his entire family will
suffer the effects of the financial difficulties plaguing the studio. Meanwhile, Tony's matchmaking
family provides plenty of laughs with their determined antics and eccentricities. The perfect blend
of
tender romance, witty dialogue, and outrageous antics, PERFECT SWITCH comes very highly
recommended.
Yours in Black Lace: Blaze No 136
Mia Zachary
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373791402 $4.50 256 pages
Sequel to RED SHOES & A DIARY -- Very highly recommended For four months Stephanie
"Stevie" Madison has been sending anonymously bold and sensual notes to her boss, P.I. Emilio
Sachez. She signs each note "Yours, in black lace." With three women regularly calling Emilio,
she
figures erotica is the key to getting his attention. Unfortunately, Emilio refuses to become
involved
with employees or with clients, and Stevie is both when she brings him surveillance photos she
received anonymously. Rogelio Braga's face in the background of Stevie's photos instantly
indicates
that she is in more danger than she realizes, and Emilio feels compelled to step in. Before opening
January Investigations, Emilio worked for the Justice Department. A case involving Braga
resulted
in the death of an informant and blew his cover and three years of work. Now Emilio attaches
himself to Stevie 24/7 until he can solve the potentially deadly connection between Braga and
Stevie.
Meanwhile, Emilio quickly catches on that Stevie has been sending him the black lace notes and
they
become the springboard for their fantasies to come true. Author Mia Zachary has quickly proven
herself to be one of Harlequin's rising stars penning provocative and passionate romance. YOURS
IN BLACK LACE is a "one-sitting" read that takes the reader's emotions on a roller-coaster ride.
The essential blend of sensuality and excitement brings her characters vividly alive. Indeed,
Stevie's
relentless enthusiasm whether she's hotwiring a car or making love creates marvelous tension as
she
struggles with her internal demons. Emilio's own demons result in a haunted hero who has a
chance
at redemption if he can end this case and keep Stevie safe, despite her willful determination to
remain actively involved in the investigation. This multicultural romance brings a taste of the
exotic
and the splendor of independence into a memorable read that comes very highly
recommended.
To Save This Child: Superromance No 1202
Darlene Graham
Harlequin
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373712022 $5.25 301 pages
Very highly recommended Every spring Dr. Jason Bridges closes his office for three weeks,
heading
to the remote jungles of Chiapas, Mexico where he offers his medical skills to the natives. Despite
the hectic schedule and primitive conditions, Jason achieves something akin to redemption in his
service to these needy people. Through the years of service, his staff has become as hooked on the
experience as the doctor himself, and none of them ever want to leave. But when a last minute
medical emergency sidelines his translator, Jason turns unexpectedly to pharmaceutical
representative Kendal Collins for help. During the lonely year since Phillip dumped her, Kendal
has
gone from top earning drug rep to the bottom of the heap. Without Phillips added income, her
lifestyle has become too expensive to afford, and pity parties an occasional necessity. Determined
to
do anything to revitalize her flagging career, Kendal agrees to provide her translation skills in
return
for the opportunity to prove the worth of her company's pharmaceuticals. With his medical
reputation, Jason's switch her company's drugs assures Kendal the career boost she needs. The
last
thing she expects is fall in love with a child in Mexico, let alone the doctor who operates on him.
TO
SAVE THIS CHILD almost feels like it was placed in the wrong category with its political
intrigue,
but its heart felt emotions places it squarely in the Superromance series. This powerful medical
romance leads Jason and Kedal not only through the dangers of a jungle but also the challenging
terrain of the heart. Jason's determination to remain emotional distance cannot endure the
onslaught
of the intriguing Kendal. The descriptions of the conditions of Chiapas, Mexico and the necessity
of
drawing lots for medical care provides both a disturbing and a poignant background that lingers in
the imagination long after the last page is turned. Powerfully rendered and impossible to put
down,
TO SAVE THIS CHILD comes very highly recommended.
For a Baby: Superromance No 1203
C.J. Carmichael
Harlequin
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373712081 $5.25 301 pages
From the "9 Months Later" series - Recommended Years after her first love married someone
else,
Heather Sweeney still carries a torch for Russell. Now a medical condition leads to early
infertility.
So when explosive passion leads her to bed with T.J. Collins, Heather does not care if she
becomes
pregnant. In fact, part of her hopes that she does. Once she learns of her pregnancy, however,
Heather informs T.J. of her condition and asks him to marry her. T.J. fears setting expectations
that
he cannot meet. He would rather decline involvement in Heather's life and their unborn child than
to
somehow fail them. With his previous family, he has already proven that even if he occasionally
gets
something right, he always disappoints his loved ones in the end. Only in the intimacy of their
bedroom does he freely show his feelings for Heather. But the question remains how long that can
be enough for either of them. C.J. Carmichael takes a challenging position with her heroine in
FOR
A BABY. Heather deliberately allows herself to get pregnant, and her marital expectation of T.J.
seems wildly unfair given their situation. Only the fact that he so easily capitulates redeems the
situation. While she might be a woman who always tried to the right thing, Heather's long term
fantasy regarding Russell's refusal to accept his emotions and Heather's machinations make for a
rather cold beginning to a read that becomes remarkably tender by the end. While that extreme
shift
of tone provides a lovely read when all is said and done, it does require the reader to persevere.
FOR
A BABY comes recommended.
The Man She Married: Superromance No 1208
Muriel Jensen
Harlequin
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373712081 $5.25 301 pages
From the "Men of Maple Hill" series - Recommended A long, dark year finally seems to culminate
in
success for Prue Hale until her estranged husband arrives in Maple Hill. Rather than presenting
her
with divorce papers, he proposes a temporary reconciliation based on a business opportunity for
Prue. Her clothing line has captured his aunt's eye, and she offers a fabulous publicity package
during a planned visit. Little does Prue suspect that Hugh and his aunt have conspired together to
give her marriage to Hugh a second chance. When Prue refuses to listen to reason, Hugh knows
he
must gamble on an outside chance if he wants his marriage back. Moving her into his home and
playing at being married again to supposedly receive the gift of a publicity package for her
business
might seem duplicitous, but a man in love must resort to desperate measures during desperate
times.
Perhaps if they can spend some time together Prue will come to trust him enough to accept that
he
had never been unfaithful, only foolish. Second chances lend charm to Muriel Jensen's THE MAN
SHE MARRIED. Communication issues destroyed Gideon and Prue's marriage and threaten to
wreck their second chance. Gideon and Prue are realistic, sympathetic characters whose flaw is
simply being human. When lack of time strained their marriage the first time, trust issues
prevented
her from believing that he had not been unfaithful. But Prue herself has not been as honest with
Gideon as he deserved, and only when communication and love come together does this damaged
couple find the healing that they both deserve. I admit, however, to having reservations about
duplicity to bring about reconciliation for a marriage that was originally destroyed by
miscommunication and trust issues. It seems to me that such dishonesty could perpetuate the
problem rather than solve it. Nonetheless, THE MAN SHE MARRIED is still a pleasant
afternoon's
read that comes recommended.
What Phoebe Wants Flipside
Cindi Myers
Harlequin
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373441940 $4.50 224 pages
Highly recommended Phoebe Frame got stuck with the lemon while her husband drove of with
the
Lexis and a twenty-four-year-old cocktail waitress. When the lemon dies in the middle of the
road,
Phoebe hikes to a used car dealership. The salesman purportedly offered her something
dependable,
but her new vehicle is towed back to the dealership within twenty-four hours with a broken motor
mount. Suddenly mild mannered Phoebe cannot withstand any more crap, and demands that the
dealership repair her car, taking her battle to the media when they refuse. Her new found courage
also quickly leads her refusing her slimy boss' advances. A transcriptionist in a doctor's office,
Phoebe spends most of her time in a windowless office the size of closet. When the system
receives
an upgrade, Jeff Fisher arrives on the scene. Their mutual exchange of insults soon gives way to
passion. But Phoebe has no interest in a relationship with a younger man. And Jeff has his own
issues. Author Cindi Myers pens a wildly amusing romp in WHAT PHOEBE WANTS. From
dormouse to dominatrix, Phoebe discovers the power of going after what she wants. I admit to
being a bit ambivalent regarding our hero, however, who would rather walk out than talk it
through.
His perchance for disappearing when the going gets rough makes me question the wisdom of
pursuing a younger man. Nevertheless, Phoebe's plan to get even with her boss and her
appearance
at the Halloween party make WHAT PHOEBE WANTS a fantastic read that comes highly
recommended.
Eye Candy: Blaze No 130
Dorie Graham
Harlequin
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373791348 352 pages $4.50
Highly recommended Crystal Peterson appeals to longtime friend and confidante Sam Schaffer to
help her transform from one of the boys to a siren. Crystal might get the winning touchdown, but
the
sports beauties at the sideline garner all of Ron's attention after the game. Sam conceals it, but it
pains him to watch the scarcely concealed longing in Crystal's eyes whenever Ron is around. So
when Crystal decides to transform her appearance and try to become one of Ron's calendar
models,
Sam agrees in exchange for her writing a column for him. Sam eventually agrees to help, going
with
Crystal for cosmetics and hairstyling. But when she drags him through boutiques and lingerie
stores,
passion replaces common sense. Crystal believes that if she can turn on Sam then she should have
no
trouble turning Ron in. Little does she suspect the passion he conceals, or the emotional
rollercoaster they are about to embark upon. Author Dorie Graham brings a fresh eye to the often
used plot of best friends who cross the boundaries into love with EYE CANDY. Crystal's oblivion
to the effect she has on Sam and her determination early in the novel to win someone else's
attention
creates powerful sexual tension. Sam's inability to resist her allure and willing to risk two decades
of
friendship makes for powerful relationship drama that comes highly recommended.
Beauty Queen
Julia London
Berkley Pub Group (Sensation)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ISBN 0425195244 $7.50 416 pages
Sequel to Material Girl Former beauty queen Rebecca Lear found that her title, former marriage
and
motherhood by proxy did not prepare her to find happiness and fulfillment after her divorce. Cut
off
from her former friends when her ex-husband immediately remarries and integrates wife number
two
into their social circles, even Rebecca's wealth cannot provide purpose to her life. Then her sisters
provided her with a birthday present that leads to transformation in the form of motivation and a
relocation. Her suddenly nannyless five-year-old son and she must find their own way for the first
time. Being a former beauty queen unexpectedly leads to her first job as part of political campaign
where her smoozing and party arranging skills have extraordinary value. Unfortunately, her first
day
on the job brings her back in contact with Matt Parish, with whom a mix up already has put them
at
odds. While Rebecca might be the most beauty woman he has ever met, Matt has little faith in her
campaign skills. As he struggles with the direction his legal partnership seems to be heading, his
constant sparring with Rebecca fails to conceal their mutually sizzling chemistry. As Rebecca
transforms entertainment skills and political connections into usable job experience, she becomes a
force be reckoned with both in the office and in her relationship with Matt. An irreverent sense of
humor and snappy dialogue make BEAUTY QUEEN a quick read, even as the humor lightly
conceals a poignant tale of transformation and second chances. Rebecca's womanizing ex-husband
is
drawn with a black brush with his inconsiderate treatment of their son, but his unthinking cruelty
to
both Rebecca and the child inspires Rebecca to extraordinary growth. She soon discovers,
however,
that transformations require ethics and values that do not necessary receive respect in the political
arena. Meanwhile, Matt's reevaluation of his life goals mirrors Rebecca's struggles and adds to
their
fiery relationship. Their brutal honesty with each other rips away the lovely masks each presents
to
the world, forcing them to be honest with each other and with themselves. Overall, author Julia
London does an amazing job of balancing the ridiculous with the sublime, the humorous with
drama.
The result is a wonderfully entertaining read that comes very highly recommended.
The Wilde Side
Janelle Denison
Kensington Publishing
850 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022
ISBN 0758203616 320 pages $14.00
The Wilde boys are back! Very highly recommended For her thirtieth birthday Ashley St. Claire
makes an erotic and provocative wish. After three years, for one night, she wants to walk on the
wild side. So she trades her designer suits for a short skirt and heads to a bar on the outskirts of
Chicago. There she meets Scott Wilde, the bachelor who agrees to make her fantasies a reality.
But
she introduces herself as "Just Ashley" and after a fantastic night together, slips out in the morning
without leaving a clue to her identity. She has been burned one too many times for being one of
the
St. Claires of the wealthy family that owns a five star hotel chain. Scott cannot forget the girl who
rocked his world. While Ashley is obviously a good girl, her eagerness to be bad for a night
proves
absolutely irresistible. When she disappears without a trace the next morning, Scott cannot help
feeling intensely disappointed. So when she calls a few days later, he eagerly welcomes an
opportunity to talk. But he has already been burned once by a woman who kept secrets, and he is
desperate to know Ashley's true identity. It will take more than a wild ride between the sheets to
convince Ashley to give him a real chance. Readers have come to expect excellence from author
Janelle Denison, and once again she delivers with THE WILDE SIDE. A provocatively sexy read
that readers will find impossible to put down, THE WILDE SIDE strikes the perfect balance
between sensuality, erotica and romance. Ashley and Scott struggle with conflicts and emotional
baggage that keep their characters depth. Ashley proves her heart to be made of gold as she
struggles with thefts from her boutique. Yet she has spent most of her life living up to other
people's
expectations rather than honoring her own needs and desires. Scott is remarkably believable hero
who once made a mistake that cost the family business dearly, and a personal choice that makes
him
incredibly gun shy of anyone who cannot be absolutely forthright. Fans will be eagerly awaiting
the
next installment of the Wilde family. THE WILDE SIDE comes very highly recommended.
Dirty Fire
Earl Merkel
Signet
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
ISBN 0451210174 $6.99 384 pages
Very highly recommended Flames destroy the evidence, and only ex-police officer John Davey's
persistence ties the death of innocents to a labyrinth of corruption. His career ended with his own
tie
to the corruption, and only inadmissible evidence saves John from serving time in prison. With the
threat of the prosecution finding admissible evidence forever haunting him, John struggles to
survive. A convict's tip and the certainty of arson lead to John's second chance when he joins the
investigation. Soon his inquires lead to billions of dollars in artwork that disappeared during the
holocaust. The Russians do not even admit to the all of the works of art they hide even as they
pledge their cooperation to return of the art that could be proven to have belonged to holocaust
victims. From the fires of the holocaust to the flames of arson, missing art leads to international
horror. Through a plot filled with intricacy and surprises, Earl Merkel's second novel, DIRTY
FIRE
exceeds expectations. The powerfully render protagonist desperately fights to out run his personal
demons even as he struggles with his father's dishonesty and betrayal by his department. Gristly
murders, international intrigue and conflicting interests combine for a suspense filled novel
impossible to put down. Once again Merkel has the ability to make a complex plot and fascination
characterizations bristle with authenticity. DIRTY FIRE comes very highly recommended.
The Spy Who Loves Me
Julie Kenner
Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster Inc.
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN 0743446054 $6.99 400 pages
Sequel to "Nobody But You" -- Very highly recommended A malevolent plot intends to use a
top-secret laser for wealth and revenge. Operatives Amber Robinson and her partner Brandon are
assigned the case. Amber has been with the Unit since she was fifteen. It has become her family as
well as providing the latest and greatest tools technology offers. She believes that she would
never
give up her spy world for anyone or anything; that is, until Amber and Brandon track terrorist
mercenary Drake's girlfriend Diana to a apartment complex. Then Finn catches her attention.
Soon
Amber realizes she is not the only one observing Diana. Neighbor Phineus "Finn" Teague watches
Diana from his window as well. Little does he suspect that his innocent musings, daydreams of
becoming Agent Python, will lead him into a dangerous world of spies and espionage. Suddenly
his
innocuous wishes to escape boring depositions and overburdening student loans lead to life of
intrigue beyond that which he imagined. Now he will do anything to protect the spy he loves. Julie
Kenner's superb gift for storytelling dazzles in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME. With so many
books
on the market, readers are hard put to find author's who distinctive style brings them back again
and
again. But Kenner is one of those authors who's artful humor and the fully developed characters
bring her stories vividly alive, even in the seemingly contradictory blend of fantasy and reality.
Whether she is writing about superheroes or spies, Kenner creates tales that consistently charm
and
intrigue. THE SPY WHO LOVED ME come very highly recommended. The Spy Who Loves
MeStop by http://www.wordweaving.com to enter monthly contests! Authors: Increase your
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The Cowboy and the Bride: American Romance No 1024
Marin Thomas
Harlequin
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373750285 $4.75 256 pages
From the "Fatherhood" series - Very highly recommended When barbed wire snares her bridal
dress,
Madeleine Tate finds herself at the mercy of the property owner to rescue her from spectators and
a
bad tempered bull. But then, since her fianc‚ stood her up in Vegas after making off with her
luggage, Madeline had already had a really bad day. Driving across Idaho, she ran out of gas. And
before her would be rescuer can free her from the barbed wire, a bull named Cyclone puts in an
appearance. With the flick of a knife, the bull makes off with the gauze and Madeleine reveals her
sexy silk stockings and garter belt. Jake Montgomery has little time to rescue women between
running his ranch and caring for his five-year-old daughter. But Madeline's fortuitous arrival does
mean she can pitch in caring for his daughter temporarily, even if she cannot remember to drain
the
wading pool or cook anything that is not burned. But Jake knows that Madeleine belongs in
bright
lights and pursuing a career rather than living in the wilds of Idaho. Author Marin Thomas adds
her
unique flair to the traditional jilted bride theme in THE COWBOY AND THE BRIDE. The
opening
scene will absolutely leave the reader in stitches as the taciturn observers discuss their unusual
find
even as Madeline struggles valiantly to free herself from barbed wire. And the light touch
continues
to lend the story sparkle even as more serious danger appears or as deeper emotional issues
surface.
While all the characters are wonderfully memorable, it's Madeline's refreshing view of the world
that
adds extra zest to this delightful tale. THE COWBOY AND THE BRIDE come very highly
recommended.
Sing Me Home
Jerri Corgiat
Onyx
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
ISBN 0451411285 $6.99 384 pages
Very highly recommended Neglecting routine maintenance on their car resulted in her husband's
death. Three years have not healed his loss or their unborn child. Now her brother's death brings
the
inevitable close of his less-than-profitable bookstore, "Merry-Go-Read." In the final days before
closing, curious circumstances bring a stranger into the store. She does not recognize country
music
star Jonathan Van Castle, perceiving his behavior to rude and his lack of knowledge regarding his
own children inexcusable. When she later finds another book in the series that Jon purchased, Lil
sends her younger sister to make the delivery. She comes back engaged. Dodging a pack of fans,
Jon
ducks into "Merry-Go-Round" to escape. He finds startling blue eyes and surprising anonymity.
He
has come to town to pick up his children for the summer while their mother cleans up again.
When
Lil's younger sister Mari shows up to deliver the book, for the sake of his children, he finds
himself
proposing. His troubled children certainly need a loving feminine influence. But when Mari takes
him to meet the family, Jon discovers it's the older sister that holds the potential of stealing his
heart.
A warm and touching story, SING ME HOME is one of those wonderful romances that truly
captures the heart. The strong characterizations spring vividly to life from Lil's initial disdain of
Jon's
lack of knowledge regarding his children to her motherly touch with the children. While the
extended cast of characters can be a bit much to keep up with, their individuality makes each one
a
delight to encounter. Filled with joy and laughter, pathos and challenges, SING ME HOME
comes
very highly recommended.
Cynthia Penn
Reviewer
Donovan's Bookshelf
Hostage
John C. Griffiths
Andre Deutsch/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, N. Pomfret, VT 05053
0233000348 $29.99 www.trafalgarsquare.com
The history, facts, and logic behind hostage taking is revealed by John C. Griffiths in HOSTAGE,
a
study of the past and present phenomenon of takign a hostage. From issues relating to the taking
or
releasing of hostages to how hostage-taking has evolved, including hijackings, HOSTAGE uses
individual cases and discussions with both hostages, terrorists and negotiators to provide a
rounded
view of current issues.
Mark Gertler
Sarah MacDougall
John Murray/Trafalgar Square, Dist.
PO Box 257, N. Pomfret, VT 05053
0719557992 $40.00 www.trafalgarsquare.com
MARK GERTLER is the first biography of the artist to be published in thirty years, and Sarah
MacDougall provides a new survey of an artist who served as a creative figure for contemporaries
D.H. Lawrence and Aldous Huxley. His haunting pictures were collected during his time and he
was
a part of London society; yet his ongoing lack of happiness led to his eventual alienation and
suicide.
Lord of Misrule
Christopher Lee
Orion/Trafalgar Square, Dist.
PO Box 257, N. Pomfret, VT 05053
0752857703 $27.50 www.trafalgarsquare.com
Christopher Lee's background in film and his moving career in a host of cult and mainstream
classics
are detailed in his autobiography LORD OF MISRULE, reflecting on some of his most
demanding
film appearances, his life, and his movie memories. Fans of Lee will relish his candid assessment of
his films in general and the movie industry in particular.
Hearing Birds Fly
Louisa Waugh
Abacus/Trafalgar Square, Dist.
PO Box 257, N. Pomfret, VT 05053
0316861707 $29.95 www.trafalgarsquare.com
Author Louisa Waugh moved to a remote village in Mongolia after two years working in the
country's capitol: HEARING BIRDS FLY is the first-person account of the year she spent living
with the villagers. From the hardships of a dark Mongolian winter into a lush summer and
nomadic
existence, Waugh's story captures all the ups and downs of a rugged, isolated lifestyle.
William the Conqueror
David Bates
Tempus Publishing/Trafalgar Square Dist.
PO Box 257, N. Pomfret, VT 05053
0752429604 $22.95 www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com
William the Conqueror was an ambitious political leader who was the driving force of the Norman
Conquest of England in 1066. Scholar David Bates' new biography WILLIAM THE
CONQUEROR
documents the man's achievements in Normandy and England, examining these successes in light
of
European history as a whole. A 'must' for any student of the era.
Beyond the Coral Sea
Michael Moran
Flamingo/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, N. Pomfret, VT 05053
0006552358 $15.95 www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com
The isolated islands of the Coral, Solomon and Bismarck Seas were the last to be explored by
Europeans, leading author Michael Moran to delve into the magic of these largely unspoiled
colonies. BEYOND THE CORAL SEA travels the footsteps of some of the early explorers of the
Coral Sea islands, considering history, cultural changes, and anthropological facts.
Diane C. Donovan
West Coast Editor
Kaveny's Bookshelf
Philip Kaveny looks at his sixtieth birthday.
In less than two weeks I will sixty years old which I think is not to bad an achievement for some
one
who was voted Madison East (Wisconsin) High School of 1962 class member most likely to
commit
suicide by his fellow classmates at his fifth high school class reunion in 1967. I am not going to
bore
my readers with some kind of mawkish summing up of my life. Rather than that I just want to say
how it is great it is to be alive and married to my wonderful wife Dr, Janice Bogstad who I met
thirty two years ago when she was a starving graduate student while I was working for The
University of Wisconsin Madison where I worked for nearly thirty years earning a quite generous
retirement which I took Jan 09 2000. I would add to this that there is nothing more priceless than
the friends of a lifetime that I have met in my lifetime around books. At he top of that list is a
group
of friends I met nearly half a lifetime ago in Madison Wisconsin through the old Madison Review
of
Books and The Madison Science Fiction Group including James Andrew Cox, Hank Luttrell,
Richard West, and Richard Russell. There is an old Russian Expression that says you have to eat a
pod of salt with a man to get to know them, by the way a pod is a Russian unit of measure equal
to
thirty two pounds. In the case of these men I feel as if I have come close. I would also add that
the
next best thing to having old friends is making new ones.
Yesterday I stopped into my new Church Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral in Eau Claire
Wisconsin right before evening prayers and made an off-hand remark to one lay ministers that I
would not be able to stay because I was to do one of my favorite things. I was on my way to visit
and discuss with Dr Lori Rowlett her fascinating Book:
Joshua and the Rhetoric of Violence: A New Historicist Analysis
Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
Sheffield Academic Press
ISBN: 1850756279 $40.00 197 pages
Lori teaches in the religious studies department at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and I had
the
privilege of meeting her through my wife who teaches in women's studies. When I called Lori to
make an appointment she asked me this question. "You read my book and didn't have to?" I
replied
not only did I read it, I found it fascinating from both a methodological and content stand point,
because among other things it positioned and compared the texts she studied with other ancient
non-
Biblical Middle Eastern Battle narratives and suggested a particular historical function that the
texts
served during the process of their generation and transmission. Even more interesting was her
appropriate use of epistemological theorists such as Michael Foucault and a number of other to
suggest the culture specific functions that the text she studied embodied. From my standpoint that
meant that at least the books of The Old Testament she studied functioned on a number of
different
but not necessarily exclusive levels depending upon the standpoint you started from. My wife
joined
in our discussion a bit later and we got into the utility of Noam Chomsky's concept of
transformational grammar for translating ancient language. My wife has done extensive work in
Classical Chinese including original controversial translations and works Lori works with Ancient
Hebrew. My interest in Noam Chomsky's work arose out of my highly resistant reading of Jeremy
Campbell's Grammatical Man: Information, Entropy, Language and Life Simon & Schuster 1982
ASIN: 0671440624 price $16.95 I was particularly resistant to the section on Noam Chomsky.
However both my wife Jan and Lori said that Noam Chomsky was quite useful in reducing the
ambiguity of meaning in translating primary ancient documents, so I guess I will be ordering some
Noam Chomsky and stretching my brain until it hurts to get to the essence of his concepts .Who
knows I might have a shot at learning Hebrew.
I am back on the little screen again. For nearly the last thirty-five years I have been an alternative
media producer, making films, and doing radio and television with an occasional stint on public
radio. I will be danged if I am not doing it again with what is CTV the public access television
production facility and channels in Eau Claire Wisconsin. If you would like to check out their
website this is their URL http://www.cvctv.org/
It all started quite innocently as I was quietly watching one of my favorite programs on The
Discovery Channel (Animal Face off), which is a virtual face off between some of the meanest
animals in the world. Just as I was about to see the Polar Bear and The Giant Panda rip each other
to pieces our foster daughter changed the channel to Bravo and an Actors Studio Interview with
the
latest James Bond Pierce Brosnan. I liked the interview so much that I stayed up late that night to
watch it again and decided that to get my hair cut like his and go back on Television. Well okay
my
wife will gladly point out that I am older fatter shorter and not as talented as Pierce Brosnan, but I
in
turn will point out that we have a lot in common in that we are both photogenic Irish, and I forgot
the other thing.
Last Friday My wife Jan and I produced what will be the second in a series of Television
programs
with the working title of "The Foundations of the Fantastic". The series will focus on a number of
personalities that were responsible for the establishment of the genre of the fantastic in all its
forms
over the 19th and first half of the 20th Century. The first one hour program was an overview of
life
and works of J.R.R Tolkien entitled "The Hobbits in our Lives" The program was cable cast
several
times and at least a couple of double handfuls of people have stopped me on the street in Eau
Claire
to comment on my new media star status. The consensus of the comments was that I was pretty
good but my wife was great. Last Friday night we taped a half hour program on H.G Wells which
should air within a month or so. Then we hope to do shows on H.P. Lovecraft, Mary Shelly,
Bram
Stocker, perhaps Jack London, and of course Edgar Rice Burroughs, and of course Robert
Heinlein.
The reason we are able and willing to do this is that we have fallen in with a really to notch
producer
and student of popular Rob Mathison who is one of the sparkplugs who keeps CTV public
television. The guy owns a small business and still manages to work about eighty hours a week on
programming, or maybe it just seems.
I realize that this months Kaveny's Shelf has was more about Kaveny than books but I want at
least
get give my attentions to one more very important book about a confrontation between two
titanic
figures in modern philosophy.
Wittgenstein's Poker: The Story of a Ten-Minute Argument between Two Great
Philosophers
Ecco 1st edition
ISBN: 0066212448 $24.00 352 pages
The book is an in depth account of an event which transpired in October 1946. The event hinged
on
philosopher Karl Popper's arrival at Cambridge to lecture at a seminar chaired by Ludwig
Wittgenstein. The topic of the seminar seemed simple enough. Were there in fact philosophical
problems or only language puzzles? The debate lasted only a few minutes and ended with one of
the
principals brandishing a steel poker, and then being driven from the room in ridicule. I will leave
the
reader to find out who did what, but what really drew me to the book was and the author's
characterization of Ludwig Wittgenstein (1888-1951) and particularly his dealing with the issues
of
his families Jewish ancestry, and his disposal of their families immense personal fortune to buy his
sister Helene's way out of Nazi Austria in 1938. The author does not really develop the
philosophical
question of Wittgenstein's possible complicity and guilt in supporting the Nazi war effort by giving
his families billions to the Nazi in return for a document which would retroactively make them non
Jewish. It is not a mute question whether philosophy can only say what is and not what ought to
be
at least to me.
On a lighter note I want close with a few more thoughts at least I hope on a lighter note. To my
fellow Madison East High School of 1962-class fellow classes members most likely to commit
suicide at my fifth high school class reunion in 1967. Henry David Thoreau 1817-1862 once told a
young friend that "Living Well was the best revenge", and in that sense I hope, we have all had
our
best revenge.
Philip Kaveny
Reviewer
Klausner's Bookshelf
Hunting Fear
Kay Hooper
Bantam
ISBN: 0553803166 $25.00, 352 pp.
In the past eighteen months, he has kidnapped a dozen victims during a twenty-four hour period,
holds them for ransom and when the money is paid, he kills them anyway. The victims have a
clock
showing how long they have to live. This serial kidnapper and killer leaves no clues and it is only
recently that the authorities have detected his pattern. The circus comes to Golden, South
Carolina
with one of the attractions being clairvoyant and precognitive fortuneteller Samantha Burke.
When
her prediction about the kidnapping and death of one of its victims comes true, the sheriff
suspects
her. Lucas Jordan, a psychic on Noah Bishop's FBI Special Crime Unit, knows that Sam can tell
the
future because they were once romantically involved. Together they must find the killer before
Samantha's vision of the future comes true. Lucas is the only one who can find him due to his
special psychic ability but he doesn't know that the killer has specifically picked him for the
ultimate
cat-and-mouse game. A unit of psychics in the FBI is made plausible by Kay Hooper's original and
unique storytelling abilities. The romance between the two protagonists is also original because
she
nags and he closes himself off from her, which makes for some very refreshing scenes. The
mystery
is well thought out and realistic because unfortunately the killer sometimes wins in this macabre
game he created. .Kay Hooper once again delivers an exciting romantic thriller.
Kill The Messenger
Tami Hoag
Bantam
ISBN: 0553801953 $26.00, 420 pp.
Nineteen years old Jace Damon has learned to keep a low profile for fear that children's protective
services would take his eight-year-old brother Tyler away from him. He works as a bicycle
messenger in Los Angeles, being paid off the books and living in Chinatown where the community
closes ranks around them. One rainy night, Jace picks up a package from slimy lawyer Lenny
Lowell. When he reaches the address of the place he is supposed to leave the package at, he finds
an
empty lot. Someone tries to grab the package and Jace knows he has to get away before the thug
grabs the parcel and kills him. When he returns to Lenny, he sees the cops there and learns that his
client was murdered. When he opens the package, he sees negatives. Jace figures that Lenny was
blackmailing someone. Not wanting to bring trouble to his brother or Madame Chan who has
unofficially adopted them, he leaves but homicide detective Ken Parker and robbery-homicide
detective Brandon Kyle is looking for him as well as the man who wants to kill him for what he
knows. KILL THE MESSENGER is a fascinating police procedural that readers will enjoy
immensely because the quirky characters make this book very special. Jace is more mature than
people twice his age are; his brother is a genius; and the lead police officer on the case Detective
Parker is a maverick who does not always follow directions but manages to get the job done.
Tami
Hoag is one author the audience one can count on for getting the job done too as she writes juicy,
entertaining and original novels.
Fallen
Kathleen George
Bantam
ISBN: 0440236649 $6.99 400 pp.
Everyone knows that Pittsburgh Doctor Dan Ross is a humanitarian and he proves it to any
doubters
by funding Pacusset Safe House, a place for young adults in danger to go to for a safe haven and
counseling. He is such a good person nobody understands why he was murdered. Although the
police have no leads, a determined officer, working on his own time, tries to find Dan's murderer.
Dan's wife Elizabeth takes her husband's death hard, withdrawing into herself and rejecting the
help
of her friends. She has a new next-door neighbor Frank Razzi, a man who rented the housee just
so
he could be next to Elizabeth. He spies on her and goes out of his way to be her friend. He has a
teaching job in Athens Ohio where he is letting Christie, an eighteen-year-old girl stay there
working
for him. Both Christie and Elizabeth find out who is has at approximately the same time putting
their
lives in danger from a man who killed twice before. By the time readers figure out who Frank
really
is they will be glued to their chairs, frantically turning the pages to see what he does to the two
women he loves and hates. The obsessed police officer is an interesting character, a jaded cop
who
becomes obsessed with bringing in the killer of a very decent man. Kathleen George has written
an
engrossing work of psychological suspense that takes into account not only the crime, but also the
heartbreak that caused it. She makes it easy to understand the killer even though the audience
hates
what he has done. FALLEN has one of the most conflicted antagonists this reviewer has ever read
about which makes him fascinating in a sorrowful kind of way.
Freedom's Gate
Naomi Kritzer
Bantam
ISBN: 0553586734 $6.99, 359 pp.
The Macedonian Empire wanes after Alexander dies until Penelope, the founder of the Sisterhood
of
the Weavers, learned how to bend to her will the aeriika (djinn). The empire took back what it
had
lost. Most countries accepted that the Greeks were their overlords but the Danibeki fought for
their
freedom. As a result, the rivers Janarles and Oxus were dried up by the aeriika leaving the
population to value water more than gold or jewels because it ismuch rarer in the occupied land.
Lauria, a free woman in service to military commander Kyros, is asked to infiltrate the Alashi, a
warrior group made up of runaway slaves and free men and women unable to live under Greek
rule.
As part of the plan, she is to remain in Sophos' harem and after two weeks escape to find the
Alashi.
Before she is set free, Sophos rapes her and another harem slave takes care of her and
accompanies
her when she leaves because she hates her mater. They find the camp but the more time Lauria
stays
there, the less she wants to go back because she sees the truth about the Greeks like Kyros who
has
not punished Sophos for his attack on her. The magical culture of the Greek Empire revolves
around
the djinn, how to bind and use them to further their own political and military goals. It is only
when
the heroine is among the Alashi does she realize that the bound djinn are as much slaves of their
masters as those humans in bondage to their owner. FREEDOM'S GATE is a magical fantasy set
in
a powerful Greek Empire where magic and sorcery are everyday events accepted by the populace.
Naomi Kritzer has written a charming fantasy that will leave readers eager to read for the next
installment in what looks like a great series.
Waking Raphael
Leslie Forbes
Bantam
ISBN: 0553382810 $25.00
Middle age art restorer Charlotte Penton travels to Urbino, Italy to work on a fabulous project,
restoring a faded Raphael painting, La Muta, The Silent Woman. The renovation assignment is
difficult as Charlotte must first peel away the previous "repairs" to get to the basic masterpiece.
Then she applies skill, experience and guesswork to mend the painting. Following Charlotte to
Urbino is youthful Canadian media star Donna Ricco, who is the pretty girl frontal visage for an
arts
restoration program. Donna quickly finds the tedious meticulous work boring, but knows she
must
bear it if she is to get ahead in her career. When a mute woman defames the masterpiece, the two
visitors see it differently. Charlotte is appalled but wants to learn why while a gleeful Donna sees a
terrific story. As the two North Americans combine resources to learn the truth, they will open up
secrets from the war and much more about grandmasters that the town's elderly want left hidden.
This engaging tale hooks the reader from the moment that the mute woman desecrates La Muta
because the mystery within a mystery is embedded in an incredible background tidal wave of art,
history, legends with a hint of the paranormal, local politics, and religion. The lead duo is dynamic
opposites except both have energy that will make a marathon runner feel like a couch potato. Fans
of crime thrillers with an edge will want to read WAKING RAPHAEL and obtain Leslie Forbes'
previous tales, BOMBAY ICE and FISH, BLOOD AND BONE as this reviewer plans to do.
The Taking
Dean Koontz
Bantam
ISBN: 055380250X $27.00, 338 pp.
The rain keeps Molly Sloan indoors so she works on her book that she hopes to complete soon.
However, she observes the oddity of the torrent pouring at over seven inches an hour and it has
luminescent glow as if snow was falling. On her porch is a horde of coyotes acting as if they fear
what is out there but they are friendly towards Molly. Her husband Neil awakens from a
nightmare
and joins her. From TV they learn that the storm is worldwide. The Sloans see the probable cause
when an UFO hovers in the sky and weird looking fungus and spores multiply at a geometric
Malthusian rate. People vanish into the ground or levitate into the air; corpses walk and
decapitated
heads talk. Special dogs congregate around the beleaguered couple as Molly and Neil search the
nearby town for children of parents who disappeared. They believe that the children and their
guardians cannot be touched. In less than thirty-six hours the world that the Sloans knew is gone
and both wonder how the ETs will deal with the survivors. This apocalyptical thriller is a chilling
frightening tale as two scared souls fight back against overwhelming odds, but take the time to try
to
protect the children though being a good Samaritan can mean being a dead Samaritan. Dean
Koontz
is at his best with this sure shot New York Times best seller that deserves many kudos. The
science
of the invaders is so far ahead of humanity it compares to prehistoric man seeing TV or movies.
Readers will never look at rain the same way as Mr. Koontz has subtle changed the rhythm.
Promise Him Everything
Carla Cassidy
Onyx
ISBN: 0451411439 $6.99, 336 pp.
In Riverton, Kansas, David Blankenship holds seventeen preschoolers including his son Billy and
two adults hostage at the Tiny Tots Day Care center demanding to speak to his former wife
substitute elementary school teacher Juliette Monroe. Hostage negotiator Nick Corelli makes
contact with David, but worries about the victims as the culprit is silent for the most part, but
when
he speaks, he shows no emotion until Juliette arrives. Desperate to save Billy and the others,
Juliette
promises David she will be with him without the child. David comes out and the cops arrest him.
A
couple days later, a court allows him bail, which he meets; his freedom causes an uproar in the
small
town. David returns to Philadelphia where he remains patient as he plots his vengeance on his
lying
bitch of a wife starting by killing her son. Meanwhile Nick worries about Juliette and Billy and
with
the help of his police partner and his brother, guard them around the clock. As he falls in love
with
the two Monroes and they return his feelings, he knows David is coming, just when remains the
question. This exciting romantic suspense stars a delightful lead couple, both suffering from
mental
wounds and a vile intelligent villain who believes he is smarter than the law (wait until you read
the
final justice). The secondary cast augments the lead couple with insight to how much they care for
others. Especially interesting are the mentally crippled former girlfriend of Nick's brother while
Billy
contrasts the males in his life so readers obtain a terrific tale with depth from multiple
perspectives.
Five Days in Summer
Kate Pepper
Onyx
ISBN: 0451411404 $6.99 320 pp.
She went out to buy some groceries as a way of thanking her mother in law Sara for allowing her
and her three children to stay in their Cape Cod home. While she was putting some groceries in
the
car and then slammed the trunk shut, someone stealthily moved behind her and slipped her
something to cause her to lose consciousness. At first nobody is concerned but as the hours slip
away Sara called the police and her son Will to let him know that Emily was missing. Ordinarily, it
would be treated as an ordinary missing person's case but retired FBI agent and expert profiler Dr.
John Geary is working on a very similar case. Over the last two decades, on a certain date
mothers
have been kidnapped; five days later a son is abducted, a piece of a boy's body the only thing ever
found. Dr. Geary thinks this same person kidnapped Emily because the date fits. The police wants
the family to keep the boys close to them. Unfortunately one of them is kidnapped by someone
they
all trust and time is running out for Emily and her son. New talent Kate Pepper provides thriller
readers with an exciting tale that will leave fans wanting to read any future books she writes. The
pacing is swift, the actions scenes leave the audience breathless and the suspense is at a high level.
FIVE DAYS IN SUMMER is a very frightening book because the victims could be anyone,
anywhere since the perpetrator chooses them at random. The killer is hiding in plain sight but no
one
would ever suspect him until the end.
In Your Eyes
Laura Moore
Ivy
ISBN: 0804120056 $6.99
Financial genius Alex Miller ends his relationship with Sydney Raines, who refuses to believe it is
over. Though he was honest from the start, she thought they would marry. Now he regrets hiring
her firm to oversee a gala he is throwing although she and her partner Harry Byrne are excellent
at
it. Instead, Alex looks forward to seeing "roller blades" skate in Central Park. Grace Miller hires
artist Gen Monaghan to paint a mural at Children's Hospital in Boston and even offers the young
artist the use of her late husband's studio in Long Island. At the same time, Alex buys a painting
done by Gen. When he finds out that his aunt is allowing an artist to use the studio, he has Gen
investigated. However, when he meets Gen he is attracted and soon learns she is his fantasy roller
blades woman. As they fall in love, her mentor currently in the Czech Republic wants her to join
him
and Sydney tells Gen she is pregnant; thinking that Alex is the father; Gen plans to join Jiri in
Europe. This is a fun contemporary romance starring a wonderful lead couple and some zany
support players. The fatal attraction seems weak and unnecessary as Alex and Gen have enough
to
keep them at arm's length in spite of the obvious magnetism. Still the audience will appreciate this
fine tale of love between a patron and an artist with his aunt as the matchmaking grandmaster
fostering the relationship.
File Under Dead
Mark Richard Zubro
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312280971 $23.95, 256 pp.
Although he likes being a high school teacher and interacting with the students as a gay man Tom
Mason feels the need to work with gay teens, who need an adult's help to guide them through
their
various trials and crises. He volunteers at the Oscar Wilde Gay Youth services advising the teens
who are suicidal, afraid to come out, and how to deal with their parents. There's a lot of
backbiting
and infighting between the staff and the head of the clinic Charlie Fitch, the executive director.
Tom
tries to stay away from the politics of the situation but when he opens his file cabinet and finds
Charlie's severed head, he becomes a suspect in a murder investigation. Eventually, the police
arrest
counselor Lee Weaver because his fingerprints are on the murder weapon (an axe) and had a
motive
as Charlie fired him the night of the murder. Tom counseled Lee when he was teen and he does
not
believe Lee is the killer. He intends to prove it since he has access to the people involved but
before
he can find Charlie's killer he finds two more murder victims. Mark Richard Zubro has written an
exciting amateur sleuth novel but FILE UNDER DEAD is so much more than that. It is a story
about teens who do not know how to go against the norm in turns of their sexuality and the
counselors who talk the more troubled ones out of considering suicide, and help them accept the
consequences if their parents find out and can't cope with the truth. This fine mystery has heart
giving readers an insider's view of the problems facing gay teens.
Bitch Slap
Michael Craft
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312305303 $23.95, 288 pp.
The two largest companies in Dumont County, Wisconsin, Quatro Press and Ashton Mills, are
engaging in a friendly merger depending on the due diligence findings of independent auditor
Tyler
Pennell; the CPA checks the books of both companies to make sure there are no irregularities.
Gillian Reece, CEO at Ashton Industries will run Ashton/ Quatro and Perry Shield, CEO at
Quatro
Press, will probably retire with millions in stock sales. Neil Waite, architect extraordinaire and
significant other of Mark Manning, owner-publisher of the Dumont Daily Register, is erecting a
showcase home for Gillian and her husband Esmond. When Mark and his reporter Glee Savage
go
over to look at the new home, Glee slaps Gillian when she sees her. Over the next few days,
Gillian
shows her true colors as she slaps Esmond who wants her to keep a promise and interior designer
Todd, for not giving her the curtains she demanded. Afterward, Mark and his second in command
at
the paper find Gillian dead at the bottom of the ladder. The coroner thinks she fell accidentally but
an anonymous tip details the victim's dirty dealings that involve embezzlement that could have
bankrupted the county if her plans had gone into affect. Mark is determined to find the tipster and
the possible killer but everyone who knew her is a suspect with very viable motives. The Mark
Manning mysteries are always fascinating, entertaining amateur sleuth novels because the
protagonist always finagles his way onto a homicide investigation. In the latest installment, Mark
has
his work cut out for him because everyone who knew the victim had a reason for wanting her
dead.
The loving relationship between the hero and his partner adds an extra layer of depth to a creative
who-done-it. Michael Craft deserves a Lambda award for this book and the whole series.
Hasty Death
Marion Chesney
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312304536 $22.95, 224 pp.
It might be the dawn of a new century, but women remain the property of their father, brother, or
husband. The chasm between the social classes is as large as it has ever been and females of Polite
Society are expected to marry a rich titled gent. Lady Rose Summer, daughter of an earl, is not
content to idly party, as she prefers to work. Her reluctant but suffering parents accept her
laboring
at a bank alongside her former maid Daisy. At the bank, Rose learns of the murder of Mr.
Pomfret.
She checks the records and learns that three people deposited funds into the account of the
deceased. Rose discusses her finding with private detective Captain Henry Cathcart and both
agree
that it seems the victim blackmailed several people, of which all had the motive to kill him. Unable
to
resist, Rose accompanied by Henry and her maid Daisy hunt for the killer. Although this novel
takes
place at the beginning of the twentieth century in enlightened London, the gap between the social
classes remains as vast as ever and the suffragette movement is just starting to impact society. The
solid investigation into the cleverly designed mystery is fun to follow especially in light of Rose's
deeper agenda to gain the attention of her "social inferior" Harry. Sparks fly while they making
inquiries, which makes for a terrific tale from Marion Chesney, know for her Agatha Raisin and
Hamish Macbeth tales.
Sideways
Rex Pickett
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312324669 $13.95, 354 pp.
In Santa Monica, Miles Raymond wonders where he went wrong. Divorced for over a year, his
writing efforts a failure and now his landlord is on his butt, he ponders whether his wine expertise
has pickled his brain. Still he looks forward to the trek with his best friend actor Jack Cole as they
travel to Santa Ynez wine country to celebrate the latter's last week as a free bachelor. Jack
shocks
Miles with his expectations, a week of sexual depravity starting with a bimbo he picks up as soon
as
they arrive. Miles also meets Maya who wants him, but he becomes philosophical ignoring the
sexual attraction between them. He ponders why modern day marriages usually end in divorce,
thinking of him and Victoria while envying her new spouse. He conjectures whether marriage
could
survive if society-accepted men sleeping around? Meanwhile Jack hops into another bed until the
women learn he is getting married on Sunday and bring, with a bang, Miles out of his musing and
the fure groom out of the boudoir. This male bonding road show is a step above most genre
entries
because of the sensitive, at times maudlin, but mostly amusing narrative by Miles. Readers will
genuinely be fond of Miles but wonder what is wrong with Jack as he out of control when sows
his
wild oats. The support cast adds to the wackiness whether it is to hunt women and animals or
crash
a car. SIDEWAYS is a fun tale that is at its best when the slapstick is limited and Miles
contemplates relationships while ignoring a potentially loving one.
Shakedown Beach
Eric Dezenhall
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312307721 $24.95, 336 pp.
New Jersey Governor "Rebound" Rothman runs for the senate with plans to go for the White
House
next. However, Rebound has three-decade-old skeletons in his closet. He has hidden away one
female intern, former township beauty queen winner and All American bimbo Simone Lava, in
Atlantic City's Celebrity Motel, run down since the first Johnson Administration. . However,
someone films Rebound's tryst proclivities. Rebound hires pollster Jonah Eastman to fix his senate
run. Jonah handed Rebound the governorship when he painted the opponent as causing a
hurricane
the size of Asia that destroyed rural South Jersey (do not laugh; there really is a rural Jersey).
Spinning the assignation film is easy. Dealing with Rebound's support of riverboat gambling in
light
of a credibility gap involving crooked casino owners is complex because investigative reporter
Barri
"Barium Enema" Embry needs political exposes to connive his way to cross the Hudson. Jonah
brings in the troops, damage control expert Chief Willie Thundercloud and nonagenarian former
mob enforcer Irv the Curve to spin a tale that Machiavelli would appreciate. As with JACKIE
DISASTER, SHAKEDOWN BEACH is a terrific look at modern day image making that our
leaders
spend fortunes on to include painting the opponent in a bad light. Truth is meaningless as Jonah
and
his associates know that for Rebound to win they must provide an Atlantic Ocean size lie or two
about their client and his opponent. Witty, humorous, but in many ways frightening, the story line
will shake readers as they realize Madison Avenue not oil runs the country. Eric Dezenhall makes
New Jersey the spin capital of the world with a tale well worth reading especially with the election
coming soon.
Buried Dreams
Brendan DuBois
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312327315 $23.95, 272 pp.
In Tyler Beach, New Hampshire, Shoreline Magazine reporter Lewis Cole met Jon Ericson a few
times starting with a simple glass of water. They had short discussions mostly centered on the
amateur archaeologist's theory that his Viking ancestors had established colonies along New
Hampshire's eighteen miles of coastline. Jon's belief goes against accepted theory that the Vikings
landed further north. Jon invites Lewis to his home to show him the artifacts that support his
unusual
theory. However, when Cole arrives for his meeting with Jon, he learns form his best friend Police
Detective Diane Woods that someone killed the amateur archaeologist. Diane, who has ambitions,
lectures the civilian Cole to stay out of the investigation. Perhaps it is the journalist's ink that runs
throughout his blood, but Cole ignores her warning and makes inquiries starting with the people
Jon
mentioned to him that he consulted with on his quest. The New Hampshire professor, a historian,
and a Native American activist offer little; the victim's vanished brother tenders nothing either.
However, his questioning must have hit home because someone tries to kill him by loosening the
lug
nuts on his car. That incident only inspires Lewis to seek the truth. This novel is an exhilarating
journalist investigative murder mystery that takes off from the moment that Lewis and Jon meet
until
the final confrontation with the latter's killer. As Lewis traipse throughout New England seeking
clues, adding depth with a twist is the historical perspective of the Vikings coming to New
Hampshire that coaxes readers to ponder the hypothesis. Fans of an exciting action-packed yet
cerebral mystery will enjoy Lewis' latest adventure.
And Then Came You
Maureen Child
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312997523 $6.99, 352 pp.
When Samantha Marconi was eighteen she met and fell in love with upper crust Jeff Hendricks.
The
couple married over the objections of their family. He left for London on business and she became
pregnant. He never returned to her, contacted her or answered her letters except to provide her
with
the divorce papers. She gave up the child for adoption. Nine years, Jeff visits Sam to ask her to
sign
new divorce papers as the ones they signed were never filed by the government clerk. He is going
to
remarry. However, when she goes to see him at his hotel, she sees a miniature Marconi as he as
raised the child she left behind. They share angry notes and soon realize his deceased mother
orchestrated the split. Sam insists she has time with Emma or else; Jeff agrees. As Emma plays
matchmaker, the spark between Jeff and Sam reignites, but can they overcome their history even
if
they are in love and love the same third person. Why Sam gave up her newborn with the loving
family she had seems odd though it apparently has to do with her mom's death just before the
birth.
Fans will enjoy this fine contemporary tale. The Marconi mob is a tough crowd that any male
would
think twice of defying. Jeff is a solid protagonist, Emma is a precocious child (too accepting of
her
mom in her life), and his deceased mom was a maestro manipulator who made Machiavelli look
like
an amateur. The interplay between everyone makes for a fine tale.
Divas Inc
Donna Hill
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312316518 $12.95, 320 pp.
Maggie, Tiffany, and Chantal have been friends for a long time going back to pre elementary
school.
While the flirtatious Tiffany and Chantal have been dude magnets able to get males to do their
bidding since first grade, Maggie has always been reticent and in awe of the dynamic duo. Tiffany
and Chantal remain successful, obtaining fabulous jobs and homes as everyone considers the two
women as Divas. Maggie envies them but loves her pals. When Tiffany and Chantal go on an
extended vacation, she agrees to watch their expensive New York apartments. Soon Maggie
begins
emulating her friends and though still overweight with glasses, hunks take notice of her for the
first
time. She learns that Tiffany and Chantal belong to the exclusive women only Divas, Inc., club for
females who demand the best. However, as she begins obtaining multiple boyfriends and behaving
like a Diva, Maggie worries that at midnight Cinderella will only have a mouse to show for her
efforts. This is an amusing contemporary tale that gently winks at some of society's "Ivana" like
assumptions. Maggie is a delightful protagonist as she gradually turns from bookworm to diva.
Fans
will notice that this tale lacks Donna Hill's normal deep drama but readers who enjoy an urban
Cinderella like frolic will appreciate the humorous somewhat biting DIVAS, INC.
Murder Suicide
Keith Ablow
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312323891 $21.95, 320 pp.
John Snow was a genius who made millions from his inventions but the money came at a price.
Every time he was near a breakthrough, he suffered a severe grand mal epileptic seizure. Unable
to
live with the affliction anymore, he decided to have cutting edge brain surgery that could cause
blindness or leave him unable to remember any of the people closest to him. An hour before he
was
due for surgery someone killed him in the alley near the hospital. Forensic psychiatrist Frank
Clevenger is asked by Detective Mike Coady of the Boston police department to determine
whether
John committed suicide or was murdered, as the autopsy results were inconclusive. By accepting
the
case, Frank has to look at all the people who were closest to the man, his wife, business partner,
children and mistress to see who had a motive. He discovers they all did. Keith Ablow is one of
the
best thriller writers on the market today. His protagonist, a psychologically flawed person,
overcomes the abuse he suffered from his sadistic father to help people and to make sure the
killers
are caught so they won't hurt anyone ever again. There is a lot of action scenes in MURDER
SUICIDE but the best parts of this exciting thriller is watching the hero put the pieces of the
puzzle
together.
The Bourne Legacy
Eric Van Lustbader
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312331754 $25.95, 464 pp.
David Webb teaches comparative languages at Georgetown University though he misses the
excitement of his former life as a government employee working clandestine operations.
Following
an on campus incident, David reflects back to the death of his first wife and children in Phnom
Penh,
his meeting of his former handler Alex Conklin, his execution of Jason Bourne, and his three years
as
Bourne the assassin with an international reputation until he almost died. Now David is a married
academic with two children, but Bourne still lingers on the edges and sometimes over the top. A
cracked marksman tries to kill David on the campus, but he cleverly escapes as Bourne takes
over.
Jason visits his former handler only to find Alex and agency psychologist Mo Panov dead. The
CIA
assumes Bourne went rogue. As Jason eludes the CIA and a professional as good as he was in his
hey day, he remains unaware that he is an expendable pawn in a global game that is set for five
days
hence. THE BOURNE LEGACY is a terrific tale that the late Robert Ludlum would have been
proud to write because Eric Van Lustbader keeps the essences of both David and Jason consistent
with previous novels. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Khan takes two shots at David
on the Georgetown campus and never slows down until the final confrontation. Readers will be
shocked as to why Bourne became dragged into the middle of a plot that threatened heads of
states
in this terrific tale in which his life in Southeast Asia has surfaced in DC.
Blitz
Ken Bruen
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312327269 $12.95, 272 pp.
The police psychiatrist asks South East Detective Sergeant Brant to talk about his tendency
towards
violence when the patient lights up a cigarette in the non-smoking office and head butts the shrink.
As the Super lectures Chief Inspector Roberts over his failure to reign in Brant's abusiveness, the
latter learns his wife died in a car accident. Super has his favorite poster boy handsome PC
McDonald take home the distraught Roberts. Officer WPC "Black is Beautiful" Falls fails a key
exam while goof McDonald, who almost cost her life, remains the Super's pet. Still the fair haired
McDonald runs into trouble; Brant sets him up to look like a stooge and he had an accident in
which
he killed a bloke. While Roberts replaces his wife with alcohol as his companion, Falls turns to
drugs
and a skinhead for solace, and Brant is on the brink of suspension, The BLITZ murders police
officer Sandra Miller. Other cops are killed and soon the South East London Police Squad knows
they must stop a vicious serial killer. However, with Roberts deep into mourning and Brant in
deep
trouble, Porter Nash leads the investigative task force which only angers his superiors, Roberts
and
Brant. Living up to its title, BLITZ, fans will feel just that way with this one sitting trip on
London's
wild side. Readers get a close up look at several cops struggling with personal problems when the
serial killer, seeking publicity, begins a reign of terror that grips London and the audience. The
ending is a delightful twist that will leave police procedural lovers seeking more urban noirs from
Ken Bruen (see THE GUARDS and KILLING OF THE TINKERS).
Ten Big Ones
Janet Evanovich
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312289723 $25.95, 320 pp.
Bond Enforcement Agent Stephanie Plum and her sometimes partner Lula are outside the
deli-mart
trying to decide what to eat when a man wearing a red devil mask runs out of the store. He has a
Molotov cocktail that he throws into the store he just robbed but the manager catches it and
throws
it back bouncing it off the culprit's head into Stephanie's car. The car catches fire and the criminal
takes off his mask and Stephanie realizes she can identify him. Her live in lover Joe Morelli tells
her
he is associated with the street gang Comstack Street Slayer. Without thinking of the
consequences,
Stephanie and Lula go into Slayer territory to look for the Red Devil robber when gang members,
some of which jump on her car, surround them. She drives away, throwing the gang members into
the street and the next thing she knows the Slayers have imported the hitman Junkman to take her
and a few other people out. Stephanie comes up with an deliciously felonious plan to find out who
is
on the Junkman's hit list and why but she is still in danger with Joe and Ranger, the sexy bounty
hunter who is Joe's rival doing their best to protect a woman who needs her freedom. This is
obviously the tenth Stephanie Plum novel and unbelievably it is one of the best in the series. It is
fresh, funny, upbeat, and populated with the quirky characters readers have come to love.
Stephanie's relationship with Ranger is definitely heating up. It is delightful to watch the heroine
doing her job while hiding out from the gang members. Janet Evanovich score again with an
undeniably great crime novel. This author has so much talent it is no wonder she is always on the
bestseller lists.
Priceless
Marne Davis Kellogg
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312303815 $23.95, 320 pp.
She led a duel life as the power behind a London auction house while separating the undeserving
rich from their fabulous jewels. Kick Keswick was a media icon for her daring thefts, always
leaving
a bouquet of shamrocks tied by a ribbon behind. Never caught, she retired to Province where she
married Scotland Yard's Thomas Curtis, an art thief known as the Samaritan Burglar. They were
very happy in their new life until the day Thomas disappears with Kick's jewels. A heartbroken
Kick
becomes very angry when she reads about a jewel thief that is using her name and leaving a bunch
of
shamrocks behind after each heist. Afraid that if the thief continues she will be caught for past
crimes, Kick decides to find the imposter, recover the jewelry and return it to its owners. In
Portafuro, at a private charity event, the Millennium Star will be worn by a Hollywood actress.
No
true jewel thief can resist such an offering; Kick finagles an invitation to slay at the villa where she
puts a plan in motion that will allow her if she is lucky to steal the Star and the rest of the jewels
the
imposter took. Kick is her adorable, felonious self, a mature, wealthy vulnerable woman who has
come out of retirement to catch a thief. This upbeat comic crime caper is fast paced, extremely
creative and filled with quirky characters that add much spice to this sensual suspense tale.
Ironically, Thomas is the person in charge of catching the thief and the meeting at the Villa
between
the estranged husband and wife is a memorable scene.
Murder on Nob Hill
Shirley Tallman
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312328559 $23.95, 304 pp.
In 1880, though females are not accepted as lawyers twenty-seven years old Sarah Lorraine
Woolson, who learned the law from her father, Superior Court Judge for the County of San
Francisco, feels capable and ready. She pulls a name game ploy using her brother Samuel, which
enables S.L. Woolson to gain entry into the firm of Shepherd, Shepherd, McNaughton and Hall,
attorneys-at-law. Then she "steals" a wealthy client Annjennet Hannaford when the distraught
widow decries a lack of legal service from the firm's lawyer Mr. Wylde. This presumptuous act
forces fuming senior partner Joseph Shepherd to acknowledge Sarah as a junior associate. Three
weeks ago, someone murdered Cornelius, Annjennet's husband of seven years, leaving her as the
prime suspect and without assets. Sarah immediately enables her client to obtain money while the
estate remains in probate. Not long afterward, the police arrest Annjennet and her lover for the
murder. While the law firm believes she is guilty, Sarah follows the money trail of how Hannaford
and three partners made a fortune. When the partners are also killed as gruesomely as Hannaford,
Sarah continues her inquiries while shaking up the male legal establishment. MURDER ON NOB
HILL is an entertaining historical legal thriller starring a courageous and charming champion. The
story line brings to life the sexist glass ceiling that leaves competent females beneath the lowest
rung
of the food chain while also providing insight into laws such as the Married Woman's Property
Act.
Chutzpah Sarah is a wonderful protagonist and her firm's appointed shadow Robert, with his
"wardrobe" and "courtside manner" problems, adds a touch of romantic frustration to a fine
tale.
Drums Along the Jack Ford
Henry Hoffman
Echelon
ISBN: 1590803086 $11.99, 203 pp.
In 1993, still mourning the plane crash deaths of her beloved parents, Wilhelmina "Billie" Staley
accepts a job as librarian of the Woodland Hills Public Library in the Ozarks part of Missouri. She
also moves in with her Uncle Ray. Her first day on the job opens with a controversy when state
official Chad Jenkins arrives insisting that the local facility automate or lose accreditation.
Apparently, the town's deceased previous librarian dedicated the building and funds as long as the
library remained computer-less. Billie insists that she will do what is best for her patrons, which is
not necessarily automation. Chad gives Billie two months to decide. A second controversy
surfaces
when militia move into the area leading to a divided populace. Still Billie goes about her job trying
to replace a local legend while also falling in love with trail ride guide Cory Winston. However,
her
new town is heading to disaster with no happy ending in sight as the militia activities endanger
one
and all. DRUMS ALONG THE JACK FORD is an engaging slice of Americana as the locals
skirmish over two diverse issues, that of automating the library services and welcoming the
militia.
The two subplots easily could have stood alone as each contains plenty to merit its own tale be
told
so both end up competing for top dog. Still Billie is a delightful protagonist who keeps the two
themes focused so that the audience tastes small town life at a time when outsiders threaten
everyone's lifestyle.
The Assignment
Mark Andrew Olsen
Bethany House
ISBN: 076422817X $12.99, 400 pp.
Lazarus experienced the beauty of Heaven only to be brought back to life by Jesus to act as the
Catacon, "the restrainer of destruction" who will be taken away just before the end of time". His
primary role is to send the destroyer back to hell but every time he comes close, his enemy's
minions
bury him for decades at a time. The priests of the Order of St. Lazare spend decades trying to find
him. When they do, Lazarus sees a world more technologically advanced but with the same old
hatreds. The 2000-year-old man is tired and wants to go home for he no longer believes that the
destroyer can be defeated. Nora, a Harvard graduate student, is almost kidnapped by members of
Hamas and a Roman Catholic priest. Lazarus saves her and disappears but Nora tracks him down
in
Paris where she learns the truth about her long-living relative. The destroyer knowing Lazarus is
loose, sets in motion a series of events that bring the world to the edge of war and Lazarus vows
to
fight him one more time. Told from the viewpoints of many different characters including
Lazarus,
one can understand why immortality is as much a curse as it is a blessing. There is no sense of
Divinity about the protagonist but he is a catalyst that sets events in motion the ongoing battle of
good and evil. Surprisingly, this is not a preachy or apostatizing story but reads more like an
urban
fantasy in which the powers of good and evil fight for supremacy. Mark Andrew Olson is a talent
comparable to Frank Peretti and Jerry Jenkins.
No Dark Valley
Jamie Langston Turner
Bethany House
ISBN: 0764227300 $12.99, 400 pp.
When Celia Coleman was fifteen, a DUI killed her parents in what the family forever called the
"clothes dryer" day. Celia moved in with her dirt-poor pious grandmother. They did not get along
as
the younger felt God abandoned her while the older remained a fanatical believer. Celia leaves for
college in Delaware and afterward becomes a South Carolina gallery art director, goes home to
Dunmore, Georgia for the first time in fourteen years to attend her grandmother's funeral, but
remains embarrassed by her roots. After the funeral, Celia finds a new family moved in next door
to
her. She is attracted to her new neighbor Bruce, but she will not act on it because besides he is
married. Bruce reciprocates the feelings, but has his own demons to contend with including caring
for his sister and his niece. Celia concludes that her sour piss grandma was content with her life
while she is not. She begins to seek solace with God even as heavenly matchmaking skills assist
her
and Bruce to relate starting with a toilet plunger. NO DARK VALLEY is an intriguing character
study that looks deep into the soul of a woman who lost all faith in the Lord when her parents
were
killed. The story line bares open Celia so that the audience can see her discontentment. The
secondary characters furbish further insight into what Celia feels as some condemn her while
others
offer rejected sustenance. Though there is little action, Jamie Langston Turner provides her
audience
with a deep look at the impact of survivors when bad things happen to good loved ones.
The Shadow Within
Karen Hancock
Bethany House
ISBN: 0764227955 $12.99 400 pp.
After renouncing the Holy Brotherhood of the Matis, Abramm the Prince of Kiraith was sold into
slavery by his brother Gillard who wanted the throne for himself. At Abramm's lowest point he
reached out to the god Eidon who accepted him as one of his own. He proudly wears the shield
that
every true believer of Eidon has. It has been six long years since he has been to Kiraith but he
returns to take the crown he never wanted because Gillard is leading his country to ruin. His
return
is a dramatic one as he kills a spawn in a ferocious sea battle with the help of the Light of Eidon.
He
openly challenges the council for the throne, not showing them he wears the shield of Eidon. The
members of the council are so impressed by the man he has become that he becomes the ruler of
Kiraith leaving Gillard os only the heir-apparent. He knows war is coming from many kingdoms
who
think Kiraith is weak and open for a takeover but before he can deal with that problem, he must
come to terms with his younger brother Gillard who would rather plunge the country into civil
war
than see his brother rule. Abramm must battle religious fanatics, creatures of the shadow and the
duplicity of man if he wants to keep the kingship. He must have faith in Eildon's plans for him and
acknowledge his faith if he is to become the man he is meant to be. In Abraaham's world, his god
is
close to his followers, speaking to them and if their faith is strong enough, obeying his
instructions.
This is the second installment in the LEGENDS OF THE GUARDIAN KING and it is every bit
as
good as the prequel (LIGHT OF EIDON). Evil takes many forms in this story and one must
believe
in the light to see the darkness. Karen Hancock is a great world builder who has created a fantasy
series that is reminiscent of the Arthurian mythos. The protagonist is a true hero because he takes
on
a kingship he never wanted because he believes his people need him to fight in, both magical and
mundane wars, battle shadow creatures and human enemies and in time win the hearts of the
people
who once rejected him. There is a sub-plot involving the beginning of a romance between the king
and the second daughter of the king of Chesdeh instead of the first daughter that everyone
believes
he should marry. Karen Hancock has written a beautiful adult fairy tale that readers will find
delightful.
A Tapestry of Hope
Tracie Peterson & Judith Miller
Bethany House
ISBN: 0764228943 $12.99, 350 pp.
In 1846 at The Willows Plantation near Lorman, Mississippi, Jasmine Wainwright is stunned that
her
Papa included her in a business deal with the Massachusetts mill owner Bradley Houston. Besides
selling cotton to Bradley, Papa's daughter Jasmine will marry the Yankee to cement the deal. She
will soon learn that her spouse is an ambitious man willing to destroy anyone to achieve his goals
including annihilating his Southern Belle. Irish siblings Kiara and Paddy O'Neill work as
indentured
servants to Bradley. Though he is married, Bradley desires Kiara and willingly uses the threat of
obliterating her brother to make Kiara acquiesce. These are two women from diverse
backgrounds
with two things in common: surviving the abuse of Bradley and turning to God to help them
succeed. Separately neither can make it, but together their prayers and their joint courage give
both
hope. This debut of the "Lights of Lowell" tales is an exhilarating inspirational historical novel.
The
story line brings to life the first major American industrial area as well as plantation life in the
south
just after the Mexican War. The key to the warmth and faith that the story line projects is the two
female characters. Kiara and Jasmine are solid portrayals representing two diverse lifestyles yet
through their beliefs share A TAPESTRY OF HOPE. Though Bradley has no redeeming qualities,
readers will enjoy this slice of Americana long the Merrimack.
Ancestors of Avalon
Diana L. Paxson and Marion Zimmer Bradley
Viking
ISBN: 0670033146 $25.95, 363 pp.
Temple of the Light Guardian Tiriki and her husband Prince-Priest Micail know between the
dreams
and the violent tremors that the mountain is awakening with already three devastating tremors in
two days. Although they would prefer to remain in each other's arms, each has duties and
responsibilities. Micail must provide leadership to the frightened inhabitants while Tiriki perform
the
ritual to reinforce balance at the Omphalos Stone. However, in spite of their heroic efforts and
those
of others like Aldel the Acolyte who sacrificed her life to save the Omphalos Stone, the end has
arrived for the islanders of Atlantis. It is time to sail away by from Atlantis where many die and a
rich heritage is almost certainly buried beneath the sea. Tiriki and Micail are separated probably
forever. While most mourn the loss of their culture and the adaptation that will needed when the
survivors reach the Isle of the Mighty, some see opportunity not loss. Acolyte Damisa feels the
new
world gives her a choice of following the path of a priestess to a religion she no longer believes in
based on the recent cataclysm or a power grab to become Queen. Only Tiriki could potentially
stand
in her way. ANCESTORS OF AVALON may be the best of the Avalon tales. The story line
stands
alone due to the strength of the characterizations especially the two surviving female rivals, yet
also
interconnects the myriad of plots from the previously published books that actually occur after the
events of this saga. Series fans will see the tree trunk that leads to the numerous branches. In
Darkover-Avalon heaven there is surely a smiling female author pleased with the results.
Unveiling Mary Magdalene
Liz Curtis Higgs
Waterbrook
ISBN: 140007021X $13.99
"The Story". On an icy Chicago day, Pastor Jake Stauros of Calvary Fellowship sees the
desperate
mumbling woman in her Goodwill wardrobe struggling to walk so he offered her help. Mary
Margaret Delaney pretends to ignore his kindness and just keeps slipping, and incoherently saying
"Luna". Jake truly wants to help her, but wonders how to reach Mary Margaret without a miracle
as
she acts as if demons possess her mind, and soul. Yet with God's help he has assisted several rag
tag
muffins now part of the Calvary Fellowship. He will continue to pray for Mary Margaret, show
her
she is not alone, and optimistically hope she will join them. Mary Margaret's story is a brilliantly
written modern day parable paralleling that of Mary Magdalene so that readers can place a
contemporary context on perhaps the bible's "baddest girl". "The Study". Will the real Mary
Magdalene stand up? Was she a courageous individual who followed Jesus and quickly became
more than just a believer, but the person who was honored with being the first to see his
reappearance? Was she a prostitute, Jesus' earthly lover or was that bad PR by a male dominated
medieval church? Was she possessed by demons? Liz Curtis Higgs answers all the above and
more
with a thought provoking, well researched look at the New Testament. Using specific references
that
are easy to follow, Ms. Higgs furbishes a powerful intriguing case of who was the real Mary
Magdalene. UNVEILING MARY MAGDALENE is a terrific two-part combo that provides a
wonderful novelette with an insightful biblical study that enables the audience to come away with
a
full understanding of one of the bible's "goodest" girls.
Dragonspell
Donita K. Paul
Waterbrook
ISBN: 1578568234 $12.99
The Dragon Egg seeks a champion to rescue it from the malevolent wizard Risto, who plans to
use
the essence inside to create a nightmarish species loyal only to him that will populate the earth and
destroy all others. The dragon egg selects fourteen-year-old female slave Kale as the savior.
Though
feeling afraid and inadequate for such a momentous undertaking because she knows that to
succeed
she will have to confront Risto in his environs, Kale reluctantly, but telepathically encouraged by
the
being who chose her, begins her dangerous trek. The "knowing" Lord Paladin sends servants, an
Emerlinden woman Leetu and Dar the Doneel to accompany Kale. They explain that Paladin
somehow knows about her undertaking and insists she must start on the quest by obtaining the
help
and guidance of the Wizard Fenworth. The journey at all times will be fraught with enemies who
will
do anything to stop the group. This coming of age youthful innocence vs. evil fantasy will hook
teens and adults due to the fully developed key cast members. Readers will root for Kale even as
we
will laugh at some of the conversations between her and the dragon egg and between her
companions. Genre fans will believe in the magic of wizards, the telepathic communication
abilities
of dragons and that species like Emerlinden and Doneel exist. With terrific characterization inside
a
tremendous story line, Donita K. Paul obviously used a dragon's egg to cast a spell on the
audience.
Dark to Mortal Eyes
Eric Wilson
Waterbrook
ISBN: 1578567440 $13.99
Her wealthy parents Kara and Marsh Addison dumped Josee Walker for adoption because her
father
did not want to deal with the emotion of loving a kid. Two decades plus later, twenty-three years
old Josee has become a cynic, clearly reflected in her work as an artist and poet. She cares little if
any about other people. Still Josee needs to know why her biological parents dumped her. She
returns to her birth home in Oregon, but Marsh refuses to meet with her while Kara desperately
wants to see the child she gave up though she loved her with all her heart. While walking in the
Willamette Valley, Josee finds a canister containing a poison that can destroy the body and the
soul.
Marsh's mother warns her that she has found something evil and soon a malevolent being begins
to
creep out of the shadows with plans to destroy the Addisons and their rejected daughter.
Knowing
she must find a way to defeat this malicious foe that she does not understand, Josee needs to find
the
faith that she lost when her parents dumped her because she needs a miracle to succeed. This
intriguing complex thriller grips readers from the moment Josee finds the canister until she shows
off
her latest tattoo. The story line is action-packed, and the plot twists in ways that constantly
surprise
the audience so casual readers beware. Though hints and clues are interspersed throughout the
tale,
fans will not fully realize what is happening until the final showdown. Readers will appreciate this
dark with a glimmer of light suspenseful novel.
The Duet
Robert Elmer
Waterbrook
ISBN: 1578567408 $12.99, 296 pp.
Widow Joan Marie Horton takes a leave of absence from teaching at New York's Gaylord School
of
Music to spend time with her pregnant daughter Alison and son-in-law Jim in Van Dalen,
Washington. To earn money, Joan Marie fills in for piano teacher Linda Klopstra, who is in
Romania
for a year, teaching students. Elderly Gerrit Appeldoom still mourns the loss of his beloved long
time spouse Miriam and almost as much the loss of his family's dairy farm. His beliefs shattered
and
with nothing to occupy him, he feels empty. Gerrit accompanies his granddaughter Mallory for
her
piano lessons. When he hears Joan Marie playing, Gerrit finds his old appreciation for music
beyond
Johnny Cash has resurfaced. He is even ready to dance to the music and decides he wants lessons
from Joan Marie. Through Joan Marie, Gerrit also rediscovers the Lord. Though concerned how
their loved ones will react, they fall in love; now both know that Jesus will guide them and their
families into doing the right thing. This is an engaging inspirational character study focusing on
the
relationships between two older individuals to one another, their children and grandchildren, and
the
Lord. The story avoids being to maudlin because Joan Marie and Gerrit are real people wanting to
do the best for others, but now have a second chance to do something for themselves. Although
there is little action, readers who appreciate a powerful insightful look into the souls of
protagonists
will want to accompany the DUET as they play a beautiful melody.
Blessings of Mossy Creek
Sandra Chastain and Virginal Ellis, et al
Belle Books
ISBN: 0967303559 $14.95
It is a blessing to live in Mossy Creek located hours North of Atlanta, where everyone who lives
there wants to stay there. Neighbors help friends and arguments are usually settled amicably.
Outsiders who move there are warmly welcomed as long as they treat others, as they want to be
treated. When the bride has no flowers for her wedding day, the groom tries to find them but it is
the
people of Mossy Creek who work together to fill up the church with roses and one woman
donates
her prize winning rose instead of entering them in the local competition. The owner of a ballet
school and the owner of the funeral home are feuding and disturbing the newly bereaved. Tango
lessons temporarily solve the problem and friendship finds a solution. Even the children in Mossy
Creek are kind hearted. John Wesley has been saving up all summer to buy his mother a birthday
present but when a homeless hungry family of migrant workers passes through town, he gives
them
his money for gasoline and food. On an amusing note, the town bands together to save a tree from
being torn down while Amos the chief of police tries to get Ida the mayor to admit she has
feelings
for him. There are many more blessings in Katie Bell's column in the Mossy Creek Gazette; they
are
all tender, worn-hearted and uplifting as the ones in this review. Mossy Creek combines the
atmosphere of an Anne River Seddons' novel with the magic of a Barbara Samuels' character
study.
The latest trip is worth the journey.
Diary of a Radical Mermaid
Deborah Smith
Belle Books
ISBN: 0967303575 $14.95, 234 pp.
The race of Mers lives in, on, or by the sea but they do not have tails or shift from half human to
human and back again. They are very strong physically and are able to speak telepathically with
their
own kind and the high order of sea creatures. June Lee Pourfox is on probation because she
squelched with Donald Trump and a Mer. She is in the custody of Lilith who asks her to bring
Molly
Reve, a famous writer who tells stories about mermaids to Bellmede a seaside town right across
from Seinte's Point Island. Molly, who suffers from Leukemia and damaged legs, fears that her cat
is
going to die any day of old age. She is a floater, a person with Mer blood running through her
veins
but is unaware of her heritage. June Lee kidnaps Molly and brings her to the home of her clan
where
she meets Rhymer. He is a Mer who is protecting his three races from their father, a sleeper much
more powerful than Singers like Molly and Rhymer. He believes the swimmer killed his sister and
is
doing his best to keep his nieces away from him. Rhymer and Molly fall in love and through his
affections, she comes into her powers as a Mer and is physically blessed and ready to battle with
the
swimmer. This romantic fantasy is a combination of romance, chick-lit and conspiracy thriller.
Deborah Smith creates a world of Mers that is so believable readers will believe they celebrate the
world and have the ability to do it if some brave Mers do not stop them. DIARY OF A
RADICAL
MERMAID is a cross between Lara Croft's Tomb Raider and Daryl Hannah's Splash. Ms Smith is
a
joy to read because she knows how to give pleasure to readers who want something magical.
Job: A Man of Endurance
Charles R. Swindoll
W. Publishing
ISBN: 0849990580 $15.95, 371 pp.
As he has done with other Great Lives biblical biographies (see David, Esther, Joseph, Moses,
Elijah, and Paul), Charles R. Swindoll provides a deep look at Job. This is not a biblical
biographical
fictionalized account of the bible. Instead, he furbishes a study starting with the Old Testament
passages that first paint a picture of a pious, happy and successful person until "Sahtan"
challenges
God to test the holiness of Job by stripping away his life. Job becomes the victim of the ultimate
test
of humankind's faith in God when even the Lord apparently abandoned him. Will he lose his
belief,
as he suffers from one Sahtan atrocity after another; or will his faith enable him to endure? Mr.
Swindoll goes over the passages with a fine toothcomb providing modern day examples to explain
the underlying lessons of Job. Most people who have read the biblical book find it difficult to
accept
why God would allow such an extreme experiment especially on a good person. Besides
providing
obvious insight into Job, Mr. Swindoll offers intriguing insight into the key "characters" who star
in
this drama and a theory as to why the events occurred. Biblical readers will appreciate this
powerful
deep look into Job, a man with the fortitude to endure incredibly devilish torture.
Scarab-4
S. Roy L. Hawkins
Trafford
ISBN: 155369015X $24.25
In 4066 in the Loki Galaxy, the New-Carthaginian Corsair pirates attack the Imperial navy ships
targeting the vessel containing the preadolescent Emperor-Select. Colonel Bradshaw acts quickly
when he realizes his ship is ruined. He, the child, the child's seven foot plus nanny-bodyguard
Captain Rikki Dix and a few others escape on a lifeboat to a nearby relatively unexplored
extremely
dangerous planet, Scarab-4 with little hope to survive until help can arrive. The Emperor sends his
best soldier, Beauwulf Ben-Galivan to rescue his grandson, the heir to his throne. Although he
receives little knowledge about this remote orb, Beau immediately journeys to Scarab-4 knowing
most likely the nanny turned traitor. After landing on the surface, Beau begins a perilous
adventure
to rescue the survivors, if any, on a hostile planet with the enemy carrying out a search and kill
mission. He makes allies with a local female Pesciss and a cross species love blossoms between
them. However, the mission and survival come before desire. This powerful space opera hooks
the
reader from the moment the naval crew and civilians flee to Scarab-4 and never lets up until a
couple
of marriages occur. The action-packed story line has several subplots, but it is at its best when
events occur on the harsh planet. The keys to why this tale is so good are that the glimpses into
the
political-military system of the empire seem plausible and the cast whether they are humans, other
humanoids, or even a different species appear genuine. Fans of exciting survivor tales on adverse
planets will appreciate taking the ride with Beau to SCARAB-4.
The Mayan Glyph
Larry Baxter
Amber Quill
ISBN: 1592799167 $17.00
Near Uxmal, Mexico, a University of Texas archeological research team finds a Mayan ruin, but
when they return home, every member is ailing and soon begins dying. The disease spreads to the
hospital staff. CDC enters the fray seeking a panacea while more people die. The airborne virus
that
eradicated most of the populace of the Mayan Empire in the latter half of the ninth century has
returned. However, what was a relatively localized pandemic is much more dangerous to
humanity,
as modern transportation provides this virus with easy access way beyond Austin. The United
States
government leadership discus how to contain the pathogen, but unless a cure is quickly found, the
only response is to draw a line above Texas and isolate everyone to the south with full military at
the
containment front. Millions will be condemned to a horrible death. Dr. Spender of CDC discusses
the disease on a video conference with Boston based Dr. Robert Asher. Soon Asher learns that
the
starting point of the spreading epidemic was a research team in the Mexican jungle. Asher,
accompanied by Mayan scholar Teresa Welles, visits the epicenter hoping to learn how some
Mayans survived. Concurrently, the virus has spread to Mexico. This exciting thriller provides an
intriguing spin to the end days of the Mayan Empire that alone hook readers to learn more about
what happened. Coupled with the twenty-first century epidemic, fans will take immense delight
with
both subplots that interconnect through the virus. The final "twist" involving the Lincoln Room is
a
terrific low key closing to a powerful action-packed tale that is a one sitting read.
Who's Afraid of the Big Wolf
Marianne LaCroix
Amber Quill
ISBN: 1592798462 $14.00
In Faylin, Roberta Redford caught the notorious womanizer Wolfman Jack Horner eating her
forty
something grandpa. Jack insists he was tonguing her as part of sex between consenting adults, but
the embarrassed grandma and her granddaughter claim he tried to kill her. Jack's former lover Jill,
who has an ax to grind with him, defends him. The trial goes badly as the females claim there
were
screams of terror while Jack insists they were screams of passion. Before he can be sentenced, the
three piggy Bacon Brothers give Jack magic beans that enable him to break out of jail. Jack climbs
the beanstalk through the clouds until he reaches the kingdom of giant King Titus. Jack meets the
shapeshifting Margaret, who loves Titus. However, Titus desires Sugar Plum Fairy, Princess
Shaylee, who he holds prisoner. Riding Meg who is in her Pegasus form, Jack meets Titus and
falls
in love with Shaylee at first sight. He decides to help Peg win her highness so that he can make it
with Shaylee. However, love is fickle whether it is on earth, in Fairyland, or in the clouds. WHO'S
AFRAID OF THE BIG BAD WOLF is a magnificent, jocular and satirical adult fairy tale that
hooks
the audience the moment that Jack ironically finds himself in female trouble until the final
confrontation between the four wannabe lovers. The stupendous story line goofs at adult fairy
tales,
but does so in an affectionate tongue out of cheek manner. A fabulous second shorter tale "The
Snowmaiden" is a fine romantic tale starring two lovers plus Father Frost and the Russian tundra.
Marianne LaCroix entertains the troops with this one-sitting two-tale book.
Kissing the Bride
Sara Bennett
Avon
ISBN: 0060584335 $5.99, 384 pp.
In 1075 England, Widow Lady Jenova asks her best friend, King William's confident Lord Henry
to
visit her at remote Gunlinghorn. William drops everything to travel the four days in wintry
conditions to see Jenova to learn what she needs form him. There, she shocks him when she tells
him
that she is considering marriage after mourning the loss of her spouse for the last two years. Her
chosen one is neighbor Alfric Baldessare, who would bow to her wishes and wants to know what
he
thinks especially since her potential groom's father demands that he be named estate guardian in
the
event of his son's death. Henry knows that the elder Baldessare hates him over a regal land
decision
so he has doubts about the match. While riding, a sudden snowstorm sends Jenova and Henry
seeking shelter. When they find refuge, they hold each other tight for some warmth, but soon
make
love to the shock of them both. Jenova realizes that she is in love again though has doubts after
her
first husband's betrayal and Henry hides his feelings. However, the elder Baldessare plays
"matchmaker" when he abducts her five-year-old son to force her hand. KISSING THE BRIDE is
an engaging Conqueror romance starring delightful protagonists and wonderful secondary players
to
include a romance between the villain's daughter and Henry's top aid. The villain is so crazy that
he
seems like a caricature, but then again his actions force the lead couple to confess their inner
feelings. Sara Bennett provides a fine historical that fans of the William era will treasure.
When He Was Wicked
Julia Quinn
Avon
ISBN: 0060531231 $6.99, 384 pp.
In 1818, the first time ever Michael "The Merry Rake" Stirling saw Francesca Bridgerton he
knows
he is in love although he never experienced that feeling before. However, he can not act on his
emotion because Francesca is to wed his best friend, his cousin John in less than two days.
Michael
ironically thinks that he now has two new feelings: love and for the first time envy. Ironically, he
never coveted the earldom or the wealth of the man he considers his "brother". Two years later,
Michael hides his love for Francesca from her and his cousin. John complains of headache and
soon
afterward he, not quite thirty and in seemingly perfect health, is dead. At twenty-two, Francesca is
a
widow and Michael is the earl. He still hides his feelings while they mourn their loss until one
innocent night he offers simple solace that turns into heated lovemaking. The aftermath is that
both
feel guilty as if they let down John. As they evade one another so as not to explore their feelings,
Francesca begins to wonder if John arranged the whole thing as a heavenly matchmaker. Title
aside
as no one is "wicked" in a nasty sense; fans will appreciate this wonderful Regency romance
starring
a loving relationship triangle between three wonderful protagonists. John was a nice respected
person loved by his wife and his cousin so that his memory serves as a ghostly barrier to Michael
and
Francesca following up on their feelings. The two illnesses that John and Michael respectfully
suffered from provide a feel for the era as Julia Quinn uses that to anchor her sixth fabulous
Bridgerton book.
One Wicked Night
Sari Robins
Avon
ISBN: 0060575344 $5.99, 384 pp.
In 1810, Lillian Kane shocks the Ton when she refuses to marry Marques Dillon Mayborn, but
instead shows HER SCANDALOUS INTENTIONS by becoming his mistress. Lillian likes
Dillon,
but does not love him. The mistress is a sham to fool her odious stepfather Cornelius who wants
Lillian to marry one of his chosen losers so he can control her trust fund that she inherits when she
turns twenty-four. In 1811, a desperate Cornelius gains an advantage when the distraught brother
of
Dillon, Russell, talks with him. They arrange a plot to get Dillon away from Lillian so that her
stepfather can abduct her. Russell thinks that his ally wants him to wed his stepdaughter, but
Cornelius has other plans. Meanwhile, the Solicitor General Dagwood arrests Dillon charging him
with the murder of Lady Langham. Knowing he is innocent, Lillian turns to Enquiry Agent
Nicholas
Redford to prove her contention. As he works the case for his client, Nicholas realizes that she is
the
target of an odious scheme even as they fall in love. ONE WICKED NIGHT is an engaging
Regency
romantic suspense that grips readers once they understand the motives of key players. The story
line
moves rather quickly from the time Dillon goes to Newgate until the final confrontation. Though
Cornelius is as odious as they come, fans will appreciate Dillon's sacrifice, an enlightened Lady,
and
the courage of the lead couple that all come together in a fabulous tale.
A Hoe Lot of Trouble
Heather Webber
Avon
ISBN: 0060723475 $6.50, 256 pp.
Nina Collette Quinn thought she had the perfect life doing the work she loved and being married
to
the man, she thought was her soulmate. One day while washing Kevin's boxers she notices lipstick
on them; she confronts her husband, who confesses that he is cheating on her. She kicks him out
but
her stepson Riley remains behind with her. Her landscaping business, Taken by Surprise, is
booming,
but someone is stealing her equipment and with three ex-cons on her payroll, she has many
suspects
to choose from. Her oldest friend Bridget finally gets pregnant and Nina is delighted though she
becomes worried when she learns that her friend's father-in-law was murdered even though the
police think he died of natural causes. Nina volunteers to help find the killer but while
investigating,
she almost is killed by one of the suspects. A short while later one of Nina's suspects is killed and
her fingerprints, which she failed to wipe off, lead the police to her as the number one suspect.
Heather Webber's debut mystery is fascinating as the heroine copes with a divorce, a recalcitrant
stepson who is part of a school gang, a business that is losing valuable equipment, and the death
of a
man who was her mentor. Nina copes with all these problems admirably and investigates the two
murders although it means putting herself in danger. Readers will admire Nina and eagerly await
the
next mystery starring this intrepid champion.
Death by Deep Dish Pie
Sharon Short
Avon
ISBN: 0060537973 $6.50, 272 pp.
The small Ohio town of Paradise is home to Josie Toadfern, owner of Toadfern's Laundromat and
an expert in removing stains. Paradise is a small town where the leading family, the Breitenstraters
own the town's main business the Breitenstrater Pie Factory. Josie is looking forward to the
annual
pie-eating contest but the day is marred when Alan Breitenstrates dies after eating a pie that was
originally meant for his brother Cletus. Cletus never showed up for the event even though he
attended it every year for decades. Josie, who was watching the scenario, casually, asks her
boyfriend and her best friend to take the pies and bring them back to the Laundromat while she
distracts the police and a security guard. Though the authorities think the victim died of a heart
attack, Josie wants to get the pies tested to see if they contained poison. When a ferret eats a
piece
of one of the pies and falls into a coma, Josie is sure that at least one of the pies is poisoned. She
intends to find out who poisoned the pie thinking that information will lead her to a killer.
Shannon
Short's second Toadfern mystery is very delightful and a real puzzler because no one is above
suspicion in this charming cozy. The cast of characters are totally charming and quirky, the type
of
people one would want for a next-door neighbor. DEATH OF A DEER DISH PIE is an upbeat
who-done-it that will have readers laughing at some of the actors of the main characters, including
the protagonist.
Temporary Insanity
Leslie Carroll
Avon
ISBN: 0060563370 $13.95, 322 pp.
Thirty-something Alice Finnegan pays the rent doing odious temporary office jobs for nasty
bosses
while hoofing the mean streets of Broadway seeking acting gigs. Her nonagenarian grandmother,
a
long ago retired showgirl, lives with Alice and encourages the dream. Besides her beloved
grandma,
Alice finds solace from being an out of work actress with her perfuming pals Izzy and Dorian. The
Three Musketeers are there for each other. The support of these two and her granny keeps her
going
when office dating turns out wrong and her daytime bosses assign her the handling of trash
projects.
As directors tell her what they want her to fix about herself that is when they don't want to taste
the
goods personally, Alice, in spite of all that negativity, expects to one day be the toast of the city
with
her musketeers at her side. This is a fun chick lit tale starring a delightful protagonist who with the
help of her friends takes blows, but keeps on trying. Alice is a wonderful protagonist; many
readers
will root for her to turn Broadway into her wonderland especially when they watch the invasion of
the permanent crowd on the residents of temp world. Deeper than the amusing REALITY
CHECK
and MISS MATCH, TEMPORARY INSANITY is a solid look at someone trying to make it to
the
majors, but must eat first.
An Invitation to Seduction
Lorraine Heath
Avon
ISBN: 0060529466 $5.99, 384 pp.
In 1881 Kitty Robertson is awed by "Poseidon" swimming off the Cornish coast. However her
desire makes her feel guilty as she detests any notion that she might be promiscuous like her
biological mother. It is her adopted parents who are her role models. Duke Richard Stanbury sees
Kitty and decides he wants her as his mistress. However, he is shocked to learn that she is
engaged
to marry his best friend Farthingham, who he knows will never make a proper mate for the
visiting
American. As Richard pursues Kitty, they fall in love, but her loyalty remains with her fiance. That
remains an obstacle though Richard knows Farthingham's secret that he swore to keep even after
Farthingham apparently dies and her beloved is accused of murder. This entertaining Victorian
romance is a delightful character driven tale though the mystery of Farthingham adds intriguing
suspense. Kitty is a wonderful protagonist struggling with her growing attraction to Richard that
feels wrong yet right vs. her long term friendship and caring for Farthingham. Richard also has his
demons to slay as he detests the frivolous Americans who barter cash for a title. The support cast
augments a fine novel that has a delightful twist.
The Sweetest Sin
Mary Reed McCall
Avon
ISBN: 0060098120 $5.99, 384 pp.
In 1545 in the Scottish Highlands, Duncan MacRae is betrayed by his brother Colin and Morgana
MacDonnal at his wedding ceremony. The MacDonnals kill many of the MacRaes including
Duncan's bride, steal the magical amulet Ealach, and sell Duncan to the English, who imprison
him
in the Tower. Thirteen years later, Duncan returns to Scotland following Queen Elizabeth freeing
the Scottish prisoners. He and his clan raid MacDonnal to take back the Ealach as well as to
avenge
what happened to him and his people. However, both Colin and Morgana were reported dead
while
in exile and her brother Robert offers a deal to end the feuds. He offers his other sister Aieleana as
Duncan's wife in exchange for allowing his other brother to live. Duncan accepts Aieleana as his
leman until he begins to fall in love with the witch who has safely hidden the Ealach. THE
SWEETEST SIN is exciting historical romance with a touch of fantasy to spice the plot. Duncan
admires Aieleana for her courage within hostile environs while she learns of the atrocities
committed
by her family towards the MacRae clan. The story line grips the audience from the moment that
Duncan realizes what happened to his beloved as they stood at the altar until the final neat twist
places his new beloved in jeopardy by his enemies. This Scottish historical is a terrific tale that
sub-genre fans will enjoy.
Love: Undercover
Hailey North
Avon
ISBN: 0060582308 $5.99, 384 pp.
In Doolittle, Arkansas, librarian Jenifer Wright raises her twins by herself as the father dropped
her
the moment she mentioned pregnancy. However, she currently feels a bit lonely though
surrounded
by the love of her extended family because her darlings Autumn and Adam are away on college
scholarships. FBI undercover agent Eric Hamilton arrives at the library allegedly seeking
information
for his Virginia based investment firm. In fact Eric is trying to find the connection between Jenifer
and two money laundering thugs as he has a photo of the trio together. As he meets her family
and
gets to know Jenifer better, Eric falls in love with her and is willing to risk his life if necessary to
keep her safe. Jenifer, who has not needed a man for years, reciprocates wondering if it might be
empty nest syndrome. This is engaging romantic suspense with the emphasis on the former as the
lead couple falls in love under the spot light and encouragement of her family. The story line
contains neat tidbits to enhance the flavor for instance; Autumn has a track scholarship while
Adam
is on an academic scholarship. Tiny gems like that augment a fabulous tale even if the intrigue
arrives late.
Dinner for Two
Mike Gayle
Downtown
ISBN: 0743477669 $13.00, 352 pp.
In London, thirty-one years old Dave Harding is a music journalist for Louder magazine, a
publication that boasts that its audience is "people who live for music" while his beloved wife Izzy
works at Femme Magazine. He likes his work there so is a bit taken back when the magazine
folds.
Through a friend Jenny, Izzy gets Dave a job as an agony aunt at Teen Scene. Dave provides
relationship and other advice to mostly adolescent girls. Leery when he first started because he
took
himself seriously as a music critic, Dave soon realizes he is enjoying the advice column. However,
as
Izzy recovers from a miscarriage, Dave believes his biological clock is running down and needs a
baby to feel fulfilled. Everything changes when thirteen-year-old Nicola sends him a letter at teen
Scene insisting that he is not her agony uncle, but her biological father. He quickly believes she is
right, but agonizes how to tell Izzy still healing from her miscarriage as he is terrified by how the
woman who he loves with all his heart will react. This lighthearted relationship drama stars a
sensitive male who loves his wife so much that everyone knows it. Dave's need not to hurt the
already battered Izzy actually leads to mistrust and doubt as his good intentions towards his
spouse
and his newly discovered teenage child backfires until the ladies come to the rescue. Mike Gayle
furbishes a fine tale starring characters readers will cherish especially fumbling nurturing and
loving
Dave.
The Dead Father's Guide to Sex and Marriage
John Scott Shepherd
Downtown
ISBN: 0743466268 $13.00
Incumbent Cleveland Mayor Joseph Way Sr. is battling challenger Lester Ratcovic in a dirty
campaign. Joseph's son Assistant DA Joe Jr. is a popular local figure for having been a former
college football star and being influential in bringing the return of professional football to the city.
Sr. constantly reminds the Dog Pound of his son's sports accomplishments. The Way approach to
politics shared by both men is self-righteousness in public, but playing dirty when they can get
away
with it. The break occurs when teenager Jenni Sanchez tells Jr. that Ratcovic sexually harassed
her.
Jr. gets her to go public without involving the Ways and sinking the enemy's campaign. Not long
afterward, someone beats the girl to death. Joe does not look back with any remorse as she served
her purpose until he learns that his role model Sr. has had a longtime affair having caught his dad
in
the act. The next day Joseph Sr. dies. As he works on the eulogy, Joe Jr. knows the statue has
fallen
from the pedestal and ponders if ignorance is truly bliss. John Scoot Shepherd leaves it to the
reader
to decide how to respond whether to know or not to know is the question. Neither Joe is a likable
character and though Jr. undergoes a values cleansing; still the audience will want both to receive
their comeuppance. Though very philosophical and at times deep, the tale lacks action as the
audience follows the mental war going on inside Jr. who if he wants to go from heir apparent to
the
throne will need to conceal his father's sins.
Poor Mrs. Rigsby
Kathy Herman
Multnomah
ISBN: 1590523148 $12.99, 320 pp.
Angry with Sam since he divorced her after three decades of marriage to move in with a younger
chick, leaving her with a run down house and two teens, Certified Nurse Assistant Sally Cox also
hates her work at the Walnut Hills Nursing Center. She detests the patients and the staff though
she
likes nonagenarian dementia victim Elsie Rigsby even when the elderly woman loses her touch
with
reality. During a seemingly lucid moment, Mrs. Rigsby informs Sally that she has stashed away
from
her avaricious family a fraudulent fortune. She wants Sally to distribute the money to worthy
people
in need. Sally promises to do so, but the temptation to use the money to get out of her own debt
is
overwhelming. Yet her conscience tells her to do the good deed and trust that God will take care
of
her woes though with the setbacks in her personal life, Sally has lost faith. Which path will she
take
especially when a snake offers her the easy road? Although some readers will believe that the
POOR
MRS. RIGSBY is a naive look at money, Kathy Herman provides a deep character study that
focuses on faith and greed. The story line follows Sally as she feels like a failed female Job with a
temptation that could solve much of her woes. Ms. Herman makes a case in an age of fiscal abuse
and irresponsibility by those in power in Wall St and DC that money is not the root of evil;
spinning
the NRA contention that "guns don't kill, people kill", people's attitude turns money into a
weapon
of destruction.
My Forever Love
Marsha Canham
Signet
ISBN: 0451211286 $6.99, 368 pp.
When Ciaran Tamberlane joined the Crusaders, he believed that he was doing something noble for
God. He lost his faith in King Richard the Lionhearted when the royal ordered the mass genocide
of
Saracen prisoners. Still he fought on because the thought he was on God's side until he watched a
brother knight about to kill an injured woman and her baby. His faith in God's goodness died that
day. He now lives on his English estate with no ties to the aristocracy or the church, caring for the
peasants who toil on his land. Knights burn down a nearby village slaughtering without regard.
Ciaran and his squire kill the marauders. He takes an injured woman, who wants to die, to his
castle.
As Amaranth de Langois heals, she feels guilty that she caused the massacre by hiding in the
village
from her abusive spouse. Her husband demands that Tamberlane return his wife to him, but
instead
Ciaran vows to protect Amie even if the King is on the side of the spouse. As they wait for the
confrontation, Ciaran and Amie fall in love, but defying duty may lead to the executioner's sword
for
him and his beloved. This exciting medieval romance paints quite a different timely perspective of
the Crusades, as atrocities in the name of God are part of the war. The action packed story line is
character driven; readers will cherish the courageous Ciaran who refuses to go along even when
God and King are invoked if he feels it is wrong. Sub-genre fans will appreciate this delightful
historical tale starring two honorable individuals.
In a Wild Wood
Sasha Lord
Signet
ISBN: 0451210298 $6.99, 384 pp.
At a time he should feel euphoric for the birth of his heir, the embittered Earl feels anger at his
wife
because he believes she cheated on him though she denies his accusations. Worse, he learns that
twins are born and that the midwife failed to identify which child came first. He informs his spouse
that he will raise one child and she the other. The stronger lad will inherit the estate. Years later,
Xanthier has the inside path to the inheritance because his father raised him while Brogan was in
exile with his mother. Although they were friends as lads without their parents' awareness, the
siblings are now rivals. Xanthier's men tie up Brogan in the woods warning him to leave or die.
Matalia McTaver sees Brogan and decides he is the answer to two questions: how to avoid
marriage
and what sex is all about. She teases and arouses her prisoner until he escapes. They share fleshly
pleasures, but her father Lord Ronin catches them and forces Matalia and Brogan to marry. They
fall
in love as the brotherly rivalry, encouraged by Xanthier's avariciouse wife, heats up and threatens
both their lives. This exciting medieval romance is an intriguing historical relationship drama as
the
story line focuses on a dysfunctional family. The cleverly developed support cast either enhances
the
understanding of the two prime couples or moves forward the plot. Although Matalia is out
character by keeping Brogan tied up and explanation for why the Earl thought he was cuckold is
not
clear enough, fans will appreciate this deep look at medieval relationships, several of which are
failing.
Bait and Switch
Larry Brooks
Signet
ISBN: 0451212479 $7.99, 400 pp.
Los Angeles based Wolfgang Schmitt: could not handle the advertising meeting that made
Chiclets
gum the center of the universe. All he could think of was his mom using Chiclets to hide her
cigarette odor from her mouth and to Wolfgang they tasted like chlorophyll. He suggest to the
twenty-something grave like MBA's heading the round table negotiations that one of them needed
to get a life. Thus his "wise ass" mouth has Wolfgang needing work beyond his "Bulls**t in
America" musing. Billionaire Nelson Scott believes the handsome Wolfgang is perfect to perform
a
simple job. He flies Wolf from Oregon on an exclusive jet that makes Air Force 1 look like a
Smithsonian historical exhibit. He wants Wolf to seduce his wife Kelly. For trying, Wolf will
receive
one million dollars, for succeeding four million. Wolf wants to catch his spouse in the act so that
their prenuptial clause will leave her with nothing when he divorces her. When Wolf agrees, he
was
unaware that he will need luck to survive as double crosses, murder and money make fine
bedfellows. BAIT AND SWITCH is a wild suspense thriller that one moment keeps readers on
the
edge of their seats with tension and the next scene leads to uproarious laughter. The musings on
the
world that starts almost every chapter are amusing, fun and insightful in a quick fortune cookie
style,
which in many ways sums up Wolf. Fans will adore him, as he is a true wise guy, more tongue
than
gun. Larry Brooks provides a terrific tale filled with philandering spouses, cheating louses, and
centered by a superb mouse.
Dark Water Dive
Kathy Brandt
Signet
ISBN: 0451212525 $25.99, 242 pp.
Denver homicide detective and police scuba team member Hannah Simpson quits her job and
relocates to the British Virgin Islands so she won't have to see kids shoot up or shoot at her. The
team throws her a going away party and the next day everyone is helping when a call comes in
that
someone was shot and thrown in the reservoir. Since Hannah is one of the few fit to dive, she
agrees
to go into the black inky water where she finds the body and the gun. The next day she is off to
the
British Virgin Islands where the water is so clear one can see yards in front of them. She learns
quickly that paradise has its rash of robberies; with the victims being wealthy islanders pressure is
high on the department to solve the cases quickly. Hannah is called out on a missing person's case.
Alex Robsen is found caught underwater in the reef with a bullet in his head. Hannah is once again
working homicide and even when someone is arrested, she follows through on a hunch that the
wrong person has been incarcerated. Kathy Brandt makes scuba diving in the sea feel so
exhilarating; readers will want to take a trip to the Caribbean to see if it is as wonderful as it
sounds.
The protagonist is a tough, feisty and spunky individual whose honesty, tenacity and intuition
make
her a good police officer. DARK WATER DIVE allows armchair travelers to visualize the British
Virgin Islands from a newcomer's point of view. This police procedural is so exciting readers will
finish it in one sitting.
Murder of a Pink Elephant
Denise Swanson
Signet
ISBN: 045121210X $5.99, 272 pp.
When Sky Dennison graduated school, she left Scumble River before the ink on her diploma was
dry. After she lost her job, her boyfriend dumped her and she didn't have enough money to pay
the
rent, she returned home. Her uncle got her the position of school psychologist and after almost
three
years Sky realizes she likes living and working in her hometown, being close to friends, family and
her lover Simon. The high school sponsors a dance for the students and hire Pink Elephant, a
band
that includes Sky's brother Vince, to play at the event. She notices that two members are at each
other's throat but her brother won't tell her why. At the night of the dance, a fire alarm evacuates
the building; when Skye looks to see if anyone is in the building, she trips over the dead body of a
band member. Vince is a prime suspect so Sky once again tries to track down a murderer so that
she
can exonerate his brother. Although Scumble River is a small community, it has many of the
problems of a big city including students taking hard drugs. While trying to find a killer, Sky
always
wants to find the methamphetamine lab so the sheriff can close it down and arrest the dealer. The
heroine is tough when it comes to her students and her family, going the extra mile to get them
out
of trouble yet with Simon all she can think of is "Give me give me good lovin". MURDER OF A
PINK ELEPHANT is an upbeat amateur sleuth mystery that takes place in a quirky town with
zany
characters.
Wind Walker
Cassie Edwards
Signet
ISBN: 0451212193 $6.99, 336 pp.
In 1868, Margaret Ann Toland and her Uncle Patrick persuade her widowed mother to leave
Boston
to start a new life in the Oregon Territory. However, the trek west is harsh and along the way
many
die including Maggie's beloved mom. Feeling guilty that her mother is dead while she lives,
Maggie
has lost her desire for the Pacific though she goes through the motions of doing the right thing
amongst the other wagon train travelers. At a stop in the Wyoming Territory, local rancher
Archibald Parrish drops by and decides he wants Maggie. Also visiting is Cheyenne warrior Wind
Walker who feels Maggie is his soul mate. When Maggie ignores Archy, but shows favoritism
towards the Indian, the amoral rancher abducts the red haired witch. Now Wind Walker must
enter
the encampment of his enemy to rescue the woman he loves or die trying. As usual Cassie
Edwards
provides an entertaining Indian romance starring two courageous noble lead characters and an
odious white male. The story line is action-packed and filled with a strong secondary cast. WIND
WALKER is typical of Ms. Edwards' bunker of novels that have well written, but interchangeable
key characters whether they are a gallant male Indian, an intrepid all alone white female or an
ignoramus like Archy. Each seems capable of moving back and forth between this author's
books.
Wind Rider's Oath
David Weber
Baen
ISBN: 0743488210 $26.00, 498 pp.
Though badly outnumbered hradani horse stealer Bahzell Bahnakson persuaded Sothoii leader
Baron Tellian to surrender to him rather than lose to him, as Bahzell is the War God's champion
(see THE WAR GOD'S OWN). As part of the agreement reached by Bahzell and Tellian, he
allowed the Sothoii to go home in peace in one piece. Named by his father the hradani chief as
ambassador to the Sothoii, Bahzell travels to the Wind Plain. Being extremely tall, he sees this as
an
opportunity to obtain a large steed, something the Sothoii are noted for and why they detest the
hradani for stealing and eating their horses. Surprisingly several Sothoii accept Bahzell as a
windrider the first hradani to achieve such acclaim. However, between the surrender when they
outnumbered the enemy by 30 to 1 even if he is the War God's favorite and the honor of windrider
bestowed upon a hradani, many Sothoii purists are outraged; this outsider has battered their pride
in
their heritage. An insurgency surfaces further stirred by the Goddess Queen of Hell and those who
recently lost power plotting assassination to bring down the current rulers including Bahzell.
WIND
RIDER'S OATH is not up to the level of excellence normally achieved by David Weber especially
with this sword and sorcery fantasy series. The story line contains too many subplots that lack
action
and seem more like gates to future sequels. The prime tale centers on the heroic Bahzell who
learns
how hard it is to be a God's champion as challengers come from everywhere. Fans of the series
and
Mr. Weber will be a bit disappointed, but need to consider that hradani threads go through WIND
RIDER'S OATH.
After Hours
Lynn Erickson
Berkley
ISBN: 0425197085 $6.99, 336 pp.
Like many NYPD Detectives and cops in general, Nick Sinestra is divorced and supplements his
salary by working celebrity events as a guard. Unlike other police officers, Nick also enhances his
income by selling "findings' to the sleazy Star Gazer tabloid. His current target for both of his
moonlighting jobs is shy widow Portia Wells, whose deceased husband was the president of the
highly regarded Nature Preservation Society. Nick follows her from Manhattan to New Rochelle.
When an aggressive reporter arrives, Portia realizes that Nick sold her out. Because of a
confrontation with a homeland security specialist, Nick's superior places him on vacation for a
month, his first time off in over a year and a half. This enables Star Gazer to send Nick to
Colorado
to find information on the reclusive Portia. As he tries to regain her trust, Nick realizes that
someone
is trying to frighten Portia with each incident, more dangerous than the previous one. As the New
Yorker falls in love with his pigeon and Portia reciprocates, thugs, most likely working for builder
Mahoney, assault her leaving his beloved ON THIN ICE. Lynn Erickson has earned a deserved
reputation for powerfully taut romantic suspense tales and her latest AFTER HOURS will
substantiate her esteem. The story line starts slow as Ms. Erickson introduces the two key players
and the mistrust that is critical to the novel. Once Portia returns to Colorado, the novel
accelerates
until the final confrontation. Although the audience ironically knows who is pushing Portia ON
THE
EDGE, readers will appreciate the unfolding of the drama as Nick risks his life to keep his
beloved
safe.
To Find You Again
Maureen McKade
Berkley
ISBN: 0425197093 $6.50, 352 pp.
When the military attacked the Lakota village, they rescued captured white woman Emma
Hartwell,
a prisoner for seven years. However, her return is not filled with joy as everyone including her
family
except her sister treats her like a pariah. She concludes that her only sin was choosing to live even
if
it was amongst the Sioux. Her parents decide to send Emma to live with widowed aunt in St.
Paul,
but instead she leaves at night by herself seeking to learn if her son Chayton survived the
massacre.
Her father John hires former scout Ridge Madoc to bring his daughter home. Ridge realizes that
Emma is more a "Squaw Woman" than she is a white as she makes the trail hard to follow. As
they
begin to travel together, they fall in love; however, she refuses to believe that he does not care
one
iota about her Indian experience. All he wants besides her is to help her raise Chayton . This
entertaining historical romance highlights the problems faced by a white woman coming home
after
years living with an Indian tribe. The story line is character driven as Emma makes the plot work
with her resolve to find her son although that will paint her as even more of an exile amongst
family
and friends. Ridge is a terrific person whose resignation as a scout due to military atrocities is a
value that the military including the Commander-in-Chief should encourage as much as loyalty.
Though John's turn around seems to quick and fast, fans of Americana romances will appreciate
this
wonderful tale.
On the Line
Kathryn Shay
Berkley
ISBN: 0425197107 $6.99, 400 pp.
Because of the many fires well above the norm especially a deadly one that has ripped through
Hidden Cove New York, Mayor Johnson requested the State investigate. The Office of Fire
Prevention and Control sends Eve Woodward to learn what is going on in the small community.
Her
first hunch is that Fire Chief Noah Callahan is on the take receiving kickbacks that have led to
equipment failure and inadequate building inspection. When Eve meets Noah's youthful "wife" and
"child", she realizes he further fits the profile of a corrupt firefighter, as his spouse is young
enough
to be his daughter. However, as she becomes acquainted with Noah and observes how everyone
in
his sphere thinks highly of him she begins to wonder what is really going on especially when she
learns that his "wife" is his daughter and his "child" is his granddaughter. Soon a fire burns
between
the investigator and the target, but that does not prevent Eve from seeking the truth even though
it
keeps adding up to the undeniable fact that Noah is the culprit. ON THE LINE is an exhilarating
fiery romance that centers on the investigation, but also enables the audience to taste the danger
of
firefighting. The story line contains two romances including one between two fire fighters who
deserve a second chance as well as the conflict of love vs. duty starring the ethical lead couple.
Although the "motives" for all the troubles seems too minor when compared to the cost (ten dead
in
the Sinco fire see AFTER THE FIRE), readers will appreciate this dynamic homage to real
heroes.
Shower of Stars
Nancy Herkness
Berkley
ISBN: 0425197115 $5.99
In Manhattan, freelance reporter Charlie Bresland is conducting an interview of famous meteorite
hunter Jack Lanett for the New York Times. Jack and his partner Miguel MacPherson are
controversial figures because they sell many of their findings to the highest bidder. Currently thy
have on auction a Shara-Mars gem that has angered bio-astronomer Dr. Peter Burke who believes
all findings belong to science not a collector, but never takes the monetary or on site risks outside
his Princeton classroom to retrieve a rock. After an incident with a dog and his insistence she
wear
her hair down, Charlie proposes to write a book on Jack, an endeavor he opposes because he has
a
secret to hide. She explains that she must change jobs from real life adventure writer to a more
sedate job so she can adopt a child. Jack shocks her when he tenders a different option; he
proposes
marriage. Already attracted to Jack, Charlie considers whether marriage will give her everything
she
wants: a loving husband, a cherished child, and a loyal dog, but can she keep a secret if he reveals
to
the woman he is falling in love with what he has hidden from the world. Though Charlie's
obsession
to adopt and her need to rescue cats and dogs are not clarified until late in the novel, fans will
appreciate this cotemporary romance starring two individuals with different reasons to marry. The
altruistic Charlie wants to do the right thing for society while Jack has a secret he dreads
surfacing.
Readers will appreciate this fun tale of two people falling love though they wedded for the wrong
reasons.
Murder Is a Girl's Best Friend
Amanda Matetsky
Berkley
ISBN: 0425197166 $6.50, 320 pp.
Mystery author and staff writer for Daring Detective magazine Paige Turner is at work when
Terence Catcher calls and asks her to meet him. She hesitates until he tells her that her late
husband
Bob, who died in Korea, was his best friend and he wants to tell her about his last days. When
Paige
arrives at the restaurant, Terry tells her how Bob gave him confidence when he was scared and
lifted
his spirits when he was depressed. He then goes on to explain that his sister was murdered in her
apartment and the police think it was a robbery gone wrong and closed the case. Terry is positive
his
sister's death had to do with the diamond jewelry hidden in a container of oatmeal. Paige tries to
wiggle out of helping him because she knows her police officer boyfriend would be furious with
her.
In the end, she agrees to find the killer because Terry was Bob's friend. Asking questions and
following clues results in Paige almost dying when someone throws her on the train tracks; her
apartment is broken into; and a viable suspect is killed. If that is not traumatic enough, the killer
shoots Paige as the perpetrator demands the amateur sleuth tell where the diamonds are located.
December 1954 in Manhattan is a trip down memory lane and Amanda Matetsky captures the
ambience of the era to perfection. The heroine's friend Abby makes a perfect crime-solving
partner
and some of their adventures are funny. Readers will thoroughly enjoy MURDER IS A GIRL'S
BEST FRIEND because of Paige, Abby, and 1950s New York.
The Belles of Solace Glen
Susan S. James
Berkley
ISBN: 0425197131 $6.50, 304 pp.
When Flip Baxter was eighteen years old, a drunk driver killed her parents leaving her alone since
she had no living family left. Many of the women of Solace Glen "adopted" Flip and guided her
into
adulthood; she regards them as her "mothers". Over twenty years later, Flip never left Maryland
and
runs her own cleaning service. One of her clients Leonora Bell suffers a heart attack; she asks Flip
to
deliver letters to her niece Lee before her brother Roland can get his hands on them. At the
reading
of Lenora's will, Lee inherits everything except for the Bell family bible that she gave to Flip, a
1972
Cadillac that she left to her friend Pal and $2000 a month to her pal Wilma Fizzi. Roland is furious
believing everything should have come to him including the letters, which are thought to be
written
by General J.E.B. Stuart to a secret lover. Soon after the reading, the Cadillac's brakes fail, Miz
Fizzi is injured when she trips on a step that was deliberately tampered with and Lee and Flip's
houses are broken into. Everyone believes Roland is behind these crimes but there is no proof.
Flip is
determined to find that proof. Susan S. James brings to life a small town especially the quirky
characters that live there. The protagonist is independent, outspoken and feels alone although she
has many friends. She never married but would jump at the chance if she found somebody she
could
love who would reciprocate her feelings. There are many surprises in THE BELLES OF
SOLACE
GLEN, a novel that reminds readers of the genteel culture of the antebellum south.
Hot Legs
Susan Johnson
Berkley
ISBN: 0425196003 $15.00
Minneapolis Museum of Art curator Cassie Hill has sworn off men following her cheating
husband
of five years Jay Sibley III leaving her for a shallow bimbo with cash. Her distaste for anything
male
except dead artists will change soon as her boss Arthur Northrup hires art bounty hunter Bobby
Serre to locate a missing Rubens. Bobby immediately leaves Budapest for Minneapolis. Bobby
evaluates the crime scene and begins checking into each member of the staff and Arthur's latest
spouse, three if he has an up to date scorecard unlike Bobby who vowed never again after one. As
Bobby makes inquires he and Cassie hit it off. When his ex Jessica hears rumors that he is falling
in
love, she rushes to the Twin Cities and pulls off a ploy to get Cassie out of town because in her
mind
Bobby is at her beck and call. As Bobby works the case, Jessica also persuades Cassie that her
new
love is a womanizer just like Jay. HOT LEGS is a fast-paced heated romance in which limousines,
showers, and anything else is fair grounds for some sexual activity. The story line is action-packed
and not just lips locking scenes as Bobby works the art theft case. Bobby is a delightful
protagonist
who comes across as a not fully boiled sleuth while Cassie is an intelligent delightful individual.
The
lead couples' former spouses have little, if any, redeeming qualities yet fans of torrid private
investigator romances will enjoy this art of love tale.
Beauty in Black
Nicole Byrd
Berkley
ISBN: 0425196836 $6.99, 336 pp.
In 1817, Lord John Sinclair knows he needs a wife so he can begat an heir, but knows his scarred
face caused by smallpox as a child frightens children. Though he would prefer not to, the reclusive
John needs the help of his estrange brother and surprisingly his new sister-in-law supports not
only
reconciliation but assisting John. With her mom pregnant, Louisa Crookshanks coaxes her
widowed
Aunt Marianne Hughes to chaperone her during her London season. Louisa believes that John
would make the perfect spouse for her. However, though John feels pretty good that the beautiful
debutant seems unafraid of him and even flirts with him, he feels an attraction to her aunt.
Marianne
returns the desire and growing love, but though her marriage to Harry was good, she has doubts
about a second time. This enjoyable Regency romance consists of several delightful protagonists
who are nice intelligent people (except for the hero's deceased father) with issues that bring out
the
period in a witty manner. The story line grips the reader as the cast hooks the audience who want
everything to work out for the best, which is not that easy to make happen. Fans will look
forward
to a sequel starring a precious niece from an author who is soaring to the top.
Murder In A Mill Town
P.B. Ryan
Berkley
ISBN: 0425197158 $6.30, 272 pp.
As a child she lived in the poor house until she met Duncan who took her out of there. Neither
Duncan nor Nell Sweeney had enough money to live on his salary so she started picking pockets
and
became known as Cornelia Catpurse because she was so good at it. After Duncan was found
guilty
of theft and thrown in jail for thirty years wealthy Bostonian Viola Hewitt hired her to be a
governess for her adopted daughter Gracie. Viola asks Nell to find out where Bridget Fallon and
her
boyfriend Virgil are and because she loves her benefactor Nell agrees. Viola's son, Will, an opium
and morphine addict who makes his living as a gambler helps Nell. When they find Bridget and
Virgil, the pair has been dead for a few days, the victim of murder with the evidence pointing to
Will's brother Harry. While trying to clear Harry, Will and Nell become captives of the
perpetrator.
Nell is one of the strongest, most honorable and dearest heroines to grace the pages of an amateur
sleuth novel. She doesn't let anyone stop her from doing what she believes is right even if it means
putting herself in danger. She plays many roles and can fit in as the mistress of a mansion or a pick
pocket, which makes it easy for all types of people to confide in her. The mystery is well
constructed
and the revelation of the killer will come as a shock to readers. P.B. Ryan knows how to write a
tale
that will grip and keep readers interest throughout the novel.
Anatomy of a Crossword
Nero Blanc
Berkley
ISBN: 0425196208 $13.00, 320 pp.
Screen writer Chick Darlessen inherits the estate of his beloved uncle Bartann Welner. Besides
one
million dollars that the deceased won on the television show Down & Across, Chick also gains a
screen play. Apparently his uncle wrote called Anatomy of a Crossword based on a homicide case
that Newcastle, Massachusetts resident Belle Graham, a puzzle constructor with syndicated
crosswords across the nation, solved using clues from a puzzle that led to the killer. He sells the
screen play to Lew Groslier who plans to turn into a TV movie. After coming up to Newcastle
and
taking pictures so that they can recreate the pertinent scenery for a Hollywood set, Belle flies to
Hollywood to act as a consultant for the film. From the time she arrives in California she senses
something is not right. The man supposed to play her husband, P.I. Roscoe Polycrates, is in an
automobile accident; one of the actresses is injured by something falling on her; and Chick is
murdered with his girlfriend arrested for the crime. Belle and Roscoe take matters into their own
hands, navigating the treacherous bogs of Hollywood to catch a killer and expose the
wrongdoings
connected to the movie. ANATOMY OF A CROSSWORD is a real puzzler that readers won't be
able to figure out until Nero Blanc reveals the happenings. This author consistently creates an
engaging cerebral who-done-it for armchair detective. This terrific latest work includes
misinformation and red herrings that keep the readers attention at all times. Sprinkled throughout
the
book are puzzles that the audience will enjoy solving since they relate to the plot by containing
clues
to the mystery.
Murder Plays House
Ayelet Waldman
Berkley
ISBN: 0425196356 $23.95, 320 pp.
She was a public defender but after giving birth to two children, Juliet Appleton quit to become a
full time mother. When she became bored, she and her friend Al opened up their own private
investigate business that still doesn't pay their salaries. When Juliet discovers that she is pregnant
for
a third time, she realizes it time to move into a house with lots of rooms. Her husband Peter, a
horror screenwriter, agrees with her. Juliet finds the perfect house for her family. After inspecting
the home and loving every inch of it, Juliet looks in the guest house where she finds Alicia Felix,
the
owner's sister, dead in the bathtub, her body knifed countless times. When she talks to Felix about
buying the home he tells her he is grieving for his sister and is not ready to move. Juliet agrees to
represent Felix and his lover Farzad in their dealings with the police; she and Farzad agree that she
will be given special consideration to buy the house if she finds the killer. It's not easy being eight
months pregnant and conducting a homicide investigation but Juliet tries anyway. Ayelet
Waldman's
mommy Track mysteries get progressively feistier and wittier mainly due to the situations the
protagonist finds herself in. Juliet is outrageous as she investigates and sometimes with her two
children accompanying her interviews a suspect who might yield information that will lead to the
killer. MURDER PLAYS HOUSE is a well thought out mystery that uses a social problem as the
basis for the killing. Readers will adore Juliet and her two (no make that three) munchkins.
Pony Girls
Richard Hoyt
Forge
ISBN: 0765306166 $24.95, 268 pp.
Thirty-six sperm whales died on an isolated Oregon beach. Two months later, sixteen European
jumping horses followed by twenty-two Spanish Mustangs are murdered in various atrocities. A
group forms called the Ad Hoc Committee to Save the Spanish Mustang. They hire Portland,
Oregon based private investigating partners John Denson, Annie Dancer, and Willie Sees the
Night
to learn who and why the horses are being slaughtered. The trio goes down their own paths trying
to
solve the mystery. Former reporter John seeks logical links even tying the dead horses back to the
whale tragedy; ex-FBI agent Annie uses her information technology skills and links to look for
serial
killer patterns. Willie using hallucinatory drugs walks the out of body ethereal path of following
the
souls of the horses in their afterlife. As the threesome converges, evidence points towards the
family
of TV journalist Erika von Bayer, but which member and his or her motive remain unknown.
Readers will have to expand their horizons to accept what is reality in this weird private
investigative
tale in which anything is possible in the Hoyt universe. The story line is fun to follow due to the
strange sleuth partners. John tries to emulate Holmes; Annie applies profiling to identify an animal
killer; while Willie is tripping on some other plane that perhaps the Amazing Randi might debunk
or
be convinced. To appreciate the center of weirdness theme inside and outside a fine who-done-it,
readers will need to shelve reality, but it is worth the trip.
Louisiana Lament
Julie Smith
Forge
ISBN: 0765305534 $24.95, 304 pp.
By day, she is Talba Wallis, ace private detective and junior partner in the E.V. Anthony
Investigations Agency; by night, she is the Baroness de Pontalba. Dining Hurricane Carol, Talba
receives a call from her hysterical half-sister Janessa, whom she met only once. Janessa wants
Talba
to meet her at her employer's house. When she arrives there, Talba sees a dead woman in the
swimming pool with a head wound and Janessa holding the gun. Janessa swears she did not kill
Allyson Browser, the "Gatsby Girl" who loved to throw parties and a socialite with the literary
greats of New Orleans. Earlier in the evening Janessa witnessed a fight between Allyson and her
son
Austin over money. Austin has disappeared and so has Rashid, Allyson's other employee who
Janessa has a crush on. The police believe Janessa is the best suspect, forcing Talba to mobilize
her
troops to clear her sister's name and find out who the real killer is before her sibling is arrested.
Julie
Smith is brilliant at creating characters that are easy to identify with so that readers become
absorbed
in the storyline, following the antics of the quirky cast. Like many of Ms. Smith's victims, Allyson
is
not a nice person so there are many suspects who had a motive to kill her. Guessing who it is
makes
for fun and exciting reading.
A Defense for the Dead
Michael Fredrickson
Forge
ISBN: 031287457X $24.95, 320 pp.
The media dubbed the serial killer Van Gogh because he dissected an ear from his victims. After
murdering ten people, the FBI caught up with him and shot him to death. Boston attorney Jimmy
Morrissey feels like Job. His wife has cancer and his legal practice is collapsing as he finds his
caseload boring. Though he feels things cannot get worse, they do as FBI agents visit to discuss
with him why his name and address is on the back of the photograph of a beautiful woman found
in
Van Gogh's apartment. Jimmy has no idea why Van Gogh wrote his name on the back of the
picture.
Unable to resist, Jimmy begins investigating why him. However, the clues he begins to find makes
him wonder if his melancholy is taking him over the edge because more and more he ponders if
Van
Gogh somehow is reaching from the grave to continue his murder spree and make him seem like
the
culprit. When Jimmy ignores his findings and tries to use cold logic to interpret the happenings, he
wants to believe that a competent clever copycat killer targeted him to be his fall guy. A
DEFENSE
FOR THE DEAD is an exciting psychological suspense serial killer thriller that will keep readers
wondering if the plot is a horror tale or a copycat storyline. Fans will agree with Jimmy that there
is
no way Van Gogh could be doing what he seems to be accomplishing yet the evidence starting
with
his handwriting on the photo affirms otherwise. Michael Frederickson pulls of this sleight of the
hand novel by keeping readers guessing as the suspense grows until the climax reveals all.
Code Name: Nanny
Christina Skye
Dell
ISBN: 0440237602 $6.00, 446 pp.
Working a nasty case, San Francisco Assistant District Attorney Cara O'Connor takes the threats
to
her two beloved children quite seriously. Thus Philadelphia based FBI Agent Summer Mulcahey
becomes the nanny to Cara kids. Cara's fianc? Senator Winslow also takes the safety of the
children
Sophy and Audra to heart and quietly arranges for a friend, US Navy SEAL Gabe Morgan to go
undercover at the Carmel, California estate as a groundskeeper. Summer and Gabe realize the
other
is more than they first seem and exchange r?sum?s. An attempt to hurt the O'Connors fails, but a
different type of threat surfaces. Someone has evidence that Cara years ago went to Los Reyes
Clinic for an abortion that could derail a presidential run by the senator. As Summer and Gabe fall
in
love, they remain steadfast that the job is to keep Cara's daughters and their mom safe. Though
the
Senator and the ADA seem more like idealistic icons than humans, fans will welcome this thrilling
undercover romance. The story line is fast-paced and filled with action as Summer and Gabe show
they know their stuff and adhere to the assignment as they protect the children though they fall in
love, a feeling neither desires yet both welcomes.
The Darkening
Chandler McGrew
Dell
ISBN: 0553586033 $6.50, 448 pp.
The world is changing as the forces of darkness begin to get stronger. Billions of people have
disappeared, only their clothing left behind. Many of those who remain are changed into reptilian
beasts who only want to kill the normals. There is no more power and the food and water have a
taint to it. Cities collapse and the landscape of the planet undergoes a rapid change but this is not
the
Rapture or its aftermath. The Old Ones, beings who live in another dimension, are returning to
destroy Earth before they return to their own realm. An ancient organization known as the Rex
Deux franatically try to find the chosen ones who like the others before them will be the saviors of
mankind and keep the portal between the dimensions closed. Lucy Deveraux, who has always
been a
loner, hides from the Qedem Melech, the organization who helps the Old Ones and their minions.
She along with Dylan Barnes, fighting his own demons and grieving the loss of his wife, is the
ones
who must fight the old ones. From separate parts of the country, they and their allies meet on the
sacred ground of The Keep, hoping to find the knowledge that will help them defeat mankind's
enemy. There are many great horror novelists writing today including King, Koontz, and Barker,
but
Chandler McGrew proves with THE DARKENING he is their equal. The protagonists don't want
to be world saviors but when push comes to shove they find the courage to try. Readers will
empathize with their predicament and sympathize with their doubts and root for them as they go
against an enemy more powerful than they could imagine.
A Conspiracy to Ponder
Margaret Williams
Bedside
ISBN: 1589821092 $18.00, 272 pp.
In Chicago in the 1980s, Joe Clark had been a member of the Black Kings gang, but by 1996 he is
an honest police detective though the murder of his brother six years ago still burns deep in his
mind.
At Romeos, another former gang member Chuck Thornton sees Joe for the first time in several
years. Later Chuck mentions that to his partner Benny Schroeder, another member of the Black
Kings. Benny and Chuck kidnap black women for a living. When Chuck becomes greedy Benny
kills
him. Unaware that Joe is a cop Benny offers him an opportunity to make easy money. Joe notifies
his superior and receives sanctioning to go undercover in an attempt to break the ring and save
fifteen abducted women. Though working from the inside, Joe gets an ally when Chinese reporter
Wu Chong tracks the death of his cousin to an organ harvesting gang tied to the Chicago mob.
Though organ harvesting has been used a lot lately and medical records are in the news via new
laws
on portability and government intrusion, readers will appreciate this powerful police procedural.
The
story line is fast-paced as Joe becomes involved with the gang kidnapping black women. Joe is a
terrific hero, who is a converted believer in the law. Readers will enjoy his take on Chicago from a
vastly different perspective than say Bueller.
Heart of Texas
Constance O'Banyon
Leisure
ISBN: 0843953659 $6.99, 368 pp.
In the 1880s when her dad dies, Casey Hamilton realizes that she and her siblings have only one
place to go. They head west to Texas to claim the ranch her uncle left her though Casey knows
nothing about the spread. How nothing Casey knows about ranching hits home when she arrives
at
the Spanish Slur Ranch. Half-breed Gabe Slaughter offers to run the spread for her in exchange
for
room and board. A desperate Casey agrees. As other interests try to drive the easterner and her
brood home, Casey and Gabe fall in love, but he feels she could do better than him. Casey thinks
otherwise and plans to prove to her beloved that his heart contains the right stuff as far as she is
concerned though others agree with Gabe and will resort to violence in the hopes of driving the
Hamiltons out of Texas. Few authors do nineteenth century Texas romances (see the Half-Moon
Ranch romance - MOON RACER) as well as Constance O'Banyon consistently does. Her latest
tale
is an engaging tale starring two individuals hoping to survive the present with love (and her ranch)
as their only hope for the future. The support cast provides deep insight into the lead couple as
well
as a look into an interesting era when the Civil War remains a sad memory (sort of like Viet Nam)
while Rangers try to bring law and order to the state. Sub-genre fans will want to RIDE THE
WIND
with these TEXAS PROUD characters.
Brazen
Bobbi Smith
Leisure
ISBN: 0843951567 $6.99, 384 pp.
In 1879 Michael Donovan comes home to Hard Luck, Texas to find his father Frank crippled
from
an ambush. His first reaction is the Turners did this as the families have argued for years. Jack
Turner knows he is dying, but death does not frighten him. What does worry Jack is that his
beloved
daughter Casey is safe, but with bank loans due on the family property Jack knows he must take
extreme action. Frank, worried about the future of his spread, and Jack agree that Michael and
Casey must marry so that not only does the spat end, but also their ranches merge and are that
much
powerful. Very reluctantly, their respective children agree to a marriage of convenience to save
the
ranches. As the couple falls in love, a third party working behind the scenes manipulates events to
insure that Michael and Casey fail to save their respective family's heritage. Though the plot
theme
has been often told, Bobbi Smith creates a brisk BRAZEN book due to a fine cast that enables the
audience to see deep inside the love yet mistrust of the lead characters. Michael struggles between
desire and hope vs. doubt and suspicion, but discovers that Casey is a sabra, tough on the outside,
but sweet and loving on the inside. Fans of late nineteenth century Texas romances will relish this
fine novel.
Possessions
James A. Moore
Leisure
ISBN: 0843951710 $6.99, 352 pp.
The last happy moment Chris Corin will experience in a long time is his eighteenth birthday
celebration with his closest friends and family attending. When his mother leaves early to work
she
realizes the necklace she always wears is at home; moments later she dies in a traffic accident
caused
by a creature not of this world. Chris' best friend Jerry and his girlfriend Katie help him and his
fourteen year old sister Brittany get through the days preceding the funeral. After the funeral,
Chris
sees that someone tore up his mother's room looking for something. People that change into
creatures seek the Golden Key, going so far as to dig up the grave of Chris's mother. They finally
grab it off Brittany's neck but Chris is determined to get it back. He learns where the creatures are
conducting a ceremony and accompanied by Katie and Brittany he goes there to stop them and
rescue Jerry and Brittany's boyfriend who are encased in a gel like substance. Their doppelgangers
are upstairs performing a ritual that if completed will let an untold evil into the world. Add a pinch
of Stephen King, a dash of Dean Koontz, a flowering of Peter Straub and one part Bentley Little
and
readers will have an idea what a horror novel by James A. Moore is like. He is a grand storyteller
who can hold his own with these masters. The good guys are so well developed and realistic that
readers will fear for their safety and hope that if they survive, more stories starring this fine young
group will be forthcoming.
At Twilight
Beth Henderson
Leisure
ISBN: 0843953306 $5.99, 352 pp.
In the 1868 Piney Woods area of East Texas, J. W. Walford kills Uriah Roane in the Lone Tree
Saloon, is arrested and convicted of murder, but got a break due to some siblings freeing their
brother enabling him to escape too. Now J.W. is fleeing the law when he comes across a small
ranch. He stops to buy a horse only to find an unconscious woman and her infant. He provides aid
to
the drugged woman who awakens and informs him that she is Louisa Burgess and introduces him
to
her baby Angelina. She also says that she is on the run from odious banker Titus Gillette who is
using her late husband's gambling debts to try to blackmail the beautiful woman into doing his
bidding. J.W. takes Louisa and her child across the state on a four hundred mile trek as he seeks
vengeance. However, as they journey together, J.W. and Louisa fall in love. As he reconsiders his
priorities to keeping his two cherished females safe, Titus has sent a killer after them. This
engaging
western romance may sound like an overdone theme, but Beth Henderson freshens up her plot
due
to the baby making the trek that much more difficult. The story line is action-packed yet character
driven as the lead couple has demons (real and imaginative) to overcome before they might pursue
their inner feelings. Similar to Three Godfathers with a romantic twist, this is a fine redemption
tale
that readers will enjoy.
Destiny Unleashed
Sherryl Woods
Mira
ISBN: 0778320480 $6.50, 400 pp.
When her brother and sister in law died in a plane crash, carefree Destiny Carton gave up her
artisian
Paris lifestyle to raise her three nephews. Now two decade later, her charges are all successful and
married. Feeling it is not a case of empty nest syndrome, Destiny needs to find her destiny, which
she put on halt to become a mother. She requests to her nephew, Richard the CEO of Carlton
Industries, that she would be given the opportunity to run the European Division of the family
firm.
Because he would do anything for Destiny, Richard reluctantly agrees though he worries that her
former lover and business competitor William Harcourt may cause trouble for his beloved aunt.
William plans to cause more than trouble for Destiny because he loves her although she dumped
him
years ago. This engaging boardroom romance stars a wonderful lead couple. Destiny is a
delightful
protagonist as she wants to regain her life that she sacrificed for her family; William just wants
Destiny. Though her need to run the Europe Division seems selfish as she lacks business
experience
and could have proven costly to more than just the family firm, fans will enjoy this romance
between
loving rivals.
The Halo Effect
M.J. Rose
Mira
ISBN: 0778320804 $12.95, 352 pp.
NYPD Special Units Victim Detective Noah Jordan and his partner Mark Perez worry that a
sociopath has surfaced following the mutilated corpse of a victim wearing a nun's habit. The dead
woman had her pubic hairs shaved into a cross. By the next day, they know that the deceased was
a
prostitute. Psychiatrist Dr. Morgan Snow of the Manhattan sex therapy clinic Butterfield Institute
fears for her patient, call girl Cleo Thane who has missed several appointments, something she
never
did. Morgan files a missing person's report. She conjectures whether a memoir filled with the
sexual
proclivities of the powerful that her patient left with her has something to do with the
disappearance.
Noah sees no link between the elite level that Cleo worked and the homicides of the streetwalkers
he
investigates. Morgan begins her own inquiries when she realizes that Noah will not. Going
undercover, she quickly knows she is in danger with only Noah to keep her safe. THE HALO
EFFECT is the first in a series of novels starring Morgan and the Butterfield Institute; if this is
example of the tales fans will have plenty to look forward to in the future. The story line deftly
consolidates a police procedural with an amateur sleuth with the interconnections being the serial
killing of prostitutes and the attraction between the two stars. Interestingly Morgan's subplot is
more intriguing as she adds a sexual psychological insight to her inquiries while Noah's line is well
written, but is typical of a police serial killer chase. Readers of crime thrilling romantic suspense
will
know that have a bouquet of Roses with this fine novel and its subsequent stories.
Wedding Ring
Emilie Richards
Mira
ISBN: 0778320634 $23.95, 416 pp.
Thirty-seven years old Tessa MacRae and her sixty-year-old mom Nancy Whitlock are worried
about the latter's octogenarian mother Helen, who has neglected her Tom Brooks, Virginia house.
The home is dangerously cluttered with junk as Nancy realizes she has not been allowed inside
since
her five-year-old granddaughter was killed by a drunk driver three years ago, the pivotal moment
that left three surviving generations shattered. Tessa's husband Mack attends Compassionate
Friends to help him cope with his grief. Tessa is an active member of MADD, but has done
nothing
to truly deal with her loss of their daughter. Mack feels cut off from his wife who he loves dearly,
but needs love and is considering an affair. Nancy's husband Billy visits, but she worries that
though
they have been married for decades he will see her farm roots and leave her. Nancy loves Billy,
but
feels a need to defend her birth home and her mom before going upstairs to cry. Billy leaves
without
saying goodbye. As the three women clean out the house over the summer and allow a pregnant
teen
to join them, will they find solace in their memories or continue the spin into the abyss? The entire
cast is as powerful as they come as every key member (even Helen's long deceased husband) is
incredibly developed. The relationships between the characters are fantastic because even the
negativity seems genuine. The use of quilting enables the past to surface interwoven with the
current
woes. Though the amount of angst (each one of the three lead females deals with enough
problems
to cover a book by herself) overwhelms, Emilie Richards paints a wonderfully insightful family
drama.
See Jane Die
Erica Spindler
Mira
ISBN: 0778320537 $19.95, 384 pp.
Jane Killian insisted the driver of the boat tried to kill her while she swam in the ocean. Everyone
else thought it was a bad hit and run accident. Either way over the years Jane suffered the agony
of
several reconstructive operations. Eventually Jane found happiness with plastic surgeon Ian
Westbrook though that added to a rift with her police officer sister Stacy who coveted the doctor
for herself. Jane becomes even more elated because she now is carrying her beloved Ian's child.
However, her euphoria ends when the police arrest Ian for murder. Jane refuses to believe her
spouse is a serial killer and her belief is substantiated by notes left on her bed by an intruder who
refers back to the boating incident. Stacy rejects Jane's theory that the person who almost killed
her
years ago is back setting up her husband as part of hurting Jane. Desperate and alone the pregnant
Jane refuses to roll over as she investigates. Though there are too many twists especially a final
one
that reveals the motive and identity of the killer, fans will enjoy this terse romantic suspense tale
that
hooks the audience from the moment the first note is found. The support cast enables the
audience
to further comprehend how Jane feels, especially her fears and dilemmas of what to do. Thus the
story line works quite well because everyone (except her sibling) will empathize with what
happens
to Jane.
Wild Women's Weekend
Lynne Kaufman
Mira
ISBN: 0778320545 $12.95, 272 pp.
For ages the four females would share women's only weekend together near the Golden Gate
Bridge. Sabrina, Maria, Ann, and Deb look forward to this year as each has personnel trouble to
deal with and escape feels good. At a bar, the four meet Hughie; Since he needs a place to stay
and
seems like a nice chap, they invite him back to spend the night at their lodging. The next morning
they find their guest dead. The quartet decides to bury the drifter so that they would not have to
deal
with the police. The women go on with their lives until a road crew dig up Hughie's corpse. The
FBI begin making inquiries including questioning the four friends. Will one break and tell the truth
or will they remain in solidarity as evidence mounts that they may have done more than inter a
dead
person and tamper with a crime scene? This dark comedy will remind readers of the Hitchcock
movie The Trouble with Harry. The story line is action-packed and fast-paced as the women jump
from one disaster into another. Still the reason the tale is fun is the four pleasant females each has
a
distinctive personality that surfaces when they conduct the funeral service and when the Feds
come
after them.
Dark Harvest
Karen Harper
Mira
ISBN: 0778320502 $5.99, 400 pp.
Someone is attacking the vulnerable especially the young of the Amish community of Maplecreek.
The people prefer to handle the problem without outside help, but the assaults are turning uglier
and
increasingly dangerous. Widower Luke Brand knows his community must turn to professional
police
for help. Former urban police officer Kat Lindley almost died in her last major action and the
memory still haunts her because the kid she tried to help died. Still, she agrees to go undercover
as
Katie of the Amish betrothed to Luke of Maplecreek to find the culprit threatening the children.
As
she works closely with Luke, they fall in love, but both know a devout Amish person and an
outsider
could never forge a relationship that is if they even survive the deadly menace that threatens a
peaceful town. This is an exciting romantic suspense that will in many ways remind readers of the
Ford-McGillis movie Witness. The story line combines a dangerous foe willing to kill vs the
romantic backdrop of two people from opposites cultures falling in love. Though the suspense is
terse, it seems minor when compared to the relationship between the wonderful lead couple (at
least
it is not police corruption).
Chesapeake Tide
Jeanette Baker
Mira
ISBN: 0778320499 $6.50, 384 pp.
Almost two decades have passed but Elizabeth Delacourte realizes that marrying Eric was a
mistake
and she ended their relationship. Pride has kept her in Southern California rather than returning to
her family in Marycreek, Maryland as she only heard from her daddy perhaps a dozen times since
she
left home and never from her momma because they thought Eric was not good enough for her.
Her
daddy informs Libba Jane that her beloved mother suffered a stroke and needs her to come home.
Daddy shakes her further when he apologizes for driving her away. Libba Jane accompanied by
her
recalcitrant sixteen year old daughter Chloe comes home. Russ Hennessy also comes home to
take
over the family fishing business. He never forgot the starfish he let get away when his beloved
Libba
Jane left with the actor for the coast. Now he has a second chance, but the obstacles are great as
Libba Jane is reluctant to get into any relationship while mending the fences with her family and
struggling with a daughter who wants to go "home" to California. Besides which he has his own
problems as someone is poisoning the waters. CHESAPEAKE TIDE is an exciting romantic
suspense that is at its best when the theme is a character study. Libba Jane, her parents, her
daughter
and the man she loves struggle with forming endearing lasting relationships in spite of love
flowing
between everyone as pride hampers communication. Though the environmental mess adds
suspense,
this subplot also takes time away from a terrific family drama starring individuals trying, not
easily,
to simply talk about their feelings for one another.
Diary of a Radical Mermaid
Deborah Smith
Belle Books
ISBN: 0967303575 $14.95, 234 pp.
The race of Mers lives in, on, or by the sea but they do not have tails or shift from half human to
human and back again. They are very strong physically and are able to speak telepathically with
their
own kind and the high order of sea creatures. June Lee Pourfox is on probation because she
squelched a deal with Donald Trump and a Mer. She is in the custody of Lilith who asks her to
bring
Molly Reve, a famous writer who tells stories about mermaids to Bellmede a seaside town right
across from Seinte's Point Island. Molly, who suffers from Leukemia and damaged legs, fears that
her cat is going to die any day of old age. She is a floater, a person with Mer blood running
through
her veins but is unaware of her heritage. June Lee kidnaps Molly and brings her to the home of
her
clan where she meets Rhymer. He is a Mer who is protecting his three neices from their father, a
sleeper much more powerful than Singers like Molly and Rhymer. He believes the swimmer killed
his sister and is doing his best to keep his nieces away from him. Rhymer and Molly fall in love
and
through his affections, she comes into her powers as a Mer and is physically blessed and ready to
battle with the swimmer. This romantic fantasy is a combination of romance, chick-lit and
conspiracy
thriller. Deborah Smith creates a world of Mers that is so believable readers will believe they
celebrate the world and have the ability to do it if some brave Mers do not stop them. DIARY OF
A
RADICAL MERMAID is a cross between Lara Croft's Tomb Raider and Daryl Hannah's Splash.
Ms Smith is a joy to read because she knows how to give pleasure to readers who want
something
magical.
Three Bedrooms in Chelsea
Liz Ireland
Kensington
ISBN: 0758205430 $12.95, 384 pp.
In Manhattan, reporter Douglas informs his live in girlfriend actress Edie Amos that the Times is
sending him on permanent assignment to their office in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Edie worries more
over where she will stay as she cannot afford the rent of their Chelsea apartment than she is of the
end of her relationship. German Greta Stolenbauer catches her boyfriend cheating on her with a
"midget". The big woman knocks Frank out with one punch before leaving their shared
apartment.
Now she needs a place to stay that is big enough to store her furniture that travels with her. Texan
Danielle Porter moves to the Big Apple because the wannabe author hopes that the relocation will
provide her the material to write magazine articles. Her efforts from Amarillo have all been
rejected.
Upon arriving in the city, she suffers sticker shock as the cost of renting a dump is beyond her
means; she still needs a place to stay. These three young females meet and share an apartment
together though each is quite different than the others. Will they become friends sharing joys and
disappointments or are they ships passing through the night? The three characters are intelligent
intriguing individuals whose contrasts make for a fine character study. Fans will enjoy following
the
exploits, daring deeds, and flops as each of the stars navigate their respective life in the Big Apple.
Often amusing and filled with angst, readers will appreciate Jill Ireland's homage to Manhattan,
rent
and all.
Perfect For the Beach
Lori Foster, Janelle Denison, Erin McCarthy, Mary Janice Davidson, Kayla Perrin and Morgan
Leigh
Kensington
ISBN: 0758207727 $14.00, 298 pp.
"Some Like It Hot" by Lori Foster. Though sex with her would be ecstasy, Dr. Cary Rupert
knows
that he loves nurse Nora Chilton. However, Nora refuses to go out with him as she seeks a
forever
love. Cary wants that position. "One Wilde Weekend" by Janelle Denison. Alex Wilde loves Dana
Reed. Though they exclusively date, she does not trust him with her heart. He wants Dana to
marry
him so he plans a weekend getaway. "Blue Crush" by Erin McCarthy. At the beach, Dr. Sara
Davis
loses her bikini top as Tropical Storm Bonnie hits. Lifeguard Kyle Vanderhoff rescues her and the
mouth to mouth is terrific. However, both wonder about the aftermath. "My Thief" by Mary
Janice
Davidson. To avoid hotel detectives, thief Robin grabs accountant John Crusher in his room and
starts kissing and stripping him. However, once security leaves, John wants to insure Robin is not
gone too. "Hot and Bothered" by Kayla Perrin. Jenna Arnold returns to Florida to get her spouse
Trey to sign their separation paper. Now that he has her on his surf, Trey plans his campaign to
keep
Jenna as his wife forever. "Murphy's Law" by Morgan Leigh. After quitting her job due to
unrequited love of her boss Sam Parrish, a sad Kat Murphy goes to the beach. Sam follows her
because he feels the same way. These six heated well-written tales live up to the title, as this
anthology is PERFECT FOR THE BEACH.
Calder Promise
Janet Dailey
Kensington
ISBN: 075820440X $24.00, 304 pp.
Tara Calder takes her twenty-one year old niece Laura on a grand European tour following the
latter's college graduation. Laura is having a terrific time with her aunt, who in many ways is more
like a mother than her mom is. At a gala in Rome, Laura helps billionaire wheelchair bound Max
Rutledge go outside where a few minutes later she meets his handsome son Boone. Laura can see
the tension between the two Rutledge alpha males, but finds the younger one quite attractive. As
they head back inside, Laura and English Earl Sebastian Dunhill accidentally walk into each other.
Now she has two wealthy hunks wanting to date her. When Laura returns to her home the Triple
C
Ranch in Montana, she is followed across the ocean by her two persistent suitors. Her family
wonders whom she will choose between the two studs if any. The latest Calder romance is a war
tale
starring a favorite protagonist and two likable hunks. Laura's antics are fun to follow as series fans
will wonder where the discipline she musters in Italy not to shout out "yee-haw" in an upper crust
event comes from. Back on the ranch, Laura rides her two dudes on a merry chase that will please
contemporary readers.
On Fire's Wings
Christie Golden
Luna
ISBN: 0373802080 $13.95, 416 pp.
Arukan is a country made up of clans, some nomadic and others wedded to the land. It is a harsh
world made up of castes with the baseborn children belonging nowhere and reduced to begging or
prostitution to obtain food and shelter. Kevla Bai-Sha finds men for her mother to have sex with
until a lord of the highest caste brings him into her home as a handmaiden to his wife Yeshi. She
becomes one of Yeshi's favorites until she learns that Kevla is the daughter of Yeshi's husband.
Yeshi banishes her to the kitchens and the only person who makes her life bearable is the Lord's
heir
Jashemi who knows that she is the other half of his soul. They love in spite of the taboo that
prevents it and when they finally give in to their passion Kevla discovers her role as a fire element
in
saving the world and that Jasheni is her beloved in this life and others. Kevla with the help of the
Truekeepers call for a convocation of the clan and begs them to unite against a common enemy or
watch the destruction of their world. Christie Golden has written a fabulous fantasy about a world
that can only be saved by the five elemental dancers of which Kevla is fire. If she succeeds in her
quest, her world and two others will be saved, but if she fails, the Shadow will overtake the land
and
destroy all life within. This is the opening installment in what reads like a grand saga and if ON
FIRE'S WINGS is any example, the other books in this series will be just as fantastic.
Staying Dead
Laura Anne Gilman
Luna
ISBN: 0373802099 $13.95, 352 pp.
In a world in which most people believe that magic doesn't exist, there remains a sub-culture of
Talent thriving. These folks use their powers in a way that keeps them hidden from the
unbelievers.
Wren Valere is a Retriever, a talent who locates things that have been missing for people who do
not
want the police involved. She returns the missing object to its owner for a fee negotiated by her
partner and agent Sergei Didier. Both Sergei and Wren are loners who make a very good team
professionally and personally even though neither wants to admit their feelings for one another. A
cornerstone with a spell of protection has been stolen from the Fronts building and the owner
wants
to get it back. Wren and Sergei intend to retrieve it from the collector who hired a rogue mage to
steal the spell. Before they can accomplish the deed, they also must deal with a ghost that was
freed
when the spell was stolen. If Sergei and Wren want to collect their fee, they have to stop the
runaway spirit, who is intent on revenge. Fans of Laurell K. Hamilton, Tanya Huff and Mercedes
Lackey are going to love STAYING DEAD, a romantic fantasy that stirs the senses and creates a
story that is both fulfilling and magical (no pun intended). Laura Anne Gilman makes the reader
believe that magic exists and creatures of myth and legend inhabit the earth. It will be very hard to
wait for the next Retriever's novel coming in the summer of 2005 because Laura Anne Gilman has
cast quite a spell on readers.
My Life with Corpses
Wylene Dunbar
Harcourt
ISBN: 0151010153 $24.00, 318 pp.
Oz claims to have been born to a woman who died a decade earlier. Her sister died as a young
child.
Her father, who was probably more dead than alive, raised Oz until she was ten years old; that is
when he chose death. Her neighbor Winfield Evan Stark took her away from the dead until he
joined
the other side. Oz has become a philosophy professor in Mississippi where she feels the living
students act more dead than the deceased, that she hangs around with all the time. Animals are
livelier than the living. Still she espouses her beliefs to an audience of the dead living. However,
Oz
has a bigger concern. As she relates her life amidst moving corpses, the body of Winfield is no
longer in his gravesite and though the Kansas officials and the gravediggers wonder who
desiccated
this grave, Oz knows he is out there trying to send her a message. She must find him to learn what
he needs to tell her. MY LIFE WITH CORPSES is a metaphysical fantasy that works because
readers will believe that Oz is seeing the dead moving about. The story line uses symbolism that
often is too obviously in the reader's face (Oz from Kansas) and lacks action. Yet fans will not
mind
as the starkness of reality hits home in such a way that Wylene Dunbar's account feels more like a
biography than a fantasy even with the dead seemingly more alive than many of the living.
Soul of a Hunter
Angela Verdenius
Wings ePress
ISBN: 1590887948 $TBA 355 pp.
No one with any sense would attack a Daamen trading vessel. Yet space prates assualt the ship
carrying young Sabra and her parents. They kill veryone on board except the child but they show
her
the decapitated head of her dad and kill her mother in front of her. Sabra might be better off dead
as
the pirates take her as booty, abusing until she finally escapes from her captives with a vow of
venagance against all pirates, but especially those who murdered her parents. Almost a decade
later,
Sabra, now known as the legendary bounty hunter Cormac, cheers the public hanging of pirates.
Daamen trader Cam and his crew go to look at the enthusiac gallows voice but are stunned when
they see her. She seems so familiar to several of them especially Darvyk, who is her cousin. As
Darvyk tries to persuade Sabra to come home, Cam attempts to convince her that she may have
the
SOUL OF A HUNTER, but has the heart of the woman he loves. Still there remains several
pirates
out there that need her personal attention; her heart be damned. Romantic speculative fiction fans
who have not read the works of Angela Verdenius is missing some of the best world building tales
in
the galaxy (see HEART OF AN OUTLAW). Her fifth tale contains a superb story line that never
decelerates until the final scene. The various species seem like living races that readers know
exist,
but the heart of this novel is the lead female protgonsist. Sabra's dilemma between love and family
vs. vengance makes for a fabulous space adventure that fans will come aboard to follow.
Two for Joy
Patricia Scanlan
Dunne
ISBN: 0312328958 $25.95, 480 pp.
Just outside Dublin in Kilronan, Noreen Lynch married building contractor Oliver Flynn though
his
widowed mother objected and failed to attend the ceremony. Noreen had some doubts since she
had
to propose and is concerned with Oliver's close relationship with his mother. Lorna Morgan thinks
of leaving Kilronan, but though she detests the dusty town she fears making the move by herself.
She hopes to persuade nineteen year old Heather Williams to join her. Though she lacks a
boyfriend,
Heather likes the small town lifestyle and has doubts about going to Dublin like her twin sister
Ruth
did. These women will find their lives in upheaval as relationships change with maturity and
understanding. However, who will be hurt when the dust settles as the Widow Flynn prefers her
son
had married nice Heather, not that glamour snob Noreen remains to be read. TWO FOR JOY is
an
interesting character study that digs deep into the hopes and dreams of three young women, who
will soon learn that what they though they desired is proving false, but rather than quit or stay
unhappy, they change their aspirations. The story line focuses on the three prime females, but
through their relationships with others like Noreen has with her mother-in-law, insight into other
key
players surface. Though there is no action, readers who value a slice of contemporary life will gain
plenty of joy reading Patricia Scanlan's fine tale.
The Sterling Inheritance
Mike Siverling
Dunne
ISBN: 0312319274 $23.95, 304 pp.
Russian expatriate Katerina Sterling hires the Midnight Detective Agency to find her missing
husband, financial investor Anthony. His mom Victoria, owner of the private sleuth company,
assigns the search to her son part-time investigator Jason Wilder. The relatively easy job turns
ugly
when Anthony pulls out a gun on Jason, who disarms the man. The River City police arrive
almost
immediately and quickly handcuff Jason until he is able to clear things up. Anthony, insisting
someone wants to kill him, is accused of murder until he too is found dead. Jason makes inquiries
into the deaths thinking in terms of the Russian connection or the wealthy Sterling link as best
bets.
As Jason checks into the ties to the deceased, he is attracted to Anthony's sister Janice and starts
thinking with his wrong head. Thank goodness Mommy Dearest would never let any harm come
to
her boy as she would not want to think she wasted nine hours in labor, but will Queen Victoria be
able to get Anthony to look at the gig a bit differently. Readers will enjoy this urban Noir starring
a
host of delightful characters. The relationships that Jason has fostered including the one with his
dynamic mother are off beat, quirky and it is fun to observe the give and take. In many ways,
Victoria steals the show with her cynical love for her son. The case is well written and clever, but
it
is the cast that explains why Mike Siverling won the St. Martin's 2002 Best First Private Eye
Mystery contest.
Pale as the Dead
Fiona Mountain
Dunne
ISBN: 0312323239 $23.95, 288 pp.
On a photo shoot in the Cotswold, model Bethany Marshall hires genealogist Natasha Blake to
research her family tree. At that initial consultation, Bethany animatedly discusses Pre-Raphaelite
model, artist, and wife of Dante, Lizzie Siddal. Also at that consultation, Natasha meets the
photographer Adam Mason, who is working on an exhibition to emulate the style of
Pre-Raphaelite
paintings. He asks to a do a shoot of Natasha, to which she unenthusiastically consents. Before he
can take her picture, Adam informs Natasha that Bethany vanished, leaving behind an old
Marshall
family diary. Since her address was inside and Bethany is her client, the "ancestor detective"
begins a
search for the missing woman. As she learns more about her subject and the Marshall ancestry,
Natasha panics fearing history could repeat itself because of Bethany's obsession with Lizzie,
whose
life end tragically. PALE AS THE DEAD is the exhilarating opening debut of a fascinating
"detective" whose expertise is in researching the past. The story line is cleverly designed so as
Natasha learns more about her client's enthrallment and subsequently more about Lizzie, she
realizes
that fast intervention might be needed to prevent a repeat tragedy. The look into Dante and his
age
adds depth to the solid plot. Though the attraction between Natasha and Adam is mindful of the
movie Suspicion, it also takes away from the haunting theme of whether Bethany will become
Lizzie
number two. Still this is a unique tale starring a delightful individual who makes a fine sleuth
whether it is the past or the present.
China
Alan Wall
Dunne
ISBN: 031232779X $24.95, 378 pp.
Elderly Englishman Digby Wilton knows he has had the opportunity to live a most fortunate life
having been an heir to a bone china manufacturing firm fortune. However, he also grew up inside
a
gilded cage so except for time in the military and business he had restricted contact with much of
the
world. Thus, Digby can understand why his marriage to a Maltese immigrant, failed; she was a
spicy
extrovert while he was reticent introvert and ultimately left him. His son Theo, a spoiled loser,
blames his own failures on Digby. Digby found some consolation with aging actress Daisy
Gresham,
his neighbor, but she has her own child problem as her crazy son Howard writes violent online
articles including bomb-making 101 and more advanced techniques. Of course, when Theo's wife
tosses him out, he naturally blames his father. Theo just wants to play his music not caring if
others
pay the piper. All Digby has left is two centuries of family tradition with Wilton Bone China and
the
knowledge that in the end it will probably end with him. CHINA is an insightful melancholy
character study with a glimmer of hope for the future starring a dignified Englishman who
concludes
the world he grew up in is dead and soon he will be gone with little legacy left behind. The story
line
focuses on Digby's relationships as he interprets them while. The support cast enables the reader
to
see into the foibles of an aging recluse trying to do his best for those around him, but not
succeeding
until he learns to "walk in their moccasins".
The Children's Hour
Marcia Willet
Dunne
ISBN: 0312327773 $24.95
Worried about her mother suffering from Alzheimer's and unable to provide the round the clock
caret, Helena asks her aunts Mina and Nest to watch over their sister Georgie until she can be
placed
in a nursing home. Mina, who would have to be the prime caretaker since Nest is wheelchair
bound,
agrees. Thus for the first time in years the three sisters live together in the family home
Ottercombe
in Devon. Their time together rings out secrets that none want revealed, but Alzheimer's leads to
exposure. Each looks back to a serene time of loving family until adultery and betrayal destroyed
the
camaraderie, but a subsequent car accident nuked it forever or at least until now. Nest lost the
ability
to walk and a forth sister Henrietta died on that fatal night when quarrels caused by the love of
the
same man ended fatally. As revelations and feelings surface with Georgie as the catalyst, the trio
begin to let go of the past, bit can each one reach out to hug one another. This entertaining
character
study focuses on four sisters whose rivalries turned a caring extended family into dysfunctional
enemies. Readers get up close look at the incident that destroyed the well-being of everyone
involved. Though no action whatsoever even looking back at the pivotal moment, readers will
enjoy
this gentle breeze with the message that feuds and grudges are harmful while reconciliation and
nurturing provide solace.
Forged
Laura Crum
Dunne
ISBN: 0312323271 $22.95, 208 pp.
Santa Cruz County horse veterinarian Dr. Gail McCarthy is pleasantly surprised when she arrives
home to find her horseshoeing equipment on her property but she is perplexed when she find only
three legs of the equine have been shoed. She goes into the barn and finds Dominic Castillo lying
with a bullet in his stomach, his breathing very labored. When she goes to him, he informs her he
accidentally shot himself while cleaning his gun. After the ambulance takes him away, Detective
Matt Johnson questions Gail, who is horrified to learn that Dominic might have been murdered.
The
officer treats her like a suspect but Gail knows he will find plenty of people who wanted Dominic
dead including discarded wives, girlfriends and cuckolded husband. Gail becomes a suspect in
another homicide because she was on the scene during the window of opportunity Dominoc's
most
current lover was murdered. Feeling set up, Gail starts doing a little investigating of her own and
almost becomes the third homicide victim. Anyone who loves horse and pastoral scenery (even
with
homicides to redden the landscape) will find FORGED most satisfactory. Laura Crum always
provides cake worth eating with her wonderful long running McCarthy series. Her latest amateur
sleuth will contrast murder to the beauty of nature. The mystery is nicely accomplished, as
everyone
seems to have had a motive and an opportunity including the vet.
The Green and the Gold - A Novel of Andrew Marvell: Spy, Politician, Poet
Christopher Peachment
Dunne
ISBN: 0312314507 $24.95, 384 pp.
Though much is known about seventeenth century English poet Andrew Marvell, there are
periods
with little or no information available. Showing courage or chutzpah, Christopher Peachment fills
those voids by extracting what is known about this metaphysical poet and his times to create a
marvelous work of historical fiction. Marvell comes across as a paradox. He was a loner who
trusted
few and over time concluded that life was meaningless though he had friends such as John Milton
and easily switched allegiance to an ever changing of the guard. He enjoyed women sexually, but
detested females perhaps as Mr. Preachment implies due to his growing up gap towards his older
sisters. Other major points include his attraction to his twelve year old student Mary Fairfax of
Appleton House, his responsibility for lighting the Great Fire of London to goad a mob to assault
Catholics, and a weird tryst in Spain. This novel stars an engaging seventeenth century poet ("To
His Coy Mistress" and "Upon Appleton House"). Though well-written, Mr. Preachment fills in
the
blank years such as the early 1640s with speculation and creative license. This makes for an
exciting
look at Andrew Marvell and the era, but also difficult to decide what is based on accepted facts
about the subject and what is extrapolated from the era. Still THE GREEN AND THE GOLD - A
NOVEL OF ANDREW MARVELL: SPY, POLITICIAN, POET is an engaging look at a lyrical
romantic poet who in midlife turned to satire as England became a house divided.
Dreamspy
Jacqueline Lichtenberg
BenBella
ISBN: 1932100253 $14.95
The Teleod and the Metaji are at war each blaming the other for destroying the fabric of
space-time
that make such travel possible. Kyllikki, a high-ranking telepath from an elite Teleod family, has
become an outlaw amongst her people as she has deserted them to join the Metaji Empire in an
effort to stop the war from destroying the galaxy. As her vessel is destroyed the renegade telepath
teams up with Zuchmul the Luren (intergalactic vampires) and Idom the Guide (astrogator).
Together the trio rescues earthling Elias the Dreamer, who was illegally abducted and unlawfully
bonded to Kyllikki's cousin, Zimor head of the Teleod. As they learn more about what is
happening
to the space-time fabric, the quartet concludes that they must destroy Zimor, but they don't even
have a decent space ship and each question whether they can trust any of the other three allies.
Set
in the same Lichtenberg galaxy as THOSE OF MY BLOOD, this exciting space opera can stand
alone though readers would enjoy the first tale that furbishes further detail about several of the
species especially the Luren. The story line is Star Wars in that it is basically a Good vs. evil plot.
However, what makes this tale very special (and all of Ms. Lichtenberg's novels see the
Sime-Gen
universe) is the intricate information provided on each species interwoven cleverly into the plot so
that readers learn and understand cultures like the Luren, Teleod, and Metaji . Comparative
anthropology inside an action packed outer space thriller means a fabulous time and adventure for
fans.
Charmed and Dangerous
Lori Wilde
Warner
ISBN: 0446613673 $5.99, 368 pp.
FBI Agent David Marshall knows he made a mistake when he recruited civilian public relations
specialist at Fort Worth's Kimball Art Museum Cassie Cooper, but he had hope she would
provide
him the means to take down art thief Peyton Shriver. Once violent Jocko Blanco became
involved,
David decided to remove Cassie from danger, but she fails to show up at their meeting spot.
Instead,
he mistakes Cassie's twin Maddie for her. Cassie and Peyton stole a valuable Cezanne and are
now
in the Grand Cayman Islands. Though he wants Maddie to stay behind so she is safe, she is used
to
bailing her sister out of trouble so she forces her way onto the investigation. As David plans to
bring
Cassie down and Maddie tries to prove she is innocent, they fall in love but Jocko insures the
inquiries turn deadlier and dangerous. This is an exhilarating romantic suspense that goes at a fast
pace from the moment David realizes he accosted the wrong twin. Readers will take delight with
the
clever antics of Maddie has as she tricks and ultimately forces David to allow her to accompany
him.
Though the final clean up is too neat, fans will take immense pleasure with this FBI art theft
romance.
Shoot the Moon
Billie Letts
Warner
ISBN: 0446500119 $24.00, 333 pp.
In 1972 DeClare, Oklahoma, eighteen-year-old Gaylene Harjo was stabbed to death in her trailer
and her month old son Nicky Jack disappeared. For weeks the town was looking for him but the
only trace of him were the pajama bottoms near the creek. The sheriff O Boy Daniels arrested
someone for the murder of Gaylene and her son but many people thought he went after the wrong
man, who died in prison. Almost thirty years later wealthy Hollywood veterinarian Dr. Mark
Albright checks into the motel in DeClare and hooks up with Teeve Harjo. He tells her he found
out
three weeks ago that he was adopted and his birth mother was Gaylene. He did not know that she
was killed and he was presumed dead. He seeks information about his mother, his biological
father
and who transported him to California to be adopted. Instead he is shot at and jailed while a
person
is murdered, another commits suicide, and a third arrested, convicted and is sentenced to death
row.
SHOOT THE MOON is more than a murder mystery; it is the story of one man's need for
answers
surrounding the circumstances of his birth and adoption. Readers get to know Gaylene through
the
pages of her diary, the entries of which are sprinkled throughout Billie Lett's latest blockbuster
novel. The murder of Nick Jack's mother affected the whole community in different ways and
three
decades later, many of them are still living with the consequences in this exciting, heartwarming
and
poignant thriller.
Magnolia Sky
Susan Crandall
Warner
ISBN: 0446614106 $5.99, 416 pp.
In Grover, Mississippi, Army ranger Luke Boudreau undergoes his toughest mission of his
fifteen-year career. He visits Olivia, the mom of one of his men, deceased Calvin Abbott, who
died
in the line of duty five months ago. Luke, just out of the hospital, blames himself for the death of
his
brother in arms. He made the decision that led to the helicopter crash that took the life of Calvin.
Luke is shocked when he meets Calvin's widow Analise, as he never knew the man was married
although they were in the same unit for several years. Calvin's mom persuades Luke to stay
around
to talk with her younger teenage son, Cole, who is having personal troubles. As he meets the
Abbott
family, Luke falls in love with Analise, who reciprocates his feelings. However, both feel they are
betraying Calvin even as Olivia plays matchmaker. This is an engaging contemporary romance
starring two scarred souls and a wonderful support cast especially Olivia. Although Cole is an
engaging brother-in-law, his woes take away from the prime angst of the lead couple sharing deep
remorse over falling in love. Fans will enjoy this "triangle" with the third angle being that of a
ghost.
The Runaway Duke
Julie Anne Long
Warner
ISBN: 0446614254 $5.99, 384 pp.
In 1815 Waterloo, the chaos of death and destruction leads a wounded Englishman to mutter
Roddy
to the question who is he is. Everyone concludes he is Roddy Campbell while next to him is the
dead
future Duke Roarke Blackburn. Once he realized what happened, Roarke fails to correct anyone
as
he sees this as an avenue to escape from his abusive father. A year later, Roarke goes by the name
of
Connor Riordan, head groom for Sir Henry Tremaine. In 1820, Lord Anthony Edelston arranges
a
tryst with Rebecca's sister Lorelei. Rebecca follows her sister outside, but Edelston accosts her
with
kisses just as Henry catches them together. Henry calmly tells Edelston that he now has a fiancee.
Over the next week, Edelston visits and bores Rebecca with his trite poetry and conversation.
Rebecca tells her confidant Connor that she cannot marry Edelston. He promises to help her
escape
though he knows that his peaceful five years of living ends with this pledge. As they flee to his
aunt's home, Connor's past will make the trek dangerous for them, but love makes the trip also
pleasant for the duo. In her debut novel, Julie Anne Long provides Regency romance readers with
two fantastic lead protagonists, but especially interesting is Connor, running from a past that
ultimately catches up with him. The support cast provides depth to the story line particularly
intriguing is The Rom (Gypsy) moral philosophy of theft. Though the climax seems too soft and
the
audience never learns what happens to a key tertiary villain, sub-genre fans will want to run away
with this delightful pair.
Nazareth's Song
Patricia Hickman
Warner
ISBN: 0446692336 $12.95, 322 pp.
During the Depression, criminal Jeb Nubey and his three-abandoned FALLEN ANGELS reached
Nazareth, Arkansas where he posed as a preacher and they as his children until they were caught.
To
his shock Jeb likes the town, adores his "children" and loves schoolteacher Fern Coulter, who he
wants to marry. Surprisingly, Jeb enjoys preaching and he is studying to become a minister. When
the highly regarded Reverend Gracie becomes ill, Jeb takes over as Minister of the Church in the
Dell. However, faking the role vs. living the post proves quite different even with the
encouragement
of his loved ones and Reverend Gracie. Jeb wonders if he has the faith to perform the job. Due to
a
lack of funds he takes a second job, but that adds to his woes with the congregation and worse
with
his oldest child teenage Angel hanging out with a bad element. He cannot turn to Fern for comfort
as she has become aloof towards him, but there is Winona who makes him feel more like Jeb than
Job. At times the poetic language slows down the deep inspirational story line, but fans of a
pleasant
well-written tale with a message will appreciate this soothing novel. The character driven plot
grips
readers as Jeb struggles with setbacks with the woman he loves, his adopted family, the
townsfolk,
and his faith. To succeed in his endeavors he must regain his belief that if he does the right thing
all
will be right in his world. Simple philosophy that make for a fine look back at the 1930s Deep
South
at a time when many only had faith to hold onto.
Scandal
Pamela Britton
Warner
ISBN: 044661131X $5.99, 352 pp.
The Duke of Wroxley never hid that he detested his nephew Charles Montgomery for taking his
son
and heir down a wastrel path filled with pranks. So when his son died and Charles became the
heir,
the Duke insured that the young man would prove worthy with a stipulation in his will. Charles
must
live in the St. Giles slum for one month without telling anyone or receiving outside help to inherit
anything not entailed. In 1819, Charles becomes the Duke and learns of the codicil when he is
unceremoniously dumped in St. Giles. Almost immediately, he is knocked out cold by a kite
owned
by resident Anna Brooks, who takes the injured duke to recover for a few hours in her home.
However, he wants to spend more than a few hours with the lovely intelligent Anna and her zany
uncle; soon he wants a lifetime with his savior. This is a fun tale due to the antics of Anna,
inventor
extraordinaire, and her wacky uncle. Dog lovers will agree with Charles' uncle that his nephew is
a
reprobate. Still to his credit, even as he realizes that he is clearly out of his element in the London
slums, he is willing to remain there for a lifetime if it is with Anna. Regency readers will enjoy this
fine fish out of sea tale.
A Hat Full of Sky
Terry Pratchett
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060586605 $16.99, 278 pp.
Eleven-year-old Tiffany Aching leaves the Chalk and her friends, the six-inch Nac Mac Feegle, to
apprentice as a witch in training to a professional. Saying goodbye to Granny Aching was hard
and
departing from her Wee Free Men pals (at least her buddies when the Nac Mac Feegle are not
drunk) is not easy, but service at her advanced age is expected. So though her parents are fooled
as
to whom she will work for, Tiffany leaves with Miss Tick to begin her training. Unlike when she
was
young and immature, Tiffany as she enters adolescence has become aware of her looks. This
attentiveness to her outer beauty makes her prone to attack from terrible beings. The hiver, a
being
that seeks out the potentially powerful by stealing control of the host's mind until the victim dies,
sees Tiffany as a perfect lodging locale. The parasite begins the pre-occupation and occupation
with
only Nac Mac Feegle to try to rescue his young pal. As he did with the way out THE WEE FREE
MEN, Terry Pratchett does again with the sequel that is as sharp a satire as a reader will find. The
story line makes it clear that to find one's full self, one must accept flaws, blemishes, and foibles;
not
an easy task in a youthful beauty is best society. Tiffany and Nac Mac are terrific characters
though
they be inane at times and the hiver is as vile a villain as there is. A HAT FULL OF SKY is
amusing,
but though nutty, the plot never loses sight of the key underlying message while entertaining the
author's vast universe of fans.
Troll Fell
Katherine Langrish
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060583045 $15.99, 264 pp.
Peer Ulfsson stands at the funeral of his father, wondering what will happen to him when a big
brutish man arrives claiming to be his Uncle Baldur Grimsson, the miller of Trollsvik. The twelve
year old had no idea he had a relative, but Baldur with only a nasty word about his dead sibling
grabs the lad to yank him back with him. The odious Baldur also takes any money Ulf left behind
claiming a debt and even absconds with Peer's ring. Peer leaves with his uncle even while the
funeral
pyre still burns. When they reach Baldur's home, Peer meets his other uncle Grim, who lives up to
his name. Peer makes friends with the housekeeper Nis the gremlin and with Hilde, whose father
is
going on a sea voyage. Peer learns that his guardians intend to sell him and Hilde to the troll king
who will use them as a wedding present as the trio knows that the finest gift in the land is young
human slaves. The Harry Potter crowd will enjoy this feature length fairy tale mindful of the
relationship between the stepmother and Cinderella. . The well-written story line hooks the
audience
who will wonder if the two children can find a way to trump the sneaky trolls and the nasty human
adults. The trolls slyly use shadows to cause trouble while the uncles are an unpleasant pragmatic
pair rivaling the cruelty of de Cruella. Still the tale belongs to two courageous children and a
frightened goblin as they seek a happily ever ending.
Bro
Robert Newton Peck
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060529741 $16.99, 150 pp.
In 1933 Clemson and Melba Dockery accompanied by their nine years old son Tugwell drives
from
Moultrie, Georgia to Yazoo City, Florida, to visit his father on his birthday. Clemson tries to
outrace
a speeding train, but fails leaving nine years old Tugwell Dockery as the only survivor. His older
sibling, eighteen years old Broda "Bro" Joe is in jail for running alcohol. His paternal grandfather
seems indifferent so his Great Aunt Lulu picks up the traumatized child, who no longer can speak.
However, circumstance lead to Tug going to his grandfather's house, which is near the place
where
his parents died. Bro worries about his younger devastated brother and does not believe his
grandfather will care for Tug. Bro escapes from prison with the objective to insure that Tug gets
the
help he needs to overcome the tragedy. BRO is a deep look at the Depression Era south that will
leave the audience needing a bookcase worth of tissues. The cast tugs at the readers' hearts as
each
one struggle with what life has dealt them; Tug especially will receive much empathy. Though
character driven, historical fiction readers will want to join the pack of new fans that this long
time
top notch author (see A DAY NO PIGS WOULD DIE) will garner.
The Dark Tower VI: Song of Susannah
Stephen King
Scribner (Grant)
ISBN: 1880418592 $30.00, 432 pp.
Instructed by the Crimson King's Low Men thugs and applying the power of the Black Thirteen,
the
demon-mother Mia, using the body of the body of Susannah Dean as her host, travels to Midtown
Manhattan in the summer of 99. Mia understands that she must give birth at the right time at the
right place to begin the end of the Dark Tower. Trailing her in order to prevent the event at the
Dixie Pig are adolescent Jake, his talking pet Oy and Father Callaghan. Meanwhile, in 1977
Enrico
Balazar and his goons have traveled to East Stoneham, Maine where they plan to kill bookstore
owner Calvin Tower. Gunslingers Roland and Eddie arrive at the bookstore also seeking Enrico
as
bullets fly and a frightened young author of a bestseller called Salem's Lot wonders when his
fantasy
world turned to deadly reality. The sixth tale of the Dark Tower series continues the path towards
the finish with two prime exhilarating subplots that will enthrall the audience. The ironic technique
of King placing King inside the novel comes off as chutzpah that works especially the ending. Still
the key to this rendition and the previous sagas remain that the characters hold true to their
respective essence throughout the adventures. With the finale in this saga to be published soon,
fans
of Stephen King will rejoice this epic series maintains its' high standard throughout, but
newcomers
should start with the first novel.
Maximum Security
Rose Connors
Scribner
ISBN: 0743261232 $24.00, 272 pp.
At the request of her partner Harry Madigan, Marty Nickerson agrees to take on the case of
Louisa
Rawlins, whose husband is presumed dead because he never came home after using his boat. The
insurance company does not want to pay out the $1 million dollar claim; instead they ask
authorities
to investigate. Marty is a bit uncomfortable representing Louisa because her lover Harry was once
Louisa's lover. Certain that there is no evidence to arrest her, Marty agrees that she and Louisa
should meet with District Attorney Geraldine Schilling at the client's home. On the day of the
meeting, the police arrest Louisa on charges of second-degree murder. A fisherman found Herb
Rawlings's body his hands and leg tied together with rope. He had a head injury and later the
police
find evidence of blood in the bathroom that matches that of Herb. A brass swan faucet, which the
authorities think is the murder weapon, is found with Louisa's fingerprints and Herb's blood and
hair
on it making it seem like the prosecution has an airtight case. Even Marty begins to wonder if her
client is innocent. Rose Connors is brilliant at portraying courtroom scenes yet she humanizes all
the
characters so that nobody is stereotyped. She also injects humor into the storyline so that the
audience becomes further delighted with the characters witty repartee. The accused is a charming
refined and gentile woman who engages the sympathy of the audience so that readers hope she is
not
the killer. MAXIMUM SECURITY is one of the best legal thrillers of the year.
Firethorn
Sarah Micklem
Scribner
ISBN: 0743247949 $12.50, 383 pp.
When the wellborn Dame who employed her died and she was raped by one of her Blood
employers,
fifteen years old low caste mudfolk orphan Luck moved into the wilds of Kingswood. There she
began eating berries that caused hallucinogenic reactions. No longer feeling like a lowborn
drudge,
she renames herself Firethorn and gives thanks to the Goddess for gifting her with special skills.
During the Upside Down Days, Firethorn meets Blood, Sire Galan. She agrees to serve as his
sheath
and bedmate as he joins the King's army in Marchland. Firethorn and Galen begin to fall in love,
but
her loyalty and his trust are tested by his sexist-caste prejudicial superior and his odious
malevolent
cousin even as her healing powers and other adept proficiencies surface that may separate the pair
even further. This opening gamut introduces the fantasy genre to a new delightful voice. The story
line is exciting, fast-paced, and insures the mysticism feels genuine whether it is healing, seeing in
the
dark, or an out of body trek in a shadowy realm. The support cast enables the audience to learn
more about the Micklem universe especially the caste system that subtly is condemned. Fans will
rejoice with this newcomer whose casts a compelling spell on readers anxiously awaiting the
second
tale.
Serious as a Heart Attack
Louisa Luna
Atria
ISBN: 0743466608 $23.00, 256 pp.
On the train to work in Manhattan, the Brooklyn Dodger runs into Hummer Fish from high
school.
They discuss how friends and relatives are doing like her dead grandfather of three decades.
Finally
Queenie informs Hummer that she will be fired from her proofing job at a calendar making
company
for missing that the start of daylight savings was placed on the wrong Sunday. Hummer hires
Queenie to find his girlfriend, stripper Trigger Happy. Queenie locates Trigger in her apartment,
but
wonders if she can collect a fee since the stripper is dead. NYPD Detective Olds suspects Queenie
killed Trigger. Though she sasses the cops at every moment, someone stalks her while she makes
the
rounds (food and drink that is, not amateur sleuthing) of the two boroughs. On her trek to not
smoke, not stay up all night, and not get laid, she meets a private detective who appreciates a
woman with a New York mouth and willing to prove her innocence though Queenie knows not
getting laid seems impossible. This offbeat crime thriller is a delightful satirical slice of New York
starring a tough-ass female who uses profanity as a greeting and symbolically rides the F-train.
The
story line never takes itself seriously as Queenie prefers bar hopping in Coney Island, but knows
she
must find the killer before either Olds arrests her or the culprit gives her a permanent home in the
ground where she will stay out late forever. Louisa Luna provides a fun wild New York joy ride
starring a BRAVE NEW GIRL.
The Girl Next Door
Patricia MacDonald
Atria
ISBN: 0743423615 $24.00 292 pp.
Fifteen years ago Nina Avery returned home from her first date to find her mother dead and her
father trying to shield her from the carnage. After an investigation Nina's father Douglas, a well
respected doctor, is charged with the crime and found guilty of second degree murder. Her
brother
Jimmy, an alcoholic and drug addict, was placed in the care of neighbors where he straightened
his
life out, her older brother Patrick went on to college and married and had two children. Nina
stood
by her father while trying to find acting jobs in New York City. At a parole hearing Jimmy fails to
show up, Patrick speaks out against him and Nina does all in her power to get the board to let her
father go free. Parole is granted and Douglas who swears he is innocent returns to the scene of
the
crime to find evidence that would exonerate him. Before he can find out anything he is murdered
but
someone made it look like suicide. With the help of the prison doctor, Nina takes up where her
father left off and finds herself in danger from a killer she has known for almost two decades. Fans
of Marry Higgins Clark will want to read THE GIRL NEXT DOOR, the quintessential
psychological suspense tale. The Avery clan is a dysfunctional but likeable family who pull readers
into their angst laden drama and end up hoping they will recover from the traumas they have
endured. Patricia Macdonald is a brilliant writer known for her works of intrigue; her latest novel
is
definitely her best but this reviewer will probably say that about her next novel too.
Artscape
Frederick Ramsay
Poisoned Pen Press
ISBN: 1590581229 $24.95, 260 pp.
While CIA operative Ike Schwartz was vacationing with his wife in Europe, he was asked to pick
up
a package, a simple assignment that ended with the death of Ike's wife, his expulsion from
Switzerland and his leaving the CIA. He returns to his hometown Picketsville, Virginia where he
is
elected the county's sheriff. It is an easy job and for three years, he does little more than answer
domestic disturbances and gives out traffic tickets. One day he is called out to Callend College, a
private woman's school, because a $50 million dollar art collection was stolen from an
underground
vault protected by one of the most sophisticated security systems in the world. The terrorist group
the New Jihad has contracted out to the Mafia the job of exchanging the art for diamonds. One of
the thieves is an ex-FBI agent, who wants out of the operation when a security guard is killed and
two college students are taken hostage. Though Harry works from the inside and Ike uses all his
skills and resources, there is little chance that both men will achieve their goals. Frederick
Ramsay's
debut novel is well nworth reading because he has a fresh voice that will resonate with readers
who
like crime thrillers with lots of action and interesting characters. The theft of the artwork brings
Ike
out of his three-year limbo and he starts a relationship with the college president. The ex-FBI
agent
is as much a hero as Ike even though he gets no credit for helping the authorities. Let us hope that
there will be more novels starring Ike, an intelligent tactician who endears himself to the
reader.
Desert Shadows
Betty Webb
Poisoned Pen
ISBN: 159058113X $24.95, 288 pp.
At the Southwest Book Publisher's Expose, Gloriana Alden-Taylor eats salad when the
owner-publisher of Patriot's Blood Press starts to feel chest pains. She keels over, foams at the
mouth and shortly dies. An autopsy reveals she was poisoned with hemlock sprinkled on her
salad;
the police arrest Gloriana's employee, Pima Indian Owen Sisiwan for the crime. Earlier that day,
group of conference attendees led by Sisiwan went on a field trip where the poisonous plant grew.
Former police officer Lena Jones opened up her own agency after she was wounded on the job
and
her employee Johnny is Owen's cousin. She knows Owen could never kill a seventy-something
year
old woman even if she was a racist who treated Owen like a second-class citizen. Her publishing
house published books that would appeal to the Aryan nation and they made a lot of money that
she
used to fix up the house she loved. Lena is determined to find out which of the many people who
had a motive to kill Gloriana did the deed. The protagonist is a person who keeps people at a
distance because of the abuses she suffered in foster care , but in spite of the traumas she
experienced, Lena is a determined woman who will go the extra mile to see that justice is served.
The villainess of DESERT SHADOWS has so many enemies including her employees, her own
family and the authors she could not care less about; it is impossible to figure out who the
perpetrator is. The juxtaposition of the beauty of the Sonora Desert to the trappings of so-called
civilization makes Betty Webb's latest work a terrific private investigative late.
When Red is Black
Qiu Xiaolong
Soho
ISBN: 1569473692 $25.00, 320 pp.
Party Secretary Li cannot find Chief Inspector Chen Cao, so he assigns the investigation of the
murder of author Yin Lige to detective Yu Guangming. Though Yu needs to find an apartment in
overcrowded Shanghai, he cannot "politically" refuse a case given to him by the Party Secretary.
He
quickly learns that Yin wrote a banned book on falling in love during the Cultural Revolution.
Meanwhile the Shanghai New World Group CEO Yu provides Chen with an offer he cannot
refuse.
He will pay Chen an exorbitant fee to do him a favor by translating a major business proposal into
English. Yu pursues threads that lead nowhere while Chen earns money translating the business
documents. Still Chen advises his junior partner on how to proceed. Soon Yu finds out that Yin
shared a romance during the Cultural Revolution with Professor Yang Bing. Could someone have
silenced the author because of something that occurred when Yin and Yang were together at a
time
when the Red Guard reeducated or killed the Black (anti worker)? The third Chen tale is an
exciting
Chinese police procedural, but somewhat different than that of the two previous novels (see
DEATH OF A RED HEROINE and A LOYAL CHARACTER DANCER) as Yu leads much of
the
investigation. The deep look at modern day Shanghai and brilliantly incorporating Chinese poetry
into the love story of Yin and Yang enhance the story line. Though the ending seems soft, perhaps
because the rest of WHEN RED IS BLACK is so powerful, Qiu Xialong provides a deep look at
how historical events impact the present inside a terrific murder mystery.
Breeding Evil
Liz Wolfe
Medallion Press
ISBN: 1932815058 $6.99, 342 pp.
After a decade of bouncing from one black op to another, Shelby Parker left the Federal Security
Agency. Because she has no marketable private sector skills outside of sneaky surveillance, she
opens up an investigative firm. Now six months since she left the government, Shelby is at the
Denver FSA office wondering why handler Ethan Calder needs exclusively her to look into the
disappearance of fifteen people connected to The Center for Bio-Psychological Research. Though
more in line with the FBI mission, Ethan explains that this is not FSA sponsored, but he a
concerned
citizen worried about a close friend of his wife vanishing. Needing the money, Shelby accepts the
case. Shelby applies for work at the Center in order to get close to key researchers, Dr. Ruth
Carson
and Dr. Jonah Thomas. She quickly realizes she is not alone when she uncovers FBI agent
psychiatrist Mac McRae working an inquiry from the inside. The two pool their efforts though it
grates Shelby, who always works alone. As they work together under the covers and undercover,
they must save a pregnant woman carrying a special genetically altered fetus who is the prototype
of
a future obedient soldier who will be sold to the highest bidder. That is if they live long enough to
do
so for even safe houses are unsafe. Fans of espionage thrillers with no respite from the action once
Shelby accepts the case will want to read this fast-paced tale. The story line moves so fast, the
audience never is able to catch their breathe even when the heroic duo takes a sexual time out.
Though the personal relationship between Mac and Shelby seems off-kilter, genre readers will
enjoy
this non-stop mega action thriller.
Finding Mr. Perfect
Nikki Rivers
Harlequin Flipside
ISBN: 0373441916 $4.50, 218 pp.
Sociological researcher Hannah Ross explains her study results on why Granny Grains Cereal is
losing the market to the firm's CEO Randall Pollard. She suggests that the company return to
family
values by targeting the mommy market. As the CFO and marketing gurus look ill at her
recommendation, Randall agrees. He informs his staff that they must hire a family from a
modeling
company. Hannah differs, suggesting that a real family be used; Randall loves the idea and charges
Hannah to find the perfect normal family. Hannah selects the Walker brood of Timber Bay,
Michigan as the perfectly normal American family. Then she arrives in town to find a
dysfunctional
family whose supposed oldest child is a hunk of an adult. As Danny finds the sociologist amusing
except when he wants a kiss, Hannah is having cardiac arrest as much from her desires for Danny
as
from the few days she has to reengineer the Walkers into a model that will satisfy Randall. This
screwball romantic comedy will provide plenty of laughs for readers. Fans will feel for the
beleaguered Hannah and her struggle with her pending professional fiasco and her love for Danny,
who seems to wink at her misfortune.. The amusing story line contains a You Can't Take It With
You type of family starring inside the Barbara Stanwyck flick, Christmas in Connecticut.
Old Enough To Know Better
Vicki Lewis Thompson
Harlequin Temptation
ISBN: 0373691807 $4.25, 217 pp.
At Beckworth Public Relations, the women are drooling over a hunk from Ashton landscaping.
They
decide to play the straw game with the babe that draws the biggest having to find a way to make
the
dude drool from desire. Kasey Braddock wins the contest. Although she would prefer to have not
entered, her image means everything in the upscale youthful modern PR office; thus, she grabs a
bottle of water to introduce herself to the stud as a happening chick "so redy". Kasey recognizes
Sam Ashton, who she had a crush on years ago when he was the friend of her older stepbrother,
but
he does not recognize the beautiful woman giving him the water. He had noticed her earlier and
sees
this opportunity to ask her out, which she accepts. Not long afterward, she remains committed to
his
drooling one time, but he wants her for all time. This entertaining contemporary romance starts as
a
fun read with the office women salivating over visiting hunks while the men are stunned with how
far the females will go with the games. When the lead couple begins dating, the plot deftly
switches
gear so that the audience can see what motivates the protagonists. Of major enjoyment is to watch
Sam realize that the woman he is falling in love is not the image of hip that Kasey portrays, but
the
kindhearted caring soul that she really is though the target of his affection cannot believe he
recognized her inner essence. Fans will appreciate this fine tale.
The Longest Night
Kathleen O'Reilly
Harlequin Temptation
ISBN: 0373691793 $4.25, 216 pp.
In Chicago six months ago, Noah Bradley rejects Cassandra Ward's sexy seduction not because he
did desire her, but because he did not want to be a notch on her pelt. Now he regrets his decision
because he dreams of Cassandra day and night. At a wedding of a mutual friend, Noah asks
Cassandra to go out with him. She agrees as long as he abides by her six rules of relationships.
Instead, he raises her sex without commitment rule by offering her a good time and intelligent
discussions without sex. As they fall in love, she realizes that her former lover Benedict is hurting
Noah and his construction company just because she has remained faithful for the first time in her
life to one man. Out of love, will Cassandra end her relationship with Noah so his company can
get a
piece of the lucrative city business? The four books that makeup the Bachelorette Pact series
consist
of delightful contemporary romances with the last tale the best. Noah knows he wants Cassandra
who he considers a diamond in the rough and his patience is beautiful to observe. Watching
"manizing" (not a man-eater) Cassandra, a modern day rake with scruples, fall in love with the
kind
caring Noah will thrill readers.
The Dutiful Rake
Elizabeth Rolls
Harlequin
ISBN: 0373293127 $5.50
His sister and his aunt rage at Marcus Langley insisting that the thirty-five year old rake marry and
have a son so that the line can continue. The angry Duke knows he needs a spouse, but detests the
pushy interference of his relatives. He scares them by showing interest in a loose widow. Marcus
travels to his newest estate that he inherited from a penny-pinching great uncle. He is shocked to
see
the horrendous condition of Fenby and even worse how ill resident Marguerite Fellowes is. He
brings in the doctor and nurses the sick woman back to health. He also spends money to help the
impoverished tenants. Marcus knows that he has compromised Marguerite, but concludes that he
had no choice. When she recovers, they argue about her future. Ultimately, he offers her a
marriage
of convenience in which after the heir is born they go their own separate ways. However, they fall
in
love and Marcus wants to renegotiate the deal, but has to convince his spouse even while his
enemy
sniffs after his beloved wife like a prize. Although at first brush, THE DUTIFUL RAKE seems
typical of the Regency sub-genre with an innocent woman and a rake falling in love. However, the
superb historical romance insures that the initial look at the lead couple is peeled away so that the
true inner essence of kindhearted caring souls emerge with the twist that Marguerite has the
scandalous background. The story line focuses on the lead duo with the support cast (friends,
family,
and foes) enhancing what the reader knows about this delightful pair. Readers will demand to
know
the tale of Marcus' pal Jack.
The Man She Married
Muriel Jensen
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373712081 $5.25
Prue Hale designs a successful clothing line for the Maple Hill Library. Her work has enabled her
to
move past her spouse Hugh Gideon until he shows up. Hugh has come to plead with her, insisting
he
never cheated on her with Claudia Hackett. Prue rejects his plea so he plans to move onto Alaska
to
help a friend start up a winery. Prue is shocked that he is leaving behind his family's winery and his
White Plains law practice. She also knows that by just seeing him she understands why she failed
to
sign the divorce papers; a horrified Prue still loves Hugh, but does not trust him. Hugh is ready to
throw in the towel, but gives it one last try offering legal service to his beloved's start up business
with the hope that she will see he never cheated on her. If successful, Hugh will next have to deal
with the fact that she failed to trust him. This engaging contemporary romance stars two likable
protagonists who allow a misunderstanding to place their love on the brink of extinction. Readers
will feel for Hugh as he struggles to get his recalcitrant wife to realize he could never philander as
long as she is in his life; but also the dilemma of winning his case means still losing because he has
doubts about any future alleged misstep. Prue receives less empathy although the circumstantial
evidence seems obvious in support of her conclusion that THE MAN SHE MARRIED is NO
MAN
IN A MILLION as she once thought.
The Unknown Twin
Kathryn Shay
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373712065 $5.25, 297 pp.
Firefighter Alex Shields saves Lauren Conway's life when the Courage Bay Courier building is on
fire, but insists she is his EMT Dana Ivie, who is supposed to be in San Diego for training not in a
newspaper building. Lauren corrects Alex and others insisting that she just moved into town
recently
to draw her comic strip Dee and Me. Alex believes her, but says her twin works for him. When
Ivie
and Lauren meet, both realize that there is more to this than just coincidence as they are identical
twins. As the sisters investigate their connection, Alex finds himself attracted to the Lauren and
she
reciprocates. As they fall in love, however, Lauren believes that he thinks he loves her, but she
feels
that she is jut a substitute for his true love, her newly found sibling. Though twins seem to be a
major percentage of the novel population, this refreshing contemporary romance is a fine tale that
sub-genre readers will enjoy. The invigorating element is that Alex had a thing for Ivie; now he
knows what love is all about, but to persuade Lauren she is the one is impossible due to his
history.
Though the mystery of the twins adds background that weakens next to the delightful "triangle"
that
is all in the mind of the newcomer.
Woman in Hiding
Rebecca Winters
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373712103 $5.25, 296 pp.
After ending her relationship with her fiance reporter Ed Strickland, Leslie Hopkins never
anticipated Ed would stalk her. After a few months of Ed harassing her to take him back, Leslie's
sister and brother-in-law arranges for her change her identity, disappear, and star new. Out west,
Leslie learns that Pierre Gallagher of Moose, Wyoming is advertising for a housekeeper to watch
his
six-year-old child Cory while he works a ranger in Grand Teton National Park. Though he figures
she is running away, Pierre hires the obviously over qualified Leslie. Rather quickly, Cory and
Leslie
fall in love as if she was his mother. Soon Ed also falls in love with his employee; Leslie
reciprocates. However, Ed uses his journalist skills to locate the woman he cherishes and will kill
to
keep her with him. Leslie would rather die than allow any harm come to her beloved Gallaghers.
This exciting romantic suspense hooks the audience from the moment Leslie flees New York to
escape the fatal attraction of Ed. Though readers will expect the serpent to destroy Eden, the
incomparable Rebecca Winters lulls the audience and the heroine into thinking Ed will never find
her
in her rustic environs enjoying life with the two men she loves.
The Sex Diet
Rhonda Nelson
Harlequin Blaze
ISBN: 0373791445 $4.50, 248 pp.
By accident, Aspen dietician Samantha McCafferty has come up with the SEX DIET, a menu that
increases the libido. She tests her find at another gala she caters to see an orgy erupt. She forms
Operation Orgasm. Her scenario is simple; Sam returns home to Orange Beach with plans to use
the
diet herself to see if that will finally entice her unrequited love Hank Masterson to notice her even
if
it means hives. Hank, the owner of the Clearwater B&B, is shocked how pretty Sam has become.
Because of his forgetfulness and the fact that there is a Belle of the Beach contest, he has no
empty
room available for his pal. H invites her to stay with him, which Sam accepts. As Sam uses her
diet
to lure Hank, he falls in love with her, allergy reaction and all. However, she refuses to believe
him
that he loves her with or without the diet. This amusing contemporary heated romance will
provide
plenty of pleasure to readers. Sam is a fine character as she executes her plan only to have
succeeded
so well she feels she failed as sans diet sans Hanks. Fans will appreciate this humorous tale of lust
in
the kitchen.
Indecent
Tori Carrington
Harlequin Blaze
ISBN: 0373791410 $4.50, 250 pp.
In the Toledo, Ohio area, psychiatrist Dr. Colin McKenzie has stopped one on one practice
because
of a client accusing him of indecent behavior. Additionally, the serial dater has not gone out in
three
months based on legal advice. He keeps cool by going on long runs and taking cold showers. The
court sends Lucky Clayborn to attend a DUI group session hosted by Colin. Though she jokes
about
cold medicine causing her second infraction, both are stunned as they are immediately attracted to
one another. Lucky feels her luck has changed and tries to seduce Colin. He wants her badly, but
with a potential ethics violation hanging over his head and his morality about doctor-patient
relationships; he tries to use the right head. However, cold showers and three hour runs cannot
cool
his blood, which refuses to cooperate by racing southward away from his brain. This is an
engaging
contemporary romance starring two fine characters. Colin is an ethical individual who struggles
with
his attraction for his patient and knowing he must not see her, as he still counsels her. Lucky
rejects
his notion of no relationship while she sees him professionally. The crash makes for a fun time for
readers.
The Cowboy and the Bride
Marin Thomas
Harlequin American
ISBN: 0373750285 $4.75, 248 pp.
Seattle ad agency employee Madeleine Tate is irate that her fiance Jonathon "ass" Carter deserted
her at the altar in Vegas. Dressed in her wedding gown, Madeline flees into the desert only to run
out of gas in the Nevada desert near the Idaho border. She heads to a nearby ranch only to see
Cyclone the bull destroy her dress though she got off without a scratch. Rancher Jake
Montgomery
observes how kind Madeline is to his five year old daughter Annie Jane even coaxing smile out of
the sad child. When Madeline mentions she needs a place to stay for three weeks before heading
back to work, Jake offers her a deal to stay at his ranch but baby-sit Annie. Madeline accepts and
rather quickly falls in love with the Montgomery pair. Little Annie and Jake reciprocate, but the
older Montgomery believes that his beloved would rather be Sleepless in Seattle than cherished in
Nevada. Though the jilted bride theme may seem trite, fans will appreciate the well written
contemporary romance because the two adult protagonists and the child are a delightful cast. Jake
is
worried about Annie especially once Madeline, a new light in his kid's life, leaves; that deep
concern
comes across as much as his own desire for Madeline to stay. It is that subtly that makes for a
wonderful family drama.
The Secret Seduction
Cathy Gillen Thacker
Harlequin American
ISBN: 0373750269 $4.75, 251 pp.
In Holly Springs, North Carolina, Lily "Ice Princess" Madsen bets her friends that she will fly back
to California in the private plane of TV star Larsen McRue. Knowing she should never drink, Lily
knows she has only one way to accomplish her objective as she has never met the Larsen. She
must
persuade local vet Fletcher Hart, a friend of Larsen, to introduce her to the Hollywood star.
Though
she pleads with him that she must meet her favorite actor, Fletcher refuses to abet Lily on her
scheme not just because he is concerned about her or his pal; instead he has desired Lily for
several
years. He informs her that the entire town is well aware of her wager and gambling on her success
has become acute. He makes his own wager with his siblings and goes about melting the ice
princess
by courting her. However, he begins to realize that if he wins he could lose as he wants Lily for
the
next five decades or so. This amusing heated battle of the sexes will have readers laughing one
moment and warmed up with the next scene. The story line is fun due to the antics of the lead
couple whose wagers lead to love American style. Clearly aimed at humor, contemporary
romance
fans will take immense delight with this engrossing gender war.
The Unexpected Wife
Mary Burton
Harlequin
ISBN: 0373293089 $5.25
In 1879 Crickhollow, Montana, rancher Matthias Barrington buries his wife and unborn child. His
father-in-law stays for a while to help the beleaguered Matthias raise his two young sons, but the
winter has taken its toll on the older man, who will leave for his warmer home soon. In San
Francisco, as her younger cousin gets married, orphan Abigail Smith writes yes to Matthias' mail
order proposal. However, her aunt and uncle reject her leaving town. Treated more like a servant,
Abigail sneaks out for Montana and her new life. In Montana, Abigail learns that Matthias did not
correspond with her as well meaning friends did. Having no other options except crawling, she
persuades him to give her the summer working with the boys at the ranch and if at the end of her
trial period he still refuses to marry her she will leave. As love begins to flow between the adults
and
Matthias sees how nurturing Abigail is to his sons, he knows he must ask her to stay as his
spouse,
but also feels guilty that he is betraying the memory of his beloved first wife. THE
UNEXPECTED
WIFE is an enjoyable late nineteenth century American romance. Though Abigail's family
especially
her cousin is unappreciative, the Montana cast is a caring group. Matthias is a fabulous
protagonist
struggling to raise his two sons and run a ranch. The Montana mob adds understanding of his
character as they prove by their actions how much they respect him and worry about his stress.
Abigail is a wonderful intrepid soul who readers will cherish as she makes other cast members and
readers appreciate life.
The Ships of Air
Martha Wells
Eos
ISBN: 0380977893 $24.95, 416 pp.
Using magic, the mysterious off-worlders Gardier has conquered Ile-Rien though the embattled
Rienish wizards have learned how to open an inter-world portal. Another defeated foe of the
Gardier, the Syprians fear magic due to its misuse by evil wizards Their Chosen One, Giliead, is
resistant to most magic. Meanwhile Tremaine Valiarde knows that the soul of the great wizard
Arisilde rests inside a magical sphere that is the last hope that the Rienish wizards have to defeat
Gardier magic. She and her fellow exiles on Syprian pull a passenger liner through the portal that
upsets the locals and bring them to the attention of malevolent wizards who want the sphere. To
ease the minds of the anti-magic local populace about her motives, Tremaine marries Gilead's
brother Ilias, a freedom fighter who has killed several evil wizards. The intrepid Tremaine leads a
raid on the Gardier, but she and others become trapped inside an enemy airship that a wizard
transports from this orb to what she assumes is the enemy's homeworld with no exit for her and
her
allies. The WIZARD HUNTERS, the second Book of the Fall of Ile-Rien trilogy, is an exciting
epic
fantasy that contains realistic worlds and genuine races occupying the orbs. The story line is
fast-paced and action-packed as the beleaguered Rienish are nearing a last stand with no hope of
defeating the conquering Gardier. Tremaine, daughter of the champion of DEATH OF THE
NECROMANCER (same world, but outside this series), is a fantastic heroine, as she feels the
hopelessness that her race feels. With two great stories already printed, readers will look forward
to
an all's wells that ends well finale.
For The Dogs
Kevin Wignall
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0743247566 $22.84, 209 pp.
One night a gunman enters the Hatto house and kills the father, mother and son. It has all the
earmarks of a professional hit. Their teenage daughter Ella is in Italy with her boyfriend when two
men aim guns aim at her. Out of nowhere before they can murder her, a third gunman kills them.
Lucas tells them that Ella's father hired him to watch over them in their travels. He informs Ella
that
her family is dead; she does not understand why someone would order professional hits on an
ordinary middle class family. Lucas tells her that her father once operated on the wrong side of the
law, selling drugs and armaments as well as laundering money. When she returns to England, Ella
gives the police time to find her family's killer, but they fail. Ella is determined to take the law into
her own hands. She hires Lucas to find out who destroyed her family and then she will deal with
them personally. There is a lot of action in FOR THE DOGS but the heart of this book lies with
the
two main characters Ella and Lucas. She becomes more like the man Lucas once was, a cold,
remote
loner intent on personally make the people who destroyed her life pay while Lucas is moving in
the
opposite direction. After his business with Ella is finished, he wants to connect with his daughter
and
reconnect with the only woman he ever loved. Kevin Wignall's prose is stark yet eloquent as his
latest thriller is exciting and heartbreaking.
Bet Your Bottom Dollar
Karin Gillespie
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0743250109 $19.95, 304 pp.
The Super Saver Dollar chain store plans to open up their latest retail establishment in Cayboo
Creek, South Carolina where they will compete with the local business, the Bottom Dollar
Emporium. The owner Mavis is stunned by the news that the fastest growing retailer in the
southeast
is moving into her neighborhood. Most locals figure that the Bottom Dollar Emporoium will soon
be
history. However, Mavis and her employees Elizabeth and Attalee plan to put up quite a fight.
Though the business is of major concern, the women have other problems to deal with too.
Elizabeth can't stand her father's new wife and her former boyfriend ended their relationship with a
note on a Hardee's bag placed under her windshield wiper. Of course Timothy Hollingsworth
might
be worth a look even if he is a southern Buddhist. Ancient Attalee has some physical problems
that
keep her up at night. Finally, even with a romance in the air, Elizabeth considers fleeing to her
widowed sister in South Dakota, but not before this Davidette goes up against Goliath. Though
limited in action, BET YOUR BOTTOM DOLLAR is an engaging insightful look at the battle
between mega superstore chains and mom and pop operations that are changing the landscape.
The
story line is fun to follow as readers observe the three Bottom Dollar Emporium females struggle
with the outside challenges, men, and other ills that make them seem so genuine. Karin Gillepsie
furbishes a delightful glimpse into what seems increasingly more like the dinosaur with this fine
deep
gaze into small town southern living.
White Hot
Sandra Brown
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0743245539 $25.95, 422 pp.
It has been ten years since she left Destiny, Louisiana, the town controlled by her father Huff
Hoyle
and his prodigal son Chris, but her younger brother Danny died and Sayre Lynch wants to be
there
for his funeral. She plans to leave right after he is laid to rest but she changes her mind when the
deputy sheriff says that it looks as if Danny did not commit suicide, but was murdered.
Circumstantial evidence links Chris to Danny's death and even the sheriff, though in Holt's pocket,
can't stop the investigation. The family lawyer Beck Merchant is bought and paid for by Huff but
that doesn't stop the attraction Sayre feels for him. The foundry is the town's main business and
Huff rules it with an iron fist but trouble is brewing as safety conditions are non-existent and the
labor union is trying to get Huff's workers to join. Sayre is on the side of the workers and fights
for
their rights, not realizing she is precipitating the very violence she wants to avoid and getting in
the
way of Beck's plans for the Huff empire and the Holts. Once again, Sandra Brown presents her
myriad of readers with an action thriller that will keep reader attention from first page to last. All
the
major characters have dark secrets in their past that makes them interesting, dynamic and as
WHITE-HOT as a bomb going off. The female protagonist is no angel but her motives are pure
and
she does care about the town's welfare even if she sometimes makes the wrong move and incites
trouble. This book is heading to the New York Times best-seller list, deservedly so.
Garden of Beasts
Jeffrey Deaver
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0743222016 $24.95 432 pp.
In 1936, contract freelance hit man Paul Schumann enters the Hell's Kitchen apartment to bump
off
Malone, but the mark is not here. Paul realizes he has been set up and the subsequent phone call
tells
him that twelve armed men wait for him to throw out the window his two guns, to remove his
jacket, and wait for their entry with his hands up if he wants to survive. Navy Intelligence Officer
Bull Gordon gives Paul a choice. If he refuses, they have evidence to prove he murdered people,
which would lead to at least life in Sing Sing that is if they do not turn him into cement. Paul
accepts
their kind offer to go to Berlin to kill Colonel Ernst, Hitler's brilliant militarization expert.
Disguised
as a reporter covering the Olympics, Paul sails across the Atlantic, but a Nazi undercover agent
believes he might be a paid assassin. Paul kills the spy, but not before word reaches Berlin. When
he
kills a second person in the German capital, Police Inspector Kohl is on his crowded trail loaded
with Nazis wanting to kill Paul before he completes his mission. Jeffrey Deaver is at his best with
this suspense laden historical thriller that brings 1936 Berlin vividly alive in a contrasting manner.
On
the one hand, there is the Olympics while on the other there is the Nazi movement. The three
subplots (Paul's mission, Inspector Kohl's investigation, and the Nazi efforts to kill the American)
all tie together in a fantastic tale that will bring deserved accolades to Mr. Deaver as he proves
once
again that he drives more than just a Lincoln.
Lucifer's Shadow
David Hewson
Delacorte
ISBN: 0385337949 $21.95, 371 pp.
In 1733 Lorenzo Scacchi comes to Venice to work for his uncle at Ca' Scacchi printing press.
Excited by the prospect of the big city, he immediately falls under the spell of the beautiful capital.
Things are going well until his uncle assigns Lorenzo to chaperone a gifted violinist who must
hide
her identity or face condemnation. Lorenzo obeys, but quickly finds the deception is turning from
dangerous to fascinating to deadly. Two and half centuries later, Englishman Daniel Forster
obtains
summer employment cataloguing a library in the Ca' Scacchi. Excited by the prospect of Austria,
he
immediately falls under the spell of the beautiful capital. As he performs his duties, Daniel finds an
anonymously written eighteenth-century concerto. That "treasure" leads to his involvement in a
con
that could turn from dangerous to fascinating to deadly. David Hewson provides a fascinating
look
at Venice two-hundred fifty years apart in this exciting thriller spread centuries apart. The story
line
contains two plots that ultimately merge, but are also a two-edged sword as at times it is difficult
to
keep track of what is happening. Still the beauty of the city past and present comes to life inside
the
twin tales of intrigue and corruption bringing down the innocent.
Unlucky In Law
Perri O'Shaughnessy
Delacorte
ISBN: 0385336462 $25.00, 376 pp.
Attorney Nina Reilly moved from Tahoe to Carmel, California to spend time with her lover
private
investigator Paul van Wagoner to see if they can make it. As Paul offers her diamonds and great
sex,
her mentor whom she once clerked for, Klaus Pohlmann, a terrific trial lawyer, asks for her help in
court. However, Klaus is not what he once was as his mind wanders with his colleagues at
Pohlmann, Cunningham, Turk wondering if the great man should retire. The client, two-time loser
Stefan Wyatt, is accused of murder, grave robbing and grave burying as he is accused of stealing
valuables from one corpse and interring a fresh body, that of a fellow student. If convicted of any
of
the counts, Stefan would become a long time guest of the State due to California's Third Strike
law.
Nina leads the inquiries with Paul's' help that connect back to Tsarist Russia; she also provides
much of the legalese at the trial as she acts more like first seat than her befuddled mentor.
UNLUCKY IN LAW is an interesting legal thriller due to Nina's dilemma to be married or not to
be
married that is the question and the deterioration of the keen mind of Klaus (even her son Bob
waits
breathlessly). However, the key courtroom drama seems off kilter and never quite hooks the jury
(reader). Still the investigation is fun to follow with its ties to Tsarist Russia and Anastasia on top
of
whether Nina and Paul move on or move out.
Slightly Dangerous
Mary Balogh
Delacorte
ISBN: 0385338112 $20.00, 352 pp.
Christine Derrick was married to Oscar for seven years, but their happiness together ended when
he
began accusing her of trysts. Now a widow of two years, Christine never goes to social events for
she does not want to run into her in-laws, who for the most think she cuckolded her spouse. A
close
friend Lady Melanie Renable forces Christine to attend a two week gala. At the party, Christine is
treated with polite contempt by Oscar's family with a few exceptions. Lonely guest Wulfric
Bedwyn
mourns the death of his mistress of ten years. Following a lemonade incident, he finds himself
shockingly attracted to Christine who ignores his ducal title as she just wants to go home to hide
in
her corner. As they hang together as party outsiders or as much as a duke can remain aloof from
others, they fall in love, but there remains the wager that substantiates what her in-laws believe
about the capriciousness of Christine. This is an entertaining Regency romance though the
condemnation of her in-laws based on rumor fueled by Oscar seems off kilter. The story line is fun
to follow as both the lead characters have reasons to leave. The support cast enhances the tale by
how they behave towards the Duke and the fallen woman. Fans will appreciate this delightful tale,
but insist that a certain close male friend find his happiness soon.
At Home in Covington
Joan Medlicott
Atria
ISBN: 0743470397 $25.00, 320 pp.
Roger Singleton sadly calls his mother Grace to inform her that his long time companion Charles
is
dying. Grace always liked the kind Charles and immediately flies up from North Carolina to
Pennsylvania to help her son cope and to say her good byes to his nice soul mate. He tells Mother
Singleton to watch over her son, as he is worried about how Roger will be once he is gone. When
Charles dies, Grace's companion Bob Richardson and her two pals Amelia DeClose and Hannah
Parrish arrive for the funeral. Grace has her own health problems as she suffers from diabetes, but
as
a southerner who loves sweet tea, only sugar counts. Hannah receives an old diary that provides
her
information about her deceased beloved Dan. Amelia suggests they need to get away and
recommends a cruise to the Virgin Islands, which they do and enjoy. Now they must return to
their
home to get on with their lives. The latest entry in the Covington series is a fine tale starring
wonderful protagonists struggling with mortality that hits home to the three geriatric friends, but
especially Grace. The story line reads like a gentle summer breeze in spite of the final days of the
pleasant loving Charles. Fans of the series will enjoy this comforting tale that provides solace for
those who do not need any action inside a placid story line.
Dead Sexy
Kathy Lette
Atria
ISBN: 1902934229 $12.95
Her students enter thirty-one years old music teacher Shelly Greene on Desperate and Dateless, a
TV computerized matchmaking show hosting a contest that hypes the date of a lifetime. Shelly is
not
a fan of the opposite sex, believing facetiously that God performed a cosmic joke when she
created
males. She thinks even less of marriage. Thus, she wonders if the loot is worth standing at the
altar
on Valentine's Day marrying her DEAD SEXY cyber mate Kit Kincade just because if they make
a
go of it, the duo receives a ton of cash. Chaperoned by a horde of Desperate and Dateless
employees, Kit and Shelly go on their honeymoon to Reunion, a former French colony tropical
island paradise. As the balmy island turns nasty with everything going wrong, Shelly and Kit begin
to
share real feelings for one another except that nothing about him is real. Though much of the wit
is
HIT AND MS, chick lit fans will receive plenty of laughs especially with Shelly's one liners that
make her seem at times more like a Vegas stand up comic (sorry that's Shecky Green). The story
line is a lighthearted frolic that focuses on degrees of fabrication between the lead couple as a
cornerstone of the relationship. Kathy Lette provides a fun romp that proves opposites attract
(even
when the participants are both intelligent).
The Reckoning
Jeff Long
Atria
ISBN: 0743463065 $25.00, 288 pp.
The New York Times assigns Photojournalist Molly Drake to accompany the U.S. Army as they
retrieve the bones of a pilot who went missing in Cambodia. However, they find no sign of bones
or
dog tags until Molly sees through the lens of her $10,000 camera the remains of a mass grave.
With
the monsoon about to begin, depart, their mission failed. Once again, Molly uses her camera lens
to
find a cache of bones in a well. The Cambodian government allows them one week to find what
they
seek but Molly, archeologist Duncan and Kleat, who is looking for the thirty-year-old bones of his
brothers are ordered off the project. One of the people who watched the dig shows her a dog tag
and tells the group there are nine others; he will lead them to it. Unable to contain their
excitement,
Molly, Duncan, Kleat and their guides follow Lukas to a deserted ancient city thought to be two
thousand year old. Molly sees and experiences things that can only be attributed to the
supernatural
as she discovers the truth about her path. THE RECKONING starts as a thriller and
metamorphosis
into a supernatural tale. Cambodia, a place where legends and myths are closer than most people
ever experience, works its magic on the visiting Americans, especially Molly, who sees and hears
things the other's don't. There are very few people, who could cope with what Molly experiences
and stay sane, but she is a strong woman and it will take a lot to break her. Jeff Long has written a
thrilling chiller in which the natural and the paranormal world collide with fantastic results.
Asphalt
Carl Hancock Rux
Atria
ISBN: 0743474007 $24.00, 255 pp.
After a failed spin in Paris, disc jockey Racine returns home to Brooklyn where he moves into a
slumlord's dream house (at least before the apocalyptic devastation), a rundown brownstone. In
the
tenement reside other surviving souls that welcome him into the gig. "Holy Mother" Lucinda is
dying while Mawepi takes care of her. Manny is a drug user who welcomes Racine as a club peer;
exotic erotic dancer Couchette makes him feel at home. Though based on his childhood with a
brimstone breathing uncle and a negligent mother that left him short a couple of balls that might
not
be such a good thing. Racine gets a gig "spinnin" at the illegal nightclub Alibi. Shy outside of the
music, Racine and Couchette start dancing together. However, like him Couchette has demons
since
her mother deserted her for Bali and her father committed suicide inside the brownstone. Only the
music provides the magic to escape the devils that haunt this couple and for that matter the others
living inside this Brooklyn oasis as a rave awaits their presence. ASPHALT is a weird tale that
occurs in a near future in which the Brooklyn Bridge has sunk into the bay and lawlessness and
marauding gangs are everywhere. The five prime players each have troubles that disturb their
respective soul even without the destruction of civilization that threatens to engulf their
brownstone
oasis. Though the plot lacks a substantive center, Carl Hancock Rux provides a deep look at
disturbed individuals especially Racine in environs in which no one can dodge a world on the
abyss.
Becoming Finola
Suzanne Strempka Shea
Atria
ISBN: 0743403770 $13.00, 336 pp.
In western Massachusetts, Gina Stebben's husband dies in an SUV accident and her daughter
leaves
stating the parent she loved was gone. Not long afterward, she loses her job. Her best friend
Sophie
White provides support to help Gina make it. When Gina decides to travel to Booley, Ireland,
Sophie accompanies her. On their first day in town, Sophie meets Liam Kessem, owner of a messy
jewelry store called Finola's after his former girlfriend who left two years ago with a German stud.
The next day Gina realizes she made a mistake and heads home for states after insisting Sophie
remain in Ireland. As Sophie takes over the role of Finola at the store and in the town, she falls in
love with Liam. He insists he loves his American, but she believes he still desires Finola, a legend
in
the town of Booley. Once her vacation is over, she plans to go home, wiser, nurturing, but
heartbroken as the lesson is "parting is such sweet sorrow". BECOMING FINOLA is a strange
but
exhilarating character study with a lot of romance in the air. Readers will be surprised by the early
twist as this is not Gina's story, but instead is a deep look at Sophie competing with a local legend
by adopting much of Finola's pizzazz. Though a final crossing seems unnecessary, Gina and Liam
on
the surface carry this delightful tale, but it is the conceptual image of who was the real Finola that
will intrigue the audience.
Little Scarlet
Walter Mosley
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316073032 $24.95, 320 pp.
In 1965, the riots have devastated Los Angeles, but Ezekiel "Easy" Rawlins knows that atrocities
will follow as some of the mom and pop storeowners will lose more than their livelihood in the
aftermath. As he tries to keep a friend Theodore Steinman safe, LAPD Detective Suggs demands
that Easy come with him or face arrest for practicing private sleuthing without a license, not that a
Negro will be granted such a permit. Though he insists that he is just a custodian at Sojourner
Truth
JHS who also does Research and Delivery, Easy knows he has no choice but to accompany the
cop.
Suggs, Captain Fleck, and Deputy Chief Jordan show Easy the corpse of scarlet haired Nola
Payne,
whom they claim is victim #34 of a killer. The cops also say that the suspected culprit was seen
entering the apartment building where the murder of Little Scarlet occurred. Because of the riots,
the brass wants white cops to keep their presence to a minimum to avoid inciting further
disturbances. Thus, Jordan drafts Easy to find the culprit before others are killed. LITTLE
SCARLET is a terrific private investigator tale that is enhanced by the insightful look at the
1965-Watts riots. The story line moves fast along two interconnecting plots as the audience
follows
Easy with Mouse's assistance search for the vanished prime suspect to a backdrop of a raging
populace that come to life as only Walter Mosley can achieve. It is the historical perspective that
makes for a gripping tale that readers will appreciate and have to come expect from one of the
best
authors of any genre over the five or so.
Sam's Letter to Jennifer
James Patterson
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316710571 $24.95, 272 pp.
In Chicago, her boyfriend Chris locked Jennifer out of their apartment on a freezing night when
jogger Danny saw her crying. He brought her a hot coffee and not long afterward, they fell in
love,
married, and had child. However, this is not happily ever after, as Danny and the baby die in an
accident. A year and a half after the tragedy that has left Jennifer struggling to live, Reverend John
Farley calls to tell her that her best friend, Grandmother Sam, is in a coma. Jennifer heads to Lake
Geneva, Wisconsin to be with her beloved grandma. In Sam's lakefront house, Jennifer finds
letters
written to her by her grandma. In the letters, Sam writes that her late husband Charles was not the
love of her life, but that she lived a wonderful existence as she found her soulmate. Meanwhile, at
Lakeland Medical where Sam lies comatose, Jennifer meets Brendan, who she knew as an older
"brother" when she was a child. He begins to bring her back to life even as she continues to read
the
gift of love that her grandmother has given her. SAM'S LETTERS TO JENNIFER is an uplifting
tale with a deep inspirational message that one must overcome the inevitability of the mortality of
loved ones as life is too precious not to live it to the fullest even at its darkest moments. Jennifer
is a
terrific angst character struggling with tragedy. The letters and Brendan provide her with solace.
Mystery and thriller guru James Patterson displays his vast talent with this wonderfully insightful
look at the heart and soul of a human warrior.
Shadowmancer
G. P. Taylor
Putnam
ISBN: 0399242562 $16.99, 275 pp.
In England, Vicar Obadiah Demurral lost his belief in his religion and God years ago, as he firmly
believes that the Almighty has turned a deaf ear towards humanity. Obadiah is a "poisoned angel",
a
SHADOWMANCER, who communicates with the dead and has plans to rule the world. To
achieve
his ambition, Obadiah needs to obtain two Keruvim, an amulet that he already possesses and some
other artifact of power that he seeks. Together, the twin Keruvim objects will turn Obadiah into
an
invincible force. On a quest to recover the stolen relic taken from his village, African Raphah
tracks
the object to England where he meets two young victims of Obadiah's evil wrath, Thomas and
Kate.
The trio team up in an effort to stop Obadiah from accomplishing his malevolent objective even if
it
means going into hell for their heavenly cause. SHADOWMANCER is an exhilarating religious
allegorical fantasy that provides a deep message without preaching inside a wonderful
action-packed
good vs. evil war. The story line is fast-paced as Obadiah comes closer and closer to achieving his
evil objective while the three youngsters are the only souls with faith in God and his way. Though
some bad dudes change sides too conveniently, readers from high school age and up will
appreciate
this timely cautionary tale. G.P. Taylor admonishes the leaders of organized religion not to abuse
power especially at the cost and loss of the congregation and pleads with the congregation to
keep
the faith even when the leaders abuse their positions of power and fail them.
The Queen of the South
Arturo Perez-Reverte
Putnam
ISBN: 0399151850 $25.95
Mexican drug-running pilot Guero Davila warned his girlfriend that if the cell phone he gave her
ever rings, she must flee because he is dead and she is next. When the call came, the voice calmly
told her that "They wasted Guero", killed his cousin, and she was high on the clean up list.
Listening
to the voice of Guero in her head, the panicked Teresa Mendoza runs for her life. Teresa knows
that
they will find her eventually so she must change from the innocent upbeat girl who a coke delivery
pilot rescued from poverty to a major player. She chooses Spain to start out, but she is raped and
incarcerated for her efforts. However, over the next dozen years, Teresa learns and begins to rise
through the ranks until she becomes Narco's QUEEN OF THE SOUTH with a confrontation
awaiting her with the Don of Mexican druglords. Though the men in Teresa's life are evanescent
and
never fully developed yet somehow seem fascinating (what if), readers receive an insightful look
at
drug trafficking through the exploits of the terrific protagonist. The story line actually plays out
along two plots with the main theme being the rise to power of Teresa; the other subplot focuses
on
a reporter doing research into Teresa's life by interviewing felons and law enforcement officials
who
have known her. Thus, the audience obtains a second and at times a third perspective on events
that
shaped this intriguing anti-heroine. This strong novel falls a bit flat due to the weak support cast,
but
Arturo Perez-Reverte still provides an intriguing thriller.
Rain Storm
Barry Eisler
Putnam
ISBN: 0399151923 $24.95, 320 pp.
It is hard for an assassin to walk away from the business when one of your employere is the CIA
but
John Rain, a hitman with a conscience, tries. He obtains a new identity and travels to Rio where
there is a large population of Japanese. For a time he got away clean although he is always
looking
over his shoulders until a CIA operative turns up with a job that pays very well. His identity
compromised and unwilling to reinvent himself once again, John agrees to take the assignment.
His
assignment is to take out Belghazi, an arms dealer that is on the CIA hit list since 9/11. John
travels
to Macao where he scopes out the terrain prior to Belghazi's arrival and he believes he has
everything covered. He does not count on a second hitman, Belghazi's lover who has an agenda of
her own that is in conflict with John's as well as a Saudi hit team who are prepared to take John
out.
Even for John, the kitten who leaves no tracks, completing the assignment and getting out alive
will
take a miracle. The world as seen through the eyes of a paid assassin is a fascinating place for a
short
visit; it is not a place to stay for along period without feeling tainted. Barry Eisler is a suburb
storyteller who writes about a hitman with a heart and conscience, a man who will not kill women
or
children. The protagonist is a fascinating complex man who cannot always separate the various
parts
of his life leading to his inability to always tell friend from foe, which leads to trusting no one.
Bait
Karen Robards
Putnam
ISBN: 0399152024 $24.95
The serial killer informs FBI Agent Sam McCabe that Madeline is next. Creative Partners owner
Maddie Fitzgerald hopes to win the multimillion-dollar advertising of Bechler's Pet Chow. That
night Maddie awakens because she knows someone is in her hotel room. Panicked she stabs the
intruder with a pencil and flees. The next morning, Sam learns the serial killer murdered Madeline
Fitzgerald, but that another Maddie was in the hotel and survived an assault. Sam tries to
interview
Maddie but she is hostile towards the Fed. Maddie wins the contract and returns to St. Louis
where
she calls a mob number to warn them if they kill her, evidence from her father's work will surface.
Sam realizes the killer knows he made a mistake and will try to murder Maddie soon. When
someone shoots her, he stays at her place to keep her safe. Unable to resist, they kiss. Both love
and
hate the emotions they feel, but soon make love. While still in each other's arms, the killer calls so
Sam can hear him murder Carol, which reminds them that he has a killer to catch and she has a
past
that would destroy an FBI Agent's career. Fans of police procedural romances will enjoy the
action-packed thriller that does not slow down until the final confrontation ties up all loose ends.
The attraction between the lead couple is handled nicely except for making love with killers
chasing
them. Though the killer's need to flaunt Sam seems out of character since he is atypical as he
"cleansing" his past, readers will enjoy this solid suspense story.
Walking Money
James O. Born
Putnam
ISBN: 0399151699 $23.95, 272 pp.
Florida state police brass felt fellow officer Bill Tasker killed a cop, but wanted to avoid the
messy
scandal of an inquiry. Thus, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement transferred him from the
West Palm Beach Field Office to the Miami Regional Center. Bill would have welcomed the
investigation because he knows he did not kill the cop, but goes along with the bureaucracy
because
he does not trust the political hacks who run the department. Four years later, he still watches his
step. Former convict Cole Hodges embezzled one and half million dollars of money donated to
Miami's Committee for Community Relief. Tasker investigates the shortfall. However, FBI Agent
Tom Dooley decides to take the loot. To insure that he gets away with the crime and knowing he
has the perfect pasty, he stuffs cash in Tasker's outdoor grill; Tasker is investigated and pulled off
the embezzlement case. Police officer Rick Bema concludes that Dooley stole the money and set
up
Tasker to take the fall. Instead of turning in his findings, Bema makes a bid for a piece of the
action.
WALKING MONEY is a wild Florida police procedural filled with cops coming down with gold
fever while the only police officer who stays pristine becomes the prime suspect. Fans will think of
It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World with everyone double crossing and chasing one another in
pursuit of the embezzled funds. The bad cops make the tale a fun police procedural, but the
tainted
divorced Bill, father of a ten year old, keeps the tale focused so that the audience will appreciate a
zany cynical ride.
Trophy Hunt
C.J. Box
Putnam
ISBN: 0399152008 $24.95, 384 pp.
In Saddlestring, Wyoming, game warden Joe Pickett and his two daughters are fishing when they
see dead fish floating in the water. As they walk the river, he finds a man who is taking the fish for
sport and throwing them back in the water. While Joe lectures him about the ethics of what he is
doing he smells something rancid. The angler points him in the direction of a dead moose. When
he
goes to investigate, he finds that the moose was mutilated with surgical precision; his organs
removed as if someone took them for a trophy. Not long after that a call comes in that some cows
were killed, just like the moose with no signs of predator or clues to who or what did it. People in
Saddlestring are very nervous and property values plummet even though there is an economic
boom
going on thanks to new technology that allows natural gas to be taken easier out of the ground.
When two men are found in the same condition as the cattle and the moose, a task force is formed
but Joe goes his own way to find out what is turning his town upside down. Award winning
author
C.J. Box has a natural gift for describing the beauty of nature contrasting it to the depravities of
man. This is a very cleverly constructed mystery, with many different sub-plots tying back to the
main storyline. A touch of mysticism and the supernatural enhance the battle between good and
evil
and it is judiciously applied so readers will have no trouble believing in it. TROPHY HUNT is
must
reading for cerebral mystery fans.
R Is For Ricochet
Sue Grafton
Putnam
ISBN: 0399152288 $26.95, 400 pp.
Santa Teresa private detective Kinsey Millhone is hired by wealthy Nord Lafferty to pick up his
daughter at the California Institute for Women and get her through the first few days of freedom.
Out on parole, Reba takes to Kinsey and the two women go out to dinner together when her
former
boss Alan "Beck" Beckwith arrives at the restaurant. He invites himself to have a drink with the
two
women and Kinsey knows she has been set up by a pro. She pretends to leave but watches them
making love in the back seat of Beck's car. Kinsey does not understand this tryst because he is the
person Reba embezzled the funds from and never made restitution. Reba believes that she and
Beck
are going to run away together but the Feds are closing in on him for money laundering. They
have
pictures of Beck in bed with her boss's friend and regardless of the consequences, Reba is
determined to get even with him but the authorities want Reba to help them their way . Kinsey
wants
to stop her before she goes too far and is put back in prison but can she get through to the woman
she has come to care about in time. Readers are not going to believe what happens to Kinsey in R
IS
FOR RICOCHET. She becomes involved with a man and it looks like the relationship might last
at
least one more book. Even though Reba breaks the law and the rules set down by her parole
officer,
readers, like Kinsey, cannot help but care for the vulnerable waif with steel for a spine. Once
again,
this author shows that S G stands for Superb and Great.
By A Spider's Thread
Laura Lippman
Morrow
ISBN: 0060506695 $24.95, 368 pp.
Baltimore private detective Tess Monaghan is overjoyed when she lands a wealthy client for her
fledging business that is usually in need of survival funds. Mark Rubin, a modern orthodox Jew,
wants Tess to find his wife and three children who disappeared without a word or a trace. Their
disappearance comes as a shock to the grieving man who believes he had the perfect marriage and
his wife Natalie had everything a woman could want. Natalie never loved Mark; she waited for
Zeke
to get out of prison so they could be together. He was the one who arranged her marriage to
Mark
and he had a plan that would make them rich after he got out of jail. Natalie is not the innocent
her
husband thinks she is and she will go to extraordinary lengths to get what she wants. The more
Tess
learns about her the more she realizes that Natalie, knowingly or unwilling, has put her husband in
danger from Zeke. She has a tough time convincing Mark that his angel in reality is a devil in
disguise. Laura Lippman always delivers a fascinating thriller but BY A SPIDER'S THREAD is
her
best Tess Monaghan work to date. The protagonist is a tough independent woman who is
kindhearted even if she is afraid to make a commitment to the man she loves. Getting to know
Zeke
and Natalie, two people who look so good on the outside yet so ugly inside is a fascinating
experience in a creepy sort of way. Tess does for Baltimore what Spenser does for Boston.
Lost and Found
Alan Dean Foster
Del Rey
ISBN: 0345461258 $23.95, 249 pp.
Chicago commodities traders Marcus Walker camps in an isolated part of the California Sierra
Nevadas when he sees a bright light fall into the nearby woods. When he goes into the nearest
town
for food and drunk, he discusses what he saw with the patrons; they convince him that a meteorite
landed nearby. He goes to sleep at his campsite, but wakes up to the same scenery except that he
is
on a spaceship taking him away from earth. He meets George, who like him has a universal
translator in his brain. George's intelligence was also boosted so he could talk with the Vilenjii,
purple pointy-headed giants who want to sell the various species to collectors for a profit. Marcus
and Roger join forces with an octopus-like sentient species and the snake-like Tuuq'alian to
escape
from their holding pens. Since they don't know where they are, they depend on the escape pod to
flee the ship and the kindness of another sentient race to help them out of their predicament.
LOST
AND FOUND, the first book in THE TAKEN TRILOGY, is space opera at its finest. People who
believe in alien abductions will read what happens to the abductees and hope that it is science
fiction
not science fact. The four sentient beings take their situation very seriously and constantly find
ways
of outwitting their captors. When interacting with each other, their conversations range from the
ridiculous to the sublime. It will be hard to wait for the next installment in this exciting series to
see
what happens next to these homesick wanderers.
Iron Council
China Mieville
Del Rey
ISBN: 0345464028 $24.95, 496 pp.
Although nobody knows why, the city-state of New Crobuzon has been at war with the Tesh for
years; both sides use men and sorcery to gain an inch of land in a conflict that never ends. Within
New Crobuzon, the militia keeps a tight control on the people, newspapers print all the party
deems
fit to print, workers have no right to appeal, and those deemed criminal by the state are killed or
magically turned into part human, part something else to live as slaves until they die. The war is
not
going well and all the restrictions from the central government fail to keep the news from the
people.
Everywhere underground groups spring up to fight the militia and topple the government. When
the
government finds the Iron Council, Judah and his followers travel to the north to warn the people
that their train3 must leave the area. They decide to travel back to New Crobuzon, a symbol to
the
people to throw off the chains of their oppressors. IRON COUNCIL takes place in the same
world
of PERDIDO STREET STATION and although there is a different set of characters, there is a
sense
of homecoming as readers revisit a world they have come to appreciate. There are two main
sub-plots that tie seamlessly back into the main storyline, told from the viewpoint of different
characters. With flashbacks, the audience comes to understand how New Crobuzon evolved into a
fascist state and how the rebellion grew into a vast resistance movement. China Mieville is a great
world builder who is on the brink of superstardom.
The Scrolls of the Ancients
Robert Newcomb
Del Rey
ISBN: 0345448960 $26.95, 532 pp.
Prince Tristan killed his father Nicholas to prevent his sire from opening the portal that would
allow
the Heretics to enter the realm, allowing the Vagaries, those who practice dark magic to wipe out
those who work for the good of mankind (the Vigors). The prince and his sister are the chosen
ones
who are supposed to bring into harmony the Vigors and the Vagaries but because of his Azur
blood
Tristan is not trained in the use of magic. Wizards Wigg and Faegan won't teach him until they
find
a way to turn his blood red. Nicholas' legacy is being carried out by his acolyte Krassus who is
searching for Tristan's half-brother Wulfgar and the scrolls of the Vigors and the Vagaries. Using
his
magic he has conjured up an army of near invulnerable monsters to help him seek out what he
needs
to carry out his plan. When Wulfgar and the scroll of the Vagaries are brought to him, he is able
to
bring Wulfgar to the side of the Vagaries, setting up a confrontation between the two brothers for
the future of the world. Volume III of the Chronicles of Blood and Stone is the last book in an
enthralling and memorable series. There are many otherworldly sentient who side with the
protagonist and the antagonist and both sides are loyal to their individual masters. One has to put
the
villain who was transformed against his will into a power hungry man who wants to reshape the
world in his own image. Robert Newcomb is a great worldbuilder who will be one of tomorrow's
superstars.
The Sitting Sisters
Martha Randolph Carr
Cumberland
ISBN: 1581823657 $22.95, 297 pp.
Taliaferro "Tollie" Ervin knows that she would never have come home to Kelsal, a small South
Carolina barrier island to watch her father die except at the request of her youngest sister Wallace.
Tollie believes her other two sisters Douglas Page and Carter Eleanor would not have returned
either except for Wallace. The four siblings think back to momentous events in their lives raised
by
an Episcopal minister and his wife. While the three oldest fled to the mainland when their mother
died, Wallace remained behind to care for their father, the Reverend. None of the quartet
expected
an epiphany, but soon begin filling in their perspective of their family biography. Each wonders
how
the incidents that shaped them and the parents that raised them in love and piousness produced
four
unique souls. When this journey into the unknown ends, what will Tollie, Douglas, Carter, and
Wallace take with them, as each understands now that the wiring of the child makes the adult.
THE
FOUR SISTERS is an intriguing look at relativity, as each of the siblings brings to the table a
different perspective on shared major events in their lives. The intelligent story line is an insightful
character study told through the mind lens of Tollie that still enables the audience to comprehend
what makes each sibling tick and to a lesser degree the motives of their parents too. As the puzzle
pieces begin to fill the gaps and spaces (almost like a mystery), fans of deep relationship dramas
will
enjoy this glimpse at what shapes the adult.
Kiss Me While I Sleep
Linda Howard
Ballantine
ISBN: 0345453433 $25.95, 337 pp.
At eighteen, the Feds recruited Lilly Mansfield to make her first hit and now nineteen years later
she
is a hired assassin working as a contract killer for the CIA. She gets through the days by telling
herself the people she kills deserve it and she is doing a patriotic duty for her country that not
many
people can. Gradually she isolates herself from everyone feeling burnt out except for Averill, Tina,
and their thirteen-year-old daughter Zia. When Salvatore, the head of a worldwide crime cartel
kills
those who Lilly regards as her family, she turns rogue because Salvatore was a CIA asset. She
knows that the agency will send someone to take care of her but she never thought Lucas Swain
was
that man. On his part, Lucas never expects to fall for Lilly or become the instrument that would
take
over the assignment with Lilly that Averill and Tina never completed. Swain knows that when
Lilly
discovers who he really is she will want nothing to do with him. Linda Howard always writes
fantastic romantic thrillers and her latest one is no exception. Only an author of her caliber can
create a heroine that is a contracted killer and have the audience care about her and hope she find
a
way out of this life short of death. Swain, a happy-go-lucky agent in comparison to Lilly, is a true
patriot with a good heart; he is a man who risks everything for the welfare of his country. Readers
will empathize with his predicament and hope he and Lilly will stop the cartel from executing the
plan that would kill millions of people worldwide.
Body Double
Tess Gerritsen
Ballantine
ISBN: 0345458931 $24.95, 352 pp.
After spending a week in Paris attending a medical conference, Boston medical examiner Dr.
Maura
Isles returns home to see police outside her apartment. Her neighbors and coworkers look at her
as
if they see a ghost. Eight months pregnant, Detective Jane Rizzoli lets her see the victim in the car
so
that she understands why. Sitting in the vehicle with a bullet in her head is Maura's exact double;
DNA testing shows that Anna Jessup is her identical twin sister. Both of them were given away at
birth to different adoptive parents. Maura finds out that her biological mother is in prison found
guilty for killing two women, one of them eight months pregnant. Her mother's psychologist
believes that she had a partner who helped her kill the two women. Maura and the police seek this
other monster because with the new evidence they have, it is discovered that Maura's mother and
her partner have been kidnapping and killing pregnant mothers for decades. This exciting police
procedural is a fascinating reading experience because there is much more going on in the
storyline
than meets the eye. Through misdirection and red herrings, readers are directed down a path that
leads them away from the truth and it is only towards the end when Maura's life is threatened, that
the whole picture becomes clear. Tess Gerritsen scores big times with this police procedural that
is
sure to make the bestseller lists.
Dead Certain
Mariah Stewart
Ballantine
ISBN: 0345463935 $6.99
Archer Lowell, Curtis Alan Channing, and Vince Giordano share a jail-holding cell waiting for the
law to process them when all hell breaks loose as someone escapes custody. To pass time while
the
complex is totally shut down, the trio discusses why they are here when the conversation turns to
who would they like to kill. They agree that to be successful they would have to exchange victims
like the Hitchcock and DeVito movies did. Amanda Crosby is angry with her business partner
Derek
England because he purchased an illegal stolen Iranian goblet that they will have to return.
Amanda
leaves a voice message on Derek's server that she will kill him. Derek agrees to meet Amanda, but
he never arrives at her home. The next day Broeder, Delaware Police Chief Sean Mercer informs
Amanda that Derek was murdered, she is a suspect because of the voice message and that the
victim
apparently knew the killer. However, Sean becomes concerned that someone is stalking Amanda
and
is made to look like imprisoned Archer Lowell is dong it. When her neighbor is killed, Sean is
DEAD CERTAIN that that someone with insider information on the Lowell stalking is plotting
Amanda's destruction. The second murderer-switch tale is an enjoyable police procedural romance
starring a fine cop, a beleaguered heroine, and a fully developed support cast including two vile
villains (one in prison and one as his surrogate killer). The story line moves quickly forward as the
proxy killer causes havoc in which evidence points towards Amanda or Archer. Fans will
appreciate
this solid tale and look forward to the final member of the unholy trio doing his damage.
The Madman's Tale
John Katzenbach
Ballantine
ISBN: 0345464818 $24.95, 432 pp.
Over two decades have passed since the notorious Western State Hospital mental health facility
shut
down. Compared to the other inmates and much of the staff, Francis "C-Bird" Petrel, in spite of
the
cacophony of voices in his head, seemed relatively normal. He befriends another comparatively
stable soul Peter the Fireman, an arsonist who killed a pedophile priest. Now C-Bird lives in a
cheap
apartment where he writes his memoirs on the walls and takes medicine to keep the voices from
causing orchestral disharmony inside his head. Looking back to the violent murder of Nurse
"Short
Blond", C-Bird thought at first his other pal from the days of confinement against his will Lanky
killed her because he had earlier called her evil. However, Lanky insisted that the Angel of Death
murdered the nurse. State prosecutor Lucy Kyoto Jones, who was obsessed with taking down
those
who harm women and children, believed the schizoid Lanky is telling the truth. She enlisted the
help
of the two "normals", C-Bird and Fireman, because she felt that the real culprit had killed others
outside the wall. THE MADMAN'S TALE is a fascinating look back at a homicide through the
eyes
of a soul with a mental disorder. The story line grips the audience as C-Bird narrates it with a
different perspective than normally provided. The who-done-it is well written and clever and the
insider's glimpse at the mental institution by a guest is mesmerizing. Fans will enjoy this crime
thriller that will remind readers of Gothika though the star is quite different.
Loose Lips
Claire Berlinski
Ballantine
ISBN: 0812967097 $12.95, 272 pp.
After a stint in India as a Sanskrist expert, Selena returns home to Manhattan to become a bored
teacher until she reads a weird Internet ad and she surprises herself by responding. In the blink of
a
cyberspace eye, Selena is interviewed, tested and evaluated to determine whether she an
"extraordinary individual". The CIA hire Selena, who relocates to Virginia, where she receives top
rate instruction at the "Farm"; Selena becomes an expert in hand combat, emergency medical care,
and other needed skills for someone expected to work in the cold. She is considered a potential
superstar except for a fear of flying that even Jung could not cure. Selena becomes friends with
fellow student Iris and dates Stan, whose memory skills are incredible. However, sh*t happens
leading to the CIA Internal Affairs investigating Selena as the evidence points to her being a
traitor;
Stan roots for her hanging, but Selena refuses to take the fall when she knows someone set her
up.
LOOSE LIPS is an enjoyable chick lit takes the CIA tale that will leave the audience laughing fro
start to finish. The tale is exceptional when Selena goes through her excellent training as a top gun
while her relationships are shaky until Stan enters her life. The tale remains fun, but loses some of
its
oomph when Selena becomes the subject of an investigation of a seditious act although she
remains
Pollyanna at the Farm.
A Kiss of Fate
Mary Jo Putney
Ballantine
ISBN: 0345449169 $23.95, 352 pp.
Two years ago, her "mundane" mom died leaving Gwynne Owens without any prospects.
Septuagenarian Guardian Lord Breen married the teen so she can have protection until her destiny
calls her. A few years later, the kind Breen dies leaving Anna alone, but at least she has widow
status and enjoys her work as a librarian of Guardian lore. In 1745, Scottish Laird Duncan
MacRae
wants to end the conflict between his homeland and England for the betterment of both countries.
However, he is sidetracked when he sees Anna for the first time and understands the reference to
Helen of Troy; he knows in his gut that she is his soulmate. Anna rejects his advances although
she
is attracted to him as he has too much power as a weather mage. Still he pursues her, but civil war
between the two countries is imminent and these two individuals will play critical roles amplified
by
their love for one another. This is an intriguing historical fantasy romance starring two wonderful
protagonists. A host of fabulous secondary players adds depth to the plot or insight to the lead
duet.
Much of the story line focuses on Duncan's efforts to win the heart of his ladylove and to
convince
her that they belong together, but once the potential catastrophe surfaces, the fantasy elements
take
charge of the plot. This strong tale will please fans of both sub-genres.
Bengal Station
Eric Brown
Five Star
ISBN: 1594142122 $25.95
Rotating above the Earth is Bengal Station the jumping point to Earth from the colonies. Jeff
Vaughn, a telepath employed by the station to scan people for contraband, is a lonely man. The
only
person he connects to is Tiger, a young beggar, who lies dying from an overdose of a drug called
Rhapsody, a controlled substance imported from one of the colony worlds. A new religion, The
Church of the Adoration of the Chosen Ones, originated on one of the colony worlds, the same
world that brought in Rhapsody, is actually seeking converts on the station before they go to
Earth.
Vaughan becomes suspicious when his boss finds excuses for him not to scan ships coming in
from
Verkerk's world. It seems something irregular, perhaps illegal, is happening on Verkerk's world
and
it is linked to the drug and the religion. What he discovers when the planet yields its secrets could
change the course of humanity unless Vaughan finds a way to stop the aliens who are on a
mission
of their own. The protagonist is a world-weary man who is semi-suicidal, unable to deal with the
darkness he reads in each human's soul. The only reason he does not kill himself is that, in spite of
himself, he cares about humanity and does not want the aliens to destroy the human race. Eric
Brown's Bengal Station is reminiscent of Star Trek Nine with its space station relationships.
Readers
will enjoy the action packed space opera and look for future works from this talented author.
The Lebo Coven
Stephen Mark Rainey
Five Star
ISBN: 1594142270 $25.95, 289 pp.
When Matt tried to kill Barry with his car, the two brothers went their separate ways. Barry
moved
to Atlanta and Matt stayed in the family home in Aiken Mill, Virginia. One day Barry is notified
that
Matt disappeared. Since he lost his job and his girl, he returns home and is shocked by the damage
someone did to his house. Even more perplexing is the word Lebo painted in Matt's room in cow's
blood. The first night he is in the house strange things happen like a glass moving of its own
volition;
Barry hears strange inhuman noises and the word Lebo starts to glow. Jennifer Brand joins Barry
in
seeking answers. Since she is a gray mage, she senses the dark forces gathering around Barry and
his
house. They learn that Matt rented a room to Ren, a practitioner of the dark arts, who intends to
invoke a spell that will require a blood sacrifice, preferably Matt's but Barry will do in a pinch.
The
two Riggs brothers and Jennifer try to stop him though each one knows they will pay a high price
to
end Ren's evil reign. The LEBO COVEN is a classic good vs. evil horror novel that fans of
Bentley
Little and Tonya Huff will want to read. The protagonist learns to adjust his worldview rather
quickly but once he starts believing that supernatural forces exist, it is easier to make a stand
against
them. Stephen Mark Rainey coaxes readers to believe that dark and white magic actually exist;
not
an easy task, but an accomplishment that shows he is one of the new stars in the horror
galaxy.
Danger Music
Jackie Diamond Hyman
Five Star
ISBN: 1594141975 $25.95, 238 pp.
True Hollywood Insider freelance writer Kenny Rubin suffers from Bi-polar disorder in which
faces
morph into famous sometimes-dead celebrities. Currently she is doing a story on the upcoming
TV
movie about the life and death of Melinda Rivers. Someone strangled the actress with her own
panty
hose five years ago, but no one was charged with the crime. Several suspects will "incestuously"
work on the film as Hollywood exploits the tragedy. During an interview of Melinda's former
husband actor Terence Marcuso, Kenny turns manic. The writer and Melinda's former roommate
Jocelyn Sumner takes Kenny home with her to play a tape she just found of what sounds like
blackmail between the victim and perhaps her killer. While Jocelyn is on the phone, a mania driven
Kenny leaves the house. When she returns, she finds Jocelyn dead and the tape gone. Terence
arrives at that moment and calls the police. A few days later, a "normal" Kenny blames herself for
Jocelyn's death, as she left the door open for the killer to enter. She wonders if Terence, who
conveniently arrived in time to enter the crime scene to call the cops, is the culprit. Though
Detective Micklin insists she stay out of it, Kenny feels she owes a debt that can only be paid by
bringing a killer to justice. This engaging amateur sleuth works because of the unique heroine
whose
disorder will seem strange to readers who have not witnessed the impact of a mania-depressed
person. The story line is fast-paced though the twin murders take a back seat to Kenny's Bi-polar
disorder. Jackie Diamond Hyman dexterously and with heart interweaves Kenny's condition
throughout a wonderful Hollywood mystery.
The Tawdry Yellow Brick Road
David Bischoff
Five Star
ISBN: 1594141940 $25.95, 322 pp.
In Eugene, Oregon, parole officer Madrigal "Maddy" Harper raises her twelve years old son
Skylar
by herself in a trailer park. Sky's dad not only failed to grow up, but also deserted his child once
he
realized the kid suffered from Asberger's Syndrome, a type of Autism. Sky rarely finds anything
fascinating so when he does Maddy goes all out to further his interest. Thus, they attend a Star
Train
science fiction convention, as the lad is a big fan of the series. At the ElfCon, Maddy notices
parole
jumper Abner Farelli. Being taller, heavier, and confident that she can take the smaller man,
Maddy
gives chase. Abner escapes when Maddy crashes into despondent Star Train author Everett
Wilkins.
Not long afterward, someone shoots Abner using Maddy's stolen gun. Her alibi actor hunk
Richard
Battersea refuses to give her an alabi because he fears how his wife will react. Worrying about
what
will become of Sky if she goes to prison; Maddy investigates the murder of Abner. Maddy and
Sky
make this investigative tale work as readers will see a loving mother and son struggle with his
condition by doing "normal" things together. Maddy is a terrific protagonist, who depends on few
people except those she trusts like her best bud when it comes to Sky. The story line is intriguing
due to insight into Asberger's Syndrome, which is cleverly woven into the plot as part of the
relationships between characters. No wizard behind curtains to make things right, Maddy knows
that
the yellow brick road leads to prison if she fails to uncover the identity of the killer.
Over and Under
Mat Coward
Five Star
ISBN: 1410401863 $25.95
In Cowden, England, at the annual cricket match between the comedians and the writers,
someone
kills Frank Lester. Though an accountant Franks was a big fan of comedy so he joined that squad
for
the match. Detective Constable Frank Mitchell leads the inquiries until his superior Detective
Inspector Don Parkham arrives at the scene. The two cops learn that the murder weapon is a
baseball bat, which frustrates Don as no one except Marilyn Monroe's ex-husband plays that sport
until you reach Massachusetts or is it Maine. It just does not seem cricket to Don that an
American
sports item was used. As the police dig deeper, they find a host of suspects from both teams, but
none with a clear motive to swing the bat at a fandom accountant. This amusing British police
procedural at times will sound like Abbot and Costello having one of their famous dissertations as
the story line never fully takes itself seriously yet provides a fine investigative tale. The two cops
are
a delight to observe in action as they misunderstand one another yet work together to solve the
case.
The climax sums up the book nicely as Don insures that Frank's two-year son has the proper
equipment of cricket not that foreign game with bats that make it impossible to miss the ball.
Gold Rush Dreams
Naomi Stahl
Five Star
ISBN: 159414026X $26.95
In 1849 East Texas, Indians attack the home of seventeen years old Rose Donahue and her
parents,
leaving the daughter as the sole survivor. Trapper Travis Caldwell sees the smoke from the
burning
cabin and goes to help. Stunned and distraught Rose informs Travis that her Uncle Douglas and
Aunt Joanna live in Galveston. He agrees to take her to her relatives. During the raid, Broken
Bear
saw the red haired Rose; he decides this white woman belongs to him. He trails Travis and Rose
to
Galveston, but waits for their return with plans to kill the noted trapper and steal the woman. In
Galveston, Rose learns that her relatives moved on to California. Travis agrees to escort her there
by
pretending to be her husband. They join a wagon train heading west as an angry frustrated Broken
Bear follows. When Indians destroy the wagon train, Travis saves Rose, but now they must
journey
alone. As they fall in love, the obsessed Broken Bear follows, frustrated by his failures to snatch
the
woman that he believes belongs to him. This entertaining historical romance brings to life some of
the dangers confronting intrepid travelers journeying to California during the Gold Rush fever.
Travis is a heroic individual, but perhaps too perfect while Rose is a courageous person whose
adaptability while mourning displays her inner strength. However, broken bear is the fascinating
antagonist whose fatal attraction and self-flagellation make him dangerous to anyone nearby
including himself. Nancy Stahl furbishes a fine look at a bygone time in which life could
accidentally
end in a flash for even the most experienced person.
Lipsticks, Lies, and Lady Luck
Brian A. Hopkins
Five Star
ISBN: 1594140707 $25.95
"The Licking Valley Coon Hunters Club". At Los Angeles Airport, a sick looking thug carrying a
syringe with bad blood inside it abducts former cop Martin Zolotow using the hypodermic as a
weapon. The thug escorts Martin by air to Oklahoma City where two more punks greet him. They
take Zolo to Tobias Washington; he blackmails Zolo by threatening to kill a friend if the sleuth
fails
to rescue his daughter from rival Jimmy McDevitt and the pig farmer's so-called vampires. Zolo
works the case, but is triple crossed at every step as the two gang lords compete over illegal drug
trafficking. "The Bikini Bottoms Optional Oyster Bar". Zolo barely survives a dunking in the Gulf
of
Mexico though he cannot remember why someone would toss him into the sea. Widow Jacob
Mathias helps Zolo recover at his place in Apalachicola, Florida. Zolo starts to remember his
client
Henry McGill wanted him to learn what happened to internet stripper Lena, who the he believes
was
murdered. Now Zolo struggles to learn how he got embroiled with mobsters wanting him dead
starting with the strip joint The Bikini Bottoms Optional Oyster Bar. These two novellas star an
intriguing knight in shining armor sleuth who has memory problems that will remind readers of
Memento's Leonard Shelby. Both tales are well written as the hero struggles to keep track of
what
he knows, which he quickly forgets unless he writes it down (should try a Polaroid). Brian A.
Hopkins furbishes a unique private investigator who is one part Boy Scout and one part
Noir.
Fever Dreams
Laura Leone
Five Stars
ISBN: 1594140871 $26.95, 347 pp.
Patrician Madeleine Barrington has been visiting politically unstable Montedora selling off her
family
plantation, but now is trying to leave the country. However, her flight is canceled so she has one
more night to spend in Montedora City. Having completed his assignment for Marino Security
International to improve security for the Montedora president, Ransom looks forward to going
home tomorrow. He enters the Bar Tige and sees the American female looking sad and drinking
alone. Unable to ignore her though that is out of character for him, Ransom joins Madeleine. Out
of
character for her too, she accepts the company and the twosome share the best night of their lives
in
this depressed oppressed nation. When Madeleine has to return to the even more dangerous
Montedora to complete the property sale, her concerned father hires Marino Security
International
to protect his daughter. Ransom is assigned personal security of Madeleine unaware that she is the
woman he has not forgotten. As they travel together fighting every step of the way while falling in
love, the two Americans are caught in the middle of a deadly civil war with both antagonists
wanting
to use them as negotiating pawns. FEVER DREAMS is a reprint of an electrifying romantic
suspense adventure starring two wonderful lead protagonists who cannot stay on the same planet
together without either fighting or hugging. The story line is action-packed especially when the
duo
returns to Montedora and never slows down until the final confrontation. Laura Leone (AKA
Laura
Resnick) has written an exhilarating romantic thriller that sub-genre fans will devour in an
invigorating sitting.
My Long Tall Texas Heartthrob
Geralyn Dawson
Pocket
ISBN: 0743487826 $6.99, 384 pp.
Twelve years ago, Tess Anderson took the bus to Los Angeles and found employment as a
receptionist at Harrison & Associates. Through hard work and skills, she has become a highly
regarded talent manager. Tess loves her job and her lifestyle. Tess' sister Chloe calls with her
latest
emergency, which is usually not much more than a hangnail. However, this time Chloe is over
eight
months pregnant, cannot travel, and the father, Snake the motorcycle mechanic, is gone. Chloe
pleads with Tess to help her. Though upset that her sibling never mentioned her pregnancy, Tess
drops everything to catch the first available flight to Cedar Dell, Texas. Nostalgic buff and
philanthropic dream maker, Nick Sutherland is in Cedar Dell on a renovation project. When Tess
yells at him for evicting her sister from that dump of a trailer, he envisions Ginger Rogers.
However,
he snaps out of his reverie saying Chloe and the babies need a better place to live. Tess agrees, but
Chloe prefers to wait there for Snake to return. As Tess and Nick begin dancing to a loving tune,
Chloe has twins, but irresponsibly leaves them with Tess while she searches for Snake. When
Astaire
and Rogers (make that Nick and Tess) are the center of the ball the story line is a terrific fairy tale
romance. However, the twists that the vain Chloe causes are inane and though add tension to the
relationship between the lead couple, these antics serve as an unnecessary diversion. "Fred and
Ginger" have enough on their plate to make a fabulous romance without Chloe's worthless spins.
Still the lead duet makes this a dance worth attending.
Almost Like Being in Love
Christina Dodd
Pocket
ISBN: 0743456181 $6.99
When their parents died in a car accident the four siblings were sent to different foster homes. The
oldest sixteen years old Hope always hoped she would one day bring them back together, but
over a
decade later has failed. Eight years old when her parents died, Pepper spent years rotating through
the foster child system until elderly Idaho rancher Mrs. Dreiss took her in. Pepper has become
Jackie
Porter, successful landscaper using the motivating words of General Jennifer Napier to be all that
she can be. At a book signing, Jackie meets her heroine, but when she returns to get a book
signed
for Mr. Dreiss, she sees the General kill her aide Major Otto Bjerke. Jennifer realizes a witness
saw
her commit murder, but Jackie escapes. Jackie is dead and Pepper is reborn as she flees to Mrs.
Dreiss' ranch only to learn that her guardian angel died; neighbor Dan Graham has cared for the
spread that she has inherited. Though Pepper wants Dan to leave her alone, they fall in love.
Jennifer
is coming, but so is Hope as both have found Pepper, but who will get to her first. This engaging
romantic suspense will hook readers from the moment Jackie flees for her life. Pepper and Dan
are a
fabulous pair and the return of Hope and her now husband Zack is terrific. Readers will wonder
why
Pepper failed to know that Mrs. Dreiss died and also question why the general is selling top secret
info without being caught (kept secret for most of the book). Fans will roots for Pepper to survive
her ordeal and have a family welcoming with Hope.
All the Women I've Loved
Byron Harmon
Pocket
ISBN: 0743483081 $13.00, 212 pp.
Three years together and their friends asking when, but DC TV executive LeBaron Brown is
unable
to pop the question to the lovely intelligent Phoenix Morgan. Disappointed since he even told
their
pals he will soon, Phoenix ends their relationship. Phoenix goes to Paris on business while
LeBaron
wonders about a French ami? Not wanting to lose Phoenix yet feeling unready to marry her,
LeBaron visits prominent psychotherapist Dr. Leighton Carter to gain wisdom as to when a man
is
ready to go down the aisle. Under gentle probing, LeBaron responds to Leighton's questions
about
his adventures on the wild side with a bunch of beautiful women. As he boasts about his notches
he
realizes that they lacked substance; he wonders if perhaps he is deficient in some sort of way
because
the beddings were fun yet seem irrelevant. When he rejects the advances of a former fling India,
he
knows he misses the times outside the boudoir with Phoenix. Will she give him a second chance if
he
overcomes his commitment phobia and tenders the ring? This entertaining hunk lit tale provides a
delightful story starring a wonderful cast. LeBaron holds the plot together as he comes across as
real
whether he refuses to commit to Phoenix or relates his past boudoir escapades. Though there has
been a recent flood of male feelings novels, ALL THE WOMEN I LOVED is one of the best
because it avoids the artificial inanity that grips many of these and their counterpart chick lit
books.
Instead the deep characterizations make for a fine tale especially observing the metamorphosis of
LeBaron from a player to a thoughtful caring individual.
Girl on the Run
Jennie Klassel
Love Spell
ISBN: 0505525968 $5.99
In Dominion, a female, even a royal relative, has no need to read so is never taught so. Education
is
limited to what a woman can do for her mate. Being a first cousin to the King has not helped the
spirited Kaia Kurinon gain anything but the accepted female learning. However, at eighteen her
elan
and capers becomes unacceptable for a marriageable woman so in punishment for her latest antic
the
nuns exile her to a monastery. There she meets Merlin the talking dog who claims he can help her
travel to a future where women are educated alongside men and control their destiny. Kaia
accompanied frustrated scientist Brother Absalom flee to the portal, the standing stones in the
Western Isles. Princesses cannot shirk their duty, so Eben Dhion is sent to bring her home. Kaia
has
loved Eben for years, but her feelings remain unrequited as he thinks of her as his misbehaving
younger sister. He catches up with her on the island of Ataxi, but first must defeat his enemy,
Ranulph before he can try to understand why he suddenly needs Kaia safe as his wife. The second
Dominion novel (see SHE WHO LAUGHS LAST) is an entertaining often-amusing fantasy
romance
starring two delightful lead protagonists especially the feisty Kaia. Secondary characters like
Merlin
living by going back in time augment the tale by adding the depth needed for two vastly different
final confrontations, that between Eben and Ranulph and between Eben and Kaia. Fans who take
the
Arthurian legend as gospel will want to pass, but those who appreciate a wonderfully humorous
spin
that will keep readers laughing will devour this fun tale.
Time's Captive
Kate Lyon
Love Spell
ISBN: 0505526026 $5.99, 320 pp.
Her Comanche grandmother told Kris Baldwin many tales about their people; thus, though a
mixed
breed, Kris is comfortable with her duel heritage and even wears the stone that her Indian
Grandmother gave her. Kris goes swimming in Barton Springs, Texas when she notices a stone
like
the one she wears around her neck. She also sees an Indian warrior gesturing for her to come to
him. Bewildered, Kris almost drowns, but the Indian saves her life. More baffling to Kris is how
she
ended up a century and half in the past. She concludes that she is in a graphic dream and his
People
refuse to accept that Kris is a powerful person sent to help the villagers. Only her rescuer Black
Eagle believes otherwise. Kris begins to understand first hand the plight that is glossed over in
modern day (that is her biological era) history books and what will happen to the various tribes.
She
duels with two deep contrary feelings of loving Black Eagle and knowing that she must return to
use
her knowledge to help her mother's People even as the evil Coyote Droppings wants to destroy
her
so she cannot help anyone. This insightful time travel romance emphasizes the era with a realistic
portrayal of the inner conflict that Indians struggled with as the tribes contend with self-respect
and
love for the land vs. overwhelming odds of war with the Anglos and certain devastation. The
romance is solid and the cast offers a fabulous look into the past. Readers also receive a deep
thought provoking tale that has relevance to what is happening in Iraq. Award winning newcomer
Kate Lyon is an author worth keeping an eye on if TIME'S CAPTIVE is any indication of her
talent.
Snoops in the City
Darlene Gardner
Love Spell
ISBN: 0505525860 $6.99, 352 pp.
In Florida, twenty-five years old Tori Whitley knows it is time for her to become independent as
her
brother the architect and her sister the pediatrician have been. However, when you have no skills
and
are used to depending on others it is hard to obtain a decent job. However, her cousin Eddie
Sassenbury down in Boca Raton offers her work as his assistant in his private sleuthing business
that
has many clients. Tori rationalized that if that loser Eddie can succeed she should easily be able to
perform undercover work. Eddie assigns his apprentice to tail Seahaven businessman Grady
Palmer
to determine what kind of person he is. She immediately thinks her mark has a cute butt, but is
mortified when Grady realizes she is tailing him. Instead of being angry or trying to slip away,
Grady
invites her to accompany him. As they travel together, they fall in love, but Tori worries because
the
customer may always be right, but no one will hurt her Grady, not even her. This amusing
romantic
romp is reminiscent of the 1930s screwball comedies. Tori is a terrific protagonist struggling to
prove she can be a professional sleuth vs. her growing love for Grady, who is a nice person. The
support cast including a feline add dementia to a wild southern Florida tale.
The Dangerous Hour
Marcia Muller
Mysterious
ISBN: 0892968044 $25.00
In San Francisco, the staff of McCone Investigations held a meeting to discuss the success of the
business, which has tripled in less than two years including branching into new areas like
computer
forensics and how bright the future seems. The meeting is barely over when the SFPD Fraud
Detail
Mirandizes trainee Julia Rafael for illegally purchasing items with a credit card belonging to jobs
training program supervisor Alex Aguilar. The victim claims she stole and used his card after he
rejected her sexual advances. McCone thinks Alex was a satisfied customer who now accuses
one
of Sharon's operatives of grand theft. She also realizes that since Julia, as a trainee, was
unlicensed
with the Department of Consumer Affairs, Sharon and her company are liable, which could lead
to a
loss of their license. Insisting she is innocent, Julia observes that she is too small a target to
matter.
Sharon agrees that the goal has to be a bigger fish, probably herself, but by whom, why and the tie
in
to Aguilar, a potential Mayoral candidate, remain unknown. She and her crack staff plan to find
out
and prove her trust in Julia was and is the right thing. THE DANGEROUS HOUR may be the
twenty something McCone tale, but contains a freshness as if this was the first novel. The story
line
is fast-paced with plenty of action including murder and revenge as Sharon and her team struggle
to
learn the identity of the culprit trying to destroy her. With all that going on and taking care of a
cat
with feline diabetes, Sharon's lover Hy Ripinsky asks her again. Fans of the series and newcomers
will enjoy this tense private investigative tale.
A Perfect Stranger
Anne Robins
Zebra
ISBN: 0821776991 $5.99
In 1912, panic is rampant as the mighty Titanic begins sinking into the sea. Wealthy American
Loretta Linden tries to help Isabel Golightly and her six-year-old daughter Eunice gets into a
lifeboat, but it took a handsome stranger to get the females safely off the doomed vessel. The
three
women manage to reach New York while the casualty list grows everyday and the dead exceeds
the
available coffins. Isobel wonders if that kind stranger died rescuing others. Miss Linden takes
Isabel
and Eunice to San Francisco with her when they meet their rescuer Somerset Fitzroy. As Isabel
struggles to adapt to the modern American world that her kind patron provides for her, the
precocious and intelligent Eunice loves the new environs. Meanwhile Somerset begins courting
Isabel, but she wants him to remain a friend while he wants a family with her, her daughter, and
future Fitzroys. This engaging historical romance provides insight to readers at a momentous time
when the suffragette's movement is taken hold with simple changes in women's lifestyle. Readers
will get a taste of a technological boom with new gizmos like telephones and cars, etc changing
the
way people communicate and relate. The characters are well written as the difference between
mother and daughter show the generational chasm. Although the romance is fun to follow that
plot
takes a back seat to the marvel of pre World War I America.
Shark Tank
Tom O'Neill
Charles Justin
ISBN: 1932112316 $24.95, 336 pp.
When the call came in the middle of the night, Camden, New Jersey Detective Sergeant Joseph
Macuzak felt his fifty-five years as he jokes with his wife about no time for showers for pigs.
After
twenty-four plus years on the force, Joseph is near retirement, but will not be coasting as James
Sullivan, Attorney-at-Law, left his business card behind after executing five drug dealers. Because
of
the James the vigilant link and the illegal drug connection, FBI Agent Roger Sorenson takes
charge
of the investigation. Their superior assigns Joseph and his long time partner, George Whitcomb,
to
the task force. As they search for James, the two veteran cops find their empathy lies with him
rather
than their pompous snot of a leader. While knowing that the confrontation between the "good"
people and the "bad" dude seems imminent, Joseph and George wonder what ultimately pushed
James over the edge to take the law in his own hands while also admiring the man's courage,
tenacity, and intelligence. This exciting Noir centers on the relationships between criminals and
cops.
The story line is action-packed and fast-paced in a zany way yet surprisingly the characters make
the
tale work. Fans will enjoy looking inside the SHARK TANK where the cast operates in a feeding
frenzy competition. Readers will appreciate the interplay and wit of the two aging officers, who
have
seen it all; empathize with James who failed as a modern day Job so took matters into his own
hands
(wait until you find out why); and finally readers will enjoy the "punishment" pretentious Roger
receives. Tom O'Neill furbishes a wonderfully wild police procedural.
Killing Neptune's Daughter
Randal Peffer
Intrigue
ISBN: 1890768618 $24.95, 256 pp.
After all the bad things she did and the things that were done to her, Tina left Woods Hole on
Cape
Cod when she finished eleventh grade. She totally remade herself into another woman named
Noelle
and married a famous rock star who was a heavy drug user and wife cheater. Their names were
household words and their exploits were featured in the media at every opportunity. One night she
leaves her village apartment and goes to her favorite spot, the St. Lukes-in-the-Fields, where a
man
rapes her and then kills her with a marlinspike. Also living in the village is sports reporter Billy
Bagswell and even though he only met her once in New York City, he returns home for her
funeral.
When Tina was living in Woods Hole, she was a slut, having sex with who she chose and reveling
in
the power it gave her. Billy and his friend who really cared for her think the killer is living in
Woods
Hole and has nothing to do with her New York lifestyle. They reminisce about the bad old days
and
begin to piece together the various puzzle parts of Tina's life, trying to find the perpetrator.
KILLING NEPTUNE'S DAUGHTER is not a pretty book but it accurately reflects the darker
goings that go on between high school students. One can't help but feel sorry for the victim
because
circumstances forced her to behave the way she did and each of her "friends" have their own guilt
to
bear. Randall Peffer is a talented writer who gives new meaning to the words vigilante
justice.
Deep is the Night: Night Watch
Denise A. Agnew
Ellora's Cove
ISBN: 1843607913 $TBA
Needing to escape the shadow people that haunt her in Colorado Springs, Micky Gunn travels to
the
Gunn Inn that she recently inherited from her late uncle Carl. In Pine Forest, Micky enters Poppa
Joe's UFO Diner expecting alien eyeballs as a delicacy. As she admires a handsome hunk, a crazed
patron points a gun at her but the intercession of the stud saves Micky's life. Denver cop Jared
Thornton is in town to learn who killed his Aunt Edith Pickles though he is outside his
jurisdiction.
Micky is thankful that he saved her life, but resents his take-charge attitude with the local police.
When he learns she will be alone at Gunn Inn, he becomes concerned because he feels the same
attraction that pulls her. The shadow people still stalk Mickey and a vampiric serial killer is on the
prowl. Jared and Micky team up to stay alive and learn what is going on in this small Colorado
community as Halloween approaches and another creature waits. NIGHT WATCH is a terse
paranormal romantic suspense that grips the audience the moment Micky enters the diner. The
action-packed story line builds up tension on two levels; the deadly weirdness percolates as
danger
mounts and the love between the protagonists evolves during the taut plot. Micky and Jared are a
delightful pairing of two people caught in a maelstrom of paranormal creepiness. Fans will enjoy
this
tremendous cleverly, designed tale; enabling a reader to appreciate this book as a stand-alone or
peruse the first novel (see DARK FIRE) to enhance understanding of subplots not critical to
NIGHT
WATCH'S prime story, but move forward the overall arching adventure.
Girl Boy, Etc.
Michael Weinreb
Red Dress
ISBN: 0373250568 $19.95, 240 pp.
Red Dress Ink is known for their amusing contemporary chick lit tales, but this anthology takes a
gender bender spin. The eleven short stories are told by the male perspective, which to the typical
Red Dress fan will feel a bit foreign yet not much different than discussing Love and Basketball
with
spouses or boyfriends. Just think of movie selections and how men prefer blood and gore while
Cary
Grant or Oliver Stone (even if Elvis lives) is agreed upon not because males want to see a fine
romantic comedy or a deep expose, but watched in the ever hope of scoring. Each tale is an
intelligent well written story told by the male lead. Though there is some profanity (what do you
expect from the Y chromosome?) readers who want to try something different will enjoy the
switch
from AC to DC (chick lit to hunk shtick) male spinning account of the war between the
sexes.
How to Lasso a Cowboy
Jodie Thomas, Patricia Potter, Emily Carmichael, and Maureen McKade
Jove
ISBN: 0515137715 $6.99, 384 pp.
"Easy on the Heart" by Jodie Thomas. His three older sisters arrive at Cooper's ranch for their
baby
brother's thirtieth birthday and to find him a wife. Cooper feels old enough to select his own
spouse.
Mary would be his choice except she is a damn Yankee and the Civil War still rests heavily in his
heart. "Coming Home" by Patricia Potter. Civil War veteran Seth returns to his family's Texas
ranch
only to learn his dad is dead and his twin siblings missing; the ranch is owned by Elizabeth and her
father. He plans to regain what he feels was stolen, but is unprepared to fall in love with the rifling
carrying enemy. "Tombstone Tess" by Emily Carmichael. In Arizona Tess is irate with her
deceased
father as he left her with the choice of finding a husband or losing the family ranch. She has two
weeks left to find a spouse. An embittered Joshua lost his ranch to his brother. He has nothing so
he
agrees to marry the hellcat. Neither expected to fall in love. "Finding Home" by Maureen
McKade.
In Colorado, Caitlin asks her former lover Winston to help her break a horse. Winston has
avoided
his beloved Caitlin for over a decade because he believes she can do much better than a half-breed
like him. Caitlin has never known why he suddenly left her, but this time she plans to make him
stay
forever. These four terrific late nineteenth century Americana romances star enchanting couples
who
at first seem wrong for each other until love brings them together.
Kissing Your Ex
Brooke Stevens
NAL
ISBN: 0451212029 $12.95, 304 pp.
Maddy and Jack were an entry for five years before they married. A decade later, they amiably
divorce. Maddy left New York for Atlanta where she now works as an art director in an Atlanta
ad
agency. Jack sends her a package containing chocolate, photos, a copy of Alice in Wonderland,
other items, and a letter. He says he still loves her and asks if they could open up the lines of
communication. He is willing to fly down for the day just to talk. Finally, he tells her that he has
thought of this for months. Maddy still loves Jack, but they inadvertently hurt one another when
they
went down different paths. Does she want to go on retreat with him to a tropical island to see if
they
can come to grips on their feelings or is it over? Maddy has to decide if she wants to know Jack
again. This is entertaining look at modern day relationships through mostly the eyes of Maddy,
but
also to a lesser degree, readers see the aches that Jack suffers. The story line is amusing yet filled
with angst though at times it turns a bit cutesy. Maddy is a wonderful protagonist wondering if
she
should just say no before they try a second chance at love. Jack is a compassionate soul struggling
with what he knows he lost, which is the love of Maddy. He will do what it takes including
walking
away if he felt he lost her love. Insightful though slightly mushy MEETING YOUR EX is a fine
contemporary tale.
Private Pleasures
Bertrice Small
NAL
ISBN: 0451212037 $14.00, 224 pp.
Forty-nine-years old Nora Buckley knows that her spouse Jeff is cheating on her. Already
depressed
she is shocked when her four Ainsley Court coffee mates inform her that Jeff has been on the
prowl
for years. Adding to her melancholy is that her daughter is starting law school and her son is
graduating high school; Nora fears the empty nest of being alone. Instead of ire and depression,
the
fearsome foursome females suggest she go to the Channel to obtain the fantasy of her life. Nora
heeds their advice and when she tries the Channel; Kyle and Rolf appear and star with her in her
deepest sexual dreams. When Jeff asks for a divorce Nora is so calm and so what about it, he
becomes angry. He is even more stunned when she announces his lawyer will speak to her
attorney
about the divorce settlement. As Nora lives her most delightful sexual fantasies through the
Channel,
though it may not be real, she does not care as she now rediscovers the promise she had as a
college
student that she gave away to become Jeff's rug rat so many years ago. This quad X tale should be
dubbed The Cable Channel and Miss Jones (though the only devil is Jeff) as readers obtain a wild
contemporary tale of sex and the rejected first wife club member. The story line is weird, but
perhaps virtual reality and interactive TV will produce sex partners in a world in which cyber
relationships are part of the norm. Though the story line lacks substance, fans of erotic erotica will
enjoy this tale just keep the remote handy and not just to press buttons.
Absolution Gap
Alastair Reynolds
Ace
ISBN: 0441011586 $24.95, 576 pp.
Over two decades ago Clavain, Scorpio and refugees landed on the Pattern Juggler world of
Ararat.
Over time Clavain and Scorpio led the development of a thriving community. However, in the
past
half a year, Clavain has become increasingly reclusive and neglectful of his duties until lights in the
sky proclaim that their enemy, the Inhibitors, apparently have found them. Now they must flee
their
haven choosing a moon that orbits a weird gas giant planet. On the moon Hela, exists the strange
Quaichist cult with their enormous movable Cathedrals. The cult with their movable cathedrals
follows the track of the gas giant Haldora that the satelite orbits. Clavain and his exiles arrive at
Haldora where they will either save humanity from the Inhibitors or enable the enemy to complete
the final solution. The final tale of the Revelation Space trilogy is an entertaining science fiction
tale
that will please readers who prefer a cerebral tale with limited military action. The story line
contains
several brilliantly developed concepts that will send many readers comparing the fate of the
protagonists with that of our earth-bound mankind's providence. Action seekers will find the pace
slow and the battle warriors will wonder why there are such short abrupt skirmishes. Still
ABSOLUTION GAP is an intriguing look at religion, war, societies, and economics in outer
space,
just more passively highbrow than active exploits.
Sword of the White Rose
J. Adrian Lee
Ace
ISBN: 0441011713 $14.00, 320 pp.
It has been three decades since Dylan Matheson, with the help of the fairy Sinann, traveled back in
time, hoping to change history and stop Culloden from happening. In time both realizes that fate
cannot be changed and Dylan prepares the clan to change so that when times hard times arrive
they
will survive. When Dylan dies, Ciaran becomes the Laird of Ciorram and Sinann makes her
presence
known to him. She tells him that his father doesn't want him to go with Bonnie Prince Charlie to
fight because the Highlanders will definitely lose. Captain Radley of the English Dragoons and his
daughter are stationed with other English soldiers at Clan Ciorram. At first, Leigh thinks the
Highlanders are barbarians but when she comes to know Ciaran, she falls in love with him. When
the
English retreat to the lowlands, Ciaran makes the decision to fight for the Prince. When the time
of
battle looms, Leah sneaks out to find Ciaran, which she does with the help of Sinann. They will
live
or die together depending on her father's decision. This brilliant historical fiction brings to life the
events that preceded Culloden and gives the audience a taste of how the Highlanders felt going
into
the war. Ciaran is like his father, brave determined, and loyal to the Highlanders and just like his
sire,
he made his own decisions no matter that they might bring about his death. J. Adrian Lee gives
readers a magical yet historically accurate historical fantasy that is tragically haunting.
Iron Sunrise
Charles Stross
Ace
ISBN: 0441011594 $23.95, 368 pp.
The Escheton, an artificial intelligence, caused the human disappearance on Earth, sending the
nine
billion people to different planets by opening macroscopic wormholes in space-time. People were
warned not to violate causality (time travel) or they would suffer the consequences by the
Escheton
or its agents. Five years ago, weapons of mass destruction destroyed the planetary system of
Moscow though nobody knows who caused it. Moscow had in orbit four ships that were sent to
destroy the 800 million inhabitants of New Dresden who they believed caused the destruction of
their planet. There are people who know the codes to abort the attack but an enemy who seems
invisible and invinciple is killing them one by one. Rachel Mansour, a black ops agent is sent to
New
Dresden where two of the people with the codes are staying and hopes to bait a trap to catch the
assassin and find out who is behind this tragedy. On New Dresden is Wednesday, a Goth teenage,
who works with the Escheton to learn who the enemy is and destroy it. The teen has knowledge
that
she is not aware of that could solve everyone's dilemma if only if she can figure out what it is.
IRON
SUNRISE is innovative science fiction with many subplots leading seamlessly back to the main
storyline. The characters are well developed and feel realistic especially Wednesday, whose
parents
were killed by the same group that was involved in destroying her home world Moscow.
Although
she is emotionally a mess, she has the brains to be an agent of Escheton even though for much of
the
book she does not know what its' plans for her are. Charles Stross is a great storyteller and an
author who is superstar bound in the science fiction galaxy.
The Silent House: A Chronicle of Aglirta
Ed Greenwood
Tor
ISBN: 0765308177 $24.95, 381 pp.
On Aglirta, resides Silent House, the Silvertree clan ancestral estate. For centuries, the dynasty
consistently politically outwitted their foes. However, the real power behind Silvertree is wizardry
for this clan consists of the most powerful wizards known on Aglirta. However, not as well
known
is the price paid for this prowess. Some would say curse, as souls become part of a depository
controlled by the Silent House, which over two thousand Sirl Reckoning has become sentient,
alive,
and protective of its "wards". These are the stories of ten lost souls sheltered by an increasingly
intelligent essence. This exciting anthology provides readers with an engaging look at Aglirta,
world
of the Band of Four series, but is much more than just a typical sword and sorcery collection.
Each
tale contains an underlying caution based on Lord Acton's concept that power corrupts, etc. The
key characters are often bewildered as to why they did a deed as Ed Greenwood cleverly delves
into
cause, effect, and after-effect through a person feeling guilt and questioning their motives though
acting courageously. These heroes understand they make mistakes and though suffer pangs of
sorrow, they can admit errors. Mr. Greenwood is at its best with this fine look at one of his
not-Forgotten Realms.
The Nameless Day
Sara Douglass
Tor
ISBN: 0765303620 $25.95, 448 pp.
Thomas Neville was born into one of the most powerful families in England during the reign of
King
Edward III. He spends his time fighting, drinking and wenching until his actions kill his mistress,
her
children and their unborn child. Remorseful and penitent, he turns his back on the secular world
and
joins the Dominican order of the Catholic Church. He goes to Rome to study, a pious and
obsessed
priest who is visited by the archangel Michael. He is chosen to be the Select, the only priest who
can
throw the demons that walk the Earth into the Cleft, the entranceway to Hell. When he journeys
to
Nuremburg where the entranceway is located, demonic magic plants his seed in a woman name
Megie and gets her pregnant. When he learns that a book of incarnations that will send the
demons
back into the pit is in England, he joins the Black Prince and other English nobles he once called
friend. With them is the woman who is carrying his child, a person he refuses to acknowledge for
fear she carries a demon taint. The demons show themselves to England's nobles so that when
Thomas tells them his story, they believe him. Thomas doesn't know who to trust because the
demons can shapeshift into the image of anyone. The final confrontation is coming with Thomas's
soul as the battleground. THE NAMELESS DAY is a fantastic historical fantasy that takes place
on
an Earth almost similar to our own in the middle ages. The protagonist is a man possessed by the
need to atone for his sin, a man torn between the religious and the secular world. Sara Douglass
makes the reader believe that the events in this book took place, and the audience will wait
breathlessly for the next book in The Crucible series as Thomas continues to search for the book
of
spells. This haunting and memorable work is a definite keeper; a novel that will appeal to lovers of
horror, fantasy romance and history.
The Skinner
Neal Asher
Tor
ISBN: 0765307375 $26.95, 474 pp.
Mostly a water planet, Spatterjay has Earth-like gravity with a breathable atmosphere, but the
planet
is overrun with hostile native life forms. There is nothing remotely similar like them in the known
galaxies. Each inhabitant contains a virus that turns them into nearly invincible creatures, but at a
cost. Once the virus has you, you must remain native or die. Overwhelmingly most of those few
humans who reside here are infected; for those who are not they have a slim chance of survival.
Three off-worlders arrive that will shake the planetary order. Once a resident of Spatterjay, Erlin
wants to die. Her only hope to live rests with her former lover superhuman Old Captain Ambel, if
she can find him and he gives her the will to live. Deceased police monitor turned cybernetic cop
Keech seeks the abusive psychotic murderers who supported the vicious Prader in the great war
seven centuries ago. On a top-secret mission, Janer serves as eyes and ears for the Hornet Hive.
These three and others including a rogue Prader come together on an island that is home of a
horror
that should frighten all of them, the Skinner. As he did with the exciting GRIDLINKED, Neal
Asher
furbishes an exhilarant action-packed adventure science fiction thriller. The Spatterjay escapades
hook the readers as they become acquainted with the various players, species, monsters that
occupy
this feral orb. This is defiantly not Kirk's Star Trek, as readers will quickly understand the
underlying theme of atrocities caused by species virus or sentient. The final confrontation on
Skinner's Island will have fans wondering how Neal Asher will top this jaunt into a wild
world.
The Dragon's Son
Margaret Weis
Tor
ISBN: 0765304694 $25.95, 384 pp.
Dragons would have nothing to do with humans and the Parliament of Dragons enforces that rule
very strictly. However, one of the members have gone against the Parliament's ruling and mated
with a high priestess, who since dragons can take on the form of a human, did not know who he
really was. Two boys were the result of that coupling; Ven is a human from the waste up and a
dragon from the waist down while Marcus is raised as the bastard son of King Ildlysisylde. The
two
boys do not know about each other; they also are hidden from their father, who plans to rule the
world of dragons and humans with his breeding program. He needs Ven for a special role in his
plan
and it up to Draconis, the Parliament's representative, to make sure the lads grow to maturity
because only then will they have a chance of defeating the dragon. Ven has an agenda of his own
while Draconis is caught in a trap by one of the female dragons. THE DRAGON'S SON is a
coming
of age story of two young men, one living in poverty and the other surrounded by riches. Both
share
a common destiny if they have the courage to risk their lives to fight the rogue dragon (nobody
knows his true identity) when they reach maturity. For now, they must survive and cope with the
dragon blood running through their veins. Dragons caused the mess that the world is in and they
must find a way to make things right for their own sake and for that of humanity. Margaret Weiss
has written an enthralling high fantasy novel that will totally absorb readers.
Redeeming the Lost
Elizabeth Kerner
Tor
ISBN: 0312890656 $25.95, 400 pp.
Berys the malevolent demonlord has captured Lanen, the humanoid Gedri who awakened the evil
wizard's enemy the dragonoid Kantri. Although he is unaware of the power that Lanen possesses,
he feels he can use her as a hostage to force her mate, Varien, a Kantri in Gedri form, to do his
bidding. Ultimately, with the help of Lanen's father, Berys plans to sacrifice his prisoner as a
means
of "meeting" the ancient prophecy, which will enable him to destroy the Kantri and allow him
through his demons to control the world. However, what the malevolent allies are unaware of is
that
Lanen is pregnant with her Kantri lover as the sire. She now has the most powerful blood known
on
the orb flowing through her body as the fetus has given some of that of the Kantri. With no
kernnel
of hope for success, Varien and his Kantri kin will try to rescue Lanen. Meanwhile Berys has
created
and moved into a new body the Black Dragon and released the demons from the Six Hells in a
final
confrontation. This is a terrific conclusion to a strong fantasy trilogy in which good vs. evil with
both sides construing that the ancient prophecy meets their needs. Fans will appreciate Lanen's
predicament as a prisoner of an egomaniac with the power to back his insanity. As with most
genre
miniseries, readers will be better suited to first peruse SONG IN THE SILENCE and THE
LESSER
KINDRED to increase understanding of the various species and key characters although
REDEEMING THE LOST is an exciting conclusion that can stand on its own.
Ringworld's Children
Larry Niven
Tor
ISBN: 0765301679 $24.95, 288 pp.
The six hundred miles long and a million yards across ribbon-shaped Ringworld is home to fifty
trillion hominids as well as many other species and most amazing of all it is man made. All of the
sentient species want to learn the technology that went into making Ringworld but the protectors
want to keep such people out. The Protector used to shoot down any ship that got too close but
the
new protector Tunesmoth is holding fire so as not to irritate the participants of the Fringe War,
which is getting too close to Ringworld. The ARM, the military leg of the United Nations, is
using
anti-matter engines near Ringworld, something that could destroy the planet if an accident occurs.
When a ship falls and puts a hole in the top layer of Ringworld the Protector must fix it or the
place
will cease to exist. As ARMs soldiers try to ferret out the secrets of the Ringworld, are, a group
of
RINGWORLD'S CHILDREN work to repair the damage. One of the original engineering
experts,
together with Tunesmith try to figure out a way to move Ringworld away from sentient
warmongers. People who have never read the Ringworld books will find the latest entry as a
strong
stand-alone book that gives enough information about other novels in the series so that new
readers
will want to buy and read them too. It is a fascinating place to visit, an engineering marvel so
advanced that even in the year 2893, the technology is too sophisticated to duplicate. Larry
Niven,
one of the grandmasters of science fiction, has brought a classic to a new generation of
readers.
The Wanderer
Cherry Wilder and Katya Reimann
Tor
ISBN: 0312874057 $27.95, 398 pp.
Growing up in an impoverished peasant croft family in the Chyrian lands of Mel'Nir, Gael Maddoc
has no hope to escape from farm life. She detests toiling the land, finding it boring and costly
especially when she looks at her parents and two older siblings. She sees nothing positive in her
future though she dreams of adventure. That changes when Gael turns seventeen as the priest
Druda
Strawn sees something in her especially after she gave to him last year the ancient map parchment
she found. He arranges for her to train with the Summer Riders as a true battlemaid while her
family's back taxes are paid. Gael leaps at the opportunity to train as a mounted soldier and easily
adapts to the military regiment with her background helping her with a stoic acceptance. The Shee
Fair Folk also notice something special about Gael as they believe she is the legend, the Wanderer,
"the chosen servant of the light folk". They begin guiding her for she is the hope to save the
realm.
Though the great Cherry Wilder died two years ago, readers will agree that THE WANDERER is
wonderful homage to her terrific fantasy series, "The Rulers of Hylor". Fans will not be able to
delineate between Ms. Wilder and Katya Reimann who apparently completed this tale. The story
line
is fast-paced from the moment Gael becomes a soldier in training and never slows down as The
Wanderer tries to make things right. Without any gimmicks, readers obtain a realm scarred by war
and betrayal with a pinch of magic as a flavoring. This is a fitting tribute.
Medalon
Jennifer Fallon
Tor
ISBN: 0765309866 $24.95, 400 pp.
In Medalon, the Sisterhood of the Blade has methodically thwarted beliefs in the gods and the
mythical magical Harshini though some folks quietly believe in the existence of both just not
publicly
because of dire consequences. The nation has enemies surrounding it as other countries are ruled
by
"heathens", faithful to the Gods and believing the Harshini live. Eighteen-year-old R'shiel
Tenragen
is the daughter of the First Sister of the Blade, haughty demanding Joyhinia. Because of Joyhinia's
demands, R'shiel is a postulant studying to become a Sister, but has doubts as she sees the
backstabbing jealousies as more common than true loyalty. When R'shiel and her half-brother
alienate mommy dearest, they flee for their lives. The Gods have tasked the Harshini to do the
impossible. The Harshini know that success is not viable yet failure is unacceptable. They need
allies
and R'shiel would be perfect though she is the daughter of generations of enemies. However,
R'shiel
knows that a species just below the Gods that do not exist cannot be real; for those are two of the
prime rules of the sisterhood. This excellent opening of the six book Hythrun Chronicles fantasy
series is superb because the key characters seem genuine with motives, pettiness, jealousy, and
other
human traits. Even the magical race Harshini seems real as they have doubts about their mission.
The
story line is as much a coming of age as it is an epic fantasy adventure to learn the truth about
one's
heritage mindful of Russia just after the fall of the Soviet Union. Fantasy fans will enjoy this
stupendous novel that hooks the reader from the opening funeral pyre of the First Sister that
sends
smoke in the air.
Alosha
Christopher Pike
Tor
ISBN: 0765310988 $24.95, 304 pp.
In Breakwater, California, thirteen year old Alison "Ali" Warner knows her protesting the cutting
down of trees means nothing to the lumber industry, but feels she must do so anyway. After Ali
buys
a sub to take with her on her trek up the mountainside, three foot Paddy O'Connell accosts her
trying to sell her all sorts of items that he obviously has no idea what they do. She says no, but
gives
him her sandwich only to realize later that he picked her pocket stealing her money. On the
mountain, monsters attack Ali, who finds shelter only to have cave-in trap her. She barely
escapes,
but soon learns why she has become the focus of weird beings who want her dead. Ali has learned
her heritage from her deceased mother is that she is a fairy princess whose two worlds are in peril
from dwarves and elves. Besides that threat, if she wants to gain her fairy powers, which she
needs
to survive, she must pass the tests of seven deadly challenges and meet head-on the Kings of the
Dwarves and Elves. This engaging coming of age fantasy is targeted towards the Harry Potter
crowd. Ali is a delightful protagonist who feels obligated to help improve life around her so
makes
the ideal teen to take on the mantle of saving two realms. The mythological races seem genuine
whether they rally around their champion heroine or try to kill her as an enemy threat to invasion
plans. Though the tale slows down in between major events (feels padded perhaps to have enough
pages for the advertised older crowd), young readers will enjoy the antics of the younger
Buffy-like
heroine.
Scepters
L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
Tor
ISBN: 0765310422 $27.95, 624 pp.
When his country needed him, Alucius joined the army with the rank of overcaptain and almost
single handily won the battle facing overwhelming arms. As soon as he was no long needed, he
left
the army and returned to Iron Stem where he and his wife Wendra herded sheep and had a baby.
The
Ifriti, beings from another world who drains the life force of a planet and eventually destroys it,
are
back. They have stirred up enough unrest so that Lanchrona is besieged on all sides. The Lord
Protector asks Alucius to lead Northern and Southern Guards to put down the revolt in Hyalt. He
finds the prophet who is leading the revolt is Ifriti-possessed; Alucius cuts off its life force. H next
goes to Stronghold to prevent the troops of the Regent from overpowering loyal troops and
taking
more Lanachrona land. Alucius and his troops are to destroy the deadly spear throwers while the
regular army deals with the enemy force. Alucius is victorious and is rewarded by becoming the
colonel of the Northern Guard but he learns that the Ifriti are setting up portals to drain and
destroy
his world's lifeforce. Alucius and his wife have the talent to stop them if they can find and destroy
the scepters that enables travel between the two worlds. This is the third and final book of the
Corean Chronicles and it is a powerful, enthralling and exciting fantasy epic. All the questions of
the
previous two books (LEGACIES and DARKNESS) are finally answered and all the loose ends
are
tied up. The protagonist is a hero for going into battle against an enemy that is more powerful
than
he is. His love for his wife adds a romantic dimension that humanizes the larger than life
champion.
Scepters is an outstanding fantasy.
Forced Mate
Rowena Beaumont Cherry
Novel
ISBN: 1591050138 $TBA
Prince Tarrant-Arragon of the Tigran Empire always gets his way so when he selected his bride he
expected nothing less than her capitulation. If she refuses, he will take her anyway because the
future
of his empire rests on his mating with the last known virgin Djinni... Djinni-Vera is the daughter of
Tarrant's rival Djetthro-Jason (earthlings call him J.J.) and an Englishwoman. Her sire has raised
her
to detest Prince Tarrant-Arragon. What he fails to tell his daughter is that he J.J. has plans to
usurp
the throne from his cousin Tarrant, the rightful prince. Tarrant abducts Vera as a tool to
accomplish
is objective of solidifying his hold on the empire and thwarting his enemy J.J. To his shock, he
finds
he likes his defiant FORCED MATE. To Vera's even greater jolt, her new husband is arrogant,
but
kind, caring, and his retinue instead of fearing him seem to like and respect him. She is torn
between
believing her father the head of the noble Saurian Knights and her husband as to whether Tarrant
is
savior or tyrant. FORCED MATE is a terrific science fiction tale that uses humor to forward the
exciting plot. The story line engages elements from a suspense thriller and romance, but never
loses
its essence as a galaxy empire tale. Still the key to Rowena Beaumont Cherry's fine story is the
believability of the cast. Fans will believe in these seven-foot (non-NBA) hunks from space and
wish
for the best for the delightful "half-breed" Djinni-Vera. This excellent romantic sci fi thriller calls
for
a sequel or two as several other players deserve their comeuppance, make that story, told.
The Ordinary
Jim Grimsley
Tor
ISBN: 0765305283 $24.95, 368 pp.
The ocean contains the Twil Gate that connects the two diverse planets. Whereas the Hormling of
Senal depends heavily on technology, engineering and science, the agrarian Erejhen of Irion
believes
in magic. Even how the two races understand the Twil Gate varies. The Hormling know that the
gate had to have been developed by an unknown technologically advanced culture; the Erejhn
believe the gate is a magical portal created by some wizard in a distant past. The two planets have
thrived on a brisk trade between them, as the Hormling sell manufactured goods in exchange for
Erejhen farm products. However, the Hormling believe that the Erejhen are a backward race and
decide that they can increase profitability and solve their over-population problem by colonizing
Irion. A diplomatic team is sent to Erejhen, but instead of working on a pact, they are the
advanced
mission of a Hormling invasion. War is now the product moving through the gate. Two things
about
this tale are that it is not ORDINARY and that fans of science fiction and fantasy will appreciate
this
smooth combo mindful of Piers Anthony's Adept tales. The story line is action-packed with key
cast
members form both planets seeming genuine in their concerns for the future. However, the reason
Jim Grimsley's book is superb is that the two diverse cultures appear genuine so that readers will
believe in the technological wizardry of Hormling and the magical wizardry of Erejhen.
Bio Research
S.L. Viehl
Roc
ISBN: 0451459784 $22.95, 311 pp.
On the planet K-2 the native life form is aquatic/amphibian humanoids but for the most part they
need to stay in the water to survive. There is a war going on in the galaxy between the Alliance
and
the Hsktst in which a brave group of natives have become SEALS (surgically enhanced/ altered
life
forms); their mission is to patrol their quadrant of the galaxy to make sure the Hsktst don't return
or
give warning if they do. Different species of colonists live on land, the majority of which are a cult
of
the Skartesh whose world was destroyed by the Hskskt. Leading the Skartesh is Shan who is
looked
upon as a messiah by his people because they believe a sacrifice on his part will restore their home
world. Dair, the half native - half human leader of the SEALS, risks her life to find thousands of
Skartesh that have vanished but uncovers a conspiracy that targets a take over of all the inhabited
worlds in her sector. S.L. Viehl is a terrific world builder who takes the mermaid legend and
integrates it into a very serious space opera. The heroine, different since birth due to the surgeries
and the human DNA in her system, is a natural leader and though people follow her into battle,
xenophobics fear her and the colonists look upon her as someone who doesn't belong. She has the
strength of mind to ignore their prejudices and save their lives when an enemy threatens them and
in
doing so finds that she belongs wherever she chooses to be. BIO RESCUE is another great work
by
a gifted writer.
Flights: Extreme Visions of Fantasy
Al Sarrantonio, editor
Roc
ISBN: 0451459776 $24.95
Taking the who's who of modern day fantasy, twenty-nine worthy contributors provide powerful
tales that run the genre's gamut and beyond. Each tale is well written with some so good they may
prove to be the opening act of a new series. Fans of anthologies will have a feast for these are the
grandmasters in one collection and all provide a fine contribution that makes the realm and cast
seem
real, not an easy venture for a novel let alone a short. Editor Al Sarrantonio needs investigating
for
blackmail because he must have something on notable authors like Turtledove, Feist, De Lint,
Wolfe, Silverberg, Niven, Oates, Asaro, etc to get all of them to contribute to this quality
offering.
Red Slippers: More Tales of Mithgar
Dennis L. McKiernan
Roc
ISBN: 0451459768 $24.95, 377 pp.
In Port Arbalin, known as the major trading town on the Avagon Sea, is a lesser recognized
brothel
the Red Slipper frequented by the eleven members of the ship Eroean when not at sea. Here the
eleven, dwarves and other adventurers meet for R&R sharing daring do from their past. The
twelve
terrific tales that tie together as the Return to Mithgar share in common keen intricate
philosophical
undertones that lead the reader to ponder the meaning of civilization and a host of negative isms
that
detract from society. The tales employ different techniques to get the cerebral message across to
the
reader. Some use trauma and tragedy while others employ humor and satire. Though the heroic
and
the malevolent may seem stereotypical fantasy musings, Dennis L. McKiernan furbishes a
powerful
anthology that will leave a grateful audience wanting to share more pints with the crew of the
Eroean.
Harriet Klausner
Reviewer
Laurel's Bookshelf
The Last Dinosaurs
Mayra Calvani
www.amberquill.com
ISBN 1592798535 $13.50 paperback / $6.00 e-book 144 pages
I had no idea what to expect based on the title of Ms. Calvani's book. Readers will discover its
pertinence soon enough as they dive into the pages. Dark and quirky humor coupled with quixotic
characters adds to the surprising mix found in The Last Dinosaurs.
27 year old Daniella Carlier is a naieve architecture student living and working in Puerto Rico.
Her
ex-husband Ismael is a starving artist turned art critic turned hotel owner now married to a much
older woman not-so-fondly known as Lady Dracula. Daniella and her new boyfriend Tony share a
small studio apartment with her beloved Turkish cat. Despite his use of several illegal drugs, Tony
is
a gorgeous male animal, another starving artist who will soon become the new wunderkind of art
connosieurs. Daniella often wonders how she got involved with such an unusual group of people,
likening those around her to carnivores from the Mesozoic era - dinosaurs who gobble up
everyone
and everything in their wake.
Several odd mysteries are threaded through Daniella's everyday life. Ismael's elderly rich wife
looks
more like vampire than woman as she struggles to regain her youth by unusual means. Someone
dubbed El Zorro is terrorizing Puerto Rican women who wear mini skirts by carving Zs in their
behinds. And strange happenings at Ismael's specialty hotel leave Daniella troubled. These
mysteries
and assorted plot twists are guaranteed to keep readers guessing until the last page.
The Last Dinosaurs may well be one of a kind as stories go. I've never read a book remotely like
it.
Everything from the humorously weird to the acutely macabre can be found between these covers,
and then some. It may not be fare for sensitive adolescents and adults, but there is no bad
language
or explicit sex. If you're tired of the same old genre fiction, consider giving this one a try.
Black Rock and Sage - 2004
Black Rock and Sage
Campus Box 8056, Idaho State University, Pocatello ID 83209
ISBN 0937834718 $7.00 88 pages
Black Rock and Sage is an annual publication by students of Idaho State University. I awaited this
latest edition with anticipation, because from past experience I knew the content would be
excellent.
Each edition features Idaho residents, ISU students and faculty members, and others who share
their
gifts.
As always, the 2004 edition features black and white photographs that might just as well be
labeled
art. Each of ten eye provoking photos prompted me to linger, study the subject from different
angles, and contemplate the message. intended by the artist.
Poetry lovers will find work that is rich in language and rhythm; lyrical testaments to the universal
and mundane; musings on nature and ancient philosophers. Mountains become "geologic earth
mosaics." Veiled metaphors disguise bitter or blessed life experience. Cigarette addicted parrots
or
unappreciated grapefruits provide humor.. From free form to haiku, those who like poetry will
find
work they appreciate and relish.
Prose is also well represented. The desperately poignant "Killing My Cat" by Jackie Johnson
Maughan made me cry. "Slick Rock Journal" by Kristin Fletcher lyrically extols the wild
uninhabited, natural areas she explores. And the restrained, well-drawn prose of Michael Corrigan
is
appealing, as always, in "April."
Taken as a whole, Black Rock and Sage is a fitting representation of the talent to be found in and
around Idaho. Its publication is one of my favorite annual events.
Stumbling Through The Stars
Fredrick Zydek
Holmes House Publications
530 N. 72nd Ave., Omaha NE 68114
$7.95 50 page chapbook
Stumbling Through the Stars is Fredrick Zydek's fifth collection of poetry. The poet states this
latest
collection was written in response to Holtz's great symphonic work, "The Planets." This time
around, Zydek gives his readers the universe, helps us see "beyond the ordinary darkness."
Planets and other wonders of our vast universe are addressed through Zydek's unerring eye. Of
"Venus", for example, he says:
She is little and sometimes in phase,
dwindling in the sun the way dreams
do when we try to relive them.
"The Planet-God Uranus" is described metaphorically:
He is the shy and songless rover
who enters each starry evening
like a green rain on thirsty flowers,
an immediateness of splendor
clinging like pollen to the five
moons settled around his shoulders.
And he pays homage to the life force of our world in "Sun":
She is ripe and willing,
complex as a cell,
the kind of fire
that changes dust
into living creatures.
The wonder man used to feel while staring into the heavens is reprised with ease in this collection.
The moon becomes a "vision weaver." Our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is alternately described
as
"prairie of the stratospheres" and "sea of celestial fires." The mysterious Aurora Borealis becomes
"gleaming draperies waving in the celestial wind."
Holtz would be proud, I think, to know his work inspired such magical word pictures. But all is
not
beauty and wonder. Zydek bemoans the clutter modern man deposits in once pristine space, now
that satellites and other space junk are "gobbling up Orion's Belt." And he leaves us with a
warning
in the final poem, "Ozone":
Once the ozone is gone we'll be
without a shell, peas without a pod,
temples built for a dead god,
blind windows staring into the sun.
This fine chapbook is highly recommended.
The Butterfly Game
Gloria Davidson Marlow
Authors Ink Books
PO Box 396, Sturgis MI 49091
ISBN 0972238549 $12.99 210 pages
Gloria Marlow is a natural born storyteller. This compelling murder mystery kept me reading far
into
the night.
Genevieve Lewiston is young and beautiful, the popular and photogenic Butterfly Girl for
Butterfly
Cosmetics. Her life is bright with promise, until a madman zeroes in on her. Genevieve is
drugged,
wrapped in a plastic cocoon with a butterfly laid on her chest, and left to die in a remote area. By
some miracle, she survives, and in an attempt to escape a haunted past begins a new life in St.
Augustine FL. She transforms herself into Jenny Lewis, a shy, withdrawn school teacher, and
struggles to forget her nightmare.
Despite her plain, frumpy appearance, coach Nick Jensen finds Jenny appealing. A man with
Nick's
good looks could have just about any woman, but he's not interested in anyone but Jenny. She has
misgivings, but soon begins a half hearted relationship with Nick. Jenny firmly believes there can
be
no happiness, no love or romance, no happily ever after for her. She knows eventually the
murderer
will come after her again.
When Sam Conway shows up on her doorstep, Jenny knows the past has resurfaced. Sam is a cop
and friend from the time that Jenny almost died. He comes with a horrifying message. If she does
not
become the beautiful Genevieve again, the killer will murder one girl a week until she does.
Bodies
have been turning up wrapped in plastic all over Florida. Jenny can't live with causing any more
deaths, and so she plays along with Sam. Can Sam and Nick keep her alive while flushing out a
demented serial killer? Jenny doesn't think they can.
The Butterfly Game was a chilling read. Ms. Marlow does an excellent job of building suspense,
taking us into the killer's demented mind and hiding his identity until the very end. Her characters
are
well developed and believable. If you enjoy a tasty murder mystery, by all means give this one a
try.
The Richest of Fare: Seeking Spiritual Security in the Sonoran Desert
Phyllis Strupp
Sonoran Cross Press
8912 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd. Ste 604, Scottsdale AZ 85255
ISBN 097467270X $24.95 250 pages
I have always imagined deserts to be nothing but sand dunes. The Richest of Fare changed that
ill-informed idea. Blending scientific fact, spiritual truths, and stunning photographs with
thoughtful
prose, the author has created beauty for our senses. Visually appealing and emotionally
comforting,
this book is one you'll want to keep.
In ages past, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed all sought spiritual renewal in the desert. Stark
beauty,
blessed silence, and the awesome nighttime sky drew them closer to God's message. On a daily
basis, modern man has been estranged from the natural world. Artificial lighting prevents city
dwellers from seeing the stars. Concrete and sprawling subdivisions separate us from earth's spirit.
We sense an isolation; wonder at a feeling of indifference; and struggle unsuccessfully to create a
finer meaning for our existence. America, especially, the richest and most blessed of all countries,
is
floundering. To paraphrase Thoreau, civilization has improved our houses but not the men who
inhabit them. This richest country in the world boasts 44 million uninsured citizens; 10 million
illegal
immigrants; 9 million unemployed; and 4 million homeless souls. Something is wrong with this
picture and Ms. Strupp makes a compelling argument in explanation.
Quotes by Thoreau, Francis of Assisi, H.G. Wells, Marcus Aurelius, Charles Darwin and others
are
combined with Old and New Testament writings to make her point. Poetic metaphors enhance
Ms.
Strupp's well-written prose. In the desert monsoon season, "air clings to you like a desperate
beggar." Runoff deposits after a hard desert rain become "little shards of eternity." Earth has been
transformed by warring humans into "a sponge to sop up blood." Those who plunder Earth like a
commercial commodity are "spoiled children betraying their mother." The writing, photographs,
and
well-chosen quotes create a spiritual picture I won't soon forget.
The Richest of Fare is not a "religious" book It's spiritually encouraging, emotionally comforting,
informative and educational. It may impact how you look at life, your fellow man, the desert and
the
cosmos. This one is highly recommended for readers who are searching for true meaning in their
lives.
Far-Seer: Book One of the Quintaglio Ascension
Robert J. Sawyer
Tor
www.tor.com
ISBN 0765309742 $14.95 313 pages at
To borrow a phrase from an earlier review of Far-Seer, Robert Sawyer is the "master of biological
speculation." After reading five of this author's books, I'll add my spin on that statement by saying
he
is the sci fi master, period. Far-Seer is a parable without equal.
Afsan is a simple country saurian, chosen as apprentice to Master Astrologer Tak-Saleed. Afsan
enjoys the tranquility and peace of the night sky, entertains solitary thoughts of mysteries, and
faces
life with gentle humor despite his hunter's instincts. Afsan's world is one of landquakes and
erupting
volcanoes. His species is Quintaglio - meat eating dinosaurs. Afsan's destiny is set long before his
birth.
If you believe it's impossible to sympathize with a dinosaur, think again. You'll be drawn into
Afsan's
life as I was, experiencing each rite of Quintaglio passage: the thrill of the hunt; his first ocean
voyage to see the Face of God; his first encounter with a female. And you'll share his wonder
while
examining the heavens through a far-seer (telescope); his joy at proving the earth round; his
horror
when all signs point to the destruction of the world Quintaglios call home.
Robert Sawyer makes it all so real. This is a touching story, personable and intimate and thrilling.
The saurian characters are believable as they struggle with the hypocrisies and territorial instincts
of
civilization. I can scarcely wait to read Books Two and Three.
Benjamin's Bride
Nancy Marie
Winterwolf Publishing
PO Box 1373, Westerville OH 43086-1373
ISBN 0975271113 $12.00 267 pages
Nancy Marie's fiction is always well-written, with richly drawn characters and exciting plots.
Benjamin's Bride is no exception.
Patricia Collingsworth - called Mouse - is a determined young woman who excels at everything
she
does. Despite that intelligence and drive, knowledge brings no comfort. She rues her mousy
looks,
resents her human foibles and imperfections, and sometimes questions God's influence in her life.
Her skill and foresight is put to the test one cold night on a deserted road in Colorado. She's
overcome by men assigned to find their youngest brother a wife. In a remote compound in the
Colorado wilderness, Mouse encounters evil of the foulest kind.
Jacob Israel rules The Children of Israel with threats and cruelty in an Old Testament patriarchy.
His
word is law. Punishments for defying him vary from death by stoning to whipping. All Jacob's
wives
and children fear his wrath, for good reason. Jacob is evil personified, a self-appointed prophet
who
believes the Lord provides for him in many ways, most of them illegal. Mexican drug cartels, Arab
arms dealers, and the Russian mafia are all used by Jacob to line his pockets and increase his
power
base world wide.
Benjamin Israel is Jacob's youngest son. Jacob's cruelty and vile practices sicken him. He's been
biding his time in silence, refusing to participate in group stonings and other tortures. Ben doubts
the
existence of a kindly God and is determined to escape. When the drugged and manhandled Mouse
is
forced to marry him in one of Jacob's sham ceremonies, Ben vows to save them both or die
trying.
From that point the danger and action escalate non stop. Ben and Mouse escape during a
blinding blizzard. As they struggle to survive, both learn the true meaning of love - both God's
and
man's. Will prayers of protection by Christian believers save them? And will Colorado Bureau of
Investigation agent Bob Barnes and his friend Father O'Flagherty find the young couple
aliive?
Benjamin's Bride is an exciting and satisfying read. Nobody creates stories depicting God's grace
and
human grit better than Nancy Marie. This one is a love story and action thriller combined.
Laurel Johnson
Reviewer
Interviewer note: In the course of my daily interaction with literary professionals, I am often
referred
to writing-related websites. The Pedestal Magazine was a recent discovery. The content is
intelligent, the appearance pleasing and professional. Editor-in-chief John Amen and his staff have
been providing this award-winning literary bimonthly publication for over three years. Last month
I
reviewed Mr. Amen's book of poetry, Christening the Dancer. This month I was pleased when he
agreed to an interview.
LJ for MBR: I know you're busy, so I appreciate the time, John. The Pedestal Magazine was
initiated in 2000. Tell our readers why you developed an online magazine. What is your
philosophy?
John: I had been entertaining the idea of publishing a literary and arts magazine for several years. I
had always thought that it would be a print publication. I didn't discover the internet until 1999.
At
that point, there were not as many literary magazines on the web as there are today. Still, there
were
some, and the idea seemed fascinating to me. This seemed like new territory, a new way to reach
people, an approach that could, perhaps, lead to a new and broader literary audience. I decided
sometime in mid 2000 to launch The Pedestal Magazine as an online publication. Our first issue
posted in December 2000.
A philosophy can be limiting if it doesn't evolve as a project evolves. I mean, our circulation is
quite
large at this point, about 10,000 readers per month. We've expanded in many ways since our
inaugural issue. We're still committed to publishing the best work we can get, and personally I'm
still
fascinated by the idea of building bridges between the traditional print world and the online world,
which, in many ways, is still in its infancy. So, in the end, we take it issue by issue, financially and
content-wise, and we continue to grow and learn.
LJ for MBR: The Pedestal Magazine is a non-profit organization that features poetry, fiction and
non-fiction, reviews, and interviews. Also found on your website is exemplary art for sale by
various
artists. How does the non-profit designation fit into your overall philosophy for Pedestal?
John: We acquired non-profit status earlier this year. Now we can accept tax-deductible donations
from our readers, as well as pursue relevant grants. It actually makes great sense for us to be a
non-profit organization. A literary publication, in the end, is a community undertaking. Of course,
now that we've got this status, a whole new set of challenges presents itself. We need to pursue
various financial opportunities, network, research grant possibilities. And raising money is simply
not easy, as anyone in the non-profit world can tell you. In some ways, this status doesn't affect us
at
all: we're still receiving submissions, reading, selecting, publishing about one per cent of what we
get. Then again, the vision for the project has had to evolve. We have had to start thinking more
in
terms of collaboration, how we can work with others, form relationships, teams, shoot for
common
goals, without losing our own individual direction.
LJ for MBR: I'm impressed by the quality and range of writers and poets featured in Pedestal
from
the very first issue. Is the process for evaluating submissions a group effort?
John: Until now it's been somewhat of a solo show. I've done almost all of the reading, selecting,
etc. A few assistant readers have passed through over the past three years. But I'm excited about
this
evolving into more of a team effort. Nathan Leslie just accepted the position of fiction editor. The
June issue is his first in that role, and he selected the four pieces included in the fiction section.
I've
thought, too, of bringing in other people to serve in various capacities. It's good, after a time, to
bring in fresh perspectives and attitudes, people who are skilled at what they do, people who
honor
what is already in place but also have distinct ideas and visions for the future.
LJ for MBR: As the driving force behind Pedestal, you are no stranger to arts and letters. You are
a
writer, poet, artist and musician of no small success. Tell us about yourself, your accomplishments
outside The Pedestal Magazine.
John: My first collection of poetry was released by Uccelli Press in 2003. Since its release, I've
maintained a pretty active reading schedule, traveling, essentially, all over the country to do
readings
and performances. I'll be doing a two-week west coast trip in September. Part of that trip will be
to
promote a new musical CD, All I'll Never Need, which Cool Midget Records is releasing. The CD
should be out in late August. I'm excited about doing performances that include both music and
poetry reading. I'll do shows both as a solo act and with a full band. This is going to be great, and
I'm prepared that more time and effort will be required. Some of the venues I'll be appearing in are
larger than I'm used to and it takes extra effort to travel with a band. I'm also an artist. One of the
things I'd like to do this year is paint more and exhibit my work a bit more. But you've got to take
one thing at a time.
LJ for MBR: The media packet I received with Christening the Dancer was one of the most
beautiful
and professional I've ever seen. Who is responsible for this excellent presentation?
John: Cindy Ballaro at Marketing Matters put together that press kit. I'm still working with Cindy,
primarily on Pedestal issues, although a lot of my own bookings are currently being handled by
Jennifer Hollowell at J.M.H. Creative Solutions. Her email address is
editor@jmhcreativesolutions.com.
LJ for MBR: Do you feel it is important for a writer to have a publicist or agent?
John: I think it can definitely help. Cindy was extremely helpful, and Jennifer is very good at what
she does. The thing for me, too, is that I simply can't handle everything. I need help with bookings
and logistics and all that goes on with promoting and performing. The Pedestal, too, is a monster,
really. Who is going to research grants, who is going to write the grants? As far as my own
endeavors go, who is going to contact venues, make arrangements, make certain the contracts are
in
order? I think it can be a great help to have a good agent or publicist, someone who has
experience
in the field and can make relevant suggestions, as well as offer guidance or direction when
appropriate.
LJ for MBR: What are your future goals for The Pedestal Magazine and for yourself as a separate
entity?
John: I'm looking forward to releasing All I'll Never Need. I really enjoy musical performing, so
I'm
excited about doing a lot of that in 2005. I'm also nearing completion on another poetry
manuscript,
so I hope to release a new book in 2005. It is exciting to watch these performances come
together,
to see the music and poetry compliment each other. And I love experiencing that direct
communion
with an audience. So, I have a number of logistical goals, but, ultimately, I want to keep writing
poetry and songs, keep painting, keep touring.
As far as Pedestal goes, I hope to bring in more editors, and I look forward to putting together
our
Board of Directors. I have some ideas, too, about how we could expand our readership by
implementing certain functionalities, but some of that is contingent on our financial situation.
LJ for MBR: Thank you your time, John. Find more about John Amen and The Pedestal
Magazine
at www.johnamen.com and www.thepedestalmagazine.com.
Caitlin Hamilton is an enterprising independent publicist with strong credentials. In addition, she
has
a simple philosophy, which is what drew me to her as an interview subject. I thought the readers
of
Midwest Book Review who include publishers, agents, and authors - would find her information
helpful and interesting.
LJ for MBR: Thank you for agreeing to this interview, Caitlin. Regarding your philosophy, you've
worked hard to gain a good reputation as publicist because you believe your reputation is your
name. What guidelines do you set for yourself to that end?
Caitlin: Thanks for thinking of me for an interview, Laurel. I often represent new or emerging
voices, so people in the industry won't necessarily know my authors. I need for people in the
industry to trust my judgment as a publicist, which is why I believe my name matters. When I call
book editors, for instance, I want my name to be synonymous with quality books and a job well
done, regardless of how well-known my client may or may not be and regardless of genre.
LJ for MBR: You've worked with some excellent publishers. Give us a thumbnail of your
history.
Caitlin: I am the former Marketing Director of MacMurray & Beck and also of BlueHen
Books/Penguin Putnam. At each company I also managed imprint profile and directed all
publicity,
hardcover & paperback. In 2003, I started my own book marketing and publicity firm, Caitlin
Hamilton Marketing & Publicity, LLC. My clients include, or have included, primarily authors
publishing through large and small houses and small presses from across the country, such as
Steerforth Press, Context Books, and Unbridled Books. I'm best known for working in fiction,
but I
also work on history titles and selected others, including personal nonfiction and spiritual
books.
LJ for MBR: Describe what you do now in your role as independent publicist.
Caitlin: It depends on the title or press with which I work. Campaigns vary, but I handle
everything
from media campaigns to setting up events to advising on marketing strategies. Sometimes I only
work a segment of the media or a region, sometimes I get the whole campaign.
LJ for MBR: I imagine each author and book profile must vary depending on the situation. What
basic marketing and publicity blend do you prefer?
Caitlin: I love publicity--working with the media and then with booksellers and others for events. I
always hope to have those two aspects of a campaign be among what I handle, at least to some
degree. I appreciate, though, being able to consider what promotion can help bring a book greater
visibility. Also, I find it hard to separate marketing and publicity so I greatly appreciate when a
press
and/or author have the flexibility to let me work in both arenas. I get invested in the projects I
take
on, though, so I'm likely to toss out ideas regardless!!
LJ for MBR: Do you think it's helpful for authors or publishers to have a publicist?
Caitlin: Every book needs a committed publicist. Absolutely. That publicist could be in-house or
independent. But someone has to be out there helping the book find its readers, especially in this
crowded marketplace.
LJ for MBR: You've been quoted as saying you have a passion for books. What genres are your
favorites and why?
Caitlin: I read widely. I love mysteries, though I'm not interested in the excessively violent ones. I
love general fiction. I adore biography. I don't really know why I gravitate to certain sections of
the
bookstore, but I've always had a love of stories, and I grew up amidst a house that for awhile had
more books than furniture. I still remember the first book I ever read (it was about a chicken). I
remember fondly one of my first ever "favorite" reads...I might get the title wrong, but I can still
quote the book!! Regardless of genre, I seem most drawn to character-driven tales. I also love to
page through books, and I'm a fan of hand-press titles. I just love books, I guess.
LJ for MBR: Is there any question you wish I had asked or any other information you'd like to
share
with our readers?
Caitlin: I'd like your readers who are authors to understand that book publicity starts early. Once
your book is published, there is not much one can necessarily do to help you. I work at least
four
months ahead of pub date but prefer six. Even more time would be valuable to have. I also think
authors need to educate themselves about the industry and how it works, to learn as much as they
can so that they can be productive members of their own publicity team.
LJ for MBR: Thanks for your time, Caitlin. Contact Caitlin Hamilton via the information
below.
Caitlin: Thanks, Laurel! I appreciate your interest in my work.
Caitlin Hamilton Marketing & Publicity, LLC
13783 LEGEND WAY, UNIT 101
BROOMFIELD CO 80021 (new zip)
(303) 469-4464
oceanpoint_view@yahoo.com
Interview by Laurel Johnson
Midwest Book Review
Shelley's Bookshelf
Low End
Harry G. Pellegrin
Bedside Books, American Book Publishing
P.O. Box 65624, Salt Lake City, UT 84165
ISBN: 1589820746 $22.00
Harry G. Pellegrin is a Bronx native. Being a child of the Sixties, Harry naturally majored in
music,
to obtain what he wryly refers to as a degree in "museum music." Music began for him at age five,
and literature was not far behind. His third passion is motorcycles, and he has written pieces for
music and chopper magazines. He presently lives in upstate New York.
Gary Morrissey is a studio/performing musician who is recovering from a bad marriage to an
unsympathetic wife. When his best friend Marty asks him to do a little nosing around after a
fellow
musician is apparently shot point-blank by a couple of cops, Gary incorporates sleuthing into his
music and beer schedule. He uncovers a nefarious plot that begins with a crazy cop named
O'Brien,
involves Mr. Unimportant, who happens to live on a high-priced yacht, and comes back to roost
with Gary himself:
"I leaned against the doorframe and put on my best condescending face. I read the newspapers,
too,
you know. The way things have been going for my circle of acquaintances, I deduced that it must
be
her. It's reported that she's missing. Then the New Rochelle PD finds some bones. You couldn't
have figured this out by your powers of deduction, so I assume your supervisors read the papers
too.'
I thought I'd pushed him too hard that time. He turned red and stood on the welcome mat
clenching
his fists.
You are going to go too far one day, and so help me, when that happens, I am going to take you
down hard.'"
Low End is an original, as Harry Pellegrin combines elements of his own life to fabricate a darn
good mystery. The plot is a sinuous, slithering thing that takes the reader into the bowels of NYC
for a thrill ride involving cops, musicians, bikers, mysterious women, and the feds. Being a baby
boomer, Pellegrin subscribes to the feds against the boomers theory, and his logic is unassailable.
His
characters are either sweet and honest, or bad to the bone. The action is nonstop, and in the end,
the
end justifies the means in a huge way. Low End is a witty contribution to the musician murder
mystery. Well done!
Nine Days to Evil
Nancy Glass West
Booklocker.com
Bangor, Maine
ISBN: 0974770507 $16.95
Nancy Glass West is a writer and poet. She has been a guest poet on "Theme and Variations," a
show aired by National Public Radio. She is currently writing her next mystery.
Meredith Laughlin is a traditional wife of a doctor, but her stirrings are telling her to go back to
graduate school to study English Literature. She adores her husband, who is a magnificent
looking
man with a lot of charisma who practices gynecology. However, he acts remote at times, and then
there was the time he disappeared for two days with no explanation. Now he is missing again,
after a
troubling phone call which he made from his car phone just before she heard a crash:
"'Have Claire tell her old man to quit working so hard,' Conrad joked. Dr. Walker is a little cog in
a big old medical wheel. Hey what are you Hey! Look Out Oh, my God!'
Meredith heard brakes screech and gripped the phone, straining to hear over thunder detonating
on
the roof. Conrad! What is it? What's happening? Can you hear me?'"
The scene is set for Agatha Mundeen and Homicide Detective Sam Vanderhoven to enter
Meredith's life, as well as the play OTHELLO and a course in abnormal psychology. As each day
of
Conrad's disappearance drags on, the threesome put together a probable cause for his
disappearance, and all these elements serve as signposts in the investigation.
West writes a striking mystery, with deception and sociopaths galore. Detective Sam and Agatha
have plenty of juicy history, and act as guides for Meredith's self awakening, even as they hunt for
her husband. She intertwines good and evil in a ghostly dance, even as she clearly delineates her
characters. The action is nonstop, and West is careful to peel the layers of evil with a practiced
eye.
The denouement is chilling, and Meredith's discoveries almost lead to her demise. But all is well in
the end, and the reader cheers for Meredith's growth and survival. NINE DAYS TO EVIL is a
fine
effort, and is a well written book with many tentacles. Nancy Glass West is a wise woman with a
knack for suspense. NINE DAYS TO EVIL is an engaging first effort.
Cracker Cop
Lawrence Scott
Rutledge Books, Inc.
107 Mill Plain Road, Danbury, CT 06811
ISBN: 1582442134 $15.95
Lawrence Scott is a full-time police officer in Florida who loves to fish and write. He has a
bachelor's degree in History from the University of Florida. He is a street cop with fifteen years of
experience. He has also been a marine police officer. He is someone who knows the ocean, and
knows crime.
Morgan Ponce's nickname is Cracker for his Minorcan heritage, which is the name for the Spanish
who came to Florida. He has connections with the ancient conqueror Ponce de Leon, who
established the colony known as America's oldest city, St. Augustine. Morgan is a dedicated
homicide detective who drinks and fishes to provide a psychological barrier to the horrors he
witnesses in the line of duty. But the biggest shock is yet to come, when a young and influential
congressman and his wife are found brutally murdered on their yacht, the Majority Rules. Ponce
and
his partner, Nicky, find themselves in the line of ruthless murderers as they try to unravel this
puzzling murderer, and their prime suspect is the victim's father himself:
"Morgan said to Nicky, So, we got a father who knows details of his son's murder, but won't tell
us
how he knows.' Morgan went on. We got witnesses reportedly seeing a Mako center console
with
blue writing on it, a T-top, and three men aboard her.' Nicky then said, We got three dockhands
at
Jordan's estate that look like ex-Navy SEALS, all of whom are trained extensively in
hand-to-hand
killing not to mention the gun racks in the Mako.'"
Cracker Cop is a straightforward, entertaining tale of murder told from a police procedural
perspective. Scott adds a healthy dose of interpersonal relationships affected by Morgan's line of
work...his divorce, the fact that he doesn't see his kids as often as he would like, a new love, and
the
anguish he feels when his partner lands in the hospital after a murder attempt on his life. The
backdrop of St. Augustine and Scott's obvious love of the ocean and fishing makes all of us
readers
wish we were out there on the ocean watching him engage in one of his passions. The new love in
Cracker's life...Dr. Loretta...is sweet and satisfying. Overall, Cracker Cop is an top-notch read
from
a romantic guy who has a lot of heart, and is a respectable addition to the genre.
Death Is Not Always the Winner
David Landau
Pureplay Press
11353 Missouri Avenue Los Angeles, California 90025
www.cubanovel.com Tel. (310) 479-8773
ISBN: 0971436606 $15.00 U.S./$23.00 CAN/Yen 23.00
At the tender age of 22, David Landau published KISSINGER: THE USES OF POWER. Landau
is
now a publisher and radio broadcaster. His two novels have appeared worldwide, and he is
renowned as having written one of the best analyses of Kissinger. Mr. Landau writes of Fidel
Castro,
with the intention of debunking the myth of Castro as a dashing hero who overthrew the corrupt
Bastista regime. For his efforts Mr. Landau has garnered the White Rose Award and "Person of
the
Day" from Spanish concerns. Pureplay Press is Landau's creations, with a mission of providing a
forum for the writings of Cubans and others who share a love of its people. Everyone knows of
the
Bay of Pigs invasion. This book is its real story told with fictional characters in a historical
backdrop.
Rodrigo Nunez fought to overthrow the regime of General Batista, an ally of the United States.
When Castro took the country in 1958, he showed himself to be a selfish and ruthless leader,
impoverishing a rich country in just a few years, all the while chanting slogans that were parroted
back to him and his army by unsophisticated farmers. There was a group of men, though, like
Rodrigo who shared his consternation over Castro's leadership and plotted to overthrow his
dictatorship. Rodrigo went to the United States to try to gain help from a reluctant and shadowy
and
stubborn CIA agent code named Thor, who refused to listen to reason and instead hatched the
plan
we now know caused the death of many Cubans and solidified Castro's power for the next forty
years:
"We are NOT going to fail. Our battlefront in the Escambray is already operational. We are
supplying a four-hundred-man guerrilla unit there. Several different groups adding up to about a
thousand men are active. We need you and your group to help them. Go back to Cuba, get your
force together, and we'll send you what you need."
Rodrigo, of course, ends up in prison and is about to face a firing squad when a reprieve is
given...a
30 year prison sentence. He does not break, and survives to face his erstwhile collaborators in the
United States, who give a wink and a nod for his trouble. Landau's style produces a compelling
story
with lessons about arrogant U.S. policy mistakes. A great read.
Who Killed Annie?
Betty Orlemann
Red Anvil Press
1393 Old Homestead, Second Floor, Oakland, OR 97462
ISBN: 1930859724 $19.95
Bettie Orlemann comes from a journalistic family, being the daughter of an editor for a major
publisher. She writes a biweekly column for the Delaware Valley News in Frenchtown, New
Jersey,
and contributes to other weeklies. She is an eclectic person with a background in dancing,
medicine,
politics, and retail. She is a mother, a grandmother, and presently lives with her animals in the
woods
in Tinicum Township, Bucks County.
In this debut Hattie Farwell mystery, a family is turned upside down when someone starts
murdering
its members. Sweet Annie Turner dies when a mad hit and run driver in a dark burgundy Chrysler
with smoked windows tries to run down her granddaughter, Anna. A strange voice pretending to
be
Hattie later entices Anna to drive over when another attempt is made on her life, almost resulting
in
a second death:
" Let's make sure you're dead, little girl,' the driver snarled moving as rapidly as possible down the
rocky swale, crouching over the still form in the car, hammer poised. Suddenly a ferocious growl
startled the attacker, and a huge gray dog rushed through the woods toward the crippled
car."
Hattie springs into action when her best friend, Annie, is murdered. She is determined to get to
the
bottom of the murder and protect her friend's granddaughters from a crazed killer. The family's
dysfunction provides the backdrop for a plot that is well conceived and ties up neater than a pin
for a
great denouement and satisfying conclusion. Hattie Farwell is the quintessential grandmother
everyone wishes for, and her dog Wolf provides the heavy guns when called upon the do so.
Orlemann is obviously a student of human nature, as the character of narcissistic and witless
Alexandra is striking and fleshed out to a nice degree.
Who Killed Annie is a great little mystery to read for exquisite entertainment. It is a logical and
interesting tale. The characters spring off of the page, and the read is a fast one. Hattie is a great
character who is a down-to-earth strong female figure. She is the guiding force in the story, and
the
male characters all learn to look to her for support. A wonderful read.
Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer
Shirley's Bookshelf
The Beach Club
Richard Paloma
Helm Publishing
3923 Seward Ave. Rockford I. 61108
http://www.publishersdrive.com
ISBN# 0972301135 $14.95 235 pages
It is always interesting when a story is based on the experiences and knowledge of the author and
Mr. Paloma has done an outstanding job in using his to bring his storyline to life. There is a sexual
predator loose in their fair California city and the swing shift, known as "The Beach Club" is
heading
the investigation. The city is afraid, the Mayor is up at arms and they are being hindered by a Lt.
Alex Santos, an administrator who is pursuing his own interests in future promotions and plans to
find this predator and take all the credit, no matter how he has to do it.
The story takes you into the heart and minds of several of the officers; it shows the inner turmoil
that
often plagues them in their personal life and also in their line of duty, giving you an inside look
into
the workings of the department, the unity and disunity of the officers, and the stress that is put on
their families. It also allows you to take a seldom glimpse into their minds and helps you realize
the
part they play in helping us live in security. Thank you!
I enjoyed this work, not only for the informative value, but also for the great mystery storyline
that it
has. It held my attention and I was surprised at who the culprit was. The ending was excellent,
heart
thumping and moving at the same time. All in all a great read and I recommend it.
Evenings At Five
Gail Godwin
Ballantine Books
www.ballantinebooks.com
ISBN# 0345461037 $13.95 298 pages
As I began this read I was intriqued by the two characters that were being presented to me. Two
artists, one gifted with music and one gifted with words, merging together as one. Within the
creases
of the words that I read, I could feel the unity and the respect these two souls had one for
another.
As I continued on, I could feel the absence as the one soul is taken on to their eternal destiny
leaving
the other to exist alone, or is she?
"Evenings At Five" is a look at continuing love after death. It is the heart of a soul that clings to
not
just the memory but the lingering essence of a love that will never die. It is a reminder to cherish
the
moments we have with those we love and to know within ourselves that despite the physical
absence
the joining of hearts can never be separated. A deep meaningful read, well worth your time.
The Aaronic Blessing
Jeanette McKenzie
Publish America
PO Box 151 Fredericks, MD
http://www.publishamerica.com
ISBN# 1413716431 $12.95 56 pages
The author touched a core in my heart with the subject matter of her book. Being in the ministry
for
many years, "The Aaronic Blessing" is not only one that we have prayed over people time and
time
again, but one that we have put to song. I was interested in how she would present this material
and
what she would have to say about it. I was not disappointed.
The first aspect I liked was Ms. McKenzie beginning her work with words from her heart as she
shared experiences of her youth and her family. To me, this brought a warmth to the read and I
felt
comfortable in settling into it. I have read countless books, written by countless religious teachers
that were correct Biblically, filled with knowledge, but lacked the personal touch that mankind so
needs in these troubled times. The author does a wonderful job through her writing in not talking
down to the reader but encouraging them to continue on in anticipation that the knowledge they
would obtain would truly be a blessing.
The author breaks down the Aaronic Blessing, teaching on each aspect of it in detail. She ends her
work with a short lesson on the Levitical Priesthood, how the prayer originated and the symbolic
message it has for us as Christians today. I truly enjoyed how she explained the meaning of the
word
'blessing' in Hebrew and I felt her knowledge of the subject matter was exceptional.
"The Aaronic Blessing" is a book that will help you understand the love of God, the true meaning
and importance of His blessings and will lead you into receiving them in your own life. Very
highly
recommended!
"And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, 'Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this
wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his
countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. . and I will bless them."Numbers 6:24, 25, 26,
(KJV)
Phantom Faces
Melissa Amen
Publish America
http://www.publishamerica.com
ISBN# 1413719902 $19.95 231 pages
Rebecca Collins is deeply in love with Ryan Dory and she knows he is going to ask her to marry
him. Good news? Perhaps it would be, if it were not for the curse that was put on her family by a
Sioux Medicine Man a century ago. Now if she marries Ryan, he will die.
How could Rebecca ever explain this to Ryan and tell him the only way to break the curse is to
travel back in time? With this the story begins.
"Phantom Faces," I found, was a great read. I have read many romance novels and mysteries that
tend to travel along the same roads, but this work added surprise elements which made it very
enjoyable.
Why was a curse put on the family? How were they going to travel back in time? And would they
be
able to break the curse and return? All those were enough in themselves to make an interesting
read,
but the author added a surprise curve to the read that I thought was great. Ryan becomes
romantically involved with another woman while in the past and the reader is wondering if he will
chose to remain there with her. Has Rebecca lost everything by trying to right a wrong? Could she
ever forgive Ryan for betraying her love? Nice surprise twist.
"Phantom Faces" is a mixture of many elements that make-up a great read. Mystery, supernatural
and romance all woven into one. Well done Ms. Amen, I believe you have a winner.
Divided Loyalties
Vikk Simmons
Awe-Struck E-Books
http://www.awestruck.net
ISBN# 158749387X 15 Chapters $4.99 Download
The life of a teenager is never easy and for Trisha Braedon it seems to be more complicated than
others. Dealing with emotions from the recent divorce of her parents, this young girl has set her
own
goals believing she is in total control of her life. Working hard after school at her father's
restaurant
and studying to keep her grades high and her character above board so she will win a much
needed
Scholarship, Trisha does not need a relationship with a young man to muck up her expectations
for
the future.
However, life doesn't always play by our rules and Jon Higheagle doesn't seem to play by the rules
of Trisha either. Jon's heart is towards saving the earth and crusades for the healing of the
environment. As the story goes, Trisha and Jon are drawn together and she is thrown into his
world,
somewhere she does not want to be. This joining causes her problems with her school, her father
and her own plans for her future. Trisha is made to confront the issues that she has been burying
for
so long and to take a look at those in her life whom she felt had betrayed her.
A great storyline with some deep emotional curves that truly make the reader think of where their
own loyalties lay and why. A good read for the young adult that will make them stop and think of
their own lives and the path they are taking.
Until The Last God Dies A Joe Box Mystery
John Laurence Robinson
RiverOak Publishing
Cook Communications
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
ISBN# 1589190211 $12.99 381 pages
I was not privileged to read Mr. Robinson's first book, but I can tell you that "Until The Last Dog
Dies" is one of a kind. We meet Joseph Box, a private investigator, but one whose past often
troubles him. Joe has just become a Christian, new to benefits that a child of God has, Joe is very
fortunate to have a special lady friend to help him. He's going to need it as a killer is on the loose,
but this case is a little different than the rest, he is after Joe and all those that served with him in
Vietnam. At first Joe does not put the pieces together, but soon it is obvious that this madman is
slowly killing these men, and he is forced to recall memories he would sooner forget. The twist to
this story is that somehow the killer knows each man's greatest fear and is managing to kill them
in
that way. Be it electrocution, drowning, or other ways, that is how they were dying. Creepy to
say
the least! You soon realize that this killer is pure evil and has the power of the devil on his side.
Only
God will be able to save Joe and the woman that he was beginning to love. The author weaves in
many Christian beliefs, but he does this in such a subtle way that the reader is not smothered by it,
but accepts it as part of the storyline. His writing is outstanding, as he builds the mystery around
the
colorful characters from Joe's past and present merging them into a top notch story. Good job! A
well thought out work, brimming with layers of intrigue and heart pounding suspense.
Magnificent
conclusion that will leave you breathless. Highly recommended.
Come To Me A For Hymn Mystery Book II
Paula F. Blevins
Publish America
http://www.publishamerica.com
ISBN# 1413706312 $19.95 152 pages
In the beginning of Ms. Blevins second novel, "Come To Me", we are reacquainted with Eryka
Skidmore, the friend of the main character Lizzie in Book I, "The Way Home." It was nice to feel
comfortable with a character you already are familiar with, and your interest is peaked as you
begin
to be part of her life. You start the read with anticipation as you find Eryka in the middle of a
crisis
at work.
I'm sure Eryka wished she was on vacation, visiting her friend, Lizzie instead of going into work
that
fateful day. Her boss is missing, his secretary has resigned and the police are unwilling to see this
as
a problem, because the two were last seen together. This causes the false assumption that perhaps
Mr. Brokamp and his secretary decided to leave together; Eryka knew better but couldn't seem to
convince others of that fact. No, she would have to be the one to find out what was going on and
this choice would plunge her into great danger and adventure. To my delight the author brings
into
play another character from book one of her series; none other than Lizzie's husbands brother,
Bradley. Ah! Now we have some romance brewing within this mystery. Bradley becomes Eryka's
"Knight In Shining Armor" as they team up to solve the puzzle before them.
"Come To Me," is a novel that is packed full of intrigue, mystery, adventure and sweet tender
romance. It is one that weaves in the message of the importance of one's faith in a God that
watches
over us, guides us and works all things together for our good. The author does a wonderful job of
melting all the elements together making for a read that will keep you on the fast track of mystery,
yet allow you to pause and taste of tender love and reachable faith. Good job!
The Way Home
Paula F. Blevins
Publish American
http://www.publishamerica.com
ISBN# 159286113X $14.95 156 pages
Lizzie is about to marry Ryan and what should be the happiest time in a young woman's life is
turning out to be the most terrifying. Lizzie is troubled with recurring dreams about the death of
her
father, some seventeen years ago. Could his death not have been an accident? To top it off
someone
it trying to kill her fianc‚ and Lizzie fears the events are related but she is unsure how. Struggling
to
make sense of all that is happening in her life, Lizzie finally realizes that she must turn to a higher
and stronger power. To the joy of her already saved fianc‚, Lizzie gives her life to Jesus, and
learns
how to also give him her worries and fears. Believe me, for what she is about to face she truly
needs
the Lord to be with her.
Author Paula Blevins does an outstanding job in mixing romance, mystery, suspense and the
saving
grace of the Lord in her new novel " The Way Home." She slowly builds the mystery surrounding
the death of Lizzie's father drawing you into the story. Anxiously you read, hoping to get a few
more tidbits of information, as you wait for Lizzie to have another dream or vision of her
frightening
past. Just what did happen that day her father died so many years ago? You had to know. She
also
shows, through Lizzie, the apprehension many feel towards accepting Jesus as their Savior and
gently introduces His saving grace and the positive aspects of accepting Him as Lord of your
life.
Ms. Blevins used wisdom in her portrayal of Ryan in showing that although he is a believer, trying
to
follow the Lord the best way he could, he still had problems that he had to overcome. Many feel
that
Christians are self-righteous but the author allows her character to be humble and believable. His
inward struggles and his faith that Lizzie would accept the Lord made the read very believable and
the characters quite approachable.
The Way Home is a well thought out mystery, full of who? what? and why?, that would satisfy
the
thirstiest mystery buff among us. It is also a tender love story that will touch your heart, and a
moving witnessing tool that shows the human nature we all possess and the struggles and
challenges
we all must overcome. A very good read.
Well done Ms. Blevins.
Shirley Johnson
Reviewer
Interview with Paula Blevins - Author of numerous works.
In my opinion, Paula Blevins has a bright future ahead of her.
I have read both of Paula's works in the The For Hymn Mystery Series.' I truly enjoyed
them.(Please see reviews in this column.) I wanted to know more about Paula, her life and works.
Let's being please.
SPJ: Paula, what made you decide to write these books?
Paula: My friend got me hooked on Christian fiction. One day she loaned me a Christian mystery.
I
loved it! That's when I began wondering if I could do that too. God affirmed that when the ideas,
characters, and storyline just kept coming and fitting together. His plans for me were greater than
I
ever imagined.
SPJ: He has a way of leading us doesn't He? What, if any reaction did you receive after your
decision to write them?
Paula: My close friends and family were excited and supportive. They listened patiently as I
bounced
ideas around, asked them numerous research questions, and periodically announced my progress.
My sister, however, will not allow me to bounce ideas off of her anymore, as I spoiled the ending
of
the first book for her. Another lesson learned!
SPJ: That's funny, tell us how did you come up with the storyline(s)?
Paula: The first two books were inspired by newspaper articles, which had struck my interest.
Then,
I began asking, "What if . . .?" and "Well, maybe . . .?". The stories took off from there.
SPJ: How long did it take you to complete your book(s)?
Paula: The Way Home 3 months; Come to Me 10 months; This I Know 11 months
SPJ: Writers face many obstacles, what was the most difficult part in writing your work?
Paula: With three young kids, finding the time has always been the most difficult part in the
writing
stage of the books. It seems I have more ideas than time permits. Once the books have been
published, the promotion becomes the most challenging aspect of being an author.
SPJ: I remember what it was like having three young children and trying to pursue a dream. My
prayers are with you. Now another question; did you base your characters on real life
people?
Paula: Although I did not base any character on a specific person, I do combine characteristics
from
observation. People watching' is fun and productive!
SPJ: People watching is fun, interesting and can be quite an experience! Why did you decide on
writing a series?
Paula: I was in the car listening to a new CD that my sister had given me for my birthday.
Amazing
Grace came on in a totally different way than I had ever heard it. It was like hearing it for the first
time. That's when it occurred to me that it could possibly fit with the mystery that I was writing. It
did in fact fit, and then I started the play on words. So, For Him' and Four Hymns' were
combined
to naturally comprise a four book series of The For Hymn Mystery Series'.
SPJ: How did you choose the location(s)?
Paula: As a writer, you're always encouraged to write what you know'. Living in central Ohio for
the majority of my life was what I knew the best; therefore, it was a natural fit into my first book.
The second takes place in Tennessee. I wanted some place different, and at somewhat of a
distance
from book one. It was something new that I wanted to try. The third and fourth books take place
in
my current hometown and beautiful area of southern Ohio.
SPJ: Tell us, did you find it difficult to find a publisher and if so what did you do to remedy
that?
Paula: I did not find it difficult to find a publisher for this particular series, as it found its home
after
only the second publishing house's perusal. However, my children's series has been a totally
different story. I am still trying to find the right home for it. Waiting for God's timing takes
patience
and endurance.
SPJ: Paula, what advice would you give to authors who are looking for a publisher?
Paula: Get to know the publisher - study their current book lists and guidelines. Send only to the
houses where you believe your manuscript fits. Rejection will come, but don't let it get you down.
Be patient and persistent!
SPJ: If you could speak directly to publishers, what would you tell them?
Paula: Thank you for the hard, time-consuming job you do of bringing the love of reading and
learning into the hands and lives of so many. Thank you too to those houses, like Publish
America,
who sometimes go out on a limb to give new talent a chance.
SPJ: Do you have an agent? A publicist?
Paula: No, I do not, although I have considered an agent for help in placing some of my children's
works and other mystery series.
SPJ: How much promoting do you do? Any tips for other authors?
Paula: I try to do something each day to promote, even if it's just handing out a business card at
the
local grocery store or answering email from a reader. Word does spread, so I keep at it. Author
message boards and networking markets are a great source for ideas and promotion too.
SPJ: Thank you for the tip. Promotion can be harder than writing the novel. Do you belong to a
writer's group?
Paula: I do not currently belong to a writer's group.
SPJ: Paula, I'm sure our readers would like to know what writing this work has done for you and
what do you hope it will do for your readers? What do you hope they will take away with them
after
reading your work?
Paula: Writing this has given me the chance to share my love and faith in a genre I've always
enjoyed. It has also pulled me from my introverted shell while sharing with others at talks and
signings. I hope the readers can relate to the characters in my books, and in so doing, will be
encouraged in their own relationship with Jesus.
SPJ: That's great Paula. I can say I was left encouraged after reading your books. Tell us, how
supportive was your family in your writing experience and how important do you think this is to a
writer?
Paula: Having a support system through family and friends is essential. Their encouragement
keeps
me motivated. My kids cheer when I complete a chapter. (They might only be humoring me, but it
still helps.) My daughter's sincere delight and pride when her mom finishes a new book is enough
to
keep me going. My husband, other family members, and friends keep up on my latest projects and
ideas and allow me to bounce ideas off of them. Some of them fight over who gets to read the
finished manuscript first. And, although they don't fight to be the one to help edit, they willingly
and
graciously do it when the time comes.
SPJ: Do you have any other works in progress? If so in what genre and when will they be
released?
Paula: I have several manuscripts now at different publishing houses awaiting their decisions.
Three
of them are for children a first chapter book series (found on my website), a Spanish/English
picture book, and a story picture book. Also, I have a Bed and Breakfast mystery series in the
works, which takes place in the Appalachia area. Soon, I'll firm up plans and begin serious work
on
the fourth book in The For Hymn Mystery Series'.
SPJ: They all sound interesting. How many hours a day do you write?
Paula: I devote one to two days a week to just writing while my kids are at school. Each day, as
time permits, I do a little writing, some promotion, checking email, reading the newspaper for
ideas,
and computer work. Story and character ideas are recorded as soon as they hit even if it is the
middle of the night.
SPJ: Tell us Paula, is there a special place that you write, one that inspires you? Has there been a
special person who inspired you to write?
Paula: I enjoy sitting on our screened-in porch to write. Its view of the birds, squirrels, and woods
are a great source of inspiration. My mom has been the one to keep after me to write since I was
very young. My dad wrote poetry, stories, and sermons that inspired me as I grew up too.
SPJ: Has having a book published changed your life in anyway and if so please share that with
us.
Paula: I typically like to be very involved in the background of everything I do. Becoming an
author
has forced me more into the spotlight. Kids from schools that I've visited will come up to me at
the
pool to ask if I'm that author, Paula F. Blevins. A local restaurant has posted a sign advertising my
books and me. Strangers will stop me to talk about the books. While these things are kind and
flattering, it has taken some getting used to for this shy girl.
SPJ: Where do you hope your writing career will be in 3 years and what are you doing to achieve
that goal?
Paula: I hope that The For Hymn Mystery Series' will be complete, and to break into the
children's
market with the Matthew Allen David series and the other picture books. Writing-wise I hope to
have at least one manuscript finished in the new mystery series. To achieve these goals I keep
writing and searching for the right publishing home for each work.
SPJ: A question a little off the beaten track, do you read and if so what genre is your
favorite?
Paula: Although I did not like to read when I was young, I enjoy it very much now. My favorites
are
mysteries (of course!) and Christian fiction.
SPJ: Would you tell us a little about yourself, outside of being a published author?
Paula: My degrees are in Spanish and French secondary education. Currently, I volunteer as a
Spanish teacher for two of my kids' school classes. Also, I am very active at our church where I
enjoy teaching the first and second grade students.
SPJ: Paula, please use this space for anything you would like to share with our readers concerning
publishing, writing or your publishing experience in general.
Paula: Be persistent! Don't give up! Follow your dreams. With God's help, you CAN do
anything.
SPJ: I want to thank Paula for allowing me this interview. Please check out her books, they are
well
worth your time. Best to you Paula in your future; I look forward to reading and reviewing more
of
your works. God Bless!
Contact Information:
Paula F. Blevins
www.paulafblevins.com
Email: paulab07@paulafblevins.com
PublishAmerica
P.O. Box 151 Frederick, MD 21705
www.publishamerica.com (301) 695-1707
Shirley Johnson
Interviewer
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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