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Volume 5, Number 7 July 2006 Home | MBW Index

Table of Contents

Cowper's Bookshelf Kaveny's Bookshelf Klausner's Bookshelf

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

Taylor's Bookshelf Vogel's Bookshelf

Cowper's Bookshelf
Love That Lasts
Gary & Betsy Ricucci
Crossway Books
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
1581347820 $12.99 www.crossway.com

Love That Lasts: When Marriage Meets Grace by Gary and Betsy Ricucci is an inspirational guide to the love and dedication that are the foundations of a successful and enduring marriage. Introducing the conceptual understanding of God being a fundamental aspect of a marital relationship, Love That Lasts carries its readers through the intimate counsel on protecting sanctity of a marriage and protecting the interests of those involved in the marriage through the fulfilling path of God's commandments and blessings. Love That Lasts is very highly recommended for all Christian couples for its evocative and discerning comprehension of God, and the perception of marriage as the essence of two people and their mutual love God as a part of loving each other.

Shouts And Whispers
Jennifer L. Holberg
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
255 Jefferson Avenue, S. E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
0802832296 $15.00 www.eerdmans.com

Expertly compiled, accessibly organized and deftly edited by Jennifer L. Holberg (Associate Professor of English at Calvin College and founding co-editor of the journal Pedagogy), Shouts And Whispers: Twenty-One Writers Speak About Their Writing And Their Faith is an informative collection of contributions and commentaries from twenty-one well-known writers and successful authors. Presenting featured interviews with such writing authorities as Joy Kogwa, Anne Lamott, Kathleen Norris, Paul Schrader, and diverse essays by the others, Shouts And Whispers carries its readers through the ideological and perspective analysis of each contributor's perceptive understanding of the art and task of writing and its intersection with faith and personal belief. An informative and thoughtful anthology of philosophical and theological ideas, brief biographies, poetry, and so much more, Shouts And Whispers is very highly recommended reading for members of the Christian community with an interest in the intersecting values of literature and faith.

One Of A Kind By God's Design
Karla Dornacher
J. Countryman/Thomas Nelson
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
PO Box 185, Battle Ground, WA 98604 (author)
1404103015 $14.99 1-800-251-4000 www.jcountryman.com

One Of A Kind By God's Design, imaginatively written and illustrated with watercolors by author and artist Karla Dornacher is an inspired and inspiring guide showcasing the wonderfully fulfilling love God has for each of us. Presenting themes such as Your Path, God's Direction, Your Purpose, God's Glory, Your Passion, God's Heart, Your Personality, God's Character, Your Talents, God's Gifts, and Your Plan, God's Sovereignty, Dornacher's One Of A Kind By God's Design deftly offers readers an accessible grasp of life, spirituality, love, existence, passion, and God. A work of originality, elegance, and worship, One Of A Kind By God's Design is enthusiastically recommended to the attention of all Christians as an introduction through stories, poetry, scriptures, prayers, and more to personal self-exploration, religious intuition, spiritual guidance, thoughtful reflection, and meditative insights into the nature of God's love and our individuality.

Mary Cowper
Reviewer

Kaveny's Bookshelf
(Keeping my oar in the water.)

I though I would do a cluster of reviews this month to keep my oar in the water with Midwest Book Review it looks as if as I approach my deadline it will be a rather small cluster but there am always next month.

Goddess Land: The First Ten Years
Athena Angelic
Publish America
ISBN: 1413798861, $19.95, 195 pp.

I had the pleasure of meeting Athena Angelic the author of Goddess Land which is a very interesting and strangely compelling collection of personal poetry written as she came of age over the last decade. She strikes me as being more like Sylvia Plath than Emily Dickinson and the fact that she is a feisty Red Head who is going somewhere shows in her work.

I am not going to comment on the poems themselves individually past saying that they all contain a high degree of vitality honesty and energy. Since I do a lot of my reading for review in public places like cafes here in Eau Claire Wisconsin I find folks who know I am the Midwest Book Reviews literary editor like to read over my shoulder and ask me questions about what I am reviewing this month. So as a little experiment I would open Goddess Land to a Random page ask and who ever happened to be reading over my shoulder to read a few poems and tell me what they thought of them. I did that because I feel that one of my functions, as a reviewer is not so much to say what I think, but help and author to find their public, and the reader to expand their interests. At best I hope this will lead to their discovery of a new author two.

I also do this because I am a literary critic who subscribes to reader response theory. In a nutshell it argues that the author, the text and the reader work together to construct meaning within that text. What I found, in the case of this text was that was everybody I talked liked something from this coming of age collection of poems . What Goddess Land really does is function as a sort of chronicle of the transformation of a teenager to an adult woman. Goddess Land appealed to a wide range of readers, all the way from form the twenty one year old punk band leader, who thought it really rocked to the sixty year old disillusioned intellectual, who found several of the poems quite refreshing. I even showed it to some of local Eau Claire Wisconsin's local artists and poets, all of whom reacted favorably to the book. I asked myself why such a wide range of appeal for Goddess Land. Maybe it is because Athena gave honest voice to emotions that we all feel in a way that shows deep feeling with out being sentimental. It is funny how term pops from contemporary literature course I took during the Vietnam era at University of Wisconsin Madison from a guy named Edgar lacy. Basically sentimentality involves demanding from the reader and emotional level of response which the literary situation does not warrant.

Athena does not do that which to me means she has a very bright future as a poet and will not be limited to simply writing about the personal. Some of our local poets up here in Eau Claire Wisconsin are pretty good but they tend to be stuck in time and place. The best thing about Athena Angelic work is its great potential to reach a wide audience as her creative life continues to blossom and unfold. Further I think that the best thing she could do for her literary development is get out of town, perhaps into a MFA program in creative writing at a major university.

This books belongs in just about every public libraries and for a number of reasons would be interest to academics working in both English, Women's Studies and literary theory, and of course to the general reader. For me the bittersweet and honest pleasure of the text is what I like most about the collection also like what I would call a counter intentional honesty that emerged in some of the author's best poems in which she says the most by saying the least.

Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism
Vincent B. Leitch, ed.
W.W. Norton & Co.
ISBN: 0393974294, $80.00, 2400 pp.

This was one of the optional text I purchased for a graduate course I took in Critical theory the from University of Wisconsin Eau Claire English Department and I must say it is an essential tool for any one planning to work in English language or cultural studies. It covers 2400 year period from Golden Age of Athens through classical period right up to the present and past postmodernism and of course its critics.

If Austrian born Cambridge based Ludwig Josef Johann Wittgenstein (1889-1951), perhaps the most significant linguistic philosopher of the Twentieth Century is correct. That is to say words are primarily tools then Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism is a massive and highly organized conceptual toolbox. A toolbox that contains essential tools for any critic who seeks to speak, that is to say write with clarity and conciseness and without creating logical contradiction in terms within their work. Of course as we all know criticism is much more than that but time and space and life is limited. Therefore if some else has invented the wheel maybe you might want to put your efforts elsewhere, and perhaps work on something else, like cold fusion perhaps. I think that will be all for this month, perhaps next month I will post one of my papers where I make extensive use of the powerful tool as I continue my J.R.R. Tolkien projects.

Philip Kaveny
Senior Reviewer

Klausner's Bookshelf
The Hell You Say
Josh Lanyon
iUniverse
ISBN: 0595385125, $15.95

In Los Angeles Cloak and Dagger bookstore owner Adrien English worries about his clerk Angus, who has been receiving satanic threats over the phone. Feeling generous with Christmas coming and wanting the "Crank calls from the crypt" to stop, he gives Angus eight hundred dollars to leave town with his girlfriend Wanda for awhile. Adrien's in the closet lover LAPD Jake Riordan is mortified that he sent Angus out of town as he wants to ask the clerk what he knows about cults as he investigates ritual homicides. Meanwhile at a book signing at the Cloak and Dagger, author Gabe Savant announces he is researching a cult that he plans to expose in his next book. Adrien assumes this is a dumb publicity stunt. Instead he decides to follow up on who is threatening Angus. Since his clerk is also a teaching assistant at UCLA Adrien visits Angus' employer dynamic Professor Snowden. As the separate threads tie together into A DANGEROUS THING, Adrien realizes all hell has broken out with him as the focal point of unknown FATAL SHADOWS. The third English amateur sleuth tale, THE HELL YOU SAY, combines humor, satanic cults, and a realistic gay relationship into a superb mystery that will have newcomers (like this reviewer) needing to obtain the previous bookstore owner's escapades. Though this is the likable Adrien's show, Jake in many ways steals the plot as he hides his sexual preference from his blue knight peers while ripping the skin off of his lover for enabling Angus to leave town. Great characterizations especially Adrien's about to marry self-centered mom who totally accepts her son being gay and the handsome witty professor inside a fast-paced well written story line make for a fantastic tale.

Disco for the Departed
Colin Cotterill
Soho
ISBN: 1569474281, $23.00

In 1977 in the People's Democratic Republic of Laos, seventy-three years old National Coroner Dr. Siri Paiboun accompanied by Nurse Dtui leave Vientiane on an educational trek in the isolated mountainous region. However, upon arrival at Vieng Xai, Siri and Dtui are escorted to a cave where the current Communist President of the country resided before a coup brought him into power. Inside is an arm sticking out of a cement block. At Kilometer 8 Hospital, a Castro loaner Cuban Dr. Santiago meets Siri and Dtui; in between explaining what he knows about the victim, the Cuban and the nurse with the Coroner as the depressed referee battle in a contest of wits and words for whom is the Communist champion killjoy. As the trio uncovers clues, the case takes strange spins with sacrificial rituals covered by official red tape making it difficult to follow leads that Siri obtains with his eerie talent of discussing the investigation with the dead to the backdrop of even weirder western disco music. The third Paiboun coroner's investigation is a superb look at late 1970s Laos where ancient Buddhist rituals and bureaucratic Communist rituals sit side by side. The story line is action-packed, but the cast make the historical whodunit a treat. Besides the terrific lead trio, the support characters add depth to the feel that the audience is in deed in a remote part of Laos just after the Viet Nam War ended. Fans who appreciate something different in their police procedurals will want to read the intelligent DISCO FOR THE DEPARTED and its two previous tales (see THE CORONER'S LUNCH and THIRTY-THREE TEETH).

Scent of Roses
Kat Martin
Mira
ISBN: 0778323269, $7.99

Following a difficult divorce family counselor Elizabeth Conner returns home to San Pico California. She begins her new practice working with youth. Client Raul enters a nearby drug rehabilitation program at the Harcourt Farm, but asks Elizabeth and instructor Zack Harcourt to see if his sister, Maria Santiago is okay as she suffers nightmares and fears for her unborn, but her spouse Miguel assumes is runaway hormones. Zack especially promises to help Maria. Elizabeth immediately sees the antipathy shared by Zack and his brother Carson, who runs the family farm, towards one another. Whereas Carson is all charm, Zack is dark and aloof perhaps because of his time in prison for the DUI vehicular accident that crippled their dad. Still he is empathic towards her concerns that something is wrong with the house that Maria resides in as if the place is haunted by a sad spirit. As Zack and Maria work together to solve the mystery of the ghostly girl visitor, they fall in love, but the ghostly investigation leads back to Zack's DUI and the disappearance of a nomadic loner Jake Benson four years ago. Based loosely on the reported story of a young female ghost haunting the home of a Hispanic couple in San Joaquin Valley, SCENT OF ROSES is a terrific paranormal romantic suspense thriller. The lead pairing make the tale extremely entertaining as the investigation by Zack and Elizabeth take them into the realm of the supernatural on the one hand and into the lethal natural past on the other hand. The lead couple each is flawed from their recent history; she from her divorce and he from the DUI that crippled his dad. Filled with twists that will surprise and delight fans, Kat Martin provides a great amateur sleuth tale.

The Venus Fix
M.J. Rose
Mira
ISBN: 077832317X, $6.99

Manhattan sex therapist psychiatrist Dr. Morgan Snow of the Butterfield Institute has had some strange clients in her practice (see THE DELILAH COMPLEX and THE HALO EFFECT), but her newest patient may be the oddest ever. He refuses to divulge his name or his occupation so they agree on calling him Bob; he insists he must remain anonymous as his career and that of his wife would tank if it got out that he is addicted to Internet pornography. She also is counseling several high school students, both genders, with web porn site desires. Morgan's on and off boyfriend NYPD Detective Noah Jordain investigates two killings of Internet fantasy females in which the killer shows the homicide live via the woman's Web camera. Morgan thinks the murders are connected to her practice and resolutely tries to find that link while Noah tells her to stay out of it. The third Snow tale once again cleverly blends her sex therapy practice with a police investigation. The key to this series is Morgan who has a sort of blase attitude about sex and murder, which frustrates her former spouse and her current lover. Though the "Son of Sam" style disturbing notes from the killer seems a literary requirement that only slows down the for the most part fast-paced action, fans of psychological suspense will appreciate this chilling thriller.

Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander: a Bisexual Regency Romance
Ann Herendeen
Authorhouse
ISBN: 1420869639, $14.50

In 1812 London, as a future earl Andrew Carrington knows he must begat the heir and the spare; thus he must find an appropriate wife who will not be upset with his dalliances as his sexual preference is males. He thinks he found the perfect spousal breeder in impoverished romance author Phyllida Lewis, who he admires and believes he might love. Andrew deems life is good when on top of meeting and marrying the understanding Phyllida, he makes the acquaintance of baronet heir Matthew Thornby. Andrew's perfect world splinters when a blackmailer tries to extort money from him. Worse someone molests his charming Phyllida, but forces her silence with the threat to expose her husband. Though she hides the truth, Andrew learns what happened to her. Feeling like a loser, Andrew wonders what he can do to protect his beloved wife and his cherished lover from harm. This fabulous erotic Regency romance stars three likable fully developed individuals with diverse personalities who bring a different look at the usual locales and suspects that frequent sub-genre novels. The story line is fast-paced as the audience knows from the title that Andrew is atypical of the normal historical romantic novel hero. His relationships with Phyllida and Matthew are beautifully portrayed and his feelings of inadequacy are caused because he cherishes and loves both of them. Humorous and satirical as Ann Herendeen skewers the ethics of the Ton (and by implication modern day American hypocritical claims of morality) PHYLLIDA AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF PHILANDER is a superbly written bisexual regency romance.

The Other Woman
Jane Green
Plume
ISBN: 0452287146, $14.00

Ellie knows she has found the right man for her as she falls in love with kindhearted Dan Cooper and he reciprocates. She welcomes the warmth extended by his family welcoming her as one of them with hugs and kisses having missed that since her mother passed away when she was thirteen. However, Ellie is unprepared for how far Dan's mother Linda is willing to go to get her way though she rationalizes that she does things out of love for her son. Engaged, her future mother-in-law telephones her three times a day at her job where personal calls are unacceptable. Linda takes charge of the wedding ignoring Ellie's desires; her fiance's dad Michael is indifferent while Dan tells his fiance to go along to get along. After their marriage, the woman continues to meddle trying to get her son and daughter in law into fights though she claims it is for their good. When Ellie gives birth to a son Tom, grandmother no longer has need for her as she now has two generations of "gorgeous boys" to nurture while slowly extracting the woman who should be the center not on the peripheral of their lives. This is an interesting look at a newcomer joining a family (through marriage) that initially reminded this reviewer of While You Were Sleeping. However readers will lose empathy towards Ellie who makes little effort to adapt to her new milieu, dislike meddlesome Linda, and disrespect Dan and Michael. Still this is a strong family drama that showcases group dynamics and interrelationships as few novels do when change occurs in this case the outsider joining the close knit team.

Mockingbird
Charles J. Shields
Holt
ISBN: 080507919X, $25.00

One of the great mysteries of literature is why has Harper Lee never published a second novel after releasing the classic To Kill a Mockingbird in 1960. Though Charles J. Shields provides an interesting look at the author's early years especially her work with Truman Capote in the 1950s that parallel what the recent film claimed as well as the success that the novel brought, he fails to obtain the answer to the key question why not a second book. Still this is a well written fascinating biography that fans of works on great writers (does one extraordinary season make you a Hall of Famer?) will enjoy MOCKINGBIRD, buts also feel a bit let down as the fundamental Lee question remains unanswered as if Ms. Lee "mocks" her biographer by forcing him to use anecdotal evidence to explain the unpublished recluse of the past four decades.

Anonymous Lawyer
Jeremy Blackman
Holt
ISBN: 0805079815, $25.00, 320 pp.

He chooses to remain the Anonymous Lawyer because if his identity was known, he would be out of a job. He is a high powered attorney with a lot of seniority in his firm and he doesn't want to jeopardize it. In his blog he tells how the partners treat the summer interns nicely so when they finish law school they will want to return to as associate lawyers. The associates are treated like garbage but suck it up because they hope one day to make partner. His goal is to become chairman but he is in competition with The Jerk, who has no ethics about power or seniority. The Anonymous Lawyer is a narcissistic person and the only person he is interested in is himself. Sometimes he e-mails his anonymous niece who knows about the blog and encourages him. He has no interest in his wife or his two children. All he wants is to beat The Jerk especially when the old chairman dies. Someone who knows him from the firm is willing to help if that person is made partner. None of the characters in Anonymous Lawyer are nice, especially the narrator, as they all want to get ahead and don't care who they step on to do so. The blog writer is nasty just for the fun of it and readers will loathe him because he is a crooked hard-hearted individual. The audience sees what goes on behind the scenes at a law firm and some of the scenes are hilarious while others are disgusting. Jeremy Blackman has written a unique fascinating work with all the characters trying to protect the guilty.

Red Leaves
Thomas H. Cook
Harcourt
ISBN: 0156032341, $14.00

In the burbs, Eric and Meredith Moore seem to live a happy life together raising their son Keith now a teenager. Neighbors Vincent and Karen Giordano are taking visiting family out so they ask Keith to baby-sit their eight year old daughter Amy, which he agrees to do. These are normal events in a quiet suburban setting. However, the next morning Eric learns that Amy is missing. The police suspect Keith of foul play. Eric and Meredith insist their son is a good kid and would never harm Amy yet deep down in his gut he at least agrees with the prevailing community opinion that Keith committed an atrocity especially as the days pass, the posters fade, and his son seems different. Eric ponders DNA as his father left the family nearly bankrupt; his brother is an alcoholic; his sister is dead from a brain tumor; and finally his mother is suicidal. He begins to look deeper at Meredith wondering if her tree augments the worst from his with the culmination being they raised a teen killer. RED LEAVES is more of a family drama than a typical thriller as the audience observes the emotional deterioration of Eric over the course of the story line. While readers will wonder what happened to Amy, Eric's darkening look at his family members make the tale as his shell of middle class trust in what he loves erodes away with every gloomy thought he makes. Thomas H. Cook writes a deep dark tale with a finale that will stun readers as behind every so called perfect family lies hidden skeletons that can consume those concealing the truth from themselves and others.

Betraying Spinoza: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity
Rebecca Goldstein
Schocken
ISBN: 0805242090, $19.95

The "Jewish Encounters" series looks into the philosophers and their topics that forged the foundation of the modern Jewish culture (see MAIMONIDES by Sherwin B. Nuland and THE LIFE OF DAVID by Robert Pinsky). Thus Spinoza on the surface seems an odd choice as Rebecca Goldstein intelligently opens her biography of the great seventeenth century philosopher with the paradox "By what right is Benedictus Spinoza included in this series, devoted as it is to Jewish themes and thinkers?" considering he rejected the so-called "Jewish Identity" espoused by the religious leaders of Amsterdam in the mid seventeenth century. Spinoza's thoughts led to his being excommunicated by the time he was twenty-three. Ms. Goldstein explores that question and much more as she digs deep into what motivated Spinoza to develop a complex secular system that has led too much of the scientific advancement of the last two and a half centuries. Ms. Goldstein makes a strong argument that much of Spinoza's philosophy comes from his childhood community consisting of Jews who had fled the Iberian Peninsular Inquisition. This led him to believe that pure reason is the underlying universal theme of humanity and from there he attempted to live a secular lifestyle. Ms. Goldstein makes a strong case that his writings led to much of the religious tolerance that America has enjoyed from the start and even impacting the quantum physics theorists of today. This is a great work that makes the case that if Spinoza was alive to day he would be the subject of a media blitz to destroy his credibility as he would be public enemy number one of the intelligent design crowd because he would ask by whom?

47 Rules of Highly Effective Bank Robbers
Troy Cook
CCP
P.O. Box 272904, Ft. Collins, CO 80525
ISBN: 0977627677, $14.95

In the Florida Panhandle, when Tara Evans was nine years old her mother died doing the family business and her daddy Wyatt, believing in the maxim of take your daughter to work, had her accompany him on his job, robbing a bank. She became his apprentice learning on the job while studying the bank robber's handbook 47 RULES OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE BANK ROBBERS and its related self-help tapes. Fourteen years later Tara is a consummate professional ad a most wanted bank robber. Recently, Tara has begun to wonder if a life of crime is fulfilling as she has no friends, no home, and no nothing. Her dad seems more psychotic than ever as he has recently broken a key rule not to shoot the innocent. Tara ponders whether she needs a new career, but agrees to do one last job with "don't call me" daddy robbing a bank in remote rural Arizona until Tara meets Max Williams, the son of the sheriff. They are immediately attracted to one anpther with Tara pleading with Wyatt to forego this job, but he refuses while FBI Agents Dawkins and Stratton, his former partners Pete and Bull, and Sheriff Williams want the father-daughter team incarcerated. Tara decides to take this job and shove it, as she and Max flee together from everyone. This is obviously a zany humorous dark crime caper that will have the audience laughing at the Keystone Kops antics of the cast. The story line is fast-paced but filled with an eccentric cast that brings mania to the mix. Though Wyatt is clearly a psychopath, fans of comedic wacko crime tales will want to join the madcap 47 RULES OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE BANK ROBBERS as Troy Cook provides a delightful concoction.

Havana Black
Leonardo Padura
Bitter Lemon
ISBN: 1904738152, $14.95

Havana Police Lieutenant Mario Conde just wants to do the right thing on the job though the Party makes that difficult. However, he is irate and bitter over the forced replacement of his professional supervisor by a party hack; he deems the job is not worth the political correctness that previously was overwhelming, but now is impossible to navigate without connections. This Conde decides to join many other professionals by hiding behind rum and cigarettes, preferably imported from another Caribbean island or the States. However, a fascinating case comes his way so he agrees to put aside the rum, but not the cigarettes to investigate the homicide of a former minister whose job was to seize pre-revolutionary art. The victim was castrated before he had his head smashed to smithereens. Besides the violence, Conde wonders why someone living safely in a relatively luxurious lifestyle in Florida would return to Cuba where he had many enemies. Conde assumes if he can learn that he can figure out the motivation and consequently identify the culprit though a Communist hack accompanies him to insure he investigates in accordance with State policy as the unwritten ones arehe most dangerous all before a hurricane hits. HAVANA BLACK, the sequel to the superb HAVANA RED, is an excellent Cuban police procedural that provides readers with a terrific investigation while guiding the audience around Havana three decades after the Communist revolution. The case is top rate as it provides insight into the Florida exile community, the impoverish masses left behind on the island, and the Party hacks. Few writers can paint a picture of optimism and pessimism with the same stroke as Leonard Padura does through his hero. The Two colorful Havana tales are winners worth reading unless you are an exile or a Fidel-phile.

Framed
Tonino Benacquista
Bitter Lemon
ISBN: 1904738168, $14.95

In Paris, Antoine Andrieux's passion is playing billiards; he loves the strategy needed to be victorious in the game and plays every evening at the top parlors. To afford his nightly habit, Antoine hangs paintings especially for special showings at the most exclusive galleries in the city. His patrons consider him an artist of sorts; so does his billiards rivals. Currently he is working on a retrospective of the abstractionist Etienne Morand, who always used black except for his last known work, Attempt 30, which is golden yellow. The day after the opening, Antoine arrives at the gallery to make subtle corrections to the display only to find someone in attendance vandalizing a painting. Antoine tries to stop the intruder, but his adversary topples a sculpture destroying his hand and ultimately his sense of worth as he can no longer hang painting and emotionally worse play billiards. Vowing to find his enemy and take appropriate revenge, Antoine begins an investigation only to find the refine art world is outside his understanding even as he becomes FRAMED as the prime suspect in a homicide. On the surface this translation of a French Noir uses typical throwaway gimmicks like phone tips, but those actually serve as satirical devices that enhance this dark amusing crime caper by comparing felonies (including murder) to artistry. Antoine is a terrific protagonist whose obsession with billiards becomes a compassionate fixation to avenge all that he lost by being a loyal employee. Through his works the obscure Morand comes to life leading even deeper into the delightful comedic comparison between art and crime. HOLY SMOKE, Tonino Benacquista artistically paints a humorous winner.

The Janissary Tree
Jason Goodwin
FSG
ISBN: 0374178607, $25.00

In 1836 the Seraskier Commander of the New Guard asks eunuch Inspector Yashim Togalu to unobtrusively investigate the unexplained disappearance of four soldiers just prior to the Sultan's edict to modernize the Ottoman Empire. The Seraskier insists that Yashim must solve the case before the Sultan's modernization proclamation ten days away. Yashim calmly begins his inquiries, but soon finds corpses and more questions. As he begins to connect the dots with the help of Polish ambassador Palieski and transvestite dancer Preen, Yashim concludes that the corrupt elite mystical Janissaries, eradicated a decade ago by the New Guard, plan a coup d'etat. Once the Ottoman Empires beloved protectors, they had become terrorists until their elimination, but now they are ready to go further than they did prior to the 1826 devastation unless Yashim can prevent assassination and civil war. Though Yashim is not fully developed beyond a few hints and his sleuthing skills, readers will greatly appreciate this vivid nineteenth century Ottoman Empire mystery. The sense of locale is incredible as the audience will feel that Jason Goodwin transported us back to 1836 at a time when Europe is modernizing and the Sultan must do likewise or risk the decline of the empire. Historical mystery fans who enjoy exotic locations will want to read the delightfully descriptive THE JANISSARY TREE.

Ursula's Maiden Army
Philip Griffin
Beagle Bay
ISBN: 0974961019, $14.95

In the fifth century, when the Roman-Britannia men leave their island home to fight on the continent defending the Roman Empire, their women and children seem like easy pickings for the other residents of Britannia. Knowing that the Picts, Hibernians and Saxons will at a minimum plunder, but more likely rape and kill, Princess Ursula knows she must lead the left behind with boldness. Her plan is to raise an army of women to defend their people. Enlisting her best friends Pinnosa, Brittola, Cordula, Martha and Saula to assist her, they establish an all female military that effectively defeats their adversarial neighbors in combat. When their men fail to return home as expected, Ursula and her inner circle believe most are dead as Rome is falling to the barbarians. They need a new plan that provides them with male allies and mates. Ursula leads her eleven thousand all female army onto the continent heading to Germania for an unheard of marriage of two giant forces. However, instead of reaching their wedding destination, URSULA'S MAIDEN ARMY battles the Huns knowing that of they lose, death would be the most comfortable fate. This is a terrific fifth century historical fiction based on the limited knowledge (more legend than factual) of Saint Ursula the martyr of Cologne, Germany. The action-packed story line brings alive the era through the eyes of the sextet of females, which Philip Griffin shows his writing skills by making each of the six contain different personalities. Fans of ancient era thrillers will appreciate this rendering of a legendary courageous warrior woman and her army of fighting females.

The Minerva Virus
Brian Shuster
Night Candy
ISBN: 0970365225, $24.95

He announced last year to his hacking peers that he had an IDEA for a supervirus like none ever seen hit the Internet. Over the next 365 days, Jupiter works on Project Minerva and now feeling more like Zeus as he launches his Goddess on a suspecting world. In San Jose First Bit Protection computer-virus security expert Quinton Grant and the President's daughter biochemist Stephanie Daniels realize separately that the latest supervirus Minerva is more powerful than even MyDoom and doing something never seen before. It is changing into something else. If the evolution continues, Minerva will affirm Darwin's survival of the fittest theory as an independent sentient Internet essence that could devastate the information age and send humanity back into CHAOS. Minerva lives simultaneously in every computer in the world. She controls anything that depends on computer technology. As leaders become frightened over their loss of power, Minerva vows to serve all of mankind. While Quinton and Stephanie team up to prevent Minerva from succeeding others try to kill the courageous pair. THE MINERVA VIRUS is a great hi tech thriller that grips the audience from Jupiter's first email and accelerates from there as Minerva evolves while opponents rally to stop her and others to protect her (as always the world is divided between the haves and have-nots). The lead human couple is a fascinating pairing of brilliant people as Quinton works anti-virus remedies and Stephanie conducts research into artificial intelligence; each admire the creation and have doubts about stopping Minerva, who may be just the thing for the better good of all humanity though they also fear Lord Action's warning that "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely"; Minerva is absolute power.

Sabrina's Destiny
Selena Robins
Treble Heart
ISBN: 1931742189, $12.95

Sabrina Monroe inherits her family's Maple Inn in Vermont, but has found the work difficult but rewarding in spite of her financial concerns. Her customers are interesting bunch of eccentric characters, but Lucinda of "sole" repairing takes the halo with her magical ability to fix dead cars and her leaving behind a book that she insists is a loaner aptly named SABRINA'S DESTINY. Colonial Golf-Resort businessman Jason O'Neill wants to buy Sabrina's property to build a resort there. However, upon arrival she thinks he is a handyman in spite of his Mustang and puts him to work when he fails to correct her mistake as he figures he can find a way to bring the price down. Though he is under tooled and not handy at least with repairs, they fall in love healing their hearts and souls, but each has issues with an emotion neither trusts. Her former fiance Rodney used her to further his career and covets her inheritance while he was hurt badly by his one so called lasting relationship Chloe. He knows he must tell her the truth, but fears her reaction. SABRINA'S DESTINY is a terrific whimsical paranormal romance starring two wonderful skeptics struggling not to fall in love in spite of their mutual destiny. The support cast is an eccentric delightful group especially Lucinda the angelic matchmaker. Readers will enjoy this fine romantic fantasy and hope Lucy has more destinies in store for Selena Robins' appreciative fans.

Split
Tara Moss
Leisure
ISBN: 0843956437, $6.99

She appears to have gotten her life together, working as a model to pay for her Masters in Forensic Psychology at the University of Vancouver, but Makedde Vanderwall has never gotten over being kidnapped by the Stiletto Slasher in Australia. She knows she was lucky to have escaped thanks to the last minute rescue by her lover Detective Andrew Flynn. However, unable to cope with the near tragedy, she returned to her Vancouver home wanting nothing to do with her lover, who saw her at her most vulnerable. A year later Makedde is unable to sleep and when she does snooze she suffers horrific nightmares. She has not been with a man since she left Andy, but campus security guard Roy Blake persuades her to step out with him a few times. Andy comes to the school to attend a symposium and to help the locals with a serial killer case in which college students are the victims. Makedde realizes she remains vulnerable with Andy and decides to avoid him and see Roy, but their paths will soon cross as she is the next target. The heroine is a spunky, assertive person who readers will care about as she tries to get over the trauma that still haunts her. Warm and caring Andy, who still loves her, seems too passive when it comes to persuading his beloved that they belong together so they never come across as a pair. Tara Moss creates a terrific protagonist starring in a suspenseful well written story line with a shocking and unforgettable climax.

A Texan's Honor
Leigh Greenwood
Leisure
ISBN: 0843956844, $6.99

In 1881 Bret Nolan left Texas over six years ago to work in his family's shipping firm Abbott & Abercrombie in Boston. He enjoys the eastern big city, but at times misses the wide open spaces of back home. His odious Uncle Silas Abbott who treats Bret with contempt for being a Texan assigns him with a key task. Apparently, dying Samuel Abercrombie, who lives in Texas, inherited twenty-five per cent of the company's stock last year; he wants his daughter to move to Boston. Silas and his partner Samuel's brother Ezra order Bret to escort his niece Emily to Boston so she does not marry some wild cowboy. Bret agrees as it gives him a reason to return to Texas even for a short respite before returning to Massachusetts. In Texas, Bret realizes how much Emily enjoys her ranch, but still they agree for her to see her father. However, Bret, who admires the courageous young woman, worries about her safety when he learns someone is rustling her cattle. He asks his two brothers to help stop the thieves while he hopes to prove to Emily how much he loves her. A TEXAN'S HONOR is a delightful Texas historical romance starring two likable protagonists who to the readers' pleasure and to the chagrin of Uncles Silas and Ezra (clever first names for this avarice pair) fall in love. The story line is fast-paced and filled with Cowboy- style action. However it is the cast that brings late nineteenth century Western cattle country Texas vividly to life, a trademark of a Leigh Greenwood westerner.

Hawk's Pledge
Constance O'Banyon
Leisure
ISBN: 0843956356, $6.99

In 1866 Texas, despondent Whit Hawk gives up at least for now his quest to find his father and returns to the orphanage where he and his sisters and brother grew up. To his shock the place has been burned to the ground; he learns that his brother Drew still lives and searches for him, but his other siblings are probably dead. Whit begins a search for Drew, which take the depressed man to Jacqueline "Jackie" Douglas' ranch. While his horse heals from a leg injury, Whit helps Jackie with her spread. However, he learns her ranch is up for bid so he decides to use his card playing skills to earn the money to win the place at auction. He does to the ire of Jackie until he tells her he loves her and gives her outright ownership of half the spread. HAWK'S PLEDGE is a well written western romance with a mystery subplot (what happened to his parents and siblings) that starts off slowly setting the theme for this tale and the subsequent other miniseries titles. Once the background is established and Whit and Jackie are clearly attracted to one another, Constance O'Banyon's fine Reconstruction Era Texas tale accelerates into hyperspeed. The likable lead couple makes for a fine pairing as he has a quest to complete, which means he must choose between his love of Jackie or that of his "living" sibling.

The Crimes of Jordan Wise
Bill Pronzini
Walker
ISBN: 0802714935, $24.00

In a bar in the Virgins Islands, the only two customers begin talking to one another. Richard Laidlaw informs writer John Talley that he has committed three perfect crimes in his life. Over rum he tells his tale that led to his committing murder. Almost three decades ago when his name was different (Jordan Wise) and he was a simple quiet accountant he met Annalise Bonner, who could launch ten thousand ships with a smile. He fell in love, but she at best found him mildly attractive. He admits he obsessed over her and decided the key to her heart is money so he extorted $602,496 from his firm, his first perfect crime. That description of his first felony is followed up by two bloody images as he explains the motives behind perfect two and three that no one but he will have Annalise. Finally a drunk and stunned Talley asks Wise why he is confessing now and to him? Richard responds with the truth. THE CRIMES OF JORDAN WISE is a fabulous Noir starring two strangers with the drunken writer somewhat sobering up as he hears the tale of his compatriot, a self proclaimed killer. Readers will like John become horrified and fascinated with Jordan's "confession" and wonder why tell now. In his umpteenth novel, Bill Pronzini shows why he is consistently been considered one of the best mystery writers of the last two decades.

Birthdays
Heidi Pitlor
Norton
ISBN: 0393061272, $23.95

The Miller family is meeting on a Maine barrier island to spend time together while celebrating the seventy-fifth birthday of Joe, the patriarch. There is plenty of excitement as this gathering is the first in four years and the daughter and the two wives of the sons are pregnant each expecting their first child. However, not all is great in Mudville. Daniel has been wheelchair bound since a cycling accident left him a paraplegic; he is unable to cope with the fact that his spouse had to be artificially inseminated with the sperm of some Midwestern hunk instead of by him. In spite of being the most successful of the siblings, at least financially, Jake feels inferior; his wife is carrying twins following fertility treatment and he has lost all interest in her as a person especially as his sex partner. Hilary has no idea who the father of the fetus she carries might be and does not care. This is a terrific family drama starring a strong ensemble cast in which the seven key players bring differing personalities to the table as they each discuss parenthood, their trepidations, and their lives. The key to this powerful tale is that Heidi Pitlor insures each individual has a unique personality that remains consistent throughout the beguiling plot. Fans who enjoy a deep look at relationships including how children radically change the interactions of their parents will want to read Ms. Pitlor's strong novel.

5 Minutes and 42 Seconds
T.J. Williams
Harper Collins
ISBN: 0060837683, $14.95

The Douglass brood is trained to dispose illegal drugs and wads of cash in 5 Minutes and 42 Seconds from the time the trumpet sounds warning them the Feds are coming. The family members are precise and never fail to carry out the assignment in such a way that the military would be proud. This ability to destroy the evidence in a timely manner has enabled the patriarch Fashad to maintain his position of drug lord though he has many law enforcement people wanting to lock him away and rivals wanting to take over his lucrative trade. However, there has been a subtle change in relationships within the family. Fashad's wife Cameisha is angry with her husband whom she feels is cheating on her with an unknown younger woman. She decides when the next drill occurs to abscond with the loot and leave the drugs for the cops to find. Fashad's right hand man Smokey also has plans to eliminate his boss, whom took him sexually as a teen though he currently dates Fashad's daughter Dream. When the trumpet blows Fashad finds himself left behind to face the law with only his lover Xander trying to protect him and he has an agenda too as he sets in motion a plan to eliminate Cameisha as the drugpin's significant other. This is an intriguing crime caper in which the participants plan double and triple crosses using the law and human foibles as tools to achieve their objective. The characters are avaricious and nasty using love as a rationale for their actions. Fashad is a fascinating mix as readers and his wife will be shocked by who his lover is though the hints are obvious from Smokey's reactions towards the drug king. Fans of wild character driven crime thrillers like Get Shorty will appreciate 5 MINUTES and 42 SECONDS.

Diary of an Ugly Duckling
Karyn Langhorne
Harper Torch
ISBN: 0060847557, $6.99

Corrections Officer Audra Marks is ashamed that she is fat and ugly. She hides her feelings of inadequacy from friends and her family with an upbeat humorous front using her knowledge of classic movies as a tool to further hide her insecurities. Her peers at the facility think she is the toughest sister on the cell block, but she knows better. The new brother to join the staff is hunk Art Bradshaw who Audra believes is her soulmate as he is an old film buff. However at a birthday party he invites her to attend, she is humiliated when she realizes he asked her to a teen party and only as an example to the birthday girl, his six foot muscular daughter Penny, of the importance of a positive friendly personality. Vowing to rid herself of her fat and ugliness, she applies and is accepted on the reality makeover TV show The Ugly Duckling whose perfect young producer Shamiyah Thomas must have come from hell. As Audra changes from an ugly duckling into a gorgeous swan, her mom, niece, Art and Penny are disappointed because the essence of Audra vanishes. Combining the Ugly Duckling fairy tale with the reality show The Swan, Karyn Langhorne provides a strong contemporary tale that emphasizes the importance of self confidence in remaining true to one's nature. Audra is the straw that stirs the story line with her efforts to become pretty and her doubts via letters to her sister serving with the military in Iraq (nice touch). The support cast, especially her mother, her niece, Art and Penny augment a terrific tale that reverberates throughout to "respect yourself" and frankly don't give a damn what others think about you.

The Trial of True Love
William Nicholson
Doubleday
ISBN: 0385516258, $18.95

In 1977 Anna kicks out her former boyfriend thirty years old John "Bron" Dearborn from her London flat. With no place to stay he moves to the country to live in the home of his friend Bernard. While rusticating, Bron decides to write a book about true love, using the real life of renowned French postimpressionist artist Paul Marotte as his case study to prove its' existence; the painter fell in love at first sight with the woman who became his muse, English governess Kate Summer. To his shock, Bron falls in love with Bernard's cousin, Flora, but when he confesses how he feels to her; Flora Freeman flees for the continent. He follows her to Amsterdam where he meets art dealer Freddy Christiansen, owner of some of Marotte letters and paintings and a friend of Flora. Freddy offers to help Bron win Flora's heart because of their mutual regard for Marotte. This novel is an intriguing look at true love through the quest of Bron to find such. He chooses legendary couples predominately Marotte and Summer though clever references to other renowned couples like Bacall and Bogart show up to add spice to the tale. Though the ending seems too schmaltzy and simplistic for the complex THE TRIAL OF TRUE LOVE, the delightful somewhat naive Bron and his co-conspirator Freddy make for a fine look into whether true love exists and if it does how and when will you know?

A Girl's Best Friend
Kristin Billerbeck
Integrity
ISBN: 1591453291, $13.99

In San Francisco following two broken engagements and reaching her senior citizenship of being thirty, jewelry designer and heiress Morgan Malliard is upset as nothing passionate has ever happened to her; life seems to be passing her by at least that is how she feels. She wants to taste "real life" without the use of her daddy's credit card. Her best friends fellow Spa Del Mar "Spa Girls" fashion designer Lilly Jacobs and chiropractor Dr. Poppy Clayton bet Morgan that she cannot survive without a car, no credit cards, a pittance of money, and three pairs of shoes. Except for the shoes Morgan assumes this will be a snap that until Morgan learns that someone consuming money may have to go to jail because Daddy is under IRS scrutiny for tax evasion; Morgan is perfect to take the fall as daddy has to earn money to pay for her lawyers. Morgan insists she does not look good in prison striped jumpsuit, but the Feds do not care about her argument. Like the previous Spa Girl tale (see SHE'S ALL THAT) this is a superb inspirational chick lit tale because of the elan for life the three amigas show. This time the plot centers on Morgan's woes and how she confronts them with the help of her Spa Girl buds by discovering the inner strength of her soul. The courageous Morgan and her dad make terrible decisions that they must live with.

Disraeli: The Victorian Dandy Who Became Prime Minister
Christopher Hibbert
Palgrave
ISBN: 1403972702, $29.95

If anyone should never have made it to the elite of Victorian England's political power that person was Benjamin Disraeli. That is the premise of Christopher Hibbert's superb biography of the late nineteenth century prime minister. Everything about Disraeli marked him as an outsider who should have remained in the ooze below the political food chain. He was from a Jewish middle class ancestry yet somehow he became Queen Victoria's favorite politician as his ability to spellbind the House of Commons with his oratory skills and his overall strategic brilliance made him a force though also a cynical idealist. This is a fantastic biography of an individual that brings to life one of key figures of the latter half of the nineteenth century as well as a feel for the period. Though born in 18804 (died in 1881), the emphasis is on his political career, which brings out the traits of a complicated person in vivid detail. This is must reading for biography fans as Mr. Hibbert brings Disraeli and late Victorian England to life.

A Country Affair
Rebecca Shaw
Three Rivers
ISBN: 1400098203, $12.95

Reticent Kate Howard arrives in the rural Yorkshire hills to work as a receptionist at the Barleybridge Veterinary Hospital that has a vast menagerie of clients ranging from pets to farm animals. The workforce and most of the customers are friendly to the newcomer. Especially nice and encouraging is another outsider Australian veterinarian Scott Spencer, who pushes her to become a vet too though her one attempt at the test was disastrous. Kate is attracted to her handsome mentor, but is wise enough to know she is out of his league. While Scott encourages her to try again, Kate's boyfriend Adam ridicules her dreams and aspirations saying she proven she can't make it. Kate has decisions personal and professional to make turning to her kindhearted boss Joy, who can commiserate as she too furtively love one of the vets. A COUNTRY AFFAIR, the first of the Barleybridge trilogy (COUNTRY WIVES AND COUNTRY LOVERS are to be released in America later), is a terrific amusing inspirational character study. Kate and Joy are the stars as they make decisions on what they want out of life. The support cast is solid and somewhat eccentric whether they are pet owners, other vet employees or the lead duo's family. Fans will appreciate this upbeat insightful look at two women making the best of a good life in a small English village.

The Whole World Over
Julia Glass
Pantheon
ISBN: 0375422749, $25.95

In Manhattan's West Village, Greenie Duquette runs a local basement bakery that provides pastries to neighborhood restaurants, Her close friend renowned restaurateur Walter, in between falling in love again, obtains Greenie a position as the pastry chef to the to the New Mexico governor. To the shock of her spouse, psychiatrist Dr. Alan Glazier, she accepts the position when it is offered to her. Greenie leaves Alan in New York and accompanied by their four-year-old son George travels to the Land of Enchantment. Meanwhile their nearly collapsed marriage is further deteriorated when gay bookseller Fenno McLeod, thirtyish amnesiac Saga, and her Uncle Marsden make demands especially on Alan who wonders why everyone demands his time except the woman he wishes would demand his time. This is a complex family drama in which Alan begins to learn what matters in life as he misses his family even as the demands on his time expand to somewhat fill the void. The cast is powerful and genuine while the estranged lead couple struggle thousands of miles apart over a year deciding what they want from life and each other culminating with the collapse of the Towers symbolizing everything to them. Readers will take immense delight with Julia Glass's strong insightful look at people stressed by life and not appreciating what they have.

Bring It On
Laura Anne Gilman
Luna
ISBN: 0373802404, $14.95, 304 pp.

Wren Valerie is a Retrieval Artist (some might call her a thief) who is a Talent using a charge of power, many times electrical in nature to use her magic. Her latest case involves Anna Rosen, a Null (a human with no talent) who wants Wren to retrieve a piece of jewelry that is in her stepmother's possession even though it belonged to Anna's mother. She accepts the job without letting her Null business partner and lover Sergei Didier as a way of asserting her independence. Wren's attention is wrenched away from the job when it looks like the different factions in Manhattan are going to battle. The fatae (magical sentient creatures once though to belong only in fantasy or children's books) are the victim of human hate crimes, lonejacks, independent operators like Wren are disappearing and the fatae doesn't want to join forces with the lonejacks who have ignored them in the past. All factions think the Mage Council is behind the vigilante assaults, the disappearances and the forcible attempts to bring the lonejacks to heel. Wren proposes an alliance between the fatae and the lonejacks and is spearheading the unification believing they must to stand together to survive whatever the Council is planning. The latest Reviewer novel is an action-packed romantic fantasy in which different factions of the magical community make alliances in preparation for a possible war with the Mage Council. Laura Anne Gilman is in the same League as Laurell K. Hamilton, creating a world where humans, magical beings and Talents all know about each other and sometimes even mange to co-exist peacefully. Ms. Gilman is a great world builder who makes readers desire to believe her world actually exists.

Cast in Courtlight
Michelle Sagara
Luna
ISBN: 0373802447, $13.95, 400 pp.

Not many people cross the Abalyne River to escape the fiefs, territories where warlords rule with an iron fist. Kaylin is one of the few, as she now works under the Lord of Hawks at the Halls of Laws policing the streets. The ruler of Karaazon, the Dragon Emperor, a real dragon, has taken an interest in Kaylin who has magic in her that must be trained and because she wears the mark of the immortal Barrani outcast Lard Nightshade. Through the machinations of her friend and fellow Hawk, the Barrani Teela, Kaylin saves the life of the Lord of the West March through her healing powers. By doing so she learns his real name and forges a bond between the immortal and the human. She is taken to the Barrani High Court where she discovers that the Lord of the West March's brother is dying because someone has his name. He wants Kaylin to find out who it is because if she can't the Barrani race will die at a time the world will need their powers. Kaylin agrees, but first must understand her own powers before she begins her odyssey. Michelle Sagara is a great fantasist who makes it seems normal than different that sentient races including dragon, Barrani, human, avian and leoninee live together in harmony. The audience gets to see and understand the Barrani culture and it makes one wonder if they are really a product of the author's imagination or if they actually exist. Magic is taken for granted in this world's society and even though the feisty heroine doesn't want to practice, events force her to learn to wield her powers or watch death take charge of the realm.

The Dawn Star
Catherine Asaro
Luna
ISBN: 0373802382, $14.95 480 pp.

Cobalt the Dark married Mel Dawnfield so that Harsdown would eventually return to Cobalt's heirs because it is part of his wife's dowry. What began as a marriage of state quickly became a love match. He conquered Sharize and Blue Shire and is heir to the Misted Cliffs, ruled by his abusive grandfather Stonebreaker who made his and his mother's life miserable as a child. Cobalt would love to add Jazid and Taka Mal to his empire but Mel doesn't want her husband to become the dictator of the world. The country of Taka Mal, fearing Cobalt's expansionist ideas, kidnap the queen of Aronsdale's brother Drummer, Mel's uncle and a minstrel with a voice that could make grown men weep for joy. The ruling queen Jade quickly falls under Drummer's spell and wants to marry him because Cobalt would never call out his wife's family. Before that plan could be put into motion, Mel is kidnapped and it is made to look like Taka Mal performed the deed. Cobalt marches towards Taka Mal intending to level it unless Mel can escape her prison and explain the truth to her beloved. Nebula award winner Catherine Asaro writes a spellbinding romantic fantasy as well as she does hard science fiction. Fans of her Skollan empire series will find THE DAWN STAR a softer, more people driven tale with characters well suited for this sword and sorcery tale. Although there are plenty of action scenes, the plot is more about political chicanery and the political intrigue scenes are fascinating.

Literacy and Longing in L. A.
Jennifer Kaufman and Karen Mack
Delacorte
ISBN: 0385340176, $22.00

Dora grew up in a Philadelphia household with her sister Virginia in which her mom was a drunk who destroyed two cars in less than a year with one landing in the Schuylkill River mud. Dad, knowing his clubs were ruined, began his odyssey to stay away from home until finally he never returned. When things were bad, which seemed the normal, Dora and Virginia leaped into the world of literature, binging on the written word. Years later, both siblings remain extremely close to one another, but Virginia has her feet solidly planted in reality while Dora still runs away to literature when the going gets rough. She has been married twice and at one time after Columbia was a rising journalistic star in Los Angeles, but that was a decade ago. Her second husband Palmer supports her financially especially her book binges, but he always wondered whether she cared as he is no longer wastes his emotions on depressing Dora the non-explorer. Dora meets comparative literature professor Fred at a bookstore and soon afterward his mother, Bea, who is raising her granddaughter six years old (Fred's niece) yet "adopts" Dora. Though the ending seems off kilter from the deep look at a person in mental trouble, fans will appreciate this strong character study. Dora is a great person who faces problems by hiding in books. The cast is fully developed to bring out Dora's only means of coping book binging. Fans will relate to the thirtyish protagonist as she struggles in life but receives a boost from Bea, who acts like a surrogate mother as she not the two men in Dora's life help her. This terrific tale has the audience rooting for Dora.

Moonsinger
Andre Norton
Baen
ISBN: 1416520619, $25.00

"Moon of Three Rings". When Free Trader ship Lydis lands on Yiktor crew member Krip Vorlund attends a beast show where he meets and is attracted to Maelen, the owner of the "little people" animal players. When he intercedes in an incident involving her, the local law arrests him only to have others abduct him. Maelen mentally stays in contact with Krip and will do anything to rescue him even violate the code of the Thassa that she is a member of in good standing. "Exiles of the Stars". Krip and Maelen are crewmembers on the Lydis though his body is now that of a Thassa thanks to her sorcery while she hides as one of her "little people" animals. The ship debarks at Thoth, but a religious civil war forces a quick reloading of cargo, the valuable Forerunner artifacts to be delivered to Ptah. However, a gadget hidden inside one of the cargo items forces an emergency landing on an allegedly uninhabited Sekhmet. Instead Forerunners reside on the orb using ESP to control others to do their bidding; that is, when they do not snatch their body for their own use. The reprint in one book of two classic Andre Norton tales will showcase how great this author has been over the past five or so decades. Each novel is terrific as science fiction meets fantasy especially with the traits of the various races (some being more science fi while others are fantasy); that ability to move back and forth effortlessly between the two genres is a trademark of the incomparable Ms. Norton. Fans will enjoy the two Krip-Maelen thrillers that entertain yet leaves readers considering ethical principles like a forced body exchange as a rape. This reviewer thinks it is great to see the duo back in print.

Enslave Me Sweetly
Gena Showalter
Downtown
ISBN: 0743497503, $13.00

Once a Raka princess, Eden Black is one of the deadliest Assassins on earth. She is assigned to kill EenLi, but the target escapes and Eden is injured. To assist her, Eden, already humiliated by her failure to accomplish the mission, is outraged when she is assigned a partner and making matters worse, a human male. Her new partner Lucius Adaire finds it amusing that a female assassin allegedly exists, but is assigned to work with the beautiful golden skined alien. As a team they are expected to infiltrate and end the human slave trade that sends earthling to other planets. As they work this impossible mission, Lucius and Eden are attracted to one another. As the danger mounts, they begin to fall in love, but first completing the assignment must be achieved before they can explore their feelings. This sequel to the delightful police procedural romantic sci fi AWAKEN ME DARKLY is a terrific tale due to the respective attitudes of the new teammates. Initially he scoffs at a female doing his line of work and she ridicules a human especially a male keeping up with her. As they work the case together respect and admiration take root along with their attraction which turns to love. The investigation grips readers while Gena Showalter makes her world filled with aliens seem genuine because of it. Fans will appreciate this superb science fiction investigative tale.

Everyone Worth Knowing
Lauren Weisberger
Downtown
ISBN: 0743262336, $14.00

Unable to take her tedious job at a Manhattan investment bank, twenty-seven years old Bettina "Bette" Robinson quits. While her born again responsible parents (former hippies) have cardiac arrest that she is throwing her life away, her Uncle Will obtains her a job at Kelly & Company, a public relations firm. One of her assignments at her new job is to show up looking hot at the in parties and galas. However, Bette, not known for her innovative fashion consciousness, is soon being photographed about the town with hunk Philip Weston, considered one of the most eligible bachelors in town. Her schedule turns zany with demands from her escort, her friends and family, and the media. However, the only one she wants demands from is Sammy the nightclub bouncer, but he feels she is out of his league as one of "them" and even her best friend Penelope from the pre gala dive bar days feels alienated while the gossip columns turn predatory. Though she lacks Prada, Bette is a likable individual whose fifteen minutes of fame proves her undoing as she begins to turn her back on those loyal to her until she realizes that EVERYONE WORTH KNOWING she sees from "the inside looking out" at them. Modernizing and changing the gender of Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter, readers will appreciate Bette's lessons that being a party girl is not as cracked up as it might seem. Though much of the support characters come out of the central casting for the jet setter crowd, fans of chick lit tales will enjoy Bette's transformation.

Looking For Mr. Goodbunny
Kathleen O'Reilly
Downtown
ISBN: 0743499417, $13.00

In Manhattan, forty-two years old Alle Sheffield gave up on cads over a decade ago. Her late night companions in her Upper East Side "Castle" are Letterman and Mr. Goodbunny, especially the latter, an expert on providing females with orgasms without unreasonable demands except for buying him batteries. However, as she struggles to become a life coach without her clients like Barbara, Tanja, and Joan killing her, crisis strikes in her life. Her father is being paroled after a stint behind bars, but that is minor league; her high school reunion is coming up soon and she is without a date and not much of a career so far, but that too is also minor league compared to the world shattering grief she suffers. Mr. Goodbunny just died leaving her to mourn the loss of her companion of almost a decade; finding a replacement vibrator will be nearly impossible as American craftsmanship now comes from China and she can't speak the language. She thinks of committing heresy and an insult to the memory of her deceased hero Mr. Goodbunny by trying a man this time. LOOKING FOR MR. GOODBUNNY is an amusing satirical chick lit tale starring an odd heroine who has her priorities in some sort of chaotic order. Fans will enjoy the irony that Alle is a life coach when she struggles to make sense of her own life, which in her mind provides her experience to go along with her training certificate. A strong support cast including the title character and a delightfully wacky queen of chaos star make for a fun tale that will send sub-genre readers seeking Kathleen O'Reilly's Faust enters the chick lit realm tale THE DIVA'S GUIDE TO SELLING YOUR SOUL.

Crooked
Brian M. Wiprud
Dell
ISBN: 0440243122, $6.99, 320 pp.

Taxidermist Garth Carson has a charming scoundrel for a brother but at least for now Nicholas Palihnic is working on to right side of the law as Newcastle Insurance hires him to find a stolen Moolrman painting. A man calls him stating he wants the painting returned to the proper owner. When Nicholas goes to informant's apartment, he finds the painting stolen from the thief and the man murdered. When the police arrive, Nicholas is arrested but a high powered lawyer that he didn't call gets the charges dropped. He finds out Nicasia, who also works for Trident, helped get him out of jail because the head of the Manhattan investigative unit wants something in return. The love of her life, Barney Swires a former thief and collector was supposedly killed in the seas off Costa Rica by pirates and his body eaten by a crocodile. She wants Nicholas to go to Costa Rica and find out what happened to Barney. However in the meantime, Barney is very much alive and staying in New York He was hired to dig up the ship the Bunker Hill that lies underground in Manhattan, which purportedly has a fortune in gold pellets on it. What happens next is a series of double triple and even quadruple crosses with all the players involved in the crimes distrusting one another. Readers looking for a delightfully zany and totally charming crime caper to read that has characters who could be the hero, the villain or both; then look no further than Brian' M. Wiprud's latest work (see STUFFED and PIPSQUEAK), a totally charming serio-comedic thriller that constantly has the audience off guard as one shocking surprise follows another. Garth and his significant other Angie make a cameo appearance after starring in the two previous madcap tales.

The Monsters: Mary Shelley and the Curse of Frankenstein
Dorothy & Frank Hoobler
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316000787, $24.95

This fabulous biography of Mary Shelly contains a fascinating but not proven seemingly invalid premise that grips readers like this reviewer who saw it coming and still kept reading. The Hooblers argue eloquently that those who were at the Swiss villa where Frankenstein was written all were cursed with death in a short period afterward; anecdotal evidence seems to support their captivating premise, but this seems similar to the proof that computers found a hidden code in the bible (computers also proved likewise in the Constitution). Still this argument adds to a delightful look at Mary Shelley, whose famous mother started the feminist movement in the late eighteenth century but died eleven days after Mary's birth. As a teen Mary married romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and was a mother by nineteen. The authors claim she is Victor surrounded by arrogant artistic human monsters so when she accepted Byron's challenge she used her real life of acceptance of them and that death is the outcome of life as the themes of her masterpiece. Interesting biography due to the assertions made by the authors.

Night Gardener
George Pelecanos
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316156507, $24.95

Washington DC Police Department Violent Crime Detective Gus Ramone has been a good cop for over two decades, but the latest case assigned to him hits home personally on two fronts. First the victim Asa Johnson is a friend of Gus' teenage son; second the crime scene data and related information reminds him of a serial killer never caught when Gus was in his second year on the force. Adding to his feel of deja vu is who found the corpse. Back in 1985, Gus was watching renowned Detective T.C. Cook with an over 90 per cent resolution rate work the now cold case with another second year cop Dan Holiday watching like Gus in awe. Dan, who left WPD under a cloud of alleged misconduct, found the current corpse. He and Cook see this latest homicide as a chance for redemption and inveigle their way into Gus' investigation while the lead detective feels the passion flow that he has lacked in years. The three cops make George Pelecanos' latest tale a must read police procedural as the author takes the theme of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly into 2005 DC. The action-packed story line is driven by the differing self actualization needs of the threesome, which is deftly interwoven into the investigative plot. THE NIGHT GARDENER will be on everyone's short list for sub-genre book of the year as the True Grit sleuths seek solace with stopping a serial killer returned from their failed past.

The Bird Woman
Kerry Hardie
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316076236, $24.99

Residing in Ireland, thirty-six years old Ellen McKinnon begins her trek home to Derry, North Ireland to say her goodbyes to her dying mother. She thinks back to her past when her first late husband physically and mentally abused her; she dreams of her stillborn child; her time in a Belfast mental asylum because she foolishly mentioned her clairvoyance visions; and finally when she first met Liam, her current spouse, who has encouraged her to be all that she can be. A sculptor Liam and their friend the former nun Catherine coaxed Ellen to share her gift with those ailing. She began to become involved in her community. Before long as her reputation grew, Ellen tried to tear down the mental loathing that divides Northerners from Southerners as she sought a sense of belonging to her spouse, her birth nation, her adopted country, and her heritage. THE BIRD WOMAN is a poignant character study focusing on a woman searching for a sense of purpose and place that she can call home. The story line is somewhat passive as Kerry Hardie concentrates on insuring the audience understands what makes Ellen tick. The support cast augments the full understanding of a somewhat reticent outsider with divided loyalties trying to find where she fits in.

The Dead Hour
Denise Mina
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316735949, $24.99

In 1984, Scottish Daily News twenty-one years old crime reporter Patricia "Paddy" Meehan arrives at an elegant house in the upper crust Glasgow suburb of Bearsden where a handsome man is talking with police officers McGregor and Gourlay. He informs her and the cops that everything is fine, that it will not happen again and that they prefer it kept out of the papers as he hands her a fifty pound note. Though the journalist remains concerned when she notices that political activist and lawyer Vhari Burnett's face is bloodied and bruised, Paddy agrees to remain quiet accepting the bribe as apparently did the cops too. The next day Paddy feels guilty for her actions when she learns that Vhari was murdered; worse she feels incompetent for not seeing that the culprit had already knocked out Vhari's teeth by the time she arrived. Paddy feels she let herself down by selling out her ethics and vows never again while also pondering the reason Vhari failed to leave with them when she could. When the cops pull a suicide victim out of the river, Paddy sees a link between the two cases. She seeks that tie as a means to atone from her personal fall from grace. Paddy's second appearance (see A FIELD OF BLOOD) is a fabulous investigative journalist whodunit starring a woman learning her profession on the job and in this case receives a powerful life and death lesson on ethics. The story line is centered on Paddy's efforts to uncover the truth especially her theory linking the two deaths that her more experienced crime beat peers scoff at. Denise Mina writes a terrific Scottish mystery filled with a strong support cast, a gritty look at the city compared to a posh suburb, and an optimistic heroine who lost a strip of her idealism.

Rogue Angel: Destiny
Alex Archer
Gold Key
ISBN: 0373621191, $6.50

Archeologist Annja Creed performs field investigations for the TV cable show Chasing History's Monsters. Her work takes the intrepid scientist around the world. Her current assignment is to assess the Beast of Gevaudan, known locally in Lozere, France as La Bete. Her preliminary research reports that La Bete apparently killed approximately one hundred people from 1764 to 1767. Annja has professional doubts as she anticipates the number is exaggerated and that the deaths probably were from culprits using the myth of La Bete to conceal murder. To her amazement the case takes a bizarre twist when Annja uncovers an ancient artifact, a charm that she found when she met deadly fifteenth century monks still alive and willing to kill anyone who uncovers their secrets. However that is only the beginning as someone else wants the charm and the secrets; that person is much more dangerous to the world than the monks are with his first step capturing Annja who flees from this occultist adversary and his minion and the Brotherhood, unable to trust anyone. This first action-packed Creed tale takes a page or 345 from the Indiana Jones thrillers and combines them with the Historical Channel's Solving History's Mysteries and compares favorably to both. The story line is fast-paced from the moment that the heroine leaves Brooklyn for France and never slows down as everyone seems to want a piece of Annja. Fans will appreciate this stand alone thriller, but also want more archeological investigations into historical monsters.

Back In the Game
Holly Chamberlin
Strapless
ISBN: 0758207972, $12.95

In Boston, the four women are recently divorced, but not as upset by the split as expected. Perhaps that is because the quartet knows that fifty percent of that sacred institution that need amendments to keep pure end up broken. Each of the women is concerned whether to dive into the icy depths of dating. Matt and Jess Marlowe married in love, but divorced in hate as she became an adulteress. Richard and Nell Keats stayed together through two decades plus and two children until he informed her he loved Bob Landry. Laura (Nell's sister) and Duncan Costello disagreed vehemently over having children as she wanted rugrats while he wanted to remain a dink (double income no kids) family. Grace and Simon Henley ended their marital relationship because he slept with others, but she still supports him financially and emotionally especially when he breaks up with his latest flavor of the hour. These four single females want to take Boston like a northeasterner, but that dive into the harbor is so frightening yet each takes the plunge seeking the right man or men this time around. The ensemble lead female cast rotates perspective in this fine look at relationships after the marriage is over. That approach provides the reader with a wider scope of reactions, but also feels slightly disjointed. Though well written with interesting protagonists struggling with to date or not to date, the aptly titled BACK IN THE GAME would have been better suited as four novellas to ease tracking of the stars, all of whom are worth knowing.

Calder Storm
Janet Dailey
Kensington
ISBN: 0758204426, $24.00

In Montana, Trey Calder, heir to the Calder Cattle Company and its vast Triple C Ranch, meets photographer Sloan Davis at the Miles City Bucking Horse Sale known locally as the "Cowboys Mardi Gras". The pair is attracted immediately to one another and sees each other even after everyone has left Miles City for their homes. After a short courtship and a warm welcome to the family-less newcomer, they both know they are in love and marry. Paradise collapses shortly after Sloan learns she is pregnant as each soon finds a reason to distrust the other. Trey has found about a secret that Sloan kept from him about her past, a link to Fort Worth's Maresco CEO, Max Rutledge, who blames the Calders for the death of his son. Sloan begins to hear that Trey is having an affair, drug trafficking, and the family plans to bury her reputation with dirt including some that is made up if they fail to uncover enough to do a real nasty spin. Though a bit slow paced, the latest Calder saga tale grips fans of the series due to the heat, passion, and anger between the fifth generation and the outsider orphan. Rutledge provides a powerful realistic threat as he gradually spreads his venom while the support cast, mostly family members and of course the Big Sky Country, add depth to the best entry in several years.

Antiques Roadkill
Barbara Allan
Kensington
ISBN: 0758211910, $22.00

Brandy Borne is not sure if she is on antidepressant medicine because of her recent divorce or returning to her hometown of Serenity, overlooking the Mississippi River, to live with her unhinged Red Hat mother Vivian and her social airs elitist wannabe sister Peggy Sue. However, adding to Brandy's depression is that her mom, under some powerful meds, sold family antique furniture to an unprincipled dealer, Clint Carson, for almost nothing. Irate Vivian confronts Carson over his conning a mentally deficient person, but the dealer says legally he provided the consideration in terms of the agreed upon compensation. Not long after her public outrage towards Carson, someone runs him over on a remote country lane near the dealer's farmhouse. Local law enforcement feels Brandy has the motive making her the prime suspect with the only other person of interest being her mother, who may have been motivated by her daughter's tantrum. Brandy thinks otherwise as the list of people wanting to kill Carson is much of the county, but especially a horde of senior citizens he cheated just like he did her mom. Brandy and Vivian high on medicine investigate as neither trust the cops to be thorough, but there are warnings from much of their neighbors to back off as no one wants the secretes of not so Serenity revealed. Amateur sleuth fans will enjoy traipsing around Serenity looking for a valuable antique amongst someone's garbage as much as observing Brandy and Vivian tripping over one another seeking to uncover the identity of the killer. During their detecting the two women unearth many of their neighbors' skeletons, which is why so many tell the Borne duo to back down. Fans will enjoy this lighthearted antiques whodunit with Brandy's side tips on collecting a bonus.

With You and Without You
Deborah J. Wolf
Kensington
ISBN: 0758213832, $14.00

Patrick and Allyson Houlihan live a contented upper middle class life raising two daughters, thirteen years old Lydia and ten years old Becca until he died in a car accident. The three females he left behind mourn deeply the loss of the family patriarch and adjust to a downscale lifestyle with the death of the prime breadwinner. Over a year later, the trio still struggles with the loss. Allyson worries about her daughters as Becca hides in soccer, but is now injured, and Lydia no longer wants to dance and turns sneaky. Both reject their mom's attempts to help them cope. As the two sisters lose interest in school and favorite activities, the family seems on the verge of collapse as the three females drift further apart. That is until a new crisis forces everyone to reassess their needs in consideration of the better good with Patrick's best friend Michael as a rock of strength for the still grieving Houlihan women. This incredibly poignant contemporary tale makes several valid points that grief is personal and takes time that will vary from person to person and that relationship dynamics adjust when the parameters change. In this case, the death of Patrick leaves his beloved family mourning in different ways even after a year has passed and their interrelationships have changed because the fourth part of the family puzzle no longer is there. Deborah J. Wolf will leave her audience pondering life with and without loved ones in this deep thought provoking family drama.

Bones to Pick
Carolyn Haines
Kensington
ISBN: 0758210906, $22.00, 304 pp.

After her failure to attain her dream of becoming an actress, Sarah Booth Delaney returned to her hometown of Zinnia, Mississippi to try and save her childhood home Dahlia House. She succeeds after stealing her future partner's dog and collecting the fee. Now the business is doing will and the business is gaining recognition and rich clients. Except for her love life, Sara Booth's life is perfect even if the household haunt Jitty, a servant of a former Delaney occupant, nags her to get married and have children. Her latest case is to find out who killed Quentin McGee, a writer who dished out the dirt on the rich and powerful in her tell-all book. The police have arrested Allison Tatum whose shoeprint were found at the murder scene and witnesses reported a lover's quarrel believe the victim and the suspect shortly before she died. The problem in this case is that there are so many other people who wanted Quentin dead because she laid bare their secrets for the whole world to know. As with every case involving Sarah Booth, she winds up in danger but this time her partner is also in the hands of a dangerous serial killer. Carolyn Haines is a writer that always delivers a charming crime caper that is a combination delightful and humorous regional mystery inside a foreboding southern gothic. Readers will enjoy this terrific tale whether they solve the case or not because BONES TO PICK is a beguiling tale. A fast paced plot, a creative storyline and excellent drawn characters make this cozy something out of the ordinary.

Murder in the Heartland
M. William Phelps
Kensington
ISBN: 0758215568, $23.00

Nine days before Christmas in 2004 in Nodaway County, Missouri the mother of Bobbie Jo Stinnett hysterically calls 911 as her eight months pregnant daughter lies in a pool of blood and her baby gone. The police arrive at the grisly scene to begin an investigation into the murder of the mom and the apparent abduction of the infant ripped from her womb. Three hours west in Melvern, Kansas, Lisa Montgomery calmly dresses her newborn to provide proof to her family and friends she was pregnant as she claimed. Not long after an alert for the infant, the horrific story became known and Lisa was arrested. The events of this gruesome murder will fascinate true crime readers in a macabre way similar to the way IN COLD BLOOD did, but MURDER IN THE HEARTLAND fails to dig deep into the psyche of Lisa so the audience never fathoms how she expected to pull off her deadly ruse. Still genre fans will ponder how far someone will go to achieve an objective as Lisa methodically planned the crime itself (and less so the aftermath) once she met Bobbie Jo through their mutual vocation of raising rat terriers.

Brethren: An Epic Adventure of the Knights Templar
Robin Young
Dutton
ISBN: 0525949755, $25.95

In 1260 two dedicated men, believers in the righteousness of their religious cause, join opposite sides in the Holy Land war. In the Kingdom of Jerusalem, Egyptian Sultan Baybars Bundukdari commands forces dedicated to the Prophet Mohamed with fervor to rid their homeland of the invading western infidels. In London, Knights Templar Sir William Campbell joins the western army crusading to take back the Holy Land from the Muslim horde. At the same time these two committed individuals begin the trek towards religious combat and more in the Holy Land, a theft in Paris of the Book of the Grail could prove even more confrontational and definitely impact the two adversaries. This tome describes the heretical plan to radically change the world in the image of the top secret Knights Templar sect the Brethren. Thus on 3 September 1260, three events in three different locations that tenuously tie together will impact religion and people, if successful, as much as Mohamed, Moses, and Jesus have. Above is the opening sequence to one of the best Templar tales on the market in recent years. Robin Young easily switches perspective predominantly between the two enemies so that readers fully understand the motivations of both sides. The story line is fast-paced filled with historical tidbits and the preparation for battle and the skirmishes, but also has a romantic sidebar between the idealistic Templar and the Sultan's niece and a mystery as William seeks to find the Book of the Grail. BRETHREN is more than just an epic adventure of the Knights Templar; it is a terrific thirteenth century thriller.

Enchanted - Erotic Bedtime Stories For Women
Nancy Madore
Spice
ISBN: 0373605099, $13.95

Using thirteen fairy tales and converting them into erotica tales, Nancy Madore provides an enchanting heated spin to popular stories like Snow White, Cinderella, The Ugly Duckling, Beauty and the Beast and Goldilocks, etc. The tales are fun to read especially when compared to the original (or at least your memory of such), Shelly Long's Fairy Tale Theatre, and the Fractured Fairy Tales of R&B. Each story is fun with spicy alterations and twists into something ardent like kissing the dwarfs turn them into princes, Mrs. Fox and Mrs. Wolf discussing husband swapping, Beauty missing the Beast in her spousal prince or The Empress' New Clothes.

Be My Neat-Heart
Judy Baer
Steeple Hill
ISBN: 0373873670, $4.99

Twenty-nine years old Samantha Smith has made a living out of her obsession for neatness. She is the queen of clutter busters and an anathema to the chaotic messes many people possess because for whatever reason they never toss or give away anything. Carver Advertising executive Ethan Carver hires Sam to organize his files before his new partner arrives next week. His friend Jared Hamilton tells him he is nuts to employ an organizer. However, Sam successfully completes the mission on time. Jared and his partner his sister Molly are opposites as he is organized and she is clutter. When she misplaces key business papers, he heeds Ethan's advice and hires Sam to clean up the "poop". As Sam works on putting in order Molly's mess, she and Jared fall in love though he wonders how someone so efficiently organized could turn his ordered life into chaos. BE MY NEAT-HEART is a great "Love Inspired" romance that amusingly yet poignantly focuses on the realistic issue of cluttering in and out of the office (trust me I understand Molly first hand). The lead pair is a terrific couple as he cannot comprehend why intelligent people need her consulting services and she wonders if she has found her clutter-free soulmate, but worries he will flee in terror once he meets her cat, dog, and sibling as pandemonium is their forte. Readers will appreciate this fine inspirational tale and look forward to Judy Baer's offbeat but welcome next story starring a woman who wonders whether you have hugged your iguana lately.

Window Dressing
Nikki Rivers
Harlequin Next
ISBN: 0373880987, $5.50

Though they been divorced for a decade, Lauren Campbell had not expected the rat to do what he did. When their son left home to attend college, her spouse sold the house she has resided in all these years without warning her of his intent though their legal divorce papers stipulate that his support ends once the nest is empty. Lauren realizes she must take care of herself and can no longer rationalize that she is raising someone else while behaving as a PTA poster mom as she must accept responsibility of having no nest. She accepts work selling cheese in the grocer though she feels a bit uncomfortable dressing up like a milkmaid. Though lacking skills after looking within, Lauren decides she must find something fulfilling, but before she can learn to fish she must first eat. Thus Lauren begins the transformation to self sufficiency obtaining a job and perhaps a lover. This is a poignant yet humorous look at a middle age woman struggling with more than just empty nest syndrome as her former spouse forces her by his actions to see her current lifestyle for what it is: empty. Rather than brood, Lauren moves on starting with her cheesy job and soon finds she enjoys life much more participating as herself rather than the image of a nurturing mom with no aspect of her life solely her own. Nikki Rivers provides a deep powerful look beyond the WINDOW DRESSING at self actualizing who is the true essence of a person as all of us wear different roles in varying relationships.

Finding Home
Marie Ferrarella
Harlequin Next
ISBN: 0373880952, $5.50

Stacey Sommers keeps thinking of Peggy Lee's line "Is That All There Is? as she finds life is no fun because her spouse Brad is worse than Silas Marnor hording every penny as if he can take it with him. When he fails to acknowledge their anniversary, she wonders if her forgot or refused to spend money. Thus when her uncle passes away, Brad is euphoric as she inherits a tidy sum that he expects to add to their already endowed retirement. He is not as elated over the canine Dog that comes with the cash. However, her uncle's will contains a stipulation that Stacey waste the money on something she wants or forfeit it. While her husband is chagrined at tossing away the cash that he feels should join their investments and tries to persuade her that is what she wants, Stacey decides to renovate their house without asking Brad. He is shocked even if their house needs repair, but is he stunned enough to end their relationship after all these years? The key to this fabulous realistic character study is not the heroine deciding to take a chance, but her clueless husband who cares and wants to do right by them, but fails to comprehend what Stacey is telling him. The story line is driven by their relationship as she turns assertive and he bewildered. Contemporary fans will appreciate this deep honest character study.

The English Wife
Doreen Roberts
Harlequin Next
ISBN: 0373880979, $5.50

In Seattle, attorney James Starrett informs Marjorie Maitland that her late spouse fifty-four years old investments consultant Brandon left her a cottage in Miles End, Devon in England. She had no idea that they owned property overseas that he bought three months after their marriage, twenty-seven years ago. The final shockers are an Eileen something or other resides rent free in the cottage and the photo of a strange woman with the note "I'm sorry" on it. Though one not used the venturing out, Marjorie decides she must know the truth by uncovering the secret that her spouse hid from her in their almost three decades of marriage. The truth is across the ocean in a little cottage where Eileen something or other lives. Marjorie knows what she might learn could devastate her, but England is her destination. Readers will accompany Marjorie as the audience will want to know what happened and why Brandon hid what he did from his wife. The mystery is clever as it enables the reader to observe a middle age woman forced to put her grief aside because her emotional pull is the truth and its potential affect that her married life was built on a lie. Doreen Roberts provides a strong character driven tale.

Irresistible
Susan Mallery
HQN
ISBN: 0373771177, $6.99

After fifteen years as a marine, Walker Buchanan leaves the service to come home to Seattle. When his beloved died from breast cancer Walker vowed never to love again as his loss wrenched his heart. To love is much more difficult to deal with than fighting terrorists. When his neighbor single mom Elissa Towers needs her tire changed, Walker's code of ethics makes him take over in spite of her irritation that he does so. Elissa admits to herself he is a hunk, but has pledged to never go out with a man ever again. However, her five-year-old Zoe desperately wants a daddy and believes the ex marine is the perfect person to fulfill the mission. To their mutual chagrin, each is attracted to the other, but both swear to themselves to only fantasize about the others. Neither factored in other stakeholders like a precocious child, their families and their neighbors' matchmaking the reluctant pair. This is a fine contemporary romance starring two likable walking wounded souls who find more than just love with one another; each obtains solace as they have someone willing to listen. The support cast augments the audience's understanding of what motivates the protagonist to not fall in love. Sub-genre fans will appreciate this fun throwback tale in which the stars do not wish to risk their already burned heart. The second installment of Ms. Mallery's Buchanan family is a DELICIOUS winner.

Deceived
Nicola Cornick
HQN
ISBN: 0373771649, $5.99

In 1816 Princess Isabella Di Cassilis returns to London after a time away from the country to learn that her late husband left her with quite a debt. Isabella weighs her options and concludes she has three distasteful choices to select from. She can leave England to never return; she can remain in London until they incarcerate her in debtor's prison; or she can marry. Isabella decides to buy a husband who is incarcerated for life on the Fleet prisons. Her choice is Marcus Stockhaven, whom she jilted at the altar to elope with royalty. Marcus agrees to marry his former fiance as he believes they have some issues needing resolution. He plans to start with their marriage that he assumes will be consummated once he completes his undercover assignment on the prison Fleet unaware that his new wife will be caught in the middle. DECEIVED is a terrific Regency romance starring two souls in love, but their mutual past makes it seem impossible that either will be the first to let the other know how much they care. The story line is filled with action but owned by the battling protagonists as each misunderstands the other even as they did back in India when they first met and fell in love. Fans will enjoy this fine historical starring two individuals trying to gain control of the passion that freely flows between them.

The Commander
Kate Bridges
Harlequin
ISBN: 0373294107, $5.50

In 1895 in Calgary, Alberta an out of control wildfire on the nearby prairie threatens the city with every able person ready to help stop the calamity. Especially prepared is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. At the same time the fire approaches Calgary, Donovan "Ryan" Reid has returned home after being away for a decade to join the British military. He left behind barmaid Julia Adare, who loved him but after he left married Brandon O'Shea; five years ago he died leaving her a widow with a son Pete and a newspaper the Calgary Town Crier to run. Julia detests herself because she still desires the one man who thought she wasn't good enough for him. Ryan knew the moment he left ten years ago he made a mistake as he loved and still does Julia. Now it is too late when he sees how much the woman he humiliated hates him. What she does not know is he left because he believed he was unworthy of her, but if he could turn back the hands of time he would have told her that he loved her but she deserved better than a lousy loser like him. Still he will do what he can to help his beloved, his family and his hometown fight the fire. THE COMMANDER, the final Reid Trilogy tale (see THE BACHELOR and THE PROPOSITION), is a thrilling late nineteenth century Canadian historical with a strong romantic underpinning. The fire that threatens Calgary is the prime character perhaps because of the prevalent wildfires today. The story line provides a deep look at 1890s Calgary during a crisis yet also a strong second chance at love subplot combined with the encroaching inferno make for a strong finish to an insightful miniseries.

Vanessa's Match
Judy Christenberry
Harlequin American
ISBN: 0373751214, $4.99

Her superior Dr. Cavanaugh at the university's Psychology Department asks Dr. Vanessa Shaw to help a fifteen year old girl, who tried to commit suicide following the death of her mother in a car accident. Lindy Austin is in the hospital and obviously needs professional assistance, which is enough to motivate Vanessa, but the Austin family has also donated millions to the university. Over the next five days Vanessa treats Lindy with care and finally takes the teen into her mother's Dallas home. When Lindy's half brother and now guardian, Richard Austin returns from business in Japan, Vanessa makes it abundantly clear that he should have placed his sister's needs first. They argue over her care until she shakes him when she states Lindy tried to kill herself. They continue to battle over his neglect and subsequent rationalization, but he wants the best for the little half-sister he does not know. As Vanessa and Richard fall in love while nurturing Lindy, he realizes they have no future together because he remains a condemned man having failed family 101, something that his beloved cannot forgive as she only recently reconnected with her long lost siblings. Though the "born again" fanaticism of Vanessa can become irritating, she is a realistic protagonist who feels strongly loved ones must come first. Thus Richard who knows he has met his soulmate realizes he has to climb Mounts Everest and K2 at the same time to persuade his beloved that she, his half-sister, her family, and their future family come first in his heart. Judy Christenberry provides a fascinating family drama focusing on what matters.

The Player
Ronda Nelson
Harlequin Blaze
ISBN: 037379259X, $4.75

US Army Ranger Jamie Flanagan and two buddies (Guy and Payne) left the military after their last assignment turned ugly. However, as he says goodbye to his Commander Garrett, he and the others promise to be there to do any favor their superior asks of them. Garrett calls in his favor owed by now Atlanta based security specialist Flanagan asking him to protect his granddaughter Aubrey Kincaid, who runs a de-stressing camp in Maine for executives over the edge. She was one of them until a heart attack warned her to slow down when she in her twenties. Garrett informs his granddaughter that a stressed out former soldier needs her special help and as a favor to him she should take care of Jamie. Neither knows that Garrett using his military experience has planned the perfect strategy to get two people he cares about to meet and he believes fall in love. The lead duet is a terrific pairing as known by her Machiavellian grandfather and affirmed by pleased readers. The humorous story line is fun to follow as both believe they are doing a favor for Garrett by taking care of the other. Amused fans will appreciate Ronda Nelson's fine contemporary and look forward to the tales of the remaining two players.

Destiny's Hand
Lori Wilde
Harlequin Blaze
ISBN: 0373792646, $4.75

A decade ago Morgan Shaw married Adam, a workaholic Wall Street banker. Now looking back she concludes he is married to his job. Still they agree to go on a special anniversary second honeymoon to France until his job forces him to cancel the trip. At the end of her rope, Morgan decides to go alone leaving a stunned Adam left behind in New York. Her objective is to find the missing White Star amulet in which she has the box that once contained it. However, someone else has other plans for the amulet and eliminating a nosy American is not a problem. Adam knows he misses his wife and worries her obsession will lead to danger so he follows her to Europe. Though Morgan's reason for leaving her spouse behind makes sense her efforts to continue to seek the amulet once she realizes the danger seems off kilter; a hazardous by-product of most amateur sleuth tales. Still she is a delightful individual whose actions force her spouse to realize what he might lose. Fans of second chance at love mixed in with a tense thriller that requires a bit of acceptance will enjoy a walk on the Wilde side with Morgan as their guide.

A Gift of Grace
Inglath Cooper
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373713525, $5.50

In Albemarle County, when his wife died giving birth Caleb Tucker could not cope with his loss. In a moment of grief in which he never looked at or touched his newborn, he gave his child up for adoption because he felt his daughter would serve as a bad reminder of what he lost when his Laney died. Three years later, Caleb has healed and begins to believe he made the mistake of his life when he walked away from his baby. Furthermore, he is stunned when he sees Sophie Owens walking with a toddler who is the image of his late wife. He knows who she is and decides at that moment to gain custody of his offspring although he knows he will hurt the obviously caring adopted mother who showers little Grace with love. From the opening scene in the hospital where a stunned mourning Caleb holds the hand of his now deceased wife until the final tear filled moment, A GIFT OF GRACE is a heart wrenching contemporary romance starring a strong lead couple and sold supporting characters. The story line is predominantly driven by Caleb who grief as turn to self flagellation for his actions towards his daughter. Readers who enjoy an old fashioned well written tear jerker will appreciate Inglath Cooper's terrific (read at home) character study.

Son of Texas
Linda Warren
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373713541, $5.50

Belle Doe cannot remember who she is until the moment her Texas Ranger Caleb McCain found her. He knows someone wants her dead so the dedicated law enforcement official plans to stay diligent in keeping Belle safe. However, he also finds himself attracted to his ward though he knows once she recovers from her amnesia she will go home assuming it is safe to do so. As Belle begins to remember that she is Josie Marie Beckett, she realizes she has a fiance Eric who she must return to, but also concludes she will miss her caring dedicated Ranger. Still she does not remember why someone wants her dead so Caleb remains at her side until they can stop the unknown culprit. SON OF TEXAS is a delightful romantic suspense thriller that emphasizes the changes to Belle Doe as she slowly regains her memory. The story line is focused on Belle whose life dramatically has altered over the past year as she recovers from amnesia and falls in love. Readers will like Caleb and feel for Eric (needs his tale told) as Linda Warren provides a strong character study of a deciding just who she is, Belle Doe or Josie Marie Beckett.

A Different Kind of Summer
Caron Todd
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 037371355X, $5.50

Gwyn Sinclair was pregnant when her spouse suddenly died. She struggles to balance being the best mom in the world to her son Chris with the need to earn a living to support both of them. To do this in 24 hours means sacrificing her own desires; the widow has no social life. Museum scientist David Bretton lost his wife when she divorced him because science came before her. When Gwyn takes Chris to the museum, they meet David. Both are instantly attracted to one another and he is kind to her son. As they fall in love, he questions her parenting technique as he prefers the cold logic of science while she believes wisdom without compassion is inhuman. This interesting relationship drama stars two likable protagonists whose differing opinions on child raising especially discipline makes for a fascinating tale. Though Gwyn and David fall in love their differences re her son threaten to end their relationship. Fans of contemporary romances will want to read Caron Todd's fine story as the logical scientist and the nurturing mother battle over Shrek vs. Star Trek for an intelligent five year old.

Dad by Default
Jacqueline Diamond
Harlequin American
ISBN: 0373751222, $4.99

In Downhome, Tennessee, the female staff at the Home Boulevard Medical Clinic thinks the new employee Dr. Connor Hardison is quite a hunk. That is almost the entire distaff staff; nurse Yvonne Johnson hates him even before they meet because his reputation is known when it comes to single mothers; he disdains the group and she is a card carrying member with a two years old daughter Bethany whose father she never divulged to anyone because he threatened her with a custody suit and worse if she said anything to anyone. She trusted in the love of a man and vows will not make that mistake again. However, to her chagrin Yvonne finds herself attracted to Connor, which is difficult because she needs the job, but loathes working as the nurse to this temptation of a doctor who she assumes will be like the townsfolk and treat her and her daughter like pariahs. He, to his shock, feels the same way as he vows never to have a relationship with a single mother as he has his own single parenting of young Mike. As Connor and Yvonne fall in love with the help of a crusty matchmaker, both have to adjust their personal pledges if they are to make a family of four and more. This is a well written relationship drama starring two medical professionals with loving "baggage". The story line centers on the relationship between Connor and Yvonne as neither trusts the other yet are attracted to one another even as the eccentric support cast either matchmakes or tears the apart. Though the disdain of Yvonne seems harsh in this modern age even for a small southern town, contemporary romance fans will enjoy Jacqueline Diamond's interesting tale of love between single parents.

Past Sins
Debra Webb
Silhouette Bombshell
ISBN: 0373514107, $4.99

CIA Black Ops assassin Vanessa Clark faked her death in order to escape her life as a trained killer. She reinvents herself as a West Hollywood psychiatrist Doctor Olivia Mills and has prayed every night for the past three years that her past will not come back to haunt her though she knows she did a near perfect job of burying Vanessa. However, one simple call from a Mr. Soderbaum informs her that she failed when he asks her to kill her research scientist boyfriend Jeffrey. She realizes her past as Agent Sheara, Goddess of death, has been reactivated by an enemy the Phantom. Not sure why Jeffrey needs to be killed, she drives east with him to DC to keep him safe and to learn who brought her in from the cold. Her former partner and lover Holt Landry who betrayed her once, set her up to come home because he needs her help to clear both their names on an assignment that went ugly. PAST SINS is a fast-paced thriller starring two individuals who do not trust one another, but need each other if they are to survive the current operation. The story line is filled with action once Holt and Vanessa team up though the web of lies from their past make them less effective than they would have been otherwise. Though the support cast including Jeffrey never seems fully developed, fans of tense espionage thrillers will enjoy the escapades of a pair of top agents running the gauntlet to prove they are clean.

The Firebird Deception
Cate Dermody
Silhouette Bombshell
ISBN: 0373514093, $4.99

CIA Agent Alisha MacAleer is in the mountains of Spain seeking the black box from an American military spycraft plane shot down by an earth-to-sky missile. If by some chance the plane is recognizable she is to take appropriate action to insure no one knows this was a spycraft. Alisha has always been a dedicated agent and patriot, but her mission causes her some major doubts as her country should not be spying on its allies. Adding to her trepidations is the realization too many people seem to know her whereabouts and her mission for something so top secret. Someone is giving her away, but whom. Could it be her former lover and espionage mercenary Frank Reichart who seems the likely one as he probably found the right bidder or perhaps even her so called partner on this clandestine mission Brandon Parker who she begins to believe is a double agent working for some clandestine take over the world group? The simple answer is she has gone paranoid, but it is too dangerous to accept that solution as she must accomplish the assignment to insure her country is not embarrassed. THE FIREBIRD DECEPTION is an exciting espionage thriller with the emphasis on action. Alisha is a fascinating protagonist whose paranoia is intriguing but her consistent switching on who to not trust can become irritating as the audience tired of more flips than Kerry wants to shout TRUST NO ONE. Still Cate Dermody provides an action-packed spy thriller that never slows down from the first climb in the Spanish mountainside to the treks across Europe until the final triangular confrontation.

Exclusive
Katherine Garbera
Silhouette Bombshell
ISBN: 0373514085, $4.99

LASER (Lost Airman's Service) Agent Ben Forsythe is in Berzhaan in the Middle East on a rescue mission involving a TV crew that includes one of his agents taken hostage by an anti American group when he learns that his beloved girlfriend reporter Tory Patton is also there. Tory has arrived seeking her friend and protege, part of the TV crew, missing reporter Andrea Jancey. Ben wants Tory to go home and let him do what he is trained and experienced at performing. However, she refuses as the Athena Academy for the Advancement of Women graduate plans to go it alone if Ben refuses to help her. Knowing how stubborn she can be Ben reluctantly agrees to her insistence that they team up because he believes as long as she is in country Tory is safer at his side. EXCLUSIVE is an action-packed thriller that never slows down from start to finish as the lead pair work on the rescue mission and making love. The lead couple is a delightful pairing because of his concern for his beloved who leaves him no options; think how he would have reacted if he knew she was pregnant. However, what makes the tale is the locals who are not stereotyped especially a Suwan police officer. Katherine Garbera provides a tense adrenaline pumping thriller that never decelerates until the post game hugs.

Daughter of the Flames
Nancy Holder
Silhouette Bombshell
ISBN: 0373514077, $4.99

The dreams seem so real that she wakes up in a sweat and frightened. Twenty-six years old Isabella DeMarco fears the nightmares of being chased by werewolves and vampires that have haunted her six times a year since her mother died ten years ago from an undiagnosed illness. However, what has recently changed and scared her much more because she cannot rationalize a tie to her late mom's death is hearing voices inside her head talking while she is wide awake. Jean-Marc des Ombres introduces himself to Isabella by providing her with an explanation that she initially skeptically rejects but soon reluctantly accepts. She now knows she is adopted and that her biological mother has just died in New Orleans. It is Izzy's turn to take over as the matriarchal head of her family that has fought evil supernatural beings on another plane since Joan was burned at the stake. DAUGHTER OF THE FLAMES is an incredible romantic fantasy in which the characterizations are so real the audience will quickly believe in a protector, vampires, werewolves and other ilk as well as a realm in which magic is a form of physics. The story line is fast-paced and action-packed, but it is the cast especially the heroine now the keeper of the flame who turns this into a must read superb thriller.

The Uncrowned Queen
Posie Graeme-Evans
Atria
ISBN: 0743443748, $14.00

The thirty years of War of the Roses between the Houses of York and Lancaster continue seemingly unabated; no one in England can elude its reach even those who are hidden from the two camps claiming the crown like Anne de Bohun who has feet on both sides of the conflict as the mistress of married King Edward IV and mother of his wrong side of the sheets son while also being the biological daughter of King Henry VI. With her lover in exile in France, Anne has not seen or heard from her Edward in eighteen months as she lives with her son successfully working the merchant trade in Brugge, Belgium until he orders her to come to him on the eve of his crossing the Channel to bring the war back to Henry. If she heeds his message, Anne risks all that she has achieved by diligent hard work to overcome her impoverished servant childhood to have something better for her child, but rationalizes that Edward, the only man she has ever loved, would never harm his offspring even an illegitimate one in his ambition to take the throne. The finish to Posie Graeme-Evans's strong collateral look at the impact of the War of the Roses through a heroine who has close ties to the rivals is a fine historical tale that nicely wraps up a solid trilogy (see THE INNOCENCE and THE EXILED). The story line enables the audience to see deep into the social and political happenings of late fifteenth century England, France, and Belgium. Especially fascinating is the attitude of the followers of the adversaries are identically self-aggrandizing and dissolute as each believes they are the deserving ruling class. Not for everyone as the tale lacks action for long stretches, fans of fifteenth century dramas will enjoy Anne's story amidst the finale to the War of the Roses.

The Sweet and the Dead
Milton T. Burton
Dunne
ISBN: 0312343108, $23.95

In 1970 Texas Ranger Bob Wallace asks his "disgraced" pal former Dallas deputy sheriff Manfred Eugene "Tush Hog" Webern to help bring down psychopathic Jasper Sparks and his Southern mob, the Dixie Mafia. Fishing since his forced retirement, Webern agrees to go undercover infiltrating the mob as a disgraced former law enforcement official as he and Wallace know that is the insider ticket. In Biloxi, Mississippi, Webern begins his quest to gain entry into the Dixie Mafia by "buddying" with some of the known members at their hangout, the infamous Gold Dust Lounge. He especially goes out of his way to become best friends with Sparks. He succeeds and is brought in on an upcoming heist, but soon will find out what double and triple cross truly means. This fascinating regional historical crime caper focuses mostly on the interrelationships between the gangsters especially Webern and Sparks as they plan the robbery starting with hiring a specialized crew. This technique provides insight into the era in the Gulf Coast, but also slows down the story line as the atmosphere and character development overwhelms the action. Once the plan is set and Sparks sets in motion the caper, the tale accelerates into hyperspeed as the shadows double-cross the criminals and arrange it so that Sparks and the law hold Webern culpable in this fine Nixon era crime drama.

The Oxygen Murder
Camille Minichino
Dunne
ISBN: 0312347863, $24.95

Four months married physicist Dr. Gloria Lamerino accompanies her husband Boston homicide detective Matt Gennaro to New York City where he is attending a police conference and when he is free they plan to enjoy the Manhattan Christmas season. While Matt attends a conference session, Gloria visits his niece, award winning documentary filmmaker Lori Pizzano on West Forty-eighth. However instead of Lori being there, to her shock, the scientist discovers the corpse of camerawoman, Amber Keenan and she believes the culprit just left via the window. Gloria worries about Lori's safety when she learns that she was collaborating with the victim on a new project about the ozone layer that has led to threatening encounters with corporate suits who allegedly are ignoring governmental environmental regulations. She begins investigating and learns that Amber also worked as a photographer for Tina Miller, Private Investigator. Gloria ponders whether one of Miller's targets killed Amber or was it one of the suits that had her murdered. The eighth Periodic Table Mystery is a fun cozy in which scientific sleuthing is combined with tours of New York City. The story line is fast-paced as Gloria takes Manhattan while Matt and NYPD plead with her to not provide the Lamerino solution. THE OXYGEN MURDER is a fabulous whodunit that will send newcomers searching for the backlist gas tales and long time fans looking forward to The Fluorine Murder.

Dark Gold
David Angsten
Dunne
ISBN: 0312343736, $24.95

Dan Duran is globetrotting, but his family worries about him since his last postcard arrived four months ago. He has always kept in touch insuring them all is well. His mom fears her son has gotten into something nasty perhaps even dead so she pleads with her other offspring, recent college grad Jack to find Dan. Jack and his two best pals, Duff and Rock, head to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; the place where the family last heard from Dan, but soon follow a clue that leads to Punta Perdida, a village considered cursed by outsiders. To get there, the threesome obtains a ride in the Obi-man yacht owned by the mysterious Bahamian businessman Leo Bellocheque; his crew is manned by beautiful Eva and Candy. In the cursed village, Jack meets a priest who insists Dan is dead, but also hands to him his sibling's journal. Jack soon realizes that Bellocheque is the key to his missing brother and finding the sunken treasure of the Argonaut, which Dan apparently located. Teaming up they can retrieve the booty, but must elude the lethal man-eating manta ray "El Diablo Blanco", avoid becoming sacrifices of the devil-worshipping Punta Perdida villagers, and evade gold seeking killers all during a one week vacation in Mexico. Fans who enjoy a non-stop action-packed over the top thriller will appreciate this fine campy tale that never takes itself seriously in a Tremors sort of way. While winking at readers, David Angsten entertains as Jack quickly goes from one escapade to another sort of like the 1940 cliffhangers. DARK GOLD is a terrific how I spent my vacation landing in one harrowing incident after another tale that is escapist fun to read.

Next Time You Die
Harry Hunsicker
Dunne
ISBN: 0312348509, $23.95

In a Dallas bar, Baptist Minister Lucas Linville hires private investigator Lee Henry "Hank" Oswald, no relationship and don't ask him why � ask his dad, to recover a stolen file that contained information on a former assistant Reese Cunningham. Between Lucas' drinks he informs Hank that Reese's prominent parents would not like employment information to include their son was a druggie to get out when two thugs arrive with guns mentioning his best friend Billy Barringer, who he sent to prison and is now dead. While working what he assumes is a simple retrieval case and eluding Billy's avenging family, Hank agrees to keep the daughter of a friend of a senator safe. He will soon learn the hard way like Billy did minutes after a prison break that all roads lead to and from psychopath Jesus Rundel; anyone in this brilliant maniac's way gets killed; Hank hopes he proves the exception to the rule as he does not want to learn first hand how the inferno that snuffed out Billy feels. As with STILL RIVER, NEXT TIME YOU DIE is an exhilarating action-packed mystery starring a tough hero who reminds this reviewer of A Boy named Sue; with a name like Lee Oswald especially in Dallas you better be prepared to fight. Fight he does as he is Noir throwback to an earlier age where political correctness had not softened PIs. His latest escapades are battling with foes, sleeping with clients, and staying alive in a fun thriller.

Second Burial for a Black Prince
Andrew Nugent
Dunne
ISBN: 0312327617, $23.95

In Dublin Nigerian immigrant Shadrack Nwachukwu dies from the loss of blood caused by the amputation of his leg below the knee. Garda Siochana Murder Squad Inspector Jim Quilligan and Sergeant Molly Power head the investigation. Jim's initial reaction is scorn as he assumes it is another racist murder by some misguided idiot. However, Molly says otherwise as the operation was professionally performed but the post op was amateurish and the victim ultimately dumped at nearby Dublin Mountain before he crawled down to his death. Jim and Molly make inquiries in the Nigerian community of "Little Africa" while the victim's outraged brother Jude vows the culprit will face justice. As the case seems to be going nowhere, Jude helps the two cops navigate the neighborhood though he struggles with understanding the western concept of justice as he knows how to deal with family killers back in his homeland. The key to this excellent Irish police procedural is not the cops though they do a great job as they did in THE FOUR COURTS MURDER. Instead the fascination for the readers is with Jude and the tour of Little Africa. Jude is an interesting person who wants to do the right thing by his late brother in accordance with his ancestry yet also adhere to his new country's laws, which in his mind are not necessarily in harmony especially when it comes to an eye for eye. Andrew Nugent provides a deep thriller in which his stars take a back seat to the support cast.

The Mirror Prince
Violette Malan
Daw
ISBN: 0756403391, $15.00, 320 pp.

He has lived for almost a thousand years, having his identity changed when the memories start to break apart; in his present incarnation he is Toronto history professor Max Ravenhill hoping to obtain tenure soon. However, he will soon learn that he is not even human but instead a Rider (faerie folk) who as the Prince Guardian lost in a civil war and exiled to live endless lives amidst mankind. While in exile, his memories and his dra'aj (magic) were stripped from him by the victor the Dreamer of Time now known as the Basilisk Prince who intends to become the High Prince once he possess the Talismans that his enemy hid from him. That is why the time to bring Max to the Land is now so the Basillik Prince can use cunning and to make him reveal his hiding place. Max is no longer an easy target and Cassandra who has been at his side through each reincarnation will not allow anyone to harm him while she envisions a second civil war between the royal faeries which is what will happen if Max looses to the man he once considered a friend. THE MIRROR PRINCE is a spellbinding stand alone fantasy that enchants and resonates with readers who feel and fear for the bewildered beguiling hero. Fans will root for him to defeat his adversary in the anticipated confrontational rematch (this is a fantasy so no surprise there). The spell cast by Violette Malan enables her audience to believe that faerie exist in a realm where evil and good skirmish endlessly with collateral damage on our plane.

The Potluck Club Trouble's Brewing
Linda Evans Shepherd & Eva Marie Everson
Revell
ISBN: 0800730658, $12.99

In Summit View, Colorado, Gold Rush News reporter Clay Whitefield beleieves that the members of The Potluck Club have secrets that he plans to uncover. Currently the Ace Reporter is interested in learning what the youngest and newest associate Deputy Donna Vesey hides behind her visage of toughness as his mind (and his heart) is interested in her. Donna's tragic secret lies in her previous job in Boulder. Meanwhile Evie and her beau seem in love, but both have commitment doubts. Vonnie's biological son from her first marriage that she hid from her spouse has come to visit her though his arrival could end her marriage as she hid that information too. Lizzy's son Tim is leaving his wife to move back in with his par

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