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Table of Contents
Kaveny's Bookshelf
Art Technology and The Public Sphere, past present and future.
Last Wednesday morning at 9:00 A.M I was surprised to discover I was not enjoying my usual
breakfast of a hot mug of white Earl Grey Tea, along with my whole-wheat bagel toasted to a
golden brown, with four pats of melted butter. I confess; I just love the way that the bagel holds
enough heat from the toaster just long enough to melt and then absorb all four pats of butter not
allowing even a single drip onto the plate. I was at one of favorite places for my modest breakfast,
The Acoustic Cafe, on the Corner of Barstow and Gray Street in downtown Eau Claire Wisconsin,
and among my morning coffee group of semi and retirees who are among my favorite people.
Yet I was not happy. The reason for this was that the last several months I have been promising a
number of friends, publishers, and associates that I would do an arts and technology feature for
Kaveny's Bookshelf. Maybe that was why I was starting to feel a little a little left out when the
conversation of my local coffee group turned to local government and conservation issues one to
many times. I started to feel I should be somewhere else going through art books and working on
my article for this month's Midwest Book Review in the quiet privacy of my office.
That's when something really interesting happened. I was introduced to a new face at our morning
coffee table, and informed that he like myself was an academic emeritus, and that his field was Art at
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Just at that point, Bill, another face at our table, asked for
some educational advice about his daughter who is a year away from graduation from a highly
regarded (and expensive), high school for those gifted in the arts a few hundred miles away from
Eau Claire. The question hinged around whether it was advisable for her to continue her education
at a liberal-arts four-year college, or a more specialized place like, The Chicago Art Institute, or The
Rhode Island School of Design. Part of the art emeriti's answer became the title of this month's
article.
He said,
"Especially at this point in history when technology and art are inescapably bound together, the artist
who has a strong grasp of technology will have a longer run than one who does not. But on the
other hand, a liberal undergraduate art major at a good school would give one a grasp of major
trends and the bigger picture in the world of art."
Well that answer got the table going for the next 40 minutes or so as we dealt with a number of
absorbing artistic and literary questions. They ranged all the way from the relationship between
regionalism and artistic production, to the portrayal of Cathedral in Santa Fe New Mexico as the
setting for Willa Catcher's Death Comes to The Archbishop, to really sleazy hotel room kitsch art in
that same city.
That is, Until a woman named Barb who has a kind of conversation stopping grace and poise briefly
joined our table. It turned out that she and her husband have an art studio in the same complex as
my office. And that her husband, artist Anders C. Shaver, had written and illustrated a beautiful
children's book entitled The Fantastic Journey of Pieter Bruegel Hardcover: 40 pages; followed by
notes and miniature representative portfolio of Pieter Bruegel life's work Publisher: Dutton Books;
1st edition (June 2002) ISBN: 0525469869. Price 18.99 A day, later I hold a review copy of that
same book in my hands and have and will share my review of it.
First I would say that I agree with a number of the other major review sources Like publishers
Weekly, and booklist in their praise of Anders C. Shaver Brilliant and attention holding art, literary,
and historical production. It actually draws the reader into its panels to make the Anders C. Shaver's
fictional and illustrated Fantastic Journey of Pieter Bruegel, come alive.
On one level it is outstanding children's book which I hope was nominated for the Newbery,
Caldecott awards. I am delighted to see the work of a regional artist (with a growing national
reputation) have his work presented in this format by a major publisher. It is clearly worth the price
for that alone.
But to me that is just one of many delightful facets of this book. For example, it appeals to me as an
adult reader with a professional interest in European History. On a conceptual level I love the of a
the idea of a contemporary 21st Century artist fictionalizing the early manhood of this great
Northern Renaissance painter. It is as if Pieter Bruegel has left Anders C. Shaver a period in his life
to be used as a blank canvas that must be filled with imagery that is compelling but still historically
accurate. It is if we are reading about Pieter Bruegel's world as he would write about in his own
words, and seeing that same world as he would see it through his own eyes.
The major focus of Shafer's work is the period from September 10th 1551 to November 30th 1553.
This the period when of Pieter Bruegel makes the journey from Antwerp to Rome and back again, in
search of novel subjects for illustration, that will make his work more marketable in the North. The
book also includes a well presented map of mid 16th Century Europe across which the course of
Pieter Bruegel journey ran. The map is a work of art in itself complete with political boundaries. The
book also includes further illustrations to bring to closure Pieter Bruegel short life in 1568.
This was a fantastic time in European History. The seventeen year period between 1551 1568 of
Pieter Bruegel's life that was portrayed and illuminated by Anders Shaver was watershed between
the last stages of the Renaissance and the emergence of the early stages of secular modernity. It was
a time in which a cacophony of historical events was taking place in what we have come to know as
Early Modern Europe. The Turks were at the Gates Of Vienna, The Protestant Reformation had
struck Northern Europe with the Impact of a giant meteorite. This was a period in which new
artistic technologies of reproduction were being mastered which would then portray the image of a
growing, changing, and secularizing to world to itself, and transmit those same images to our 21st
Century present.
For example the fictionalized diary the entry for October 17, 1551 refers to a dark lesson
observed,
"I say to the man beside me. In the name of religion this countryside has revealed dark lessons.
Yesterday Catholic Soldiers were shoving a man with a bundle of straw on his back-probably a
Protestant bearing the fuel with which he would be burned."
When I looked up that passage I expected to find the accompanying illustration, but there was none.
Then I realized I had illustrated it my own mind in the style of the rest of the book. In human sense
Shafer's few lines embody the horrific aspect of the Reformation and religious warfare on the human
level, better than any number of scholarly monographs. The passage works on both an unelaborated
registers and elaborated register. The younger reader might become motivated to find more about
the period by this depiction. On a more elaborate register one sees the image of the peasant in ones
mind as a kind of Christ figure, but we wonder whom he is carrying the cross for? I think he is
carrying for all of us.
Can you image the challenge of presenting this all? This is where I love the details of late
Renaissance artistic production which Anders Shaver is able to include in this 40 page book. Not
even the back dustcovers are wasted as we are given insights into the process of etching woodcuts
and engravings, all of which work together to make the creation of a work of art a multiple and on
going production rather than a discrete act as in a oil painting. I hope that this book at least made
the short list for the Newbery, Caldecott awards if not I would like to know why not.
*The Fantastic Journey of Pieter Bruegel functions as a bridge to my next section. As I worked
though Shaver's work I observed that certain aspects art and technology seem to reach across
history. Shafer's fictionalized Pieter Bruegel and my friend and associate the late 20th early 21st
Century Science Fiction and Fantasy artist Steven Vincent Johnson, would find that they had a lot in
common. On a technical level they both seek to reproduce their artistic images in an economical
manner which at the same time maintained the integrity of the original. The real and fictional Pieter
Bruegel used the technology available to reach an expanding bourgeois market. He used ectchings,
wood cuts, engravings and prints. In the present we have come to think of these items as priceless
items, high cultural products of a former age. But at the time they were the closest thing that one
might find to mass production until the advent of the industrial revolution two hundred years
later.
*Since the Mid 1970's Steven Vincent Johnson and I have had a kind of guarded friendship. In a
long distance conversation I had with him yesterday which will set the tone for the most of the rest
of this article we agreed jokingly to a few things. Among them that through reincarnation of scores
of lifetimes we had sent each other on untold suicide missions, and that we got along a lot like J.R.R
Tolkiens Hobbits and Dwarves, but through it all we wish each other well. At this particular point in
time Steve is working on a projects, which fits with the theme of this and perhaps a future article
also. The project involves digitizing his paintings and then presenting then in that form allow his
patrons to chose the form of presentation according the level of technology the available to
them.
By choice Steve works in the field of the representational science fiction and the fantastic arts as a
painter. In the early 80's he chose not to follow the course of a Masters of Fine Arts program in print
making at University of Wisconsin Madison. Steve has worked professional and intentionally in a
number of formats producing book illustration, book covers and insets, and some things which he is
not even sure what he got royalty checks for.
But, sadly Steve works in a ghettoized field that is often according to the late Ted Sturgeon is often
judged by its worst examples. Within the field of science fiction and fantasy art there is a large
market. But sadly especially with the recent down turn in the techi side of the economy most
potential buyers find themselves reduced to giving blood for beer money and a number of artist are
contemplating diets of boiled shoe leather. Luckily through all of this Steven Vincent Johnson has
never given up his day job as a computer programmer, because among other things he chose not to
starve.
It is those same computer skills that have given Steve's work a unique aspect in that he has been able
to digitize the major body of his life's work. But, he has also been able to do original work in entirely
digital format, which then allows his patron to chose the method in which they present it.
Interestingly enough this has a kind of pre-industrial ring to it. Often when one bought a book in the
late 18th century one bought unbound leaves and then went to a stationer to chose the appropriate
binding. Steve has given me a number of his digital painting in CD form which I hope to beta test in
the next month and report back on the next month or so If you want find more about the Science
Fiction and Fantasy artist Steven Vincent Johnson you can go to his virtual art gallery and website
http://www.orionworks.com/artgal/svj/index.htm.
Thought the major focus of this feature is on Steven Vincent Johnson I have to at least mention that
he shares a life marriage and home and homepage with Darlene Coltrain. Darlene is important figure
in the art world in her own right, as she works in a number of different mediums, including prints;
jewelry, smaller colored prints, and exquisite hand painted scarves. She is one of the very few
contemporary American artist whose work over the last quarter century is equally at home and
valued at a World Science Fiction or Fantasy convention or a fine arts gallery where she currently
exhibits and sells her work. I highly recommend that you take time go to her website and share the
experience of her work. http://www.orionworks.com/artgal/dpc/index.htm
On to the Public Sphere and Jurgen Habermas
The informed reader will excuse my rather opportunistic use the cultural critic and post Marxist
social theorist German Jurgen Habermas to explain the events of the last few days. It seems months
ago that I was sitting in the Acoustic caf‚ contemplating my bagel, but in fact it is only two days
since last since last Wednesday morning. Looking back across those same two days I think that my
problem was that I was thinking about art technology and the public sphere, past present and future
in a way that was unproductive. Unproductive for me at least since I am mostly a social animal, who
needs input to react to, seems to perform better if genuine human dialogue takes place.
This is the point where I will bring another kind of technology into play. Perhaps social theory may
be thought of as a kind of technology of knowledge. Social theory which always will remain theory
since it can never be definitively tested because it deals with human interaction, but never the less is
interesting in organizing information about human behavior in a way that makes that behavior at
least more intelligible.
I would like to think about art now as a more public and interactive manner than I might have last
Wednesday morning. I don't just mean public and interactive between the artist and their public, I
also mean between the public and itself as it reacts around the work of an artist, or in reaction to
artistic decisions in something that Jurgen Habermas described as the public sphere.
If you want to find out more about Jurgen Habermas (1929) - I highly recommend that you check
out this website http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/1643/index.html for more information.
However, for purposes of this article the most interesting aspect of his work is "The Public Sphere."
This is a non governmental space which nearly anyone has access to, where the may come from
diverse backgrounds to share and even generate common interests and discuss mutual concerns
like:
"To local government and conservation issues", as mentioned I earlier. If one would go back a
couple of centuries the pubic sphere could be compared to something like a New England town
commons, but not to the town meeting or town courthouse.
Therefore I feel that as our conversation at the table moved from "To local government and
conservation issues", to the arts our little space in The Acoustic Caf‚ was functioning as a very small
but lively public sphere. This allowed me seemingly almost gratuitously to have The Fantastic
Journey of Pieter Bruegel (a book I was totally unaware of fall into to my hands to present to you
for your consideration.)
Things change very quickly as the next morning I found myself attending and participating in a
Downtown Eau Claire Incorporated (DECI) (Arts, Entertainment, and Vacation Committee),
meeting, which was also held in my office complex at the Public Access Television studio located
one floor above me. I feel it necessary to add at this point that the reason that everything seems to
happen in my office complex is this. My office complex is located in, Banbury Place. This is the
former 2,400,000 square foot former Uniroyal Tire factory that is a complex of a score of building
which have been reconverted to multi purpose use as part of the overall redevelopment of
downtown Eau Claire.
To some my readers of course it may seem that I have drifted a long way from my function as
Literary Editor of The Midwest Book Review as I write about downtown redevelopment, arts
boards, and converted 2,400, 000 square foot tire plants. If so please bear with me. With me it all
starts and ends with books. As a matter of fact I once told a monk (in full attire), who I met at The
Kalamazoo International Medieval Studies Conference and shared a pizza. That, when and if I met
Saint Peter at the gate I would try to give him the best deal I could on a book.
The Downtown Eau Claire Incorporated (DECI) meeting was a lot more interesting than I expected.
It and easily fitted within my public sphere framework for a number of reason. The most important
being it encompassed a very diverse section of the community. It included representatives from local
government, the arts and music community, and The Public Access Television, and The University
of Wisconsin Eau Claire. All of these folks were coming together to view a very professionally
produced video by the public access television center on the Eau Claire Arts community which is
slated as part the documentation for a grant competition. We then suggested some themes for future
meetings. That is the point where I sprung my idea of a downtown Eau Claire Festival of The Book,
and out door booksale. I feel my suggestions were well received. I will be back next month for the
April meeting.
It is now Monday morning and I am about ready to send this Months Kaveny's Bookshelf to press.
Just got an email message from someone who is organizing a "Turning Leaves autumn Book
Festival in Eau Claire Wisconsin asking that I help on their meeting starting tomorrow afternoon.
Yes I will be there.
One last thing
One of the best Best Books I ever read about art is
Bluebeard
writen by Kurt Vonnegut
Paperback: 320 pages
Delta; (October 1998)
038533351X price $12.95 Hardcover - Reprint of the Delacorte 1st ed. -1987.
Containing elements of his own biography, Vonnegut presents us with the fictionionalized Rabo
Karabekian, an Armenian-American, World War II veteran, who during the most creative period of
his life was a leading edge abstract expressionist painter. Rabo Karabekian whose Armenian parents
‚migr‚ parents survived the Turkish Armenian Holocaust Massacre of 1915-1916, reported by the
British Government to have killed 500,00 men women and children.
It is a fascinating narrative of a twice-widowed artist. Who is, at the end of his life is drawn out of
his isolation by a young widow. Who is a best selling author of highly commercial but very
successful fiction, Since Vonnegut has more than modest talents in the graphic arts one feels that he
at least has some authority when he says. Abstract Expressionism was an art form which served no
master. And one feels the great pathos as Vonnegut presents us with Rabo Karabekian father
Turkish Armenian Holocaust Massacre Survivor Vonnegut suggest that even more tragic than the
Massacre that Rabbo 's father and mother survived is Rabbo's father's turning away form his
linguistic gifts and refusing to translate Shakespeare into Armenian. The reason for this is tragic is
little can be done about the past, but the translation might have brought light and humanity into the
future.
Vonnegut also has some absolutely wonderful takes on the difference between art and Illustration
perhaps the best I have read. To put as simply as possible illustration constructs and sort of
freeze-frames and contrives time. All the buttons are lined up on a shirt, all the some from a steam
engine is blowing behind and everything is idealized and stylized. Art does the opposite of that it
encompass it embodies it communicates, and in its best sense illuminates our lives.
In the end Vonnegut's Rabo Karabekian has a great secret locked up in his novel Bluebeard just like
the fairy tale Blue Beard, but you must read the book to get to that great ending. The great ending
which is drawn from Vonnegut's own life experience as a sort of Holocaust survivor who survived
the Allied Bombing of the German City of Dresden (Feb, 23- 24 1945) as a prisoner of war because
he was locked in the deepest basement of a slaughter house. This was 59 years ago today. I wish we
could light 100,000
Candles for the each of the German Civilians lost in those two days.
Philip Kaveny
Literary Editor
Midwest Book Review
Laurel's Bookshelf
Buttercups For Jesus: Reflecting His Light in Your Life
Nancy Marie
Booklocker, Inc.
ISBN 1591132991, 108 pages at 11.95 paperback, www.booklocker.com
Children know the secret of the tiny buttercup, how when it is held under the chin in sunlight their
skin reflects its bright yellow light. With that simile of the buttercup, Nancy Marie shares with
readers her journey to the Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. As the simple buttercup takes time to
grow and flourish before it can reflect the sunlight, so must a Christian grow in Jesus over time. The
author makes her message clear: The journey may be difficult, but the end result is worth whatever
struggles we experience!
The buttercup is often thwarted in its growth by clouds, storms, and spattered mud. In like fashion,
the Christian's walk with Jesus can be halted by our very human failings. Using scripture and
examples from her own life, the author demonstrates that stubbornness and pride, judgmental
thoughts and greed can block the Son from our lives in the same way clouds prevent the buttercup
from thriving. Until we free ourselves of self-serving traits, Jesus cannot be in us, shining through us
onto others. The light of Jesus must be reflected in us before our lives can positively impact the
world.
The process Nancy Marie struggled through to reach the Sonlight is likened to a jeweler refining
silver. Patiently, the jeweler smelters silver down repeatedly, removing the dross with every firing.
He does this until his reflection shows quite clearly in the silver. In such a way, through trials and
troubles, Jesus cleanses us of our impurities so His reflection shows in us.
Nancy Marie makes her points lovingly and backs them up with scriptural truths: Her words will
comfort readers. Jesus understands and empathizes with our human failings. He has compassion for
us, dispenses mercy and forgiveness with a generous heart. Such generosity is love in action. Only
when we reflect what Jesus stands for can we call ourselves His people.
I recommend this book to Christians, or those who might be searching for answers that will benefit
their lives.
Carver: High Mountain Tragedy
C. H. Foertmeyer
iUniverse
ISBN 0-595-21696-2, $23.95, 457 pages, paperback
C.H. Foertmeyer has taken an all-too-familiar sadness in America today -
the fate of troubled teens - and breathed new life into the subject. Although Carver features fictional
characters and events, the reality was hair raising to me. The author builds his story very well.
Kevin Reynolds, Wiley Coates, and Bryce Spencer are good kids and long time pals, just average
teenagers trying to survive their adolescence and enjoy activities they like. Due to various physical,
social, or financial shortcomings, all three boys have been objects of ridicule for years. The cruelty of
their peers and fellow students is bewildering and more painful as their High School years progress.
Still, the boys share common interests - skiing, hunting and camping, exploring the Rocky Mountain
wilderness - so they hang together, hoping graduation will change their lot.
Mary Clemmons is a spiteful, snobbish student, spoiled rotten by her wealthy father. Her best friend
and confidant is Alicia Koppe, a poor girl from the wrong side of the tracks. Whatever Mary wants,
Mary gets by one means or another. And she wants Bryce to pay for telling that she cheated on
exams. Her revenge is plotted, and with Alicia's help, Bryce ends up dead. Kevin and Wiley know
who caused their friend's death and decide to work their own revenge on the two girls who've made
their life a living hell for years.
Foertmeyer makes good use of the Rocky Mountain environs as he builds this tale of good boys
driven to an awful revenge by circumstance. In fact, his descriptive passages of the natural, wild
beauty of the place lulled me into a false sense of hope about the outcome of Carver. Sheriff Al
Dramico and his deputy Stan are sly investigators. Nothing slips by them, and in the end, all the
guilty parties pay a different price. How the tale plays out is better left unrevealed by me. I suggest
you read the book to learn the answers.
Carver is more than a novel. It's a social commentary on the world we've come to know through
shocking vignettes on TV and in the newspaper. It made me shiver just a little, knowing that no
matter how good a person is - how noble the motive - we could be forced into a hell not of our
making.
I recommend this book for adolescents and adults. There are valid lessons to be learned in it. Mr.
Foertmeyer writes well and I'm looking forward to his next creation.
The Woman With Qualities
Sarah Daniels
Dandelion Books
ISBN 1-893302-11-3, $14.95, 236 pages
The Woman with Qualities goes far beyond being simply romantic fiction. It speaks to the very
human insecurities that trap us in defeated lives. Digesting the message of Ms. Daniels' captivating
first book was a real eye opener! From the beginning of her novel to the unanticipated ending, I was
hooked.
Three months a widow, Keri Anders sells her home in Upstate New York and moves to Florida at
the urging of a friend. From day one, Florida is anything but the land of sunshine. Keri is plagued
with one setback after another, until an accident lands her in the office of Dr. David Chipperton.
Curly hair and twinkling hazel eyes aside, his persona seems familiar. Keri is a poet, a writer, as was
Chip's departed mother. She's delighted when the handsome doctor hires her to edit his mother's
writings and mentor his own.
Keri and Chip have more in common than her injury and his dreams of writing. Their spirits are
connected through time, familiar and beloved. The fact that Chip is married to a wealthy socialite
has very little to do with their relationship. Keri is well-read, intelligent and gifted. Chip sees
unconditional love and commitment in this woman with qualities.
How the author spins this tale of love between an insecure woman and her solace-seeking lover is
what impressed me. Ms. Daniels writes well and kept me reading with delicious anticipation. Along
the way, Keri's spirit gains the strength it always lacked and she becomes a woman capable of
anything she can imagine doing or being.
As I said in the beginning, The Woman with Qualities transcends romance. You'll have to read it for
yourself to understand the secrets I chose not to reveal. I recommend it to mature readers.
Flesh Craves - The VanFell Legacy
Brian T. Seifrit
PublishAmerica
ISBN 1-59129-894-6, $19.95, 151 pages, paperback, www.publishamerica.com
Back in the 1820s, when this country was young and wild, families like the VanFells headed west.
From their comfortable homes in the civilized east, they went into unknown territory with no
advance information to prepare them for life in the wilderness. It is only due to courage, adaptability,
and inborn strength that the VanFells survive at all.
Brian Seifrit has created a frightening and eerie introduction to the VanFell family saga. They are
beset by wolves, vicious raging blizzards and below zero weather, starvation, life threatening
injuries, and diseases they are ill-prepared to handle. They are stalked by an evil tribe of Indian
cannibals, and befriended by kindly natives who assist in their survival. Behind every new friendship
established, and each triumph and tragedy the VanFells experience, looms the spectre of a horrible
condition known by locals as "flesh craves". Once infected with this terrible disease, man and beast
must devour flesh and blood to survive. And only a long dead shaman from a friendly tribe knew the
secret cure for this affliction.
As I said at the beginning, Flesh Craves introduces the VanFells and their friends and sets the tone
for future sequels. These sequels will no doubt take the reader deeper into horror and, hopefully,
reveal the solution to the flesh craving disease that haunts the VanFell clan. A sequel is in the works,
and I can't wait to read it!
Laurel Johnson
Reviewer
Interview with Shirley Johnson:
I wanted to review author Shirley Johnson because her range as writer covers everything from
spiritual-inspirational to humor to appealing books and CDs for children. In addition to being a
published author, Shirley is a featured reviewer and interviewer for Midwest Book Review and
reviewer for Denise's Pieces.
LJ for MBR: Your first published book, A Divorced Mother Talks to God, was released by
PublishAmerica. You are also working on a series of Christian inspirational books with the working
title of The Caller Series. What prompted you to write the first book and the related series?
Shirley: I suppose writing "A Divorced Mother" was born out of my own need to deal with my hurt
and frustration. I was struggling so hard to learn how to live in this new world I was thrust into. I
was afraid and because of that fear I reached out to the only one that I knew would always be there -
God! Since I was a tiny child, I always believed in God, but as so many of us do ,I thought I could
do a better job at running my own life. Looking back, I made some very poor choices. I am so
thankful that I serve a God who was still there waiting for me to come to my senses. My hope is that
"A Divorced Mother" will be used to minister to other's who are working so hard to raise their
children without a husband. I want them to know that God will help them. He certainly helped me
and I'm no one special.
"The Caller Series" is the story of a young woman, who ran from the Call of God on her life and the
repercussions of her actions. It's one of fear, pain and sorrow, but it is also one of great faith and
hope. God has a purpose for each one of us, I am writing this series to remind mankind of this and
hopefully help them to understand why they are facing the trials in their life. It is a book of the
supernatural, both good and evil, and the battles this woman faces to find The Caller she deserted so
long ago.
LJ for MBR: I have long been impressed with your range as a writer. You have a children's e-book
through synerg-E entitled Red and His Fur Hat. It is a delightful tale with colorful, simple
illustrations that would be pleasing to a child's eyes. I know you do the prose. Who does the
illustrations for your books?
Shirley: Thank you! I have three illustrators that work with me. Susan Brown, Carlene Johnson and
my daughter Paulette Crawford. Susan also illustrated Billy Brimbly, which can be found at
Synerg-E as well. I am very blessed to have so many talented people around me.
LJ for MBR: You also create children's books on CDs accompanied by words and music. Tell us a
bit about that creation project.
Shirley: I love children! If they are around, you will find me on the floor playing with them. They are
real, no pretense about anything. They accept me the way I am, where a lot of adults might prefer
that I be different! Kids love you for you! If you love them, they love you. It's that simple! I love
being around children and my greatest joy is writing children's books.
I have co-authored over 100 with my nephew Michael Bogert, who also sings with me. Every
children's story that we receive, we immediately hear the music for it. I suppose it is a gift that the
Lord has given to us. In the CD's, the children can print out the story in color, or in black and white
and color it later. They can listen to the entire story in song as well. We are hoping that this will
enable some special children to be able to enjoy some good stories. I am speaking especially of the
little blind children. We are also working on doing some of our children's books in slide shows; I
believe children will really enjoy them.
LJ for MBR: In addition to your other writings, you are creating a series of humorous books about
aging. I was privileged to read a draft of the first in this series and found the humor to be well
founded! What gave you the idea to incorporate humor into your repertoire?
Shirley: I love laughter and since I am getting older I have experienced some not so pleasant things
happening in my body. One day I was sitting and talking with a group of my friends and we started
to trade 'notes' on how our body was changing. We ended up laughing so hard and having such a
good time with it that I thought, what a great idea for a book. I have fashioned every character in
this series after people I know, which to me makes it even funnier. Fos and Prissy are the stars of
this series, and poor Fos endures much at the hands of Prissy and her friends, alot like my sweet
husband Robert endures at my hands. What The Heck Happened? is written to allow those who are
experiencing the end of the life cycle a few chuckles on the way. You can tuck and suck out fat and
pile cream on you forever, but you know what? You are still going to be the age you are....so let's
go along this road laughing, it sure beats the alternative.
I am making a series out of this and every book will revolve around Fos and Prissy and her friends.
Book two, What's That Smell? will take off where book one ends. I hope they cause some good
belly laughs! This world can be so cruel and so sad. I wanted to write a series that would let people,
if only for a while, fill their hearts with joy. My prayer is that this series will enable them to do
that.
LJ for MBR: All I can say is you are a renaissance woman for certain, Shirley. Tell our readers
about your other life, the non writing one.
Shirley: I have been married to Robert for almost 25 years now. We are both Ordained Ministers
and have been in the ministry for over 20 years. Although I enjoy writing, the Call of God on my life
always comes first and His will always comes first. That means if there is something happening that
I'm needed for in the ministry, that comes before my writing or anything else. Be it prayer, or
counseling, or any other ministering need, that is what I will do. I am so thankful to God for all He
has done for me, that is the least I can do for Him. I am also a Mom of 3 children, Danny, Jamie and
Paulette; and I am a grandma of 4, Chris, Keagan, Danielle and Cassandra. My family is very
important to me. I enjoy having family and friends around me every chance I get.
I am a songwriter with my nephew Michael and we have written over 2,000 songs, mostly Christian,
but alot are children's as well. Mike and I maintain a website to share these songs with others. I lead
Worship in our services and greatly enjoy that. I love singing praises to God and I love receiving
new songs and being part of creating them. That is such an honor!
I have a Bachelor Degree in Christian Counseling from Zoe University in Jacksonville, Florida.
Although I do not use that professionally at this time, I do use the knowledge I obtained from that
training in ministering to those God sends my way. I also answer prayer requests on Praise
Broadcasting Network as they come in. There are so many hurting people in this world, and
sometimes a word of encouragement from another can make the difference.
I am a Reviewer and Interviewer for MidWest Book Review and Denise's Pieces. I really enjoy that.
There are many talented authors out there and I love being able to read their works and help to let
the world know just how good they are. That's my life in a nut shell.......
LJ for MBR: Your sense of humor, as well as your humanity, shines through in everything you do.
That's quite a testimony to your faith. How long have you been a Christian?
Shirley: Forever! *smile* I just didn't act like it for a while I'm afraid. I never remember not
believing in God and Jesus, but I never really knew them, or the Holy Spirit. We all know President
Bush, but we really don't know him, I guess that's the same way it is with God for most people.
Finally, after I was left alone with my three little children, I really got to know God. Nobody else
could stand being around me. I was way too needy, but He didn't mind. I can't believe I let 26 years
of my life go by without knowing such a wonderful God! To answer the question I'd have to say; I
have only really known Him and served Him for half of my life. ( OK now you all can figure out how
old I am....but not exactly!)
LJ for MBR: Your road to publication has not been an easy one. What advice would you give to
aspiring authors in today's crowded field?
Shirley: You can't give up, never, never, never! I look at it this way, you have a dream. Who do you
think put that dream in your heart? He'll bring it to pass! I know how discouraging it can be and I
have to say I have put my pen down for a while many times............BUT........something inside of me
makes me keep picking it up and keep looking to the stars. One of them must have my name on it....
and yours too...there are so many ,surely one day ours will shine!
LJ for MBR: The established New York publishers are simply not approachable by unknown
authors, no matter HOW excellent their work might be. Give us your opinion on that "closed door
policy" to anyone whose not a famous name.
Shirley: I would have to say 'Shame on you!" to those publishers. As a reviewer I have read some
novels that would put best selling books to shame, and I mean that. No wonder people don't read
much anymore, they aren't getting the meat put in their mouths. If they could just taste a morsel of
what I have read they would be hooked. We need to keep reviewing and getting the word out as
much as we can about these great books! Perhaps one day the little presses will be the ones to win
out, and take all those wonderful authors with them. I hope so!
LJ for MBR: A part of that getting noticed puzzle, for some at least, seems to be landing an agent
who can sometimes ease those doors open. I know you finally signed with an agent. Are you
allowed to tell us about that process, and who your agent might be?
Shirley: Yes....how exciting is that! My agent is Jeanette A. Lundgren of
Book-to-Screen-Management. We have just started the process of author/agent commitment so I
can't tell you alot about it...BUT...I have interviewed Jeanette and talked with her on a personal
basis, and I find her to be honest and quite a go-getter. I like that! I want a fighter in my corner and I
believe she will do all she can to make my books all they can be.
LJ for MBR: Will your agent shop all your books, or just one certain genre?
Shirley: Jeanette is great. So far she has agreed to take a look at every genre I have asked her to.
That includes, religious, humor and children's. Of course I haven not hit her up with my poetry quite
yet.....I didn't want to scare her off! *smile*.....wait till I ask her to view my 'nothing' book....poor
Jeanette! What has she got herself into?
LJ for MBR: Is there any question you wish I had asked, or any other bit of information you'd like to
give our readers
Shirley: Yeah....let me write a couple of pages here. I know Jim at Midwest Book Review will just
love it! (Hi Jim!! I'm terrible aren't I?)
I don't know, Laurel, I would like to say alot of things, but who the heck would want to hear it? Hey
is that a title for another book?
Ok, being serious now. I can be serious you know! It has been a long hard walk down this writing
lane. There have been some vipers sticking their heads out and a few have taken a nibble on me here
and there. BUT... I won't trade this experience for anything. I have met so many great people,
through reviewing and interviewing and through writers forums. It's a pretty neat world and authors
are very neat people! I have interviewed some publishers/editors that really care about authors....and
some that really care about themselves! There are good, and there are bad!
I don't know what the future holds, but I sure hope there are some good things ahead. Maybe, just
maybe my star will shine! For now, I feel good that I am a published author and thankful that I am
able to review and interview so many gifted people. I'll just have to take a day at a time and hope for
the best. You see, I don't have to yell at myself anymore....now I have an agent to yell at! That's a
good feeling! (I'm just kidding Jeanette!)
To sum it up, all we can do is hold onto hope for tomorrow. Everyday is a new beginning and every
night that star just might shine. Thanks Laurel for interviewing me. I know how hard and how time
consuming reviewing and interviewing is. I tip my hat to each and everyone of you.....because where
would we authors be without you!
Let's all be thankful for today and hope for a brighter tomorrow! That's the best we can do.
LJ for MBR: And thank you, Shirley, for your time and for your honesty.
Our readers can find Shirley Johnson's website at:
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/author.asp?AuthorID=5893
To purchase A Divorced Mother Talks To God
http://www.publishamerica.com; http://www.amazon.com
Children's Books: Billy Brimbly and Red And His Fur Hat
http://Synergebooks.com
Music: http://www.funport.com/insong/default.htm
Laurel Johnson
Reviewer/Interviewer
Midwest Book Review
Interview with F. E. Mazur:
F. E. Mazur's Spine is fiction that seemed like non-fiction to me as I read it. He believes that
well-written fiction, regardless of genre, can deliver the truth as effectively as non-fiction. I
agree.
LJ for MBR: Spine was thought provoking, at times disturbing in the truths revealed throughout.
What gave you the idea to write this book?
F. E.: A long long time ago, I saw a tv skit where this comedian was threatened by a mean fellow,
and the comedian drew a line and warned the meany that he would be in big trouble if he were to
step across that line. Of course, the fellow did exactly that, and so the comedian drew another line
which the guy also crossed, and the process went on and on until the comedian had his back against
the wall. That skit came to mind after several years of teaching in the public schools. It seemed to
me then, much as it seems to me now, that teachers are asked to maintain a firm line with their
charges, but the support behind them in the form of administrative trust and parental good will, not
to mention legal backing, is retreating as well, and in many cases even stepping to the other side of
the line with a perspective that sometimes appears to define the teacher as a symbolic meany. And
though America likes its tough men and women, when the other party is made up of kids, neither sex
will stand much of a chance, and teaching and learning will go nowhere.
The first inkling to write Spine came at least ten years ago. I began with the working title 'Lord
Linear.' Lord, as you know, is a teacher and the main character, and I wanted to characterize him as
a person who drew his line with the students, knew exactly where he drew it, and maintained it in
spite of uncooperative and often hostile pressures. But once the story was underway, some other
elements began demanding their space in the story. Chief among them was the subtle replacement of
administrative leadership with administrative management. Schools were out of kilter and the modus
operandi seemed to be "Let's just keep the lid on." It's a terrible evolution and a mistake to think that
leadership and management are naturally and closely related. Consider Enron. Its top executives
"managed" the company into ruin. You can't say they "led" the company to that state because
implied would be that the rank-and-file knowingly and willingly followed them, and that was not the
case. Leadership by highly paid school administrators, sadly, is becoming a rare commodity and it is
one that is sorely needed, and I wanted to bring up that distinction between leadership and
managment in my story.
LJ for MBR: Perhaps your years as an educator gave the book its feel of authenticity, as if written
by an "insider". What sort of feedback have you received from fellow educators, your peers?
F.E.: The Careytown teachers are strongly unionized which helps to understand, in part, why they
are unabashedly outspoken to each other and to the community. Seasoned teachers, even an
administrator or two, who have read Spine and hail from strong union districts themselves like these
characters and understand them and their behaviors. They work with similar people and may have
acted not so differently at times during their own careers. Also, these readers have been particularly
approving of my description of the schoolboard, administration and their often destructive
machinations. On the other end are teachers who are employed by districts where the union is weak
or nonexistent, and some of these with whom I've talked, although they expressed their enjoyment of
the story, hinted an uneasiness about teachers who spoke frankly and acted boldly, even brashly.
And in no way did they seem ready to speak disapprovingly of their own administrators, or make an
unkind remark about the student body.
LJ for MBR: The most disturbing aspect of Spine, to me, was that the school system failed
everyone. The main character was subjected to undeserved public contempt while teachers less
devoted to their craft remained unscathed. Students with excellent potential got lost in the shuffle
while teachers scrambled to address other students with horrible behaviors. Lives were ruined or lost
althogether, and everything played out against the background of political jockeying between board
and school officials. Is this how you see our school system as a whole today?
F.E.: It unfolds in just such a way in many districts. Community residents often run for the
schoolboard because of a personal agenda. Administrators often pander, and even routinely
acquiesce, to troublesome parents. Teachers frequently spend more than half their class time
maintaining discipline, and it is the unrulies who get the most attention. Those teachers are not being
flippant who say that teaching today is often more babysitting than anything else; they mean it from
the heart. Also, teachers who are generally compliant with administrative direction and never stir the
broth can remain in their positions forever, no matter they show poor quality in the classroom, while
others who exhibit spirit, academic inquisitiveness, and unappreciated nonconformity may find
themselves in hot water. Also, Parents have the belief their child can do no wrong. Then, of course,
tying into the new management of schools to which I previously alluded is the need to prove
effectiveness. Under a business model this means effectivess must be proven on paper, a dubious
practice when applied to the education of young minds, but it keeps teachers all the more busy and
away from actual teaching.
A minor character in Spine ascribes to the community and school system a "look-good mentality."
That's a strong indictment and I believe a correct one. Who among us doesn't believe that children
are the future? It's a trite phrase, but certainly true notwithstanding. Who among us doesn't really
want the best for our kids? The trouble is this: there's really been no public discussion of "best." If
we're kind to our children, protect them and keep them out of harm's way, that's wonderful. But the
matters of responsibility and accountability, self-motivation and self-discipline, individualistic
strength in the face of peer pressure, criticial thinking and inquiry, personal responsibiliies of
citizenry in our democracy, these and more are not getting addressed and discussed by the masses,
and that's a mistake. Right now, too, let me mention something not to be overlooked. Many of the
children who were the first to go to these schools bearing this kind of crazy atmosphere are now
adults in their twenties and thirties. What effects are pronounced in them, and are they beneficial or
destructive to our culture and democracy?
LJ for MBR: The private behaviors and language of your fictional teachers was often outrageous
and sometimes troubling. And yet it was that very language and behavior that gave your book and
characters such realism. Did you make a deliberate choice to portray your educators in such a way
and why?
F.E.: It was natural to portray them the way I did. There are teachers who are professional in the
best and truest sense of the word, and they display nothing less publicly or privately. Then there is a
second group who does model themselves after the first. They never raise their voice, never anger,
they are forever agreeable, and a good-old belly laugh is beneath them. No matter what the problem
or issue, you can't shake up these educators with anything less than a jackhammer. Then there are
others who know their subject well and who can be professional when required while not
surrendering their personal qualities and proclivities, be the latter a fondness for drink, or sex, or
even the free-wheeling use of common obscenities. Of the last I've known many and I have
appreciated them for their many candors. Including their kind in my story, I wanted to shake the
sensibilities of those readers who oddly hold that the choice of behavior and language of a teacher
should always be made with the children in mind. This is an unreal requirement to which no one
should be held.
LJ for MBR: If you could change one thing about our school system today, what would it be?
F.E.: Tough question. I've often thought that school attendance for older children should not be
compulsory. At the same time I think a school should remain open to everyone, regardless of age. If
a fifteen year-old wanted to drop out, let it happen, as long as it's on the books that the student can
return in future years, even if he or she is twenty-five or thirty years old. Same thing for persistent
troublemakers. Expel them, but allow them to return at any age when it's been demonstrated they
are no longer going to be a problem. It may be hard to visualize this, but if you allow your thinking
to see this practice as having gone on for a couple of decades, then you might also see it as a cultural
shift with similarites to colleges where a class might comprise late teens and early twenty year-olds
with some students in their thirties and forties. I think it's worth consideration, if only because it
would help to re-emphasize that schools are about educating and becoming educated.
LJ for MBR: As a writer, if you could be categorized in one word or phrase, what would it be?
F.E.: An answer to this question is really out of my control. I have no answer. Whatever will be, will
be.
LJ for MBR: OK then. I will throw these words out and they can fall where they may. Mainstream.
Literary. Wide range. You seem to have a sharp, inquisitive mind and an intellect that gathers
information all the time. Tell us about any other writing projects in the works.
F.E.: Currently under editorial scrutiny is The Buckseller, a mystery/suspense/thriller, but it also has
its literary component which connects the story's crimes to the weekly newspaper of small towns in
tourist locales which promote development and give little ear to opposing views. I am also finishing
up a collection of short stories, and am eager to return to and complete the writing of my novel, The
Scrapbook of Eugene Banish. In it an aging man is experiencing diminishing sight and hearing,
except that what he sees and hears is always absent of duplicitous and manipulating nuances by the
speaker. This man sees and hears the truth of what is coming at him from others, not what they
intend. I love this story and can't help thinking that it has Pulitzer potential.
Then, there is Nota Benny, another novel that I am anxious to get back to work on. Actually, I
finished this story a few years ago, but it was not entertaining enough even for its creator. Nota
Benny revolves around a new penology, a story which I refer to as "experimental realism."
Convicted criminals receive a sentence of "task" rather than one of "time." The task is a repetitive
one and only when they are done with it can they leave the prison. Put another way, when these
prisoners go free will depend entirely on how much each values his life and liberty. Those who
cherish it will work hard and fast to get out as soon as possible. Others not so respectful of their
own lives and desire for freedom may take much longer. The unfairly convicted can also free
themselves without waiting for appeals and parole boards. My research for this novel, although
certainly not exhaustive, nonetheless turned up nothing close to my idea--this appears to be
something new, if that's possible. Finally, I've written a few chapters on a novel involving the viatical
industry, and just recently did some mapping out on a completely fictional story about the best
defensive ballplayer ever to play the game of basketball--this idea doubtlessly inspired by the fact
that I now reside in Kentucky where hoops are king.
LJ for MBR: Like I said. Mainstream. Literary. Wide range.
Are there any questions you wish I had asked, or any other information you wish to share with our
readers?
F.E.: Just one other thing I would like readers and potential readers to know. Most of my stories
involve ordinary people with ordinary jobs who usually live in small towns and rural areas. They are
good people, though naturally each has his quirks. But I involve them with other people who are not
so good, forcing them into decisions and behaviors they had not previously considered. At bottom, it
is this on which my stories focus. And on that I'll stop, except to say, thank you, Laurel, for this
wonderful opportunity to speak of my writing. Anyone with further interest is invited to visit my
website at www.femazur.com. From there they can also drop me a line via e-mail. Again,
thanks.
LJ for MBR: And thank you for taking time for this interview. Good luck on your new projects.
Laurel Johnson
Reviewer/Interviewer
Midwest Book Review
Interview with Bill Curry:
I have been wanting to interview a management representative of Amazon.com for quite some time.
Bill Curry in Public Relations graciously agreed to answer my questions for Midwest Book
Review.
LJ for MBR: Thank you, Bill. For starters, tell us about yourself - where you came from, how long
you've been with Amazon.com, what your position entails, and anything else you'd like to share.
Bill: Most of my working life was spent in journalism at The Washington Post and the Los Angeles
Times. I've been in corporate communications for about 15 years - almost five of that with
Amazon.com. When I got here, we were a bookstore, and we've just expanded ever since. My
primary job goal is to build and protect our brand.
LJ for MBR: It goes without saying that Amazon.com is the top online bookseller on the web. Other
than a lot of very hard work and a vision on Jeff Bezos' part, what has contributed to this
success?
Bill: We focus relentlessly on the customer - the entire customer experience from what someone
hears about us before coming to the site to the opening of the package (and any customer service
they may need along the way). We want to be the most customer-centric company ever, and that
means listening to customers, inventing on their behalf and personalizing their shopping experience.
If we have 30 million customers, we should have 30 million different "stores," each one decorated to
each customer's preferences and shopping needs. You see that in our recommendations: Since you
bought author X, you might like book Y.
LJ for MBR: Amazon.com is an amazement to me. You must have a staff of computer geniuses
keeping everything updated and correct. Tell us about that process.
Bill: We're a technology company - we have a team of great software engineers who invent
incredible technology to create a great customer experience. At the heart of it all is algorithms - the
recipe and cooking directions that tell the computers what to do. But we rely on a lot of other
people for the information we provide to our customers, whether it's authors, publishers,
distributors, customers - whomever. You'd be surprised how many authors I help to clear up little
nits and nats (they're mostly journalists). We even have e-mail addresses for people to send
corrections to - like book-typos@amazon.com. One of the nice things about the Web is that it's the
world's largest "neighborhood watch" program.
LJ for MBR: Every author I know - except maybe the top best selling authors - follows their
Amazon sales ranking. How is that ranking established? Sales play a part, but what else?
Bill: It's very complex, but the simple explanation is: Every hour we calculate the 10,000 best-selling
books based on sales over the past 24 hours so it's a rolling, cumulative number. It's very volatile
and heavily influenced by talk show appearances, Oprah, news events and so on. They're real time
sales ranks, not historical ones. It's what people are buying now, not what they bought the week of
January whatever, like other bestseller lists. The next 100,000 titles are calculated daily based on
sales over the past 30 days. The rest are ranked according to their total historical sales at
Amazon.com. Sales drive the rankings. That said, we also have our own weekly bestseller lists, the
traditional fiction/non-fiction, hardcover/paperback lists. They're updated each Wednesday.
LJ for MBR: The book pairings fascinate me. Authors, in particular, wonder how these books are
chosen to be sold as a pair. How is that decision made, and why are some books sold as a pair and
others not.
Bill: It's basically an offer to folks to buy a related book. It's what you can do when you have a rich
database of customers' aggregated purchases. There are patterns to what people buy, and those
patterns can be used to develop recommendations or special offers. That helps authors because
those promotions can drive incremental sales. It wasn't a "buy this book and get this book" offer, but
a few years ago we drove a 40-year-old book, Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, by
Alfred Lansing, to a very high sales ranking. It turns out, a few people who had bought Jon
Krakauer's Into Thin Air had also bought Endurance. When we surfaced that for customers as a
recommendation ("People who bought Into Thin Air also bought Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible
Voyage"), Endurance took off for the top of the charts. Even if you haven't read Into Thin Air, you
should read Lansing's account of Shackleton's voyage.
LJ for MBR: How are book discounts determined? Amazon, the publisher, the distributor, or a
combination of these?
Bill: I can't disclose our methodology, but it's safe to say it's a combination of things. Although we
do offer New York Times Bestsellers at 40% off so that's one thing that can determine a
discount.
LJ for MBR: As an author, I appreciate how Amazon tries to keep everything on the up and up and
maintain a level playing field for everyone. For example, the Listmanias and recommendation
features. What process do you use to ensure that recommendations are kosher and Listmanias are
not falsely created?
Bill: Remember what I said about the Web being the world's largest "neighborhood watch"
program? That's one way. We also have some internal controls-you'll forgive me if I don't give them
away to the mischievous-and we also have incredible volume. With the number of customers,
reviewers, and list makers we have, things tend to normalize themselves, diluting the impact of one
gremlin.
LJ for MBR: Amazon does not charge sales tax. Will that practice be changing?
Bill: Only if Congress decides to change it. The Supreme Court has ruled that the states-are you
aware that there are 7,600-plus sales tax jurisdictions in the U.S.?-have created a sales tax system
that is an unconstitutional burden on interstate commerce. For us, it's like a corner merchant having
to figure out from your driver's license what tax district you live in and then charging the sales tax
based not on the location of her store but the address of the customer! It's nearly impossible in many
places. The Colorado zip code of 80212 has five different taxing jurisdictions with five different
sales tax rates. Go figure.
LJ for MBR: How about book sellers? On one of my pages, for example, a book seller has a copy of
my book for sale for $33 - twice it's price, almost. If a buyer was willing to purchase from that seller,
would that not take away from Amazon's revenues? Many authors wonder about this feature.
Bill: We've built our reputation on doing what's right for customers (you call them readers). If we do
that, in the long run, it'll be good for Amazon.com, good for authors and good for publishers. It's an
additional price point - charge more for a collectible or less for a dog-eared version. It allows people
to test new authors and genres, and for authors, it keeps their books alive even after a title goes out
of print.
LJ for MBR: Is there any way an author can find out how many of their books sold through
Amazon, other than via their publisher?
Bill: Not really. We give sales ranks, which are relative results based on sales, but not individual title
sales.
LJ for MBR: How does Amazon decide to review a book? Are there guidelines? Can an author,
agent, or publisher request an Amazon review?
Bill: We do reviews based on what we think customers will be interested in. We don't try to be
tastemakers like some publications. People who like gothic romance ought to be able to find reviews
of gothic romance titles, not just Literature with a capital L titles. A request is just that: a
request.
LJ for MBR: Is there any question you wish I had asked, or any other information you'd like to share
with our readers?
Bill: We're grateful to our customers who are reading this - a big thank you! And thanks to the
authors, photographers, illustrators and others who create the books we sell, as well as the
publishers who take on the risks of publishing any given book. We're all in this enterprise together,
and we're grateful to have become a part of it.
LJ for MBR: Thanks for your time, Bill. I know our readers will find this information helpful.
Laurel Johnson
Reviewer/Interviewer
Midwest Book Review
Shirley's Bookshelf
Return To Port Darkling
Judith Miller
Wings ePress Books
ISBN#1-59088-145-1, $6.00 Download $11.95 Trade Paperback, 240 pages,
http://www.wings-press.com
Mystery, intrigue, love and adventure are all wrapped up in this exciting read by Judith Miller,
"Return To Port Darkling."
The author immediately draws you into the deep conflict of one of the main characters, Luke Milner.
Do you believe in reincarnation? Luke Milner does and is tormented by the knowledge of how he his
wife and his child died, and is drawn back to the very town it all happened in.
Now, he awaits the reborn person of his wife to also be drawn back to her past. However, the very
sorceress that murdered them is also awakened and is determined to once more destroy their love
and their lives.
The author does an excellent job of keeping you guessing and on the edge of your seat in this read.
She brings together the past and the present in a very convincing way and leads you along the story
with some very good twists and turns. She also introduces some colorful characters that give life to
the read.
If you enjoy the flare of the supernatural but don't like the dark brooding kind, this is the read for
you. A slice of mystery, a slice of love, a slice of danger and adventure, all make up a very tasty
pie.
I recommend this read. Good job Ms. Miller!
Shadow Arising Prophecy
Agnes Yu
SynergEbooks
ISBN# 1-931540-17-9, 159 pages, Download $ 5.00 CD Rom $8.99,
http://www.synergebooks.com
What would it be like to live in a world without the mystery of magic? "Shadow Arising Prophecy "
takes you to a time where magic is forbidden and even the mention of such things would make you
the enemy. It is the story of seven young people and their quest to follow a mysterious call within
them, to right a wrong done so long ago.
Seven young people, so different, yet so alike, draw you into their world of the supernatural, as they
make their journey to a far away lost city to save the world from an overtaking evil. Hold your
breath as they battle demons of different strengths and watch them grow in their own abilities ,as
their special gifts of magic bloom within them.
"Shadow Arising Prophecy" is a story of magic and adventure, but it is also a story of souls joining
as one to achieve an important purpose. I feel the author shows the importance of unity and
friendship and allows the reader to see, that even people who are very different ,can add ingredients
in our lives that can bring us to victory.
I enjoyed this read. I liked it for the pure reading pleasure and I also liked it for the lessons it taught.
Recommended!
Dark Hunger
Mayra Calvani
Amber Quill Press
http://www.amberquill.com
ISBN# 1-59279-074-7 Ebook $5.50
ISBN# 1-59279-055-8 Paperback $13.49
Mystery and intrigue are the backbone of this outstanding novel by Mayra Calvani. Do all vampires
have black hearts? Do they cry blood? Are they capable of controlling their deep hunger to achieve a
final goal? Do we secretly have a dark side that calls to the shadows? Alana dreams of such a call,
what meaning does it have to her and what does her future hold? How is it intertwined with her
childhood? And is it truly her destiny? Mystery, upon mystery is layered within these pages as you
are caught up in a web of dark suspense.
Ms. Calvani brings into play many hidden emotions of our souls as you struggle to discern who is
the villain in Dark Hunger. Talk about a love/hate relationship, the characters in this novel can only
be described as having such.
Mysterious, intriguing and somewhat unsettling at times, this novel is a must for all vampire reading
fans. A rich, twisting plot and a surprising ending awaits you.
The Rebel's Pledge
Rita Gerlach
Publish America
PO Box 151, Fredericks, MD 21705-0151
1-58851-300-9, $21.95, 456 pages, Paperback, http://www.publishamerica.com
I would like to take my hat off to Ms. Gerlach concerning her outstanding novel, "The Rebel's
Pledge." In the time that we now live this entire storyline had more meaning then perhaps it would
have had several years ago. Honor, morals, faith, and courage all are outstanding qualities among
her main characters. These qualities capture your heart.
Matthew Hale is a rebel and a traitor to King James, facing execution, fate intervenes and he is sent
to the Colonies and slavery. Again fate or perhaps a higher force intervenes and he is bought by
Edmund Carey, who leans that Matthew is the son of a man who saved his life during the English
Civil War. This, among other events wins Hale his freedom.
The story takes you on a journey with Matthew as he travels to find Mr. Carey's daughter and bring
her home; a daughter he had not seen since she was a baby. Love, suspense and mystery are spun
within the telling of this journey. The plot is too involved to discuss in a short review, but I will tell
you this, the author does a marvelous job of bringing her characters to life and allowing you to
become one with their emotions, feeling their defeats and victories. The author gently threads in a
delicate love story that will take your breath away.
I like the way she carefully weaves the characters faith in God and their moral fiber into the story.
Although it is action packed and can at times be quite suspenseful, she keeps the element of the
backdrop of a divine plan neatly in place. I liked this and I truly enjoyed this work.
Highly recommended and well worth your read.
A Man's War
Denise M. Clark
AmErica House Publishers
PO Box 151, Fredericks, MD 21705-0151
ISBN# 1-58851-199-5, 323 pages, $18.95, http://www.publishamerica.com
How can a story break your heart and make it soar at the samtime? Think this is impossible? Not
when it comes to the outstanding novel "A Man's War" by Denise Clark.
The author takes you to the battle field of the Civil War, holding back none of the horror that
accompanies the cry of war. Alex Cooper, the main character, masquerades as a recruit, as she
desperately tries to locate her husband, whom she has not heard from in a very long time. Is that true
love or what? Why then is her heart being tugged at by her tent-mate LeMay?
This is a story that takes your emotions on a ride that you won't soon forget. The author writes in a
way that you become absorbed in the happenings, tethering on tears, shaking in the rain, stifling
screams of horror. They feel, you feel! How many books have you read that can bring you to this
experience in your read? This one certainly can!
I won't tell you how, but I will tell you that the ending is both heartbreaking and joyous. Wonderful
read! One you will not want to miss reading, and that is a promise!
Cross the Line
Denise M. Clark
America House Book Publishing
PO Box 151, Fredericks, MD 21705-0151
ISBN#1-58851-100-6, 303 pages, Paperback $14.95, http://www.publishamerica.com
I wasn't sure how I would respond to a novel about America's involvement in World War 1, and a
young girl named Josie LeMay's determination to give of herself as a nurse to these war torn
soldiers. I was not prepared for what was between the covers of this exceptional novel.
Denise Clark gently takes you along with Josie as she struggles to make her way in a man oriented
situation, facing and overcoming one hurdle after another trying to complete the calling she feels she
is upon her life.
Josie meets Commanding Officer, Keno Beauvais, and is thrown into one harrowing experience after
another with this strong willed man. They both had met their match. Little did she know that she
would spend her life with him.
My favorite part of this novel was when the ship they were on was sunk by a German submarine
ship. Josie and Keno were rescued by none other than the Captain of the ship that sunk them. I will
not tell you how they escape this captivity, but author Denise Clark does an exceptional job in her
description of this event. I loved it!
An excellent romance/historical novel. Filled to the brim with heart wrenching emotions as you share
the victories and defeats of Josie LeMay and her experiences in war torn Europe.
A wonderful read, highly recommended, one you do not want to miss.
Interview with Denise M. Clark:
I chose to interview Denise (Author and Webmaster of the review site "Denise's Pieces"), because I
really enjoyed her books and wanted them to get some promotion.(Please see reviews in this
column) Also, she has a wonderful site for authors to have their books reviewed. Thank you Denise
for allowing me this interview.
Q: Denise, please tell us the names of your works and where they can be found.
A: "A Man's War" - March 2002 AmErica House Book Publishers
"Cross the Line" - May 2001 AmErica House Book Publishers (CTL was nominated for the Bill
Boyd Military Novel Award - but obviously didn't win L ) various non-fiction articles for
CrimeMagazine.com published in 2002
Thank you Denise. Tell us how long have you been writing and how did you become interested in
being a writer?
A: I've been writing for over 20 years. I started with a short story submission for Readers Digest and
discovered how much I truly enjoyed creating fictional characters and plots and that was all it
took.
Q: Denise, how long do you spend writing a day, tell us a little about that please,and your
WebPages.
A: when I'm working on a story, I can spend an hour or so at the computer for the actual writing,
before I need to get up and move around. I'll do that for the duration. But while the story is in the
early stages of development, my mind is always on the job...if I come up with a scene or dialog, I
stop what I'm doing and write it down so I don't forget.
I started my web site to help promote my first book in the summer of 2001. I was also reading and
reviewing books for Pepper Raines's site Amazing Authors Showcase, and helping to judge her kid's
writing contests. Tragically, she passed away suddenly, and I was left with several reviews I had
done for some authors. I decided then to start my own book reviews site, and incorporated Denise's
Pieces Book Reviews into my already existing site. And it just to
Q: How long did it take you to find a publisher and do you think publishers give first time authors a
fair shake?
A: I looked for a publisher in fits and starts, so I can't really remember how long it took. I think first
time authors have to start small and look to small and medium size pub houses for their needs. Most
of the large houses require an author to have an agent, which is another dilemma. it's Catch-22 all
over again.
Q: What would you, as an author, like to tell the publisher out there?
A: Honestly? Okay, here goes. "Hey you! I may not be Nora Roberts, but I can tell a story!" How
many people can remember the title of her first book?
Well said! Thank you Denise! Are you listening publishers?
Q: Do you ever have writers block and if so what do you do to remedy it?
A: Thankfully, I've never. (knock on wood) been bitten by that vicious monster. But then, I don't
have a regular writing schedule and maybe that has something to do with it.
Q: I know you must be working on a new piece can you share with us what theme this is and when
it will be ready for publication?
A: I've just finished putting the final touches on my third novel, which takes place during World War
2. It's about an American woman married to a German Abwehr officer who finds out that her
husband was a traitor. After his murder, both the Waffen-SS and American paratroopers pursue her
for information she possesses. Of course, one of the American soldiers starts to fall for her and. well,
suffice it to say it's an action-filled tale with a twist of romance. It's heading to an agent for possible
representation soon. From there, who knows?
We wish you the very best of luck. How exciting for you!
Q: Do you think you will ever dabble in other genres and if so what would they be?
A: I have penned a rough mystery/suspense, but those are tough. My head is stuck in the past, so I
think I'll stick to that genre for now.
Q: How do you feel about ebooks and would you ever consider publishing one of your works as an
ebook?
A: I have nothing against e-books. As a matter of fact, I've read some very fine works in that format.
I prefer to read off paper and to hold a book in my hand, but other than that, they're fine. I think my
books are too long to publish in that format, but if the occasion ever arises I don't see why not. I
always try to look at different options.
Q: In writing your novels, what do you think is the hardest part or parts to write? Is it capturing the
emotions of your characters, setting the mood for the readers or something else?
A: The hardest part for me is to remember to write things down so I don't forget. scenes, dialog,
etc., which I think of when I'm away from the computer. It takes me several months of thought
before I start the actual writing process. I can't even start a book if I don't have a title. That's my
husband's job. And I have to know how it's going to end too. Other than that, I write it as I see
it.
Q: When you are writing your work, do you ever think about a sequel?
A: No. (How's that for terse?)
*smile*......it's fine with me! Thanks Denise for being honest and to the point!
Denise, I would like to ask you some questions about your review site.
You explained why you started it all ready, thank you.
What I would like to know, and I'm sure our readers would as well, how does one get their book
reviewed by you?
A: If you would like a review of your book, just contact me via the ling on my book review
page.
That is simple enough readers!
Q: How many requests on the average do you receive per month?
A: Right now we are receiving around 15-20 requests for reviews a month.
Q: Are there any genres that you will not review?
A: We prefer not to read erotica, thank you very much!
Amen! to that Denise!
Q: Is there a limit to the number of books you will accept for reviewing?
A: No, we may get behind depending on demand, and at times authors may have to utilize a little
patience, but we won't turn anyone away.
That is good to know, isn't it readers?
Q: What is the average length of time from submission of book to review being completed?
A: Well, that depends. I have a great bunch of reviewers who read for me and they can pull miracles
out of their hats. But generally, we try for a 3-4 week turnaround once the material is received.
Q: Can an author get in touch with you directly for a review or must they go through their
publisher?
A: Authors can get in touch with me directly to request a review. Upon request, we will also
forward the review to their publishers.
Sounds like a winning place readers!
Thank you Denise for allowing me this interview. Please see the reviews of both of Denise's
work
in this column. I wish her the best of luck in the future in all she does.
CONTACT INFORMATION FOR DENISE CLARK
P.O. Box 4515 Covina, CA 91723
denisemclark@peoplepc.com http://www.denisemclark.com www.authorsden.com
Shirley Jonson
Reviewer/Interviewer
Midwest Book Review
Interview with Melanie Rigney (Editor of "Writer's Digest" magazine):
I chose to interview Ms. Rigney for the wealth of knowledge and encouragement I knew she would
give to you, the reader. I hope you enjoy this interview as much as I enjoyed receiving it. Thank you
Ms. Rigney, please let's begin!
Q: Please give us your name, position and how long you have been with Writer's Digest.
A: Melanie Rigney, editor of Writer's Digest since November 1998. I also oversee the 22 other
special writing magazines we publish each year that are available at newsstand and our Web
site.
Q: Please tell us exactly what your job duties are.
A: Supervise a staff of seven. Manage the editorial budget. Make sure magazines include content
readers want and are produced on time and on budget. Work with our competitions department
regarding the editorial facets of our four major annual writing competitions. Provide editorial input
to the circulation and promotions departments. Speak at 8-12 writers conferences each year.
Occasionally assign feature articles. (I'm trying more and more to delegate this duty.) Occasionally
meet with advertisers. Work with art director and other key staff to develop covers and approve
interior designs. Read copy before it goes into the magazine to make sure it meets our standards.
Help out on various parts of our Web site. Communicate with the WD books editors and WD Book
Club editor what's up in the magazine world.
SPJ: I certainly take my hat off to you Melanie. You certainly are a very talented woman to
undertake so many responsibilities and do such a great job at them.
Q: Please give us a description of what Writer's Digest Magazine is and how it can be helpful to
authors.
A: WD's goal is to instruct, inform and inspire writers. Readers will find interviews with agents and
editors that can give them insight as to whether someone is appropriate to pitch and what the
person's hot buttons might be. We have a monthly Markets Spotlight article that sheds light on a
particular facet of publishing (true romance magazines, for example, or gardening magazines) and
what four to five editors want, plus market listings. We have a bimonthly Marketing column by MJ
Rose and a bimonthly Self-Publishing column by Dan Poynter that provide real-world help. We
frequently run articles about how to promote yourself and your work. For those interested in
improving their writing technique, our Fiction column, shared by Nancy Kress and James Scott Bell,
is extremely popular. We also feature a monthly Writing Clinic in which part of a manuscript or
proposal is critiqued by a professional. Finally, our contests also can be very helpful to writers--one
grand prize winner in our self-published books competition received a six-figure deal from
HarperCollins after winning, and several writers have contracted with agents as a direct result of
winning our competitions.
SPJ: I would like to add readers that there is much 'free' information on their website. Thank
you
for that Melanie!
Q: Please tell us how long Writer's Digest has been in publication, the background story of it.
A: WD was first published in 1920, with Writer's Market following a year later.
SPJ: I did not realize WD was around that long. That certainly is interesting!
Q: Ms. Rigney, thank you for your answers.
I know as a writer, I have frequented Writerdigest.com many times and have also read your
magazine.
You have a wealth of information there for all writers, and I would like to thank you for sharing that
knowledge with us.
I particularly like the Question/Answer section. How do you decide what question will be
answered?
A: We select the ones that are of the most general interest and that aren't already answered in the
section. For example, we don't answer very specific questions such as "I have written my memoir.
What publisher should I work with?" or the very general such as "I've got a great idea for a book.
How do I get started?"
Q: You have a section that gives authors submission guidelines for different publishers.
I'm sure we are all thankful for that tid-bit of information. Let me ask you this, are there publishers
out there that would rather not have this information posted by you, for fear of an onslaught of
submissions?
A: Yes, and we honor such requests when they are made. It's a waste of writers' time if we offer
guidelines for markets that aren't interested in working with people beyond their current stable of
writers and referrals from current writers.
Q: I am sure it would be a writer's dream to freelance an article for Writers Digest, how
unreachable is that?
A: Not unreachable at all. Outside our regulation columns, we work with a variety of writers; in fact,
we typically don't run more than a couple features from the same author in a single year. A writer
who has a fresh twist--for example, I recently acquired an article from a writer who turned "what to
do if you have writer's block" on its head with "what to do when you NEED writer's block, when
you lack focus?--stands a good chance of being published with us. it's important that the writer have
expertise in the area in which he's writing. For example, we don't buy articles on "how to do a great
book signing" by someone who's never published a book. We don't buy fiction technique articles
from people who haven't published at least one novel or had significant teaching experience. As is
the case with every other magazine, it's important to read our guidelines. It's a waste of a writer's
time to query us about writing our First Success or Marketing or Freelance Success or Careers
columns, for example, because they're either staff-written or written by columnists with whom we
have a contract. It's also a waste of time to send us poetry or fiction, as we publish neither and state
that in our guidelines.
SPJ: There you go readers! Catch that star!
Q: You work with a lot of publishers. Do you feel they give first time authors a fair shake in
having a chance to be published?
A: From what I hear from editors and agents, publishers are primarily interested in one thing:
publishing books that will sell. Above all else, that means an excellent, moving, compelling story, in
either fiction or nonfiction. I think first-time authors who have written such a story and present
themselves in a professional manner certainly do have a fair shake. The world is full of people who
just had their first book published, and we celebrate those successes each month in WD in our First
Success interview.
Q: What would be your advice to these authors?
A: 1. Don't send out your work until it's ready. I speak at a fair number of writer's conferences, and
see a number of proposals that writers either are ready to send out or have sent out without success.
In virtually every case, the query is lacking--focusing on the author, in many cases even apologizing
for sending the query--rather than explaining succinctly what is compelling about the story. Or,
writers send out their queries before the book is even finished (a major faux pas for novelists) or if
the book is finished, they send out the first draft, before they've had anyone other than their friends
or family read it.
2. Learn from rejection, don't take it personally. First, don't query publishers or agents who aren't
interested in working with unpublished authors. Second, if an agent says she can't represent your
book and provides feedback (or if an editor does the same), consider the comments carefully; don't
reject them out of hand. Finally, don't let one rejection kill your book. Keep querying--and keep
working on the next book.
SPJ: Very good advice! Thank you!
Q: May I ask if you are a published author, and if so, would you please tell us about your
work?
A: My talent is in editing rather than writing. While I was at Thomson Financial Services, I was the
primary editor and writer for a series of niche books about smart cards, but no one outside that
industry would have any interest in them. Like almost everyone else in America, I'm playing around
with a novel.
Q: What is the hardest part of your job?
A: Nothing comes to mind. Different things are difficult at different times, but overall I love my job
and feel blessed to have it.
SPJ: You certainly seem to have found your niche. You are doing a wonderful job!
Q: What do you think is the one pitfall that most new writers fall in when trying to be
published?
See above.
Q: If you could speak to publishers on behalf of new authors what would you tell them?
A: In just the four years I've been in this job, I've seen a significant increase in unpublished writers'
knowledge about the importance of marketing themselves and their work. Publishers should be
aware that more and more new writers understand the dynamics of publishing today.
Q: If you could speak to new authors, what advice would you give them?
See above.
Q: Do you find the publishing world to be cut-throat, or do you feel publishers, authors, agents,
bookstores,libraries, all try to work towards the success of the author.
I suppose what I am asking is this; do you feel money is the bottom line, or can a good story
still be published without the guarantee of financial gain given to the publisher?
A: Money for the most part has to be the bottom line--if publishers don't make their financial goals,
they don't stick around. That said, I still believe a good story can make money, and I believe
publishers are willing to take a few chances each year on a great story from an unpublished writer--if
there is reason to believe that story will translate into sales.
Q: In my interviewing I have found that more and more publishers are leaving the promoting of
author's book highly up to them. How do you feel about this?
A: No one can be more passionate about a book than the author. If the author is not willing to work
for the book after it's published, he needs to rethink his goals.
Q: What do you feel is the best way and most economical way for an author to promote their
work?
A: Word of mouth, word of mouth, word of mouth. Tell your friends; identify niches on the Internet
and elsewhere that have a natural interest in the work; understand the process for getting reviewed
and interviewed in the media.
Q: Do you feel it is important for an author to to seek out as many reviews and interviews as they
can?
A: Yes. Reviews and interviews generate more interest in a book than advertising does.
Q: Do you feel it is a plus for an author to have an agent?
A: In fiction, it's become almost essential. Yes, there are cases of people who sold a novel
themselves, but they are not the norm. I also think agents are important for nonfiction book authors.
Good agents do more than negotiate your contract (although that in and of itself is extremely
important)--they become career managers.
Q: Many writers now are turning to ebook publishers. May I ask your opinion on ebooks, do
you
feel they have a future?
A: I think the jury's still out. At this point, sales aren't that significant. It seems to be an excellent
option for textbooks and technical works.
Q: Is there any one genre that seems to be more popular with the publishers this year?
A: I think publishers are always, always, always, looking for a good story. It doesn't make sense to
acquire solely on the basis of "what's hot" today, because by the time you publish, "what's hot" will
probably be cold.
Thank you Melanie for all the great advice you have given to us.
Would you please use this space for anything you would like to add to this interview, about
yourself,
Writer Digest, or publishing in general.
A: To me, the most interesting development in publishing today is print on demand--the technology,
that is. It's enabling publishers to keep books in print longer without having to maintain significant
backlist inventory, and that can be a good or bad thing. It's also enabling writers to become
published or to self-publish for a relatively insignificant investment.
Q: Your statement leads me to ask one more question. You talk about print on demand
publishing.
Isn't it true that many bookstores will not stock print on demand books? I believe some of this has to
do with the 'no return' policy that is usually attached to it? How do you feel about that? I know it
has really been a stumbling block for many a writer and a great disappointment.
A: Yes, many bookstores won't stock print on demand books. But bookstores don't stock all books
from traditional publishers either. With self-publishing, it's even more important that you know your
niche, so you don't need to rely on bookstore sales. There's a statistic tossed around that 50% of all
book sales come outside of bookstores, and I believe it.
Q: Do you think it hurts an author's future to have a book self-published or epublished? Do you feel
traditional publishers look at that as a failure on the authors part in obtaining a traditional
publisher?
A: I can't speak to whether an e-book helps attract a traditional publisher. It is a simple fact that if
you self-publish and have documented sales of 3,000 to 5,000 units in the first year, a traditional
publisher will sit up and take notice. Many category winners or honorable mentions in our annual
self-published books competition have gone on to win contracts with traditional publishers.
SPJ: My greatest thanks to Melanie Rigney for consenting to give me this interview. I know that
Writer's
Digest has been a help to me many times, both on-line and off. If you are new to the world of
writing, I strongly suggest you check out this great publication. I believe you will find it a great
tool to use in your writing endeavors. My best for the future to Melanie Rigney and Writer's
Digest!
Contact Information:
Melanie Rigney
Editor, Writer's Digest Magazine
4700 E. Galbraith Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236
Phone: (513) 531-2690
E-mail: melanie.rigney@fwpubs.com
Web site: www.writersdigest.com
Shirley Johnson
Reviewer/Interviewer
Midwest Book Review
Shelley's Bookshelf
Lair of the Dragon
Frederick Price
PublishAmerica
PO Box 151, Frederick, MD 21705-0151
ISBN: 1591292905, $19.95, www.publishamerica.com
A retired detective lieutenant, Frederick Price spent thirty-three years with the Los Angeles County
Sheriff's department. He spent time in everything from patrol to special investigations, and
investigated cases ranging from organized crime to terrorism. Lair of the Dragon is his first
mystery.
Every portion of police work involves the writing of reports. Combine this with the years spent in
dangerous situations with bad guys, some life tragedies, and an overbearing captain and you have
the beginning of Lair of the Dragon. Chad Belmontes is a Metro Detective who is still mourning the
loss of his wife and child. When his supervisor threatens punitive action if he doesn't catch up on his
caseload, he fakes some reports to save his hide, never dreaming that his faked report sets up an alibi
for a murderer. As he and his friend Stan begin to dig, they uncover an organization of Triads, a
Chinese mob, run by Benny Chi:
"Returning to his chair, Wu accepted Belmontes' offered cigarette. 'Chad,' he began again, 'these are
real fanatics you're dealing with. Triad rites and ceremonies are based upon 36 Hung Mun oaths.
They are...' 'Hung...what?' Belmontes interrupted. 'Blood oaths,' Wu answered. 'These oaths
basically demand allegiance by all members to the Triad. As part of their initiation ceremony, new
members drink a mixture of their own and other initiates' blood. It's supposed to make them bound
for life.'"
Chad Belmontes is a marred cop who is lovable in spite of his warts. The one thing that stands out is
his basic sense of honesty and decency...even to the point of putting his life in jeopardy for a system
all too ready to pounce on one mistake. Frederick Price does a bang-up job of creating a real police
environment, which translates to overworked men who are expected to be superhuman in their
pursuit of crime and organizations. They are often outgunned and out manned, and they have to use
their wits to get the better of their adversaries. Price reminds us, via Belmontes' character, just what
a thankless and dangerous job police work is. Lair of the Dragon pulls the reader through a maze of
criminals and murders that is exciting and frightening. A great read!
Promises Town
L.B. Cobb
Advance Books Company
ISBN: 0-9706224-5-7 $15.00 U.S., www.advancebooks.com
Advance Books is a traditional independent press, which produces quality books geared towards a
modern world full of diversity, baby boomers, and older readers. L.B. Cobb is herself an attorney,
and is a product of a Tennessee upbringing. Now a resident of Houston, LB Cobb follows up her
first novel, Splendor Bay.
Talk about women who have it all until it almost kills them, and you'll find Virginia Rodriguez. As a
prosecutor for the DA's office, Virginia works nonstop while she manages to bring up her son, Nick,
and try to remember to let the dog, Denver, in and fill its food dish. In the meantime, there has been
a murder committed of a powerful federal prosecutor, and his wife is found in the hotel room with a
gun in her hand. Is she guilty?
Virginia thinks at first this will be an open-and-shut case. Enter Leo Zachmann, a defense lawyer of
some repute and intelligence, who can see from the start that the case doesn't add up. He's been
hired by a gruff voice calling almost immediately after the murder was committed:
"'Why, Virginia, I see blinking cop cars and rowdy reporters and I just have to see if there's paying
work I can hustle up,' Leo dead panned. 'You know how testy the state bar gets when you send
runners in to sign up clients, so I like to do the signing up myself.' 'Right. I was told Mrs. Fullerton
hasn't said a word, but it looks like she managed to sneak a call to a lawyer.'
Leo and his wife, Miranda, also a lawyer, manage to dig up enough dirt to indicate that "some other
dude did it." Indeed, the absence of evidence is in itself fishy and causes Leo to latch on to another
line of inquiry...of the feds. In the meantime, Virginia's case dissolves as Leo's case widens. Virginia
has yet another issue begging for attention, a budding relationship.
Promises Town is a splendid follow-up to Cobb's debut novel. Her characters are chiseled out of the
Texas landscape; politics; and Virginia's sometimes bitchy, but mostly likable, character.
Deadly Trail
Marilyn Meredith
Hard Shell Word Factory
PO Box 161, Amherst Jct., WI 54407
ISBN: 0-7599-0461-8 $6.00, books@hardshell.com
Marilyn Meredith is an extremely accomplished writer, having produced pieces for local newspapers,
and national magazines, as well as writing several how-to books. Her career spans more than
twenty-five years, and in that time she has covered such topics as: community care issues;
genealogy; and now mysteries. She is also an instructor for the renowned Writer's Digest School,
which is known to most mystery writers. Marilyn has published two books on the genealogical roots
of her family, plus a mystery called The Astral Gift. She is a member of several writing groups.
Tempe Crabtree is a Deputy for the village of Bear Creek, nestled in the Southern Sierra. She is
engaged to be married to Pastor Hutch Hutchinson, and life seems idyllic until the owner of a local
inn, Andre Donato, is apparently poisoned. Although it technically isn't Tempe's job to investigate
the homicide, she feels compelled to get to the bottom of who would murder the unpopular Donato.
Particularly when Nick Two John has an extensive knowledge of botany and a motive for getting
Andre Donato out of the way. Tempe isn't so sure, and sets off to find the real killer:
"'I'm not supposed to be investigating the murder," Tempe said. "That's the detectives' job. Sergeant
Guthrie reminded me quiet emphatically.' Hutch squeezed her shoulder. 'But I know you,
sweetheart. You've been busily asking questions. I saw you with Wilbur Carmony. It didn't look like
you were having a casual conversation.'"
Meredith entices the reader with this short what she calls "prequel" to the Deputy Tempe Crabtree
mystery series. As always, a female in the role of deputy in a beautiful mountain setting mixed with
Indian ancestry is a sure recipe for a thrilling mystery. Of course Tempe sticks her nose where it
doesn't really belong, which only endears her to the reader. Tempe is an upstanding woman, a
mother, and a soon-to-be bride. She is likeable and interesting, as is the plot. Meredith presents the
reader with all the usual suspects, but throws in an unexpected twist and denouement, which is as
exciting as it is original. Deputy Tempe will hopefully return soon!
Surgical Risk
Robert I. Katz
Willowgate Press
PO Box 6529 Holliston, MA 01746
ISBN: 1-930008-05-8 $12.95 http://www.willowgatepress.com
Richard Katz is a faculty member at State University of New York at Stony Brook. He was
educated at Columbia College and Northwestern University Medical School. His first novel, Edward
Maret, was published and won the ASA Literary Prize in 2001. He is currently at work on this third
novel, which will be a sequel to Surgical Risk.
Richard Kurtz is a surgeon with a few hidden talents, like knowing how to take care of himself in a
threatening situation. He has a practice in New York, enjoys the good living in a luxury apartment
on the East Side, and has a girlfriend named Kathy, who is writing her dissertation making
connections between t.s. elliott's Wasteland and J.R.R. Tolkien's Mordor. Kathy is intelligent,
good-looking, and is somewhat of an intellectual snob.
Kurtz harbors regrets about a relationship has had with Sharon Lee. When she is murdered while
taking a nap in a break room at the hospital, Kurtz's own sense of duty leads him into a
semi-partnership with Detective Barent, especially after a robbery and more bodies begin showing
up after they've chosen a schizophrenic suspect who is locked up on the psych ward:
"'We have a problem,' Barent said. He stopped, frowned down at his desk and swirled his cup of
coffee with one hand. 'Harry and I are no longer as certain as we were that Bill Mose is the one who
murdered Sharon Lee.' 'Really...' Kurtz sat up straight in his chair. 'That's a surprise.' Barent
morosely nodded. 'Two nights after she was killed, Sharon Lee's apartment was robbed. All of her
jewelry was stolen.'"
Robert Katz knows his way around a hospital. He also knows how to weave a complicated plot line
with an excellent setting (New York); criminals and bodies popping out in all directions; and a
doctor who is a hero and doesn't even know it. Kurtz can get himself out of a desperate predicament
as ably as Indiana Jones, and his exploits are certainly as interesting. Katz leads the reader around by
the nose, and who is the culprit is anyone's guess. Katz employees a dispassionate and clinical tone
in describing all sorts of patient pathology, and pokes holes in the reader's notion of glamour in the
medical profession. Surgical Risk doesn't disappoint.
Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer
Midwest Book Review
Klausner's Bookshelf
Force of Nature
Susan Johnson
Kensington
ISBN: 1575668076 $15.00
In 1888, Lucy Attenborough, accompanied by her daughter engineer Guiseppina better known as Jo,
returns to Helena, Montana for the firs time in twenty-three years. For Jo this is her first trip to Big
Sky Country having been raised in Florence. Her father, Native American Jon Hazard Black never
knew he sired a daughter until he and his wife Blaze see Jo, who is clearly his child. Jon knows that
Lucy is here for one thing only, money and tries to buy her off with a too generous yearly stipend.
Lucy accepts, but her avaricious mind sees more cash flowing because Jon wants to know his
daughter better. At the Stuart Warner dinner party that Jo attends, cattle ranch owner Flynn Ito
arrives. Flynn and Jo are immediately attracted to one another and go off together for a night of
boiling lovemaking. As they become better acquainted in and out of bed, their original lure turns into
love, but his enemies, including an English aristocrat, use her as a pawn to try to kill him. Known for
her pair of asbestos gloves requirement, Susan Johnson heats up the sheets with her latest historical
romance. The story line engages the audience when Lucy arrives in town, but picks up action and
momentum the moment that Jo and Flynn meet. Blisteringly passionate as the lead characters only
come up for air when his enemies assault them, Force Of Nature wraps the sex scenes inside a
delightful western romance.
Bad Boys On Board
Lori Foster, Nancy Warren, and Donna Kauffman
Kensington
ISBN: 0758204280 $14.00
"My House, My Rules" by Lori Foster. Undercover cop Sam leaves a bar pretending to be
intoxicated when a mugger attacks him. His brother's former girlfriend Ariel jumps the assailant.
Irate Sam orders Ariel to take him home where she desperately offers him her body because she
loves him. He cannot stop himself from making love with her, but is she a lasting treasure? "Going
Down" by Donna Kauffman. Dominic visits the firm where Callie works. That night, they ride the
elevator together when it stops between floors. No one else remains in the building. They discuss
why her husband left her, a conversation that evolves into how to be provocative without even
trying. Dominic explains that she is quite provocative to him. They make love but who knows what
morning will bring. "A Fast Ride" by Nancy Warren. Gertie hates bikers so when she hears one
coming, she moves a tree limb onto the road injuring the driver. Gertie's great niece Nell gives CPR
to the unconscious man. He suffers amnesia and is surprised to learn he is a member of the nasty
Hog Squad gang and thinks Nell is his girlfriend. They begin to fall in love, but both wonders what
will happen when he regains his memory. Bad Boys On Board contains three heated tales starring
relatively inexperienced women with men who score with the ladies more than the Raiders make
touchdowns. Intended for the erotic crowd, each story includes plenty of hard sexual scenes (though
two of couples met just before the "action" begins) within soft plots.
Wildwood
Drusilla Campbell
Kensington
ISBN 0758202938 $15.00
Preadolescent Hannah Whittaker is painting her toenails at Bluegang Creek in Rinconada, California
hoping her friends Liz and Jeanne will join her. When fifteen year old Billy Phillips arrives he starts
making sexual advances to the twelve year old girl. She gets frightened and pushes him. His head
hits some rocks and he dies. When her friends come and sees Billy's body, Liz wants to tell
somebody in authority but Hannah and Jeanne talk her out of it. Four decades later Liz returns to
Rinconada to see her two friends she regards as family and to have an abortion. All her life Liz ran
from commitment and even though she has been living with Gerard for seven years she's afraid to
marry him. Hannah, who has two teenagers, wants to adopt a crack baby and Liz's unborn child to
the point of desperation. Jeanne is married to the man she loves but fears that he will leave her; she
also resents his tomcatting around and that he influenced her into giving up for adoption their three
month old son. Will a four-decade friendship survive the surprising revelations that surfaces or will
the truth destroy their sisterhood? This is a very absorbing tale that focuses on the lives of three
women. They made and make mistakes, feel guilt over an incident that happened almost forty years
ago, and their quest for redemption surfaces in strange and tragic ways. This is more of a character
study than an action drama but women of all ages will be able to identify with the problems these
women face. Drusilla Campbell is a wonderful storyteller who probes into the human psyche with
some uncanny insights.
Lemon Meringue Pie Murder
Joanne Fluke
Kensington
ISBN 0758201508 $22.00
Lake Eden is a small resort town in Minnesota that is relatively crime free but when a homicide
occurs, Hannah Swensen, the owner of the cookie Jar, is usually in the middle of the investigation.
Murder is the farthest from Hannah's mind because her beau, Norman Rhodes bought a house from
Rhonda Scarf and plans to demolish the building to build his and Hannah's dream home. Rhonda
sold the home with the contents included so Norman, Hannah and her mother, an antique collector
search the house for hidden treasures. After looking in every nook and cranny in the cluttered home,
Hannah's mother decides to look to in the basement to see if there are any antique tools. She doesn't
find any treasures, but in the furnace room she sees Rhonda's body with a knife protruding from her
chest. The police specifically tell Hannah not to get involved but everyone close to her wants her on
the case. She finally agrees because she hopes it will get her mind off food and diets. There is not
one heroine who loves being involved in a homicide investigation as much as Hannah Swensen does.
This culinary mystery has easy mouth-watering recipes that have easy to follow directions. (I tried
two of them and the deserts were scrumptious, but no comments on my weight). The who-done-it is
fun in large part due to the support cast who adds flavoring ingredients to an exciting mix. Lemon
Meringue Pie Murder is a delicious reading experience.
Circle Of Five
Dolores Stewart Riccio
Kensington
ISBN: 0758203004 $14.00
In Plymouth Harbor, Massachusetts, Cassandra Sipton belongs to a Wiccan with four other women.
Cass sells Earthline Herbal Preparations and Cruelty Free Cosmetics while living with her dog
Scruffy. One day while shopping at the supermarket, her cart crashes into that of a guy with a green
cap on. Seeing a vision of a dead boy, she senses an evil essence inside of the smiling Green Cap.
Cass tells her four friends what she felt and they conduct a s?ance in which they shock themselves
and make contact. While walking with Scruffy in nearby Jenkins Woods, the canine finds a child's
key chain with a name on it of that of a boy who vanished without a trace. Cass and her Wiccan
friends believe the Green Cap is the serial killer of that child and must be stopped even if it means
risking their lives by using their tyro level powers. Circle Of Five is figuratively and literally an
enchanting relationship crime drama. The magical story line grips the audience from the beginning
when the truck driver kills the little boy while whistling a tune from Gypsy. The five women
especially Cass are a delightful quintet struggling with their new powers (sort of like the Greatest
American Hero) and the impact that has on their friendships. They work through all this while
teaming up to try to capture a killer with no one to help them. Dolores Stewart Riccio provides fans
with a bewitching tale and the audience will return to see what happens next in Charmed Circle.
Faked To Death
Dean James
Kensington
ISBN 1575668874 $22.00
The villagers of Snupperton Mumsley are happy to welcome American Southern born and bred
best-selling author Simon Kirby-Jones into their English midst. Simon is elated to be away from the
States and the break up with his boyfriend especially now that he has as his assistant the gorgeous
Sir Giles Blitherton, who is just waiting to jump his bones. The only thing holding him back from
getting romantically involved with anyone is the fact that he is a vampire and is afraid to trust Giles
with his secret. As long as Simon takes his medication three times a day he can pass for human,
which enables him to walk in the sunlight and be active in the daytime. He accepts an invitation from
Lady Hermione Kinsale to appear at a writer's workshop but he's outraged to learn that mystery
author Dorinda Darlington is also appearing. Simon knows she's a fake because he is Dorinda and
he's absolutely livid that his agent who is also at the conference arranged this publicity stunt. When
the fake Dorinda is murdered, Simon deduces that one of blackmailed authors killed her. He
investigates because he's nosy. The protagonist is a drama queen with a biting sense of humor. He is
also a vampire who has few traditional powers (the side effect of the medication he uses) so he must
solve the who-done-it by using his wits of which he has many. The mystery is well plotted and there
are many suspects who could be the killer so the readers are able to like this delightful cozy with a
supernatural twist. Faked To Death is a unique, refreshing and totally endearing satirical
mystery.
The Last Witness
Joel Goldman
Pinnacle
ISBN: 0786014482 $6.99
Anyone who expects to make it in business or politics in Kansas City had to deal with Jack Cullan
until someone killed him. The circumstantial evidence heavily points towards ex-cop and now bar
owner Blues Bluestone. Last night Blues interceded and roughed up Jack when he was physically
bullying Beth Harnell, Chairwoman of the Missouri Gaming Commission. During the one sided
scuffle between the males, Jack scratched Blues' hands leaving the barkeep's skin (DNA) under the
political fixer's fingernails. Homicide Detectives Rymer and Zimmerman arrest Blues for murder;
Blues retains Lou Mason as his attorney. No bail is granted because someone with strings wants the
pressure of prison time to either break Jack into a confession or have him killed in jail. Either way
the case closed. Knowing the system is already heavily rigged towards the prosecution and this case
is perfect for the other side, Lou realizes he cannot win in court so he must find the real killer. The
second Mason legal thriller is an exciting tale that reads more like a private investigative novel. The
legal aspects of the plot show how the game is fixed to overwhelmingly maximize the odds in favor
of the government regardless of whether justice is served or even whether a convicted person did the
act (Governor Ryan). Besides the eye opening look at the American legal system, Lou is a wishbone
pulled in two directions by his friendship for the accused and his loving respect for the lead
detective. All together this combo makes for an entertaining, shockingly educational
who-done-it.
Everything I Ever Wanted
Jo Goodman
Zebra Books
ISBN: 0821768670 $6.50
In 1818 at a Drury Lane theater, the four members of the "Compass Club" interrupt the performance
on the stage. Actress India Parr takes exception and rips into the aristocratic quartet. Matthew
"South" Forrester apologizes for the group. Afterward, he visits India and coaxes her into punching
him in the face to allegedly win a bet from his three buddies. Actually South and his cohorts had a
purpose for their boorish behavior during the show and afterward. Colonel Blackwood has assigned
South with solving a murder mystery where India is either a suspect or she knows critical
information from her assignations with the rich and famous. South "abducts" India in an effort to
seduce her into telling him the dark secret that he knows she hides from him while love flourishes
between the combatant lovers. Everything I Ever Wanted, book two (see Let Me Be The One for
the first story) of Jo Goodman's Compass quartet of novels, is an exciting Regency romance. The
story line is fun to observe as the exchanges between the lead couple are often humorous and as
frequently passionate with some cases a mixing of both. The return of previous cast members serves
as a double-edged sword as it nice to see them, but when the foursome get together they are
diverted from the key plot of romance and capturing a killer. Still fans of Regency romantic suspense
will take much delight with second tale while waiting for the other two points to be told.
The Night Before
Lisa Jackson
Zebra Books
ISBN: 0821769367 $6.99
In Savannah, Caitlyn Bandeaux is covered with blood, but has no idea why or what happened last
night. She blames her memory loss on alcohol. After she cleans up, Police Detectives Reed and
Morrisette inform her that someone brutally murdered her estrange spouse Josh. She remains the
prime suspect with a strong motive and opportunity since he was suing her in the wrongful death of
their infant son Jamie and her blood type was found at the crime scene. Still the cops realize that
Josh had many enemies from his unscrupulous business dealings and his womanizing. Caitlyn asks
her twin Kelly for help, but her sibling initially fails to return her desperate calls. As she suffers more
blackouts and strange flashes, she turns to psychiatrist Adam Hunt though Kelly objects. Adam has
an agenda of his own while the truth begins to surface inside Caitlyn's mind one slow drip at a time.
Fans of Lisa Jackson's "Blooded" novels will want to read The Night Before, an exciting romantic
psychological suspense filled with plenty of twists, albeit too many. The story line grips the audience
as Caitlyn struggles to regain her equilibrium by trying to learn why she blacks out (read the twist to
learn why) but also falling in love with Adam. Some of the loose ties from the "Blooded" novels are
answered in this tale that includes the appearance of New Orleans Detective Montoya. Ms. Jackson
will return to all the lists while her audience anxiously awaiting the sequel, The Morning After.
This Must Be Love
Kasey Michaels
Zebra Books
ISBN: 0821771183 $6.99
Though she knows every time she does a favor for her cousin Molly Applegate she gets into trouble,
pre-school owner Jane Preston agrees to pose as her relative at the Sixth Annual Intellectual Retreat
in Cape May, New Jersey. Molly admits she cannot attend because her face is too well known as
that disastrous intern, but she needs to report a scandal involving a potential presidential candidate
Senator Aubrey Harrison or lose her position as a reporter. John Romanowski also attends the
event. John, better known as author JP Roman, wants to find mud to not just abort Harrison's run,
but to destroy the SOB who unceremoniously dumped his mother after a love affair for a better
political wife. His mother never recovered so John was orphaned as a teen. Singles are matched up
with John and Jane assigned to one another. They are immediately attracted, but their mutually
exclusive inquiries cause problems for the dueling Js. If they are to succeed on their endeavors and
come away with a loving relationship, one of them must step forward and trust the other with the
truth. Though coincidence brings the lead protagonists together, readers will applaud this amateur
sleuth romance. The story line is very amusing as John and Jane trip over one another in their efforts
to find the loaded gun that will destroy Harrison. Jane especially is an intriguing character because
she is the classic amateur sleuth as she stumbles from one mistake (except for loving John) to
another. Together they make for a delectable novel.
The Fury And The Power
John Farris
Forge
ISBN 0312877285 $25.95
She is not ordinary woman in any sense of the world. She is a powerful psychic who can call forth
her doppelganger at any time she chooses, an entity equal in power to Eden Waring. She defused a
bomb by using her powers but that doesn't make her a safe or happy person. The Assassin of the
Impact Sector of the FBI tried to kill her once but failed and he's back for a second shot. That is not
the worst danger she faces because, after all, the Assassin is only a mundane psychopath. She has
attracted the attention of Mordant, an evil being from another plane, who has lost part of his soul.
He hopes to use Eden to find it so he can plunge the world into chaos. He also wants to mate with
her so that the child they will produce will be quite the fury. Eden wants no part of the evil Mordant
and will fight him with her last breath before she gives him any victory over her. The Fury And The
Power is a pulse pounding work of psychological suspense and chilling horror. Eden is a young
woman who must cope with her own powers and otherworldly beings without succumbing to their
dark side. There are many violent scenes in this book but they are appropriate in the context of the
story line. The sequel promises to be even better but readers will have to wait something that will
prove a very difficult task.
Tracking Bear
Aimee & David Thurlo
Forge
ISBN 0765304767 $24.95
Money is scarce on the Navaho reservation and the lack of funds in the police department means less
officers and increasingly faulty and out of date equipment. Officer Frankin calls in a possible
burglary in progress and requests help but the broken radio stopped working before he can give a
location. By the time Ella Clah, the officer in charge of the special investigations unit, finds him, he
is dead with a bullet in his brain. It is clear that money is needed to upgrade the equipment and hire
more officers. NEED (Navaho Electrical Energy Development) thinks they have the solution to the
problem. They want to build a small clean nuclear power plant on the reservation believing it is a
step in making the tribe self-sustaining. There is a large segment of the Navaho population that
doesn't want anything to do with the project and those who are adamantly opposed to the project
wind up dead or shot at. It looks like the NEED forces are turning militant but Ella suspects a
cold-blooded killer is making it look that way while pursuing a personal agenda. Tracking Bear is a
great police procedural that gives readers an insightful look into the culture of the Navaho living on
the reservations today. The novel displays the schisms in the tribe between the traditionalists and the
modernists as well as the new traditionalists. The who-done-it is complex, compelling and exciting
with a plethora of suspects from a grieving father to a Navaho activist. Aimee & David Thurlo have
written another fascinating installment in this popular mystery series.
Doubloon
Jay Amberg
Forge
ISBN: 0765301008 $24.95
Retired Navy aviator Jack Gallagher learns that his father Nick drowned when his ship the Sea Devil
topsided. Jack has ambivalent feelings because twenty years ago Nick deserted his family to search
for sea treasure off the Florida Keys. Though he originally planned on attending the funeral and
immediately returning to Chicago, Jack thinks the recently changed will that provides him with ten
percent of Doubloon, Inc. is a cryptic message from his dad. Jack decides to stay for now. Key West
Tribune reporter Josie Hernandez writes stories that imply that someone murdered Nick. At the
same time that the Florida Office of Antiquities investigates Doubloon for tax evasion through the
illegal sales of antiquities, the company's salvage license may be revoked by the state. As Josie and
Jack make strange bedfellows, danger mounts as the duo is assaulted. Not long after, they close in
on a special treasure with thugs wanting them eliminated, a step family that seems untrustworthy, a
hurricane ready to destroy the duo, and dubious bureaucrats ready to dry-dock the pair. Doubloon
would be another run of the mill treasure seeker thriller except Jay Amberg has had a great time
providing insight into various seafaring processes that his enthusiasm becomes contagious. Fans
receive a taut albeit standardized thriller but it also provides insight into treasure diving and the state
of artifacts in salt water (think of some of monuments like the Statue of liberty or Washington
Monument needing a cleaning), etc. This is cleverly intertwined into the plot, bit also done with such
elation that many readers will consider a vacation off the Florida coast.
The World's Finest Mystery and Crime Stories, Third Annual Collection, Vol. 3
Ed Gorman and Martin H. Greenberg
Forge
ISBN: 0765302357 $17.95
As usual the G and G (great goldies) team has put together a powerful anthology consisting of
thirty-nine tales from 2001 that run the mystery-crime-thriller spectrum. Obviously all the inclusions
have seen print elsewhere, but not under one tome before this compilation. The contributions for the
most part are excellent depending on the reader's taste, but none are terrible regardless of palate. In
addition three articles report on the general state of the genre during 2001 and four country specific
reports (Great Britain, Australia, Canada, and Germany) furnish insight into the trends. The World's
Finest Mystery And Crime Stories, Third Annual Collection, Vol. 3 provides the audience with a
delightful slice of some of the year's better short stories.
The Blue Widows
Jon Land
Forge
ISBN 0765305992 $25.95
Palestinian American detective Ben Kamal and former Israeli police official Danielle Barnea work in
America for Security Concepts. A powerful Arab businessman hires the duo to extract his kidnapped
son from the People's Brigade. The mission goes terribly wrong and to save Ben's life, Danielle is
forced to kill a number of men including a FBI agent. Unable to stay in the country after that
debacle, she accepts the post of Commander of Israel's National Police. Leading a raid on a terrorist
enclave in Gaza, she discovers a document written in Arabic that she faxes to Ben in America for
translation. They learn that it is a plan to bring about the bible prophecy to cause the end of all
things. meaning the destruction of America. A supply of small pox is stolen from a military fort and
ends up in the hands of the leader of the People's Brigade. Layla Aziz Rahani who is the daughter of
a Saudi Arabian billionaire is the mastermind behind the plot to destroy America. Her plan is even
more diabolical than what it first seems because she plans to unleash a biological weapons a million
times worse than smallpox. When Ben and Danielle realize what her fiendish ploy is, they vow to
stop her or die trying. Jon Land is an insightful, creative and colorful storyteller who has a grasp of
the politics and the divisiveness that exist in the Middle East. Readers also gain a fascinating glimpse
into the culture of Saudi Arabia as seen from the perspective of the women. The Blue Widows is an
action-packed provocative tale that has more curves than a twisted pretzel. The plot is action-pack
and the two protagonists are easv to admire.
Jubilee
Jack Dann
Tor Books
ISBN: 076530676X $27.95
This seventeen-story anthology contains tales published over the last twenty-five years in a vast
range of publications. The contributions are powerful entries that highlight how capable an author
Jack Dann is in his ability to portray and describe the inhumanity of humanity. The tales never look
out into the extended future, as they are either historical or present with even the near future feeling
contemporary. They rarely leave earth, but even when Mr. Dann visits another orb, the characters
are eerily earth-like. Besides the powerful tales that run much of the earthbound speculative fiction
gamut, Mr. Dann includes a delightful introduction and afterward. Anthology fans will sing Jubilee
with this "best of" works from a strong science fiction author.
Dragon And Thief
Timothy Zahn
Tor Books
ISBN: 0765301245 $24.95
His parents died years ago and his only living relative Uncle Virgo recently passed away, leaving
fourteen year old Jack Morgan by himself except for the virtual essence of his deceased guardian.
Jack has been set up to take the fall for stolen valuable cargo. He is an easy frame, as he is guilty by
association or in this case blood, as his late uncle was a known con man. Jack flees to a remote
planet, but in the skies observes a fight with one of the combatant ships crashing near him. The only
survivor of the wreck is the K'da dragon Draycos. Jack might have felt he had plenty of troubles, but
he soon learns what it's like to have the weight of the world on your back. Draycos exists either as a
two-dimensional "tattoo" on his host's skin or as a three-dimensional dragon. His current host died
during the attack and with no one else around, he persuades Jack to become his new host. This
unlikely pairing of a warrior poet with a bungling teenage thief leads to adventures neither
anticipated when they joined at the hip. Clearly targeting the young adult audience, though the older
Norton readers will enjoy the novel, Dragon And Thief is an exciting science fiction adventure story.
Readers will appreciate the relationship between the intelligent experience dragon and the exuberant
youth, which makes for a fine time for the audience. The worlds seem real and the joining seems
strangely plausible requiring author Timothy Zahn to bare his back so his fans can see his
tattoo.
Abandon In Place
Jerry Oltion
Tor Books
ISBN: 0312873166 $14.95
NASA is in deep decline especially looking back to its glory days of Mercury, Gemini, and the
Apollo missions. As the astronaut and cosmonaut pioneers of space die, Elvis-like sightings are
reported, but most rationale folks write them off as too much moonshine. However, when Neil
Armstrong passes away, a Saturn V moon rocket launches from the Cape Canaveral pad witnessed
by shuttle astronaut Rick Spencer. The ghostly spacecraft reaches Moon orbit, then vanishes. This
phenomenon repeats itself several times. Rick persuades the NASA brass to allow him to travel with
the phantom ship, which takes him to the shuttle piloted by his girlfriend, Tessa McClain. Rick,
Tessa, and astronomer-astronaut Yoshiko Sugano ignore their superiors and ride the ghost ship to
the Moon with the Russians providing mission control support from earth. Rick soon learns that if
he fears that the space program will end, the ship remains solid, but if he believes that the space
program will recover, the ship begins to vanish. The team lands on the Moon and successfully
returns to Earth only to have the CIA interrogate them to learn more about psychic powers.
Abandon In Place is a full-length novelization of an award-winning novella. The story line is exciting
as Jerry Oltion uses New Age elements combined with scientific information tat tuns into an
excellent paranormal tale. The novel is at its best during the space scenes, but loses thrust when the
CIA enters the picture. Though the NASA leaders seem stilted, fans of preternatural science fiction
will relish this weird to the moon and back thriller.
The Moon's Shadow
Catherine Asaro
Tor Books
ISBN 0765304252 $25.95
On the planet Delos, The Eubians exchange prisoner Prince Eldrin of the Skolian Empire for Jai
Rockworth the heir to the Eubian Concord. Although nobody knows it, Jai, who will be the next
Emperor, is related to all the high powered rulers in the Skolian Empire. The Skolians and the
Eubians after centuries of war are holding to an informal and uneasy truce, one that could explode
into war with the least provocation. The Eubian economy is based on the slave trade and is
condemned by the Skolians who know their enemies feed on the pain of their psychic, slaves known
as Providers. Jai's most fervent wish is to forge a permanent peace between the two empires but
forces within his own government try their best to kill him before he can make any reforms. When he
marries his Finance Minister Tarquine, he gets a wife who will use all her dirty tricks in her mighty
arsenal to keep her husband safe. Readers get a close look at how the Eubian Concord really works
and it will sicken them as much as it does the hero of The Moon's Shadow. The protagonist is young
but he gathers some powerful allies who help him rule and try to see that he is protected from
assassination from those who disagree with his goals. Catherine Asaro has written one of the best
works of her star-studded career, one that will have readers searching the shelves for her
backlist.
Engine City
Ken MacLeod
Tor Books
ISBN: 076530502X $24.95
Two centuries ago immortal cosmonauts Matt Cairns and Grigory Volkov arrive at the Second
Sphere planet Nova Terra where over the eons, descendants of Earth including the dinosaurs, the
giant-squid, and various humanoids have lived. They learn from a dying god that non-terrestrial
invaders are coming. The two immortals approach the pending hostilities quite differently. Grigory
declares martial law and names himself dictator. He orders development of defense systems capable
of destroying the attacking aliens. Matt goes on the offensive seeking to intercept the invaders
before they arrive and cause havoc. Matt succeeds and meets the feral force first. He quickly realizes
that the Multipliers are not only friendly and peaceful, but want to ally themselves with the humans.
The Multipliers are brilliant at submolecular technology and can enter human bodies to genetically
reorganize cells converting everyone into immortals while also implanting Multiplier racial memory.
The Bright Star Cultures are being created with only the ancient gods objecting as they expected the
two noisy species to destroy each other. The gods manipulate Grigory trying to cause a
solar-pandemic final showdown. Engine City is a strong final entry to Ken MacLeod's delightful
"The Engines of Light" trilogy. The story line is fast-paced and ties up loose ends from the two
previous novels through the final confrontation. Cairns and Volkov stay in character so that the
audience knows how each will react to the crisis. Newcomers will be better suited buying the
previous novels (see Cosmonaut Keep and Dark Light) as this finale is clearly for fans of this strong
futuristic deep outer space series.
From A Whisper To A Scream
Charles de Lint
Tor Books
ISBN: 0765304341 $14.95
In 1988 Newford police officer Thomas Morningstar chases after a speeder only to have the other
driver pull a gun on him forcing the cop to fire and kill the man. The follow up investigation
exonerates Thomas, but also shows the victim is pediophile Teddy Bird, who had three dead little
kids in his trunk and several others in his apartment. Thomas eliminated a monster. Two years later,
Thomas believes a new serial killer targeting teenage prostitutes displays a similar MO to Bird. Since
he personally saw Bird buried, Thomas wonders what is going on, but turns to his Native American
heritage for the answer. Jumping off of conclusions drawn by a reporter, Thomas believes that Bird's
malignant spirit is chasing after someone named Niki, but not sure why. Having stopped Bird when
he was human, Thomas feels it is his responsibility to halt Teddy now that that he is as deadly as
ever as a spirit. This is a reprint of an early much darker Newford novel written under the pen name
Samuel M. Key. The story line contains all the de Lint magic that makes him a fan favorite as the
author in this case uses a malevolent essence as a form of symbolism to display the uglier side of
modern society. The paranormal serial killer investigation is intriguing as Mr. de Lint provides his
audience with a deep mystical thriller with an even deeper message.
Down And Out In The Magic Kingdom
Cory Doctorow
Tor Books
ISBN: 0765304368 $22.95
Sometime in the future, youngster Jules (just over a hundred years old) enjoys being a member of
the Bitchun Society. He relishes the freedom to enjoy life by doing whatever he wishes as long as he
does nothing to lose respect from others, which would cost him "points". . Jules decides he wants to
be part of the volunteer crew that works the Haunted Mansion at Disney World. However, he soon
finds himself recovering from being murdered and forced to relocate his consciousness in another
cloned body. Quite upset with his fourth death, Jules believes the innovative idiots destroying the
Hall of Presidents by turning it into a virtual showcase where visitors become the president killed
him for being in the way of someone's dream. As he tries to enact revenge for his death and for the
heresy committed in the name of progress, Jules loses much of what he values especially the esteem
of others, but obtains perceptions shared by few. He wonders about the cost, but war is hell. Down
And Out In The Magic Kingdom is an interesting satire that leaves no doubt what Cory Doctorow
expects the heritage the twentieth century will leave behind. The story line is kept low-keyed, which
adds a realistic feel to the plot, but also leaves the audience wanting more action. Jules is a delightful
character ironically worshipping the purity of Disney World as if the place is Mount Olympus, with
Mickey and Walt as the Gods.
For Love And Glory
Poul Anderson
Tor Books
ISBN: 0312874499 $24.95
In the very distant future, mankind has colonized the stars while the people of Earth have evolved
into something quite different. Science and technology has advanced so that people can live several
centuries with rejuvenation treatments. Information is sought after and the person who delivers it is
rewarded handsomely and regarded as a hero. Lissa of planet Asborg belongs to a powerful house
so she has the freedom to do what she loves: explore planets and space phenomenon. On a scientific
expedition to the planet Jonna she meets Captain Hebo and his partner an anthropoid from planet
Rikha. They discovered a Forerunner artifact that they are going to sell to the highest bidder. Lissa
leaves them to go on an expedition to see two black holes collide. She meets up again with Hebo on
the planet Freydis where she helps the Susalans colonize a new world. He offers her a chance to visit
a part of the galaxy where countless Forerunner artifacts might be found and she grabs at the
opportunity realizing that she is embarking on the most dangerous mission of her career. Fans of the
early Andre Norton and Robert Heinlein space operas are going to have a lot of fun reading For
Love Or Glory. Humans and other sentient species are realistically portrayed and the space battle
scenes are exciting because it is difficult to guess how they will turn out. Hugo and Nebula award
winner Poul Anderson has written a work that is rich in atmosphere and will make readers believe
the author has written a "semi-autobiographic" book about what he has seen in the future in outer
space.
Hades' Daughter
Sara Douglass
Tor Books
ISBN: 0765305402 $27.95
Approximately in 1000 BC, Athens annually sends tributes to Crete to include sacrifices to Asterion
the Minotaur. This year's tribute includes Thesus, the son of the Athenian King, but he plans to beat
the Labyrinth's monster. He gains the love of Ariadne, daughter of the Crete monarch and the
Mistress of the Labyrinth. She betrays her heritage to abet her lover who defeats Asterion. Later, he
deserts his pregnant wife leaving her abandoned on an island to birth a daughter while Thesus takes
up with Ariadne's sister. Outraged, a proud Ariadne seeks revenge by destroying the fabric of the
Game, the divine magic that holds the world together. One hundred years later, Brutus, former ruler
of fallen Troy, seeks a different throne. He seemingly triumphs aided by the Goddess Artemis, a
survivor of Ariadne's opening gamut of a century ago. However, Ariadne, calling herself Genvissa,
sees Brutus as a useful lackey because the avaricious brute is too cocky to see beyond his own
superego. Through him, she sets in motion act two of her Troy Game vengeance. Though at times
wordy and one subplot (occurs in 1939) does not tie back to the ancient theme (clarity in future
novels?), readers will appreciate the scope and characterization of the opening saga in Sara
Douglass' vast historical fantasy. The key two elements to this delightful epic tale are the flawed and
contemptible lead characters and the two prime ancient eras vividly alive due to rich texturing
interwoven into the plot. Fans will definitely want to read Hades' Daughter and the sequels as Ms.
Douglass clearly has game.
Someone To Watch Over Me
Judith McNaught
Atria
ISBN:0671525751 $25.00
Highly regarded Broadway actress Leigh Kendall believes life is great. She is at the acme of her
stage career and is starring in a successful play and her personal life may even be at a higher peak
because she loves her husband Logan Manning. On the whole, her life is perfect except for the
expensive gifts from an unknown admirer whose "generosity" frightens her. Logan purchases a
country cottage, which he plans to convert into a love nest for them. Following a performance,
Leigh is to meet her spouse at their dream home where she will see it for the first time. However, a
blizzard leads to her being in a car accident and waking in a hospital. She also learns from the police
that Logan has vanished and she is the prime suspect in his disappearance. Not willing to sit idly by,
Leigh beings making inquiries into the activities of the man she loved only to find a fa‡ade that when
removed is nothing like the man she cherished. With no one to turn to for help and unable to
distinguish friend from foe, Leigh now struggles to remain alive. This is definitely d‚j… vu as Judith
McNaught is heading back to the New York Times best seller list with a powerful romantic suspense
novel hat is superb. The exhilarating story line works on all levels as readers observe the
transformation of Leigh from a loving elated individual into a frightened rabbit with no haven
anywhere. Though somewhat different from her usual work, this powerful tale will remind the
audience of the Goldie Hawn movie Deceived. Fans of romantic suspense will enjoy this delightful
tale. It was well worth he long wait to read such an enralling work by an author who keeps raising
the bar with each book she writes.
Path Of The Assassin
Brad Thor
Atria
ISBN: 074343675X $25.00
Secret Service Agent Scott Harvath is doing his job when he risks his life to keep President Rutledge
safe. With an increase in terrorism at alarming levels from multiple sides in the Mideast
confrontation and a recent kidnapping attempt of Rutledge, Scott has job security. His current
assignment is to eliminate those who assaulted the president but escaped, though Scott insured their
mission failed. With synagogues and mosques exploding, the CIA believes the trademark evidence
points to the 1980s deadliest assassin Abdul Nidal who supposedly died during that decade. Scott
assumes the report of Abdul's expiration is true especially when the CIA points towards the son of
the terrorist, Hashim. However, the Agency claims no pictures or description exists. One American
Meg Cassidy has seen and survived Hashim's deadly destruction. Desperate Scott drafts the civilian
to help him bring down the world's deadliest terrorist, but will soon learn there is more to this
dangerous mess than the CIA, Mossad, and the American Home security agency has told him. That
lack of information could cost Scott, Meg, and their allies their lives. No description seems strange
with a survivor witness, but fans of adrenaline highs will not notice. Action, action, action, and more
action as that fails to describe fractionally the global events of this non stop thriller that seems so
pertinent with recent events starting with 9/11 and still current with the precedent setting Saddam
scenario. Scott retains his hero mantle first earned in the exciting Lions Of Lucerne, but the tale of
the tape is ACTION as Path Of The Assassin is a one sitting thriller.
Six Easy Pieces
Walter Mosley
Atria
ISBN: 0743442520 $24.00
This seven-story anthology focuses on the life of Easy Rawlins as he tries to serve as a role model
for his two kids, be faithful to his sweetheart, and stay off the streets of 1964 Watts. Six of the tales
were included one at a time with the recent releases of the first six Mouse novels. Yet in spite of the
not long ago reissues of these tales, fans will relish seeing them along with one new story in this
book though cost should be considered. As always the cast including the allegedly dead Mouse
makes Walter Mosley's contributions so much fun to read. Six Easy Pieces is an easy historical
mystery read.
Rock My Soul
Bell Hooks
Atria
ISBN: 074345605X $23.00
Though commentator Bell Hooks is well known for her works, this reviewer had no plans to read
another culpability book whether the blame is on the white race or on the black race (the in thing
flavor of the moment much to the glee of the present administration). However, Ms Hooks literally
hooks her readers by turning upside down the basic premise made by many black conservatives
whom blame African-Americans for the lack of significant social progress. Instead Ms. Hooks uses
those same arguments to offer a different premise that the symptoms of failure are not recent
phenomena having been around for quite a while, but now are being abetted and often encouraged
by government neglect, de facto racism, and psychological trauma. As white racism has abated, the
often-negative reaction to integrate has crippled the black community leaving deep psychological
scars and extremely low self-esteem as blacks compete by imitating whites. Though often repetitive,
Rock My Soul is well written and supported with documentation that supports the book's premise.
Ms. Hooks makes the case that less accusations and finger pointing and increased mental health
approaches will ease much of the malaise that has led to low self-esteem and self-hate amongst many
black women and the families they often raise alone.
Going Too Far
Tori Carrington
Harlequin Blaze
ISBN 0373790775 $4.50
As teens in the same neighborhood, Marie Bertelli and Ian Kilborn had the hots for one another,
which finally consummated with a heated interlude in her house. Their passion scared each other so
much they avoided one another like the plague ever since. Eight years later, Marie and Ian practice
law when they both make a court appearance at the same time. They still cannot resist one another
and soon starts a heated affair. However, her brother has moved in with Marie after being tossed out
of his house by his wife. Ian worries that he may suffer a few broken bones from her protective
family so he persuades Marie to hide their romance. Meanwhile her father hires him to represent him
against mob criminal activities. Marie wants more from her beloved so she forces the issue of a
permanent commitment, something that Ian fears. Going Too Far is not a Blaze; it is an inferno, as
the audience will burn their fingers from the Venusian-level heat generated by the lead couple. The
return of characters from previous novels (see the first legal brief book Fire And Ice and A
Stranger's Touch) adds a neighborly touch to the fine tale. Though Ian acts like an idiot at times, this
novel remains the typical terrific Tori-d tale.
Wicked And Willing
Leslie Kelley
Harlequin Temptation
ISBN 0373691165 $4.25
Venus Messina loves suds and jeans so she rejects the thought that she could be a millionaire's long
lost granddaughter. She fears, if true, that she would lose all she relishes about life and her childhood
dream would definitely and melancholy end as being an heiress is not part of her makeup. Thus she
wants to say she is the wrong person to Max Longotti. Troy Langtree finds himself in an untenable
situation. He wants Venus in his bed, but also needs to keep his current employment after the fiasco
of his previous mixing of bedrooms and boardrooms. Making matters harder (pun intended) is that
she wants him too, but she has no inhibition to keep her from reaching out to him. Yet Troy knows
he must keep his libido in check while persuading Venus to at least meet Max. Though Wicked And
Willing is label a "Bad Girl Club" tale, that description seems too narrow for someone as vivacious
as Venus is. She is an individual who lives life to the fullest, filled with gusto for the people and
things she likes, in other words: Attitude. She is assertive and often aggressive, but when she loves
everyone knows. In some ways, Troy is more a secondary character, but readers will relish his ability
to encourage his beloved to be herself, only share it with him. Together they turn Leslie Kelley's
novel into a heated contemporary romance.
Heir To Secret Memories
Mallory Kane
Harlequin
ISBN: 0373226985 $4.75
In New Orleans, though they only met six weeks ago and she still mourns the death of her beloved
mother, Paige Reynolds and Johnny Yarbrough share vows of love. He asks her to marry him and
she accepts. He gives her his deceased mother's ring to show he is seriously, but tells her he will face
his tyrannical father by himself when he informs the old man. Seven years later, Sally McGowan
shows Paige a charcoal sketch in which she had to have been the model. The signature is that of Jay
who allegedly died three years ago, but to Paige he died when he never returned for her. Now a
social worker, Paige raises their child alone. However, Serena Yarbrough, Johnny's stepmother
recognizes the signature and logo with a current date. She thought she killed Jay as she calls him
three years ago so that she and her child would inherit the vast estate. Now she must kill her
stepson, her step granddaughter and her step daughter-in-law to insure the proper succession. When
her thugs snatch the child, Paige needs to find a dead man to save her daughter's life. Heir To Secret
Memories is an exciting contemporary romantic suspense. The lead couple is a fine duo, but it is
Paige whom readers will admire. Serena is a caricature of Cruella and though Mallory Kane intended
it that way, her villainy seems cartoonish. The story line is exhilarating leading to the audience
wanting to know what really happened to Johnny seven and three years ago.
Another Man's Wife
Rebecca Winters
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373711123 $5.25
Air Force pilot Nate Hawkins grieves the death of his friend Scott Pierce. He feels strongly he must
do something for Scott's widow, Laurel, though he fears to do so, as he has secretly loved her for
what seems to him is forever. Thus he offers friendship to Laurel, pregnant with her deceased
husband's child after ironically years of fertility treatments. Though Laurel mourns the loss of her
husband that she loved deeply, she begins to fall in love with Nate. However, not only does Laurel
feels some guilt over violating Scott's memory, Nate does not believe he is half the man her husband
was. Besides inadequacy, he knows she remains Another Man's Wife though Laurel tries to persuade
him that there is room for remembering her love for Scott and her love for Nate in her large heart.
Though the triangular relationship including a ghost has been often used in novels and this tale is not
quite at the extraordinary level that Rebecca Winters normally achieves, Another Man's Wife
absorbs the reader through the tribulations of the lead protagonists. Fans will cherish the memory of
Scott and pray that Nate overcomes his negative self-feelings to reach out for love. Laurel is a fine
female lead, but her Yoda-like understanding reduces the conflict. Still a Ms. Winters' romance
remains as always a pleasant read for romance fans.
Little Girl Lost
Marissa Carroll
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373711131 $5.25
In Bartonsville, Ohio, widow Faith Carson still mourns the death of her beloved husband and her
unborn child in a car accident six months ago. Living alone on a farm, Faith sees a teen couple
parked nearby. She goes to help them, only to find herself assisting the girl in giving birth to a girl.
As a storm comes to the area, the male Jamie Sheldon bundles his girlfriend Beth Damon into his
car, but leaves their child Caitlin with Faith, as he knows they cannot take care of her. Over two
years later, Hugh Damon arrives at the Painted Lady Butterfly Farm and Guest House to stay for a
week. He believes that Caitlin is his niece though Faith claims her as her daughter. With Beth having
lost much of her memory and Jamie dead, Hugh lacks information. Still, he needs to know if Caitlin
is his niece and if she is being raised in a happy home. He quickly concludes Faith is a superb mom
while falling in love with her and his niece. Hugh also realizes that Jamie's wealthy parents will stop
at nothing to find and gain custody of their Little Girl Lost. This engaging contemporary romance
will delight readers as individuals compete to gain custody of Caitlin. Hugh and Faith are a charming
lead couple while they learn the old adage of not to share billing with a precocious toddler. The
subplot involving Jamie's parents adds tension and angst, but seems like overkill as deep conflict
already exists between the lead couple. Still, fans of a powerful character driven novel will
appreciate this tale.
The Inn At Oak Creek
Linda Barrett
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373711158 $5.25
Molly Porter was a strong bet to making the American Olympics downhill ski team until she suffered
a terrible career ending accident. Following years of healing Molly reinvents herself as the hotel
manager of the Bluebonnet Inn. Though regretting that she never participated on the Olympic stage
and that she cannot have children (a side effect of the injury), Molly feels pretty good that her life
has come together for the first time since the accident. Sam Kincaid is the new owner of the inn and
he wants to sell it so he can stake his return to the finance world. While Sam and Molly disagree
over the future of the inn, they fall in love. However, he fears commitment to someone who fails to
share his dreams while she believes he deserves a wife who can give him the children he professes
that he wants one day. This engaging contemporary romance avoids the soap opera clich‚s through
two wonderful lead protagonists. Sam and Molly grip the audience, as readers want both to obtain
their desires, but together, though on the surface that seems illogical and impossible. The Inn At Oak
Creek is a fine love tale that focuses on the catalyst of love enabling new aspirations to replace
shattered hopes.
Tiles And Tribulations
Tamar Myers
Avon
ISBN 0380819651 $6.99
The Den of Antiquity, a high end antique store in Charleston, South Carolina is owned and run by
Abigail Timberlake, a woman who spends more time on homicide investigations than she does
managing her business. Her co-worker and close friend C.J. persuades Abigail to attend a s‚ance at
her house so they can exorcise the ghost that haunts it. Abigail, with her mother and her friends
arrive at Cid's house when she spots a tape recorder under the table. The medium, Madame
Woo-Woo put it there the day before as part of her scam. When the s‚ance begins, the so-called
medium punches the button on the tape recorder and shortly thereafter dies. The police discover that
someone put poison on the tape recorder and Abigail knows it is one of the people who attended the
s‚ance. Placing herself in peril, she starts her own investigation; questioning everyone who was
there. Tamar Myers, the author of the Magdelena Yoder series, has written a charming cozy filled
with warmth and humor. The heroine, a four foot nine dynamo goes into her sleuth mode asking
intelligent questions of all the suspects while trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. Her
perseverance and intelligence makes her an ideal amateur sleuth.
Scandalous Again
Christina Dodd
Avon
ISBN: 0060092653 $6.99
In 1806 Madeline de Lacey returns to England after four years overseas to escape what she
perceived was the betrayal of the man she loved, Gabriel Ansell. When Madeline learned Gabriel
gambled, something she abhors due to her chronically playing father, she felt her fianc‚ stabbed her
in the back. Now she is back, but learns her dad did it again. He lost the estate and her playing
piquet. She is stunned to find out she is the fianc‚e of Remington Knight. Instead of meeting with
Remington, Madeline has to keep her father from joining the game of the century. She pretends to
be her companion Eleanor, who she sends to London as her to meet with Remington. At Mr.
Rumbelow's estate where the game will be held, Madeline runs into Gabriel, who treats her with
disdain even though he knows he still loves her and she loves him too, but his gambling remains a
wedge between them. This is an engaging regency romance that works on several levels as reader
obtain a taste of an era in which women are "assets" of a man and gambling can ruin a family. The
story line is action packed and the tension between the lead couple is taut though why she slept with
him after she dropped him four years ago lessens Madeline, a strong protagonist otherwise. Christina
Dodd provides an insightful tale that fans will enjoy as it showcases social issues of then and
now.
Getting Lucky
Susan Anderson
Avon
ISBN: 038081918X $6.99
Reconnaissance marine Zach Taylor comes home to see that his younger sister in their Southern
California house only to find his sibling gone and a renter living there. Zach is nasty and rude to
tenant Lily Morrisette insisting she leave as he figures she is just another con tricking his naive sister
out of her upcoming fortune. Lily rejects Zach's boorish behavior insisting she possesses a signed
lease. Lily informs Zach that Glynnis has left for Washington State to meet the family of her fianc‚
David Beaumont. Zach, accompanied by Lily who cares for Glynnis, drive to Washington at
cross-purposes as he plans to stop her and she to support her. On the way they fall in love, but can a
combat marine forge a permanent relationship with a local chef? Getting Lucky is an entertaining
contemporary romance due to the road show (mindful of "It Happened One Night") between the
lead characters. Readers will appreciate Lily and her loyalty though how she gets away so easily
feels contrived; the audience will hiss at Zach for his "take that hill" attitude though he only wants
what is best for his beloved sibling even if he marches over the feelings of others. Together, their
drive up the coast makes for a good time for passengers like the readers.
A Necessary Bride
Debra Mullins
Avon
ISBN: 0380819090 $6.99
In 1816 Justin St. James, better known as the "Devil Earl" by the ton, meets American Meg
Stanton-Lynch at a wedding when she is the only person who does not cut him. Justin was exiled
years ago when everyone including his uncle and cousin assumed he murdered his cousin's fianc‚e
Ophelia who made a play for him. Justin made a fortune overseas and through a quirk of fortune
inherited the earldom. Justin plans to find out who really killed Ophelia. He knows fourteen people
were in the house when she died with three not having valid alibis. Harder on Justin than the way the
Ton assumes he is guilty is raising his sister Emily who is angry with him for deserting her once
before like her family did in death. Meg helps the two find a path together even as she wants to join
them as part of their family as she loves Justin and Emily, but she knows he needs to prove he is not
the killer. A Necessary Bride is a fun romantic amateur sleuth tale that is at its strongest when Justin
and at times Meg investigate the homicide. When the plot veers into Emily's woes, the tale shows
deep teen angst, but detours from the prime theme of did he or did he not. Still readers will enjoy
Debra Mullins Regency as the delightful lead couple investigates murder among the Ton.
The Further Observations Of Lady Whistledown
Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins, Mia Ryan, and Julia Quinn
Avon
ISBN: 0060511508 $6.99
"One True Love" by Suzanne Enoch. From the day she was born, Anne was expected to marry
Halfurt, but in her almost two decades of life, nary a letter from her intended came. When Lady W
writes that Anne flirts with other men, Halfurst arrives to protect what has been promised to him.
"Two Hearts" by Karen Hawkins. Elizabeth and Royce are friends, but as she turns twenty-five, Liza
decides to marry. Her rumored choice according to Lady W is Durham, but Royce thinks she is
making a mistake. "A Dozen Kisses" by Mia Ryan. No one including Lady W knows why Terrance
is in town as he never comes to London at least since his war injuries. However, Terrance, who
rarely speaks, desires his distant relative Caroline, but her family thinks he is a cad and push
Pellering on her. "Thirty-Six Valentines" by Julia Quinn. As reported by Lady W, Clive courted
Susannah yet married Harriet. Totally humiliated, Susannah keeps her head high. Clive's older
brother David feels his family wronged the innocent Susannah and wants to make restitution, but he
is not sure how until he falls in love with her. All four well-written historical romance tales occur
around Valentine Day 1814. Though the quality of the cast ranges from great to okay star, each
couple leads one story and plays cameo roles in one or more of the other contributions. This along
with the observations of Lady W in her latest scandal reporting (see The Duke And I) add zest to the
quartet that will please Regency readers.
If Cooks Could Kill
Joanne Pence
Avon
ISBN: 0060548215 $6.99
In San Francisco, Angie Amalfi feels love is in the air after SFPD Detective Paavo Smith proposed
so she arranges a date between her best friend Connie Rogers and a football star, but the jock fails to
show up at the caf‚ where they were to meet. Instead, nervous rumpled Max Squires, a former
financial guru, plops down at Connie's table. He desperately needs help to clear his name and regain
the money embezzled by Veronica Mapes from his clients. Unable to resist the pathetic looking
shlump, Connie agrees to assist him. However, Connie soon finds she needs aid too, as the police
make inquiries into her connections to a jewelry robbery, a murder, and Max. Angie knows she must
help her buddy so she begins investigating even while her beloved Paavo tries to persuade her that
there are already too many cooks on the trail. Her show of friendship places Angie in danger from
unknown assailants. If Cooks Could Kill is a fun culinary mystery that amusingly cautions the
audience on the dangers of a friend in need is a pest at least for the Good Samaritan lead cook and
her pal. The two women try to help, but jump into pots of dangerous situations. The story line never
takes itself too seriously yet master chef Joanne Pence provides fans with a solid amateur sleuth
investigation. If Cooks Could Kill is the latest five star gourmet delight that will send readers
seeking other entrees from Ms. Pence.
Love With The Proper Husband
Victoria Alexander
Avon
ISBN: 0060001453 $6.99
Five years ago, teenager Gwendolyn Townsend learns she has nothing to live on so she flees for
America to earn a living as a governess. Perhaps it was the grabbing males, but she quickly realizes
she stinks at her job. Her deceased father's solicitor Mr. Whiting funds her passage home to inform
her she has a small inheritance that she could live on but if she married she would have quite a
dowry and that her dead sister left behind three nieces. Marcus Holcroft is broke unless he marries
the daughter of his deceased neighbor rather quickly. He offers a marriage of convenience to
Gwendolyn, but she rejects it until she meets her unhappy three nieces. Marriage to Marcus will
provide her the cash to care for her needy relatives. As Marcus and Gwendolyn become acquainted
after they marry they fall in love, but will this duo recognize how lucky they are? Though in many
ways, this delightful historical romance is a typical marriage of convenience tale, the three nieces
provide depth and an extra spin to the plot. The lead couple is an intrepid charming pair, but the
behavior of the unholy threesome make for fine entertainment for sub-genre fans whom read
Victoria Alexander's latest novel.
To Wed A Stranger
Edith Layton
Avon
ISBN: 0060502177 $5.99
At the urging of her father, Annabelle Wylde marries a stranger, Miles Croft. Miles wants to clear
the bad reputation his mother brought to his family when she got remarried to a scoundrel. Miles
believes Annabelle will also assist his sister Camille with her debut. For Annabelle, it is the freedom
that marriage provides her amidst the Ton that leads her to agree. That night they have sex, but
Annabelle does not enjoy it and Miles feels guilty that he disappointed her. Annabelle becomes ill as
they journey on their honeymoon. Near death, she recovers, but her looks and consequently her
confidence are shattered. Miles is nice to his wife as he tries to help her recover, but uses her health
to avoid touching her. Annabelle recovers enough to go to London with her husband in order for his
sister to debut. As Annabelle faces the Ton that once considered her a beautiful diamond, Miles
knows he loves her for her courage and her encouragement of his sibling. However, before the duo
can express how they feel, his stepfather, thought deceased, returns to try to blackmail his mother.
To Wed A Stranger is an entertaining Regency romance due to the metamorphosis of the lead
characters from strangers into a loving couple. The secondary cast is a wonderful group with the
exception of his cringing mother and his odious stepfather. Though an unnecessary intrigue caused
by the stepfather subsequently takes away from the tale, readers will appreciate Edith Layton's
beautiful romance.
The Way You Look Tonight
Mackenzie Taylor
Avon
ISBN: 0380819384 $6.99
In Boston, Jorie Morrison and Simon Grant react differently towards the announced engagement
between their respective younger charges Lily Benton and James Wells though they feel the same
about the upcoming marriage. Simon respects a vow he made to James' deceased dad to protect his
son, the heir to Wells Enterprise and demands a prenuptial agreement that alienates the two folks in
love. Jorie wisely holds her council though she believes things have happened too fast. Simon
blackmails Jorie into assisting him at least with his image by offering a large grant to Jorie's group
that helps disadvantaged children with talent obtain scholarships. He also adds a piano for her
impoverished prot‚g‚ Darius Jackson. She reluctantly accepts. As Jorie and Simon come into close
contact and fall in love, he has evidence that Simon's uncle is pulling a stock fraud that apparently
implicates Lily's father. Though the villains are too obvious and the "wrap up" to ingenuous,
contemporary romance readers will enjoy this delightful tale because of the key cast. The lead pair
feels the attraction, but both know she is way too passionate him, as he prefers logic. The secondary
romantic duo provides immaturity yet hope for the future as they refuse to allow any barriers to
hinder their plans. This quartet makes for a wonderful novel that the audience will value.
Cold Pursuit
T. Jefferson Parker
Hyperion
ISBN 0786868058 $25.95
In 1952 San Diego, a Braga killed a McMichael in what was called self-defense. A few months later
Pete Braga's son Victor was beaten up so severely that he sustained brain damage. He would always
have the mind of a ten-year-old. The rumor went around town that Gabriel McMichael beat up
Braga's son but it was never proven. In the present San Diego Police Homicide Detective Tom
McMichael is on duty when Pete Braga's body is found in his home, beaten to a bloody pulp. When
he arrives on the scene, McMichael finds the nurse with blood on her face, clothes and shoes but she
explains that she was trying to revive her client. Paintings and jewelry from the Braga home are
found in the nurse's apartment but she has proof that he gave them to her as gifts. McMichael is
forced to look at Braga's enemies, including those from his own family. In the course of his
investigation he almost gets himself suspended for dating a suspect and then almost loses his life
when the killer kidnaps him. Cold Pursuit is a tour de force police procedural thriller that starts off
fast and just keeps increasing in speed. Readers will love the protagonist, a loving father and a man
who is willing to own up to his mistakes. It's fascinating watching Tom connect the dots in the
investigation, so much so readers will ignore why he was not removed due to a conflict of interest as
he uses professional police methods and intuition to crack the case. T. Jefferson Parker has once
again proven he is a gifted writer who delivers a best seller.
Murder In The Hearse Degree
Tim Cockey
Hyperion
ISBN: 0786867124 $19.95
When a former lover Libby Gellman asks, Baltimore undertaker Hitchcock Sewell agrees to look for
a missing nanny, the innocent and sweet Sophie Pitts. Hitch quickly learns that Sophie took a swan
dive off the Naval Academy Bridge in Annapolis. The local police department declared that a
pregnant Sophie committed suicide, but the victim's mother claims otherwise. Hitch decides to
investigate starting with Sophie's final employer, Libby and her estranged husband, he abusive
Michael. Looking for clues leads Hitch to The Alliance for Reason and Kindness where other dead
don't line up for final resting at Sewell and Sons Family Funeral Home, but Hitch interferes into their
lives anyway. With all the deaths in Murder In The Hearse Degree, one would think the funeral
business would be too busy for Hitch to spend most of his time investigating. The story line is
amusing at times as Hitch tosses puns throughout the novel. The support cast, especially the
preadolescent who, when she grows up plans to be a mortician, are fun to observe... This is a
humorous series and the fourth tale has many funny moments for readers who like a lighthearted
dark comedic romp.
The Desperate Remedy: Henry Gresham And The Gunpowder Plot
Martin Stephen
Thomas Dunne
ISBN: 0312307195 $24.95
Robert Cecil, Chief Secretary to King James I sees Papal intrigue under every rock. However, he
especially feels the opportunity is perfect to consolidate support for His Highness against the
growing espionage presence of the Catholic enemies, Spain and France. While the foreign spies
agitate the oppressed English Catholics, Robert seeks proof of sexual depravity against his most
dangerous foe Sir Francis Bacon. He assigns Henry Gresham to obtain the evidence that will fry
Bacon. He quickly learns how the agitators inadvertently strengthen the position of their greatest
oppressor Robert with their anti-James plots, notably a scheme to blow up Parliament and replace
the Scot with a Catholic on the throne. Keeping his own confidence, Henry soon realizes that the
diabolical Cecil hired the leaders, Guy Fawkes and Thomas Percy, with an apparent double cross in
mind to "earn" the favor of the King. Already in danger due to his secret Catholic beliefs, Henry
wonders what to do with what he learned because Cecil will gladly string him up along with the
other "traitors". The Desperate Remedy: Henry Gresham And The Gunpowder Plot is a fascinating
novelization of a critical moment in English history that vividly provides the audience with a deep
look at surviving the civil religious squabbles that engulfed the English throne in 1605. The story line
is cleverly devised so that the history with real people is interwoven into a superbly written
espionage plot. Fans of historical tales including romance readers though there is no love story will
immensely appreciate Martin Stephen's delightful retelling of the Gunpowder Plot.
The Lost Army Of Cambyses
Paul Sussman
Thomas Dunne
ISBN: 0312301537 $24.95
English zoologist Tara Mullray visits her renowned Egyptologist father Michael at a dig only to find
her dad dead. At approximately the same time, a black market antiquities seller is also found dead
with his mutilated corpse lying by the Nile covered with cigar burns. Inspector Yusuf Khalifa of the
Luxor Police Department is assigned to investigate both homicides. Because of the nature of their
respective professions, two sides of the same coin, Yuseuf seeks a link between the murders. He
quickly learns of a third facet when an elderly Cairo antiquities dealer is killed (with cigar burns on
the body) in his shop, but nothing is stolen. Yuseuf interviews Tara who informs him that the
excavation site where her father died contained the odor of cigar smoke. Soon the Egyptian and
British politico take an interest in how much Yuseuf knows because terrorist Sayf al-Tha'r lingers in
the background. The Lost Army Of Cambyses is a strong police procedural that interweaves
archeological elements into the plot, but though engaging and educational never slows down the
pace of the story line. The tale is at its luxurious best when Yuseuf investigates. The novel remains
powerful even when the British embassy and the Egyptian Antiquities Bureau interfere with the
inquiry due to a fear of Islamic Fundamentalist involvement. When the plot twists more into a
thriller, it retains its excitement, but veers away from its prime theme of murder investigations at the
Pyramids. Still this is a tremendous first dig into the mystery world by renowned archeologist Paul
Sussman and hopefully he will provide more exciting tales for his faithful students.
The Tribune's Curse
John Maddox Roberts
Thomas Dunne
ISBN 0312304898 $22.95
After fighting the Gauls for a year under Julius Caesar, Decius Cecilius Metellus, the black sheep of
the powerful and wealthy Metellus clan, is glad to be home again in his beloved Rome. Married to
Caesar's niece Julia and running for political office that could lead to bigger and more powerful
positions, Decius is a very happy man. The populace is not in favor of Tribune Marcus Licinus
Craessus going to war against the Parthians. On the day he is to depart, the fanatical opposition
leader, the tribune of the people Caius Ateius Capito delivers a curse on Marcus, daring to speak the
secret name of Rome. Decius is ordered to find out how he learned such a sacred name but before
he gets very far in his investigation, the mauled body of Ateius is found. Decius must get answers
and soon otherwise the frightened populace will start rioting. John Maddox Roberts, through the use
of the first person narration of his protagonist, gives the reader a glimpse into the mindset of the
citizens of the Roman Empire on the subject of slavery, magic, politics, and war. The story line is
colorful allowing readers to feel as if they have gone back in time to Ancient Rome. The Tribune's
Curse is an exciting, well-researched historical mystery.
A Fountain Filled With Blood
Julia Spencer-Fleming
Thomas Dunne
ISBN 0312304102 $23.95
Clare Fergusson was a US Army Captain helicopter pilot when she got the calling to serve God. She
resigned her commission, went into seminary school and graduated to become an Episcopalian
Minister in the small Adirondack town of Miller's Kill. She and Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne have
kept their distance from each other for over a year because they don't want their mutual attraction to
each other to be revealed to his wife. When two gay men are brutally attacked and a third one is
killed Claire finds herself in the middle of the investigation despite Russ' efforts to keep her out of it
and safe. Although she takes reckless chances, she discovers some important evidence that leads
them to the ringleader of the conspiracy plot. However, Russ and Clare almost lose their lives in a
sabotaged helicopter when they try to save a man who is near death even though he played a part in
the conspiracy. Julia Spencer-Fleming follows up her award winning In The Bleak Midwinter with a
great amateur sleuth-police procedural. The protagonists make a good team and their attraction to
one another is handled with delicacy and good taste. There are so many red herrings interwoven in
the plot that readers won't know why these crimes have been committed until the very last
page.
A French Country Murder
Peter Steiner
Thomas Dunne
ISBN: 0312306873 $23.95
Sixtyish American expatriate Louis Morgan lives in countrified Saint Leon, France estranged from
the government he once toiled for and the family he never had time for because of his top secret
State Department work. Louis follows the same routines every morning carrying his breakfast out to
the terrace only this day he is greeted by the corpse of a black man. He calls Gendarme Renard who
immediately begins an investigation that Louis knows is hopeless because his past has returned.
Years ago in the DC area, Louis saw his wife having sex with his mentor, Undersecretary of State
Huge Bowes. Louis humiliated Hugh before walking out on his spouse and his former mentor. Now
thirty years later Louis believes Hugh, the Secretary of State, has left a calling card to remind his
former prot‚g‚ that he never forgot the debasement. Louis knows to survive he must return to
Washington to gather information and challenge one of the most powerful and highly regarded
people in the world. This inviting thriller is a David vs. Goliath tale with the odds greater than
Douglas-Tyson. The story line enables the audience to see behind the fa‡ade of power into the
motives of the key players including an in the pocket media. Though the flashbacks are critical to
explain the present scenarios of the two combatants, they also disrupt the flow of the prime plot.
Still Peter Steiner furnishes an intriguing story that will bring the popular cartoonist many thriller
fans.
White Rabbit
David Daniel
Thomas Dunne
ISBN: 0312304293 $24.95
In 1967 everybody coming to San Francisco seems to wear flowers in their hair as the city gears up
to what seems as a half million strong during the summer of love. However, someone does not want
somebody to love, killing three hippies and mutilating their smiling faces in the Haight district.
Well-respected SFPD detective John Sparrow works the investigation that has made the usually cool
city streets hotter than a matchstick. At a news conference, underground newspaper The Rag
reporter Amy Cole introduces herself to John, but neither trusts the other. She sees him as a kind of
a drag pig unable to accept an alternate lifestyle. He believes she is just another associate of the
drugged crazies. Though unhappy together, they need to make up their mind and come together to
insure a murderer pays the pied piper. Demanding his respect, she guides him through doors closed
by those residents, who all they need is love, a joint, and no interaction with oinkers claiming to have
built this city. Soon both become believers that teaming up may enable them to stop, stop, stop a
killer. If this novel were just a nostalgic piece the Woodstock Generation would still want to read it.
However, instead David Daniel scribes a pleasant police procedural that provides the audience with
a reflective look back at the love summer in the City on the Bay. The investigation is cleverly
designed so that cross-generation readers will gain plenty of pleasure from this treasure that lets the
sun shine on the Age of Aquarius.
Night Lives
Phyllis Eisenstein
Five Star Books
ISBN: 0786249587 $25.95
Seven of the nine stories that make up this speculative fiction anthology were written between the
mid-seventies and early eighties, insuring difficulty in finding them. The other two were furnished
within the last six years. Each tale is dark as Phyllis Eisenstein shines a light on the innermost secret
dreams of her varying protagonists. As the author explains in her introduction her contributions can
be classified as fantasy or science fiction as she seems to have a leg in both genres. All the tales are
top notch and fans of short fiction in a twilight Zone twist kind of way in which nothing is as it first
seems will want to read Night Lives.
Visitations
Jack Dann
Five Star Books
ISBN: 0786249617 $25.95
This fourteen story collection consists of tales mostly written in the 1970s and 1980s yet remains
timely in their exploration of what is the essence that makes a human? Each contribution is cleverly
written so that the casual fan has an exciting story to read. It also enables those of the audience who
relish philosophy pondering the meaning of life. The stories run much of the speculative fiction
gamut but peels down to what is humanity? There is obviously a Jack Dann revival going. Between
this anthology and his recent Jubilee work (released in December) we get to know the author and
like what we read. Thus his myriad of fans have plenty of solid reading matter worth perusing.
The Guardian Of The Amulets
Jessica S. Anderson
Five Star Books
ISBN: 0786247045 $26.95
For eight years Michael Finch has searched for his spouse Christine. All this time he had felt she
must still be alive or he would know otherwise in his gut, though the private detectives hired by his
best friend Jonas Harding fail to find her. He wonders why she ran away so soon after their
marriage, but now at least he knows where she died. He is in Farewell on Cape Cod to say his good
byes. He enters DewDrop's Candle Shop because Michael remembers Chrissy loved candles, but is
shocked when he sees the proprietor, his wife. Michael leaves two phone messages for Jonas,
inadvertently enabling his friend's thugs to find Chrissy. They kidnap her daughter Kayla and demand
Chrissy return the three amulets she "stole" from these felons who actually robbed the gems from the
natives of St. Caribe. Meanwhile Michael realizes he sired Kayla and begins to understand what his
ignorance cost his beloved then and now. Both head to St. Caribe to retrieve their child, but though
he still loves her and feels she does likewise, Michael desperately needs to regain her trust. There are
some paranormal elements that mostly surface towards the climax of the novel though a guardian
Santa Caribbean Lion who telepathically communicates with the humans throughout the book. Thus,
the tale is more of a crime thriller. The story line is action-packed and the support cast provides
insight into the likable lead couple and pushes the plot forward. Fans of romantic crime thrillers with
some paranormal elements mostly at the end will relish the stimulating The Guardian Of The
Amulets.
Scarborough Faire And Other Stories
Elizabeth Ann Scarborough
Five Star Books
ISBN: 0786250534 $25.95
This eleven-story collection runs the gamut of speculative fiction. For the most part, the tales take
place on a "mundane" earth that is where the readers and the author live, but something
extraordinary occurs to this everyday environs. Some of the contributions use supernatural elements,
others fantasy, and finally science fiction to tell a story of the unexpected imposing on the "normal".
Most contain humor (though some more are more subtle than others) and the key characters seem
real whether they are mummies rising from roads or creatures residing in fairyland. Each tale
entertains the audience who will agree on how astonishingly well Elizabeth Ann Scarborough blends
the whimsical and otherworldly into the "realistic" in her telling of pleasant stories.
Chickpea Lover
D-L Nelson
Five Star Books
ISBN: 0786247061 $26.95
Though unhappy with her married life as her spouse David is never home, Fenway College nursing
professor Liz Adams says nothing avoiding conflict as if it is a deadly disease. Her business mogul
spouse never offers salutations let alone words of affection. In fact his only discussions with Liz are
soliloquies criticizing her for some alleged fault or error or ordering her to do something for him.
Peter owns a Middle East food stand near the college. Liz is one of his better customers as she
enjoys the palate and how Peter and his employees dress up as vegetables. Peter and Liz become
friends and soon lovers. She becomes pregnant and and asks David for a divorce but he is vindictive
man who is trying to destroy her for betraying him. Other problems surface, but with Peter at her
side, Liz faces the dinosaurs of her college and the nastiness of her ex spouse with dignity (and a
wrongful firing suit) though knowing she will probably lose. Though at times this engaging
contemporary relationship drama slows down to pontificate, readers will enjoy the metamorphosis of
Liz from cowardly victim to willing dragon slayer. Liz makes the plot work though the secondary
cast adds depth by enabling readers to understand her and easily accept how she changes as adroitly
designed by D-L Nelson.
Beneath A Silent Moon
Tracy Grant
Morrow
ISBN: 0066211425 $24.95
Charles Fraser met and married Melanie when they worked cloak and dagger against supporters of
Napoleon on the continent. After four years of danger, the couple accompanied by their two children
comes to London to take their place amongst the Ton. Now in the safety of post war England,
Melanie wonders if her spouse has doubts about their relationship and loves Honoria Talbot who
shockingly is marrying Charles' widowed father Kenneth. A cohort from their espionage days,
Francisco Doro, notifies Charles and Melanie that he wants to meet them. They rendezvous only to
have a sniper kill Francisco and wound Charles. Managing to escape this trap, the duo remains
caught in the middle of deadly intrigue involving their past and his family. Beneath The Silent Moon
is a tremendous Regency suspense thriller that contains some romance elements, but the exhilarating
story line focuses on the intrigue. The return of the Frasers in a prequel (see Daughter Of The
Game) will delight readers as the couple retains their mystery and charm though more doubts about
their relationship exists this time then in last year's novel. Tracy Grant provides richly textured
historical intrigue that brings to life London just after the Napoleonic Wars.
The Reluctant Suitor
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss
Morrow
ISBN: 0060185708 $24.95
In 1815, James Colton returns home to England to claim his estate, recover from his war injuries,
and to make restitution to his family and his "fianc‚e". When James was a teen he ran away from
home to protest his father's insistence that he will eventually marry their neighbor's daughter Adriana
Sutton. Now returning home, he sees his deceased father was right, Adriana is an intelligent beauty.
Adriana hides her feelings from James with a cold formal fa‡ade. She does not trust him with her
heart as he broke it once and could do so easily again. However, James wants Adriana as his wife as
he loves her and so begins to court her. Though his return is triumphant, there are those who wish
he never returned starting with his odious cousin who wants the estate to Adriana's most persistent
suitor, but would any of them go so far as to attempt homicide? This enjoyable Regency romantic
suspense contains all the elements that have made Kathleen E. Woodiwiss a legend among historical
readers. When the story line focuses on James' efforts to prove men stay for love, readers will feel
the flames of passion between the lead couple. However, an extremely exciting intrigue subplot
takes readers into plenty of action, but away from covering the charming courtship. Ms. Woodiwiss
does what few authors can do, provide a deep passionate love story that fans will not display any
reluctance in showing their appreciation for her unique talent.
The Stingray Shuffle
Tim Dorsey
Morrow
ISBN: 0060520450 $24.95
Mr. Grande of the Mierde Cartel hires the Russian Mafioso to recover the five million drug dollars
that Serge A. Storms and his almost as wacky partner Lenny Lippowics stole and stashed in the
Hammerhead Ranch Motel that no longer stands due to a hurricane. Though killing is like apple pie
for Serge, the former KGB agents do a good job of eliminating themselves in the nearby swamps
without his assistance. Though he does not have time to fool around if he wants to enjoy his new
hobby trains, Serge makes time to insure one of the Russians dies from a hole in one. He also rids
himself of some pesky frat idiots for defacing his beloved train, the Rambler. Still the Russians are
coming again and chase Serge to Times Square for the ball to drop. On whose head is now the
question as now the Cosa Nostra and Jamaicans join the fray that frantically ends up on a murder
mystery ride aboard the Silver Stingray heading to Florida. As frenetically crazy as ever, The
Stingray Shuffle is a wild ride up and down the East Coast with the usual high homicide count,
several in amusing ways. The story line moves at a rapid pace with lunatics at every stop seeking the
suitcase of loot. Serge is as wacko as ever so that readers receive his usual feral trip and his support
cast seems more like escapees from an asylum. Tim Dorsey has written another delightfully hectic
spin that fans will enjoy, but insist he go decaf in the future so one can catch a breath or two.
Mumbo Gumbo
Jerrilyn Farmer
Morrow
ISBN 038097889X $23.95
Mad Bean Events is one of the industry's most well known event planners but with the economy in a
downward spiral and the international scene so frightening, business is hurting. Co-owner Madeline
Bean has only one more affair to cater before she faces an empty calendar. Greta Greene, the
producer of the famous quiz show Food Freak, offers her a temporary job as a writer for the
production because the head writer Tim Stock is missing. At first Madeline enjoys the research
needed for the show but when her office is ransacked, the taping has to be delayed because the script
and the answers were there. When Madeline starts fixing up the room, an unknown assailant conks
her over the head and she comes to the conclusion that someone is looking for something. Maddie
goes over to Tim's home to see if he is there but what she finds is a burning building and a body that
might be Tim. She's determined to get answers to all the questions surrounding the people
associated with Food Freak and Madeline always get her answers, even the unpleasant ones. Jerrilyn
Farmer has developed a first rate series starring a strong heroine. The story line moves along at warp
speed so that readers became quickly involved in the plot. The audience will be fascinated by the
hard work it takes to get one segment of a game show into production. Madeline is a very credible
amateur sleuth who solves crimes by persistently asking questions and usually getting the answers so
she can put the pieces of the puzzle together leading in the case of Mumbo Gumbo to a scrumptious
treat.
Small Town
Lawrence Block
Morrow
ISBN: 0060011904 $24.95
New York, New York is a wonderful town even after 9/11 though the locals react differently to the
devastation, but for the most part try to get on with life. However, while many still mourn someone
responds quite differently to the mass deaths. This unknown assailant may have snapped, but the
first victim of his wrath is East Village realtor Marilyn Fairchild. The cops quickly arrest author John
Blair Creighton, who was in her home the night she was strangled, but his lawyer, stricken Maury
Winters, makes a case for a link to the murders of two prostitutes and their madam. John has an alibi
that proves he could not have killed that trio. Alcoholic cleaner Jerry Pankow discovered corpses of
the hooker, but soon the police look at him as the possible culprit as the killer blows up three of his
customers and bars. As the death toll mounts, the city still reeling from 9/11 cannot cope with the
Carpenter, a craftsman who leaves quite a deadly calling card. Small Town is a powerful suspense
thriller in which Lawrence Block takes his audience around the blocks of the five boroughs of New
York in a post 9/11 homage to the great international city. The story line is fast-paced as the
Carpenter performs his craft while others are pulled inside his sphere whether they choose to be or
not. The key characters are all fully developed including the Big Apple that seems as much a
protagonist as the cast. Mr. Block provides what might be his best novel to date with this intelligent
taut thriller.
Tithe
Holly Black
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0689849249 $16.95
For six years, Ellen accompanied by her daughter Kaye and the members of her band, Stepping
Razor, tour seedy bars and worse joints in an attempt to become rock stars. However, everything
suddenly collapses when Kaye, now sixteen, intercedes when another band member wields a knife
towards the back of her mom. Ellen concludes this is a prudent time to go home so she and Kaye
return to her mother's New Jersey house where they used to live. Near the Jersey shore, Kaye thinks
she is finally gaining a bit of normalcy when she meets her childhood friend Janet. However, the
wished upon ordinary vanishes with an encounter in the woods. Kaye rescues Roiben, a mysterious
looking Knight and finds her fabrication of reality altered. Kaye learns that she is a changeling-and
her childhood imaginary faerie playmates were not only real, but pushed her to pretend to be a
human purebred. They want to sacrifice her to pay the Tithe in exchange for seven years of freedom.
Fans of dark fantasies will want to pay the Tithe in order to read a powerful, deep adult fairy tale.
The story line is exciting and turns quite vivid when Kaye travels to the Unseelie Court. Fairies seem
so real with interwoven items like a clear social structure adding layers to their existence. However,
what makes Holly Black's novel worth reading is the heroine who struggles with her new discoveries
and her tribulations of keeping one foot in each realm.
Dark Alchemy
Sarah Lovett
Simon & Schuster
ISBN 0684855992 $24.00
Her scientific peers consider Dr. Christine Palmer the world's foremost expert on neurotoxins. She
knows how to make them and how to make antidotes for them. However, law enforcement officials
believe that the beautiful, brilliant scientist is also a sociopath serial poisoner though no clear
evidence proves the contention. Still Christine remains the prime suspect in the murders of her
father, her fianc‚ and some of her co-workers. Counterterrorist expert Edmond Sweetheart asks
forensic psychologist Dr. Sylvia Strange to work up a profile of Dr. Christine Palmer so when the
authorities bring her in for questioning, they will know how to interrogate this one-of-a kind woman.
Sylvia agrees to a meeting with Dr. Palmer knowing she is being used as bait and walks away from
the encounter a very sick person. Ironically, the only person who can help her is Dr. Palmer if she
obtains what she wants from Sylvia. There is much more to DARK ALCHEMY than a serial
poisoner novel. The heroine's partner has his own agenda and is willing to sacrifice anyone including
her to make sure a spy/mole doesn't get away with espionage. Sarah Lovett writes an exhilarating,
enthralling crime thriller that will keep readers turning the pages until the end because it is not until
the climax that the audience finds out whether Dr. Palmer is a sinister villain or a brilliant
victim.
A Burning In Homeland
Richard Yancey
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0743230132 $25.00
The summer of 1960 in Homeland, Florida would be hot just based on climate, but for several of the
townsfolk, relationships turn even more heated. Seven-year-old Shiny Parker observes the Pastor
Ned Jefferies nearly burned alive, but that is nothing to what else happens to him that fateful summer
when the Preacher's wife and ten year old daughter Sharon Rose take over the lad's home following
the inferno. Because he accidentally sees Sharon-Rose naked, Shiny finds himself engaged to the
older woman for compromising her. Even that pales next to eye witnessing a murder. The engaged
couple investigates the suspicious fire and soon finds a link to a two decades old murder. Walter
Hughes was accused of raping Miss Mavis and her hero Halley Martin defends her honor by killing
the accused. Halley and Mavis exchanged letters over the twenty years while he did hard time. Now
he is to be freed and a reckoning is a coming as those who participated in the 1940 homicide are
coming together for the final act with Shiny as the audience. A Burning In Homeland is a strong
southern historical novel that works on several levels because of a powerful cast. In some ways this
gothic like tale is more of a character study, but Richard Yancey provides a deep gritty atmosphere
with plenty action in a taut story line. Shiny with his woes of the world eases some of the tension
with his humorous predicaments yet also keeps the powerful plot moving forward. Fans of mid
twentieth century southern gothic will want to read this puissant tale.
In His Image
James Beauseigneur
Warner Books
ISBN: 0965694828 $18.95
In 1978 a group of American scientists conducted tests on the Shroud of Turin to determine its
authenticity and (in terms of age among other analysis) whether the icon could have been the burial
cloth of Christ. Ten years later, one member of the team, Dr. Harry Goodman, using advanced
technology, reexamines some of the samples he still has from the shroud. He informs a Shroud
teammate, reporter Decker Hawthorne of an incredible find that will shake the world once he proves
his theory about Christ. Harry has discovered live body cells attached to the Shroud that are not of
this earth. These cells seem invincible surviving two millennium without harm. Harry believes these
cells could cure humanity of many diseases. However, a pandemic plague decimates much of the
world including Harry leaving Decker to raise Harry's "nephew" Christopher, cloned from the
non-human Shroud of Turin cells. The first book in James Beauseigneur "The Christ Clone" trilogy
is a tremendous allegorical thriller that uses real events, biblical references and predictions, and
modern science and technology to provide readers with a superb novel that asks numerous
questions. The story line occurs over five decades, but never misses a beat even when chapters
transition in time. The use of footnotes adds a feel of realism, making the plot even more haunting.
The omen for this tremendous thriller is that the apocalypse crowd will treasure this Second Coming
from a test tube and like this reviewer will not want to be left behind seeking the other two
novels.
Flash House
Aimee Liu
Warner Books
ISBN: 0446530972 $24.95
Early in 1949 while her journalist husband Aidan Shaw works in the China Bureau, Joanna manages
a retreat for young New Delhi girls sold into prostitution. Because of his criticism of Chiang
Kai-Shek, the House on un-American Activities through the FBI begins looking into Aidan and
Joanna. To reduce the heat from the States, Aidan is reassigned to cover the war in Kashmir.
However, Joanna learns that his plane crashed, but no bodies were recovered. Needing closure and
in denial, Joanna refuses to accept the official position that her spouse is dead. She tries official
channels, but the State Department, Aidan's media agencies, and other government officials provide
her with stonewalling bureaucratic bunk. Disgusted with everyone from the US to China to the UN
to India, she turns to Aidan's best friend, Australian Secret Service Agent Lawrence Malcolm who
insists that if she wants the truth she must journey to Kashmir. Joanna, Lawrence, and ten-year-old
Kamla (rescued from a brothel) begin their trek in Kashmir, but soon finds the Civil War in China
holds the answers. Flash House is a powerful historical action thriller that brings to life the period of
the Communist Revolution in China. The story line vividly displays the era in China and India, and
implies what the atmosphere back in DC was like. The audience will care about Joanna and want her
to succeed even though she may detest what she learns about Aidan. Though loaded with action,
Aimee Liu insures the key players (the three travelers and indirectly Aidan) are fully developed in a
tale that guides the reader through the dynamics of 1949 Asia.
The Kissing Game
Kasey Michaels
Warner Books
ISBN: 0446610852 $5.99
Five years ago, the Oxies left the country for a season in London as befit their newly acquired
earldom. However, the Ton never felt the Earl's continuous pranks were amusing and his wife's
reception was even colder as she was dubbed the "Bumpkin Countess". Scorned by everyone on
their first trek into high society, their daughter Allegra is shocked when Oxie decides to return to
London for her to have a season. In London their next door neighbor is the mysterious but accepted
Armand Gauthier who decides he needs a wife. When he sees Allegra near a fountain filled with
bubbly, he feels she may be the right one for him. He invites them to a ball he just decides to throw.
Even he is shocked by the honesty Allegra displays towards him and others as she questions his
motives while falling in love with her host. This is an amusing Regency romance that contains the
typical relationship between the young couple, but freshened up by Oxie. When the well-written
story line focuses on the lead duo it is similar to many other sub-genre novels. When the plot centers
on the not a couch potato Oxie and his cohorts pulling a caper readers will enjoy his thumping the
Ton antics as the original Merry Prankster.
The Destiny
Kathleen Givens
Warner Books
ISBN: 0446610534 $5.99
In 1691, the Scottish Earl of Torridan Neil MacCurrie travels to France to discuss the future with
exiled King James. However, the despondent monarch delays his meeting before finally encouraging
Neil to swear alliance to his son-in-law and daughter. The wait in France forces Neil to quietly cross
the Channel to England. Disguised as a Huguenot, Jean Paul Belmond, Neil seeks sanctuary at the
home of Ronley only to learn that the Earl is dead, his daughter Eileen a "guest" with no prospects,
and the keep run by Milford. The new earl imprisons Neil, but Eileen helps him escape. After getting
home, Neil goes back to retrieve Eileen only to learn she is staying with her cousin Princess Ann in
London. Pretending to be Jean Paul, he struggles to keep Eileen safe as evidence has surfaced that
she is the legitimate claimant to the throne even as he falls in love with her. The sequel to The
Legend, and The Destiny is an exciting seventeenth century romance that hums with real persona
augmenting the love story between the lead characters. The story line is filled with intrigue and
non-stop action, as it seems every major player has an agenda. Kathleen Givens gives her fans a
rousing sequel that brings perspective to the early days of the reign of William and Mary (with a few
fictional twists) that make for a fun time.
Seduced
Pamela Britton
Warner Books
ISBN: 0446611298 $5.99
In 1819 though both are aristocrats sharing some commonality in terms of invites, Lucien St. Aubyn
and Elizabeth Montgomery detest each other. Elizabeth believes that Lucien is a "murdering
whoremonger" living up to his reputation as the Duke of Death while he figures that in spite of her
being the granddaughter of a cobbler she is the queen of snobbery. A bored Lucien decides to
seduce Elizabeth because she seems so unattainable. He tricks her with a phony note from a friend,
but nosy Lady Derby catches them together without a chaperone. Shockingly, Lucien does the right
thing by marrying the nay saying Elizabeth. As they become acquainted she realizes that his image as
the king of rakes is a fake and that he feels guilt over killing his brother in a duel. He is shocked by
how down to earth she is with the servants and farmers. As they fall in love, he is sent to Newgate to
be tried for killing his sibling, but to her dismay he wants to die. Regency romance readers will agree
that Pamela Britton's latest tale is a pleasant experience. The story line hooks the audience who will
want to see how Elizabeth and Lucien overcome the mind-sets of intense dislike for one another.
Though their respective public images seems unreal when the audience observes how caring and
nurturing the lead couple is, Seduced is a seductive read that the sub-genre crowd will
appreciate.
Like a Knife
Annie Solomon
Warner Books
ISBN: 0446612308 $5.99
As a child Rachel Goodman lost both of her parents with the strokes of a knife. She watched the
vicious murder of her mother and the "disappearance" of her father into his publicly acclaimed "Safer
America" movement. As an adult, Rachel manages St. Anthony preschool for children whom
witnessed violence in Astoria, Queens. Six months ago, Rachel hires reticent handyman Nick Raine
to make repairs at St. Anthony. Unbeknownst to Rachel is that Nick is a former gunrunner who quit
the profession six years ago. Now Nick's former boss and mentor Spier demands he locate a six year
old son he did not know he sired as his recently murdered wife hid him with her aunt from him. If
Nick fails to do Spier's bidding or fails at his task, Rachel will suffer the wrath. Like A Knife is an
exciting romantic suspense that spotlights how love can provide the opportunity for redeeming for
the darkest of souls. The story line is fast-paced though how Spier's wife could hide the child from
him so easily and why Spier wanted the kid is never quite clear. Still the audience will relish the
activities of the lead couple, Rachel with her almost obsessive need to help those youngsters
following the ugly path of her youth and Nick needing a soul cleaning after years of selling weapons
to murderers and terrorists.
My Sherlock Holmes
Michael Kurland (editor)
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312280939 $24.95
Though it would seem that every Doyle character and anyone of real fame or not the so famous
from the late Victorian Era has had a shot at moving aside Watson to provide their Holmes
viewpoint. This anthology proves that Dr. Watson has many more bedfellows as thirteen individuals,
one to a tale, tells their side of a relationship with Holmes. Each contribution is quite good as the
authors do more than just genuflect to the master by relating a thrilling adventure. Thus the Baker
St. Irregulars will find My Sherlock Holmes a clever well-written anthology in which each
protagonist or in some cases antagonist provides a unique first person account of an encounter with
the sleuth.
Acts Of Vengeance
Frank Smith
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 031230739X $24.95
In Broadminster, the night is nasty and stormy as it has been in much of November. Newly assigned
for training purposes as much as filling a vacancy, Constable Kathleen Regan asks her superior
Detective Chief Inspector Neil Paget to help her traverse the muddy parking lot to her car. After
seeing her off, Neil turns to his own vehicle only to have an unknown assailant slice his throat. The
fortunate arrival of other police officers forces the culprit to flee before the job is completed and
enables the rushing of Neil to the hospital where his life is saved. Everyone is shocked by the assault
in the lot adjacent to the police station. Superintendent Alcott leads the investigation that includes
Detective Sergeant John Tregalles as the key on the ground participant. Unable to stay home to
recuperate, Neil accompanies his loyal sergeant on interviews and vaguely recalls his attacker
mumbling "That's for Jill", the name of Neil's dead wife. The key to this latest pleasurable Paget
police procedural is Neil's struggle to cope with his near death, his inability to let John take charge
and his helplessness when his new love is endangered. The story line is exciting as John and Neil
make inquiries seeking a link when other individuals have their throats slashed. Frank Smith makes
this case personal as the audience gets deep inside the mind of the hero.
The Widow Of Jerusalem
Alan Gordon
St. Martin's Press
ISBN 0312300891 $23.95
The Fool's Guild turns out jesters and troubadours and sends them out in the world to entertain the
various classes. They are also brilliant intelligence gathers who work behind the scenes to try and
maintain the peace and when that is impossible influence the nobles into situations that will settle
hostilities. Theophilus, a very good Fool, is sent by the Guild to Acre in the year 1191 to help his
colleague Scarlet the Dwarf end the Third Crusade and bring peace to the region. The two Fools
divert supplies meant for Richard the Lionhearted sending them to the city of Tyre whose leaders are
allowing the refugees displaced by the war to live in a tent city outside the walls. The Queen of
Jerusalem Isabelle and her husband Conrad, the Marquis of Montferrat supply them with food
whenever they can. Scarlet who is devoted to his queen urges her to marry Champagne when her
husband is murdered. When the crusaders return home Theophilus goes with them but he has to
return years later and to finally figure who was behind the conspiracy that led to Conrad's death.
Readers will be amazed by what the Fools can accomplish as spies working behind the scene to
maneuver political events. Theophilus is a fascinating character who operates on different levels with
different people. His skills as an entertainer enable him to spy on the nobles when they are plotting
something because they underestimate the intelligence of a Fool. Widow Of Jerusalem is a
fascinating look at the various players who have a pivotal role in the Third Crusade.
Hayburner
Laura Crum
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312290470 $22.95
The first victim of the stable arsonist is Bishop Ranch Stable. Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office
Detective Jeri Ward immediately thinks inside job and suspects manager Bart Bishop of committing
the crime to collect insurance money. However, two more stables are torched and a caretaker
murdered making Bart no longer look like the culprit. Jeri still believes that "incest' has occurred as
she strongly thinks that an insider is causing the fires. Horse veterinarian Gail McCarthy, who has
been at each crime scene to help the horses, sees the thug that started the fourth fire, but she suffers
a concussion and cannot recall whom she observed. Still the arsonist has apparently killed a human
and several horses so Gail could easily be a target, as the culprit will not want her to remember and
identify her/him. The seventh veterinary mystery, Hayburner, is a strong who-done that is at its best
when Laura Crum portrays the anguish and pain of injured horses and the related veterinary scenes.
The investigation plays second fiddle to the steeds and McCarthy's romantic seesaw. This mystery is
more for animal lovers with a strong stomach as this tale makes stars of the steeds.
The Best Man
Brenda Jackson, Cindi Louis, Felicia Mason, and Kayla Perrin
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312982186 $6.99
"Strictly Business" by Brenda Jackson. Houston writer Gina accepts an assignment to interview her
former husband Mitchell. Gina still loves her spouse, but believes his only love is his business.
Mitchell craves his second chance to prove to Gina that she is everything to him. "Catch Me If You
Can" by Cindi Louis. In Lovebug, Texas, Lonzell and Leesa plan to marry just before he goes
overseas serving in the military. Leesa becomes pregnant but she is unable to contact her beloved.
Several years later he returns home to find single mother Leesa raising their son and learns how his
mother kept them apart. "Promises and Vows" by Felicia Mason. After three years of marriage,
Jerome and Elise head towards divorce as both pushes their respective careers before their
relationship. They sleep in separate rooms until his voodoo-practicing Aunt arrives for a visit.
Jerome vows to use any form of magic to save his relationship with his beloved. "Kidnapped" by
Kayla Perrin. In Fort Lauderdale Jamal plans to prove to Nia that she is marrying the wrong man.
Jamal crashes the wedding, abducts the bride before vows are exchanged, and blackmails her into
spending an evening with him in Key West. These are fine contemporary tales with strong plots
starring lead protagonists whom seem real though the males appear a bit nerdy when it comes to
commitment. Fans of well-written modern day relationship anthologies will want to read The Best
Man because it is one of the sub-genres better collections.
Welcome To Heavenly Heights
Risa Miller
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312301804 $23.95
To Orthodox Jews, Israel is more than just Moses' Promised Land as it is the soul's home. Living
anywhere else is exile regardless of assimilation, equal treatment or standard of living. Though a
second or third generation American Jewish family may desire relocation to the Land of Israel, not
many will accept the sacrifice especially moving to the dangerous West Bank. Though she worries
about the impact of acclimation especially on her young daughter to a land where the family's Camry
could be wired to explode, Tova and her family move to Heavenly Heights, a small community on
the West Bank. She and most of her neighbors in the apartment building attend a synagogue filled
with soldiers leaving weapons alongside prayer books. Though containing doubts as strong as that
which kept Moses out of the Promised Land and missing suburban America, Tova and the other
residents try to follow the Mitzvahs and do the right thing in a world that at times feels like hell. This
is a tremendous look at what motivates a Western Jew to give up a comfortable safe lifestyle to
voluntarily enter a place where violence is as common as falafel and potential forced relocation
hangs over the yarmulkes. The insightful ensemble story line focuses on one year in the lives of
several people as they try to behave like a "proper" Jew in a cantankerous spot in which the
psychological land mines seem overwhelming. Though vividly descriptive and well written, the plot
lacks the other argument that these Jewish West Bank communities enrage Arab neighbors who see
them as reminders of an occupation force.
The Irish Bride
Alexis Harrington
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312979568 $6.50
In 1855 Skibereen, Ireland, Farrell Kirwan flees her employer Noel Cardwell when the aristocrat
tried to take unwanted advantage of her. She reaches the home of her intended Liam O'Rourke only
to learn that his brother Aidan accidentally killed her sibling Michael in a dispute over the former
collecting invalid debts as Noel's agent. To keep his family protected from retribution, Aidan must
leave Ireland, but also believes Farrell must do likewise to keep herself safe. He persuades Farrell to
marry him and accompany him to America when Liam tells her that is the best for all. Noel's angry
father informs his son that he is sick of his wastrel ways. He warns Noel if he fails to take
responsibly for his actions especially allowing embezzlement by his deceased agent he will inherit
nothing. The older Cardwell demands his son bring back Aidan and Farrell or else. As Noel gives
chase across the ocean, Farrell and Aidan fall in love, but both hide their feelings because each fears
unrequited passion. Irish Bride is a delightful nineteenth century cross Atlantic Irish romantic
suspense. The story line provides an insightful look at the problems the Irish were struggling with in
the 1850s at home and in America. Aidan is a wonderful hunk though his so-called drinking
womanizing ways never comes across because he seems so responsible. Farrell is a charming Irish
rose; Noel's pursuit seems a bit far-fetched as his motivation is to bed the heroine rather than
insuring his inheritance. Alexis Harrington furnishes a gripping tale from the moment Farrell learns
the fate of her sibling and never frees the reader until the final confrontation.
The Devil's Hearth
Phillip DePoy
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312284853 $23.95
When Burrison University English Department shut down his folklore section, Dr. "Fever" Devilin
knew it was time to go home to the Georgia Appalachian Mountains. Fever figures that the time is
right to write about his home lore yet also put to rest the past that he fled when he first went off to
college. He moves back into his family's cabin on Blue Mountain where Fever plans to reacclimatize
from the academia think tank world to the more mellow isolated environs. His best friend from
childhood, now Deputy Sheriff Skidmore Needle, arrives at the cabin to greet his old buddy, but
finds a corpse just outside the edifice prior to the professor's arrival. They quickly learn that the
deceased is Fever's half-brother, a blood relative he never knew he had. Fever wonders if perhaps he
was the intended victim and if so why. Unable to heed Skidmore's advice, Fever begins making
inquiries into who would want either he or his sibling dead. The Devil's Hearth is a discerningly
written regional amateur sleuth that employs some police procedural elements to enhance the feeling
of realism. Fever is a delightful lead protagonist who keeps the story line focused. The secondary
cast including his buddy, a university colleague, and locals embellishes a powerful plot that delivers a
wonderful look at Appalachia folklore interwoven within well designed who-done-it.
Wiley's Lament
Lono Waiwaiole
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312303831 $24.95
Working with the FBI, Fernando guts a hooker in the Evergreen Motel, a cheap joint near the
Portland, Oregon Airport. To clean up his trail, Fernando kills a few other people who can associate
him with the victim. Her father Wiley, who even before his daughter's murder, did not care whether
he lived or died (all one has to do is ask the drug dealers he mugs in Seattle for a living) identifies
the victim as Lizzie. He knows the overworked police will try to solve the homicide, but that is not
good enough for him. Though he has not talked with his estranged daughter in over a year, Wiley
sees vengeance as a chance to somewhat atone for being a lousy dad. The underground sex industry
quickly knows to beware because Wiley will stomp on anyone who fails to point him towards the
killer of his child. The attitudes of the antihero Wiley, the killer Fernando, the FBI agent Avina, and
the other agents make this investigative crime thriller into a winner. The story line is exciting from
the moment Wiley places a gun in the ear of a drug dealer until the climax when High Noon occurs
between the two lead characters. Those readers who relish an offbeat electrifyingly wild ride filled
with testosterone (even from the female Avina) will want to obtain Wiley's Lament.
A Prescription Of Death
Jill Paton Walsh and Dorothy L. Sayers
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312291000 $24.95
In 1940,the siren testing the warning system goes off in a remote English village. Except for the
Methodists, everyone including Harriet Vane, better known as Lady Peter Wimsey, enter the cave
used as the air raid shelter. After a long time, the siren finally ends signifying all clear. Everyone
leaves the cave only to find the corpse of a Land Girl, "Wicked" Wendy Percival, lying in the street.
Knowing he is already shorthanded due to the war effort and her experience as a crime novelist,
Superintendent Kirk asks Harriet to investigate the murder that is clearly not the work of a Nazi. He
wants her to perform the role of her spouse Lord Peter, overseas on government work, to make
inquiries and report back to him, but not take risks. Reluctantly Harriet begins her investigation
starting with the other eight Land Girls, but quickly she finds reality much more complex and
stranger than fiction. Using fictional letters that the late great Dorothy L. Sayers wrote in support of
the English World war II efforts, Jill Paton Walsh paints a powerful amateur sleuth tale that fans of
the Wimsey tales will enjoy and will appreciate the cleverness of the endeavor. The story line insures
that the regulars remain true to their known personalities while WW II in a remote village is used to
provide the background of a strong who-done-it. Still, this tale belongs to the cast especially Harriet
who provides a fine time for series fans and historical mystery readers.
Viva Las Vengeance
Daniel Klein
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312288069 $23.95
Elvis is happy to be back in Vegas after a month in Graceland where Priscilla gave him a hard time
because of Ann Margaret. Elvis drops in on insult comedian Howie Pickles' show at the Sahara.
Besides irritating Elvis with his irreverent references to the Lord, Pickles unmercifully picks on an
obese woman. The other act, Siva Ree's exotic dance with a panther, thrills Elvis who finds he
desires the performer. The next day, Elvis learns that Pickles' victim Mrs. Donaldson was murdered
and nailed to the billboard of a chapel (the same one that starred in an Elvis flick). The police arrest
the husband of the deceased, but the person who found the corpse Digby Ferguson believes the local
cops rushed to judgment. He tries to persuade Elvis to join with him to investigate as he knows the
rock legend has experience in solving crimes (see Kill Me Tender and Blue Suede Clues). Though
Elvis amateur sleuth takes a long time to begin, fans of the superstar will relish this tale awhile
wondering if Daniel Klein had a sighting as the plot brings Presley so vividly to life. The story line
engages readers with its insightful look at a complete Elvis to include frustration with movie scripts
(Roustabout is the current one) and his complicated love life that is made more complex by Siva.
The story is well written, but more for the Elvis guru than the amateur sleuth aficionado.
Agatha Raisin And The Case Of The Curious Curate
M.C. Beaton
St. Martin's Press
ISBN 0313207689 $24.95
Her husband divorced her because he decided to become a monk. When she writes to the monastery
where he is supposed to be praying, the abbot replies that he left and never returned. Now Agatha
Raisin realizes that was just his clever way of dumping her. Adding to her despondency is that her
next door neighbor only wants to have a fling with her, making her feel even more unloved and
lonely. The Catswold villagers of Carsley adore their new curate Tristan Delon. However that
reverence does not stop someone from killing the well-liked curate. With trouble already from
missing money taken from the church box, the vicar Mr. Bloxby is very disturbed because he
believes people think he killed Tristan out of jealously over the curate's popularity. Agatha's friend
Mrs. Bloxby asks her to find out who killed the curate so her husband's name will be cleared. Unable
to say no, Agatha agrees to snoop, an action that almost proves fatal. Reading a new Agatha Raisin
book is almost as good as receiving a box of Godiva chocolates (no guilt or sharing with the
former). The latest installment in this long running series is enjoyably witty and raunchy as Agatha
bulldozes her way into the lives of various suspects. The repartee between John and Agatha is
sophisticated yet earthly, making the readers wonder what is going on in that platonic relationship.
Nobody will guess who the perpetrator is until M.C. Beaton unveils the identity of the killer leading
to a one sitting read requiring handy sweets.
Evan Only Knows
Rhys Bowen
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312301138 $23.95
Evan Evans grew up in South Wales, but fits in fine in the North Wales town of Llanfair as the
townsfolk look upon him as one of their own. That situation changes dramatically when he's ordered
to assist the Ministry of Agriculture workers about to destroy the farmers' sheep in an effort to stop
the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. The villagers feel that Evan should push the government to
test for the disease before any animal is destroyed. The constable decides to escape the mess by
traveling with his fianc‚e Bronwen to meet her parents and his mom. When they reach Swansea they
learn that Tony Mancino is believed to have raped and killed the daughter of a powerful big shot in
the community. If he is convicted he will get life. Tony killed Evan's father. Evan talks with Tony in
an effort to find closure about his father's death but he comes away from the encounter convinced
the thug is innocent of this crime. After wrestling with his conscience, he decides to search for the
real killer, knowing that he will incur the wrath of his mother, the police and the townsfolk, all of
who want to see Tony locked away for life. Readers who like a bloodless cerebral who-done-it that
captures the essence of Wales will want to read Evan Only Knows. The protagonist believes in
immediate cause and effect justice even if it means helping his father's killer gain his freedom. Rhys
Bowen is a master at characterizations, so much so that readers will feel as if they really know the
people of Swansea. British police procedurals don't get better than this.
Full Tilt
Janet Evanovich and Charlotte Hughes
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 031298328X $7.99
Wealthy inventor Max Holt visits his sister DeeDee and her husband Frankie "the Assassin" Fontana
in Beaumont, South Carolina because his sibling asked for his help. Frankie has tossed his hat in the
ring to run for mayor. While in town, Max plans to investigate the Beaumont Gazette, in which he is
a silent partner. However, in reality he only wants to conduct a hands-on interview of his partner
Jamie Swift, fiancee to some local yokel. Frankie gives a speech about reducing the bureaucracy and
to determine what happened to missing tax money. The talk gives Frankie plenty of supporters and a
real shot at winning the election. However, he alienates someone because now Frankie and his
brother-in-law are targets of a hired assassin with Jamie along claiming she only wants the story. Full
Tilt is a wild way out amateur sleuth investigative tale that hooks readers from the moment Muffin
(think of a female Kit from Knight Rider) provides Max a picture of Jamie. The story line is played
for fun and in many ways satirizes the Plum books. Max and Jamie chaperoned by Muffin make a
delightful duo investigating murder attempts and the return of dizzy DeeDee (see Full House) leaves
the audience with an uproarious amusing novel.
The Wild Irish West
Joan Avery
Leisure
ISBN: 0843951451 $5.99
In 1876 Sheriff Davis of Deadwood, South Dakota, mistakes easterner Kathleen Callahan for the
outlaw Squirrel Tooth. The pint sized Bostonian came west seeking to pounce on her spouse who
abandoned her not long after the wedding, but now she is handcuffed to the ferocious giant outlaw
Sage Duross. As the two escape jail, he worries about his own safety from the feisty petite fireball
whose wrist shares handcuffs even though he knows the sheriff is wrong in his accusation of his
companion. Sage seeks vengeance and having the fiery female attached to his hip is not only difficult
in terms of eluding the law and defeating his enemy but his libido is acting up big time as she is
gorgeous. As their respective agendas clash, they begin to fall in love, which both agree is more
dangerous than the law or outlaws could ever be. The Wild Irish West is an amusing western
romantic frolic that will remind readers of the James Garner movies Support Your Local Sheriff and
Support Your Local Gunfighter. The story line is fun to follow as the lead couple argue, fuss, and
fall in love. Readers will enjoy observing Kathleen land she and her wrist buddy into one problem
after another until Sage feels he must protect his beloved "Squirrel Tooth" from herself. Fans of
humorous Americana tales will appreciate Joan Avery's jocose romp.
A Stranger's Desires
Kimberly Raye
Lovespell
ISBN: 0505525046 $5.99
In Chicago, research chemist Sophie Alexander desperately seeks to find the cure for the cancer that
is killing her beloved ward, Kara. Sophie, who works for a cosmetics firm, knows she is one
ingredient away from a youth elixir that will work wonders for her cherished Kara and make people
younger. However, the clock ticks, as Kara does not have much long to live so a few drinks later a
desperate Sophie conjures up the Devil. The deal they make is her soul for the ingredient. The Devil
returns to his abode and assigns incubus Cain the Slayer to the case. Cain comes to Sophie in her
dreams, but is under strict orders not to touch her. He soon knows what love is all about after over a
millennium of not caring when he realizes that his victim willingly sacrificed everything for a child
not even of her womb. Cain falls in love with Sophie and wants to help her fully knowing the cost of
betraying his employer is eternal loneliness in the deepest pits of Hell. Fans of paranormal romances
filled with angels, incubi, and demons will relish A Stranger's Desire. The story line is fast-paced and
at a superior level when it concentrates on either Kara's health or the weird lead couple relationship.
Acceptance of a scientist doing an incantation seems a stretch, even as desperate as Sophie was
while a taut subplot focused on industrial espionage but feels mundane when compared with the wild
paranormal elements that make Kimberly Raye's novel into a unique engaging read.
The Selkie
Melanie Jackson
Lovespell
ISBN: 0505525313 $5.99
In 1929 Scotland Jillian Foxworthy sends her American servant Hexy Garrow to fetch her misplaced
fur coat. Hexy goes to the beach seeking the lost clothing while pondering reality vs. romance. She
talks to the sea explaining how she has learned about life from the rejection of her beau for someone
with wealth and not from a country rejecting the League of Nations. Hexy then returns to Fintry
Castle with the coat. Not long afterward, a panicked and irate Ruairidh cannot find his skin. He soon
realizes a human female has completed the seven tears summoning and absconded with his skin. He
follows her scent to demand she give him back his skin and to explain he has no time for the affair
that she envoked as he must get back to his people in Avocmar to warn of the pending attack by the
Finmen. However, Ruairidh is shocked that Hexy is not a crone, but a beautiful confused woman.
Even more appalling is that he desires her and wants her to join him in the ocean where he resides,
but somehow she resists his lure though she obviously is attracted to him. Melanie Jackson's latest
fantasy romance deserves cross-genre appeal as The Selkie provides readers with a whimsical
charming tale. The story line insures the audience believes in Selkie, Finmen, and some other
folklore species. The relationship between the magical lead couple is anchored by love though has
rocky moments. This augments the feeling of two species crossing unfathomable depths, leagues,
and barriers together.
The Lost Dreams
Fiona Hood-Stewart
Mira
ISBN: 1551666707 $6.50
Though he supported the inheritance going to his Aunt Penelope MacLeod, the court ruled that
Bradley Harcourt Ward inherits Strathaird Castle on the Isle of Skye. The American Brad, the CEO
of a mega international corporation, schedules three weeks at the castle to straighten out the estate.
His fianc‚e Sylvia Hansen will join him there after she completes company business. Brad arrives to
handle the affairs as Lord MacLeod, but is upset to learn that Penny's daughter Charlotte and her
teenage daughter have vacated the castle. He wants her to return to her home, but Brad also quickly
realizes he still loves Charlotte though she married someone else. As three weeks stretches into six
weeks, Sylvia realizes that Brad enjoys being the lord of the manor. She also concludes he loves
Charlotte but Sylvia did not escape from the wrong side of the Little Rock tracks to go down
without a fight. She plans to get him on her turf, New York City, and away from Charlotte's
backwater castle. The Lost Dreams is a pleasant contemporary aristocratic romance. When the
enjoyable story line focuses on the powerful romantic entanglements of the quartet, fans receive a
superb tale. However, an intrigue subplot slows down the deep prime theme. As she did with The
Stolen Years, Fiona Hood-Stewart endows her fans with an intense enjoyable novel.
Picture Me Dead
Heather Graham
Mira
ISBN: 1551666812 $24.95
In Miami, Florida, talented artist Ashley Montague attends the police academy while living with her
uncle and his girl friend on top of a bar-restaurant he owns near a marina. Homicide Detective Jake
Dilessio has just relocated his houseboat to that same marina. When the two first meet, neither likes
the other. Ashley draws the scene of a terrible accident she has seen. Later she learns the victim is a
high school friend Stuart Frecias whose body is filled with illegal drugs as he resides in a coma.
Ashley believes he would never do drugs insisting something sinister happened while Stuart was
undercover working on a story for some rag. Meanwhile Jake's worst nightmare returns when a
woman is found mutilated in the Everglades with the same MO as that of a serial killer five years
ago. As he makes no progress, he agrees to look into Stuart's situation. Wondering if Ashley's
theory is correct, Jake sees a potential link between his homicide case and that of Stuart even while
he and Ashley fall in love and she accepts a job as a forensic artist. Fans of Heather Graham
recognize that her novels always contain gripping suspense and the right portion of love. Picture Me
Dead is a strong police procedural romance that grips readers until the final twist. The engaging lead
couple is typical of the genre as they initially detest each other, but ultimately love one another. The
story line is filled with intrigue, but contains too many turns losing some credibility yet Ms. Graham
is so good her audience will finish the novel in one sitting.
Letting Go
Pamela Morsi
Mira
ISBN: 1551666561 $6.99
Though five years ago her beloved husband Paul died, Ellen Jameson still carries his ashes in an urn,
as she cannot let go even though her world has ended. Her suburban friends ignore her, the family
accounting business went bankrupt when Paul the CPA passed away, and now she sits on the brink
of becoming homeless. She moves to nearby San Antonio seeking an accounting clerk job and saves
money by living in the house of her mother Wilma. Also moving in to her mom's house is Ellen's
party-going daughter Amber and granddaughter Jet. Four generations of women share a house
whose ownership is being contested in the courts. Ellen finds work at Roper's Accounting home of
"The Cowboys of Taxes". Amber is good at her mall job, but prefers to party. Wilma watches the
well-behaved active three-year-old Jet, but struggles to keep up especially pulling her oxygen tank
with her. On the brink of homelessness, Wilma decides Ellen must marry with the only prospect her
daughter's employer even if he is more her age. Wilma and Jet begin matchmaking as four
generations of women try to survive deep in a heartless Texas. Though not filled with any action,
fans of deep character studies will want to read Letting Go a strong look at four women living,
loving, and suffering together under one roof. Each member of the quartet has a distinguished
personality though Jet seems too mature. Pamela Morsi provides an insightful look at moving on
while still remembering a lost loved one that will leave her audience grateful for her graceful
talent.
About Adam
Stella Cameron
Mira
ISBN: 1551666669 $6.99
In 1824, Princess Desiree of Mont Nuages returns to London after six months at home nursing a
heartache. She loves artist Adam Chillworth, the hermit residing in the attic of 7 Mayfair Square
over the objection of the resident ghost. Desiree knows Adam loves her too, but he is too honorable
to court her because she believes that he feels he is beneath her social level. Desiree has returned to
force her beloved to accept that they belong together forever. Adam knows nothing can get worse
than seeing Desiree as he struggles not to kiss her but he soon learns the rudiments of Murphy's Law
when his estranged family come to see him. While trying to establish a relationship with his sibling
and ignore his parents, he soon has bigger concerns when someone abducts Desiree with the
attacker warning her to stay way from Adam. The fifth Mayfair Regency romance will provide
plenty of enjoyment to series fans on two levels: the love story between two repeat characters and
the frustrations of Sir Spivey the ghost. Though the story line starts slow in terms of action, the
audience sees deep inside the souls of the lead couple as Adam tries to elude the messages that his
heart pumps to his head. The suspense surfaces in the latter half of the plot, but once the action
begins it does not stop until Stella Cameron closes the door to another delightful return to 7 Mayfair
Square.
Magical Beginnings
Steven H. Silver and Martin H. Greenberg, editors
Daw Books
ISBN: 0756401216 $6.99
This fantasy anthology provides fans with the introductory story that sixteen fan favorites started
their illustrious respective career. The contributions are fun to read though the quality varies with
none being atrocious, but not all sixteen being incredibly fantastic. With each tale, the author of that
story furnishes an interesting introduction that includes insight and understanding into their career.
Clearly not for the casual genre reader, the fascination is not just with each tale, albeit as engaging
they are, but also to compare the Magical Beginnings with recent releases from a virtual who's
who.
The Gathering Storm
Kate Elliot
Daw Books
ISBN: 0756401194 $24.95
The ancient spell that exiled the Aoi from the planet is failing to hold. Thus the elven horde is
expected to return soon, which means havoc and perhaps the final pandemic cataclysm. Also coming
back to her home is Liath, after learning to use her powers while being away for a week in her time,
but four years on her home world. While she was gone, her husband Prince Sanglant has raised an
army and has tried to obtain the griffins as an ally in the upcoming war. As Sanglant and Liath want
to rediscover one another, the future of humanity will not allow them to linger together. Separately
they must abort the efforts of mathematici Anne and Hugh and their supporters from recasting the
original spell that displaced the Aoi over a millennium ago as success means most likely planetary
devastation at a level never seen before. The fifth epic tale in the "Crown of Stars" sextet, The
Gathering Storm, is a complex exciting fantasy, but is also difficult to follow especially for
newcomers. The action-packed story line includes numerous subplots and a cast in the DeMille
numbers. Still, fans of the series will gain much pleasure from Kate Elliot's latest effort as the key
players struggle in their own way with the almost certain end of the world.
Joust
Mercedes Lackey
Daw
ISBN 0756401224 $24.95
The kingdoms of Tia and Alta are at war while at the present time the Tians are winning because
they have better Jousters who know how to use their dragons as a tool of war. Much of Altan has
become part of the Tian empire and Vetch, who was once a farmer's son, is now a serf, lower than a
slave, belonging to a master who treats him very badly. When the Jouster Ari sees Vetch's owner
whip him, he takes him away to the Jouster compound and makes him his dragon boy. Vetch now
cares for Ari's dragon Kashet who he comes to love. He has plenty of food and a fair workload but
he never forgets for one moment that he is a serf with no rights. Although he comes to care Ari and
a few other people in the compound, he can't stomach what the Tians are doing to his people. He
wants his freedom and embarks on a course of action that will achieve that goal if he doesn't get
caught. Mercedes Lackey always writes a terrific story and this first installment in her new series is
absolutely mesmerizing. Readers will feel for the protagonist who is only a ten-year-old child yet
wise beyond his years. Once he sets a goal for himself, he sees it through no matter the risks. Joust is
a fantasy tale that will appeal to Anne McCaffrey's Pern fans as well as anyone who loves an
adorable dragon.
Night Terror
Chandler McGrew
Bantam
ISBN 0440241227 $6.50
Arcos, Maine is a small quiet town where people know their neighbors and doors are never locked.
Yet in the space of four years two boys disappeared without a trace and most people, including
Sheriff Virgil Milche, think they will never be found. Zach Bock has been missing for over a year
now and his parents, Richard and Audrey, remain tortured by his absence. Audrey, who had a very
strong bond with her son, has begun suffering night terrors and episodes where she hears her son's
voice. Richard thinks she is near a breakdown and insists that she visits a psychiatrist. To pacify him,
she agrees to go. After speaking time with the doctor, Audrey realizes that the aunt who raised her
after a traumatic childhood with her mother has brainwashed her into forgetting her salad days. If
she hopes to find out what happened to Zach, Audrey must be willing to face the demons of her own
past. Chandler McGrew has written a masterful work of psychological suspense with some
paranormal elements intertwined into the story line. The heroine is facing every mother's worst
nightmare while fighting for her own sanity. She is a character that readers will identify with and
take into their hearts. Night Terrors is a fascinating reading experience because like Memorex
readers don't know what is real and what is a figment of the character's imagination.
The Wedding Escape
Karyn Monk
Bantam
ISBN: 0553584405 $5.99
In 1883 Scotland, Jack Kent would rather be at sea than sit in the hot church awaiting the arrival of
the wealthy American bride marrying the elderly groom with a title. Finally after what seems
eternity, he steps outside for some air only to see the runaway bride tumble out a window. Amelia
Bedford first tries to take his coach and then offers money for its use, but Jack rejects both. He was
going to do nothing to abet her escape until Amelia's pleas about helpless imprisonment reminds him
of his own past so he enables her to flee from her fate. Though he wants to go to Inverness before
setting out for sea, Jack feels responsible for Amelia. He agrees to take her to her betrothed Lord
Percy Baring in London. On the way they fall in love, but folks who want to control Amelia's money
thwart the couple's path to happiness. Fans of Victorian romances will gain much pleasure from the
delightful The Wedding Escape. Though the story line reads similar to a recent bevy of tales focused
on American heiresses seeking English titles, the lead couple serves as the key to the freshness of the
plot. Readers will appreciate the shared commonality that Jack and Amelia almost obsess over, as
both desperately need personal freedom to thrive.
Keeping Watch
Laurie R. King
Bantam
ISBN 0553801910 $23.95
He was in his first year of college when the patriotic spirit moved Allen Carmichael to enlist in the
army, knowing that he would send time in Viet Nam. While serving in Nam, he saw and did things
to people that made him doubt his own humanity. When he left service Allen suffered flashbacks
leading to staying alone and homeless for fear what he would to anyone who got close to him. After
seven years, he finally gets his act together. For the next twenty-six years he has rescued (or
kidnapped, depending on your point of view) children in abusive situations. Allen is proud of the fact
that fifty-two children are alive because of his intervention but now he plans to retire and make a life
with his lover Rae. He's asked to go out on one more assignment and he reluctantly agrees to snatch
Jamie O'Connell, from his sadistic father. This is his last case but it turns out to be very dangerous
because nobody knew that Jamie's father takes his violence out on anybody who gets in his way. The
hero saw and committed a lot of atrocities during the Viet Nam war and has spent the rest of his life
seeking redemption. To achieve this impossible salvation, Allen saves children even if it means
stepping outside the law to accomplish his deed. Keeping Watch is a masterpiece of psychological
suspense wrapped inside a taut action thriller.
By The Light Of The Moon
Dean Koontz
Bantam
ISBN: 0553801430 $26.95
Accompanied by his autistic brother Shep, artist Dylan O'Connor is driving to Santa Fe to attend an
arts festival, but stops for the night at an Arizona motel. Also staying at the same facility is comedian
Jillian Jackson, but neither knows the other. From out of a B horror movie starring a mad doctor, a
stranger injects Dylan and Jilly with a mysterious serum. He informs his guinea pigs that they are
carriers with an incredible future or a quick death, but now must flee for his enemies are near.
Disbelieving and frightened, Dylan and Jilly realize they must run when her Cadillac explodes. With
Shep acting stranger than ever, the trio goes on the lam. Jillian begins seeing visions; Dylan turns
obsessed with a need to be the ultimate Good Samaritan; and. Shep teleports himself and others.
With the doctor dead, there is no one to guide them and probably no turning back. Also they must
deal with their deceased experimenter's enemy who wants them dead too. Dean Koontz is at his
scariest (which says a lot) with the suspense thriller By The Light Of The Moon. Mr. Koontz digs
deep into the souls of the lead triad enabling the audience to observe the metamorphosis of the trio
while understanding their varying motives. The story line is fast-paced, as Jilly and Dylan mostly try
to do what they feel is right though not always agreeing. In spite of a climax that sets up sequels
rather than closure, genre fans will send the grandmaster back to his usual best selling status,
deservedly so.
The Tail Of The Tip-Off
Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown
Bantam
ISBN 0553801589 $24.95
When there is no murderer on the loose, there is no better place to be than Crozet, Virginia. It is a
magical place where animals talk to each other crossing species lines. The only ones who can't
understand the animals are the dumb human beings and the animals believe that is because have
gotten away from nature. The tiger cat Mrs. Murphy, the large gray Cat Pewter, and Tucker the
Corgi, owns Mary Minor Haristeen, known as Harry to her friends. The trio loves Harry and will do
anything to protect her and keep her safe when she is busy sleuthing. Following a women's
basketball game at the University of Virginia, HH Donaldson collapses and dies. An autopsy shows
a one and a half-inch piercing in the back of his neck so the tentative conclusion is he was poisoned.
A few days later, Mychelle Burns, a building code inspector is found in the closet inside the woman's
basketball locker room with a knife wound through the chest. Harry, who has to be in the middle of
a homicide investigation, tries to figure out who the murderer is and almost winds up as victim
number three. One of the most charming facets of the Mrs. Murphy mysteries is the conversation the
animals have with each other. The heroine's animals go to great lengths to save her from her actions
and their love and tender displays of affections would warm the heart of pre-ghostly Scrooge. The
Tail Of The Tip-Off is a not to be missed exciting cozy.
Resurrection Men
Ian Rankin
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316766844 $19.95
Though he knows he should never have displayed his anger by tossing the coffee cup in front of his
boss DCS Gill Templar, Edinburgh Inspector John Rebus finds the remedy for his short temper quite
embarrassing. Gill has enrolled John in the Scottish Police College along side several other
Resurrection Men. The superiors of those attending this syllabus hope that some of these rogue
officers learn teamwork. However, the assignment that the class works on together leaves John
wondering if he is set up to take a hit or is he really to go undercover and find out whether his fellow
disgraced pupils are on the take. Meanwhile Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke discovers that her
investigation of the art dealer's murder that led to the coffee cup incident is tied to Rebus's
investigation as well as a strange connection to a crime boss. John and Siobhan soon see their cases
merging and join the ranks to solve both of them. It is ionic that this solid Rebus police procedural is
well written but not quite at the great level of most of the previous novels in the series, yet is one of
the better sub-genre entries. Resurrection Men proves how talented Ian Rankin is as Rebus fans will
appreciate the effort and newcomers will search for other novels by the author. Rebus remains an
ornery delight as his regret for tossing the mug is not having done it in private. Though the second
half of the story line seems wordy, the rank and file will relish an entertainingly vigorous
investigative novel.
Forever
Pete Hamill
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316341118 $25.95
The supreme English Earl of Warren murders Rebecca Carson. The deceased leaves behind a
distraught husband the blacksmith John and a grieving son Robert. John tells his son that it is time
for him to learn family secrets including his real name Cormac O'Connor. However, the lad seeks
vengeance so in 1741 he follows the trail of his mother's killer to New York City. While crossing the
ocean, Cormac and African slave Kongo become friends. In New York, they join a failed revolt
against the British, but the aftermath leads to vigilante mobs to the imprisonming Kongo. Cormac
saves his new friend from certain death, but is fatally shot while doing so. Kongo's priestess,
Tomora, mysteriously appears and saves Cormac's life by granting him youthful eternity as long as
he remains on Manhattan Island. Now start two and a half plus centuries of life on this strange isle.
Through the eyes of a transplanted native New Yorker (only in the Big Apple could such a
Manhattan fanatic exist), FOREVER is an engaging historical perspective of New York City almost
from its beginnings. The story line is epic in scope built around major events and real people. The
use of immortality is a gimmick, but it adds depth to the deep look at 14 miles of rock and cement.
Though well written, if you take pride in NYC as an international city, etc. you will relish this novel;
if NYC is a bunch of sickos, CEOs, despicables, and four lost other boroughs the city's numero uno
shrill Pete Hamill is not your Manhattan.
Looking For Lacey
Linda Francis Lee
Ivy Books
ISBN: 0804119961 $6.99
Superbowl MVP quarterback Bobby McIntyre returns home to El Paso to recover from a bad knee
injury and a concussion suffered in a professional football game to learn that his sister Beth fired his
friend as manager of Bobby's Place. She also hired Lacey Wright to run the establishment that is
losing money because they give away a fortune in alcohol for free. Bobby plans to fire her until he
learns she is a single mother. Because of his mother's desertion he cannot sack her until she at least
screws up. A week has passed and Bobby remains very aware of Lacey though he is not sure why as
prim and proper is not his normal type of woman and he knows she thinks he is a dumb jock. He
admires her for staying with Robin but knows she is bad for a bar as she behaves like everyone's
mom. As they get to know each other, Bobby and Lacey fall in love, but though she begins to loosen
up, he believes that she will leave him like everyone else in his life except his sister who has stood by
him. This sports romance stars two characters that carry baggage from their youth into relationships
so that they never make it out of the first quarter before calling time out. The engaging story line
focuses on love breaking down psychological barriers though the individual troubles of the lead
couple seem too repetitive. Still Lacey and Bobby are a fine couple and the support cast, mainly his
sister, her daughter, and her daughter's boyfriend make for a novel that scores plenty of
touchdowns.
McCloud's Woman
Patricia Rice
Ivy Books
ISBN: 0804119821 $6.99
For the past decade, forensic anthropologist Timothy John "TJ" McCloud has traveled the world
visiting hot spots as a consultant. Currently, TJ rests on the property of his sister-in-law on an island
off the South Carolina coast. TJ is studying the remains of two individuals found on the beach when
a storm struck. He estimates the two men died during World War II. Hollywood executive Mara
Simon hopes to save her movie company with an on location pirate's film. The problem is that her
access to the beach is blocked by the investigation conducted by TJ. She hopes she can charm the
man that she knew as her first love back in a Long Island high school and who knew her as Patsy
Simonetti. As "Timid Tim" and Patsy fall in love, his connection to Army Colonel Martin places him
under suspicion of abetting war criminals and her ex-husband Sid Rosenthal makes a bid to cut her
out of the movie industry. Though there is too much secondary clutter, fans of contemporary
romance will gain much pleasure from this tale that mostly focuses on the battle between the lead
couple. The story line engages the audience especially when TJ and Mara squabble. Adding critical
pivotal point to the story is the suicide of Patsy's brother years ago, which helped shape their
personalities and ended their teen relationship. Her challenge from her ex-husband and his trouble
with the military add suspense yet take the audience away from the war of the sexes that make
Patricia Rice's novel fun to read.
The Complaint Of The Dove
Hannah March
Signet
ISBN 0451208803 $5.99
He once had a bright future ahead of him but when his father committed suicide, his estate and
fortune was forfeited to the crown. Now Robert Fairfax, after a period of dissipation, has finally got
his life together and is working as a tutor for Matthew Hemsley, a young man who comes from a
powerful and rich family. To give the student some polish, he is taking him to London to introduce
him to the people who will one day be a part of his future. Matthew finds himself more interested in
the social whirl of London and finds himself in love with the toast of the London Theatre Miss Lucy
Dove. When she sends him a letter asking him to meet her at her home, he sneaks away from Robert
to meet her. When Robert tracks him down, he finds Lucy dead and Matthew unable to remember
what transpired. Matthew is bound over for trial and sent to Newgate while Robert, who believes his
charge could never commit homicide, does everything in his power to track down the real killer. The
hero of this cleverly written historical mystery is not fighting to clear his student's name because he
wants to keep his job but because he genuinely likes the lad and believes in his innocence. As an
amateur sleuth, Robert embarks upon an investigation that is as well thought out of as a twenty-first
century police officer would conduct. The Complaint Of The Dove is a very picturesque and
atmospheric novel that brings to life Georgian England in the minds' eyes of the readers.
The Iron Rose
Marsha Canham
Signet
ISBN: 0451208153 $6.99
In 1614 in the Caribbean, the Spanish vessel Santo Domingo attacks the English merchant ship
Argus. It becomes obvious to outside observer Privateer Captain Juliet Dante of the Iron Rose that
the Spaniards plan to sink the Argus, killing everyone on board. Her crew surprises the Santo
Domingo and captures that boat while saving the lives of most of the English on board the destroyed
Argus. Included in the rescue is King James' latest envoy to the Caribe privateers, Duke Varian St.
Clare, who has orders from His Majesty to obtain a cease and desist to all piracy. Though they argue
about their respective ways of life, Varian and Juliet are attracted to one another. As they fall in
love, both knows one of them must compromise if they are to share a life together. However, before
either can make up his or her mind, troubles on the high seas may decide for them their future as
danger threatens to kill both of them. Though typical in many ways of the historical pirate romance,
The Iron Rose uses a gender bender lead female to provide the audience with an invigorating
exciting story line. The key to the brisk plot besides the action is Juliet, a strong independent leader
whose lust for life grips Varian (ask him about her scissors hold) and the audience. Though the
climax seems abrupt, fans of the sub-genre will take great pleasure with this vividly strong
seventeenth century tale.
Dayspring Destiny
Jeanine Berry
Novel Books
ISBN: 1591050472 $16.95
On the world of Gaea on the island of Atlaua, the human race worshipped the S'hazons as if they
were gods instead of beings of energy who left their bodies behind as they climbed up the
evolutionary ladder. Now Gaea is in danger because a comet is due to hit the planet in five years and
the S'hazons and those with strong khi power have left the planet and traveled to a different Gaea in
the multiverse where the comet will not hit. These energy beings wanted Elinna Serru to come with
them for her khi power is very strong but she turned down their offer. She hopes to find a way of
harnessing her power to save Gaea but with the departure of the S'hazons, the people are divided as
two religions compete for the hearts of the people. Elinna realizes after years of study that she must
somehow find a way to unite the different factions and work together to stop the comet from
destroying their world. Dayspring Destiny, the sequel to Dayspring Dawning, is a very imaginative,
colorful, and inspiring work of speculative fiction starring a heroine who is a cross between the
oracle, Cassandra and Wonder Woman. The story line enthralls the reader so that they will want to
keep this novel that seems to have classic written all over it. Jeanine Berry is a gifted storyteller who
creates a world so realistic one would think she lived there.
Savage Land Of Jur
Tom Johnson
Novel Books
ISBN: 1591050766 $15.00
While searching ancient ruins in Africa, twentieth century French archeologist Odette St. Clair falls
through a time portal landing 65 million years before during the Jurassic Period. American Aaron
"Ron" Jamison trying to find her follows her through the time portal. They share an adventure, fall in
love, and are married by the elderly native Avo. Together, Odette and Ron seek the Ancient Ones,
praying that the technologically advanced race has the devices to send them back to the future.
However, the Ancient Ones though immortal through genetics have met catastrophe due to a deadly
disease and are subsequently forced out of at least two cities. Traveling the Hite River surrounded
by danger from deadly flora and fauna, the time travelers journey to the city of Florbust in hope of
finding an Ancient One. Savage Land Of Jur, sequel to the exciting Jur: A Story Of Predawn Earth,
is an exhilarating adventure tale that takes the audience on a deep adventure through the Jurassic
Period. The story line is fast paced and loaded with non stop action whether it is surviving a storm
raged river, battling flesh eating plants, dueling a giant spider or communicating with native
populations. Ron and Odette display their love for one another as both willingly risk life to save their
beloved from a precarious situation. Though too many flashbacks to the first tale interferes with the
smoothness of the expedition, this is one trek readers will want to join.
Monkeewrench
P.J. Tracy
Putnam
ISBN 0399149783 $23.95
In Calmut, Wisconsin, an elderly couple is found murdered in church, a bullet in each of their heads.
Upon further investigation, the police discover that the couple had moved frequently, changing their
names with each new address. They were obviously running from somebody but they had no friends
because they were harsh and unforgiving religious fanatics who kept everyone at a distance. In
Minneapolis, Minnesota, five friends have formed a software company Monkeewrench and the latest
game they are beta testing on the net is called Serial Killer Detective. Life imitates art because
someone is killing people in the exact same way as in the game. The police look into the background
of the Monkeewrench Team, which hits a blank wall because the group has gone to a lot of trouble
to change their identities. While the police are trying to figure out why, a connection is made to the
double homicide in Calmut and Grace McBride, the leader of the software development team, finds
herself the target of a sociopath who wants her dead. This is P.J. Tracy's debut novel and it is an
exciting thriller, filled with misdirection and secret agendas. Grace is constantly on guard 24/7
because she escaped from a killer several years ago but she has no peace because he was never
caught. The fact that she is still sane says a lot about her inner strength and the loyalty she inspires in
her friends. Monkeewrench is a suspense thriller that allows no time outs.
Back Story
Robert B. Parker
Putnam
ISBN 0399149775 $24.95
Boston private investigator Spenser isn't an easy touch, but Paul Giacomin is like a son to him so he
is willing to go the extra mile to do the man a favor. Paul, a playwright, wants Spenser to help his
friend actress Daryl Silver who is starring in his play, to find out who killed her mother Emily in a
Boston bank robbery in 1974. Daryl wants closure and Paul pays Spenser's fee, a box of Krispy
CrŠme donuts. The Dread Scott Brigade took credit for the killing and the robbery but nobody was
ever caught even thought the bank cameras caught their picture. Spenser gets the police file from the
Boston Police Department and notices right away that the FBI intelligence report is missing. A little
deeper into the investigation Spenser is warned of the case by government agents and is on the hit
list of a crime kingpin. Even though it has become very dangerous, Spenser is determined to find out
who killed Daryl's mother, if only to satisfy his curiosity. It has been thirty years since the first
Spencer book The Godwulf Manuscript was published and the series is still fresh, innovative and
very entertaining. The hero might be a little older but he still has the same quirky sense of humor and
the ability not to flinch when bullets are coming in his direction. Back Story is a fascinating
who-done-it that is both believable and somewhat nostalgic. Robert B. Parker shows why his hero
has become an American icon.
Typhoon
Robin White
Putnam
ISBN: 039914935X $24.95
With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the money needed to maintain a powerful military force no
longer exists as other requirements surfaced. The United States government paid the Russians half a
billion dollars to decommission and scrap all the existing Typhoon submarines. One Typhoon
escaped the American net and was sold to China for one and a half billion dollars. It is traveling to
its new home commanded by veteran submarine Captain Markou with each crewmember receiving
money that they badly need to live in the new Russia. The U.S.S. Portland on maneuvers in Russian
waters locates the Baikal and is given orders to prevent it from entering the Bering Strait and
rendezvousing with the Chinese who intend to use the Baikal as the means of taking over Taiwan.
The commander of the Portland James Vann proves he's incapable of working in crisis mode, forcing
his second in command, LT. Commander Steadman to take control of the ship and stop the Russians
from delivering a vessel with twenty ICBMs to the Chinese government. The cat and mouse game
played by the two submarine commanders will remind readers of Tom Clancy's best seller The Hunt
For Red October. This is an action-packed thriller but Robin White doesn't stunt on developing the
characters so readers can get a feel for their motivations. The battle scenes are totally absorbing, so
much so that readers will finish this book in one sitting and then put it on their keeper shelf.
A Hot And Sultry Night For Crime
Jeffrey Deaver (editor)
Berkley
ISBN: 0425188396 $23.95
The twenty contributions that make up this collection for the most part live up to the tile as each tale
occurs on a hot and sultry night. The stories run the gamut of crime fiction with a few seemingly
more thriller than mystery. The contributors make up some of the top talent in the genre. It is this
not surprising that all the tales is solid and entertaining though a few are superb. A Hot And Sultry
Night is aimed at the genre generalist as it crosses a diverse series of lines. Anyone who prefers a
particular sub-genre will most likely find at least a story or two in the anthology, but must decide the
economic value.
Living Proof
Peter J. Thompson
Berkley
ISBN: 0425189066 $6.99
With seven days to go before the state of Texas executes him for a murder he never committed,
Ramon Willis reconciles with the fact that his decade in death row is almost over though his attorney
Barry Resnick tries for a stay. Meanwhile Austin Star reporter Lena Dryer investigates the death
penalty and concludes Ramon received a terrible defense, but the state sought conviction not truth.
A week later Dr. Conrad Meeks injects the lethal poison and announces Ramon dead. However,
Ramon awakens to find himself a "guest" of the Army conducting chemical experiments on the
homeless or the death row inmates. Three weeks later Ramon still lives in perfect health, a shocker
as everyone else exposed to the chems dies rather quickly. Lieutenant Charley Green, realizing the
illegality of the experiments, frees Ramon before dying. The government chases Ramon to stop him
from exposing them and willingly kills innocents like Barry for the "bigger good". Refusing to hide
in Mexico, Ramon turns to Lena as his only hope to destroy a nasty conspiracy. Living Proof is an
exciting cautionary tale that warns on two levels: anything but the facts death penalty (of course the
author lives in Illinois) and the hidden military top secret R&D perhaps focusing on biological and
chemical warfare. The story line is very exciting from the opening gamut when it is obvious the state
is more interested in closing the books than insuring a fair trial before switching to a human guinea
pig experiment and finally into a chase thriller. Fans of action packed conspiracy thrillers will
appreciate the smooth transitions of Peter J. Thompson's strong tale.
Murder On Mulberry Bend
Victoria Thompson
Berkley
ISBN: 0425189104 $6.99
Around 1900, midwife Sarah Brandt escorts Richard Dennis through the lower Manhattan slums to
the Prodigal Son Mission where his deceased wife voluntarily worked before dying because he needs
to understand why Hazel found solace at this safe place for girls. The wealthy Richard is
overwhelmed with what he sees on his "hellish" tour, but at the mission, Mrs. Wells provides
kindness to the guilt laden Richard. Sarah gifts clothing for the misfortunate. Not long afterward,
Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy is stunned when he recognizes the ugly hat of a murder victim. He
thinks Sarah, who he cares deeply for, is dead. However, the corpse is someone else who later Sarah
identifies as Emilia, a person she met at the Prodigal Son Mission. Over Frank's objections, Sarah
begins her own inquiries that will place her in danger from a serial killer whose previous homicides
have been ignored because the victims were humanity's forgotten. The fifth Brand gaslight mystery is
an engaging amateur sleuth tale though the killer seems somewhat obvious early on even with clever
twists and turns to obscure the culprit's identity. The story line is loaded with action and strong
characters, but what makes the tale is the vivid description of Manhattan at the turn of the century.
Readers feel the awe and fear of Dennis making his first sojourn on the train and into the slums; the
audience senses the miracle of the successful surgery performed on the foot of Frank's son
(commonplace today). Victoria Thompson writes another delectable historical mystery that will
provide plenty of pleasure for her fans and send newcomers seeking the previous "Murder on..."
novels.
Designed To Kill
Denise Osborne
Berkley
ISBN 0425189112 $5.99
A father and his children stop at a pumpkin stand to buy an artistically carved jack-o-lantern when
one of the kids discovers that a scarecrow in the grove is a dead man. His throat has been cut open
and the case attracts a lot of media publicity because the victim is Toby Ashcroft, who founded his
own dot.com company, which made him millions before it went bust. His sister Ivy, who inherits his
whole estate, is holding a new age symposium at Star House and one of the speakers is Salome
Waterhouse. From the time, she arrives on the Ashcroft estate, feng shui practitioner Salome finds
very little to recommend the place. After a guest is murdered, the conference is canceled with
everyone getting sent home. When the police arrest a suspect, Salome thinks they made a mistake
and applying the same senses she uses in feng shui, she investigates the murder to insure the
vindication of the innocent party. Denise Osborne does an incredible job showing what feng shui is
(and is not) and how readers can apply the techniques, with very little effort, into their everyday
lives. The protagonist combines mysticism with pragmatism, but her willingness to go one step or
more beyond the norm is what readers will admire about her. This amateur sleuth tale is one book
that is so entertaining it must be finished in one sitting.
The Affair
Sandy Hingston
Berkley
ISBN: 042518974 $6.99
In 1815, Gannon Finn takes his recently orphaned niece Claire to Mrs. Treadwell's Academy for the
Elevation of Young Women in Kent. Claire, who witnessed the murders of her parents, is frightened
and does not want her Uncle Gannon to leave her. However, she meets two students who take her
under their wings and therefore changes her mind about staying here. Gannon also changes his mind
when the headmistress arrives. Twenty years ago in Paris, he offered his heart to Christiane d'Oliveri
who rejected it to remain a mistress to a married man and a wife to an elderly male. Though she felt
she was gentle in rejecting his offer of marriage, he thought she was cruel. Though he thought he
offered his soul with kindness, she thought he was a pest who refused to hear her rejection. Now she
is the headmistress of a school his niece badly needs to attend so both are on their best behavior but
the attraction and their history remain volatile. The latest Treadwell Regency romance, The Affair, is
an enjoyable tale that sub-genre readers will appreciate as the plot is freshened by starring the
headmistress countess as the lead female protagonist. Though the chasm between Christiane and
Gannon opens at nuclear weapon meltdown rapidly depletes into a fly swatter, readers will still take
delight in the relationship between them. Claire is a wonderful key player while the truth of what
happened to her parents will surprise the audience. Finally, Christiane implies that she has to get
(Mrs. Treadwell) a man before she can rest on her laurels so fans watch out.
Death At Glamis Castle
Robin Paige
Berkley
ISBN 0425188477 $22.95
Prince Albert Victor Christian Edward, Eddy to his friends, was in line to the throne of England
after his father who later becomes King Edward VII. Eddy was an embarrassment to the family,
drinking and carousing, going from one scandal to another. He married a Catholic commoner and
was discovered in a gay brothel. The public and the Royal Family believed he would never be fit to
rule and all gave a sigh of relief when he died in a fire. Very few people realized that it was all a ruse
and Eddy was banished to Glamis Castle, deep in the Scottish Highlands. He lived there for over a
decade in a luxurious if isolated suite and was known as Lord Osborne to all of the servants. One
night he disappears and his personal servant is found murdered, her throat slit open. Lord Charles
Sheridan is ordered by the king to find out who murdered the servant and to discover where Eddy
went. He is able to accomplish his mission with the help of his intelligent and nosy wife Kate. After
reading Death At Glamis Castle, readers will be glad that they are not members of any fictionalized
European Royal Family because they come across as utterly ruthless and willing to do whatever
needs to be done to preserve their station in life. Robin Paige has written an excellent mystery that
involves German spies, a dark conspiracy, and a servant who is loyal and devoted to a once crowned
prince. This work is rich in atmosphere and gives the audience a feel for the period after Queen
Victoria's death.
And Flesh And Blood So Cheap
Wayne D. Dundee
Design Image
ISBN: 1891946161 $15.95
During the early days of the Clinton Administration, Rockford, Illinois widow Lorna Stark suffers
conscience tremors over a murder case. She hires private investigator Joe Hannibal to prove that
Billy Lawton is not guilty of killing Viet Nam war hero and popular businessman Aaron Broderick.
Lorna admits that at the time of the murder, she was having sex with Billy in a Lake Crescent,
Wisconsin motel. She prefers to avoid the humiliating publicity, but agrees to step forward if Joe
fails to prove Billy could not have committed the crime. However Billy not only confessed, he
voluntarily surrendered to the police before a crime was reported, which, Joe asks, if he did not do it
how did he know? Joe learns from Billy's court appointed lawyer that anyone helping the confessor
could face consequences from an angry community, but the sleuth makes inquiries anyway. Though
Billy refuses to see him, Joe believes someone is either coercing a confession or he is covering the
tracks of the real killer, but to prove it without his client being raked over the coals appears
hopeless. And Flesh And Blood So Cheap is a fine private investigative tale that is superb when Joe
runs up against barriers while making tiny progress. When the case turns into a life and death thriller,
fans will appreciate Wayne D. Dundee's talent, but also feel that a classic style open and shut
mystery hit a detour. Joe is fun as he is hard-boiled yet salivates over the women involved in his
investigation. Though probably difficult to find, genre fans will want to seek out other works by Mr.
Dundee.
Doomed To Repeat
D.G.K. Goldberg
Design Image
ISBN: 1891946129 $15.95
In Charlotte, North Carolina Layla MacDonald hates her job as a receptionist clerk and also
struggles with her personal relationships, recently breaking up with her boyfriend after he hit her.
She cannot turn to her murdered mother killed by her lover's angry wife fourteen years ago or her
drunk of a father. Her only solace lies with her best friend Matt who is more like a younger brother
than a friend and the two Jasons. Over the years Layla has sensed her mother as if she was near by,
but has always written that off as wishful thinking. However, this time she does not just sense an
otherworldly essence but she sees the ghost of Ian MacGregor is in her room. Ian insists he has
"lived" three centuries looking for vengeance, but feels an obligation to keep his stunned hostess
safe. Suddenly, death surrounds Layla because Ian, using eighteenth century logic and ire, begins
eliminating anyone who causes harm to her, which makes her the police's prime suspect. Though
Doomed To Repeat takes a bit too long to accelerate, once the story line shifts into a supernatural
gothic crime thriller, the plot becomes worth the wait as it never slows down until the final climax.
Much of the book provides insight into Layla's character and what has environmentally nurtured it.
The first half of the plot also hints at the motives of other players but mostly through their
interaction and behavior towards the lead protagonist or filtered by Layla including Ian who yields
an anachronistic brand of justice. Fans of a character driven otherworldly crime drama will want to
read D.G.K. Goldberg's strange chiller.
The Big Switch
Jack Bludis
Design Image
ISBN: 1891946102 $15.95
In 1951 Los Angeles, Charlotte Randolph hires private investigator Brian Kane to tail her movie star
spouse Lester so she can learn the names of the wannabes he sleeps with. Brian discovers that Lester
uses Noni Light, Lydia Lane, and Gloria Hastings to fill his evenings. The sleuth goes to his client's
Beverly Hills' home to present his findings, but Charlotte denies hiring him. On closer inspection he
realizes that someone similar looking used her identity to hire him two weeks ago. Not long
afterward the "not" Charlotte visits Brian's apartment. She demands the report pulling a gun on the
sleuth. Brian easily disarms his client before giving her the report, but keeps the gun. The next day
LAPD Detective Kansas Michaels informs him that someone shot and killed Noni and he is a suspect
because everyone knows he followed her. Brian says nothing. Afterward he looks for the gun, but it
is gone. Thinking back to yesterday, he realizes his client wore gloves while his fingerprints are on
the weapon. The first Kane Hollywood noir is an exciting tale that fans of 1950 hard-boiled
mysteries will appreciate. Brian is a fabulous throwback to tales like The Big Sleep and his
relationship with appointment queen Kitty Chaney is unique and fascinating. The clever twist that
propels Brian to make inquiries before Kansas locks him up is the first gamut in a strong
who-done-it. Strongly recommend this novel and the sequel The Deal Killer that was so much fun it
actually led this reviewer to this book.
The Prince Of The Wind
Charlotte Boyett-Compo
Amber Quill
ISBN: 1592799949 $14.49
In 1533 (on an alternate earth), Hesar kidnapped the youngest Prince of Chalea Riain Cree. He frees
himself only to be captured by the Northwinds aristocracy. When Prince de Vienes learns the
identity of his prisoner, he quickly realizes that their enemy's enemy is their friend as they fight Hesar
and do not need to alienate the powerful Cree dynasty. Riain wants to go home, but suffers
debilitating and potentially deadly Labyrinthian Fever, de Vienes's daughter Suzanna is the healer,
but she has her own evil agenda involving her ailing patient. Only his mother, a member of the
Multitude, understands the threat Suzanna poses to her son and enters the Shadowlands seeking help
from the Oracle. Fantasy readers will gain immense pleasure from the deeply vivid complex Prince
Of The Winds. The hero struggles with overcoming his illness and evil to do the right thing. Suzanna
is quite the character spinning a dark web throughout the taut story line so that the audience receives
a terse thriller inside a fantasy realm. Charlotte Boyett-Compo shows her tale spinning abilities to
paint a unique world with this fresh but darker than usual (at least from this wonderful author) epic
fantasy that will send readers to the four corners seeking the tremendous "Wind" novels.
Come The Night
Angelique Armae
Amber Quill
ISBN: 159279999X, $13.49
In 476 Ad near Rome, the desperate widow Octavia introduces her half-breed son Lazerus to his
grandfather Romulus the Vampyre. She wants her sire to save his grandson's life for if he refuses
Lazerus will join his father a fallen angel in death or become a demon. Reluctantly as he had not
done with his mortal daughter, Romulus agrees to convert Lazerus to a life as an undead under the
stipulation that he change Octavia too so she can teach him the way of the Nazarene as he has
followed. With an heir, a weary Romulus can enter the sun. In 1095 Ireland Lazerus is married to a
tracker Neomina, keeper of sacred holy icons. Lazerus leads his vampyric New Breed, but he knows
the prophecy is coming that his grandfather explained to his mother five centuries ago. The demons
that destroyed Rome are back to finish the job with the only hope for Lazerus and his tribe to
survive let alone win is his wife, but she remains unaware of her power. Come The Night is a
delightful paranormal romantic thriller that will give immense pleasure to fans of horror, romance,
and suspense. Historical tidbits and religious elements enhance the exciting story line. The cast is
deep and the key members so developed that angels, vampyres, trackers, and demons seem almost
everyday normal though the adventures are not. Angelique Armae provides a powerful vampyric
romance that will fully entertain across the genres.
McNamara's Ghost
Angelique Armae
Amber Quill
ISBN: 1592790682, $TBA
In 1778 Northkill, New York, Warlock Alex Caldwell plans to kill his half-brother the High Witch
Hugh McNamara. The dark Alex has always detested his magical opposite the light Hugh, but
mostly does not want a rival for the ownership of the sacred Irish Ogham powers obtained only from
a blessing from a daughter of Danu. Hugh dies believing his cherished fairy witch, a Danu daughter,
Julia betrayed their love when Alex gained ownership of the ancient powers. For the first time in
over two centuries Julia Moss returns to McNamara's Tavern in Northkill. Her return awakens a
slumbering but not dead Hugh, who seeks vengeance against the unfaithful Julia. Since the debacle
that cost the life of her beloved, Julia avoids magic, but now senses Hugh's ghost. She obtains help
from Alex's son Samuel, who is more the embodiment of Hugh in temperament. She prays that
together they can bring her loved one fully back to her. However, Julia's presence has also woke up
Alex, leading to a rematch between good vs. evil. McNamara's Ghost is a refreshing enjoyable
paranormal romance that focuses on the eternal battle of good vs. evil with love buttressing the side
of the light. The story line is action packed from its eighteenth century opening scene until the final
modern day confrontation. Though Alex and Hugh are written perhaps too extreme in nature
especially in light of the villain having no redeeming qualities, the characters are fun to observe as
the duel of magic shapes into its latest battle so that readers receive immense pleasure from this
tale.
Tell Me You Love Me
Kayla Perrin
Harper Torch
ISBN: 0060503505 $6.50
In Miami, Florida, someone touches personal trainer Tyanna Calhoun in the parking lot of the gym
she is employed by. Tyanna reacts by beating up her alleged culprit until she realizes the man lying at
her feet is her former boyfriend Sheldon Ford. About a year ago, Sheldon vanished without a word
when Tyanna thought she finally had found the love of her life. He tries to explain but she tells him
to go write a novel, as his claim is way out. However, Tyanna follows up on Sheldon insisting that a
former acquaintance at a different gym where he and she met had mob ties and wanted him dead for
snooping. Sheldon believes that the now deceased Dino Benedetto killed his brother while dealing in
illegal steroids. With Dino dead, Sheldon wants a second chance as he insists he ran to keep her and
his mother safe. When bad things happen to Tyanna and Sheldon while they fall in love all over
again, he wants to run again, but this time his beloved serves as the bait. Tell Me You Love Me is an
exciting romantic suspense that is at its best when Sheldon pleads his case. The story line is loaded
with a wide gamut of emotions including remorse and regret, and a charming secondary duet
enhancing the romantic elements. A subplot involving Dino's cousin provides action, intrigue, and a
personal dilemma, but also takes the reader away from the key theme of trust. Fans still will
appreciate this well written exhilarating tale starring two delightful lead protagonists.
Ties That Bind
Phillip Margolin
HarperCollins
ISBN 0060083247 $25.95
Life is not easy for New Mexico defense attorney Amanda Jaffe since she almost was killed while
being used as bait in a series of murders committed by a surgeon in St. Francis Medical Center. It's
been more than a year and she is still suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder complete with
flashbacks, spotty sleep and intense flashbacks. The last thing she wants to do is take on a murder
one case but no other lawyer in New Mexico will touch it. Jon Dupree, the owner of a high priced
escort service, which is a cover for prostitution, is alleged to have killed United States Senator
Harold Travis and his defense attorney in a closed door conference room at the jail. A guard
witnessed the murder but Amanda isn't convinced because it is her client who has defense wounds
and claims his attorney was trying to kill him. As Amanda gets closer to figuring out who was
behind the two deaths, the co-conspirators decide that the only way to stop her is to kill her. The
feisty attorney has reservoirs of strength that she is not aware of and a healthy sense of
self-preservation. Phillip Margolin is one of the leading crime thrillers writers with all his books
turning into New York Times bestsellers and this reviewer is certain, that Ties That Bind will be
number eight. There is a series of interconnecting plots that seamlessly flows into the main story line.
Crossing the lines is the delightful courageous Amanda leading to the reader having a lot of fun
trying to discover how they connect.
Phantom Feast
Diana Barron
Barclay
ISBN 1931402213 $15.95
Ten years ago Erin rescued Mickey a dwarf from four punks. They moved in together. Five years
later, Mickey met a weeping dwarf Isolde and invited her to move in as their cook. A third dwarf
Beau joined the family later on. Then there are the midget twins, Patrick and Sarah, Erin's older
siblings to round out the family living in a former circus wagon turned into a cottage in Hester, New
York. Erin is the income maker bringing in cash through phone sex with her clients. Erin finds the
circus canvasses that adorn the walls of the cottage quite magical especially when she dreams of
escaping the bondage of her now bed ridden body. When she sleeps, Erin's spirit joins the canvas
animals roaming Hester as predators in search of human prey. Erin has no problem with the hunt.
When she was fifteen, she overpowered and drowned her parents with no remorse as her father
sexually abused her. Now apparent innocents are dying leaving behind mutilated bodies. Witnesses
insist nothing was there hat could have caused the mangling of a person in front of them. Phantom
Feast is a supernatural thriller that starts slowly allowing the audience to distinguish the varying
individual personalities of the family members especially the individual psychological longings
(though the twins are not quite as delineated). Once the background and individualism is established,
the compelling plot turns into paranormal mode at very rapid speed especially when the spirits of the
canvassed animals and Erin begin their nocturnal killing spree. Diana Barron provides horror fans
with an exciting psychological and supernatural thriller.
Off Pace
Brittan Barclay
Barclay
ISBN 1931402043 $15.95
In 1986 Clearwater, Florida, Metralink pacemaker representative Garrett Cameron offers a job to
cardiac care unit nurse Meagan Kramer. Though she once dreamed of medical school, financial
independence is more important and this position will give her monetary and medical freedom so
Meagan accepts the job. Though her work with doctors and patients is quite fulfilling, the position
turns ugly as Garrett steals her clients and calls her a whore in public. Meagan quits. Meagan quickly
scores a job with Metralink competitor Biostride. She does quite well in spite of the trouble Garrett
causes her such as suing her. Over the years other problems occur that are life threatening. Meagan
notices a pattern in which several members of the pacemaker community has died. Knowing
Garrett's venom, she wonders whether he is capable of something more sinister, but no one believes
her. As attempts on her life increase, Meagan knows she must uncover the truth, but seek it alone.
The medical business that serves as the underlying pillar to this exciting thriller is simply fascinating
and enhances the plot as Brittan Barclay (perfect publisher for this author) interweaves the
unscrupulous competitiveness that by passes ethics of the profession. The story line is very exciting
and is a one siting read. Still the twist of a possible serial killer adds tension, but feels unnecessary as
Meagan's story, including the attempts on her life, grip the audience who wonder if it is a jealous
rival. Meagan is a great character and the secondary cast provides depth to the cardiac industry and
to her. Though Garrett seems too crazy, fans will take vast pleasure from reading Brittan Barclay's
on pace enthralling thriller.
Time Stand Still
John Misak
Barclay
ISBN 1931402183 $15.95
Ohio private investigator Mike Holmes offers his New York City friend and colleague Darren
Camponi some easy work. A university hired Mike who subcontracted to Darren to locate a former
employee Jason Caufield who the school claims stole intellectual property. Darren knows the mark
as he went to Merrick High School with him. Though wary of cases that seem too easy like this one
in which he only has to report the locale of Caufield, Darren begins his investigation only to quickly
learn that the college is not the only bureaucracy interested in the missing Jason. The FBI wants to
find him too and they pressure Darren to drop his search. However being a native Long Islander,
Camponi refuses to quit at any costs. Still when he finds Jason, he learns the intellectual property is a
time machine that needs testing, but will the beleaguered Darren be willing to serve as guinea pig?
John Misak provides fans with an amusing exhilarating hard-boiled private investigative tale that is
fun to read because of the hard case mentality of the lead protagonist. Darren fills the plot with zest
as he struggles with the Feds, the university, and even NYPD to complete his mission. Though the
minor dab of science fiction seems out of place within this wild ride, Mr. Misak somehow
effortlessly switches the genre so that the audience like Darren half believe that Jason has invented
what he claims. Perhaps the only error in Time Stand Still is that Manhattan has no 43rd Avenue.
This is a terrific detective tale worth reading.
Accidents Waiting To Happen
Simon Wood
Barclay
ISBN 1931402302 $15.95
While driving on an isolated bridge overlooking the Sacramento River, a guy in an SUV runs Josh
Michaels off the road. Luck saves him when fishermen rescue him. The police believe a random
encounter with a psycho or road rage occurred, but Josh thinks otherwise as the culprit watched
with his thumb pointing down as Michael almost drowned. Josh's former secretary Bell wants silence
money from him. Besides the affair they shared, she knows how her former boss received
construction kickbacks though he used the money to pay his daughter's medical bills. Though he has
two dilemmas, he is most immediately concerned immediately with several other attempts to kill
him, people he knows being murdered, and ultimately other fatal "accidents" happening around the
country. If he can rid himself of that monkey than Josh realizes that Bell will never be satisfied so he
must deal with her next. Though the two story lines that make up Josh's dilemma ultimately come
together, they also conflict for much of the story line for lead plot. Still Accidents Waiting To
Happen is a non-stop action thriller that uses out of control viatical settlements to spin quite a
thriller. Josh is a tremendous protagonist knowing he made two wrongs already that could cost him
all he cherishes, but is most worried about the perilous threat he caused to his beloved wife and
daughter by those want him dead. Simon Woods will keep the suspense thriller crowd up late
reading this one sitting chiller.
Psyclone
Roger Sharp
Barclay
ISBN 1931402019 $14.95
Research geneticist David Brooks envisions a whole new world with the progress being made in
cloning. Like his colleagues he sees possibilities with organ regeneration, but unlike most of his
peers fearing harvesting of humans, David pictures re-creations of Einstein or better yet his twin
Daryl, abducted two decades ago ant not seen since. Thus, David hides his recent advancements
even with big brother watching him. However, once successful, practical questions arise as to what
to do with Daryl and philosophical-religious issues are brought up as to whether the cloned
individual is human or even contains a soul. If not, what will fill the conscience of a vacuous corpse
that looks human? David will learn the answer as the spirit world hates a vacuum and something
deadly has filled that void. Feeling responsible, David must stop the murders of the innocent.
Readers of cutting edge suspense medical thrillers will appreciate Psyclone, a fast-paced cautionary
tale that modernizes Shelly's Frankenstein (the book, not the movies). Though doubtful that David
could achieve so much so fast in secret with only one colleague somewhat involved and a team
watching every step, readers will understand his obsessive needs. Still the key to this sharp story is
the ethical questions that are raised that demand society open the debate now and not allow one
person (political, religious, or scientific) to determine morality paths.
After Midnight
Merline Lovelace
Onyx
ISBN: 0451410726 $6.99
Though she would prefer to avoid this duty near her hometown, Air Force Lieutenant Colonel
Jessica Blackwell accepts the assignment at Eglin. To Jessica her childhood home Valpariso, Florida
is near Eglin, but her memory is of a tragedy from a quarter of a century ago when her mother was
assaulted. Still she salutes when a three star General selected Jessica to clean up the environmental
nightmare at the base in order to satisfy EPA after an illegal dumping into the sewerage system.
Walton County Sheriff Steve Paxton visits Jessica to ask her about her relationship with local realtor
Ron Clark, who apparently committed suicide. His wife who found the body says his last words she
heard was his mentioning Blackwell. Jessica informs the law enforcement official she met Clark once
to pick up the keys to this home. Other murders follow with the link between the dead being what
happened to Jessica's mother, making Steve wonder if he has fallen in love with a vengeful killer.
The Commander in Chief of military romantic suspense is Merline Lovelace. Her latest tale, After
Midnight, would gain her the US Senate's consent as the sub-genre leader. The key characters are
three-dimensional whether they are Air Force or civilian while the support players either provides
insight into the area, the military, or the lead couple. The who-done-it is a delightful police
procedural as Steve battles between his heart swearing Jessica is innocent and his brain saying she is
the connection. Another five star novel by an author whose books always soar with the best.
Bed Of Lies
Teresa Hill
Onyx
ISBN: 0451410874 $6.99
In Memphis, engaged couple Julie Morrison and Steve Land go to the fanciest restaurant in town
accompanied by his parents. To her chagrin, a blast from the past, attorney Zach McRae is also
there. Zach is in town defending a teen in a capital punishment case. Zach asks Julie where she has
been for the last eight years and realizes she has lied to her fianc‚ about her background hiding that
she fled Baxter, Ohio and an ugly family situation. Zach informs Julie that her mother and stepfather
are going to be arrested for stealing money leaving her half-brother thirteen years old Peter in
trouble. When Zach becomes despondent over losing his case, Julie offers solace, but that soon turns
into lovemaking. Julie breaks off her engagement and returns to her hometown to care for her
disturbed sibling. Zach also comes home to regain his equilibrium following the harrowing trial and
to deal with his biological father who murdered his mother having been freed from prison. Though
neither wants this, Zach and Julie fall in love, but the baggage each carry may prove to powerful for
a lasting relationship. The two lead protagonists and his adopted family keep this engaging
somewhat maudlin contemporary romance crisply moving forward. Zach is a dedicated individual
who displays how emotional draining a capital punishment case can be on a lawyer. To escape her
past, Julie builds a house of cards that collapses rather quickly. This angst-laden duo is bad for each
other except Teresa Hill demonstrates that love can overcome many negatives if the individuals
make the effort as this pair does.
Charming The Highlander
Janet Chapman
Pocket Books
ISBN: 0743453069 $6.99
In 1200 AD during a clan battle in the Scottish Highlands, a wizard casts a spell that sends several
MacBain and MacKeage warriors into the twenty-first century. The ten time travelers include the
MacKeage brothers Greylen and Morgan. A pregnant Mary Sutter fled her lover Michael MacBain
when he insisted he was born in 1171. She stays with her sister Grace in Norfolk before deciding to
return to her beloved Michael. Instead she dies in a car accident. She gives birth to a son, makes
Grace promise to take the child to Michael, and asks for her ashes to be spread in Maine. Rocket
scientist Grace receives a sabbatical to complete her sister's dying wishes. Flying over Maine with
one other passenger besides herself and her nephew, the plane crashes killing the pilot. The other
flier Greylen keeps Grace, who he recognizes as his soul mate, and the baby alive by using all he
learned in the highlands almost a millennium ago in real time, but not too long ago in his biological
time. This engaging time travel romance occurs after the displaced Highlanders have some time to
adapt to their new environs. Still the audience observes the discomfit of Greylen when he flies on the
commuter plane as this goes against all he knows (if God wants man to fly he would have given him
wings attitude). It is this type of detail to the feelings especially of the lead couple that turns this into
a delightful tale.
The Man I Should Have Married
Pamela Redmond Satran
Downtown/Pocket Books
ISBN: 0743463544 $12.00
As her neat suburban world crumbles Kennedy Smith dreams of her carefree days in Lower
Manhattan before she married and became responsible, dependable, practical. Her marriage is over
as her husband of ten years has met a much younger surfer. They had one child together five year
old Amanda. Her oldest daughter teenage Maya (from her first relationship) is rebelling and wants to
meet her biological father, Marco Rivera. With no hope for alimony since her ex-husband gave up
law for yoga, Kennedy seeks the last man she ever had a one-night fling with, her former boss at a
lower Manhattan bar, Declan McGlynn. She finds the bar and sees Dec still tending it. She explains
she left him because she did not want to be his babe of the month so instead married Frank. Dec
informs her she would not have been a one nighter because he loved her. As they get reacquainted
with one another, they realize they love one another, but she believes he is incapable of committing
so sometime soon she will have to end this relationship. The Man I Should Have Married is an
enjoyable relationship romp that centers mostly on Kennedy. The super lead protagonist has woes
that would trample anyone, but she stoically deals with all of them as best as she can. Her ex
husband makes no sense even with his mid age crisis and Maya is too cute in a nastily teenage way.
The delightful Kennedy is the center that holds the plot together hooking readers to root for her to
make it preferably with December.
Paper Mage
Leah R. Cutter
Roc
ISBN 0451459172 $6.50
During the Tang Dynasty in the city of Bao Fang, a young girl loses her father and brothers in an
accident at sea forcing the female survivors (she, her sisters and her mother), to live with their Aunt
Wang Tie Tie. In an age when women are subordinate to men, Wang Tie Tie is an independent
person who runs her own household and businesses. She sends her niece Xiao Yen to school to learn
to be a Paper Mage, one who folds paper into shapes and bring them to life. Xiao Yen promises her
aunt that she will do daring deeds to attract the attention of the god Zhang so he will give her a
peach to give to her an aunt so she too will become immortal. On her very first job, guiding two men
to a predetermined destination, she slays a dragon, frees a goddess from a tyrant's spell, and kills an
evil dictator. Slaying someone forces Xiao Yen to decide whether she wants to be a traditional
Middle Kingdom woman or an independent person. It is very obvious that the author researched
Ancient Chinese culture and history during the time of Charlemagne in Europe so that readers obtain
a very visual picture of the country. The heroine is an interesting mix of independence and
dependency on her family. When she grows into being a mage, she does so knowing what many of
the ramifications will be. Leah R. Cutter has written a cutting edge historical fantasy balanced
between plenty of action, strong visualization of Ancient China, and deep introspective pondering on
the part of a delightful protagonist.
The Bastard King
Dan Chernenko
Roc
ISBN 0451459148 $14.95
In the Kingdom of Avornis, King Mergus took a seventh wife when his concubine gave birth to his
son and heir, an action that was illegal since a monarch is only allowed six spouses. When Lanius is
still a young child, his father dies and his uncle declares himself the ruler with nobody contesting his
right to the throne. When he dies, Lanius is still too young and a regent is appointed to rule until the
true heir comes of age. The regent proves himself incapable of handling military matters and Lanius'
mother takes over. The kingdom is under siege by the Chernagors in the North and the Menteshe in
the south. The Menteshe worship the Banished One who was thrown out of the heavens centuries
ago. Navy Commodore Grus is chosen as the king's protector and one of his first acts is exiling the
Regent and declaring himself co-king along side Lanius. The youngster realizes that he is only a
figurehead as Grus holds all the power, but the two kings, after a long struggle find they must put
aside their differences if they hope to vanquish the Banished One. Dan Chernenko has created a
world so believable and different than our own, a place where magic exists and gods roam the
planet, that readers will find themselves finishing the book in one sitting. The author is a gifted
storyteller who makes the audience care about the characters even when they prove they are not
perfect. This novel's quality will be very hard for the sequel to The Bastard King to match, but
readers will anxiously wait to find out how the two kings deal with their mutual enemy.
Shadow Of The Storm
Kurt R.A. Giambastiani
Roc
ISBN: 0451459164 $6.99
On an alternate earth in which the white man tried to settle the Great Plains, the Cheyenne aligned
itself with other tribes and formed an Alliance that was able to halt the settling of their lands by the
people who wanted to escape the crowded cities of the East. President George Custer, who was not
defeated at Little Big Horn, is determined to make the territory part of the United States. His son
George Jr. has made a life for himself with the Cheyenne and is determined to stop his father.
Through a curious series of events the Spanish ambassador from New Spain (California) washes up
on shore near the Cheyenne encampment. When he is nursed back to health he persuades the
Cheyenne to align themselves with his government so he can act as a liaison between the Alliance
and the United States. After much debate they agree to travel to Washington to see if they can work
out a treaty that would settle the borders once and for all. They are making progress until a tragedy
occurs, one that sends George Jr. to prison and expels the Cheyenne from the country. Readers get a
glimpse into how the Cheyenne on this other world manage to hold the United States military at bay.
Readers will admire but feel sympathy for George Jr. who turned his back on his family and his
country because he couldn't condone genocide. He is a man with a foot in both worlds yet belongs in
neither and he is starting to realize that in Shadow Of The Storm. Kurt R. A. Giambastiani has
written another classic in his delightful alternate Americana series.
The Sword Of The Land
Noel-Anne Brennan
Ace Books
ISBN 0441010318 $6.99
In the land of the Saeditin, power and wealth are held through the matriarchal line with the head of
the kingdom, the Sae Ket, always a woman. At eight years of age the heir to the throne, Rilsin Sae
Becha sees her mother killed in a civil war that put a Saeket Melisin on the throne. The order went
out that the disposed Sae Becha was to be put to death but she was murdered by an assassin before
that order could be carried out. The new Saeket, Rilsin's cousin Sithli commutes the death sentence
of the child and they grow up in the palace together as best friends. Rilsin pledges her loyalty to
Sithli and becomes the first minister and leader of the army. Sithli is not a very good leader,
alienating the commoners and allowing her people to be sold as slaves to the south. The land calls to
Rilsin but if she answers that summons, she will plunge the country into another civil war and stands
to lose all she holds dear. The Sword Of The Land is a very entertaining fantasy featuring a heroine
it is impossible to dislike. She is loyal to her cousin who she truly loves and tries to turn a blind eye
to her excesses but she can't ignore the complaints of the people or her ties to the land. Court
intrigue and battle scenes are only a small part of this novel as the author focuses her attention on
the protagonist tugged in opposite directions by opposing forces demanding she choose between the
moral high ground or her cousin's desires.
Angelica
Sharon Shinn
Ace Books
ISBN 044101013X $23.95
On the world of Samaria, the angels live among mankind and mate with mortals whose children can
be either angel or mortal. They sing in prayer to their god Jovah and they have power to change the
weather or rain down medicine for the sick. The Archangel who in a few months will be Gaaron
guides all the angels. He goes to the oracle to request she ask the god who his bride should be and
she tells him it is Susannah, an Edori woman. Susannah loves the roaming life of the nomadic Edori
and she is understandably shocked when Gaaron sweeps down in the middle of the clan and tells her
their God expects her to marry him. She bows to Jovah's will and agrees to go to Gaaron's hold to
be his wife. She struggles to acclimate to her new environment especially when the world is in a
state of terror. Men from somewhere other than Samaria are randomly appearing and disappearing,
leaving destruction in their wake. Gaaron is so concerned about the people that he ignores Susannah
who is determined to force her angel to lean on her in times of trouble and learn to express what is in
his heart. Fans of Anne McCaffrey's Pern series are going to love Angelica, the fourth novel that
deals with the unique culture of Samaria. Readers will believe that this world where angels walk
alongside mortals really exists because the author goes into minute detail about its social and cultural
infrastructure. Sharon Shinn is a gifted storyteller who makes the readers believe Samaria exists
outside of the creative imagination of the author.
Night Train To Rangoon
Paul Rosner
iUniverse
ISBN: 0595165311 $11.95
In 1974 Burmese soldiers hijack Air France Flight 194 after it left Bombay. They want to land in
Rangoon, but fog forces them to go to Mogok. The military arrests internationally acclaimed
director Sarajini Rama for delivering two and a half million rubles to the revolutionaries as a courier.
Since the plane is too big to lift off from Mogok, the plan for the other hostages is to escort their
"guests" by train to Rangoon where everyone will board a plane and continue on to their
destinations. When Sarajini tries to escape, the soldiers open fire and kill him. However, the bullet
that murdered Sarajini did not go through his back, which is where the soldiers were aiming. Instead,
it came through his chest meaning one of the guests killed the movie great. Could it be the two
elderly odd Minnesota women or the Russian? Or perhaps the hippie couple? The teen movie star,
her mother, her lover, or the diplomat? The Burmese do not care though they wonder where the
stash is. Fans of an exciting historical Asian who-done-it will fully relish the Night Train To
Rangoon. Paul Rosner takes his time developing the key cast members in this ensemble tale
(reminiscent of Christie), but once the dysfunctional and loving relationships are established, the
story line goes into hyperspeed. Readers will enjoy this engaging political crime thriller.
The Legacy Tree
Rida Allen
Writers Club
ISBN 0595247792 $12.95
Robyn Douglass and Erik Richards have been best friends for years having met as preteens during
family camping trips. However, the duo has not seen one another in an eternity (five years to be
exact) though they remain close via email and telephone and are only three driving hours apart. On
Robyn's twenty-fifth birthday, Erik asks her to join him on a camping trip like they used to do
together in the old days. Erik desires the full figured Robyn and believes he loves her with all his
heart, but because she shows no sign of sexual interest in him, he hides his feelings. He does not
want to ruin their friendship or hurt his best buddy. Robyn feels the same way about Erik including
hiding her heart's greatest desire from the man she has loved since she was a preadolescent. What
will happen when they share a tent as insecurities and fears so far have kept this couple from
revealing how much they love one another? The Legacy Tree is a charming contemporary romance
focusing on two buddies learning that opening up to one another requires risk but the awards are
incredible. In some ways, this is an old fashion romance as two delightful lead protagonists with
flaws and insecurities are already in love, but fear rejection from the person who means the most to
them. Rida Allen stays with her prime theme from start to finish so those fans of an innocent
somewhat heated tale of love will enjoy cuddling with the lead couple.
The Wizard's Wife
Becky Gauger
1st Books Library
ISBN: 0759644381 $19.95
The Wasting Disease took away her father so since she alone in he world, Marela is happy to cross
the Scar with her adopted uncle Shap and other travelers. However, one morning she awakens to
find that she is alone with not one iota of proof that anyone ventured there with her. Marela feels
fortunate to eventually escape the Scar, but exits near Grendelire Keep, where the wizard AErin
resides by himself during the cold winter. He takes her in and she feels gratitude towards the elderly
wizard. As she begins to fall in love with her kind host, Marela realizes he is more her age. He loves
her too so they marry and she accompanies him on his annual pilgrimage to see his friends even
while they try to learn the fate of Shap and his party. However, besides other dangers, an evil foe
abducts Marela; AErin willingly risks his life to insure she is safe. The Wizard's Wife is an endearing
fantasy romance in which the reader will want the lead protagonists to fall in love with one another.
Marela is a delightful heroine; shy yet talented, until love turns her into a butterfly. AErin may be a
wizard but in many ways he acts more like an applied researcher treating wizardry more like a
branch of physics. Even with plenty of action and adventure, the key to this warm tale is his euphoria
when he performs a magic trick that provides joy to his beloved. Simplistic yet cherished is Becky
Gauger's fine tale.
Murder In The Bastille
Cara Black
Soho
ISBN: 1569473242 $23.00
In 1994 Paris, private investigator Aimee Leduc meets with client Vincent Csarda to try to convince
him to hand over his hard drive to the Judiciare who are investigating a gunrunning firm that had
dealings with his company. Vincent refuses and walks out of the restaurant. Aimee notices a cell
phone left by another patron. She picks it up to return it when a call comes through. She answers the
phone, but before she can say anything, a man pleads with the owner to meet him at a nearby alley.
Being a Good Samaritan, Aimee goes there to give the man the phone only to be assaulted. She ends
up in a hospital blind. The police believe that the serial killing Beast of Bastille tried to murder
Aimee, but she knows better especially with a victim in the next alley who happened to own the cell
phone. Unable to see, Aimee relies on her computer genius partner, four-foot Rene Friant as her
eyes. The pair work together on the two cases. Desperately trying to persuade Vincent to cooperate
hits one stone wall after another. Seeking her assailant is dangerous whether she waits for the man
to finish the job or goes after him. The key to the delightful Leduc mysteries is Paris as the added
slight touches of French culture makes the tour feel more authentic leading the non-French audience
to believe they need a passport. On top of the city lights (and dark spots) readers obtain a strong
who-done-it while Aimee adapts to the loss of sight. Though much of the villainy seems old
chapeau, Aimee and her partner make for a wonderful investigative tale.
Restless Spirit
S.D. Tooley
Full Moon
ISBN: 0966602161 $22.95
On maternity leave, Detective Sergeant Samantha Casey wanders a construction site when she hears
a dying female voice with no one but the male foreman in the area. She picks up a button and sees a
vision as if a murder mystery is playing on the TV. After consulting with her mother, the only person
who believes in her psychic abilities, Sam begins checking the files of her detective husband for
brutal fatal stabbing cases in the Briar Woods area of Chasen heights. Sam's research leads her to
Jimmy Taggert. The convicted murderer sits on death row awaiting state execution for the 1985
brutal murder of Catherine DeMarco. The evidence is so powerful that he has to be the killer yet
Sam's psychic abilities say otherwise. Unable to rest, Sam visits retired detective Paul Goddard, who
led the DeMarco murder investigation seventeen years ago. Paul is an alcoholic struggling with
personal problems, but informs Sam that he always felt, but could not prove, that Taggert was too
perfect. Reluctantly, Paul agrees to work with Sam though he is very skeptical about her psychic
powers but knows this might help ease his conscience. Restless Spirit is an entertaining paranormal
investigative tale due to the lead character (see When The Dead Speak for Sam's first appearance).
The story line is cleverly designed so that readers obtain a taste of the negative reactions of the
secondary characters including the victim's family, the heroine's husband, and even her temporary
partner to Sam's "intrusive" sleuthing. Though Paul's baggage drags, fans will gain extensive
satisfaction from S.D. Tooley's tale that reads like Marge Gunderson (Fargo) having psychic
abilities.
Fashionistas
Lynn Messina
Red Dress
ISBN: 0373250258 $12.95
For five years Vig Morgan has worked on Fashionistas, a magazine devoted to telling readers
nothing about celebrity fashion. Vig survived a maniac boss and is now an associate editor in a pool
of killer sharks also known as peers. A new Editor in Chief Marguerite with a zillion other names
lifted from her ex spouses Holland takes charge. Ruthless Jane McNeil is irate because she felt the
job should have been hers. Other associates want Vig to be the point of the revolution because
publisher Alex Keller owes her for what she did for his sister. Business life could not prove more
meaningful for Vig as her work proves Seinfeld had purpose. Fashionistas is an amusing insider's
skewing of the publishing industry. The story line is humorous and at times very satirical especially
when the heroine provides vigor to the tale. Vig is a delightful character while the support cast will
leave the audience shaking their heads. Lynn Messina delightful moves Office Space from a financial
realm to the publishing world with the same jabbing shots that will mean the author needs to succeed
as a novelist because retreat rights across the bridge seem nuked.
Murder In Hell's Kitchen
Lee Harris
Fawcett
ISBN 0449007340 $6.99
After almost twenty years in the New York City Police Department, Detective Jane Bauer is near
retirement and ready to start a cushy job in an insurance company. Her last three months will be
spent on the newly formed cold case task force. She is assigned the case of Arlan Quill, who was
killed in the entranceway of his apartment building. When she goes to talk to some of Quill's
neighbor, she learns that every tenant who lived in the building while Quill resided there is gone.
Nobody leaves a rent-controlled apartment in Manhattan and further investigation shows that all the
former tenants except one are dead and circumstances taken as a whole make it look like wholesale
contract killings. Jane traces the last tenant to Omaha where she learns that he is scared for his life.
Shortly afterward, he is beaten with in an inch of his life, which means there is a mole in the
department who had Jane followed to her witness. When Jane returns home, she traces the killer to
one of his lairs and almost loses her life in the process. Lee Bennett, the author of the cozy Christine
Bennett mysteries, has written an exciting, stimulating gritty urban noir police procedural that
displays the wide range of the author's talent. The heroine is a three dimensional character whose
personal life shows she is a caring person while as a cop she is a dedicated pro who goes all out even
with her career winding down. The plot is fast paced with never a dull moment but the heart of
Murder In Hell's Kitchen are the men and women in blue who risk their lives to keep the streets
safe.
Scavenger Hunt
Robert Ferrigno
Pantheon
ISBN: 0375421734 $24.95
Reporter Jimmy Gage works the Hollywood beat for SLAP magazine, a "tabloid" known for trying
to live up to its name. Jimmy interviews Garrett Walsh upon the release of the Oscar-winning
director from prison after spending seven years incarcerated for the grim murder of a teenage
actress. The most interesting point in the exchange occurs when Walsh, still insisting he is innocent,
informs the journalist that he has written the screenplay for a movie about the real incident. Cynical
Jimmy assumes that either Garret is in denial or like every other convict just says he is innocent until
someone murders Walsh and his screenplay "The Fall Guy" turns up missing. Unable to resist a
follow-up story, Jimmy cynically works the underside of the movie industry compelled to learn the
truth that he begins to believe never surfaced in the injustice of a courtroom. Scavenger Hunt is a
Hollywood noir those sub-genre fans will appreciate because of the deep nature of the key players.
For instance, the antihero is sort of a modern Sam Spade combining deep-rooted cynicism with a
strong moral fiber. The support cast such as his unsure "partner" and a kick butt policewoman
provides depth to understanding Jimmy. Ironically the readers will know who did what before the
reporter solves the two deaths, but the audience will fully relish the engaging return of this
protagonist (see Flinch).
March To The Stars
David Weber and John Ringo
Baen
ISBN: 0743435621 $26.00
The diplomatic mission assigned to Prince Roger was more to get rid of him for awhile than any real
need except palace relief as the royals including his mother the Empress are tired of his boorish
spoiled behavior. One thousand rugged Marines accompany Roger on his meaningless mission, but
every one of these tough soldiers detests this royal pain in the butt. The assignment goes wrong and
Roger and his troops become stuck on Marduk, a hostile planet. Over the next year or so, Roger
leads his Marines and loyal Mardukans in a deadly march to reach the only spaceport held by the
enemy. During the dangerous crossing that costs the lives of 100 men, Roger feels every death
personally and turns into a strong military leader whose supporters are as loyal to him as any person
can expect. However, whether he manages to lead the way off-planet still remains to be proven
because he learns that there is more to this disaster than just what resides on Marduk. March To The
Sea is a powerful military science fiction novel that works on several levels as Roger turns from a
hedonistic rotter into a strong leader. The story line is action packed as the land and ocean of
Marduk seems real and in turn provides an authenticity to the adventures of the outsiders. Still it is
Roger whose metamorphose against an antagonistic backdrop makes the latest outer space thriller
from David Weber and John Ringo into must reading for sub-genre fans.
The Battle Of Evernight
Cecilia Dart-Thornton
Aspect
ISBN: 0446528072 $24.95
After facing much adversity, Tahquil's memory and her looks are restored to her so she starts a
quest, accompanied by two faithful friends, to locate the Gate of Oblivion's Kiss. If she can find it
and open it, the Faeren who have been exiled on Erith can go home and take their hatred of mortals
with them. Tahquil knows that Prince Morragan of the magical Realm is looking for her and she
does her best to disguise her looks. The trio travels to Arcdur but their journey isn't easy because
they pass through lands inhabited by the unsealie who wish all mortals harm. Magical allies assist
them, but eventually Morragan catches her and tries to force her to remember where the gate is
located so he can return home and exile his brother the High King Angavar forever. Angavar learns
what his brother is planning and comes to stop him. Tahquil recognizes him as Thorn, her true love.
The brothers clash and Angavar wins the battle, claiming Tahquil as his own. They were supposed to
have a happily ever after ending but tragedy strikes, separating the two lovers once again. The Battle
Of Evernight is a very satisfying conclusion to " The Bitterbynde Trilogy", an epic romantic fantasy
that will appeal to romance and fantasy lovers. The heroine is a very determined woman who is not
deterred from her quest despite the dangers and pitfalls she knows she will face. The romance
between mortal and Faeren rings true and when the lovers are reunited readers are happy for them.
It is hoped that the author will return the readers to Erith in future books because it is a fascinating
and magical place to visit.
Waterlily
Susanna Jones
Mysterious Press
ISBN 0892967765 $23.95
Runa Wong is a Japanese woman in her mid-twenties who teaches in a private high school English
to fifth year male students. She is having an affair with one of her pupils until she receives a letter
threatening her with death and accompanied by a photograph showing her and the student leaving a
love motel. Rather than face the consequences, Runa flees to Shanghai where she hopes to meet a
friend. Ralph is an Englishman who owns an art supply store, lives in Carlisle and owns a
four-bedroom house. He once had a Thai wife but it didn't work out and she disappeared. However
Ralph has not given up his quest for a docile Asian bride. He contacts an agency that specializes in
fixing up Japanese women with English or American males but the females want nothing to do with
him. He decides to see if an Internet woman in Shanghai would be acceptable to him as he takes the
ferry over there. He meets Runa, fixates on her, and decides to marry her until she reveals her true
colors. The explosive results turn tragic for both of them. Susanna Jones gives readers an interesting
insight into the cultural aspects of Japan as displays her talent as a fine storyteller. However neither
of her protagonists feels likable and consequently fails to engage reader's empathy. Readers will feel
that Ralph and Runa live too much inside their head and do not interact enough with other
characters including one another. The plot moves passively slow until the action occurs in the last
few pages.
Over His Dead Body
Leslie Glass
Ballantine
ISBN 0345447964 $23.99
Turning fifty hit Cassandra Sales hard especially since she has not been intimate with her husband in
years. When her spouse Mitch, an international power broker in the wine business is away overseas
on an extended buying trip, she undergoes plastic surgery. She hopes to be recovered by the time he
gets home but he returns early, takes one look at her and has a stroke. At the hospital, the doctor
doesn't hold out much hope because the tests show severe brain damage. Cassie doesn't have time to
worry about her husband because when she goes to check his private records she learns that he is
planning to divorce her and leave her penniless. The other woman is using her name and he has
bought her a house, a car and expensive jewelry. The business is being audited, she can't pay the
bills, and her accountant is in cahoots with the other woman. Some women might go crazy but
Cassie only wants to get her life back. Over His Dead Body is an exhilarating tale of a woman trying
to regain what she lost first through surgery and then via taking control of her life. The story line
centers on Cassie as she strips bare the fa‡ade of happiness to see the barracudas trying to eat her
alive. Readers will root for Cassie in her battles with the IRS, the other woman, and even her
accountant though probability is that she will fail. Leslie Glass delivers a delightful story due to a
strong cast especially the ordinary middle age woman starting her assent of a mountain of woes and
disappointments.
Lonesome Song
Elliot Light
Bancroft
ISBN: 1890862150 $19.95
The most famous person from the Lyle, Virginia area was Reilly Heartwood who sang under the
moniker of C.C. Hollinger, a legendary country music great. Recently Reilly committed suicide
though disbarred attorney Shep Harrington finds discrepancies on what he has learned about the
death of his mentor. He cannot understand why there was no autopsy, a relatively tiny medical
report, and no police investigation. He also struggles with the question "why now" when Reilly
finally promised to reveal a secret to him about Shep's father. Though burned by the justice system
when people perjured and accused him of criminal activity that led to three years of prison before he
was exonerated, Shep seeks the truth about Reilly for his own peace of mind and that of the sister of
the music superstar. Shockingly, Shep learns he is the prime heir to the multi-million dollar estate.
Even stranger is how several locals loathe Reilly to the point of denying him a Christian burial. As
Shep digs deeper he perilously places himself in the middle of a town divided and on the verge of
exploding. Fans of regional amateur sleuths will take pleasure from Elliot Light's affable
who-done-it. The story line combines sub-genre elements with recent historical tidbits such as Poor
Farms that make for a powerful background, which in turn enhances the key cast members,
especially the hero. The investigation is fun to follow because the evidence Shep finds conflicts
between cover-up and suicide making a culprit difficult to identify if one even exists. Lonesome
Song is a delightful tale that will lead the audience to pursue Shep's next mystery, Chain
Thinking.
Charming The Prince
Laura Wright
Silhouette Desire
ISBN: 0373764928 $4.25
Los Angeles Veterinarian, Dr. Francesca Charming travels to Llandaron, 100 miles from Cornwell,
to tend to the royal Wolfhound, Grand Dame Glindaron. In the stable on her first visit to see her
patient, she meets Prince Maxim, heir to the throne. They are immediately attracted to one another,
but she fails to see the humor in his ruse of pretending to be a commoner. Maxim's father places
pressure on his son to marry. To elude his father's demands, Maxim selects the least desirable
individual on the island, the outsider, Fran, believing that his sire would never condone marriage to
an American commoner. Though Fran knows she is unsuited to sit on the throne, she falls in love
with her Max. He reciprocates, but must decide between duty and love. Fans of contemporary regal
romances will enjoy Charming The Prince, an engaging "fiery" tale. The lead couple lives up to her
surname especially Max struggling between what he believes his country needs and what his heart
desires. More so than Shrek, Fran is not a believer as "love is only true in fairy tales" and romance
novels until she met Max. Readers will believe this novel contains the Wright stuff and look forward
to the romance of Max's sister.
Living Dead Man
Marc Bernier
Infinity
ISBN: 0741412020 $14.95
In 1969, Los Diablos, California residents are frightened by a serial killer whose female victims are
left with a shark's tooth "calling Card". A stoned surfer sees the "devil" slay his fourth victim leading
to Detective Frank Prince finding a knife with fingerprints at the crime scene. He arrests the owner,
Viet Nam veteran "Crazy" Joe Coop, who stays mute during his conviction trial. While on death
row, Coop snaps out of his daze after a priest visits him. He finds Jesus, but though he feels that
God forgave him, he has not forgiven himself even though he cannot remember killing anyone. State
psychologist Dr. Sarah Hart visits Joe at San Quentin and begins to doubt whether the deeply
religious caring person could be a killer. She hires a top gun lawyer who destroys the state's case on
appeal. Freed Joe and Sarah find solace in their love of each other and Jesus. They marry and raise a
family together in what is heaven on earth until a serpent returns to destroy his Eden, as now Sarah
believes her spouse is the Shark Tooth Killer. Living Dead Man is an exciting crime thriller that fans
of deeply religious tales will relish while other readers might find the Christian drum to insistent. The
story line inspires the audience as Crazy Joe makes his way out of a haze when he finds Jesus and
though not quite dynamic enough of a speaker to spread the word, he still brings others with him by
his attitude. The climax seems a bit contrived, but those readers who relish an inspiring mystery will
get the word from Marc Bernier's debut tale.
Along Came Jones
Linda Windsor
Multnomah Press
ISBN: 1590520327 $11.99
Deanna Manetti knows she is in deep trouble, but not how to get out of it. The mob thinks she has
something that belongs to them. The Great Falls police have overwhelming circumstantial evidence
that leads them to conclude she killed her lover-employer C.R. Majors. That is why Deanna is
driving on a Montana back road thinking how things could not get any worse when a sorrel comes
out of nowhere causing her to crash. The native New Yorker wonders why God has abandoned her
while ironically pondering fourteen years of driving in NYC without an accident and now alone, her
car is disabled. Rancher Shep Jones arrives and takes Deanna by horse to his spread, which is more
of a ghost town. Being a former US Marshal, Shep concludes that Deanna is on the run, but offers
her shelter anyway. As Shep and Deanna fall in love, he tries to learn the truth, but she fears trusting
anyone after what C.R. did to her heart and her life. However, the criminals and the Feds are closing
in on her and neither side cares what happens to Deanna. Only Shep and his partner want to keep
"Slick" safe. Though there are numerous religious elements included in this story line, Along Came
Jones is more of a romantic suspense thriller than an inspirational romance. The story line hooks the
audience from almost the beginning when a weary Deanna wonders what she ever did to be
abandoned and turns wary when Along Came Jones. Though his previous occupation seems too
convenient, readers will rate highly Linda Windsor's latest contemporary tale.
Master Of Castle Glen
Ana Seymour
Jove
ISBN: 0515134902 $5.99
In 1885, New York based businessman Duncan Campbell travels to remote Glencoly in the Scottish
Highlands to evaluate his inheritance of Castle Glen and its estate as the new Laird. Duncan does not
need or desire this property except to gloat in front of his deceased father, who thought he was a
worthless American. When he meets the young widow of the nearly septuagenarian previous Laird,
Fiona "Fee" MacLennan, he is shocked by her youth and beauty. He also likes her stepson Robby,
who should have inherited the estate. Duncan finds he enjoys his stay and obsesses over turning
around the near bankrupt properties almost as much as he wants Fee. As the two fall in love, they
must learn to trust one another even while she makes a legal attempt to prove Robby is the rightful
Laird and he brings in modern business techniques that shake up the complacency of everyone. The
duo must also contend with a neighbor who has bought up all the IOUs of the previous owner and
plans to marry Fee in Castle Glen. This late Victorian "Highland Fling" romance provides a fresh
gender bending twist to the recent flood of wealthy nineteenth century Americans finding love in the
British Isles. The exciting story line picturesquely yet briskly moves forward as Duncan tries to
Americanize the estates while his tenants, employees, and his beloved Fee and Robby try to
assimilate him into Scottish customs. The hostile takeover by the neighbors adds tension but also
takes away from the wonderful basic theme of technology warring with tradition wrapped inside a
captivating romance.
Altered Carbon
Richard K. Morgan
Del Rey
ISBN: 0345457684 $13.95
In the twenty-fifth century, former military operative of the Envoy Corps Takeshi Kovacs knows
death is part of life so he is not shocked to find he was killed on Harlan's World as a century long
sentencing for his criminal activity. However, he admits to a bit of surprise that he awakens not long
afterward on Earth because wealthy industrialist Laurens Bancroft has hired Takeshi to investigate
the murder of Bancroft. The police claim he committed suicide, but Bancroft sees inconsistencies in
the official theory that he blew his head off as he questions why he would do so since he always
employs an electronic backup and has clones available just in case. Having no choice, Takeshi
investigates what happened by visiting the ratty underbelly and the hedonistic elite while assimilating
and adapting to his new skin. However, as the danger mounts, Takeshi's past life surfaces changing
the scope of his assignment from determining who would want the mogul dead to personal survival
because the threat of death this time could prove permanently real. Though a superb blending of a
who-done-in inside a vividly descriptive far future galaxy, the key to Altered Carbon is the ethics
issues cleverly interwoven within the story line. The plot is action filled, the earth and technology of
the future seem genuine and real, and the lead protagonist feels like a twenty-fifth century Sam
Spade not Buck Rogers. However, it is the cerebral underpinnings that propel the audience to think
of current questions on cloning, death, and the widening wealth distribution gap that makes Richard
K. Morgan's novel a one sitting gem for fans of both genres.
She's Not There
Mary-Ann Tirone Smith
Henry Holt
ISBN: 0805072233 $25.00
DC based FBI Agent Poppy Rice and her boyfriend ATF Field Advisor Joe Barnow go on a
"required" vacation on Block Island, Rhode Island after her harrowing war in Texas (see Love Her
Madly). While riding a bike, Poppy finds the corpse of a teen. Poppy performs her civil duty by
calling the police. A local physician concludes that the female victim died from using bad drugs, but
an autopsy proves Dana was clean plus there were external injuries on the body. Three days later, a
second teen is found dead. The two share in common attendance at Camp Guinevere, a camp for the
obese. Police Officer Francis X. Fitzgerald investigates the homicides, but Poppy finds him and the
"medical examiner lacking as the former spends most of his time drinking and the latter under the
influence of a prescription drug. Thus Poppy does what she does best, conducting her own inquiries
as to whom killed the two overweight farm campers even as the island is quarantined due to a
reported plague epidemic. In her second engagement Poppy Rice remains a wonderful law
enforcement investigator who cannot resist involvement even when it could cost her life. The "dual"
investigations (local vs. Poppy) are fun to compare as one seems indifferently amateurish while the
other passionately professionalism. Joe enables the reader to see the feminine side Of Poppy while
the islanders add quirky amusing peculiarities to an enjoyable tale that means forty-eight states and
several territories to go.
The Life And Death Of Planet Earth
Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee
Times Books
ISBN: 0805067817 $25.00
This astrobiological look at the life cycle (past, present, and future) of Earth is well written but also
darkly fascinating nonfiction. The authors claim that one-day earth will be just like Mars, a barren
wasteland. Future ice ages will insure a migration to the equator or perhaps space as earth begins
creeping into its geriatric period. Topics like global warming are evaluated in a different light by
analyzing the super-long millenniums haul not the short time several decade approach normally
discussed. This leads to conclusions that global warming, for instance, might delay the aging
process, but the planet is ultimately doomed. Peter Ward and Dan Brownlee have written a terrific
look that hooks the reader from the start and keeps their attention throughout. The key is that the
writers do not scornfully look down at their audience, but assumes the reader can think and
comprehend the inevitability of their scientifically based messages of gloom and doom. The Life And
Death Of Planet Earth is a winner even if the planet follows their model and goes full circle leaving
behind the empire of the bacteria to rule a frozen orb out of Spielberg's AI.
Treachery At Sharpnose Point
Jeremy Seal
Harcourt
ISBN: 0156027054 $14.00
While in the town of Morwenstow, author Jeremy Seal noticed the cracked figurehead of the
Scottish ship Caledonia, which sunk off the English coast in 1842. Interested in learning more about
the ill-fated vessel, Mr. Seal searched public records dating back to 1842, customs paperwork and
local edifices like the church. Mr. Seal concludes that the townsfolk led by Parson Hawker caused
wreck in order to salvage the cargo. When Mr. Seal examines the past through his mesmerizing
theory, readers receive an enthralling historical speculative work. However, when Mr. Seal provides
insight into how he conducts research and the steps he took to draw his conclusion, the book loses
momentum. Though overall quite interesting, Treachery At Sharpnose Point could have been
morbidly great with more insight into the 1842 Morwenstow Caledonia link and less Seal.
Me Times Three
Alex Witchel
Knopf
ISBN: 0375411798 $22.00
In 1980s Manhattan, Jolie magazine editorial assistant Sandra Berlin outwardly enjoys the party
lifestyle of a swinging single. She especially enjoys the party scene secured in the accompaniment of
her best friend Paul Romano, who happens to be gay. However, secretly Sandra wants to escape the
stigma of her atrocious job at a meaningless fashion rag to move to suburbia with a husband and the
2.5 children. Sandra believes her marital prayers have been answered when her longtime boyfriend
Bucky Ross (of Betsy fame) proposes. However, her idyllic moment in either Westchester, Putnam,
across the Hudson, or out in Long Island ends when she learns Bucky has two other fianc‚es. This
chick lit tale is a strong story when it irreverently focuses on 1980s singles life in Manhattan by
providing readers with an amusing yet anxiety-laden tale. When the novel switches gear to an AIDS
subplot, it loses momentum as it drags the story line away from the minor woes that Sandra turns
into Mount Everest into a life threatening crisis. Still most fans of this literary style will enjoy late
twentieth century New York before the 9/11 tragedies.
Hamlet Dreams
Jennifer Barlow
Aardwolf
ISBN: 0970622511 $13.95
In North Carolina, Zac knows he is the poster boy for the stereotypical boring nerd. However, when
he dreams of "The Other Place", he fantasizes that he is Hamlet, frequent visitant to Avalon, Lilliput,
and Sherwood Forest among other locales. In his reverie realm, Zac as Hamlet is the master of all he
perceives. Recently Zac has changed since he fell in love with Cecile. He no longer seeks escape
from the mundane or the ugly. He no longer needs The Other Place as Cecile now provides him with
solace. However, Carcajou, the real ruler of The Other Place, refuses to free Zac and even tries to
come to North Caroline through his host's dreams. Carcajou even forces Zac into sleep whenever he
desires to do so. Zac, as he has recently done many times before, turns to his beloved Cecile for
help, but though she loves him, she has her own demons to contend with. Hamlet's Dreams is an
exciting tale that can be interpreted on two distinct levels as either a taut fantasy thriller or a deep
psychological drama. Either way, the impressive vividly written story line takes the reader on a
journey to another plane controlled by an outside force or perhaps the realm of the hero's
subconscious controlled by his mind. The lead couple is weak individuals unable to stand up for their
values including their love yet battle they must. Zac and Cecile's lack of courage even when danger
confronts them as both need encouraging external catalysts to act. This adds depth to a scary
surrealistic story line that leaves readers metaphysically pondering whether the demon is inside or
outside man?
It's My Body and I'll Cry If I Want To
Sharleen Jonasson
Bold Books
ISBN: 0968709400 $14.99
Middle aged writer Beth Middleton wonders how her life fell into some sort of disastrous free fall.
Her husband has left her after years of marriage, leaving her in financial trouble and raising their
troubled angry fourteen-year-old mostly by herself. She hates her work, which barely pays the
recurring bills and insures she ignores any self-indulgent pampering that she might fantasize. A
potential client Darby representing Perceived Ugliness Syndrome asks Beth to infiltrate The Beauty
Institute to learn the secret of a new treatment to make women so beautiful that PUS believes it
includes a side effect of making females look perfect in their coffins. Though wary, Beth needs cash
and agrees to go deep undercover by posing as a customer of the Institute. Beth receives the full
treatment until she feels competent to pen an article that ironically describes the mirror
contradictions of the beauty industry. However, everything changes when she accidentally learns the
secret of the new treatment, as nothing is what it seems in a world where beauty is skin deep. It's My
Body And I'll Cry If I Want To is a delightful satire that rips the skin off the multi-zillion dollar
beauty industry. Beth is an uplifting individual as she struggles to survive in a world in which beauty
is everything while one's original DNA is too ugly to consider. The fast-paced story line is no
powder puff as Sharleen Jonasson intelligently furbishes a delightfully amusing amateur sleuth
industrial espionage tale that uses no gloss or silicon yet subtly applies cosmetics to condemn an
industry.
Dropping the God Bomb 2.0
Teddy Lee Brown
Brown Bear
ISBN: 0972334610 $14.95
Professor Greg Plummer makes no apologies for his position stated in a national magazine on not
teaching creationism in the classroom though he and his wife feel the impact as protesters strongly
object to his comments. The scientist firmly believes in evolution and has no patience with the bible
crowd and their omnipotent God who can do anything except create "a pizza bigger than he can
eat"? Greg receives an invitation to attend a conference in Buffalo where the hosts imply they have
proof of the remains of the first family. The scoffing evolutionist shuffles off to Buffalo on two days
notice because this is to too big to ignore. Also attending the Buffalo conference is Reverend Frye, a
once devout individual whose ministry turned into a major moneymaker and "converted" him to a
green paper God. He pushes teaching of creationism in schools through his political action group
that supports candidates sharing his position. Unexamined he accepts the implied evidence as proof
of God's existence, but deep down in his soul he has doubts. These two intelligent flawed men
represent the extremes of the debate. Others more tolerant attend for the beginning of the debate.
Regardless of the reader's views, this novel is an intelligent look at various sides, not just the two
extremes. Teddy Lee Brown accomplishes the panorama perspective through his characters.
Interestingly enough, the audience will tire of a protagonist at one point yet later will understand the
depth of that player. This is a well done, cerebral character driven tale that leaves a cliffhanger for
fans to anxiously await book two of the trilogy.
When The Ravens Die
Cameron Kent
Alliance
ISBN: 0967652871 $22.00
Amherst History professor Dr. Malcolm Bride knows Americans raised him with love, but London is
where he was born in 1945 and he needs to learn about his birth mother. In London, he finds the
record of twin boys born to Bridget Allison and the death certificate of his sibling. He visits nearby
cemeteries searching for his brother's resting-place. One evening while Bride is nearby, a woman
visits a graveside. She accidentally drops something before fleeing. Malcolm finds a nineteenth
century Cartier Pillbox so rare that most in existence are owned by a museum or the Royal Family.
He realizes the visitor had to be Princess Catherine and he makes contact with her, not easy to do
with a royal. At the same time, a bomb kills most of the leaders of the Conservative Party. Prince
George, heir to the throne occupied for a half century by his ailing mother, cuts a deal with the
Conservatives that allows him to run for Prime Minister, unheard of in the long history of this proud
country. Meanwhile, Bride and Catherine fall in love while he unravels a mystery over five decades
old that if revealed would derail George's precedent setting power play. This political thriller
wrapped inside a delightful heritage mystery and containing a warm humanizing romance is a royal
treasure. The fast-paced story line grips the reader, but uses coincidence to first accelerate the plot.
Bride is a great moral protagonist whose stubborn need to find the truth (paralleled by a reporter)
will grip the audience. George is an ideal villain doing good deeds only when it further his public
image. Cameron Kent provides a sure fan favorite with this winner.
The Delphinus Chronicles
RG Roane
Cherry Hill
ISBN: 0972329803 $22.50
All the great American universities put in a bid to "house" and conduct experiments using the most
advanced supercomputer Simon. Though MIT or one of the West Coast IT giants are the favorites,
GCS shockingly assigns Simon to little Cabillo University in San Diego. The victory stuns everyone
especially Professor Ross Erricson, the author of the winning concept in which Simon would be
programmed to teach itself languages. Simon moves into a basement room with a wall shared with
dolphins residing at the nearby Ocean Park aquarium. Simon soon learns and translates "dolphinese"
into English. However, though Ross, his students, and his mentor realize what they have learned, no
one else believes them when they explain a dolphin's look at humanity and warn them of a secret
race of people. The Delphinus Chronicles is a superb science fiction thriller that never slows down
from the moment Simon checkmates the world's greatest grandmaster to the climax. The story line is
loaded with intrigue, action, but especially insightful powerful relationships between people, humans
and Simon, dolphins and Simon, and the world wide web of sonically connected dolphins so that the
key cast including the supercomputer seem real. Though some extra intrigue involving nasties adds
drama and tension, it temporarily slows down an incredible triumphant look at how mankind
communicates and interprets events. This reviewer's interpretation communicated through this
review is that RG Roane deserves strong accolades and a vast appreciative audience for this winning
novel.
Discovering Veronica
Shannon Greenland
Wings ePress
ISBN: 1590881524
Veronica Burns left Michigan and a stifling relationship to start over as an Instructional Technologist
at Amelia's Academy on Amelia Island, Florida. Through no fault of her own, she starts off on the
wrong foot with her boss Dr. Rico DeAngelo because he had no idea the Board of Directors hired
her to the critical position he was offering to an Ivy Leaguer. Already under stress because she has
one year to obtain her state teaching certification, Amelia refuses to allow a male to ever control her
again. Rico admits to himself that his new employee is beautiful and feels a strong sexual attraction
towards her. Veronica enjoys spending time with Rico's daughter Maria, which shocks the Dean
because women normally reject him due to his troubled child. To her chagrin someone stalks
Veronica and not just following her, but also breaking into her home that she shares with a
roommate. As Rico and Veronica get to know one another through work and the matchmaking of a
little girl, they fall in love, but her predator is raising the ante with Maria being the stake.
Discovering Veronica is an exciting contemporary romantic suspense novel that is extremely well
written especially when the upbeat but apprehensive heroine forges strong bonds with various
people including Rico and his daughter. The cleverly designed stalker subplot provides immense
tension, but also spins the tale somewhat away from the prime theme of a woman starting over to a
woman in peril. Shannon Greenland displays her talent with this powerful second chance at life and
love relationship drama with suspense overtones.
The Blood Remembers
Terry Stanfill
Elton-Wolf
ISBN: 1586190334 $24.95
In Santa Monica, California, Rose Kirkland feels she has lost the essence of being herself. Instead
life is fulfilled through her relationship with others such as being the wife of Matthew or through her
work as a jewelry designer. Even her greatest desire of having a child adds to her lost identity, as she
knows she would become the mother of that infant. Alas, a saddened Rose cannot claim that identity
as she fails to become pregnant. In her even deeper melancholy, Rose hears a medieval voice and
begins having out of body experiences that display to her the posh inside of castles. Rose obsesses
over what is happening to her and travels to Europe on a quest to silence the inner voice haunting
her. From Oxford to Italy and finally to Normandy where in Pirou Castle, Rose recognizes the place
but not in a D‚j… vu sense, but as if she once lived there. For here the past and present converge, but
only time will tell whether this proves the salvation or damnation for the "visiting" American. The
Blood Remembers is a haunting time travel tale that is so rich with interwoven historical tidbits,
readers will believe the author is writing an autobiographical fiction novel. The story line is loaded
with action yet the key player Rose is a multifaceted individual struggling with her life and the
intrusion of the voice. Readers will remember Terry Stanfill's deep tale because Rose haunts the
audience by getting into your blood.
Early's Pride
Bobby Jaye Allen
Accolade Books
ISBN: 0971208212 $7.99
In Early, Michigan, the town counsel and the mayor argue over the merits of maintaining Pride Park
as the centerpiece of the city or rezone it for commercial use. The Director of Services Rick Cameo
leads the assault on changing the park to a commercial venture. However, someone must not have
liked Rick's position or perhaps one of his women came unglued as he is killed in a nearby motel.
The local police assigned to the case, Newkirk and Bebout care, but homicide is out of their league.
Councilwoman Geraldine Perry arranges for retired Cleveland homicide detective Brady Kincaid to
work as a consultant for the Earl Eagle newspaper and its crack reporter Geraldine Pozy. The local
officers are elated to have a person with Kincaid's experience to guide them on the case especially
when he believes there is a link to the double murders of Gerald and Marian Sevrall, the latter a
member of the council. However, even with Geraldine's help, the clues fails to add up, but Brady
keeps digging because that is his nature. Bobby Jaye Allen should feel proud of this delightful
investigative tale that brings to life home in a small Michigan town during the Christmas week. The
story line will hook the audience as one cannot help but like the patient sensitive Brady and the in
your face yet reticent Geraldine. Though some may disagree, adding to the fun is that this pair does
not walk out into the sunset together. The who-done it fans will provide plenty of accolades to the
author for a wonderful tale.
Comes Fygures, Comes Shadowes
Richard Matheson
Gauntlet
ISBN: 1887368604 $40.00
From early childhood, Brooklyn native Claire Nielson could see the spirits, auras, and the grayness
departing a dead person or animal. This "gift" as her spiritualist mother Morna claims it is only
frightens Claire who fears it. Over the next few years Claire learns to build mental barriers to protect
her mind from all the shadowes that threaten to engulf her. Early in 1930s though Claire remains a
teen, Morna decides it is time for to join in the family business of s‚ances and readings. Claire
prefers not to do so, but Morna, a true believer, feels deeply that God has given them a talent for a
purpose. Only Claire's father and uncle try to help her cope with the demands of her mother, but
they can do little unless she stands up for herself before her psychic abilities destroys her. Fans of
taut suspense thrillers that make possible for the reader to see deep inside the critical characters will
want to read Comes Fygures, Comes Shadowes. Claire and Morna are incredible protagonists as the
mother places unbelievable pressure on her daughter to comply with her demands in spite of how
much she fears her "gift". The support cast, mostly other family members enhance the absorbed
feelings of Morna and the intense dread of Claire. Mr. Matheson has written a powerful historical
relationship drama with one setback, he has no plan to write the stories of Claire's younger siblings
unless perhaps the audience throws the gauntlet at him to sway him to write them.
Mariah's Love
Louise Crawford
Phoenix (New Concepts)
ISBN: 1586081985 $6.99
Relatively new Chadyk Commander Rathyn watches his soldiers battle the Syrithians when a woman
appears and disrobes. She is obviously a Syrithian enchantress and though he knows he should
capture her, Rathyn is frozen by her beauty and the desire that wracks his body. When she sees him
finally approach, the woman changes into a steed and flees. Not long afterward, Rathyn meets with
the Syrithian Council in an attempt to secure a peace between the two people. However, his
predecessor Marcus the Butcher left a legacy of deceit and murder so that no one trusts the Chadyk.
The Queen Mariah is the enchantress he met at the rim of the battlefield and based on her seer
rejects Rathyn's overture. The Syrithians attack and Mariah among others is captured. As Rathyn
and Mariah come into constant contact, they fall in love. Are their feelings stronger than the distrust
and hatred their followers feel and can their love ultimately end the belligerence between the races
especially when his role in the Chadyk Empire changes? This is an exhilarating romance that
skillfully entwines some fantasy and science fiction elements into the plot. The story line is loaded
with action yet insures that the two species seem genuine so that readers can accept the racial
relations or lack thereof. The cast brings the tale to life as prejudices on both sides make the
forbidden love between the lead protagonists seem deadly and treasonous. Fans of the three
sub-genres will want to read this enchanting treat.
Dark Wind
Charlotte Boyett-Compo
RFI West
ISBN: 1586972200 $TBA
The crew of the United Space Alliance Medevac ship the Orion are shocked when they respond to a
SOS only to find female corpses. The ship doctor Caitlin Kelly believes the women died as part of a
suicide ritual. Also found is a mutilated individual chained inside a burned room. Dr. Caitlin provides
medical help to the ailing alien. Another ship arrives demanding that they hand over their patient
Khierson Cree. However, Khierson decides he wants Caitlin as his mate. His crew takes control of
her ship as he begins a campaign to breech her defenses. Khierson's bloodsire Kameron Cree lives on
earth with a Terran mate Bridget. They constantly argue Cam refuses to hold their infant. Kam hides
from the Multitude, the women that just tried killing his "blood" son. The Multitude abducts Kam
with Bridget wondering what she can do to save her beloved. "Talespinner" Charlotte
Boyett-Compo deftly uses horror figures and places them in outer space so that readers obtain a
supernatural space opera that works on several levels. The two major story lines compete for
supremacy, but neither succeeds so that the audience is a bit confused until Ms. Boyett-Compo
brings the duo plots into one theme. The characters feel genuine whether he or she is a creature of
the night or full moon, an earthling, or a distaff Multitude member. Fans who want to try something
a bit different should read this space adventure with horror elements as well as the first book in the
WindDemon trilogy, BLOODWIND as well as other "Wind" novels.
Shadow Of Doubt
Linda Morelli
Port Town
ISBN: 0971623996 $TBA
The body of Jennifer Madoc is found at the bottom of the cliff near her home near Mendocino,
California. The police rule out murder and suicide, concluding the unfortunate victim died in an
accident though the heartless Jennifer had hurt several people, including a sibling. A friend of the
late father Tom Furlough thinks a homicide occurred. He worries about Cat, knowing that she will
obstinately make inquiries so Tom "orders" architect Derek Driscoll to pose as a concerned
neighbor, but to keep her safe. Cat believes the self-centered Jennifer would never commit suicide
and knew the cliffs to well to fall accidentally. She concludes her sister was murdered and she plans
to obtain justice though she rarely talked with her selfish sibling. Though he leans towards the
Sheriff Department's position, Detective Frank Harris remains suspicious of Jennifer's former lover
Derek. Cat also wonders about her "protector" who she is half in love with, but wonders if he is the
culprit she seeks? Fans of amateur sleuth romances will have no Shadow Of Doubt that this terse
thriller is a superb tale that has cross genre appeal. The story line never slows down as Cat struggles
with conflicting feelings when it comes to Derek, who appears like a modern day brooding gothic
hero. However, the key to Linda Morelli's strong novel is that most of the cast seems
multi-dimensional and had the motive to kill Jennifer. This reviewer intends to obtain a copy of Ms.
Morelli's previous work, Fiery Surrender, after spending a delightful couple of hours enjoying this
winner.
Harriet Klausner
Senior Reviewer
Midwest Book Review
Cindy Penn's Bookshelf
Nobody But You
Julie Kenner
Pocket Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN 0743446046 $6.99
Jacey Wilder hires investigator Dave Anderson to track down a former boyfriend. With her thirtieth
birthday quickly approaching, she decides that she must trade the insecurities of supporting herself
with her art for the stability of corporate accounting. She wants to marry, have children, live in the
suburbs and drive an SUV. So she trashes her paint and brushes, and, with no appropriate men on
her horizon, intends to locate the Mr. Right that got away. With a successful true crime novel under
his belt, Dave wants to publish fiction. Unfortunately, his editor wants true crime, his checking
account needs a boost, and his aunt needs his support. He needs Jacey's job, but soon he uncovers
facts that leave him suspicious of Jacey's boyfriend. Of course, he tells himself he is only staying on
the case to keep the paychecks coming. Nevertheless, maybe Jacey is looking in the wrong direction
for Mr. Right, even if she and Dave seem completely wrong for one another. Julie Kenner's
scintillating talent one again dazzles in Nobody Does It Better. The intrigue of film noir combines
seamlessly with an alluring romance to showcase Kenner's remarkable talent. Jacey's flair for the
unexpected, including her stunning artistic talent and beloved car named Lucy, results in a fabulous
heroine. Dave's struggles an author and determination to quietly support his aunt make his likewise
memorable. Together Jacey and Dave are loveable, flawed human beings with the quirks and gifts
that make them dynamic and believable. Secondary characters likewise add amusing eccentricities, in
addition to laying the foundation for the sequel. Kenner's star certainly continues to shine with
Nobody But You, which comes very highly recommended.
Brotherhood: Infinity To Zero
John Ling
GreatUNpublished.com
5341 Dorchester Road, Suite 16, North Charleston, SC 29418
ISBN 0446690287 $11.89
Wealth did not keep David and Moses from the streets of Malaysia. They became highly trained
killing machines perfectly capable of protecting their turf. But legal complications sent them into
hiding, separating them from their sister and mother. But a group called the Syndicate hears of their
special skills, and offers them a wealth if they will become trained assassins. They become the best.
Moses is the first to choose to leave the Syndicate. David's loyalty is eventually questioned, and his
assignments force him to make choices between his beliefs and his profession. When he refuses to
kill a child, the hunter becomes the hunted. Now the brothers must disappear and protect their family
before the Syndicate finds any of them. Not even their superhuman fighting skills will be enough;
however, others exist who can lend unexpected aid. Brotherhood: Infinity To Zero is not for the
weak of heart. In the first two hundred pages an equal number of lives terminate in rather gritty
prose. A relentless, tautly plotted novel, Brotherhood will satisfy hard-core action flick aficionados.
Do not underestimate the scope of this novel however; Christian symbolism and Chinese culture
underscore ethical dilemmas that will please readers with a philosophical bent. Discerning readers
will find unconventional punctuation a bit distracting, such as the use of "?!?" for extreme emphasis
or an ampersand rather than the use of the word "and". Nevertheless, questions of loyalty, family
and morals lend unexpected depth to characterizations, resulting in an intense read that comes
recommended.
Kiss Off Poems To Set You Free
Mary D. Esselman (Editor), Elizabeth Ash Velez (Editor)
Warner Books
1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN 0446690287 $10.47 www.amazon.com
Whether you've lost your love or your chance at promotion, as disappointments and gloomy
promises for the future pile up, it can be difficult to find the inspiration to keep moving forward.
With these challenges in mind, Kiss Off: Poems To Set You Free addresses the stages of pain and
healing, with rich commentary and perfect poetic selections to reflect the angst of existence. Editors
Mary D. Esselman and Elizabeth Ash Velez compile the perfect collection of love poems, whether
you are disillusioned or wildly ecstatic about love in KISS OFF: Poems To Set You Free. With
remarkable editorial discernment, they frame the sections with appropriate commentary that will
have readers immediately identifying with their prose even as they introduce each section with clarity
and finesse. From broken hearts to broken families, from career disappointments to personal
disillusionment, these editors provide poems to blame, to inspire, to mourn and to celebrate our
emotions. A marvelous inspiration appropriate for anytime, Kiss Off: Poems To Set You Free
belongs on everyone keeper's shelf.
High Meadow
Joan Wolf
Warner Books
1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN 0446610437 $5.99 www.amazon.com
Her sister's death leaves Kate Foley sharing responsibility for her eight-year-old nephew with her
mother. Her father's death left High Meadow in financial straights, but years of hard work are finally
paying off for the horse farm. While neither Kate nor her mother knows the identity of Ben's father,
the little family lives in relative peace until he suddenly appears. Kate must make room in their lives
for Daniel Montero even as she must control her misgivings at sharing her adopted son. NY
Yankees' pitcher Daniel never expected to have children following a bout with the mumps as an
adult, so the opportunity to meet his son is welcome. Indeed, Daniel intends to become an important
part of his son's life. Kate's unexpectedly strong reactions to him do not put Daniel off from his goal.
It does not take long for Daniel to realize that he not only wants the heart of his son, but also his
son's mother. But piercing Kate's virginal exterior and exploring the woman concealed beneath will
be one the greatest challenges Daniel has ever faced. Author Joan Wolf pens an intriguing and angst
filled account of custody struggles, loss, and love in High Meadow. Readers who have likewise
agonized over custody issues will strongly identify with both sides of the issue as Kate and Daniel
confront difficult ethical and heart rendering dilemmas. Daniel's desire for children and his own
feelings of inadequacy provide an unexpected and welcome twist. Interior dialogue adds profound
depth, although many contemporary romance readers may be uncomfortable with such a literary
device. Spoken dialogue seems a bit stiff at times, but strong characterizations and outstanding
plotting certainly compensates. Secondary characters sparkle, especially as Kate's mother discovers
new love and battles cancer. High Meadow comes highly recommended.
Rex: A Novel
Fred Yager
Warner Books
1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN 1889262811 $15.95; Hardback ISBN 1889262889 $25.95
A sudden earthquake sends paleontologists into a crack in the earth, leaving the scientific community
and loved ones to presume their death. Their eleven-year-old son Davy is staying with his
grandmother when he receives the unwelcome news. But without proof, Davy refuses to believe his
parents are dead. Then his parent's personal effects arrive, including an unexpected surprise. Author
Fred Yager pens an exciting adventure young readers will revel in Rex: A Novel. This dinosaur in
New York achieves a comedic success even as Rex and Davy outrun evil scientists in a quest for
survival. The dinosaur is surprisingly intelligent and loyal, giving him a unique characterization
among young adult fiction. A fast paced read filled with friendship and danger, excitement and
surprises, Rex comes very highly recommended.
Dangerous Attractions
Colleen Easton
Zebra Books
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue, New York NY 10022
ISBN 0821773372 $5.99 www.amazon.com
It was a time of racial unrest in Indian Key, Florida as the Seminole Indians, intent upon violence,
swept through the settlement with fire and evil intent. Eleven-year-old Genna Whitworth shouldered
the responsibility of her father's death that night, accepting the unending blame of her mother and
sister. She didn't know her childhood friend Eli Blaylock survived, or that he also blamed her for that
night. Years later, fate brings Genna and Eli together again, laying them at cross-purposes and
tempting their hearts. Jerimiah Hardy rescued the boy from a cistern, taking the twelve-year-old
home to become part of his family. Eighteen years later Eli captains the wrecker that comes to the
aid of a ship off of the Florida Reef. A woman, battered and nearly dead, captures his attention.
Long ago he had decided that having answers to old questions would not matter anymore; that
answers would only dredge up memories best left undisturbed. But Genna's presence stirs more than
old questions for this man bound by honor and loyalty to marry another. Author Colleen Easton
pens an entrancing historical tale in Dangerous Attractions. Easton's masterful storytelling sweeps
readers away into a world by turns romantic and gritty, always compelling. A bird named Heathen,
complex loyalties, and unexpected twists keep the plot moving along quickly, pulling the reader into
an almost forgotten world torn by racial differences and rewoven by ethics and honor. From the
moment their paths cross as adults, Genna and Eli are on a collision course with destiny, forced to
deal the repressed secrets of the past and the dangers of the present. Their characters spring vividly
alive with rich description and an impressive background. Secondary characters likewise sparkle,
from the stolid Jeremiah and his secretive daughter, to Eli's entrancing first mate. Dangerous
Attractions comes very highly recommended.
The Most Unsuitable Wife: The Kincaids
Caroline Clemmons
Zebra Books
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue, New York NY 10022
ISBN 0821774433 $5.99 www.amazon.com
Drake Kincaid faces an ultimatum. Either he marries before he turns thirty, or the ranch he loves will
become his worthless uncle's property. When his parents' will specified terms of ownership, Drake
was only eighteen and had years ahead of him to find a wife. Now his birthday looms only a few
weeks away, and Drake needs a wife. So he decides he will wed the most unsuitable woman he can
find. Then he will simply strand her at the family home with his grandfather in town while he
resumes his life on the ranch, except for necessary visits to keep his wife breeding, of course. Then
he proposes to Pearl Parker, and quickly learns he has vastly underestimated her. Pearl desperately
needs to take her extended family and escape their miserable town in rural Tennessee. She ekes out a
living for her sister, brother and "cousin", by selling baked goods and home remedies. Before her
death, Pearl's mother taught her the art of concealing a voluptuous body behind rags and beauty
behind mild grunge. Drake's shocking proposal offers her and her family salvation, and she gladly
accepts. Misfortune, however, dogs their steps back to Texas. Attempts on Pearl's life force some
hard truths to the surface, including Drake's growing vulnerability to the woman he married, and her
own secret that she fears will cost her Drake forever. Author Caroline Clemmons captures the harsh
cruelty of a distrusting town and lurking danger in The Most Unsuitable Wife. Yet she tempers the
meanness with levity, the danger with amusement. Drake confidently assumes that he can dictate
terms and have his way, not realizing that his heart and his wife will have other plans. Indeed, the
harder he denies his feeling to himself, the more trouble he makes for himself and the more amusing
his plight becomes. On the other hand, Pearl's resourcefulness and ingenuity sparkles, yet she still
manages to undervalue her own self worth. A delightful read, The Most Unsuitable Wife comes
highly recommended.
Belle Of The Ball: The Three Graces
Pam McCutcheon
Zebra Books
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue, New York NY 10022
ISBN 0821774565 $5.99 www.amazon.com
The Sullivan girls might have been named for The Three Graces, but none of the girls embodies the
gift of the name she carries. Belle is rather homely, Grace is clumsy, and Charisma is blunt.
Nevertheless, their mother strives to marry the girls into the upper reaches of society and raise her
own status. Then the sisters overhear insults to their persons while escorted by three supposed
gentlemen at the Garden of the Gods. The Three Graces hear their wishes, however, and decide to
intervene and make their wishes come true. Of course the question remains if the wish to be granted
is the spoken one, or the wish of the heart. Kit Stanhope misses England when his family banishes
based on a false accusation. For a new businessman, reputation is everything, and Kit must pay
blackmail to keep his name spotless, which makes it difficult to fulfill his father's charge of finding a
sound investment. Now he feels guilty that Belle has overheard his unfortunate insult, and vows to
make amends. When Belle asks him to teach her the ropes of society, he accepts the opportunity. He
does not know that she intends revenge upon the "threescum" who spoke harshly of her and her
sisters. Belle wants to be beautiful so she can make the three men fall for her, and then toss them
aside as such scoundrels deserve. Author Pam McCutcheon kicks off the series The Three Graces
with flair! With vivid characterizations and strong plotting, Belle Of The Ball demonstrates
McCutcheon at her best. With a bit of help from above, Belle discovers her own beauty even as she
learns the truisms that make plain women beautiful. With wounds that go equally as deep resulting
from his family's rejection, Kit has his own lessons to learn about trust. The result is a surprising
blend of comedy and romance that will have readers chuckling throughout. Belle Of The Ball once
again demonstrates McCutcheon's gift for combining the unexpected with the enchanting in a unique
voice that readers remember. Readers will eagerly anticipate the addition novels of the serie
including A Touch Of Charm by Karen Fox and Fallen From Grace by Yvonne Jocks. Belle Of The
Ball comes highly recommended.
Strong Spirits
Alice Duncan
Zebra Books
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue, New York NY 10022
ISBN 0821775170 $5.99 www.amazon.com
At the age of ten, Daisy Gumm discovers the allure of the Ouija Board, quickly learning to use it on
the gullible wealthy. During her teens, Daisy's working class family comes to depend upon her
income for survival, as does her war veteran husband when he comes home crippled. Daisy's very
practical philosophy summarizes her approach to the world: "It's only the rich in this world who can
afford to be disenchanted and blase. The rest of us are too busy trying to earn a living." Daisy makes
her living off of people like the Kincaids, who "possessed more money than sense." Mrs. Kincaid
quickly comes to rely upon Daisy to restore hope when her family seems to disintegrate around her.
Her daughter is arrested for drinking in a speakeasy. Her son has his own particular proclivities. And
her husband chases the maids from his wheelchair before disappearing under suspicious
circumstances. Daisy finds herself caught in the midst of it all, comforting Mrs. Kincaid and guiltily
fullfilling Detective Sam Rotondo's demands that she spy on the wealthy family. Strong Spirits defies
an easy categorization, although Kensington lists historical romance on the spine. Instead, Strong
Spirits possess a uniquely original tone, imaginative narrative voice, and a marvelous level of the
levity. Author Alice Duncan gracefully captures the roaring twenties with its Fizgeraldian affluence
and defiance of the war just finished and the one yet to come. Furthermore, Daisy Gumm Majesty is
one of the most delightful heroines I have ever encountered, practical, courageous, and determined.
Her youthful enthusiasm never abates even when facing daunting challenges. Indeed, Alice Duncan
has outdone herself with this sparkling novel. Strong Spirits comes very highly recommended.
The Weight Of A Mass
Josephine Nobisso, Illustrated Katalin Szegedi
Gingerbread House
602 Montauk Highway, Westhampton Beach, New York 11978
Cloth ISBN 0940112159 $17.95; Paper ISBN 0940112108 $9.95
Once upon a time, it was the king's wedding day. He planned to marry princess from a devote
kingdom. His own kingdom had grown cold toward spirituality until the day of a miracle. An old
woman enters a bakery to beg a crust of bread, promising to say a mass in return. The baker scoffs
at her faith, promising bread equal to weight of a piece of paper inscribed with the words "one
mass." But the whole contents of his bakery cannot equal the weight of "one mass." Based on a true
incident, this modern fairy tale by author Josephine Nobisso will touch the heart of all readers. With
her previous children's books, author Nobisso has already earned a reputation for deeply stirring
prose filled with majesty and beauty, which she once again demonstrates her with finesse. Children
unfamiliar with the concept of a mass will need a bit of explanation regarding the background of the
story. Nonetheless, for children of the Catholic faith and for children with an explanation of terms,
The Weight Of A Mass: A Tale Of Faith explains profound ethical and spiritual concepts in simple
language and a poignant story of faith. In addition, Katalin Szegedi's beautiful illustrations bring the
tale vividly alive with rich detail and glowing imagery.
In English, Of Course
Josephine Nobisso, Illustrated Dasha Ziborova
Gingerbread House
602 Montauk Highway, Westhampton Beach, New York 11978
Cloth ISBN 0940112159 $17.95; Paper ISBN 0940112108 $9.95
Students from all over the world gather in a class geared toward children for whom English is a
second language. While Josephine understands almost everything she hears living in the Bronx, she
cannot speak it well. The teacher asks the students to share about their native countries. When it is
Josephine's turn, she tries to describe Naples, Italy. When the teacher asks if she lived on a farm,
Josephine's vocabulary is inadequate to correct his misconception. She had only been to the farm
once, but she valiantly tries to describe the experience. Author Josephine Nobisso brings her
sensitivity to a wonderful, playful book about English as a second language with In English, Of
Course. Having spent many years as part of a family where English is a second language, I could not
resist this amusing tale that portrays the struggles of communication with flair. Based upon the
author's own childhood experiences as the daughter of immigrants to the Bronx, Nobisso presents a
marvelously original tale accompanied by Dash Ziborova's whimsical illustrations. The perfect book
for sharing with children who struggle to communicate, whatever their language, In English, Of
Course, comes very highly recommended.
The Prince's Tutor
Nicole Burnham
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373196407 $3.99 www.amazon.com
An escape from reality to attend her friend's fairy tale wedding goes woefully wrong when the best
man disappears just before the ceremony. Amanda Hutton had hoped to forget her overdue rent and
lack of job for a while, but chasing wayward Prince Stefano diTalora through casinos while wearing
a frou-frou gown and heals was not what she had in mind. Worse, the king wants to hire her services
as an etiquette tutor for Stefano, but Amanda's classes are designed for the children of dignitaries,
not a playboy bachelor. Stefano feels more comfortable on the ski slopes than at state dinners,
purposefully dodging responsibility whenever possible. When his father leaves him no choice but to
accept Amanda's instruction, Stefano becomes even more determined to thwart her. For reasons that
are deeply personal, Stefano swore to never date a woman like Amanda, even agreeing to let the
king arrange a marriage for him. Yet his carefully maintained distance threatens to crumble every
time he is near his tutor. Nicole Burnham has a knack for penning romance that lingers in a reader's
memory. Last year's Going To The Castle remains in this reviewer's memory as fresh as when I
finished it and The Prince's Tutor promises the same vivacious memory. Strongly developed
characterizations and a fun plot are only the beginning. Burnham incorporates details that charm and
add sharp originality, such as a rubber boat race and a forgotten rose. Indeed, The Prince's Tutor
proves that Burnham's deft skill at penning a Cinderella romance that possesses both a heart and a
soul. The Prince's Tutor comes very highly recommended.
Scoring: Blaze No 78
Kristin Hardy
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790821 $4.50 www.amazon.com
Baseball was Mace Duval's life until a big rig crossed the centerline and permanently ended his
career. When his closest friend hustles him in a game of pool, Mace finds himself accepting a
position as a roving instructor, going from shortstop for the Braves to batting instructor for the
Lowell Weavers minor league baseball team. He brings with him a reputation for stunning hitting on
and off the field. According to the media, when Mace was not hitting homeruns on the field, he was
escorting actresses and models to star studded benefits and premieres, not to mention his bed. Becka
Landon has been around locker rooms most of her life, and does not take the sight of
testosterone-laden, naked men seriously. The players call her Attila behind her back, and Florence
Nightingale to her face as she happily replaces the team's sports trainer while he is out with carpal
tunnel. Keeping her spot with the team is a long shot, and she refuses to waste her time with a sexy
hitter who will only be around for a week. But despite her intentions, Becka's body desires Mace,
and he knows it. Her sassy belligerence challenges him to give both the coaching and the woman a
try. Perhaps another bet, one that will land her in his bed, will have them both scoring a homer.
Author Kristin Hardy's gift for creating an engaging tale, by turns romantic and gritty, absolutely
sparkles in Scoring. Perhaps better named scorching, SCORING overlays a strong character driven
plot with enticingly steamy sensual encounters and red-hot lust. Women see Mace has a hot player;
little recognizing that much of his reputation is the result of the media madness that surrounds
athletes on the arms of stars. Becka is a sassy, tomboyish, woman with an extraordinary ability to
handle every player except Mace with great finesse. Despite her verbal protestations, Becka's
profound attraction to Mace is visibly apparent to them both. Unfortunately, she falls into the trap of
judging Mace by his reputation, adding a bittersweet dynamicism to their exchanges throughut the
novel. Secondary characters likewise sizzle, including the Mallory Carson. Add Scoring to your
keeper shelf, as Hardy scores a homerun with this enticingly sensual romance! Scoring comes very
highly recommended.
The Man Upstairs: Superromance No 1106
Pamela Bauer
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373711069 $5.25 www.amazon.com
Bitter disillusionment in the past has caused Dena Bailey to seek solace in her work to the extent of
making it her first priority. She works long hours and goes beyond the call of duty to earn the
elusive brass ring, and nothing has ever distracted her; that, is until she meets the man upstairs,
Quinn Sterling. While marriage and children have never been entirely ruled out of her plans, her
interest in Quinn has entirely disrupted her vision of the future. Tired of dating women who are
drawn to his fame as a professional hockey player, Quinn finds Dena's disinterest in the sport
refreshing. For the first time, he experiences what it means to be appreciated for one's own merits.
Their agreement to engage in a lighthearted affair, however, meets profound challenges as Quinn
finds himself falling hard. Further, a car accident leaves him with the care of two children. Author
Paula Bauer captures a story that easily could be real with rich prose and gentle understanding in
The Man Upstairs. Indeed, Bauer creates a marvelously complex heroine. She has become overly
preoccupied with work, clearing illustrating her profound need for stability and rewards for her
efforts. Consequently, Dena is ill equipped for falling in love, with our without children involved.
She longs for deep friendships and connections to other people, yet she does not know how to
establish and maintain them. Nevertheless, Quinn refuses to let her put him off, but his own
challenges escalate with the arrival of children. The result is a marvelous character driven romance
that readers will find entrancing. The Man Upstairs comes highly recommended.
Heat Of The Moment: Blaze No 70
Lori Herter
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790740 $4.50 www.amazon.com
Earthquake research scientist Josie Gray buries her sexuality in working to retrofit old bridges and
buildings to make them earthquake-proof. While earthquakes are unpredictable, she considers men
even more so. When talk circulates that her company broke into the competitor's system and even
sabotaged their competitor's trials, resulting in a nearly fatal accident, Josie leaves her job. She goes
to the competitor, Peter Brennan to apprise him of her suspicions, trying to assuage her own guilt.
Before he meets Josie, Peter has never met a woman who does not even wear lipstick. Yet Josie's
innate sensuality takes him by storm. Although he is suspicious of her motives, her accepts her word
and, surprisingly, offers her a job. Since the accident that nearly killed him, Peter has worked for
home. Although he has recovered sufficiently to leave behind his wheelchair, he has maintained the
injured fa‡ade until he could determine who had tried to kill him. He knows being around a man in a
wheelchair makes Josie feel safe, and wants to use the opportunity to help her rediscover her own
sensuous nature. He underestimates the fact that she values truth above all else. Author Lori Herter
takes a slightly different approach to the fulfillment of erotic content in Heat Of The Moment.
Rather than an impetuous romp with explosive consequences, Josie and Peter take a slower
approach to sensual exploration. They work to gain trust and heal old wounds, insuring that Josie
feel safe, which compounds the emotional complications as trust unravels. Fans of author Herter will
recognize this marvelous authorial voice, whatever the genre, with her fluid prose and deftly woven
details that result in a fast paced, marvelous read. Heat Of The Moment comes highly
recommended.
Some Like It Sizzling: Harlequin Temptation No 911
Jamie Sobrato
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373691114 $4.25 www.amazon.com
Lucy fantasizes of handsome men, scandalous rendezvous and extravagant weekend-long dates, but
her reality is far more sensible and safe. Then she finds a cowboy handcuffed to her bed, her bags
packed, and a reservation at The Fantasy Ranch, an infamous adults-only resort several hours out in
the desert. Tired of her boring existence, Lucy embraces the opportunity to turn herself into a sex
kitten, eating sinful foods with hot men and seeking an opportunity for a wild, one night stand. Judd
Walker takes the place of the resort's most popular employee in Lucy's bed to further his
investigation. Someone seeks to sabotage his brother Mason's resort, so Judd goes undercover as an
air-headed bimbo. Mason believes someone at Lucy's travel agency might be involved with the
sabotage through a connection with his vengeful ex-girlfriend, which is how Judd finds himself
dressed in a sleazy cowboy getup and handcuffed to Lucy's bed. Although Judd has had his share of
wild women like Lucy, he has no intention of falling victim to red-hot lust again. Yet Lucy's
contrasts intriguing him with her tempting innocence and sex kitten appearance. Debut author Jamie
Sobrato pens a tantalizing escape with Some Like It Sizzling. Lucy's exploration of her wild side
leads to steamy, sensual encounters that sizzle. Contrasts, contradictions, and deception, however
threaten the erotic connection she makes with Judd as he conceals his identity behind a hottie
exterior. The secondary plot between Lucy's boss and Mason's brother offers both heated
amusement and a promise of a sequel. In Some Like It Sizzling, Sobrato proves her talent with a
delicious story with great settings, appealing characters, and breathtaking love scenes. Readers will
definitely want to watch for her second release, a Blaze entitled Pleasure For Pleasure. Some Like It
Sizzling comes highly recommended.
Game For Anything: Blaze No 71
Cara Summers
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790759 $4.25 www.amazon.com
Tracker McBride brings out a profound response in Sophie Wainwright--something base and
primitive. After a year of fantasy, maybe an affair will get him out of her system. Armed with a coin
with two heads and other tricks to throw the game to her favor, Sophie lures the very willing
Tracker into her bed. Sophie has nicknamed him "The Shadow" for his ability to slip away
undetected. Two years ago Sophie's brother hired Tracker to head up security for Wainwright
Enterprises. Sophie was humiliated and infuriated that Tracker proved her love interests to be
nothing more than fortune hunters. Tracker decided that he did not deserve a princess like Sophie
and over the last year has maintained his distance even while providing her protection.
Unfortunately, someone is playing a deadly game and using Sophie as a pawn, and Tracker finds
himself trapped between duty and desire. Author Cara Summers pens a winner with Game For
Anything. Sophie is a strong, independent woman willing to take risks for what she wants. Tracker
is an Alpha male with the air of mystery and danger that makes him divinely sexy. His weakness for
games of chance gives Sophie the edge when she cheats to get what they both want. Indeed,
Sophie's toys get amazing results, adding a nicely naughty flair to this marvelously fun read.
Furthermore, secondary characters sparkle, including Sophie's surprising astute cat and favorite
characters from previous adventures. A wonderfully entertaining read, Game For Anything comes
very highly recommended.
Michael's Father: Superromance No 1109
Melinda Curtis
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373711093 $5.25 www.amazon.com
In the midst of the Sonoma County wine country, Cori Messina helps to grow the family business
from an early age. Her patriarchal grandfather commands the land and his family with a stern hand.
But five years ago when she learned of her pregnancy, she defied him by protecting the father. She
chose to be a single mother, raising Michael alone. Cori only returns home now, as her mother lies
dying of breast cancer. Her grandfather's gruff words and harsh treatment, however, leave her only
wanting to flee again with her son. Blake Austin does not see himself in the child, but he certainly
wishes he had been the father. Had Cori admitted his paternity, he would have lost his job and
possibly his career. Author Melinda Curtis boldly tackles the painful challenges of rig10hting the
past in Michael's Father. While Cori's decisions are understandable, readers may be a bit impati14ent
with some of her choices, and even more impatient with her son. Nevertheless, difficult emotional
situations are deftly handled with the harshness of reality and the weakness of being human, resulting
in a fascinating read. Michael's Father comes recommended.
Finding Amy: Superromance No 1107
Dawn Stewardson
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373711077 $5.25 www.amazon.com
Chelsea Everett works for Risk Control International, teaching students the skills they need to stay
alive. Her father had been a famous race car driver, and she inherited his skill for deftly handling cars
traveling at high speeds and in dangerous situations. But such skill did not prepare her for the
challenges she faces when she meets Trent Harrison. Trent admits to instant attraction to Chelsea,
inviting her to accompany him and his daughter on trip to Boston. Chelsea keeps an eye on his
daughter while he gives a lecture, but then the unthinkable happens. Someone kidnaps his daughter
and demands the impossible for her return. Suddenly, attraction turns to hatred as Trent blames
Chelsea for the kidnapping, and himself for not sharing the past. An impossible situation leads to
love in Dawn Stewardson's Finding Amy. While both Chelsea and Trent acknowledge their
blossoming attraction, her guilt and his blame threaten to destroy any connection that they might
forge. Stewardson handles their emotional situation with finesse, balancing their angst with
possibility, allowing both to feel a gambit of emotions. Powerful character development and
unexpected plot twists result in fast paced adventure readers will treasure. Finding Amy comes
highly recommended.
With One Touch
Karen Rose Smith
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373196385 $3.99 www.amazon.com
Twice over the last four years, rumor has sent Brooke Pennington's scurrying into obscurity when
her methods of practice are called into question. Brooke's unorthodox ability to diagnose and heal
small animals cannot be called upon at will. But when it presents itself, her gift has powerful, almost
miraculous effects. Small vet clinics do not appreciate such unorthodox treatment methods. So when
Nate Stanton offers her a position at the Whisper Rock Verinary Clinic, Brooke declines a
partnership in favor a salary. Nate immediately recognizes the soul depth connection between
himself and Brooke. When Brooke's unusual ability with the animals manifests itself, however, he
does not respond well to the possibility of public acclaim. Nate has already had his share of living in
the spotlight with his movie star father, and he has absolutely no desire to return to the limelight.
Nate desires roots and anonymity above all else, even a irresistible woman who offers the heat and
passion of his dreams. The Soulmates series excels with the winsome addition of With One Touch
by Karen Rose Smith. Brooke's touch might bring healing to her small patients, but it promises
notoriety for herself and anyone who chooses to share her life. Nate has rejected anyone associated
with his family's scandal, and he rejects any possibility of yet more notoriety. Secondary plots lend
their lives charming depth as Brooke learns to love her much younger sibling and to allow her father
back into her life. Nate's mirroring family issues reveal his all too human vulnerability. Indeed, Smith
has a gift for capturing the strengths and weaknesses that make her characters both believable and
sympathetic. An entrancing read that is destined for the keeper shelf, With One Touch comes very
highly recommended.
Against The Odds: Blaze No 69
Donna Kauffman
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790740 $4.50 www.amazon.com
Erotic novelist Misty Fortune might pen the sizzling bestsellers, but her own love life is a dud. So
she pays a fortune to visit a unique Las Vegas resort specializing in adult fantasizes. Pampered and
glowing, she reclines on a pile of cushions waiting for her selected fantasy man, when sexy Tucker
Greywolf enters. He might be on the resort's payroll but she has definitely met the right man to make
her sizzle. Fire Marshall Tucker prefers shoptalk to the glamour of Las Vegas while attending
forensic seminars at the Las Vegas Police Department. When buddies invite him to the infamous
resort to investigate murder, Tucker comes along, never expecting to be seduced by the fantasy he
stumbles upon. They have four days to explore their sizzling chemistry before return to their
mundane lives. Author Donna Kauffman pens a scorcher in Against The Odds. Playfulness offsets
passion in this page turning romp. Misty deplores her English skin, which gives her emotions away
in splotches rather than the glow she envies in other women. Little does she know her regal bearing
and clipped British accent brings about absolute fascination in Tucker. Both long for the proverbial
happily-ever-after, but will eagerly accept four days of sexual bliss. The result is a believable hero
and heroine with scintillating chemistry that readers will love. Once again Kauffman demonstrates
her remarkable gift for sensual word play with silk cords, beads, and champagne. Against The Odds
comes highly recommended.
Lightning Strikes: Harlequin Temptation No 913
Colleen Collins
Harlequin
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373691130 $4.25 www.amazon.com
An overdose of allergy medicine lands Blaine Saunders in the wrong bed. And yet it began so
innocently. When she sees the divine antique brass bed, Blaine is enraptured. While she does not
have the floor space to accommodate such a large luxury, she does have a sister who would enjoy it
as a wedding gift. Unfortunately, the deliverers take the bed to the wrong address. In the midst of
performing a rescue, Blaine passes out in its warm comfort. Her erotic dream is amazing, and then
she awakens to complete stranger. Too many cities and not enough sleep leave Donovan Roy
desperate for his familiar bed. Its simplistic lines and cheap price tag do not belay comfort. Extreme
sleep desperation overlays his vague impression of a bed that is a bit too high, but Donovan does not
question his odd impression in the middle of the night. Believing it to be a dream, unexpected
warmth at his side, a touch, and response leave him satisfied. Then he awakens to a gorgeous
stranger and the shocking truth. Later he has the bed delivered, but not to its rightful owner. This
mistake sends Donovan and Blaine on a wild chase with unexpected results. Perhaps the wrong bed
was just thing after all. Author Colleen Collins adds her talented pen to the Wrong Bed series, but
with an unexpected twist. Not only do Blaine and Donovan wind up in the wrong bed together, but
it is also the wrong bed in his apartment. This highly seductive, amusing plot combines with
entrancing characterizations for a read impossible to put down. In addition, the financial struggles of
both characters add an extra element of delightful plausibility. Blaine's matchmaking father is also an
added charm with his determination to break his diet and screen her phone for possible grooms.
Lightning Strikes comes highly recommended.
The Baby Plan: Superromance No 1103
Susan Gable
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373711034 $5.25 www.amazon.com
Harley Emerson is living out of the back of her pickup after being accused of theft and losing her
last job. Damp and discomfort force her to consider Jake Manning's unorthodox offer. After all,
without the ability to house herself, let alone make tuition, her dreams do not have a chance of
coming true. So, she makes her own provisions: she will become a surrogate mother only if they
create the child the old fashioned way, and only if he marries her for the duration of the pregnancy.
Jake loved raising his younger siblings. Now that they have grown and moved on, his house echoes
silence, and he longs to fill the void with a child's laughter. His ex-wife has destroyed his dreams of
home and hearth with a family, and adoption went heartbreakingly wrong. Perhaps a surrogate
mother can fill his need. But soon Harley's presence has him longing for something far more
traditional. In The Baby Plan, author Susan Gable combines daring plot elements and unusual
characterizations for a remarkably memorable tale. From ex-con to mechanic, Gable gives her
heroine a past, however unearned, and does not redeem her from the situation but makes her bear
the consequences no matter how far reaching. Then she tests her hero's faith in the heroine, pushing
them both into a profound transformation readers will treasure. Secondary characters likewise
sparkle, from the disbelieving to the innocent. The result is an evocative, endearing story. Readers
will look forward to Gable's next release, The Mommy Plan, due in the summer of 2003.
The Comeback Girl: Superromance No 1110
Debra Salonen
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373711107 $5.25 www.amazon.com
Twelve years have not erased the bitter memories of Gold Creek for Kristen Sullivan. In an effort to
protect her son, Kristen never told Zach of the family and town that they left behind. Certainly, she
never told him about his biological father, who does not know of his existence until they return to
Gold Creek. Consequently, Zach responds with detachment and anger to the changes in their lives.
Worse, his father threatens to sue for custody. Moreover, Kristen's high school boyfriend Donnie
Grimaldo refuses to be forgotten. After Kristen's betrayal, Donnie married someone else. Jaded by
his subsequent divorce, and disillusioned by his work, Donnie dreams of becoming an Air Marshal
and making a real difference. But his ex-wife's flaky decisions and new husband interfere with plans,
and suddenly their son will continue to be his responsibility. Donnie needs a wife to care for his
troubled ten-year-old son while he is gone, and Kristen needs the stability of a marriage to man like
Donnie to win a custody battle. But a marriage of convenience may be too limiting for two people
who once loved each other deeply, despite their protestations. Author Debra Salonen concludes her
Those Sullivan Sisters series with an evocative tale in The Comeback Girl. Of the sisters, Kristen
faces the most difficult challenges by confronting the father of her child and his mother, even as she
also faces the man who still holds her heart. Her relationship with her son, once idyllic, now
extremely troubled, deftly portrays the most heart rending aspects of motherhood with grace.
Kristen and Donnie are wonderful together as they rediscover life on a more mature level. Aunt Ida's
inevitable decline adds a touching realism as well. It is the struggles of the both sons, however, that
truly add a punch to the tale with their struggles of identity, need for attention, and challenges of
integrating families. Indeed, Gold Creek has become a wonderfully real place that readers will deeply
miss. A richly textured novel of surprising complexity andemotional depth, The Comeback Girl
comes very highly recommended.
Going Too Far: Harlequin Blaze No 73
Tori Carrington
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790775 $4.50 www.amazon.com
Marie Bertelli once let her bad girl rule in a steaming encounter with Ian Kilborn, to whom she gave
her virginity. Eight years later, they are both attorneys spending time in the same courthouse, but
Marie's father hire Ian to handle his affairs when the Treasury Department begins to investigate him
for money laundering. Marie is outraged that not only did everyone in her family know of her
father's legal difficulties, but that she was not consulted regarding the case. Marie's well meaning,
but traditionally interfering family has kept men like Ian at a distance. But when she propositions
him, Ian cannot resist the opportunity. Marie's transformation from shy to siren has Ian counting the
hours to their next encounter. But when their sizzling passion brings out strong emotions, the
question remains if Ian will be willing or ready to pursue something more than scintillating sex.
Writing team Tori Carrington once again presents the kind of heat fans of come to expect in Going
Too Far. Marie and Ian discover the naughtiness of indulging hidden desire, indulging
fantasy-inspiring trysts that will make reader's toes curl. But they fail to account for the result of
such soul stirring passion and its emotional ramifications. While Marie comes from a stereotypical
Italian family, Carrington skillfully gives them marvelous personalities that absolutely sparkle,
especially with Marie's attempt to get her brother and his wife back together. The secondary senior
love plot also adds a wonderful pizzazz! Going Too Far comes highly recommended.
Messing With Mac: Harlequin Temptation No 918
Jill Shalvis
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373691181 $4.25 www.amazon.com
Taylor Wellington hates selling off her beloved antiques to finance the cost of renovations of her
Victorian inheritance. But when her grandfather willed her the house, he neglected to include the
cushy bank accounts that he had previously generously provided. As renovations began, Taylor's
friends Suzanne and Nicole fell in love with contractors working on the house and are now
deliriously happy. Nevertheless, Taylor cannot imagine such a fate for herself, not even when she
sees sexy Thomas "Mac" Mackenzie swinging a sledgehammer. Rather than yield to lust, Taylor
takes her own turn at constructive destruction. Seeing the "princess" swing a sledgehammer does
unexpected things to Mac's libido. But Mac lives a free spirited lifestyle without the encumbrance of
family or expectations. A serious relationship is impossible after his ex-wife cleaned him out.
Certainly the salary of a cop was insufficient for her wealthy dreams, and he refused to ask family to
finance his wife's taste. Following his divorce, Mac's career shift from cop to contractor allows him
the freedom he desperately craves. So he refuses to repeat past mistakes with Taylor, no matter how
good she looks after a water fight. But keeping things physical certainly is not enough to allow him
to simply walk away. Author Jill Shalvis pens a scorching finale to her South Village Singles series
with Messing With Mac. As the final single of the trio of friends, Taylor's determination that men are
for sex meets its challenge in Mac. An alpha male with a dark past, Mac does not yield easily to
dreams of forever. Updates on Suzanne and Nicole's progress to the altar, as well as their certainty
that Taylor should follow their example, will keep readers amused. The result is classically Shalvis
with dynamic storytelling and sizzling passion. Indeed, Shalvis' gift for scintillating prose and
dazzling electricity makes her one of the hottest authors of genre fiction. Messing With Mac comes
very highly recommended.
A Summer Place: Superromance No 1101
Laura Abbot
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373711018 $5.25 www.amazon.com
Following her divorce, Laurel Eden decides to invest her settlement in a gift store. Finding the
perfect location poses quite a challenge until she sees a brochure for a resort community on Lake
Michigan. On personal inspection, the site feels like she is coming home. Then while investigating a
compelling beach house, a sexy stranger startles her. Catching a trespasser peeking in windows of
the summer house forces Ben Nolan into a confrontation. He certainly never expected meet such an
exuberant, sexy woman as Laurel. With overwhelming family responsibilities, Ben lacks the time and
energy for a relationship, though his meeting Laurel certainly makes Ben long for one with her.
Sweetly unexpected kisses hold his imagination until she returns to live. But Ben soon finds not only
the demands of family encumbering his desire, but a request of a friend that uncovers Laurel's secret.
Author Laurel Abbot pens a richly dynamic romance in A Summer Place. Family poses all sorts of
difficult choices for both Laurel and Ben. Ben's ethical dilemmas also move the plot along smartly.
Unfortunately, readers may find the resolutions to the conflict a bit simplistic. Nevertheless, Abbot's
rich prose and deft characterizations results in an evocative powerful read. A Summer Place comes
recommended.
The Healer: Superromance No 1105
Jean Brashear
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 373711050 $5.25 www.amazon.com
Staff at Mercy Hospital calls her Miracle Malone until a riding accident destroys the gifted surgeon's
right hand. Once her hand could massage life back into the heart she held, now it cannot grasp and
release objects. When her physical therapy reaches a plateau without the necessary recovery to
return her to the cardiac surgical suit, Caroline takes a month to recover in the Davis Mountains of
West Texas. Like Caroline, Diego Montalvo had once been terribly ambitious until a mission gone
wrong burdens him with irredeemable guilt. Now Diego marvels that his hands, which once brought
death, can bring forth life. As his grandmother ages, he steps into her place in the community as a
healer where many of his people are more than a hundred miles from medical care and cannot afford
it anyway. Nevertheless, his years as a medic have left scars much deeper than the ones displayed on
his body and causing his limp. Author Jean Brashear creates a powerful tale of spiritual healing in
The Healer. Brashear's graceful narrative seamlessly bridges two vastly different worlds. Both
Caroline and Diego undergo a tragic transforming moment that changes the course of their lives,
leaving them with spiritual wounds as damaging as the ones that tear their flesh. In this searing tale,
contradictions and impossibilities give way to hearts that need to rediscover dreams and
self-forgiveness. Secondary characters, particularly Diego's insightful grandmother, provide
intriguing depth to this powerful tale. Once again Brashear proves herself to be an author of
fabulous richness, making her a favorite of romance readers. The Healer comes very highly
recommended.
Hot Off the Press: Harlequin Temptation No 915
Nancy Warren
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373691157 $4.25 www.amazon.com
Working for competing papers, movie reviewers Tess Elliot and Mike Grundel have little in
common. She enjoys intellectual films while he prefers action adventure with plenty of mayhem. She
was born with a silver spoon while he survived poverty. But they have one thing in common; both
are driven to prove themselves, if for diverse reasons. She wants to earn her credentials, not rely on
her wealth and social position. He wants to move back to hard news after a demotion following a
story gone wrong. Both get their opportunity when Mike bets Tess that he will have a front-page
story before she will. Tess intends to see Mike eat crow, but their competition transforms into
collaboration when they need to share resources and insight to prove a local developer has other
plans for a bald eagle habitat. They both risk their careers, as the developer has already proven he
will destroy anyone who gets in their way. Moreover, working together makes it challenging to
control the attraction they have both been determined to ignore. Film, both classic and
contemporary, becomes a fascinating theme in Hot Off The Press. With her characteristic flair,
author Nancy Warren creates wonderful characterizations filled with witty banter and heated
attraction. An underlying serious plot, vividly realized secondary characters and provocative clashes
combine to make Hot Off The Press heated entertainment. Indeed, readers who come to expect
sizzling story lines and amusing clashes won't be disappointed. Hot Off The Press comes highly
recommended.
Behind The Red Doors
Vicki Lewis Thompson, Stephanie Bond, Leslie Kelly
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373835698 $6.50 www.amazon.com
Behind The Red Doors links three extraordinary shops that market scent, jewels and lingerie.
Through these doors wishes come true. These searing tales should not be reserved just for
Valentine's Day. Indeed, readers who enjoy anthologies with a united theme and story line will
absolutely treasure Behind The Red Doors. Door #1 - "Heaven Scent" by Vicki Lewis Thompson In
an innovative marketing ploy, customers uncomfortable browsing have the option to use computer
kiosks to order their favored items and pick them up on their way out the door. To ascertain men's
preferences and offer suggestions to shoppers, Jamie Ruskin asks long time friend and secret crush
Dev Sherman to fill out a questionnaire. Certain his sister is somehow involved, Dev gives opposite
answers, never suspecting that Jamie will use his own answers against him. The result is a sizzling,
yet playful romp that combines erotic fantasy and aromatherapy in a sent-sational combination. Door
#2 - "Diamond Mine" by Stephanie Bond Valentine's Day went desperately wrong between Faith
Sherman and Carter Grayson when she expected more than just a friendly dinner. When a diamond
on loan requires increased security, Carter reenters her life. Only this time he claims a fiance and
soon Faith finds herself recommending diamonds for someone else. Bond's characteristic flair for
combining romance and humor truly sparkles. Door #3 - "Sheer Delights" by Leslie Kelly Conned
into a photography session by her cousin, schoolteacher Meg O'Roarke becomes an inadvertent sexy
model for lingerie. Her gasp of shock when she sees her body plastered on the store's kiosk screen
brings an unexpected rescuer. But Joe Santori will be hard pressed to explain that the lingerie
hanging in his closet was for her-a fantasy woman he had not even met. Kelly's dynamic storytelling
ability truly results in an unexpectedly sheer delight.
Tangling With Ty Harlequin: Temptation No 914
Jill Shalvis
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373691149 $4.25 www.amazon.com
Dr. Nicole Mann was a child prodigy, graduating college at the age of twelve. Surgery is her life,
masking her inept people skills. With myriad piercings and sporting camouflage, Nicole's appearance
certainly masks her IQ and profession. Her growing friendship with housemates Suzanne and Taylor
creates friction as she tries to learn to let others close, buts it's her overwhelming attraction to Ty
that really disconcerts, especially since she echoes Taylor's vow to remain single. Architect Ty
O'Grady's dark history precludes attachments and family. A world traveler accustomed to fulfilling
his wanderlust, Ty fell in love with South Village where he builds a strong professional reputation
working alone rather than joining the usual architectural firms. Then his strong attraction to Nicole
and a shocking email open doors that Ty is ill equipped to handle. Author Jill Shalvis has a created a
marvelous hit with the South Village Singles series! Readers who enjoyed Roughing It With Ryan
certainly will not want to miss its dazzling sequel, Tangling With Ty. Both Nicole and Ty are
incredibly intriguing characters. They are tough survivors, unable and unwilling to allow people
close. Nicole's piercings and Ty's tattoo both represent badges of honor for surviving nearly
impossible challenges with grace. Indeed, their mutual strength of character draws them together
even as it keeps them divided, thereby providing paradoxical challenges that force them to face
inward demons and needs. Be sure to the finale with Messing With Mac. Tangling With Ty comes
very highly recommended.
Wicked And Willing: Harlequin Temptation No 916
Leslie Kelly
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373691165 $4.25 www.amazon.com
Venus Messina scoffs at the idea that she might be the long lost granddaughter to a millionaire. She
loves Irish pubs, drinking beer, and wearing jeans. Designer clothes and exquisite jewelry have never
held much appeal for her. Worse, accepting this connection to a grandfather would men that her
childhood dream would end in tragic sadness instead of the joyful reunion for which she has always
longed. From first glance, Venus immediately inspires thoughts of hot, sweaty nights and erotic
possibilities for Troy Langtree. He certainly did not expect to find such a woman when he accepted
this new job with Max Longotti in Atlanta. Unfortunately, as the possible granddaughter of his
employer, their relationship threatens to screech to a halt almost upon introduction; that is, if it were
not for his daring and her bravado. Author Leslie Kelly compromises this bad girl's love for the wild
side despite her opulent surroundings and extraordinary windfall in Wicked And Willing. Venus
embodies the goddess elements of her namesake with brazen self-confidence and a refusal to
compromise the qualities that make her so disarmingly unique. Indeed, her tiny hummingbird tattoo
perfectly suits her aggression and beauty, as Troy so quickly recognizes. On the other side, Troy is
an equally marvelous hero who treasures Venus' scintillating qualities without expecting or desiring
that she change. Their shared overwhelming desire and naughty games will keep readers turning the
pages quickly if only to see what they are up to next. Together Venus and Troy are one of the most
marvelously matched, sexually charged couples of series romance.
The Farmer's Wife: Superromance No 1099
Lori Handeland
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710992 $5.25 www.amazon.com
Eight years ago Kim Luchetti fled the small Illinois farming community where she was raised,
eventually buying a partnership in a law firm in Savannah. Only her father's hospitalization brings
Kim back to face the ghosts and disappointments of the past. When she hears of the death of her
former boyfriend's parents, Kim feels compelled to visit his farm to offer her condolences.
Unsuspecting of Kim's approach, Brian works on repairing the roof of his barn, tumbling to the
ground in shock and breaking both wrists when he sees her. With both of Brian's wrists in casts,
Kim's guilt over his injury drives her to offer to care for him and help out in the house until he
recovers. But living in such close proximity forces Kim and Brian to face the past and their own
unresolved feelings, despite her determination to leave everything between them in the past. Second
chances taking an entrancing twist in The Farmer's Wife by Lori Handeland. Kim's determination to
never be a farmer's wife and the contradictions and conundrums her choice presents result in a
journey of self-discovery and transformation. Brian's determination to expose and heal the past
provides a powerful counterpoint, maintaining a fascinating tension. Indeed, these vividly realized
characters reveal weaknesses and strengths that will hold readers entranced. In addition, a secondary
cast of characters mostly consisting of Kim's wonderful family will have readers hoping for more
love stories coming from the fertile Illinois vista. A delightful read, The Farmer's Wife comes highly
recommended.
A Thrill To Remember: Blaze No 66
Lori Wilde
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790708 $4.50 www.amazon.com
The last of the Bear Creek bachelors meets his soulmate at the Bear Creek masquerade ball. Caleb
Greenleaf finds that a mask allows him to explore his sensual side as he dresses like Don Juan and
captures the attention of a mysterious and sexy woman dressed as Klondike Kate. Following an
especially erotic encounter, Caleb asks the mystery lady for her phone number and quickly realizes
that she is none other than the girl who married his brother. Following her divorce, Meggie Scofield
yields to her friends' encouragement, dressing in the risque image and strutting her stuff at the ball.
She finds her costume liberating, and allows her usual barriers to drop for an evening. She assumes
she will never see Don Juan again, although he vividly lives in her fantasies. A call six weeks later
soon lands her in quite the conundrum when Don Juan reappears in her life just as her old friend
Caleb arrives in town, and soon the fireworks begin. While readers may recognize the familiar plot
device of deception and masking, author Lori Wilde adds refreshing detail and erotic possibility in A
Thrill To Remember. As Caleb suffers through the ethical dilemma of maintaining the illusion of
strangers, he savors the opportunity to enjoy the seductive fantasy where reality and dream merge in
something profoundly erotic. Wilde's mesmerizing style easily sweeps readers into her alluring world
of sensual pleasure. Certainly, readers will find this novel A Thrill To Remember. Highly
recommended.
Roughing It With Ryan: Harlequin Temptation No 910
Jill Shalvis
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373691106 $4.25 www.amazon.com
After breaking up with fiance number three, Suzanne Carter decides she is bad for men. A desperate
search for a new apartment introduces her to Taylor Wellington, a woman of contradictions. Taylor
exudes wealth and good taste, but acts as if she is on a shoestring budget. Instant rapport between
them soon has Suzanne happily settled into Taylor's loft apartment, but only after a tantalizing
encounter with Ryan Alondo. Ryan owns a tree cutting business, and a desperate late night call
following an especially windy storm brings him to Taylor's apartment building. A tree has crashed
into the loft, trapping Suzanne. Despite her pact with Taylor to swear off all men, Suzanne soon
finds herself wishing to yield to temptation. Nevertheless, she vows to remain stalwart in her
decision to swear off men, and it will take all of Ryan's persuasive powers to convince her otherwise.
Author Jill Shalvis pens another sizzling romance with Roughing It With Ryan. In this first of her
miniseries, Taylor and Ryan ignite the fires of passion with scintillating characterizations and
delightful playfulness. Taylor's history of fiances will have readers chuckling even as they treasure
Ryan's family values. Fans who expect steamy sensuality and quality romance will not be
disappointed; add this one to your keeper shelf. Roughing It With Ryan comes very highly
recommended.
The Inn At Oak Creek: Superromance No 1115
Linda Barrett
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373711158 $4.99 www.amazon.com
Part of the Olympic ski team, Molly Porter dazzles on the slops until a horrific accident destroys her
ability to ski. Four years later, skirts and cosmetics can conceal the scars, but Molly still struggles
with internal damage. Her healed pelvis insures she can never bear children, so she throws herself
into her new career as a hotel manager. Sam Kincaid's three dot-com companies declare bankruptcy,
leaving him with only a car and a dream of starting over. Even his year long relationship ends
because his girlfriend prefers to not be associated with so much negativity. Never mind that she is
pregnant-that problem is easily resolved, even if the solution breaks Sam's heart. The death of his
uncle leads Sam to The Bluebonnet Inn and new opportunities. Unfortunately, high tech does not
have much in common in with running a hotel, and Sam will be challenged to find satisfaction in his
new, temporary position. Even though Sam quickly learns to see beyond Molly's limitations, his own
goals set even greater limits than either seem to be able to overcome, despite their growing feelings.
Author Linda Barrett has a profound gift for capturing the struggles of overcoming trauma, whether
it be physical or emotional, or both. The Inn At Oak Creek brings two damaged souls together in an
uplifting tale of healing. Readers may recognize Molly, who has been aged quickly, as Amanda
Shaw's little sister. Overcoming loss, accepting the gift of love, and learning the value of
compromise bonds Molly and Sam in this poetic, character driven romance filled with hope. The Inn
At Oak Creek comes very highly recommended.
Going too Far: Harlequin Blaze No 73
Tori Carrington
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790775 $4.50 www.amazon.com
Marie Bertelli once let her bad girl rule in a steaming encounter with Ian Kilborn, to whom she gave
her virginity. Eight years later, they are both attorneys spending time in the same courthouse, but
Marie's father hire Ian to handle his affairs when the Treasury Department begins to investigate him
for money laundering. Marie is outraged that not only did everyone in her family know of her
father's legal difficulties, but that she was not consulted regarding the case. Marie's well meaning,
but traditionally interfering family has kept men like Ian at a distance. But when she propositions
him, Ian cannot resist the opportunity. Marie's transformation from shy to siren has Ian counting the
hours to their next encounter. But when their sizzling passion brings out strong emotions, the
question remains if Ian will be willing or ready to pursue something more than scintillating sex.
Writing team Tori Carrington once again presents the kind of heat fans of come to expect in Going
Too Far. Marie and Ian discover the naughtiness of indulging hidden desire, indulging
fantasy-inspiring trysts that will make reader's toes curl. But they fail to account for the result of
such soul stirring passion and its emotional ramifications. While Marie comes from a stereotypical
Italian family, Carrington skillfully gives them marvelous personalities that absolutely sparkle,
especially with Marie's attempt to get her brother and his wife back together. The secondary senior
love plot also adds a wonderful pizzazz! Going Too Far comes highly recommended.
Wedding Of The Century: Special Edition No 1523
Patricia McLinn
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373245238 $4.75
Instead of the simple ceremony of her dreams, Annette Trevetti stands with Steve Corbett before the
altar in a church bedecked in elegance and wealth. Her Cinderella gown and rise above her social
position have come with a price, however, and she expected Steve to protect her from the
discomfort much as her own brother would have done. Then a woman interrupts the ceremony
claiming that Steve fathered her baby. Annette leaves behind only her torn gloves and rings. Seven
years later Annette returns to her hometown to care for her injured brother. Steve had married and
divorced the woman who interrupted their ceremony and now raises his daughter Nell. Seeing
Annette brings back all his old feelings in force, but convincing Annette to give him a second chance
proves nearly impossible. However, Steve is tenacious. When his elderly relative arranges a meeting
between Nell and Annette, events take an interesting turn, and Annette soon finds herself
confronting living in only the present, and sharing much of it with Steve. A second chance at love
takes an interesting twist in Wedding Of The Century. Once again author Patricia McLinn pens an
evocative and powerfully told tale. While readers might doubt the groom's ability to remain silent at
the altar when accused of fathering another woman's child, the idealism of youth and inbred control
in any situation certainly explains his hesitance. Indeed, his demonic mother gives a new meaning to
control and secret keeping. Annette's growth from victim to strength reveals a fascinating heroine
who deserves such an extraordinary hero as Steve. The secondary cast also dazzles, especially
Steve's precocious daughter. Fans will eagerly anticipate the sequel The Unexpected Wedding Guest
coming in May 2003. Wedding Of The Century comes highly recommended.
From Boardwalk With Love
Nina Bangs
Leisure Love Spell Dorchester Publishing
276 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
ISBN 0505525062 $6.99 www.amazon.com
Selected for her unusual gift, Camryn O'Brien looks forward to her first assignment with B.L.I.S.S.,
an international crime fighting organization. Her propensity for singing childhood songs while under
stress does not negate her ability to incapacitate men in unprecedented numbers. Indeed, unwanted
help, or blatant interference, can land a man in the hospital in record time. Camryn's first assignment,
to protect the world's wealthiest man, thrusts her into a world of subterfuge and danger, not to
mention a lot of cool toys. Accompanied by three geriatric retirees, Camryn finds herself on life-size
Monopoly board where players risk fortunes. Bad boy Jace Sentori, a man of secrets and a tattooed
self-proclamation of Game Master, adds a romantic element that gives danger a whole new meaning.
With hot spots implanted under her skin to control F.I.D.O., romantic interludes pose dangerous
consequences. But Camryn cannot imagine all the games Jace has ever played, and he never loses.
The first of a series, From Boardwalk With Love is a playful romantic romp that will while away a
lazy afternoon with delighted giggles, not to mention outright guffaws. With her MaryKay pink
Cadillac and robotic cat F.I.D.O, Camryn embarks upon a wonderfully comedic journey, determined
to prove her independence and self-reliance. Unfortunately, every time she reaches the point of
combustion with sexy Jace, circumstances blow them apart again. With lots of teasing, word play,
and spoofing, author Nina Bangs creates an eccentric delight readers will adore. From Boardwalk
With Love comes very highly recommended.
Demon Slayers: Red Thunder Book 3
Jay Kraxton
Sky Ray Publishing
P.O. Box 353 Manhattan, KS 66505-0353
ISBN 0972352708 $13.95 www.amazon.com
Believing the demons of Karthana to be dead, Red Thunder officially ends a constant battle with
destructive demon forces. But evil still lurks, and Rough Claus and Queen Bec will bring about
unimaginable horrors beyond anything Karthana has yet known. Worse, their evil spreads to earth.
On earth, town marshal Zeb Harris receives an early morning emergency call. Kids have been out in
the countryside partying when a couple of them wandered away from the group. No bodies are
found, only a hand. Carl Turner found the hand, and at Zeb's insistence, leads the way to Karthana
and deadly answers. Meanwhile, A pizza delivery gone wrong leads Kyle Bronson to a deserted
industrial plant. Curious about what he sees, he returns later that night with a friend to explore. They
find dead soldiers guarding deadly secrets that bridge the worlds of earth and Karthana. In the final
book of the Red Thunder trilogy, Demon Slayers, author Jay Kraxton proves once again his
consummate skill of combining the macabre and the extraordinary in a tale so fascinating readers will
not be able to put it down. With evocative prose, lyrical and yet terrible, Kraxton leads the reader
into the depths of evil and through the murky world of sanity. Religious ecstasy, mass destruction,
and horrors beyond belief will hold readers riveted. Indeed, these darkly fantastic characterizations
and this haunting plot confirm this horror-master's literary talent in spades. Demon Slayers comes
very highly recommended.
Dangerous Intentions
Denise Agnew
Treble Heart Books
1284 Overlook Drive, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
ISBN 1931742154 eBook/Multiple Formats $12.95 Floppy Diskette $6.00 Download $5.00
Wealth did not bring safety to Kiley Chapman ten years ago when her fiance kidnapped her, nor
have the intervening years brought forgetfulness. Now danger surfaces once again, and her uncle
hires a bodyguard to protect her life. Scott Danger arrives undercover in Kiley's life to present
himself as possible "hero" for her upcoming feature. His charisma and arrogance challenge Kiley's
determination to remain reserved and uninvolved. Scott expects this assignment to land him with a
spoiled rich girl. Instead, he finds Kiley to be resourceful, intelligent and incredibly self possessed.
Resistant to bodyguards, she is proficient in self-defense and does not hesitate to protect herself
when provoked. He believes himself to be immune to the charms of a woman like Kiley but quickly
finds himself mistaken. As Kiley and Scott fight their mutual attraction, events will quickly spin out
of their control, forcing them to confront emotions and situations that will force them to confront
dangerous intentions. Author Denise Agnew has established a strong reputation for carefully crafted,
gripping novels, fulfilling that reputation once again with Dangerous Intentions. A dangerous villain,
a resourceful heroine and a sexy hero combine in deft characterizations and fast paced action certain
to please the most discerning audience. Kiley successfully preserves her fierce independence,
determined that no man will control her, even as she learns the value of accepting the help of a sexy
hero. With a light paranormal element at the end, readers will certainly be seeking out the sequel,
Treacherous Wishes. Dangerous Intentions comes very highly recommended.
Forevermore
Denise A. Agnew
Treble Heart Books
1284 Overlook Drive, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635
ISBN 0971188211 $12.95 e-Book/Multiple Formats $5.00
Dreams of Maggie Mae Ramsay have come to Mae Sutton since childhood. A shift to nightmares,
however, leads to a compelling need to visit the Scottish Highlands and learn more about Maggie
Mae. Time shifts bridge the gap between Mae and Maggie, but no more so than meeting Adian
Rasey, the man who owns the castle ruins where Maggie Mae disappeared. Indeed, according to the
Mae's memories and the paintings she finds, Adain looks exactly like Maggie Mae's love, Quinn.
Mae's appearance likewise stuns Adain, because she looks exactly like the portrait of Maggie.
Further, Adian also dreams, sharing a deep understanding of Mae's need to explore the past. But
Moore Castle is a dangerous place where evil stalks the corridors and people mysteriously
disappear. So Adain carefully guards his knowledge of the past and the people he and Mae resemble.
Author Denise Agnew weaves an entrancing tale that spans lifetimes in Forevermore. Mae's fierce
independence and determination to forego men meets its match in Adain's stubborn determination.
These strong characters find themselves drawn inexorably together on a path of marvelous
discovery. The mysterious links to the past and the powerful needs of the present provides a
powerful tale of good triumphing over evil with heart-warming results. Indeed, Agnew's gift for deft
intertwining of romance, mystery, gothic overtones, and the paranormal once again proves her
remarkable storytelling gifts. Forevermore comes highly recommended.
A Woomera Storm
Jean M. Brooks
Jacobyte Books
PO Box 19 Mitcham South Australia 5062
ISBN 174100117X Paperback/eBook/Multiple Formats
(Australian Prices) Download $7.00 Printed Book $19.00
Marvelous character drama - Very highly recommended For three years Richard has worked in
Woomera, Australia, as part of a team experimenting with guided weapons. When his wife died on
the passage to Woomera, Richard quickly took a second wife so they would not lose married
housing. Unfortunately, Harriet hated the isolation of the place and Richard's inability to share more
of himself, eventually taking their year old daughter and leaving. Both Richard and his son Peter
mourn their departure, but neither can share his feelings with the other. Although WWII has been
over for fifteen years, many of the residents of Woomera are very aware of nationalities. Harriet,
who was English, had commented on the number of Germans and Russians who worked at
Woomera. Richard had brushed aside her comment, but when a subordinate makes a quick rise in
rank and Richard sees him with questionable company, Richard begins to wonder about trust, spies,
and espionage. Meanwhile, his young son grows into adulthood with his own trials. His first sexual
experience with an older woman, the injury of a peer, and his father's attitude about a friend all bring
growth and transformation. Indeed, it is Peter who faces the most morally and ethically puzzling
dilemmas of all. Author Jean M. Brooks pens a complex and deeply evocative tale in A Woomera
Storm. This multilevel examination of ethics as father and son live together, yet very separately,
charts the tempestuous terrain of infidelity, betrayal, and war criminals. Brooks' powerful
storytelling ability captures the subtle nuances of vulnerabilities and weaknesses of character as
Richard acknowledges his weak interpersonal relationships and yet his longing for more. Peter
makes the mistakes common to boys his age, and yet rises above it all in a conclusion that is tragic,
surprising and thought provoking. Readers will mourn the recent death of this author as well as the
abrupt conclusion of her series. A Woomera Storm comes very highly recommended.
Cindy Penn
Senior Reviewer
Midwest Book Review
Donovan's Bookshelf
Visual Dictionary
Jean-Claude Corbeil & Ariane Archambault
Firefly Books
PO Box 1338, Buffalo NY 14025
1552975851 $49.95 1-800-387-5085
This visual reference will appeal to entire families, as well as reference library holdings, revamping a
popular visual dictionary originally produced by Macmillan over a decade ago. Thousands of new
updated entries have been added for this edition, while a presentation by picture and an organization
by subject makes it easy to look up such diverse topics as different sock lengths and carpentry tools.
An unusual, exceptional approach to defining over 35,000 terms.
Firefly Books
PO Box 1338, Buffalo NY 14025
1-800-387-5085 www.amazon.com
Two specific but excellent gardener's guides are recommended picks, perfect for Spring pursuit.
Jennifer Bennett's Lilacs For The Garden (1552975622, $19.95) provides an in-depth survey of the
lilac, from its planting, pruning and maintenance to its place in the landscape, whether alone or
grouped. A species list, troubleshooting guide, and plenty of lavish blooming photos makes for a
treat. Pamela McGeorge and Keith Hammett's Carnations And Pinks (1552975541, $22.95)
provides a practical gardener's guide which outlines the history of the genus and different species for
modern gardeners. From basic cultivation tips to displays and handling disorders, this is packed with
color and insights.
Dover Publications
31 E. 2nd St., Mineola, NY 11501
1-800-223-3130 www.amazon.com
Two intriguing reprints will interest a wide audience. George Francis Dow's Slave Ships And
Slaving (0486421112, $14.95) republishes a 1927 title, telling the history of slave ships and
collecting commentaries by ships' doctors and others. Gripping first-person stories are accompanied
by black and white vintage photos. D. Alan Stevenson's World's Lighthouses From Ancient Times
To 1820 (0486418243, $26.95) republishes a 1959 classic surveying the construction of lighthouses
and changing methods of illumination over the decades. The text is technical but also includes a
healthy dose of fine history from unpublished records and old books now inaccessible.
Hesperus Press/Trafalgar Square, dist.
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
$12.00 each 1-800-423-4525
This small press specializes in re-printing classics by notable authors; but usually not your
better-known classics. The focus here is upon under-publicized and lesser-known works by the
masters. So here you will find Wilkie Collins' Who Killed Zebedee? (1843910195), rather than his
Lady In White: Zebdee being a Victorian murder mystery blended with cultural observation. Or,
you'll enjoy Alexander Pope's Scriblerus (1843910012), a comic satire of culture and its ironies; or
Joseph Von Eichendorff's Life Of A Good-For-Nothing (1843910047), of a young man who
answers the call to hit the road. Daniel Defoe's known for his Robinson Crusoe yarn; enjoy his King
Of Pirates (184391011X), which provides a further swashbuckling pirate adventure. Nikolai Gogol's
Squabble (1843910136) provides a tongue-in-cheek story of squabbling neighbors; Franz Kafka's
Metamorphosis (1843910144) tells of a boy who turns into an insect, and Joseph Conrad's more
famous Heart Of Darkness (184391008X) appears in a centenary edition paired with the
lesser-known Congo Diary and Up-River Book. Each provide insights into authors' lesser-known
writings.
YMAA Publications
4354 Washington St., Roslindale, MA 02131
1-800-669-8892 www.amazon.com
This publisher's expanding line of martial arts books embraces history, how-to, and even
health-related concerns. Take Xiangcai Xu's Chinese Tui Na Massage (1886969043, $16.95), for
example. This originally appeared in China and has been re-edited for an English audience, providing
both theory and practical applications for a massage technique which specializes in injury repair and
curing. Black and white line drawings accompany plenty of technical and medical details unusual in a
massage guide. Michael Rosenbaum's The Fighting Arts (1886969213, $15.95) traces their
evolution from old world to new societies, considering both the early development and history of
martial arts and its applications to modern culture. Particularly notable are discussions of differences
between civilian and military warfare forms, which accompany myths and legends. Quite unusual is
Darrell Max Craig's Mugai Ryu (1886969183, $22.95), which discusses samurai history and
combines a travelogue with its survey. The author encountered descendants of famous samurai of
the past, who shared their rituals and experiences through oral history. Sword rituals and the care
and testing of swords accompany specific drawing techniques and sparring routines. Readers who
seek a broader interpretation of tai chi methods will welcome Robert Chuckrow's Tai Chi Walking
(188696923X, $16.95), which draws some important links between Tai Chi exercises and walking
concepts. From learning how to walk properly to discovering how Tai Chi routines can enhance
health and fitness, this is packed with important and unusual applications. John Loupos' Inside Tai
Chi (1886969108, $20.95) provides training and process hints for newcomers to the art, providing
training exercises, practical advice and applications, and discussions of the fundamentals of Tai Chi.
Richard Chun's Taekwondo: Spirit And Practice (1886969221, $15.95) discusses the Korean
author's dedication to the Taekwondo tradition. His journey to America and his introduction of the
art to the American public bends autobiography with discussions of Taekwondo foundations. Darrell
Craig and Paul Anderson's Shihan-Te (1886969884, $22.95) provides self-defense applications
specific to the kata form of karate. Kata are pre-arranged dance-like forms used to convey styles to
the karate practitioners: this focus on kata and bunkai analysis will appeal to martial arts students
studying karate. All are excellent guides offering something different.
Diane C. Donovan
West Coast Editor
Midwest Book Review
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
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