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Table of Contents
Donovan's Bookshelf
Night Country
Stewart O'Nan
Farrar Straus Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
0374222150 $22.00 1-888-330-8477
At midnight on Halloween in New England, five teens are killed in a car wreck. A year later the
three who died come back, summoned by memories of their friends, on a last mission. This
multi-faceted ghost story is satisfyingly spooky and has a haunting plot fueled by powerful
characterization. Highly recommended.
Founding Fish
John McPhee
Farrar, Straus, Giroux
19 Union Square W., NY, NY 10003
0374104441 $25.00 1-888-330-8477
This blends personal, natural and American history and will prove hard to easily categorize, but
provides a fine account of a shad fisherman's obsession, fish research, and insights. This is more
than
a fishing book: McPhee fishes with and visits the labs of ichthyologists and learns about shad
in-depth in his pursuit of the game. A revealing, intriguing coverage.
Home Water & Moisture Problems
Gary Branson
Firefly Books Ltd.
4 Daybreak Lane, Westport, CT 06880
1552978362 $24.95 1-800-387-5085
The single most common problem of homeowners is water, whether it be mold or a damp
basement
or a leaky roof. This shares a professional contractor's insights on water, tells how to prevent
many
water problems, and how to fix existing problems. From ventilation systems to vapor barriers and
basement sealers, this covers all the possible tricks to keeping a home watertight.
The Good Back Book
Renita Fehrsen-Du Toit
Firefly Books Ltd.
4 Daybreak Lane, Westport, CT 06880
1552978273 $29.95 1-800-387-5085
Any who have suffered from back pain and that is much of the population will find this a simple
and fine book which covers the basics of spinal health, from improving posture to strengthening
the
back with exercises and preventing pain with improved alignment. Common back problems
receive
clear coverage as to causes and prevention using this illustrated manual as a guide.
Firefly Books Ltd.
4 Daybreak Lane, Westport, CT 06880
1-800-387-5085 www.amazon.com
Three important new guides are highly recommended picks for public to school library holdings.
Tim
Fitzharris' GUIDE TO NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY (1552978184, $35.00) appears in its revised
edition to cover proven techniques for making award-winning photos. From buying and using the
best professional equipment suitable for nature shots to insider tips on field procedures and
fullproof
methods for composition and filtering, this also includes a review of top locations for
photographing
nature. Add gorgeous color photos and you have a real winner. David Silcox's GROUP OF
SEVEN
AND TOM THOMSON (155297605X, $85.00) celebrates eleven artists who broke with
tradition
and established a new way of painting Canada. The members called themselves the Group of
Seven,
but there were eventually ten members and one Tom Thomson, who died before it was
established,
remained a major influence on the group. Collections with a special interest in Canadian art and
artists will find this of special interest. Maggy Howarth's COMPLETE PEBBLE MOSAIC
HANDBOOK (1552977846, $39.95) provides a review of pebble mosaics which can be used in
gardens, patios and public places. Artists, landscapers, and any with a special interest in the design
qualities of these mosaics will find this a beautiful collection which not only provides step-by-step
insights, but includes a survey of traditional works by contemporary pebble mosaic artists.
A House on the Water
Robert W. Knight
The Taunton Press
63 South Main St, Newtown, CT 06470
1561586072 $34.95 1-800-477-8727
This catalog of twenty-four homes built right on the water provide eye-catching displays of
signature
homes which highlight the relationship of house to water, from seaside to lakeside and riverside.
The
focus on home design and construction surveys both artistic and practical details of tailoring a
beautiful home which can withstand the demands of a waterside location. A gorgeous,
inspirational
survey of very different approaches and techniques.
The Taunton Press
63 South Main St., Newtown, CT 06470
1-800-477-8727 www.amazon.com
These outstanding quilting, sewing and workshop books expands Taunton's exceptional range of
manuals and will appeal to a wide audience. Andra Betzina's FAST FIT (1561586498, $17.95)
provides the author's quick tips on easy pattern alterations for every figure. Here the host of TV's
Sew Perfect provides an accessible, easy key to understanding fitting patterns, isolating different
pattern problems and walking readers through the process of making changes. An easy, wonderful
guide. Kaffe Fassett and Liza Prior Lucy's PASSIONATE PATCHWORK (1561686501)
provides
the pattern worker's original quilt designs. The author is known for his amazing color palettes and
innovative designs, and here provides a new approach to patchwork which uses 20 main designs
to
demonstrate deceptively simple piecing. Three new woodshop handbooks provide solutions and
insights to any who would produce professional, polished results. Paul Anthony's SMART
WORKSHOP SOLUTIONS (1561585785, $19.95) tells how the right fixtures an accessories can
transform a workshop. From assessments of clamp racks and wood storage solutions to router
tables
and tablesaws, this covers the basics to obtaining and building accessories which lend to the
woodworker's achievements. Peter Korn's WOODWORKING BASICS (156158620X, $19.95)
provides a review of basic woodworking craftsmanship, from learning master skills and techniques
to safe use of machinery and hand tools. This also offers two useful projects a small bench and a
side table with a drawer and door to reinforce and illustrate the proper use of equipment.
Michael
Dresdner's WOOD FINISHING FIXES (1561585912, $19.95) covers everything the beginner
needs
to know about wood finishing for different projects, from exterior doors and stains to questions
about using brushes, avoiding drips and runs with spray finishes, and getting uniform color results
from different finishing mediums. All are very basic guides offering solid reference
applications.
Assessing Competitive Intelligence Software
France Bouthillier and Kathleen Shearer
Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
1573871737 $39.50 1-800-300-9868
Librarians and any involved in commercial software products for competitive intelligence will find
this collection of reviews and surveys to be an exceptional guide presenting a systematic method
businesses and collections can use to evaluate CI software independently. This could have been
reviewed in our business books section but also holds applicability to librarians and others
involved
in the information technology industry, providing an important background on competitive
intelligence applications and methodology.
The Two Percent Solution
Matthew Miller
Public Affairs Books
250 W 57th St., #1321, NY, NY 10107
www.publicaffairsbooks.com
1586481584 $26.00 1-877-782-1234
Can universal health insurance, increased employment, reduction in poverty and political
independence be achieved for just two cents on the national dollar? Matthew Miller challenges the
country to change how we think about public responsibilities before the Boomer generation
attacks
the retirement system in The Two Percent Solution. Individual chapters provide an articulate and
intelligent re-assessment which persuasively challenges traditional political and social mores.
Live! From Marilyn's Kitchen
Marilyn Harris
Pelican Publishers
PO Box 3110, Gretna, LA 70054
1589801652 $24.95 1-800-843-1724
This collection of diverse dishes features over two hundred of the TV cook's special dishes, from
a
simple Ham and Asparagus Gougere to Fruited Chicken Salad with Lime-Macadamia Dressing.
The
variety of dishes and unusual blends of flavors assure this cookbook stands out from the crowd,
whether a reader be a prior fan of Marilyn's TV show or a newcomer to her style.
A Yucatan Kitchen
Loretta Scott Miller
Pelican Publishing
PO Box 3110, Gretna, LA 70054
1589801326 $17.95 1-800-843-1724
This introduction to regional Mexican dishes of the Yucatan provides an easy basic beginner's
guide
which describes what ingredients are common to Mayan foods, techniques for preparation, and
classic dishes. Many of the dishes have been adapted from regional cookbooks to make them easy
for the home American chef to prepare, while introductory notes on local cuisines and specialties
provide insights into the origins of dishes. There are some real surprises here such as Pork
Simmered in Cola but anticipate a book which is filled with delightful surprises and fun.
Turn of the Century Farm Tools and Implements
Peter Henderson & Co.
Dover Publications
31 E. 2nd St., Mineola, NY 11501
0486421147 $11.95 1-800-223-3130
In 1898 Henderson and Company created an illustrated trade catalog advertising tools, fertilizers
and gardening equipment: this reprints a very rare volume which will intrigue social historians and
any with an interest in early American history. Many an antiques collector will also find this
useful,
including over six hundred black and white illustrations of farm tools.
Dover Publications
31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501
1-800-223-3130 www.amazon.com
James Tanner's IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER (0486428370, $12.95) deserves ongoing
recommendation as an excellent natural history of the woodpecker. From differences between the
Ivory-Billed and other woodpeckers to population densities, daily routines and feeding habits, this
was written for the author's doctoral thesis in 1942 but remains a strong example of solid field
research for modern ornithologists. E.C. Krupp's ECHOES OF THE ANCIENT SKIES
(0486428826, $19.95) provides treatise on the world of archaeoastronomy - the student of
ancient
peoples' observations of the skies. This republishes a 1994 title and draws some important
connections between how the sky works and how people have relied upon astrology over the
decades. Kasimir Malevich's NON-OBJECTIVE WORLD: MANIFESTO OF SUPREMATISM
(0486429741, $11.95) surveys a 1992 exhibition of Russian works of art in general and the
Suprematist works of Malevich in particular, who was to become a pioneer of geometric abstract
art. Chapters consider and define the artist's Suprematist theory of painting, including its unusual
aspects and depictions of reality. John Grafton's CIVIL WAR (0486423069, $14.95) provides a
concise history and picture sourcebook of the war, using over a hundred rare illustrations from
periodicals of the time to capture the drama of the war as it was reported in pictorial presses of
the
times. The black and white reprints are accompanied by a lively survey. Ernest and Aldren
Watson's
WATSON DRAWING BOOK (0486426068, $12.95) provides a fine art instruction book by a
father/son team who explore the basics of drawing. From the initial attempt to gaining
perspective,
understanding form and measurement, and recreating both figures and outdoor landscapes, this is
filled with step-by-step instructions all ages will appreciate. All are packaged in affordable,
eye-catching paperback.
Klausner's Bookshelf
Prophet Seed
S. Roy L. Hawkins
Trafford
ISBN: 1553691229 $27.95
Avalon was settled by miners but war cut off the planet from the rest of the empire. In the year
8729
AD the empire has returned to Avalon only to find the inhabitants have devolved into hunting and
gathering tribes. The empire plans to leave as their prime belief is not to teach advanced
technology
to primitives. The empire's first imperial ranger hopes to retire and make his home on this
beautiful
paradise. From the planet Sparta he buys a slave warrior Beda-Loo and upon her arrival, he frees
her
in the hopes that she will want to make a life with him here. Beda-Loo quickly realizes that Jake is
an honorable warrior and decides to stay with him as his mate. The tribes accept them as true
Avalonians. However, their peaceful way of life is threatened by a rival tribe led by a renegade
who
cold bloodedly killed the leader. He intends to take control of all the tribes but Jake and Beda-Loo
plan to stop him. They also intend to keep secret the truth about Avalon that if known will
destroy
this unique planet. The hero of this book is an honorable, moralistic warrior with a kind heart who
sees what must be done and does it. His wife is his equal in every sense of the word and when she
learns the secret of Avalon she too wants to protect it from outsiders who will want to exploit the
natives. S. Roy L. Hawkins is a gifted storyteller whose innovative ideas inside a strong plot
captivate readers who can only dream of traveling to Avalon.
When Darkness Falls
Susan Krinard, Tanith Lee, and Evelyn Vaughn
Silhouette
ISBN: 0373218222 $6.50
"Kiss of the Wolf" by Susan Krinard. Dr. Dana St. Cyr left California to return to her hometown,
Big Marsh, Louisiana in the bayou backwaters to learn what happened to her identically looking
cousin who vanished. Remy Arcenaux tells her to leave before she suffers the same fate as her
relative, but Dana refuses though he frightens her, but not because she believes he will harm her.
She
fears her attraction to Remy, who rumors insist howls at night with murder in his heart. "Shadow
Kissing: by Tanith Lee. While Addie Preece travels abroad, artist Vivian Gray flat-sits her
nineteenth
century converted house apartment. In the garden Vivian sees a beautiful male statue that she
needs
to sketch. Not long afterward, the lonely Vivian meets Cinnamon Boyle-Martin and her partner
Connor Sinclair, antique scavengers who want to buy some of Addie's stuff. However, Connor
could
have posed for the statue that has attracted Vivian. "The Devil She Knew" by Evelyn Vaughn.
Marcy Bridges opens up her walk-in closet only to find flames that are not burning down her
apartment, but instead seem to be laughing at her. Her thoughts are the inferno looks like they are
inside a portal to Hell making her wonder how her first spell could go so wrong. She calls the
building maintenance man Tomas Martinez for help even as she wonders if he may be the more
dangerous devil to her. These three supernatural romantic novellas are fun tales that make for a
fine
Halloween treat though a longer format would have enhanced lead character relationships that
occur
too fast.
Jerusalem's Rain
D.S. Lliteras
Hampton Roads
ISBN 1571743405 $19.95
When Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross at Golgotha, the skies turned stormy and driving
rain poured down on Palestine. Peter is drowning in self-contempt for denying his Rabbi three
times
before the rooster crowed. Philip, who like Peter did not witness the crucifixion, gets into a fight
and is seriously injured. With the help of Andrew and Thaddeus, who were also afraid to show up
at
Golgotha because of the Roman soldiers, Peter is taken to Aaron's home where the families await
the return of their men and will care for Peter.. The men are lost and afraid, starting to doubt
Christ's
teachings, while the women are firm believers who will risk death to spread their Rabbi's word.
Peter's wife is leaving him and taking their son with her. Peter gets drunk at a cock fight
awakening
in a back alley where Christ appears to him and talks to him. He learns from Aaron and John that
Thaddeus, Mary Magdalene, and Peter's mother also saw him rise. Peter now believes and intends
to
spread the word. This fictionalized account of Peter's torment during the three days following
Christ's crucifixion is believable. The disciple's angst as well as self-doubt now that the one they
followed is gone is understandable as well. Amazingly the women remain steadfast and don't
believe
that his death will stop the message from being spread around the world. Their love for Christ is
rooted in his treatment of them as equal to men. D.S. Lliteras has written a compelling and
memorable tale that turn the aftermath of the first end days fascinating reading.
Sierra Ransom
Alice Duncan
Free Page Publishing
ISBN: 1589610326 $17.95
In 1852 Muddy Flats, California retired outlaw Sam Ransom Glover eludes the law to find work
in a
lumber camp. He applies for a job at Zenobia Gray's Stew Kitchen. Zee has doubts about Sam
Ransom, but tells him her prerequisite involving working with a Chinaman Lee Yung, reading the
bible every evening, and trust. He agrees to her conditions so she hires him. Almost immediately
afterward, Caleb Barlow feels something is not right with his wife Sue Ellen, who is in severe pain
with her about to give birth. He asks Zee to help. She does her best, but her best friend besides
Lee
dies as little Mary enters the world. Zee raises little Mary. As time passes, Sam and Zee fall in
love.
However, both have a past that each fear will return one day. Neither feels worthy of the other,
making a permanent loving relationship almost impossible unless love can overcome the obstacles
of
the demons that haunt Sam and Zee. This pre-Civil War California historical romance is an
exciting
tale of redemption through love saving two lost forgotten souls. The story line is filled with the
ambience of life in a lumber camp just after the Gold Rush. The lead couple is a delightful pair as
each one expects the worse to occur but hope for a miracle to happen as they know they found
their
soul mate, but believe it is too late for their souls to interact.
The Briar And The Rose
Laura Mills-Alcott
Five Star
ISBN: 1594140898 $26.95
In 1827 Devan feels consumed with grief and guilt because he failed to save his beloved Katherine
from the fire. Drink fails to help so unable to cope, Devan flees London for his Irish home. When
he
arrives in Ireland, Devan sees a ghost as he observes an urchin uncannily resembling Katherine.
Devan brings Raven into his home though her tale is peculiar as she suffers from amnesia. In
exchange for room and board, Devan asks Raven to tell him if she recalls any of her lost
memories.
As he watches his guest act, he wonders if he might be the victim of a clever con or the recipient
of
a second chance at love. Raven dreams of a life, but it is not her nineteenth century existence.
Instead she relives the seventeenth century life of Mairead, the secret lover of aristocrat Seamus.
Mairead believed he betrayed their love, so she cursed him, but once she learned the truth failed to
free their souls before they died. How their tragedy connects to Raven and Devan requires
reading
the novel. The Briar And The Rose is a strong historical paranormal romance that brilliantly uses
nineteenth century tidbits (and to a lesser degree from the 1600s) to anchor the otherworldly
elements into a warm tale that readers of both sub-genres will relish. Devan and Raven make a
delightful couple and through her dreams the audience will see what happened to the secret love
between Mairead and Seamus without slowing down the plot. Laura Mills-Alcott provides fans
with
a memorable story that will make its audience demand more haunting love stories like this
one.
End of State
Neesa Hart
Tyndale
ISBN 0842385231 $30.99
Secretary of State Bradley Benton is watching a basketball game in his Washington D.C.
apartment
when some of the players disappear. The only things left behind are their jewelry and clothing.
When
a call summons him to the White House he learns that the disappearances are nationwide.
President
Fitzhugh believes a foreign power is behind the vanishings and he is prepared to go to war as soon
as he finds out who the enemy is. The Reverand Marcus Dumont of the New Covenant Ministry
knows what the disappearances mean and immediately calls upon the Lord to be saved. Marietta
Arnold, the associate director of FEMA is asleep when one third of the world's population
disappears. She works until she is exhausted using the nation's waterways to get food and water
to
the people who need it since the highways, railroads, and airplanes are in disarray. It is when her
son
Randal returns from college fired up by God's word does she admit the Rapture occurred. While
some politicians like the president and a few members of his cabinet look out for themselves.
Randal,
Marcus, Mariette and Benton join forces to fight the forces of darkness that are spreading across
the
land and vow to bring the word of God to the unbelievers no matter the dangers to themselves.
END OF STATE is a fabulous addition to the Left Behind series. Unlike other works in the
series, it
concentrates on what happens in the United States on a national and local level right after the
Rapture and while Nicolae Carpathia is consolidating his base of power. Readers are treated to a
different perspective on the president who is not as pure as he seems in other Left Behind novels.
Neesa Hart tells an enthralling story while melding her four protagonists into a new Tribulation
Force.
The Lies of Saints
Sigmund Brouwer
Tyndale
ISBN: 084236594X $12.99
In Charleston, Nick Barnett grew up as an outsider in a wealthy family. His father died in Viet
Nam
while his mother gave birth to him long after nine months had passed since her husband left for
Southeast Asia. When he was ten his mother deserted him. Years later he learned who his
biological
father was and inherited a fortune. His friend, private investigator Kellie Mixson lies in a hospital
recovering from a nasty car accident. A Chicago client subcontracted sleuthing work to her, but
wants to end the deal since she is out of commission. However, Kellie says her partner Nick will
find
out what happened twenty-five years ago to Victoria Sebastian, who vanished along with her
infant
daughter. Nick, who just became Kellie's partner, finds a link to the "suicide" of first year Citadel
student Anson Affron who killed himself several years ago. THE LIES OF SAINTS is a strong
investigative thriller that conspiracy buffs will fully appreciate. The story line employs three
subplots
that ultimately tie together through Nick's investigation into incidents that are a couple of decades
old. His precocious two young wards enable the reader to see deep inside the core essence of
Nick
as much as his historical asides into his past does. The involvement of the kids keep the plot
moving
unlike Nick's muses that disrupt the flow. Of interest is the reason why Anson took his life as he
refused to bow down to anyone showing the courage of his convictions in the Savior. Sigmund
Brouwer provides a powerful tale that will send readers looking for previous appearances by Nick
and company.
Fatal Harvest
Catherine Palmer
Tyndale
ISBN: 0842375481 $12.99
Though the Ivy League schools want Artesia High School, Texas student Matthew Strong to
enroll,
the computer guru is obsessed with finding a way to end world hunger. In his quest to turn
Malthus
on his head, Matt scrutinizes the files of Agrimax, one of the major international food suppliers
where he finds abominable goings on at the expense of starving people. When a friend is killed,
Matt
flees to France desperately hoping to find an ally in the International Federation for Environmental
and Economic Development (I-FEED). Matt's widower father rancher Cole had been distant from
his son, but loves him deeply. He panics when Matt vanishes and turns to the only person he
believes
might have an inkling of where the lad is and what trouble he is in, his computer teacher Jill Pruitt.
They hope to save Matt's life from those who want him silenced. Meanwhile, the teen meets
Madam
Losieau. Will she be the ticket for him to provide his data to the Chair of I-FEED located in the
Sudan or is she a double agent ready to feed him to his enemies? FATAL HARVEST will remind
readers (at least older ones) of Rachel Carson's environmental wake up call SILENT SPRING.
The
novel emphasizes making aware the plight of the world's hungry and exposing the avariciousnese
of
the mega agricultural conglomerates. The story line is extremely exciting in a David vs. Goliath
manner with the sling shot and stones being a computer. Though the Madam Losieau link seems
stretched, fans will appreciate this global bringing to light the international problem of world
hunger
packaged inside an action-packed thriller.
Five People You Meet in Heaven
Mitch Albom
Hyperion
ISBN: 0786868716 $19.95
Eddie had worked for years at maintenance at Ruby Pier Amusement Park insuring the rides were
safe for patrons. Though he did his job meticulously and everyone kind of knew Eddie, adults
never
took him seriously. Children seem to like him but even Eddie when he became an octogenarian
reflecting back on his life felt he achieved zero. Eddie recently died trying to save a little girl.
Eddie
regains consciousness in heaven. Five people, one at a time, shows him the positive impact of his
life
on others. Though in terms of major impact, his deeds may seem small, Eddie begins to
understand
the essence of God's gift of life to mankind. Humanity consists of a vast series of interconnecting
networks that mesh the lives of everyone. No matter how minute, that iota of caring impacts
people
even those outside your sphere and Eddie clearly cared. This is a strong modern day parable that
reminds readers that everyone counts even Eleanor Rigby. Using a seemingly nonentity to bring
his
message across, Mitch Albom paints a simply stupendous story that no person is left behind as we
live as an interconnected and overlapping links on this planet. Everybody has plenty to offer and
should be encouraged to do so.
The Third Magic
Molly Cochran
Forge
ISBN: 031286440X $24.95
Merlin and Hal Woczniak keep young Arthur Blessing safe as he moves closer to regaining his
Pendragon powers though the lad is a media sensation. Hal, better known as Galahad, happens to
also loves Arthur's aunt Emily. The rest of the old team of Knights of the Round Table belongs to
a
motorcycle gang. When Arthur drinks from a spring containing the Holy Grail, he gains the ability
to
heal people. However, the spring is part of the home of Gwen Ranier, his beloved Guinevere, who
must die if Arthur is to succeed. With other problems and the obstacles posed by enemies and
lunatics in his way, Arthur's return as the once and future king seems less likely with every passing
moment. The third entry in this modern Arthurian saga is a strong tale that ties up much from the
previous novels (see THE FOREVER KING and THE BROKEN SWORD). However, new fans
would be better off perusing the former novels to obtain the full flavor of this charming tale. The
cast remains strong making Arthur and his cohorts believable in the twenty-first century and
turning
a fast-paced and action-packed story line into a great time.
The Unnatural
Alan Nayes
Forge
ISBN: 0765306131 $27.95
In Los Angeles, the woman barely survived the assault that apparently relates to sewage based on
the gook on her when she suddenly screams in horror and dies in the emergency room. As a
counselor for battered women, psychiatrist Dr. Julie Charmaine wants to know what was so
terrorizing that the woman relived it in her dreams and dropped dead on the replay. While Julie
wonders what happened, Vicki Zambisi, who has had several operations to repair her deformed
skull, breaks into a boarded-up hotel to retrieve a memento that might disclose the secret illegal
experiments conducted by the highly regarded mad cryogenic research scientist Dr. Wesley
Kovacs.
She is fortunate to elude the sewage slasher. Vicki meets Julie who has a device that creates visual
images of what people are dreaming about that she would like to use on her. Vicki has doubts, but
soon other women undergo the horrible assaults in the old abandoned hotel. Could Dr. Kovacs be
the killer or is it something sinister beyond what the two women and a LAPD detective can
imagine?
This is an exciting slasher medical thriller that is fun to read sort of like a Roger Corman movie.
The
story line combines the serial killer with a science fiction cautionary tale about the boundaries of
medicine. Julie is a delightful, brilliant and energetic heroine while much of the rest of the cast
either
are victims or enable the audience to understand the protagonist better. Alan Nayes provides
readers
with an enjoyable tale that hooks the reader from the first page and keeps their interest until all the
questions are answered.
Gateways
F. Paul Wilson
Forge
ISBN 0765306905 $25.95
Repairman Jack is trying to find a way to be a citizen again ever since he found out Gia was
pregnant with his child. Since the government does not know he exists, they cannot be legally be
married. Jack ponders a way to live up to his reputation as the "fix-it" man, his brother calls. He
tells
Jack that their father was in a car accident in the Everglades and is in Novaton Community
Hospital.
When Jack flies down to Novaton he does not realize he is going to be in another battle for his
life.
Hidden in the Everglades are two sinkholes that at the equinoxes give off an otherworldly light.
The
light mutates humans and animals and all other living creatures. Semelie, the leader of the
inhabitants
with the power to control the twisted life of the sinkholes, is responsible for the accident of Jack's
father. Still she cannot get at Jack because a neighbor woman with much power is able to hold the
forces of darkness at bay for the moment. When she is overcome, Jack and two surprising allies
fight
back knowing it could mean their deaths. Fate has something very big in store for Repairman Jack
and the author slowly, novel by novel, reveals parts of the plan in which the Ally (Jack's side)
battles
the Otherness. Readers learn more about Jack's relationship with his father and why the Other has
let
him live. This is a very enthralling and mesmerizing tale because it is very possible that the dark
side
will win and the protagonist knows it.
Plant Them Deep
Aimee & David Thurlo
Forge
ISBN:0765304783 $24.95
She raised her two children to adulthood on the Navaho Reservation in New Mexico and is very
proud of them both. Her son Clifford is a traditionalist who is a medicine man, a leader for those
who don't believe in Anglo medicine. Her daughter is a special investigator working for the
Navaho
police, a woman who is considered a modernist who follows the Anglo way. Instead of relaxing
Rose Destea has become a political activist on the reservation, protesting against gambling and
the
nuclear plant and holding the strip miners accountable for the damage they do to the land. Many
of
the plants that are used in their herbal medicines and healing ceremonies are becoming difficult, if
not impossible to find. Someone is stealing the Plant People and the tribal council asks Rose to
investigate what plants are in short supply. A patient who happens to be Rose's best friend needs a
plant for a medicine ceremony that is impossible to find and she is willing herself to die. When a
friend who joins Rose in her search in hunting the plant is killed, the staunch traditionalist vows to
find the plant thief and killer and find the plant that will save her friend. The Ella Clan mysteries
are
hard-hitting police procedural that always seem to concentrate on action more than
characterizations. PLANT THEM DEEP is very different but just as good. It is a gentle cozy that
concentrates as much on the people as on the action. This stand alone book is an anthropologist's
delight as it looks very deeply into a culture so that even trained sociologists would enjoy reading
this novel. The Thurlos are great storytellers who allow readers to see just how deep their talent
runs.
Quicksilver
Neal Stephenson
Morrow
ISBN: 0380977427 $27.95
Princess Caroline commands Enoch Root to go to Boston to persuade computational systems
developer Daniel Waterhouse to come to Europe. The royal wants Daniel to mediate a
geometrically
growing mathematical squabble. Isaac Newton and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz claim the invention
of
calculus. The two geniuses are locked in a feud that could destroy the enlightened foundations of
empirical data as the basis to support scientific claims. Daniel, a friend of both scientists, sails to
Europe as he muses over the scientific revolution that took root in the previous century. Urchin
Jack
Shaftoe treks across Europe doing odd jobs like pretending to be a Musketeer until he meets Eliza
in
Austria. She is an English woman who escaped a Turkish harem that was her home as a teen. She
wants vengeance on the merchant that sold her into slavery and feels Jack can help her achieve her
objective. Ultimately she works her way up from the former muddy street rascal to English and
French royalty. QUICKSILVER is a delightful complex telling of the birth and impact of the
scientific revolution. The story line recreates some of the greats like Newton, Leibniz, and Hooke
as
they interact with key fictional figures. The novel contains three "books" that focus on the Age of
Reason so that the audience feels they are traveling with Daniel, Jack, and Eliza. Neal Stephenson
makes the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century seem vividly alive at a critical junction in
when reason and technology changed the world as few eras did before or since.
Offer of Proof
Robert Heilbrun
Morrow
ISBN: 0060538120 $24.95
New York legal-aid public defender Arch Gold is assigned the Damon Tucker murder trial.
Damon
is a poor kid from Harlem accused of killing businesswoman Charlotte King during a mugging
incident. Besides the obvious class warfare angle, the media frenzy focuses on the first New York
death penalty case since the early 1960s when the state tested the impact of electricity on Wood.
Arch believes that his client is innocent and thanks to Damon's persistence, he checks into the
background of the victim to see if anyone had a motive. Arch quickly learns that Charlotte had an
affair with her employer, James L. Yates of Yates Associates. Feeling he has found the real
culprit,
Arch tries illegally breaking and entering before turning to former clients in a desperate attempt to
free Damon and place Yates on trial. OFFER OF PROOF is sure to be considered by legal thriller
fans as one of the top five sub-genre novels of the year. The story line is action packed and loaded
with a strong often eccentric cast of characters. Arch is a great protagonist willing to cross the
legal
line to insure justice occurs. This book offers anecdotal proof that Robert Heilbrun is on his way
to
the sub-genre supreme court of authors.
Bell, Book & Scandal
Jill Churchill
Morrow
ISBN 0060097973 $23.95
When aspiring novelist Jane Jeffry gets a brochure in the mail about a writing conference coming
to
her town, her best friend and neighbor Shelley Novacks persuades her to go. Shelley also decides
to
attend. She and Jane register for the plush free suite that is available to the Novacks at all times.
Jane
is so motivated that she finally completes the mystery she has been working on for years. On the
opening day of the conference, Jane meets one of her favorite writers who turns out to be a very
sweet and friendly person. At the opening ceremony the speaker editor Sophie Smith falls ill and
is
rushed to the hospital where she has her stomach pumped. A little while later, Zac Zebra, writer
turned reviewer, is found unconscious in the hotel parking lot. In between agent and editor
conferences and seminars, and costume parties, Jane tries to figure out the link between the two
incidents and who is responsible. It is always fun to read a new Jane Jeffry mystery and BELL,
BOOK AND SCANDAL is strong evidence of why. The author captures the ambiance of a
writers'
convention to perfection, using it as the back drop for an enjoyable mystery. Fans of cozies and
amateur sleuth who-done-its in which nobody is killed and no blood is shed will find this work
charming and entertaining. The story line is lighthearted filled with humor and does not take itself
too seriously.
The Passions of Chelsea Kane
Barbara Delinsky
Morrow
ISBN 0066214572 $18.95
Chelsea Kane always realizes that she was adopted but her family didn't want her to know
anything
about her biological parents. They destroyed all the records. When her mother dies, her lawyer
gives
to Chelsea an envelope postmarked Norwich Notch, New Hampshire. Before she makes the
decision
to go to the town of her birth, she makes love with her best friend and business partner Carl
Harper.
She becomes pregnant but before she can tell Carl, he informs her he is marrying the woman who
is
carrying his twins. Needing a place to escape to and wanting to find out about her biological
roots,
Chelsea moves to the small conservative village of her birth, buys into a business and meets Judd
Streeter who is Chelsea's foreman on the quarry site. While the two fight their growing feelings
for
one another, someone in town attempts to scare her into leaving, going so far as to trying to run
her
over and burning down her home. It has been over eleven years since THE PASSIONS OF
CHELSEA KANE was published but classics such as this stand the test of time and remain a
strong
read when reprinted. The relationship between the heroine and her love is so dynamic and
explosive, sparks fly off the pages. The townsfolk are an interesting group who give color and
atmosphere to the plot and demonstrate that even in a small hamlet, there remains a huge gap
between the classes.
The Book of Air
Marjorie B. Kellogg
Daw
ISBN 0756400805 $6.99
The dragons of Earth, Water, Fire and Air created the globe and when they were through, they
went
to sleep beneath the orb expecting to arise at the world's end. Air was the first to wake up and
realize the destiny of her siblings but when she told Fire he imprisoned her so she would not tell
her
siblings about the quest and its aftermath. Fire went on to become mankind's enemy. In the year
2213 the Earth was in its death throes, he set himself up as a God with his bondmate Paia as his
high
priestess. When Water woke up she bonded with a twentieth century young man from a war torn
African country. Earth bonded with Erde, a medieval maiden who has more courage then a dozen
knights. Earth and Water forced Fire to retreat from the field of battle after Paia turned against
him.
Gerasch, who has lived through several life times and is not quite human, must find and free his
dragon Air for only with the dragons and their bondmates working together can Earth be saved.
This
is the latest and final installment in "The Dragon Quartet" series and it is a powerful work of
sword
and sorcery. All loose ends are tied up and all questions are finally answered so readers are left
totally satisfied and gratified with this magnificent tale and the entire four-book saga that is so
reminiscent of the Dragon Riders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey.
The Devil's Armor
John Marco
Daw
ISBN 0756401550 $24.95
The diamond queen Jazana Carr defeats King Lorn of Norvor when his loyal nobles accept
payment
for betraying him. The monarch and his physically impaired infant daughter escapes. They join
travelers heading to the magical fortress of Grimhold in Jador. He hopes to find sanctuary there
but
also prays that the mystical Akari will ease the pain in his heart and Poppy's physical ailments. The
kingdom of Liiria's greatest champion Lukien feels guilt over the betrayal of the dead king Akeela.
Lukien, linked to the Akari essence Amaraz that he wears around his neck in an amulet guards
Grimhold and Jado with his life since the Akari made him invulnerable and immortal. Also at
Grimhold is Baron Thorin Glass of the once powerful Liirian Empire. Following the Jador
massacre,
he stayed on hoping to find peace from his inner demons. He knows that his former lover Queen
Jazanna will invade Liira in revenge for leaving her brokenhearted. He feels helpless until he finds
a
suit of black armor in an weapons stronghold containing the angry essence of the Akiri Kahldris .
Once he dons the garb, he leaves the stronghold intending to make the kingdoms in the north in
his
image unless Lukien can stop him. The key element to THE DEVIL'S ARMOR is that the entire
ensemble except perhaps Kahldris (the jury is still deliberating about him) is not pure malevolent
beings. Though the prime players cause good people to die especially in battle, they also perform
acts of kindness. John Marco uses his cast like a chess grandmaster moving his players about the
board with dexterity so that the audience receives an action-packed thriller that is essentially
character driven and brings to minds the work of the sword and sorcery novels of Terry
Brooks.
Exile's Valor
Mercedes Lackey
Daw
ISBN 0756402069 $24.95
Once he was a loyal soldier in the Karsian army. Through an unusual set of circumstances he was
chosen to be the Companion of Kantor, a magical being that looks like a hors but is so much
more.
Alberich had to prove to the Heralds of Valdemar that he was worthy of joining them. He
accomplishes that during the Tedral War. Now with Tedral defeated and Karse involved with its
internal problems, Valdemar is temporarily at peace. King Sendar has been dead for six months
and
his daughter Queen Selenay rules the country. The council is urging her to marry and begat an
heir
but none of their choices motivates her to get married. Alone and lonely, with only her companion
to
confide in, she falls for Prince Karath of Rethwellian when he comes to pay a condolence call.
None
of the Heralds trust him; Alberich has reason to believe he is a traitor but all he and his allies can
do
is wait until the prince consort makes a move. They must also protest the queen without her
knowing that they suspect her husband is planning something dreadful once their child is born.
Anytime a Valdemar book is published it is a cause for celebration and EXILE'S VALOR, the
sequel
to Exile's Honor, is no exception. The novel focuses on the first year of the queen's reign and how
her master Herald Alberich, who is also her spy master watches over her and makes sure she is
always protected even when she is unaware of the danger. Mercedes Lackey makes Valdemar
seem
so real that readers will believe it actually exists.
Men Writing Science Fiction As Women
Mike Resnick, editor
Daw
ISBN: 0756401658 $6.99
Popular male writers provide engaging new tales in this anthology and successfully do so from a
female perspective. The concept is intriguing, but obviously gimmicky too. The tales are well
written
entries that cross (no pun intended the gamut of sub-genre lines. Each one provides a first person
account starring a female protagonist (in some cases antagonist might be a more apropos term).
However, the fun in this nineteen tale anthology is not the gender switching, but in observing how
males see females. Mike Resnick summarizes the tales best in his introduction to this collection
when
he quotes from his novel Outpost: "What's the most dangerous race you ever came across?
Women!
I mean an alien race. So do I." Readers will have a fine time seeing favorite writers switch from
pants to skirts in an entertaining compilation.
The Pleasure of Her Kiss
Linda Needham
Avon
ISBN: 0060514116 $5.99
In 1848 Earl Jared Westbrooke decides to take a breather form his work at the Home Office to go
home to see his wife Alexandria. The day after her father died, he married her eighteen months
ago
in Alexandria and left her five minutes after exchanging vows. He expects to make love with her
for
the first time because he needs an heir. Once he is through with her, he will go on his next
mission,
making inquiries on the coast involving smuggling of guns into famine-ravaged Ireland. When he
reaches his home, he finds paying guests staying at his lodge. His wife apparently is hosting a
fishing
tournament and making a lot of money from her customers. He wonders what she is doing with
the
money. When she fails to recognize him, he goes underground to learn if she is helping the
smugglers take weapons to the Irish. Though the audience will have some problems with Jared's
neglectful behavior, fans will gain much pleasure form this delightful Victorian romance. The lead
protagonists are an interesting couple as he hides the truth of his identity while she keeps secret
her
activities. With a fine story line, THE PLEASURE OF HER KISS is a warm historical novel that
readers will enjoy.
To Tempt a Bride
Edith Layton
Avon
ISBN: 0060502185 $5.99
The malaria fever he first caught in India returns so Eric Ford leaves a London dance he was
attending to walk home. Camille Croft, who has loved him since childhood, informs her brother
Miles and Eric's brother-in-law that before he left he looked very ill. They chase after Eric because
they are concerned and want to insure he gets home all right. Near his home, a man offers Nell for
a
night to Eric. Needing to lie down, he takes out his wallet, but the man hits Eric and steals his
money just as Camille and her brother arrive. As Eric recovers, Nell stays with Camille. Eric
knows
he is too old and too ill for Camille, but he begins to fall in love with her. Nell's cousin attorney
Dana Bartlett courts Camille in front of a jealous Eric. When he feels fully recovered, Eric decides
to
tell Camille he loves her. They agree to marry. At the party where they plan to announce the
upcoming nuptials, Nell poisons Eric. She abducts Camille and takes her to Lord Dearborne, a
nasty
individual seeking revenge against Eric and others for exiling him years ago. RITA award winner
Edith Layton known for her "C," Regencies provides her fans with a fine romance focusing on a
warm male protagonist falling in love with a caring woman whom he always treated like his little
sister. The support characters add depth to understanding how Camille and Eric feel about life and
each other. Though the final abduction of the heroine adds unneeded suspense, readers will be
glad
to have read a wonderful tale.
Kill the Competition
Stephanie Bond
Avon
ISBN: 0060539836 $6.99
Having just moved from Cincinnati to Atlanta, financial expert Belinda Hennessey adjusts to her
new
town. She knows that her new town is more expensive than her previous one and that the rush
hour
traffic into the city is unbearable especially from the north side. Thus she has joined those drives
using the HOV carpool lane into and out of the city. Belinda works on an assessment whether her
new firm Archer Furniture should acquire the mom and pop Payton Manufacturing. Her boss
"Maniac Margo" wants the report done yesterday (weekend or not). Belinda concludes that the
potential new addition cooked the books, but Margo tells her to be quiet. Reluctantly Belinda
agrees
being the new kid on the block and wary to make waves. Not long afterward, someone murders
Margo with the evidence pointing towards Belinda due to the fiscal cover-up or a member of the
car
pool who have had run-ins with the now dead queen of nasty. KILL THE COMPETITION is a
delightful relationship drama wit a strong police procedural plot to anchor the tale. Though the
romance between Belinda and police officer Wade Alexander is warm and fun to observe and the
murder investigation cleverly intertwined into the prime plot, the tale belongs to the four female
car
poolers. Their outlook on Atlanta, work, and men forge a strong bond between them and make
for a
witty novel that readers will cherish especially if you ever been stuck in Spaghetti Junction
(Atlanta's
most notorious parking lot during the rush hour).
Pain Free Arthritis: A 7-Step Program for Feeling Better Again
Dr. Harris H. McIlwain and Debra Fulghum
Bruce Holt
ISBN: 0805073256 $15.00
The writers point out at the very beginning that seventy million Americans suffer from some form
of
arthritis with the number expected to balloon as the baby boomers become senior citizens. As
such
this reference book should be of interest to many readers as Dr. Harris H. McIlwain and Debra
Fulghum Bruce provide an easy to follow summary of the various treatments available today. The
authors furbish information that runs the gamut from exercise, diet, drugs and alternative
therapies
such as chiropractic and acupuncture. They include a detailed step by step approach to overcome
or
at least deal with the pain of arthritis so that the sufferer can maximize a positive lifestyle. Those
seven steps are immediately provided in the introduction with detail in later chapters. The book
enables the reader to understand the options and choose what is best of them. Thus PAIN-FREE
ARTHRITUS: A 7-STEP PROGRAM FOR FEELING BETTER AGAIN is solid reading for
those
inflicted with this crippler and their families, but must reading for those who currently spell relief:
none.
Destiny
L.C. Martin
Publish America
ISBN: 1413702740 $19.95
Nikki Saunders looks forward to her Key West vacation after working very hard at her job and
struggling to end her relationship with a married man. She and her pal Leila drive through the
Keys
to their destination where they meet two Philadelphians. Nikki cannot stand the pushy guy
pursuing
her, but Leila and Len Santoro hit it off. Philadelphia realtor Jason McKenzie regrets not being
able
to go with his pals to Key West, but has to complete a deal involving a local mobster first. Len
tells
Jason about Nikki, and he calls her up, shyly asking to meet her. She reluctantly agrees that she
might see him when she is in New York on business. Nikki and Jason meet and immediately are
attracted to one another. However, the real estate deal for the mob failed to materialize. Not only
is
Jason in trouble, but anyone close to him is in peril including the woman he now loves. This
romantic suspense will thrill readers because Juanita McClellan takes the time to enable the
audience
to understand, appreciate, and care about her key cast members. This includes important
secondary
characters. The lead protagonists will delight sub-genre fans as they struggle with other
relationships
(not just romantic ones). The story line shifts into gear once Jason and Nikki come together and
never slows down until the climax.
The Twilight Before Christmas
Christine Feehan
Pocket
ISBN: 074347628X $6.99
After seeing the world, Kate Drake returns to her hometown of Sea Haven, which makes resident
Matthew Granite elated as he has loved her forever. However, one thing that has not changed is
Matthew's inability to speak a phrase in her presence as whenever he sees her he is tongue
twisted.
Though a former Army Ranger who faced danger with confidence, he has never been able to tell
Kate that he loves her. He prays for a Yuletide miracle On the other hand Kate shares the same
feelings as Matt. Though she can actually say an entire sentence in his presence, she believes an
adventurer like he is will never stay with a couch potato. She hopes for a Christmas miracle. An
earthquake releases a malevolent essence from its underground interment. This evil threatens the
town with a debilitating fog and nightmares making day and night frightening beyond reason. Kate
and her sisters must use the magic they possess to battle this wickedness if the people of Sea
Haven
are to survive. Matt shows his love for Kate by joining her in the fray. Christine Feehan shows
why
she is one of the best at creating suspenseful paranormal romances with this powerful supernatural
romantic thriller. The couple lead couple provides quite a contrast between their uncertainties
about
love vs. their bravery in war. The rest of the Drakes are as charming, weaving a spell on readers
that
will echo at a best seller rate back to Ms. Feehan with one reiterative word: sequel.
Hard Lovin' Man
Lorraine Heath
Pocket
ISBN: 0743457447 $6.99
In Hopeful, Texas Chief of Police Jack Morgan stops an underage patron with a fake ID at the Sit
'N' Bull bar. He calls up Madison's stepsister, who is her guardian, high school teacher Kelley
Spencer to take her sibling home. When she arrives at the station, Jack and Kelley recognize each
other as she was his teacher in his senior year when they were very attracted to one another. Jack
thinks back to that senior year when he was accused of impregnating an underage Stephanie.
Kelly
gave him no chance to prove his innocence and no choice but to marry the teen. He did, but his
new
wife ultimately fled leaving him with a son whom he raises by himself. Now Jack is hopeful that he
has a second chance to complete what he wanted to do back in high school. He wants to court his
former teacher, the woman he loves, who turned him around from a bad boy going nowhere to a
law
abiding citizen. Fans of second chance at love will enjoy this contemporary romance starring two
solid lead characters and a strong support cast especially his son and her stepsister. However,
readers will also need to accept the history of a budding relationship between a teacher and a
student
though the former was 22 and the latter 19 at the time. Still, Lorraine Heath furbishes her fans
with a
warm tale of love.
Shotgun Bride
Linda Lael Miller
Pocket
ISBN: 0743422740 $7.99
In the 1880s their aging dad informs his three sons that the first one married with a child inherits
the
family ranch. It appears that the oldest brother Rafe and his relatively new wife Emmeline will win
the competition as she is pregnant (see HIGH COUNTRY BRIDE). Middle brother Kade
advertised
for a bride and six women answered. However, his interest lies in Sister Mandy who he believes is
not a nun, but someone on the run. Mandy has mixed feelings about Kade, who she met a few
years
ago. She is happy he does not recognize her so he cannot expose her, but also sad because she so
much wanted him to remember her. Though even more attracted to him then she was as a young
teen, she fears that if her family finds her, Kade would become an expendable pawn especially to
her
odious stepfather. The second McKettrick western romance is an exciting action-packed tale
starring two delightful lead protagonists. Readers will appreciate Sister Mandy from the moment
she
trounces the socially conscious Kade) in a horse race. Though some confusion between the
relationship between Mandy's stepfather and stepbrother exists and the resolution is too easy, this
is
an exciting Americana historical romance. The coda of SHOTGUN BRIDE is a wonderful setup
for
the youngest brother's story that will keep the audience breathless in anticipation.
The Seductive One
Susan Mallery
Pocket
ISBN: 0743443969 $6.49
Brenna Marcelli knows the depths of her desperation when she visits Nicholas Giovanni, CEO of
family rival Wild Sea Vineyards to borrow one million dollars to start her own wine label. Her
beloved family patriarch and that of Nicholas have fought for decades. Still Brenna feels a need to
go around her grandfather as she believes he will hand over the family winemaking company to a
newly discovered stepbrother. The vines are in Brenna's heart, but so is Nic, who broke hers when
she was a teen. Nic lends the money to Brenna, but sees this as a different type of investment as
he
now feels he has the mechanism to avenge what he has heard the Marcelli's did to the Giovanni
clan
years ago. However, Nic feels Brenna's enthusiasm and acumen as if he was working every vine.
Soon he falls in love with her, but may have destroyed his chance for happiness when his scheme
begins to show fruit. Brenna knows that d‚j… vu means breaking your heart twice over the same
rascal. The third Marcelli contemporary romance is a fine one as readers follow the exploits of the
only sister whose heart is entangled by the vines. The story line is fun to follow as Brenna battles
with her grandfather and Nic. Both these stubborn men soon realize how strong a person she is.
Readers will appreciate the latest entanglement of the heart as the Marcelli siblings remain strong
characters that are fun to observe and the audience will want to toast at their upcoming
nuptials.
Fatal Dead Lines
John Luciew
Pocket
ISBN: 0743471415 $6.99
Sixty-one years old Harrisburg Herald obit columnist Lenny Bascomb thinks back to his last
meaningful assignment reporting the Three Mile Island incident over two decades ago. Though he
reflects on his glory days, he knows that now he is a shell of what he was. While working on the
obituary of a young girl, Lenny goes into a fugue trance. During this state, he types the hidden
truth
from the public person though he never met her or her family. The deceased killed herself because
she could not cope with her sexual predator father. Though he hands in the glowing obit, Lenny
gains revenge for the victim. Everyone praises political powerhouse Herb Butcher for his behind
the
scenes, emperor making when he suddenly dies from a heart attack. However, Lenny goes into
another trance. He soon realizes that the idol who got Governor Lowell elected and turned him
into
a possible contender for president, stole millions for personal use from the campaign funds of the
Keystone State's chief executive. Lenny and reporter Jacqueline Towers start to expose Herb as
an
embezzler and begin to shred Lowell's ambitions too. FATAL DEAD LINES is an offbeat
paranormal investigative journalist political thriller that will remind readers of the Hopper film
Witch
Hunt. The story line grabs the audience as the tired Lenny suddenly regains his energy with his
first
satisfying efforts in over twenty years. Besides my bias of having lived in Harrisburg during the
late
March '79 near meltdown this reviewer found John Luciew's tale fun and gripping in a refreshing
way. No obit for Lenny who deserves future truth finder tales.
Fantasy Life
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Pocket
ISBN 0793456319 $6.99
Lyssa Buckingham divorced her husband when his mental illness threatened to harm their
ten-year-old daughter Emma. The young girl couldn't understand why she wasn't allowed to see
her
father. One day she decided to bicycle over to her former home and go swimming. When she gets
in
the water her father tries to drown her and using powers she never knew she possessed she sets
him
on fire and kills him. Once Lyssa learns what happened she knows she must return to Anchor Bay,
Oregon to the house where she was born. She needs her mother and grandmother, who she turned
away from, to teach Emma to control her powers. However returning home will provide no haven
and ultimately wil, prove dangerous for her and the other Buckinghams. The fantasy creatures
they
have protected for over a century are planning to destroy everything the family holds dear. This
novel will appeal to fans of fantasy, romance, horror and those readers who like a work that is
refreshingly unique. The four Buckingham women are powerful, not because of their powers, but
because of their determination to keep faith with the sentient beings who are under their
protection.
Lyssa learns that a person can't run away from one's destiny and the Buckingham women realize
they are stronger together than apart. Kristine Kathryn Rusch is a talented storyteller who
provides
her audience with a great tale.
The Pirate Next Door
Jennifer Ashley
Leisure
ISBN: 0843952776 $5.99
In 1810 London, Lady Alexandra Alastair wonders about life's ironies. Next door in Mayfair lives
Grayson Finley and his twelve year old daughter. Grayson vanished years ago, apparently became
a
pirate, and now returns to England as a Viscount. Adding to her confusion about the handsome
hunk is observing some rough seafaring individuals threatening to hang him if he revealed
anything
to the Admiralty. In fact after the thugs leave, she rescues him as they did in deed hang him high.
Alexandra's reward is a kiss. As Alexandra becomes better acquainted with her new neighbor, she
falls in love. She wants to keep both Finleys safe. When Grayson returns her ardent feelings, his
enemy James Ardmore has a new pawn to use to destroy him. Though this regency may seen
strange
at first with the hero being a pirate turned aristocrat, fans of the sub-genre will highly value the
tale.
Alexandra is an intrepid character not afraid to go tot to toe with the deadly Ardmore when it
comes
to protecting hers. Grayson is more of an enigma that fans will want to solve. Though the villain
seems out of his element, THE PIRATE NEXT DOOR is an action-packed pleasant "high seas"
London adventure novel.
Yankee Earl
Shirl Henke
Leisure
ISBN: 0843952415 $5.99
The Honorable Miss Rachel Fairchild is horrified to learn that a colonial nobody is the new Earl of
Falconridge. She wonders how this Jason Beaumont from America will know the proper
deportment
of an English aristocrat when he was living in some barbaric land. To make matters worse for the
athletic Rachel, her father expects her to marry this "American nobody". From the moment they
meet with Rachel lying in mud staring up at Jason, sparks fly, not all positive. In fact more are
negative as Rachel makes it clear how she classifies this intruder. Jason sees Rachel as a hellcat
probably not worth the trouble, but taming this shrew sounds so sweet. As they fall in love
encouraged by their families, neither he nor Rachel ever expected that she would tame him..
YANKEE EARL is an exciting historical romance that the audience will enjoy due to the
intelligent
acerbic exchanges (perhaps barbs might be more accurate) between the two lead protagonists.
Though similar tales have been told, Shirl Henke's entry stands out due to the strong cast from the
lead dueling duo to the meddling matchmakers from each respective family to the shocked Ton
not
sure how to react to the behavior of Jason and Rachel. This battle of the sexes is fun to observes
as
this is one time a tie is a win for both participants and the reader.
The Laird of Stonehaven
Connie Mason
Leisure
ISBN: 0843952326 $6.99
In 1432, Graeme Campbell, THE LAIRD OF STONEHAVEN, returns from fighting alongside
Joan, the Maid of Orleans, to his Scottish home. He plans to marry Blair MacArthur, rumored to
be
a fairy woman and the current focus of the MacArthur Prophesy. His cousin tells him he is mad to
marry the witch, but Graeme knows he must honor the last wish of the lass' dying father that he
marry her. He also does not believe in witchcraft or prophesies as he feels Blair is simply a healer.
Blair knows of the Prophesy as well, which states that the fairy woman will face trials from the
elements and cannot fall in love with the wrong man. An arranged marriage seems an ideal way to
save herself especially since the groom loved Joan so she agrees to wed Graeme with no plan to
ever
love him. As they become acquainted the impossible occurs and they fall in love especially when
Graeme realizes the danger to Blair mirrors what occurred to Joan. Connie Mason shows her
flexibly with this powerful medieval romantic fantasy. The story line contains the typical elements
found in a historical, but also freshens up the plot with paranormal components that hook the
audience. The parallels to Joan of Arc is cleverly interwoven so that the hero is haunted with a
d‚j…
vu feel that makes his prime project to keep his beloved Blair the "witch" safe. Ms. Mason has a
winner that should widen her audience appeal.
The Red Hat Club
Haywood Smith
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312316933 $24.95
In the late 1960s the five women met while attending Atlanta area high schools. , Georgia, Teeny,
Linda, Diane and SuSu became friends as they discovered their sexual power over males. Over the
years they remained friends though society battered at each one of them using the vicious tools of
husbands and kids to try to destroy them. Now middle-aged with the beginnings of a bulge and
aches, the quintet still meets once a month in purple garb with red hats to celebrate that they are
the
last generation of southern Mademoiselles sharing Buckhead gossip. They are still a fine tune
team
sharing their desires, hatreds, and boredom. Marriage has not been what they expected with
cheating
husbands or tedious relationships if that much. Each turns to the other four for solace and perhaps
a
bit of vengeance on the worst of their five male companions. Life in Atlanta in spite the trials and
tribulations of age and family remains good as long as the five women have THE RED HAT
CLUB
to look forward to every month. Though nothing new to the vast sea of southern women
literature,
THE RED HAT CLUB is an engaging tale that welcomes readers as if they were sharing wine
with
the heroines. The story line feels like a relationship cozy that combines gentle breezes on top of
steel
magnolias. The characters are distinct and delightful charming the audience with their interactions
and intelligent colloquies on life, especially on men and teens, two species none of them admit to
understanding. Fans of women's fiction will appreciate Haywood Smith's fine homage to the
southern female.
I'll Be Watching You
Tina Wainscott
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312984235 $6.99
In Cypress, Florida, snuggled in the Everglades, Elva Lyons shuts her bar Southern Comfort to go
home. Inside her home, someone she knows comes out of the closet and kills her. Apparently,
Elva
had bought a box of junk at a church sale that contained a journal describing a murder. The
official
report is an accident due to her falling while using her skiff. Elva's granddaughter Kim fled
Cypress
ten years ago after accusing her stepfather, a favorite son of the town, of murdering her mother.
When she learns her beloved granny is dead, she feels guilty for not going home often and hurt as
she missed the funeral. Kim has inherited the bar and house of her granny and heads to Cypress
knowing everyone hates her, but one person would like her removed anyway possible including
the
use of homicide. Fans who have watched the career of Tina Wainscott soar over the years will
enjoy
her latest romantic suspense that never slows down until the climax. The story line is action
packed
and keep readers guessing as to who killed Elva though the villain seems a bit of a stretch once
revealed. The cast is a delight that brings a small isolated Everglades community to life, alligators
and all so that the audience receives the usual entertaining thriller from one of the best writers
today
at keeping the tension high.
The Blessing Stone
Barbara Wood
St. Martin's
ISBN: 031227534X $25.95
Three million years ago, a meteorite journeyed through the atmosphere of the third orb around the
sun. The remnants of the meteorite crash on the planet leaving as its survivor a blue crystal.
100,000
years ago in Africa, The Tall One finds the crystal that somehow saves the life of her ailing Old
Mother. Over the millenniums, the gem is passed from one generation to another, ultimately
crossing
the Mediterranean to Europe, eventually to the Middle East, and finally the Atlantic during the
California Gold Rush to America. A hundred plus years later in an upstate New York hamlet the
jewel resurfaces on the handle of a hippy's roach clip. THE BLESSING STONE is actually an
anthology consisting of eight solid tales that are tied together by the blue stone. The stories are
well
written though a few are obvious as to what will happen. The three BC "books" are incredible
while
the Roman and Dark Ages tales are terrific. Though the remaining trio is well done, they feel too
"modern" (even with one in the sixteenth century) to focus on the mystical jewel until that 1969
farm
with a half of million strong. Still Barbara Wood provides an engaging history of the world.
Deadly Promise
Brenda Joyce
St. Martin's
ISBN 0312989873 $6.99
After saying yes to Calder Hart's proposal of marriage, wealth society heiress Francesca Cahill
disappears. When she returns, she meets up with Calder at a society function where he announces
their engagement. Also at the party is New York City Police Commissioner Rick Bragg, the man
Francesca loves and her fianc‚ hates. Even though Rick is married to the beautiful Leigh Anna, he
feels betrayed that Francesca is going to marry his detested half-brother. The object of both their
affections is more concerned with her new case than matters of the heart. A beautiful young girl
has
disappeared while walking from her home to the store and her parents are frantic with worry. As
Francesca, with the help of Rick and Calder, investigates the child's disappearance, they discover
that more young girls have gone missing and they fear a white slavery ring is operating in the area.
Francesca is determined to find the children and discover who is behind their disappearances even
if
it means putting her own life in danger. Francesca is not the typical society debutant in 1902 New
York City as she is a strong-willed, feisty crusader who believes in the causes she fights for and is
determined to be more then as ornament, hence her job as a sleuth. The Francesca Cahill novels
are
always brimming with passion and history. DEADLY PROMISE is a delightful romantic mystery
that will have readers so enthralled they will want to finish this work in one sitting.
The Distant Echo
Val McDermid
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312301995 $24.95
In 1978 St. Andrews, Scotland, four intoxicated students stumble home at four in the morning
while
snow heavily falls. However, they sober up rather quickly when they stumble over the raped and
murdered body of Rosie Duff. Though everyone especially the victim's siblings believe that the
drunken male quartet killed her, no proof exists and thus no one is charged with the homicide.
Twenty-five years later, forensic science has advanced to the point that the Scottish police
reconsider this cold case. Instead of rejoicing that perhaps Rosie's killer is identified, the
reopening
of the investigation sets off someone seeking revenge against the four former students, who
remain
haunted by that deadly discovery. Two of them, Sigmund Malkewicz and Davy Kerr, suddenly die
in
what look like accidents, but their deaths sends a shiver up the spines of the surviving pair. Alex
Gilbey and Tom Mackie become determined to learn the truth about the murder a quarter of a
century ago and the two killings of their friends because they fear they are next. On the other
hand,
Assistant Chief Constable James Lawson wants them to stay out while he tries to solve the
murder
as homage to his former superior, Detective Investigator Barney Maclennan, who died during the
1978 investigation. Part one takes place in 1978 is brilliantly designed so that the audience
wonders
who killed Rosie. Part Two occurs in 2003 is well written with an intriguing and plausible ending.
The contrasting police procedural story lines enable the audience to see how far forensics has
come
in a relative short period while entertaining the audience with a strong two in one novel that ties
nicely together.
The Heartbreaker
Rexanne Becnel
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312983123 $6.99
As reported by the London Tattler, Viscount James Linford has returned home from spending
two
years abroad in India, his second trip overseas. Not long afterward, the paper announces that
James
is engaged to Lady Catherine Winfield. However as also accounted he has two children out of
wedlock living with him. His betrothal ends and he hides in the country to escape the turmoil
more
than the scandal. His oldest child ten year old Clarissa is a foul mouthed hooligan. Neighbor
Phoebe
Churchill catches Clarissa stealing from her. She takes the child to task and soon they become
friendly. As James is amazed with the way Phoebe "handles" Clarissa, he falls in love with his
neighbor. He wants her as his wife and mother to his three children (the third he has not brought
home yet), help her raise her niece deserted by her mother, and perhaps have more children with
her.
This is a refreshing Regency romance that will shake sub-genre fans not ready for a preadolescent
with a vocabulary that would make a sailor blush. James is an intriguing protagonist as he faces up
to his responsibilities though that costs him his fianc‚e and a sure seat on the Council of Foreign
Affairs. Phoebe is a practical individual trying to do the right thing as she nurtures life's
abandoned
ones. However, the tale belongs to Clarissa who sets the tone with her thieving and flow of
profanity
that will either send readers running away or feeling empathy towards this potentially lost
soul.
Rendezvous Eighteenth
Jake Lamar
St. Martin's
ISBN 0312289200 $24.95
In a family of overachievers, he was considered the only African-American in his generation not
living up to his potential. For instance, his cousin Cash grew up to become an internationally
renowned surgeon whose income was in the seven figure range. When Ricky Jenks was jilted at
the
altar because his bride ran away with Cash, he left America for a job playing piano in a quaint
Parisian Bistro. After living there for nine years, his cousin Cash begs him to find his wife who
walked out on him. Cash believes she's in Paris but when Selena meets Ricky, her face is black
and
blue from the beating her husband gave her. Rickey confronts his cousin who shows him the knife
wound Serena gave him after he found out she was once a high priced call girl pimped by her twin
brother. Besides the marital fiasco, Rickey becomes entangled with unsavory people including the
bodyguards of Serena's brother and Cash. Then there is a policeman asking why his keys were on
the
body of a murdered prostitute in his building. RENDEZVOUS EIGHTEENTH is a refreshingly
different and totally enthralling thriller. Readers will finish the book in one sitting because they
need
to know what motivates the various antagonists. In the middle of all this drama, Ricky barely
copes
with his pregnant girlfriend, who he loves. She refuses to marry him because he isn't a Muslim.
Inside the action, Jake Lamar gives his audience the experience of the African-American
expatriate
life style in 1990's Paris with a brilliant visual display that forms a panorama in the reader's
mind.
The Savvy Sistahs
Brenda Jackson
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312315120 $13.95
In Orlando the three thirtyish ladies met one year ago at a meeting of the Savvy Sistahs Who
Mean
Business. They became friends and regularly meet to share their business successes. They also
share
failure when it comes to men. Pregnant Amber Stuart caught her husband in bed with another
woman and went crazy leading to a miscarriage and a divorce. She now owns Amber's Books &
Gifts. Just before her wedding Brandy Bennett found a video of her future spouse in bed with her
best friend. Using the video as a weapon she gained an immediate divorce with her settlement
consisting of the St. Laurent Hotel. Carla Osborne runs Osborne Computer Network while raising
her two year old by herself. Cord Jeffrey chokes on a cookie in Amber's store, sending her in a
panic
even after he recovers. Brandy hires former FBI Agent Grey Masters when someone begins to
stalk
her. Carla fights off a hostile takeover of her business led by Jesse Deveraux, the only man she
ever
loved literally and emotionally. The three relationship failures have found love, but will any one of
them realize what they have if they go for it? Brenda Jackson displays she is a savvy sistah when it
comes to successfully providing an enjoyable contemporary romance starring three delightful
single
women. THE SAVVY SISTAHS contains three prime intermingling story lines as each of the
female trio stars in their own respective tale, but overlap just enough so that the audience feels
like
participants in a cleverly designed plot. Ms. Jackson provides a wonderful novel that gifts fans of
strong female protagonists with an integrated charming triad.
The Poisoner
Gail Bell
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312320132 $14.95
When Gail Bell was ten years old, her father received a package from the estate of his recently
deceased stepfather. The bundle contained items from her dad's estranged biological father
including
a medicine case. Inside the case were vials that apparently were filled with poison. When Gail
went
to open one of the bottles, her father ripped it and the case away. He buried the case and its
contents. Years later, Gail investigated that case and why her father reacted so abruptly. In 1927,
Gail's grandfather Dr. William MacBeth was accused of killing two of his sons using poison. No
trial
ever occurred as the caring healer evaded justice. Gail investigated the crimes, the motives of her
grandfather, and the use of poison as a killing device. THE POISONER is a shocking biographical
tale that seems like it should be a fictional account of amonster in angel clothing, but instead is a
true
story that will surprise the audience with the findings (read the account). Ms. Bell engages the
reader from the start, as she makes no alibis or rationalizations that excuse her grandfather's
so-called abominable behavior. Readers of true crime will be fascinated with the powerful tale
with a
shocking twist that reads like fiction for only a novel could prove as strange as the ultimate
findings
uncovered by Ms. Bell.
Shadow of Death
William G. Tapply
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312303777 $24.95
Political kingmaker Jimmy D'Ambrosio knows that spousal trouble when one runs for elected
office
means trouble for the candidate. Jimmy D worries about Albert, husband of the US Senater from
the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts candidate Ellen Stoddard. Jimmy D asks old friend Boston
based
attorney, Brady Coyne to hire the most discreet private investigator to determine why Albert is
acting strange. Brady employs private eye Gordon Cahill, who learns what is bothering Albert, but
dies in a car accident that looks more like deliberate murder before he can meet with Brady.
Knowing that Gordon concentrated on Albert's Southwick, New Hampshire cabin, Brady travels
there, but stirs the pot enough that someone else is also killed. Cops in two states are interested in
Brady, his unidentified client, and solving two homicides. SHADOW OF DEATH is a strong
Coyne
entry, perhaps the best in the last decade. The story line moves at a rapid pace as Brady is caught
between client confidentiality and the homicides. The support characters propel the tale forward
while Brady seems refreshed as if he rolled back the clock twenty years. Fans of the hero or the
New
England who-done-it scene will enjoy William G. Tapply's latest story runs on all cylinders.
The Wrong Stuff
Sharon Fiffer
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312314140 $24.95
Antiques dealer Jane Wheel uses her home as her warehouse so personal things tend to vanish
amidst the forest of items. Her son knows first hand the frustration of simply putting something
down and not finding it for seemingly centuries afterward. Jane vows to do better, but she also
works in Bruce Oh's private investigative firm, which means even less time to catalogue and clean
up
the house. As Jane struggles at home, Bruce's wife antique dealer Claire admires a battered chest
but
the owners, believing it's trash, simply want to save money and effort to cart it off so they give it
to
her. Claire feels she has obtained an extremely rare Westman Sunflower Chest. She sells her
treasure
to dealer Horace Cutler, another dealer and takes the item to get it restored. However, when
Horace
receives his goods he goes wild calling Claire a cheat as he insists the chest is a fake. Not long
afterward someone kills Horace and the police suspect Claire committed the homicide. Bruce and
Jane set out to prove his spouse is innocent while traveling the cutthroat antiques' world seeking
clues. The who-done-it is fine, but takes a back seat to the strong cast. Jane is a delightful heroine
struggling between clutter and oxygen with amusing asides at the beginning of each chapter that
will
amuse readers especially the pack rats who throw away nothing. Just ask her son about that.
Jane's
friend Tim Lowry adds humor and further insight to the apprentice sleuth. Sharon Fiffer provides
a
jocular private investigative yarn that the cozy crowd will believe is the right stuff.
Barbados Heat
Don Bruns
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312304927 $24.95
Florida Congressman Robert Shapply used to champion the rights of rappers. Now along with his
wife he plans to push a ban on the violence, drugs, rape and other evils that permeate throughout
the
lyrics of many rap tunes. The couple plan to host hearings on violence and porn that the
entertainment world nonchalantly offers our children. However, before he can begin his crusade as
only a convert could, someone kills Robert just outside his DC townhouse. The police arrest
Robert's stepson Nick Brand. His childhood best friend music reporter Mick Sever, who is still
angry
with his buddy over an incident from a few years ago, offers to investigate when the accused
persuades him that he innocent. As the inquiries take him through the nightmarish violence of rap
music, the weird Shapply extended family, and ultimately Barbados, thugs try to stop Mick and a
killer stalks him. The who-done-it is a solid puzzler that is filled with numerous viable suspects
with
motives. The hero at times seems too egotistical as to his greatness, but what do you expect from
a
reviewer as it is easier to criticize than create. Still fans will appreciate his dogged determination
to
uncover the truth even if it is hard to accept a music critic as an amateur sleuth. The support cast
consists of escapess from weird city, but in some strange manner enhance the story line. Fans of a
different rap will enjoy BARBADOS HEAT, a solid detective tale.
Irish Coffee
Ralph McInerny
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312309015 $23.95
In South Bend, Indiana, literature professor Roger Knight and his brother retired private detective
Phil are big fans of Notre Dame sports. The siblings especially enjoy talking sports past and
present
with the university's assistant sports information director Fred Neville, a fellow bachelor.
However,
that pastime ends when Fred suddenly dies from poisoned coffee. Fred's death shakes the Knight
siblings, but not as much as the appearance at the mass of two women claiming to be his fianc‚es.
Naomi McTear wears an engagement ring and sat in the family pew while departmental secretary
Mary Shuster dresses in widow black. Adding to the confusion of the Knights is that they thought
Fred was falling in love with point guard Griselda Novak. As they assist South Bend police
Lieutenant Stewart on the investigation, Roger and Phil wonder whether a good Catholic could
have
committed suicide or did one of his women slam dunk him? Though the mystery is decaf, the
insight
into the university especially its sports program and history is a delight and will recruit more fans.
Using the women's basketball team as a prime backdrop adds depth especially since they won the
national title three years ago. The Knight brothers retain their charm and Griselda is an intriguing
student athlete. Though this is the seventh game at Notre Dame, Ralph McInerny provides a fresh
tale that showcases the university with a lighter than usual case as the mechanism.
Last Boat to Camden Town
Paul Charles
St. Martin's
ISBN: 0312318723 $22.95
Dr. Edmund Berry of St. Pancras All Saints Hospital seems to be living the idyllic English life as
he
enjoys his work and loves his spouse and child. In turn his family cherishes and adores Edmund.
So
why would Edmund, who seems to have no enemies and is faithful to his family, kill himself by
jumping into the North London's Cumberland Basin? Camden Town Detective Inspector Christy
Kennedy investigates the apparent suicide of Dr. Berry. He quickly learns that Berry
misdiagnosed
the symptoms of patient Susanne Collins, which probably led to the schoolteacher's death. Was
the
doctor so despondent over his blunder that he took his own life? Could someone who has cared
deeply for Susanne have murdered Stephen in a revenge killing? This English police procedural
feels
more like a gentle urban cozy than a deep investigative tale. The story line is amiable as the
inspector
conducts his inquiries. Ironically, readers will find obvious clues that Christy at first missed and
will
know what is going on before the cop does. This technique adds to the overall pleasure of the
novel,
best served with tea filled with plenty of sugar. Readers will enjoy this tale due to the protagonist,
a
fine unassuming police detective steadily doing his job.
The Bright Silver Star
David Handler
St. Martin's Press
ISBN: 0312307144 $24.95
Near Dorset, Connecticut, movie star Tito Molina drives through the protective railing
overlooking
a cliff side to his death. Though it appears to have been an accident, State trooper Desiree Mitry
investigates the incident with the press corps devouring everyone and everything in its quest for
sensationalism. The media is bad enough, but Tito's fans also flock to the site impeding the
investigation to determine whether this was an accident, suicide, or homicide as enough evidence
surfaces to cause doubt. For relief from the pressure cooker Desiree turns to her squeeze,
expatriate
New York film critic Mitch Berger. Between the media and the police, Gold Coast residents find
their nighttime sexsecrets revealed. It seems much of the populace spends more time out of home
and in someone else's bed than the military does (Rumsfeld would want to make this the goal). All
this bed hopping just makes the case more complex as many folks had a reason to kill the actor.
Desiree is horrified to learn that Mitch also had a run in, though not sexual, with the deceased
after
trashing a film starring Tito. Then a second death in a motel bed occurs. Though more like Peyton
Place than a police procedural. fans of the series will enjoy the return of M & M. The story line is
filled with characters hopping from one bed to another, providing motives and opportunities for
wanting Tito dead as the film star is one of the more frequent boudoir travelers. The interference
of
the press and the Tito's fans offer insight into a celebrity investigation, but that still takes second
place to sex in the suburbs.
Truth or Death
Jayne Anne Krentz
Putnam
ISBN 0399150730 $24.95
After escaping from a mental institution and proving her sanity to the in-laws who committed her,
Zoe is happy that she and private detective Ethan Thax discovered who really killed her husband.
Both Zoe and Ethan decide to give their marriage of convenience a chance to become something
deeper as they settle into domestic tranquility in Whispering Springs, Arizona. Zoe's peace of
mind
suffers a severe setback when she senses some disturbed psychic energy, the kind that she felt in
the
mental institution. While Zoe worries that she might be going crazy, her friend Arcadia who also
lives in Whispering Springs finds herself in danger from the husband who once tried to kill her.
She
has something he wants and Grant will use any means to retrieve it. He muddles the works by
making it look like Ethan is the target and if they don't discover the truth soon Arcadia will find
herself in deadly danger. TRUTH OR DARE is Jayne Ann Krentz at her very best. Her quirky
characters include a Feng Shui psychic interior decorator, a body guard that looks like a skeleton
and two cute children who play matchmaker for their mother. They make this work of romantic
suspense a delightful reading experience. There are three different couples and several sub-plots
that
lead into the main storyline that adds a sense of family to what is essentially an action oriented
tale.
Ms Krentz's talent continues to grow and change in amazing ways that will please fans of this
talented author.
The Private Life of the Cat Who
Lillian Jackson Braun
Putnam
ISBN: 039915132X $10.95
In each and everyone one of "The Cat Who" mystery books, Siamese felines Koko and Yum Yum
play an intricate role. Their human James, Mackintosh Qwilleran, columnist to the Moose County
something, shares some thoughts about these felines who enriched his life. Koko came to live with
Qwill when his owner died and thanks to the feisty feline with sixty whiskers instead of the normal
forty-eight, the murderer was apprehended. Koko didn't like being left alone all day and started
eating Qwill's wool clothing. He had to stop Koko from spitting up the resulting hairballs so he
found her a pet of her own, the cat Yum Yum who bonded instantly with the man and his feline.
Further anecdotes about Koko and Yum-Yum reveal the personality traits of the Siamese cats
and,
how they all became a family, and some very interesting adventure they experienced. Fans of "The
Cat Who" series will want to read this adorable anthology that will make a delightful unique
holiday
present for feline lovers.
Trojan Odyssey
Clive Cussler
Putnam
ISBN 0399150803 $27.95
It's been two years since Dirk Pitt discovered that he had two grown fraternal twin children Dirk
and
Summer who he loves dearly. They, like their father, love the ocean and work for NUMA where
they investigate toxic contamination that is destroying the fragile sea life in the Caribbean
ecosystem.
While taking samples underwater, they discover a man made palace that sunk to the bottom of the
sea millennia ago. While NUMA scientists analyze the find, the twins head to an island off of
Guadeloupe to see if a sailing expedition lies beneath the waters and if so is it from the same era
that
was found in the Caribbean. Their father is saving a floating hotel from a force five hurricane
before
going to Nicaragua where the toxic contamination seems to be originating from. He finds a
company
owned by a mysterious four hundred pound man is working with the Chinese to construct
underground tunnels that will connect one ocean to another. When he learns what the tunnels will
be
used for, he and the U.S. government try to stop them without creating an international incident.
Clive Cussler always writes an exciting action thriller that appeals to readers of both genders. Pitt
is
a modern day James Bond who hooks the readers into hoping that his heroic acts won't get him
killed. The hero realizes with a family to care for he can't take so many chances and is prepared to
change his lifestyle. In the last part of the book, the protagonist feels he will cross paths with his
enemy once more implying hopefully that there will be more Dirk Pitt novels in the future.
A Stain Upon The Robe
Terry Devane
Putnam
ISBN: 0399151087 $24.95
In Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Judge Barbara Pitt presides over the headline news criminal
case
in which Father Cornelius Xavier Dooley is accused of sexually assaulting twenty-three boys.
However, as Her Honor is in the media spot light, she asks her former law school lover criminal
defense attorney Sheldon Gold to subtly investigate. To insure political correctness by balancing
the
female non-Catholic judge, Legal Research Services sends a male Catholic clerk Charles Vareika
to
assist Barbara. She confesses to Shel, his legal secretary, and his associate that she slept with the
clerk who has since vanished. She fears for her reputation, but also the impact on the trial. Shel
and
his team, including a private sleuth, make inquiries by interviewing associates of the missing
person,
trial fanatics, and the Catholic priest on trial. As they dig deeper, Barbara seems more unsavory by
the moment and Dooley appears quite deranged, but Charles remains missing. Though the key
cast
members, especially the Judge and the priest, speak stilted English that feels artificial rather than
normal free flow conversation, fans will appreciate the honesty, perseverance, and temerity
displayed
throughout by Shel and his team. The story line moves forward at quite a clip as the trial plays an
intriguing backdrop and enhancer to the missing person's investigation. The insight into the mean
streets of Beantown and the close look at the Suffolk County legal system add depth to this
action-packed novel. Fans of legal thrillers in which an exciting investigation supersedes the court
room drama will enjoy A STAIN UPON THE ROBE.
The Hanged Man's Song
John Sandford
Putnam
ISBN: 0399151397 $25.95
Anyone who knows computers knows that Bobby is the Michael Jordan of hacking. No fire wall
can
keep him out if he chooses to enter that site. However, someone decides to keep Bobby out by
smashing in his head. His friends are horrified by the violence, but also fear what the killer will do
with the information found on Bobby's stolen laptop. Kidd understands the ramifications of the
missing computer that may contain files pertaining to his own illegal activities. Besides his
personal
safety, Kidd also feels a need to avenge the death of his friend. Bobby's secrets begin to surface
providing a trail that takes Kidd around the country, but ultimately to DC where the political elite
is
in jeopardy of exposure. Though the earlier Kidd entries show the speed in which technology
becomes obsolete, THE HANGED MAN'S SONG is an exciting thriller starring an intriguing lead
character whose moral code is a bit different than most people. The story line is fast-paced as
Kidd
accompanied by his cat burgling girlfriend follows the clues. John Sandford, better known for
those
delicious Prey novels has written a strong tale starring a charming offbeat individual with a quest
for
justice, Kidd style.
Blow Fly
Patricia Cornwell
Putnam
ISBN: 0399150897 $26.95
Six years ago Benton Wesley was tortured and murdered. Since then life has become exceedingly
difficult for Kay Scarpetta. Serial Killer Jean Baptiste Chardonne, the unwanted son of a crime
cartel
family, tried to make Kay one of his victims. When he was caught, he tried to turn the situation
around and Kay was forced to go before a grand jury to defend her reputation and honor. Her one
time lover Jay Talley, Jean-Baptist's fraternal twin, used her to find out if Benton told her anything
about the Chardonne crime cartel. Unable to live in her precious Virginia home, Kay moved to
Del
Rey Beach, Florida working as a free lance consultant. Talley and his lover are fugitives living in
the
bayou near Baton Rouge where ten women in fourteen months have disappeared. Jean-Baptiste is
days away from state execution and wants to see Scarpetta. Marino's son is a lawyer for the
Chardonne family and is a threat to all of Kay's friends. All those people are being played by one
of
the world's most intelligent puppet masters. BLOW FLY brings the various players from the last
three books together allowing the audience to see what is happening to each of them. Patricia
Cornwell has written a brilliant crime thriller starring a vulnerable Scarpetta, a person who has
endured heartache, legal troubles, a violent attack and near death by a violent sociopath. She is
nowhere near healed and when she discovers the secret those closest to her have been keeping,
she
will feel betrayed and anger. Ms. Cornwell is at the top of her game with her latest novel. It keeps
readers on the edge of their seats absorbing one shock after another.
Night Fires
Karen Harbaugh
Dell
ISBN: 0553584219 $5.99
When Simone de la Fer reaches her family's Chateau in Normandy in 1793 she discovered that her
family was slaughtered by the citizens who hated the aristocrats. Being a vampire she killed them
all
and then confesses to her priest who gave her an unusual penance. She is to rescue as many
people
from the Reign of Terror as possible and only kill in self-defense. Her prowess soon earns her the
hatred of the board of the committee of public safety who put a price on the head of La Flamme
as
she is known. Simone's path crosses that of Michael Corday, a British spy dispatched to Paris to
assassinate the person who has killed several British agents and wants to bring the revolution to
England. Simone hopes to redeem herself and regain her humanity and sees this opportunity by
succeeding in their respective missions. Danger stalks them from Normandy to Paris and it is only
due to Simone's powers that they have a chance of carrying out what looks to be mission
impossible.
NIGHT FIRES is a very special vampire romance starring a protagonist who believes she can be
redeemed through good works, and a hero who accepts her for what she is and falls in love with
her.
Readers who crave something different and unique will want to read this historical supernatural
romance that is filled with intrigue and action.
Kiss Them Goodbye
Stella Cameron
Mira
ISBN: 1551667452 $23.95
Not long after his brother Guy died, New Orleans restaurateur David Patin dies in a fire at his
establishment Chez Charlotte. Besides grieving their loss, his wife and daughter Vivian are
shocked
to learn how in debt they are. They move to Guy's former estate Rosebank, which they inherited
planning to convert the property into an exclusive resort. Their lawyer Louis Martin drives out to
give them some good news that Guy left with his inheritance. However, someone kills the
attorney
just before local Sheriff Spike Devol arrives for dinner. Bullying Detective Bonine leads the
investigation in which he suspects the Patin women killed Louis since Vivian inadvertently
destroyed
the crime scene. As Bonine pressures the two women, Vivian and Spike fall in love, but first he
must
uncover the identity of a killer and resolves to discover what Guy left them to keep them solvent.
Fans of police procedural romances will enjoy this delightful thriller. The story line is loaded with
action as the audience will appreciate the lead couple and their efforts to do the right thing.
Except
for the police detective the secondary cast adds depth to the plot. KISS THEM GOODBYE is a
strong Bayou suspense tale, a novel that lives up to Stella Cameron's reputation as a great
author.
The Hot Ladies Murder Club
Ann Major
Mira
ISBN: 155166741X $6.50
In the Corpus Christie area, personal injury attorney Joe Campbell takes a deposition from realtor
Hannah Smith. Though he goes after her with a vengeance for his clients the O'Connors, who
insist
mold was in the house, he finds himself dreaming of making love her too. Hannah attacks back
calling him names and accusing his client of causing the mold problem. When he threatens to dig
into
her background, Hannah panics. Hannah fears that her former husband Sir Dominic Phillips will
find
her and their daughter Georgia. She fled his abuse taking their child with her. However, Dominic
already knows where Hannah lives and works; he vows that no one walks out on him. As Hannah
and Joe become acquainted with one another via the lawsuit, they begin to see a deeper caring
individual radically different then their first impression. They fall in love, but both has demons to
overcome, hers being life threatening. THE HOT LADIES MURDER CLUB is an exciting
romantic
suspense tale though the final twist feels off kilter. The story line is fast paced as Joe and Hannah
combat one another before falling in love. The club formed by the four ladies is reminiscent of a
gender bending view of the court room scene of How to Murder Your Wife. Anne Major lives up
to
her surname as a key sub-genre writer with this exhilarating story.
The Kill Fee
Laura Van Wormer
Mira
ISBN: 1551667444 $23.95
In Castleford, Connecticut, octogenarian Percy Harrington gives a letter he received to his great
niece Sally Harrington to check into. Apparently, somehow Percy owns some property in
Hillstone
Falls, New York and the Western Connecticut Land Trust Company wants to buy that land.
Sally's
West Coast lover, former Hollywood cop Paul Fitzwilliam has transferred to the New Haven
force
to attend a nearby law school at night. Her boss at DBS News Alexandra Waring is angry and
upset
as the brass wants Sally to take over for the ailing pregnant Jessica Wright on the latter's talk
show.
Alexandra offers Sally less money, but a raise if she is willing to work the am news as co-anchor
with Emmett Phelps. Sally excitedly accepts, as news is what she prefers to do. Sally learns that
her
uncle's five acres are in the middle of a major industrial project that has Mafia backing. The mob
comes after her to insure she remains silent and her uncle sells. The fifth Harrington tale is an
engaging thriller that is incredibly realistic especially the ending, but will put off idealistic fans of
the
series. Sally remains a strong intrepid heroine that has made her a favorite. Still, the story line
starts
a bit slow as the support players are brought into focus, but once Sally crosses the state line, the
action never slows down until the final checkmate occurs.
Thicker Than Water
Maggie Shayne
Mira
ISBN: 1551667371 $6.99
Seventeen year old runaway Julie believes that her mentor, cult prophet Mordecai Young is insane
and dangerous. She worries that he will choose martyrdom for him and his followers in their
upcoming confrontation with the law. Julie fears for his infant daughter and the mother of the
child
Lizzie. The assault occurs, but Julie rescues the child. Lizzie and Mordecai apparently died in the
fiery inferno. Sixteen years later, Julie is a successful Syracuse news broadcaster though raising
Dawn on her own. Harry Blackwood, brother to a state senator, has blackmailed Julie threatening
Dawn with information he obtained on their days in the cult. Julie confronts Harry, but finds him
dead. Julie knows that the killer has the damaging information that Harry used on her. Though she
feels he is an uncouth boar, Julie turns to her co-anchor Sean MacKenzie who observed her pull a
crime scene stunt and a break and entering so he helps her while they fall in love. Though there
has
been a bundle of news romance tales especially in the movies, readers will appreciate THICKER
THAN WATER. The story line is fast-paced as the seemingly prim and proper Julie tampers with
a
crime scene and breaks the law in an attempt to protect Dawn. Sean is an intriguing hero who
cannot believe what Julie has been doing since the discovery of a dead Harry. Though the final
twist
or two seem odd, fans of exhilarating romantic suspense thrillers will want to read Maggie
Shayne's
fine tale.
Some Bitter Taste
Magdalen Nabb
Soho
ISBN: 1569473390 $12.00
Once he handles a couple of other more pressing police matters, Florence Marshall Salvatore
Guarnaccia will deal with Signora Sara Hirsch's complaint that someone had entered her
apartment.
So he goes ahead and deals with an illegal abused, underage Albanian prostitute and a minor
robbery
at the Villa L'Uliveto. When he arrives at Sara's abode, he regrets his assumption that the breaking
and entering was a minor matter for he finds her dead. Feeling guilty, he makes inquiries into the
deceased. He learns she was impoverished, but expects to make fortune when a Monet that the
Nazis stole from her family was soon to be returned to her. Allegedly a half-brother possesses the
art
treasure. However, before he can track down the missing masterpiece, Guarnaccia learns that
someone also killed Sir Christopher, whose villa robbery made Salvatore arrive too late to help
Sara.
As he keeps digging, he finds a link between the two deaths, but so far unable to determine who
wanted both dead. The Guarnaccia police procedurals are some of the sub-genre's best. Readers
get
a taste of Italian law enforcement through the methodical Guarnaccia, a tremendous lead
protagonist. SOME BTTER TASTE is a strong entry as the cleverly deigned who-done-it is more
personnel than usual for the quiet hero. Anyone who reads this novel or any of Magdalen Nabb's
works will go away with a sweet taste desiring more novels by a superb mystery author.
The Marshal and the Madwoman
Magdalen Nabb
Soho
ISBN: 1569473404 $12.00
Marshal Guarnacci of the Pitti Palace Carabinieri Station was with his wife when he first met the
crazy woman, Clementina, while she brawled with some guy apparently over feeding pigeons.
Everyone in the working class neighborhood knows the former mental patient and many take
turns
feeding her. Not long after meeting Clementina, the Marshal receives a call from bar owner
Gianfranco Cini informing him that he and others broke into the room of the Crazy Woman to
find
Clementina dead in what looked like an amateur killer poorly trying to make it seem like suicide.
Upon seeing the crime scene the Marshal knows a homicide occurred, but Clementina had nothing
to offer anyone as she depended on others to survive. Guarnacci makes inquiries but seems to be
going nowhere as he is constantly reminded by the Prosecutor. Still in his methodical manner, the
Marshal begins finding connections to and from the victim not as visible at first glance while
working a myriad of sidebars for the locals. The Marshal Guarnacci tales are strong Italian police
procedurals that focus on the secondary characters much more than the investigation. Through
the
actions and reactions of the support cast, the audience obtains a deep understanding of the
Marshal.
This case is a powerhouse as the audience observes the intriguing social relationships of this
working
class neighborhood that enables the reader to appreciate the lead protagonist. Though a bit
different
as the action takes a secondary role to the players, Magdalen Nabb provides sub-genre fans with
an
engrossing novel.
Just Perfect
Judith A. Lansdowne
Zebra
ISBN: 0821774220 $5.99
In 1804 Marquess Mallory following detailed instructions still managed to get lost on Little Lynd
Moor though his retinue made it safely to their destination. Lady Hannah Thorne notices a light
on
the moor and rescues Mallory from feral dogs. Hannah and her escort take Mallory to the home
of
his cousin and the man's wife. They believe that Mallory is the right man for Hannah, as he will
not
fear her ferocious brother the Duke of Berinwick. To the shock of Hannah and Mallory, they are
attracted to one another. Neither expected love to enter their respective lives, but that seems to be
the case. However, Hannah realizes someone wants her beloved dead and she plans to prevent
that
from happening by exposing the blackguard, not realizing the danger to her. Though the lead
couple
is a bit too perfect, readers will like them and appreciate this exhilarating Regency romantic
suspense. The story line is action-packed and feels somewhat like an investigative tale as the Duke
tries to learn who killed a woman on his property and he and his sister try to learn whether
Mallory's
cousin wants the Marquess dead too. The secondary characters add depth to a fine novel.
Until September
Brenda K. Jernigan
Zebra
ISBN: 0821775359 $5.99
Claire Holladay learns she is dying from consumption, but though she has been diagnosed as
having
a short time left, she vows to live it too the fullest. She formally dumps her fianc‚ who for
practical
purposes dumped her anyway. A journalist for Harper's Publishing, Claire sells her publisher on
her
going out west and sending back articles. Her loving family supports her decision and arranges for
Uncle Ben, owner of a Colorado Territory stage line, to meet his beloved niece. Ben assigns his
best
man Billy West to meet Claire and escort her to him. Claire hides her condition from everyone
except her family, as she wants to live life not feel pity. Billy and Claire fall in love, but though she
wants to live life to the fullest, cruel irony is that she has only UNTIL SEPTEMBER. Fans who
relish a deep historical tale will appreciate the depth that Brenda K. Jernigan gives to her poignant
tale. The romantic subplot is handled with dexterity, as neither of the fully developed lead
characters
wants such an emotion at this time in their lives. Don't assume the climax because whether the
diagnosis proves correct will require reading the novel as the audience will not know until the
end.
This in part is why Ms. Jernigan consistently remains one of the best authors around.
Winter Fire
Jo Beverley
Signet
ISBN: 0451210654 $6.99
In 1763 Surrey, Genova Smith accompanies the two elderly Trayce sisters as they journey to see
their great nephew. On the way, they meet a Mrs. Dash, whose wagon is in the ditch. Mrs. Dash
asks them to take her infant to her husband at the nearby Lion and Unicorn Inn, which the three
female travelers do. When they arrive at the inn, they find no Mr. Dash, but a gentleman asks the
innkeeper if Mrs. Dash is here. Genova talks to the man, who deserts her with a kiss as he gives
chase after Mrs. Dash better known as Molly Crew, a liar who claims he impregnated her. Before
he
leaves, the Marquess of Ashert learns that his two great aunts are at the inn. He goes to see them
surprised they are here, but more shocked to see Genova with them. As Ashert and Genova
become
acquainted, they fall in love, but she thinks he sired the infant she is watching while he thinks she
works for the mendacious Molly. This Georgian romance is a fun tale that sub-genre readers will
appreciate due to the strong cast. The lead couple is a fine pair that the audience will enjoy.
However, it is the support characters who make the tale really work whether they are charming or
feuding relatives, or a slick nasty soul willing to pull any trick to gain her desires. Historical fans
will
take delight with this wonderful novel.
Kissing the Countess
Susan King
Signet
ISBN: 045121062X $6.99
In 1859, Evan Mackenzie arrives at his Scottish earldom without any fanfare. He loves the area,
but
has not been back in a decade since his mom walked out on his father. Now inheriting the
Kildonan
keep, he hopes to retract some of the practices that hurt the estates, but first he must pay off debts
accrued by his father. He plans to use his engineering salary to do so. While climbing down a
mountainside a storm hits. Evan falls and passerby Catriona MacConn saves his life. However, her
father finds them in a compromised position though nothing happened and they were just trying to
stay warm during the freezing night. He offers to marry her, but she is wary especially when she
learns he is the new earl. After she becomes his countess, they become better acquainted, and fall
in
love. However, she has a secret quest and he struggles with guilt from a tragic bridge disaster that
he worked on so their marriage remains on shaky ground and could implode at any moment
KISSING THE COUNTESS is an engaging historical romance starring two charming lead
protagonists who on the surface seem wrong for each other, but deep inside make a perfect
match.
The story line engages the audience from the moment Catriona drags Evan to a flimsy shelter. The
lead couple is a delight and her brother is a solid support player, but her henpecked father and her
henpecking aunt are a bit irritating with their holier than thou pronouncements. Still Susan King
shows why she is highly regarded by sub-genre fans with this strong tale.
The Secret Gift
Jaclyn Reding
Signet
ISBN: 0451209567 $6.99
Isabella Hutchinson takes a leave of absence from her job in Manhattan's oldest antiquarian
bookstore Belvedere Books to bury her beloved mother Matilde. In Ipswich by the Sea,
Massachusetts, Isabella reads a letter from her mother that leads her to a hidden box containing a
family secret. Inside are a crystal and a B&W photo of a man with the phrase Worth Village,
Scotland. Unable to resist, Isabella travels to the remote village in search of her roots, but she
becomes lost. A person in the road holding a gun yells at her to go back, which she does, finally
finding her B&B. Though friendly towards her, the townsfolk deny knowledge of Isabella, but she
manages to locate a birth record with a different last name. Isabella meets that crazy guy (who
had
the gun) again. He turns out to be wealthy Graeme Mackenzie, new owner of Worth Castle. He
does not trust her as he hides since every single woman in the country wants to marry him due to
his
loot, title, and looks. Still Graeme and Isabella fall in love. Readers will take immense pleasure
from
the delightful THE SECRET GIFT. The mystery of Matilde hooks the audience as much as it
grips
Isabella as readers will want know what is going on past and present in Worth. Graeme is an
intriguing protagonist who finds fame and fortune is not worth the price of his freedom. Fans of a
contemporary village romance with a touch of intrigue will find this novel is just the gift for
them.
Murder of a Barbie and Ken
Denise Swanson
Signet
ISBN: 0451210727 $5.99
After she graduated high school Skye Denison couldn't wait to get away from her small Illinois
hometown of Scumble River. The only reason she moved back was because her fianc‚ dumped
her,
she lost her job and her credit cards were maxed to the limit. The townsfolk have given her a
second
chance and she has made a place for herself as the school district psychologist and part-time
homicide solver. She is seriously involved with Simon Reid, the town coroner and funeral director
who has finally realized that if he wants Skye in his life, he has to come to terms with her
investigations. His resolve is severely tested when Skye goes over to Barbie's house to back up
the
merchandise she ordered at a neighborhood party and finds her hostess and her husband Ken
murdered. Naturally she wants to find out who the killer is and many people, including the sheriff
ask her to look for clues. Her mind is not totally on the case because Simon's estranged mother
comes to town and maneuvers herself into Skye's home and life. Fans of small town cozies are
going
to have a good time reading MURDER OF A BARBIE AND KEN. Between dealing with her
boyfriend's mother, tracking down a killer, taking care of her students and trying to find some
private time to spend with Simon, the beleaguered heroine does not have time to breathe. Denise
Swanson has written a clever, well thought out mystery that is almost impossible to solve, but it is
the heroine that makes the novel.
Long Time Coming
Edie Claire
Warner
ISBN: 0446612774 $5.99
After being away from her hometown of Wharton, Kentucky for eighteen years except for short
visits to her parents, veterinarian Dr. Joy Hudson moves back. The only people who could make
her
return are her parents. Her septuagenarian mother suffers from glaucoma and cannot care for her
dying octogenarian spouse by herself. Surprisingly everyone Joy buys the house in which her
deceased best friend Jenny Carver once lived. Joy still blames Jenny's boyfriend Jeffrey Bradford
for
the car accident that took her friend's life as she believes he drove under the influence. Still when
they meet when she hit his dog Bear they both feel an attraction. As Joy and Jeffrey fall in love,
her
blaming him stands in their way. If Joy can move past her anger, perhaps she and Jeffrey can help
her father meet his prime goal of holding a grandchild and also allow Jenny to rest in peace. This
contemporary romance engages the audience in several ways. Readers will wonder if the lead
female
character's love for Jeffrey can overcome her animosity towards him as she blames him for Jenny's
death. The audience will also speculate whether the ghost of Jenny is pushing together the two
people who meant so much to her when she lived. Fans will cherish this charming tale.
When She's Bad
Leanne Banks
Warner
ISBN: 0446611735 $5.99
In Houston, Delilah Montague cannot get any sleep because her next door neighbor makes a
racket
at night. She owns the exclusive Spa Demay that she inherited from her recently deceased elderly
companion Howard "Cash" Bradford. Working extremely hard to prove herself, Delilah knows
that
most of her employees, Cash's daughter, and her patrons believe she earned this business by being
bed prone as Cash's candy. She knows the truth though she vowed not to reveal to anyone. If
Delilah thought her world was complicated enough, she soon finds Cash left her with one more
problem. Apparently Viagra worked a miracle and Cash sired a baby that has just been dumped on
Delilah. She obtains the help of her neighbor ethical attorney Benjamin Huntington III in dealing
with the infant. As they become acquainted they fall in love, but his family rejects her as unsuitable
for the brother of a future state politician. Ben does not care, but Delilah does. Readers will enjoy
this contemporary romance that focuses on the maxim not to judge a book by its cover
(figuratively
as this cover seems apropos). The story line is well written with ironically readers, Ben, and the
support cast drawing conclusions about Delilah that fail to hold up under closer scrutiny. Though
she and Ben seem to have no personal issues except as they relate to one another, fans will take
WHEN SHE'S BAD to the bank as a fine read.
The Wedding
Nicholas Sparks
Warner
ISBN: 0446532452 $23.95
As his daughter Anna announces her plans to marry, North Carolina attorney Wilson Lewis
wonders
when the romance left his relationship with his wife. He observed the loving relationship of his
in-laws even after five decades together and wispily wants that too, however, with the woman he
loves, his wife. Wilson blames himself that his beloved Jane no longer loves him. He neglected her
as
work was more important than family. He plans to rectify his error if Jane allows him by showing
his
love for her for the rest of his life. Wilson knows exactly where to start his midlife transition by
going to the living model of a loving husband, his father-in-law, Noah Calhoun. The widow Noah
resides in Creekside Extended Care Facility, a home for the elderly. He nurtures a swan whom he
believes hosts the spirit of his beloved deceased wife Allie. Mentoring his son-in-law, Noah helps
Wilson makes a major effort to regain what he now knows is most important in his life. This
sequel
to the delightful NOTEBOOK (story of Noah and Alice) is a strong second chance at love tale
that
displays the spark lacking in recent works by the author. Though Jane's motives for planning to
leave
her spouse is not quite clear from her perspective, Wilson is a great protagonist whose
understanding of what he wrought is brilliantly described as is his metamorphosis into a loving
person. Though seeing Noah as a senior citizen and Allie dead is a shock, readers will appreciate
THE WEDDING as Nicholas Sparks is at his romantic best with this charming story.
How to Meet Cute Boys
Deanna Kizis
Warner
ISBN: 0446530727 $21.95
At the Los Angeles based Filly magazine, twenty seven years old Benjamina Franklin works as the
advice columnist on dating. Ironically, her own love life has flushed down the toilet since she
finally
accepted advice from her live-in lover Jack to just go, which Ben did. Embarrassingly she needs a
date to escort her to her younger sister's wedding, but has no prospects. At a party attended by
real
VIPs, some PIPs (phony important people) and a horde of wannabes, Ben meets Max, owner of
the
Super Very Good T-shirt company. They hit if off immediately, but Ben panics when she learns
that
she is robbing the cradle as Max is not yet legal drinking age being only twenty-one. Encouraged
by
her boss at Filly, Ben hunts Max, but as she catches her prey, he escapes, suffering from
commitment phobia. Ben reassesses her needs as she realizes she was cradle snatching. HOW TO
MEET CUTE BOYS is a cute (in spite of profanities), humorous chick lit tale starring a
precocious
lead protagonist. The tale contains Ben's amusing advice column intermingled throughout the
story
line. That technique leads to plenty of laughter, but also disrupts the prime plot. Fans who enjoy
asides (the columns) will find Deanna Kizis' novel extra fun although the ending seems out of
character for Ben.
Dead Ringer
Annie Solomon
Warner
ISBN: 0446612294 $5.99
FBI Agent Finn Carver has been undercover trying to find the whereabouts of a big nuclear device
on the market. He crashes a party at the estate of the recently deceased Arthur Beaman., His
girlfriend Angelina Mercer throws it showing she is not in mourning. Over Finn's objections, his
superiors want to recruit Angelina to help them get close to Victor Borian, the reported owner of
weapons grade plutonium on his remote Montana ranch. Angelina says no until Finn hits her with
the one thing she desires in life, information on her unknown mom. Finn shows her a picture of
her
deceased mom who was married to Victor, the reason he has recruited her. Her Aunt Marian still
works for him. As she and "Sharkman" as she calls Finn work together they fall in love, but even
if
they both desired romance, they must survive Victor and his thugs, and an even deadlier
surprising
foe. This is an exhilarating romantic suspense starring two delightful lead protagonists. Though
the
tale starts slow, the story line is fast-paced once Angelina makes her Montana move. The lead
couple is a delightful pair, as both know love interferes with the mission. Her aunt is quite a
character and Victor is a strong villain so that the audience obtains a strong intrigue enhanced by
love.
The Great Husband Hunt
Laurie Graham
Warner
ISBN: 0446691321 $14.00
Jewish fine mustard heiress Poppy Minkel tells her twentieth century autobiography starting when
her father dies while sailing on the Titanic. She grieves her loss, but continues her myopic
observations of the world's great events over the next five decades. During that time she married a
womanizer she met in a department store. She gave birth to their child. However, his philandering
led to her divorcing him, an unheard of event back in the early twentieth century. Later she does
another social shocker when she lives out of wedlock with an ultra-extended member of the
British
royals. When she becomes pregnant, she marries for the second time into a happier situation. By
the
1970s, Poppy is an aging widow who reflects back on her life influenced by her stepbrother (with
an
assist by Satchel Paige) that "you have to look ahead and not behind." Though amusing in an
acerbic
way, this autobiographical fiction uses an individual to present the "People's Century". The story
line
is clever, but it is difficult to accept Poppy's caustic personality through six plus decades. Title
aside
(not a romance by any stretch) this is a solid often funny look back at the twentieth century, but
those who really want something in depth should try the People's Century videos.
Trust Me
Melanie Craft
Warner
ISBN: 0446612855 $5.99
Max Giordano accuses veterinarian Carly Martin of fleecing an old man, his grandfather Henry.
His
accusations shock her, but not as much as when he informs her that Henry lies in a coma after a
near
death fall. Max states that Henry named her as trustee to his 23 animals and the mansion if she
converts it into a clinic as they once discussed. Carly tells Max he was never there for Henry
whom
he never met and she often visited. Carly thinks back in time to when she met Henry. He asked for
a
house call to check out his ailing raccoon. They became friends and she comes over once a week
to
check the animals and to chat. Max begins to wonder if he misjudged Carly. She seems nice and
innocent and he is so attracted to her yet new evidence surfaces that prove that someone tried to
murder Henry. Carly is the obvious suspect as she has motive (inheritance) and opportunity (her
vehicle at the scene). Though the heroine is too perfect and the lead male becomes irritating at
times
with his "J'accuse" mentality, readers will like both of them. The story line is fun to follow as Max
cannot believe that Carly has no hidden agenda when it comes to Henry. Melanie Craft lives up to
her surname as she provides a solid relationship tale with a touch of suspense at the end that
sub-genre readers will enjoy especially those who value the canine caper crowd.
The Da Vinci Code
Dan Brown
Doubleday
ISBN: 0385504209 $24.95
Harvard University symbologist Robert Langdon is in Paris when he is awakened in the middle of
the night by the police to come to the Louvre. Someone killed museum chief curator Jacques
Saunier in the most secure section, Grand Gallery near the Mona Lisa. The culprit left behind
enigmatic messages including bringing Langdon into the investigation. The police syspect
Langdon
killed the curator, but cannot prove it. Meanwhile he joins with French cryptologist Sophie
Neveuto
in an effort to solve the puzzle of the message that both believe will lead to the identity of the
killer.
They begin to decode clues that when combined forms a map depicting the locale of the Holy
Grail
and proof of the existence of Jesus. However, several secret societies will use anything including
murder to insure that the Grail remains hidden. The sequel to the exciting tale ANGELS AND
DEMONS, THE DA VINCI CODE is a fast-paced tale that will provide much pleasure to readers
who enjoy religious thrillers. The police procedural takes a back seat to the engaging
Langdon-Neveuto deciphering of the codes as the two characters are a delightful lead pair.
Though
the story line occasionally detours into religious history sermons, fans will appreciate this fine
action-packed novel.
Train
Pete Dexter
Doubleday
ISBN: 0385505914 $24.95
In 1953, eighteen year old black caddy Lionel "Train" Walk works at the exclusive Brookline
course
in Los Angeles. The membership is quite homogenous and consists of racists, elitists and sexists
who
like the staff and the other caddies treat Train. with contempt bordering on the wrong side of
abuse
except police sergeant Miller Packard. Train realizes from the first hole that Packard is the "Mile
Away Man" because he has a fair game, but Miller has no concentration for the sport. However,
Miller pays better attention than anyone realizes as he concludes that his caddy has real skills for
the
sport. Train is fired from Brookline, but scores a job as a groundskeeper at dilapidated Paradise
Developments. He helps renovate the course, but loses his position due to a tragic accident.
Packard
wants to help the lad so he turns Train into a golf hustler. As they travel the country together,
they
win thousands on the youngster's skills, but soon Train will learn once again the violent underbelly
of the leisure game he plays. Perhaps no author can display the darkest side of life as easily as
award
winning Pete Dexter can. TRAIN is a fast-paced eighteen holes starring strong characters trying
to
do the right thing, but the message is even charity can turn abusive. The story line is a warning
that a
caring method with a seemingly constructive output does not necessarily mean a positive
outcome.
Readers will appreciate this deep dark character study, but be warned that Mr. Dexter will escort
you to the most profound, deepest, but darkest corner of the soul.
Paradox II
Rosemary Laurey & J.C. Wilder
LTD.
ISBN: 1553165861 $20.99
"Adrianna" has lived in the forest for years, conjuring up mists and casting spells to torment the
Astrains who destroyed her village and killed her family. When Mark of Windhaw crosses paths
with
Adrianna she intends to punish him as well. However, after making love with him she learns that
he
is in the land of Barames to right old wrongs so she lets him go but takes away his memory of her.
When she learns that he is in danger, she rushes to save him knowing he will not remember her or
the promises they made to each other. Rosemary Laurey has written a beautiful adult erotic fairy
tale
that will enchant readers. "Nova" beat Evi in a card game and won a huge pot of gold as well as a
slave who she intends to free the moment she can. After eluding Evi's goons, Wyn and Nova
travel
to her new home and learn that the former slave is a merman, a highly sexed being who can give
mortal women enormous pleasure. Nova, who doesn't have a lot of respect for men, doubts that.
He
shows her that a Merman makes love with consideration for their partner. As the merman and the
mortal get to know each other, Evi is on his way to recapture what he lost. C.J. Wilder has
written a
beautiful novella that readers will long remember. Separately, Rosemary Laurey and J.C. Wilder
are
magnificent but put their stories back to back and PARADOX II becomes outstanding.
Dream Quest
J.C. Wilder and Linnea Sinclair (editors)
LTD
ISBN: 1553164946 $21.99
What do you call an anthology filled with futuristic, paranormal and supernatural stories all filled
with romance? Outstanding is one word that springs to mind while Phantasmagorical is another.
These nine stories are written by the most imaginative and creative authors in the sub-genre
loosely
labeled speculative romantic fiction. In "The Girl In The Box" by Janet Miller, Amirlla Asheras
works third shift on space station Blue while communicating with her friend Garth on the space
freighter Noble Cause. She refuses to let him see her or meet with her because she doesn't want to
see the pity in his eyes when he finds out she is handicapped. It is only when a near tragedy occurs
does she realize love transcends all obstacles. This beautiful futuristic love will acquaint readers
with
a very talented author. Readers who loved Rosemary Laurey's dragon and a human love story in
Paradox will want to read Kallaayt's tale. Arragh's friend, the dragon Kallaayt, expects that his
mate
Gwen will welcome him with open arms even though she never saw him in his dragon form. When
he goes to fetch her, he finds her pregnant by a man who raped her and in her shame refuses to
believe he wants her anyway. Finding a way to tell her he is a dragon and can take her away from
the
town that punishes her proves to be an almost impossible task, almost as hard as punishing the
bishop who wants to prevent Gwen from leaving the brothel. As always Rosemary Laurey writes
a
memorable tale. J.C. Wilder tells a beautiful romantic fantasy of an immortal she-elf who lives
under
a curse. Any man that kisses her turns into a stone statue of a gargoyle. Only the kiss of her true
love will set her free but after two centuries she gives up hope and prepares to kill herself. That is
when an injured Ranolf enters her life and changes everything. Other authors in this anthology
include Linnea Sinclair with a fabulous tale as well (wish she would publish a big book soon (hint!
hint!) as CB Scott, Ellen Edgar, Isabo Kelly, K.G. McAbe and Donna MacMeans.
After the Fire
Kathryn Shay
Berkley
ISBN: 0425193047 $5.99
Near New York City, the Hidden Cove Fire Department responds to the dangerous Sinco fire.
Three
Malvaso firefighting siblings become trapped inside, but ultimately are rescued. Jenny insists that
she, Mitch and Zach pledge to change their messed up personal lives as each one realizes how
close
to death they came. Six months later, the three remain on the job, but carry mental scars from the
Sinco fire. The vow has not been met. Jenn tells her platonic duplex house partner Grady
O'Connor
that she wants his baby through artificial insemination. She refuses to marry as she failed at that
once. Grady also has relationship problems that haunt him. Zach wants to remarry his ex wife
Angela, who he treated very badly. He feels jealous when she goes on a date with an assistant
principal. However, he is spending quality time with his two preadolescent sons. Mitch remains in
an
ugly marriage for the sake of his two teenage children. Newly arrived Detective Megan Hale
suggests to Mitch that they need to start a camp to help the children of deceased emergency
workers. He loves the idea, but worries about his attraction to Megan. Though the multiple
subplots
can be overwhelming at times, readers will appreciate the powerfully written terse emergency
situations. The Malvasi clan and the other key characters, except Mitch's out of control wife,
seem
genuine in and out of emergency scenarios. Kathryn Shay pays homage to rescue workers with
this
exhilarating tale that demands a sequel starring Zach and a firewoman who saved his life.
Without a Trace
Lynn Erickson
Berkley
ISBN: 042519325X $6.99
In Denver police sketch artist Jane Russo needs to get away from the pressure of failure that
could
mean the death of an innocent. Her last case has destroyed her psyche as she has failed to obtain a
drawing of a serial rapist-killer from the survivors. Jane does not follow the book and is usually
able
to coax the information so that she can sketch a portrait, but this time she has failed though the
culprit has struck several times. FBI Special Agent Caroline Deutch and survivor rights advocate
Alan Gallagher pressure Jane to try one more time. The rapist abducted twelve-year old Aspen
resident Kirsten Lemke from the Snowmass slopes. Reluctantly, Jane works with skeptic Ray
Vanover to save the life of Kirsten and bring a nasty felon to justice. As they struggle with the
case
and Jane with Aspen being the home of her somewhat estranged family, they fall in love, but the
preadolescent's safety comes first. Fans of police procedural romances will enjoy WITHOUT A
TRACE, a solid suspense thriller. The story line is action-packed in a low key level as Jane and
Ray
interview witnesses in an attempt to save a life. The estrangement with her mother seems off kilter
especially when Jane is easily coaxed into dinner. Her sister's cavalier attitude towards Jane's work
feels too selfish for a mom. Still the investigation is top rate and the romance as good.
Murder On Ice
Alina Adams
Berkley
ISBN 0425193071 $5.99
Since starting her research job at Network 24/7, Bex Levy has had to learn everything there was
to
know about figure skating. That way when TV commentators Francis and Diana Howarth are
commenting on a live show they have all the needed material at their fingertips. At the World
Figure
Skating Championship's in San Francisco, everyone expects cute Erin Simpson to take the gold.
When the final results are tabulated, the Russian girl Xenia Trubin wins the top prize. The fans,
the
TV commentators and Erin's mother all say that Erin was cheated out of the gold. The four
Russian
judges voted for Xenia and the four western judges voted for Erin. The tie breaker vote was cast
by
Italian Judge Silvana Potenza who later was found murdered in the refrigerator room of the ice
skating rink. The director of 24/7 tells Bex that if she wants a job next year she has to figure out
who the killer is, which leaves her skating on thin ice. Alina Adams gives a glimpse into the
rivalries,
the animosities and the bickering that goes on in the world of amateur figure skating. However, as
interesting as that is, the protagonist scores a 10 as one of better leads to come along in years.
She is
perky, has a delightful sense of humor and leaves no stone unturned in her quest to find a
murderer
though one must wonder why her employer forced Bex to play detective. MURDER ON ICE is a
winning amateur sleuth tale starring a delightful self-deprecating heroine.
A Poultice For A Healer
Caroline Roe
Berkley
ISBN 0425191923 $22.95
In 1354 medieval Spain, Bishop Berengeur de Cruilles trusts Isaac the blind Jewish physician so
when he falls ill, he summons the man to care for him. Isaac's daughter Rachel, as his assistant
also
comes to help. An herbalist arrives, desperate to see the bishop to give him a warning but the
poison
in his bloodstream kills him before he can tell his excellency about the threat. In Girona, two
young
men each claims that they are heir to a large inheritance. One of them Jacob disappears during a
pirate attack. The other claimant Luca an herbalist attempts to set up a practice. When two of his
patients are murdered by poison that he had a messenger deliver, the townsfolk's want him tried
and
executed. Isaac implores the Bishop to wait before convening the court because he believes it
was
not Luca who delivered the poison. He also believes that these events are somehow related to the
dead herbalist who tried to warn the bishop. In his own intuitive yet practical way Isaac tries to
expose the guilty party. Medieval Spain comes vividly to life in the reader's mind after reading A
POULTICE FOR A HEAVEN. It feels as if the author is chronicling events that she witnessed.
The
characters are well developed and it is fascinating to see the relationship between Christians and
Jews during a period of religious strife. The people of Girona peacefully coexist with only minor
troubles breaking out between the two religions. The protagonist might be blind but he sees more
clearly than most people. Fans of historical fiction centered on a good mystery will want to read
this
novel.
Sky Woman Falling
Kirk Mitchell
Berkley
ISBN 0425191915 $22.95
Commence Emmett Parker was investigating a drive-by shooting on the San Sasinos Apache
Reservation in Arizona when the attorney general's office ordered him to go to Syracuse. Modoc
Indian Anna Turnipseed was working a case in Las Vegas when she was assigned to work with
Emmett. The Bureau of Indian Affairs and the FBI agents have worked together in the past and
always managed to solve their cases. Their superiors hopes they will be able to solve this one
quickly
for a lot is at stake. Brenda Two Kettles of the Oneida nation fell from the sky one night breaking
every bone in her body. The plane she was supposed to be on that evening passed nowhere near
the
point of her landing so the investigators conclude the perpetrator somehow persuaded her to
come
with him. The case is bigger than one woman because tensions between the Oneidas and the
Anglos
over land disputes have divided the two sides into antagonists. As Anna and Emett work the case
they find themselves in danger from both hostile groups. SKY WOMAN FALLING is an exciting
police procedural that gives the audience a glimpse into the culture of the Oneida Nation. The two
protagonists work well together, but in their personal lives they do not how to reach out to one
another even though they both want that kind of intimacy. Kirk Mitchell is the new heir apparent
to
Tony Hillerman.
The New Brain: How the Modern Age is Rewiring Your Mind
Richard Restak
Rodale
ISBN: 1579545017 $23.95
Neurosurgeon Dr. Richard Restak discusses the merging of biology with modern technology,
enabling deeper understanding of the physiology of the brain. Items like MRIs and
psychopharmacological drugs have provided a radical change in how individuals use their brain
when compared to the late nineteenth century and earlier eras though repetition and skill remains
a
constant. He also describes the negative impacts of social "medicalization" and the impact of too
much electronic media stimulation. Dr. Restak's energy for the positive effects of recent
discoveries
is quite good and very interesting as it written for wide conceptual comprehension. When THE
NEW BRAIN: HOW THE MODERN AGE IS REWIRING YOUR MIND turns towards what
Dr.
Restak believes is the downside, he uses more anecdotal information than data. Still he makes a
solid
easy to read case that the twenty-first century new brain is dramatically different than that of our
recent ancestors.
Einstein Never Used Flash Cards
Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Dr. Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, and Dr. Diane Eyer
Rodale
ISBN: 1579546951 $22.95
From the federal government to a ton of literature, pressure is on parents to push their children
into
high level educational situations. The Feds even considered funding classical music in maternity
wards and the pregnant mother was expected to listen before giving birth. Choosing the right
preschool became more of how much the kid learns than a safe environment to develop and
nurture
the full child. The media added to the frenzy as listening to Mozart will increase your child's
learning
skills make for a fine human interest piece. With that backdrop, the child psychologist authors
reviewed the developmental research and concluded that accelerated learning is a sham and
children
do best when they are encouraged to develop on their own. Curiosity is what accelerates learning
not piped in programmed packages. The book provides specific exercises and makes it easier for
the
lay-person to comprehend development and learning. Basically let the kid have fun, but provide
the
safe environment that will inspire the child to go down their path not some pseudo costly
pre-packaged mumbo jumbo. Einstein learned by doing. This is a strong reference book that
should
be part of every educator's library as a reminder to "how our children really learn and why they
need
to play more and memorize less." Think back to your own childhood in which your parents let
you
"create" your play. Bottom line is parents chill out as our parents did. If you do not want to hear
Mozart, just do not get a CD.
Father Fox's Christmas Rhymes
Clyde Watson and Wendy Watson (Illustrator)
FSG
ISBN: 0374375763 $16.00
The eighteen Fox poems are XMAS treasures; their pretty pictures provide beautiful sights. While
the young children will laugh with delight; adults will adore these rhyming pleasures. Harriet
"keep
my day job Father Fox will never hire me" Klausner.
The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin
Peter Sis
FSG
ISBN: 0374456283 $18.00
Naturalist student Charles Darwin spent five-years exploring remote locales in the Pacific as part
of
the voyage of the Beagle. Darwin kept detailed notes that documented all he saw. However,
though
his writings about the trek are incredible in scope, no drawings accompanied Darwin's wealth of
material. Peter Sis fills the void by providing a stunning pictorial of Darwin's diary, journal, and
other writings that will leave the audience in awe while taking hours to look at one
overwhelmingly
detailed page at a time. This reviewer and her spouse spent an hour a day over the past few weeks
fascinated by this tribute. Though intended for the elementary school crowd readers of all ages
will
appreciate THE TREE OF LIFE: CHARLES DARWIN as a powerful introduction to one of the
most influential individuals of the last two centuries. This tome makes the perfect family gathering
as
adults and children can share the fascination as Mr. Sis shows a picture is worth a thousand words
(and $18.00).
Ultimate Punishment
Scott Turow
FSG
ISBN: 0374128731 $18.00
Legal thriller author Scott Turow served as a former federal prosecutor, a death penalty appellate
lawyer, and on former Illinois Governor Ryan's Commission on Capital Punishment. Mr. Turow
describes his change in attitude towards the death penalty. In this non-fiction book, the author
says
much of his reflections came about mostly based on his work with the commission. Their findings
shocked the country, but not as much as Ryan's commutations of sentencing that included a
convicted child serial killer. ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT goes deep into the psychology and
philosophy behind capital punishment. However, much of the writing is devoted to the shock of
what was found in the Illinois system. Everyone including the most hard nosed members of the
commission were stunned to learn how arbitrary the process actually is. Logic is ignored as in
many
cases the victims' rights overwhelmed the rights of the defendant (usually the first available
suspect).
As a most interesting postscript, no other governor has followed Mr. Ryan's lead preferring to
bury
their heads in the sand. It is politically easier to follow the successful path of then Governor Bush
of
Texas that nothing is wrong. This includes the current "get tough on killers" politics of Ryan's
replacement. Whether you support the ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT or not, this book is worth
reading. Mr. Turow raises a fundamental issue of a failed inconsistent system fed fodder by
leaders
acting like the mother in the Glass Menagerie by preferring to politically pretend all is well in the
world.
Eliot's Banana
Heather Swain
Downtown
ISBN: 0743464877 $12.00
Twenty-five year old Indiana expatriate Junie struggles with what she wants out of life. Though
she
has met her teen dream by living with drummer Leon in the hip Williamsburg section of Brooklyn,
Junie wonders if that is all there is? Adding to her introspection is her encounter with science
fiction
author Eliot at a vet. He is twice her age and hundred times more dissatisfied in life than her with
his
last success almost as old as Junie is. While Leon dreams of leaving the Big Apple gig behind,
Junie
feels she has found her prophet in Elliot, who sees her as his latest girl toy. However, Eliot's cat
Alfie, who inadvertently was a partial matchmaker, realizes that Junie is his soulmate that he must
protect. Frustrated by his feline limitations, Alfie struggles to show Junie what life is all about.
Will
Junie heed the warnings of a cat while confronting her parents on what happened almost two
decades ago to her deceased brother that messed her up emotionally or will she remain unsatisfied
but not know why? Title multiple meanings aside, ELIOT'S BANANA is a deep chick lit tale
starring a lead female protagonist whom many readers will feel an affinity for regardless of age.
The
story line is cleverly devised to insure the audience can commiserate with Junie. Heather Swain
brings this to the forefront through a strong support cast relating on several levels with Junie
especially the three New York males and her Indiana family. Readers who appreciate a powerful
character study will want to savor the fruits of this tasteful tale, one of the sub-genre's best of the
year.
My Lurid Past
Lauren Henderson
Downtown
ISBN: 0743464680 $12.00
Thirtyish, Juliet Cooper wonders if that is all there is to life. She would love them and leave them
as
a serious sexual serial offender, but currently does not do the latter as she finds men boring. She
had
no intention of turning to women or the bondage game of her friend Mel the dominatrix does.
Instead, Juliet envies her other best pal Gillian who is happily married to the faithful Jeremy.
However, even that dream haven turns false when Gill, jealous of the sexual freedom of her bud,
leaves Jeremy, who has not touched her in forever. While Juliet works to keep Liam, the
upcoming
star of a new TV cook show she will produce, out of trouble with women, Gill begins dating.
After
meeting Philip, Juliet wonders if a nunnery would be better, but then there is always Architect
Alex,
who actually stirs her blood, but will Juliet allow him the opportunity to shake her bones? MY
LURID PAST is an amusing chick lit tale that loses some of the luster due to the lack of
sympathy
the decadent Juliet will receive. The lead character seems spoiled and Gill comes off worse for not
even making a real effort to communicate with her spouse. Still, the tale is often humorous
especially when Mel is leading some dog collared male around as her slave.
The Course of the Empire
Eric Flint and K. D. Wentworth
Baen
ISBN: 0743471547 $22.00
Two decades have passed since the Jao conquered the Earth, but the victors still debate what to
do
with the defeated humans. Many Jao believe extermination by total destruction of the planet is the
final solution. Some like newly arrived Commander Aille believes winning the hearts of the
humans
is the best long term solution. Before the Jao can resolve the human problem, they have to
contend
with the deadly Ekhat, who plan to commit solar system genocidal eradicating human and Jao
without a second thought. The Ekhat turned the Jao into sentient beings, but expected loyal
servitude bonds instead of ungrateful rebellion. For Human and Jao to vanquish the Ekhat they
must
forge more than an alliance. They need a consensus that is much greater than a simple summing of
the parts. Only leaders like Aille and the human Stockwells have the foresight to see what must be
done, but each race has xenophobics sitting in key positions. This futuristic tale works on several
levels as readers will believe that the Jao and Ekhat exist as well as the conquering of the planet
has
occurred. The action is fast and furious so that this work will appeal to military science fiction
buffs.
However, the strength of the tale resides in the social, anthropologic, technological, and political
make-up of the Jao and the Humans. Readers will observe the difficulty of blending the best of the
conquered and the conqueror into a seamless oneness that might prove capable of surviving the
Ekhat. Eric Flint and K.D. Wentworth provide a triumphant story that is as much cerebral as it is
action-packed.
Crown of Slaves
David Weber and Eric Flint
Baen
ISBN: 0743471482 $25.00
With problems threatening to engulf them, the Erewhon expect help from their interstellar ally the
Star Kingdom of Manticore, but none has been forthcoming. Knowing that the pact is near
collapse,
a desperate but inept Queen Elizabeth of Manticore uses a state funeral to mend the schism and
disappointment. She sends her niece Ruth Winton under the protection of Captain Zilwicki to
represent her with the Erewhons. When terrorists attack Ruth and her retinue, Havenite agent
Victor
Cachat takes advantage of the opportunity plus Elizabeth's helplessness to begin forming a new
alliance with the Erewhons. Not long afterward, Cachat brings together his people, dissident
Manticorans, irate Erewhons and the Solarian League Navy in an assault to free a slave planet,
which may leave Her Royal Highness of the Star Kingdom looking in from the outside. Using
events
and characters from David Weber's Honor Harrington series, Mr. Weber and Eric Flint have
written
an action-packed space opera that is really more a symposium of concepts wrapped in the cloak of
an exciting interstellar tale. The story line is fast-paced yet readers will have much to ponder as
the
two authors furbish a host of ideas that dig deep into history, politics and interstellar relationships.
Fans of the series, the authors, or those who appreciate an action-packed other galaxy brimming
with a thought-provoking edge will enjoy the tour of the Honorverse.
The Empire of Shadows
Richard E. Crabbe
Dunne
ISBN 0312206143 $24.95
In August 1889, Mohawk Indian Jim Tupper kills a Manhattan construction site foreman.
Although
the police catch him, he breaks free when the Black Maria he's transported in has an accident. He
buys a bayonet before making his way by boat to his home in the Adirondack Mountains where he
signs on at the logging camp owned and run by industrialist William West Durant. At the same
time
Tupper is making his way home, New York Detective Bureau Chief Tom Braddock and his family
vacation at the Prospect House resort hotel. Tom's son Mike has taken up with the housemaid
Lellie
and when she is murdered, the local doctor thinks he is the killer. When Tom learns that via
telegraph that Tupper is in the area and the maid was murdered by a bayonet, he believes Tupper
is
the killer. Tom sets out to bring this killer back so that his son's name will be cleared, but the
savvy
Indian leads Tom and the authorities on a difficult chase that leads to a greater tragedy for all
concerned. THE EMPIRE OF SHADOWS is an action-packed historical thriller that gives the
audience chills, thrills and a sense of adventure. Throughout the whole story line, readers will feel
as
if they don't see the full picture because the audience senses there is more than just a killer on a
rampage yet everything points to one killer in plain sight. That magic and the ability of Richard E.
Crabbe to bring to life a bygone golden age that will never be seen again turns this work into a
breathtaking tale.
Fogbound
Joseph T. Klempner
Dunne
ISBN 0312310676 $23.95
When Judge Jorgenson retired from the bench he was hearing cases in the Fourth Circuit Federal
Court. He never was considered for nomination as a Supreme Court justice because he was
vehemently against the death penalty and was strongly pro-choice. He hasn't tried a case for
thirty-three years so he's considerably surprised when Trial TV attorneys ask him to work a case
before the Supreme Court. They want him to be their mouthpiece because he's regarded by the
people as a man of principles and honor. Those very principles force him to investigate the case of
an autistic man that he is asked to represent. Boyd Davies can't speak or socially interact with
anyone but he is brilliant at drawing pictures and it is this talent that leads the judge to believe that
instead of arguing against the death penalty, his clients should seek a new trial. The higher ups at
Trial TV have plans of their own and will go to extreme lengths to see them carried out.
FOGBOUND is a chilling thriller because the scenario seems so plausible. The octogenarian
protagonist is smart, lives an active life and endears himself to the audience with his boyish
enthusiasm. Joseph T. Klempner is a terrific storyteller who writes about human strengths and
frailties within a legal thriller. This novel is a powerful indictment against the death penalty and
after
reading FOGBOUND, one can understand why.
A Discount For Death
Steven F. Havill
Dunne
ISBN 0312307853 $23.95
It's a quiet night in Posadas County, New Mexico as Undersheriff Estella Reyes-Guzman heads to
her car when she notices a motorcycle being chased by a patrol car without the lights flashing or
the
sirens sounding. By the time she reaches the accident scene the young woman is dead and
Patrolman
Perry Kenderman tries to lie his way out of some potentially serious charges. Perry was angry at
Colette Parker because she intended to run off with his younger brother and take her kids (one of
whom might be his) with her. While this scenario occurs, local insurance dealer George Enriquez,
who is under a grand jury indictment for fraud, is found in his office with a bullet in his head. The
murder was clumsily made to look like a suicide. After giving temporary custody of Collette's two
children to their grandparents, Estelle is free to work on the homicide investigation until it gets a
little too close to home. Every visit to Posada County is an adventure and A DISCOUNT FOR
DEATH is no exception. As one investigation winds down, anotherrevs up so that readers find
themselves unable to tear themselves away from this exciting police procedural thriller. Steven F.
Havill is a talented writer who is an expert at creating believable characters and plausible
plots.
Up In Smoke
Charlene Weir
Dunne
ISBN 031231020X $23.95
Governor Jack Garrett is one of the several Democratic Candidates running for the office of
President. Twenty years ago, he was a smoke jumper whose bravery saved three men in an out of
control forest fire on Pale Horse Mountain in Montana. His friend since childhood Wakely Fromm
was severally injured in that fire leading to his being wheelchair bound. For the past two decades
Jack has taken care of him. When Jack and his campaign team come to Hampstead, Kansas,
trouble
follows. The wife of a man who was on Pale Horse Mountain when Jack was fighting the fire is
found murdered in the trunk of her car. Her younger sister was badly injured by someone who
broke
into her home but with time she is expected to recover. Wakely is murdered in a homicide made
to
look like a suicide and if Police Chief Susan Wren finds the common link that ties these people
together, she will have named her killer. Charlene Weir weaves a tangled web that somehow is
totally believable in turns of plots and characterizations. There are some very interesting sub-plots
that enhance and ultimately run into the main storyline including a suicidal woman who finds she
has
much to live for when the killer tries to make her victim number five. In a classic turnabout, she is
the one that finally confronts the killer and is doing so learns to cope with the loss of her husband
and child at the hands of a drunken driver. UP IN SMOKE is a very creative work that gives
readers
an insider's look into a political campaign.
The Doctor Dines in Prague
Robin Hathaway
Dunne
ISBN: 0312290365 $22.95
Czech-American Dr. Andrew Fenimore becomes concerned when repeated calls to his cousin
Anna
Borovy in Prague go unanswered. Rationalizing that his relative and her ailing husband Vlasta are
on
vacation, Andrew tries at four in the morning Czech Republic time. Someone picks up the
receiver
but immediately hangs up the phone. Anxious for his cousin, Andrew flies from Philadelphia to
Prague to insure that the two Czech professors are okay. In Prague, his second cousin Marie,
daughter of Anna and Vlasta, informs Andrew through hieroglyphics, as neither is proficient with
the
other's language, that thugs with guns abducted her parents. Andrew talks to Anna's colleague Ilsa
Tanacek, who takes him to the adult puppet show of menacing Jan Redlik. Andrew's attendance
makes him a focus of nasty individuals who want him to back off his inquiries. As he continues his
quest, but the evil might prove to great for him and his American lover who has joined him to
overcome. The latest Dr. Fenimore tale is an engaging thriller that showcases the delightful
Prague.
The story line is action-packed and the use of hieroglyphics to communicate is clever and adds
depth. The cast from both continents is a solid group that either propel the mystery forward, add
degrees of tension, or enhance understanding of Andrew. Newcomers will enjoy dining with this
novel. However long time fans will need to adjust as Andrew is not the focus of an amateur sleuth
cozy, his usual sub-genre. Instead he seems out of place in the middle of a sinister thriller.
Waiting for Gertrude
Bill Richardson
Dunne
ISBN: 0312318685 $21.95
Alice B. Tolkas was born in San Francisco. She eventually left the States to live with her love
Gertrude Stein in Paris. Over twenty years after Gertrude died, Alice, who mourned her loss all
that
time, finally joins her beloved. Both are buried in the renowned Paris Pere-Lachaise Cemetery.
However, Alice fails to catch up to Gertrude wherever she is. Instead she learns why the cemetery
seems to be a haven for stray cats when she is reincarnated as a feline. She soon realizes that other
famous souls buried here have been reborn as cats, but alas none are her beloved Gertrude, the
only
person to light her fire. All she does is pass time, eats the food brought by Ondine the Spay queen,
and avoids the sorcery of some of her spookier peers. For Alice is WAITING FOR GERTRUDE
to
join feline heaven. Fans who appreciate a novel that is extremely weird but humorous and satirical
will enjoy the odd WAITING FOR GERTRUDE. The two paragraphs above concentrate on the
title
player for review convenience (moi that is). However, there are several other subplots involving
famous deceased that readers will be Wilde about lighting a funeral pyre and pitying poor
Abelard,
etc. The story line never takes itself seriously yet paints a strong message about positive
relationships are important while long term quarrels, spats and everything ugly in life is a waste of
time. Part romance, part fantasy, and part satire, the Monty Python crowd will be perfect for this
insane look at the afterlife.
Circle of Desire
Keri Arthur
ImaJinn
ISBN 1893896927 $13.75
Something is kidnapping children. Gwen and Kat Tanner found two of them, but their souls were
ripped out of their bodies. The police think someone mortal is to blame but Gwen and her
granddaughter Kat, believe it is an evil spirit known as a mara. In its spirit form, it is invulnerable
but
when it takes the shape of a human, it can be killed like a regular vampire. Kate and Gwen,
members
of the Damask Circle, are more than capable of killing the mara because they are shape shifting
psychic witches. One of the missing children is the niece of Ethan Morgan, a police officer who is
also a werewolf. He intends to stay with the Tanner women until they find Janie. Kat and Ethan
are
immediately attracted to one another but he thinks that is only moon fever because a werewolf
can
only love once and he gave his heart away years ago. As the two shapeshifters battle the evil
forces
mara throws at them Kat finds herself believing that Ethan is her true love even if he denies it.
Action, romance and magic, all that and more can be found between the pages of CIRCLE OF
DESIRE. Keri Arthur is one of the bright shining lights in the paranormal genre and each book
she
writes is fascinating, seductive and spellbinding. Her latest is no exception and the fact that her
two
lead proponents are both shifters makes the romance that much more interesting.
The Last Year of Being Single
Sarah Tucker
Red Dress
ISBN: 0373250401 $12.95
Everyone who knows Sarah Giles believes her boyfriend, investment banker Paul O'Brien is Mr.
Perfect. Everyone believes that except Sarah. She knows he is handsome, nice, has a good job,
and
will spend money on her. However, she feels their relationship lacks passion. Sarah meets the
Regional Director of Rogerson Railways John (that is his name, honest cowboy) Wayne. Though
he
is a womanizer, she finds the double entendre emails exciting and the secret lunches even more so.
While Paul wants to become engaged, John also wants to move to the next level of passionate
lovemaking. Sarah must choose between bland, faithful, and steady or exciting, undependable, and
wild. Will she select a person who will never cheat on her or an individual who will probably make
her a notch on his belt? THE LAST YEAR OF BEING SINGLE is an amusing but at times
serious
look at modern day relationships. The story line focuses on Sarah torn between two lovers. Fans
will
empathize especially those about the same age as the heroine (twenty to thirty something) while
those geriatric boomers will tell her to make up her mind based on the one the she feels the most
spoons full of love. Though at times inane, Sarah Tucker's novel is a fun character study, but will
she
and to whom requires reading the novel.
The Perils of Marie Louise
DeLoris Stanton Forbes
Five Star
ISBN: 1594140839 $25.95
When Marie Louise was eight her uncle Rex was incarcerated for manslaughter having murdered
her
Uncle Royal. When she was thirteen, the family matriarch Grandmere gives her, as the only female
of that generation, the Snodgrass Girdle, a chastity belt so she can serve as the sacred "keeper of
the
seed". When Marie turned eighteen, someone strangles Aunt Victoria, but no one is convicted of
the
crime. At twenty, she watches Grandmere suffer an incapacitating stroke. As an adult Marie
becomes a movie star, while others in her family die including Cousins Edward and Charles. Marie
Louise is set to become the family matriarch skipping past her mother and aunts. However, would
she use murder to achieve her objective, a lesson she learned at eight years old or is this bad luck
as
the number of her rivals shrinks? This is an innovative tale of fiction that readers, who enjoy a
dark
family saga, will appreciate though the story line at times moves too quickly through Marie's life
with chapters devoted to certain moments in the protagonist's life, often the death of a relative.
The
plot provides a deep look at a wealthy family who seem like anachronisms in late twentieth
century
America. Marie Louise is an intriguing character while much of the secondary cast also has
distinct
personalities, but everyone else except Grandmere is told in relation to the lead protagonist. Not
for
everyone, fans of a macabre dark tale will enjoy this romp through the years.
Roughly Beasts and Other Mutations
Thomas F. Monteleone
Five Star
ISBN: 0786253444 $25.95
This nineteen story collection contains strong tales that will excite readers of the horror and
speculative fiction genres. The tales are all fun and fans of Thomas F. Monteleone as well any one
who appreciates dark short thrillers will enjoy the collection. Perhaps as fascinating to fans of the
writer is observing the evolution of the author from fantasy/science fiction into horror writer, with
the why explained in the introduction to this tome. The nine stories from the mid to late 1970s
and
the two from the 1980s timeframe fit more within the dark science fiction or fantasy genres. The
eight contributions from the 1990s correspond more to the horror genre, still dark of course.
Regardless of genre match, ROUGHLY BEASTS AND OTHER MUTATIONS is a solid subway
ride on the dark side.
Hasta Manana
Carolyn Wilkerson
Five Star
ISBN: 0786254394 $25.95
In Southern California, Miriam Valenica could have been the poster girl of kids having kids as she
gave birth when she was a teen. However, the paternal grandparents of her child raise Shaun as
their
own. Thus Shaun grew up as the brother to his biological father, Billy Rose. Miriam with the
support of the Roses decides to inform Shaun on his sixteenth birthday that she is his mother and
wants to spend time with him. However, just before he turned sixteen Shaun dies from illegal
drugs.
Billy blames drug dealer Mexican Joe. Miriam joins the US Border Patrol and completes her
training
before being assigned to Nogales, Arizona. The first time she meets Mexican Joe, he holds the
weapons and she is illegally on his side of the border. Surprisingly he lets her go free. As she
continues to thirst for vengeance, Miriam begins to see a different deadly side to Billy even as
Mexican Joe rescues her again. Though the twists seem slightly off kilter, HASTA MANANA is a
fast-paced border patrol thriller. The story line is action packed with Miriam fully developed so
the
audience appreciates her thirst for vengeance and her bewilderment between separating the good
from the bad and the ugly. Carolyn Wilkerson furbishes a solid tale that hopefully will lead to
more
tales of the border patrol.
No Murder Before Its Time
Russ Hall
Five Star
ISBN: 1594140286 $25.95
In The Texas Hill Country ruthless rancher Win Castle feels his mortality after suffering a heart
attack. He worries about his legacy as he feels both of his sons are wimps. He decides to host a
contest between Chaz and Kyle. Though the siblings are in their thirties, they react differently.
Chaz
welcomes with glee the chance to inherit the estate while Kyle believes this is stupid. Chaz wins
the
competition risking his life with the boar and bringing in the shark. When they land on a deserted
isle, Kyle saves the lives of the trio. In Texas, Win informs Chaz and Kyle that they will replace
long
time loyal managers. However, not long afterward someone murders Chaz followed by his
mother.
Sheriff Watkins and Ranger Macrory gain the help of septuagenarian Esbeth Walters as they
struggle
to solve the homicides. NO MURDER BEFORE ITS TIME is an interesting thriller in which the
better person loses the competition because he lacks the zealousness of his sibling. Ironically when
they are in trouble Kyle steps to the plate and delivers. The tale ultimately spins into an interesting
police procedural amateur sleuth story line that is cleverly designed. Although quite good, that
subplot is not quite at the quality level of the Castle championship competition.
Stagestruck
Cynthia Thomason
Five Star
ISBN: 1594140782 $25.95
In 1898 Apple Creek, Ohio, Lillian Barlow learns that her brother Eli died in a freak accident on
his
showboat, the Jubilee Palace. Eli's lawyer informs Lillian that she inherited the showboat. The
showboat is deep in debt. Still Lillian persuades her reluctant adult children, college librarian
Gwen
Barlow and hard good store worker Preston, that they need to move to Hickory Bend, Missouri
to
manage the boat. In Hickory Bend, Gwen ends up taking charge of the showboat as her mother
cannot handle anything negative and her brother is Stagestruck with one of the performers. Gwen
quickly realizes that several people had the motive to murder Eli as she agrees with the constable
that a homicide occurred. Gwen wonders if one of the performers, the workers, the townsfolk, or
the handsome captain she just hired to run "Eli's Folly" killed her uncle. Readers will enjoy this
engaging historical amateur sleuth tale that emphasizes the Mississippi River at the end of the
nineteenth century. The who-done-it is cleverly worked to the pleasure of mystery readers. The
strong characters whether the troupe or the townsfolk are a delight especially the embattled
Gwen.
However, STAGESTRUCK is a winner due to Cynthia Thomason making 1898 Missouri seems
vividly alive.
Constable's Apprehension
Laurie Moore
Five Star
ISBN: 0786253347 $26.95
Jinx Porter has returned as the Tarrant County constable following the resignation of his former
girlfriend Raven. However, his second coming is not quite as pleasant as his first sixteen year term
was. Deputy Ivy did everything wrong as the team went to arrest Newton Marble Eye. Instead the
felon escapes but not before he shoots Jinx. Jinx resides in the hospital with his roommate being
former homicide detective Sid Klevenhagen, who abruptly dies but his body vanishes. Sid sneaks
back into his room to inform Jinx that he obviously did not die, but that Jinx was the target. As
Jinx
struggles to survive, everyone wonders if Raven is the culprit even while every single male that
she
knows proposes marriage to her except the one stud she loves. The latest Jinx-Raven police
procedural is a fun tale that provides immense entertainment to sub-genre fans. The story line is as
exciting as the previous books in the series, but much more personal as Jinx is the target. Laurie
Moore continues to furbish a solid series with a novel that hooks the audience from the moment
Jinx
explains to his outrageous bunk mate what went wrong.
The Protector
Jenifer A. Ruth
Five Star
ISBN: 1594140278 $26.95
In Las Vegas stage magician Alana Devlin performs two shows a night six nights a week.
However,
what makes Alana different from her performing peers is that she performs her sleight of the hand
using real glamour illusions that fool human senses. Alana is the PROTECTOR keeping
malevolent
otherworldly creatures at bay. In the garage after a performance, Alana bends down to pick up a
gold Irish claddagh charm that someone dropped. That motion saves her life as someone tries to
kill
her. Using an illusion she manages to escape, but not without suffering a concussion. Police
Detective Leo Grady informs Alana that a serial killer has murdered five people associated with
the
paranormal with her being the token survivor. He places her in protective custody, but watches
Alana perform weird actions that shake his logic system to the core, but not as much as his love
for
the magician does to his heart. Fans of police procedural romantic fantasies will receive plenty of
pleasure from the delightfully charming THE PROTECTOR. The story line is loaded with action
as
the cop and the performer work together to stop a killer while falling in love. Alana is a great
protagonist and her Helper Carrick Murphy is a solid secondary player who needs his own story
told. Leo may be reeling with what he sees and hears, but when it comes to his beloved he refuses
to
accept anything except her safety. Jenifer A. Ruth effortlessly combines the three genres into a
wonderful paranormal tale.
The Murder Stone
Charles Todd
Bantam
ISBN 0553803484 $24.95
Although her parents were killed in a traffic accident when she was still a baby Francesca Hatton
had
a very happy childhood growing up in the River's End estate in the isolated Exe Valley in
England.
Her five male cousins also lost their parents at a very early age and grew up at River's End where
Frances Hatton raised all six grandchildren as one big happy family. That happiness dissipated as
one
by one the men were called up to fight for their country. During WWI by 1916, all five Hatton
males
of Francesca's generation were killed by the Germans in France. Francis is dying and Francesca
nursed him during his last tormented days. It is only after his death does she learn that her
grandfather had very many secrets including the fact that some prominent people think he is a
murderer. This is Charles Todd's first stand alone book and it is one of the best works of gothic
suspense that this reviewer has read this year. As Francesca learns what her grandfather is hiding,
strangers besiege her demanding something from her and threatening her when she fails to deliver.
Some readers will not like the ending because it is not black and white but the questions left
dangling add to the thrills that this book delivers. THE MURDER STONE is an unforgettable
reading experience.
Return Engagement
Lynn Michaels
Ivy
ISBN: 0804119619 $6.99
Hollywood agent Vivienne Varner finds former heartthrob Noah Patrick deciding whether to kill
himself after he self-destructs his career with booze. However, she offers the former TV star, a
second chance, which he accepts. Years ago Noah co-starred with Vivienne's daughter Lindsay
Varner West on the popular show Betwixt and Be Teen. However, Lindsay hated it and left town.
Now Lindsay's sister Jolie has persuaded her to perform in a play she wrote. Vivienne's plan
includes
Noah joining Lindsay on stage in a PR mega triumph of where are they now. Vivienne has a
hidden
agenda after years of playing the cold hearted bi*ch. She feels she owes Jolie who she ignored as
untalented and wants to make it up to her by insuring her play and theater is a success. She feels
she
hurt Lindsay by pushing her into TV and she needs to help Noah regain his former self minus the
booze because she needs to prove she is human. She also wants her beloved grandson to have two
parents. Encouraged by the machinations of her relatives, Noah and Lindsay's RETURN
ENGAGEMENT includes love, but the teen secret she hid from him makes a permanent
relationship
seem impossible. Readers will enjoy this delightful contemporary romance that focuses on
redemption and second chances. The story line engages the audience as the lead couple and
Vivienne
seek to fix relationships. Though the teen tale has been used too often and adds some tension, it is
an unnecessary sidebar. Still Lynn Michaels provides her audience with a strong novel that centers
on mending fences as much as it does on love.
Shotgun Wedding
Maggie Osborne
Ivy
ISBN: 0804119910 $6.99
In Marshall, Kansas, Annie Malloy enjoys being a member of the "New Modern Woman" until she
realizes that she is pregnant out of wedlock. She goes to her lover, bank and train robber Bodie
Miller, who offers to marry her, but rejects her insistence he turns respectable. Bodie informs
Annie
they will marry, but he will continue his life of robbery. Annie declines. Sheriff Jess Harden asks
Annie if he can court her, but she is upset and runs away from him. He thinks she rejects him, but
instead Annie finds her delicate condition makes her unsuitable for the sheriff. Still he persists and
as
they fall in love, she wonders if he will be so kind with someone's child. Also Bodie plans to come
back to take what is his as no one rejects him. Fans of western romances will want to read
SHOTGUN WEDDING, a powerful period piece that brings to light an era of change for women
yet in many ways society remains the same. That is the brilliance of the tale. Maggie Osborne uses
Annie's plight to contrast a modern nineteenth century woman stigmatized by her pregnancy as
she
fleetingly considers suicide to avoid the shame she brings to her family. Throw in a strong hero
and a
selfish villain (though Bodie's motives seem strange) so that the audience will gain immense
pleasure
from a superb story.
Flirting With Disaster
Jane Graves
Ivy
ISBN: 0345458400 $6.99
Tolosa, Texas police officer Dave DeMarco is stunned with the TV news that the girl he loved
but
did not date in high school Lisa Merrick died in a Mexican plane crash. While Dave privately
mourns
he is even more stunned when a distraught Lisa calls that night. She pleads with Dave to rescue
her
insisting the plane she piloted was sabotaged. Dave wants to ignore her pleas as he raises his
daughter by himself. However, he immediately goes to Mexico where he finds an injured Lisa. She
explains that the local clinic head Dr. Robert Douglas is selling illegal pharmaceuticals and tried to
kill her and her missing passenger Dr. Adam Decker because they found his illegal stash of
counterfeits. As Douglas' law enforcement supporters try to stop them, the duo manage to escape
back to Texas. When they learn that Adam, thought dead, still lives, they race back to Mexico to
rescue him even as their teenage love blossoms into something stronger. If they survive
FLIRTING
WITH DISASTER will Dave and Lisa act on these feelings? Fans of non stop, exciting action
packed thriller with a strong romantic subplot will want to fly with FLIRTING WITH
DISASTER.
The story line is fast-paced as Lisa and Dave escape from Mexico twice. Lisa is a strong lead
protagonist but though Dave promised to be there if she ever needed him, it still feels like a
stretch
to call a high school bud. Still the adventures are fun to follow and the lead couple is a delightful
pair so that the audience receives a fast-paced tale that showcases Jane Graves' romantic suspense
skills.
Night Fever
Tori Carrington
Harlequin Blaze
ISBN: 0373791097 $4.50
Dr. Layla Hollister of the Trident Medical Center takes her work seriously, so much so that she is
perhaps the only female in Los Angeles County not interested in acting. It is not shocking that she
is
upset to learn that the new senior staff administrator is Dr. Sam Lovejoy, a man noted for his
string
of women on his arms as much as his cosmetic surgical enhancement of female lungs. Layla was
to
meet friends for a girl's night out, but they canceled at the last moment. Instead she talks with an
enchanting stranger who suddenly tastes her lips in a way that shakes the prim Layla to the core.
She
cannot believe the pleasure she has felt over one stolen kiss that leaves her craving for more.
However, the next morning, Layla is rudely awakened from her fantasy when she realizes her new
superior is the stud that shook her to the core with one lip lock. Layla refuses to mix pleasure and
business even though every cell in her body desires him while Sam expects more melting bones
kisses from his delightful employee. As expected from the Carrington crew, NIGHT FEVER is a
"tori"d tale of romance between two doctors whom never felt love before. The story line engages
the audience from the moment of the kiss and turns hotter and faster in rapid order. Fans will gain
plenty of pleasure from this delightful tale and look forward to the future Kiss and Tell stories
from
this wonderful writing duo.
Packed With Pleasure
Lori Wilde
Harlequin Blaze
ISBN: 0373791100 $4.50
Manhattan proprietor of Wickedly Wonderful boutique, Eden Montgomery feels that her talent at
making beautiful unique erotic pleasure baskets has taken a temporary hiatus in a sort of writer's
block way. Nothing she does reawakens her skills because her brain has turned to stagnated mush
and she cannot rely on the memory of hands on experience in the sex game. However, Eden feels
she has hit the magical jackpot when she sees Alec Ramsey standing on a sidewalk. Eden
concludes
that if she sleeps with the super sexy Alec, it will lead to the stimulation of her creative juices.
Eden
and Alec desire one another, but neither wants a commitment. They agree the answer is to restrict
their time together, keep feelings out of the relationship, and don't fall in love. However, keeping
distances only leads to dreams; keeping out feelings only turns them deeper into need and desire;
finally not falling love is impossible as each has already done so. Will Eden and Alec realize what
they can have together or will the fears of the playboy and the creative genius make neither one
step
forward. Readers will go wilde over PACKED WITH PLEASURE, a delightful erotic romance
starring two charming lead protagonists. The story line is fun as Eden fantasizes from the first
time
she sees Alec. He insures her dreams pale compared to the realities. Besides an obvious talent for
writing, Lori Wilde should consider opening up that little boutique because her audience will
demand custom made pleasure baskets for their own midnight memories.
Sanctuary
Brenda Novak
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373711581 $5.25
Ten years ago, knowing she had no one to turn to for assistance, a pregnant Hope Tanner escaped
from her polygamous hometown Superior, Utah. She gave birth across the border at The Birth
Place
clinic in Enchantment, New Mexico. The Birth Place's head Lydia Kane arranged the adoption of
her
baby that Hope never touched once the child left the womb. Over the years she never forgot her
loss
though she knows she did the right thing for the sake of the infant. Hope helps her pregnant sister
Faith escape Superior by taking her to The Birth Place, a place that gave her a haven during her
darkest moments. Feeling good about seeing people who have her hope when she needed it, Hope
realizes how much she cares about these folks. However, administrator Parker Reynolds acts
displeased and almost belligerent when he sees Hope, making her wonder who his son Dalton is.
The
fifth novel in the Birth Place series (all by different authors) is a solid contemporary tale with a
gender bender twist. Usually the lead female hides the child from the unknowing father, but in this
case the adopted dad tries to conceal the lad from his biological mother. The story line is
character
driven as the widower Parker and the mother of his son Hope fall in love. The secondary cast
from
his son and in-laws, to the clinic's staff and her sister add depth to the understanding of the
motives
especially the fears of the prime couple making for a fine time for readers.
The House on Creek Road
Caron Todd
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 037371159X $5.25
Elizabeth Robb left Three Creeks not planning to ever return to her hometown as the memories
were bad. However, Elizabeth cannot refuse the request to come home from her beloved
grandmother to help her go through family mementos before selling the farm. Still Elizabeth plans
to
sneak quietly into town and leave before her family even knows she is back. Serendipity fails as
everyone seems to know Elizabeth is back in town. However, through her grandmother, Elizabeth
meets new neighbor Jack McKinnon, the one person she does not mind knowing that she is in
Three
Creeks. Still that shocks her as she is very attracted to Jack even if he resides in the place that she
feels is her worst nightmare. Jack feels the same way about Elizabeth, but both carry so much
baggage that neither believes anything can come of their deep feelings for one another. Elizabeth
is a
strong character struggling with her past yet seeking a future with Jack who wants to remain
small
town after a life in the city. The story line emphasizes the cast so that the readers fully understand
why Elizabeth would prefer to stay away, but also feels a need to help her beloved grandmother.
Though at times the plot slows down, fans of modern day small town Texas romances will gain
pleasure from Elizabeth's efforts to reconcile her demon with her love.
The Woman in the News
K.N. Casper
Harlequin SuperRomance
ISBN: 0373711611 $5.25
In Coyote Springs, Texas Marlee Reid knows the competition for the job of sports anchor on
KNCS-TV is stiff and her chances are slim because news director Renn Davis has been on her
case
since he took over six months ago. However, Renn shocks Marlee when he supports her efforts to
obtain the job she desires. Marlee causes havoc when she plunges into the men's locker room
following a basketball game to interview the star player. Instead of chastising her as she expects,
Renn struggles to keep from bursting into laughter as he finds the incident amusing. When the
ratings suddenly soar, Renn realizes Marlee is an asset that he wants to keep as a starter on his
team.
As they begin to fall in love, Marlee learns she probably will not score the sports anchor job,
making
her wonder if Renn simply wanted to slam dunk her when he insisted they make a great team in
and
out of the news room. Readers will enjoy this newsroom romance due to the feisty female
protagonist. She knows what she wants and goes out to achieve her desires even if she plunges
amidst a sea of naked hunks. Renn is her perfect counterpoint as he and Marlee battle about
almost
everything including how to pronounce the names of cities. Though the story line has been used in
movies and books and the concept of females doing sports is old news, fans will appreciate this
fine
contemporary tale.
The Scout
Lynna Banning
Harlequin Historical
ISBN: 0373292821 $5.25
In 1860, the Weldon sisters left their home in Ohio when their father, a widower banker, decided
to
relocate in Oregon. In Independence, Missouri their dad died leaving the two young ladies to fend
for themselves although they sign on to a wagon train. Led by the older sibling Constance, she
and
Nettie continue on the journey west The wagon train asks for help from the military stationed at
Fort
Kearney to escort them through Indian Territory. The post Commandant Colonel Butterworth
sends
Major John Montgomery and Billy West. Meanwhile Constance and John fall in love, but Nettie
selfishly covets the major too. As the siblings argue over whether Nettie is pulling her weight,
Billy
tries to get her to see he is the one for her. However, besides understanding their deepest feelings,
they must contend with Yellow Wolf who has stolen horses from the wagon train and plans to
abduct the older Weldon female because of her kindness towards him. This is an exhilarating
historical romance that enables the reader to taste the hardships and dangers of the trail. The story
line engages the readers from the moment that John almost gets shot by a frightened traveler. The
key cast members are a delightful group to follow though Nettie's behavior will have fans wanting
to
smack her. Still the audience will enjoy traveling west with these intrepid souls, but will especially
value the two lead couples.
The Millionaire Next Door
Kara Lennox
Harlequin American
ISBN: 0373169906 $4.75
Boston general Chief of Surgery George Stimson informs surgeon Hudson Stack that he worries
that Stack, recently named "Boston's Hottest Bachelor" will suffer a stroke because his medical
numbers are all in the red zone. Speaking as a friend George tells Hudson to take at least a month
of
vacation fishing. He arranges with a pal from medical school to get Hudson a place to stay as far
from Beantown as possible. When he goes home to tell his family, Hudson overhears his daughter
Bethany innocently state that she tells everyone at school the chauffeur is her dad. Hudson
announces that he and Bethany are going fishing together. The Stacks travel to Cottonwood,
Texas
where Hudson plans to rest and enjoy time with his neglected by him daughter. When he meets
Realtor Amanda Dewhurst, Hudson finds a new interest, but must overcome the bounced check
he
gave her. As he and Bethany become closer, the Stacks also love the workaholic Amanda.
However,
will the Boston Brahma and the small town Texan find a way to make it permanent? THE
MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR is an amusing yet serious contemporary romance that provides
plenty of laughter with the message that people must balance their lives. Hudson is an intriguing
lead
character who, if he does not change his lifestyle, will lose his little girl and is an obvious cardiac
arrest waiting to happen. He learns what life is all about in Texas as does Bethany, who frets over
money. Though there is no major action or conflict, what Hudson does to just get his beloved to
spend time with him is the fun in a fine contemporary tale.
Pregnancy Countdown
Linda Randall Wisdom
Harlequin American
ISBN: 0373169914 $4.75
Three years ago, Nora Summers and Mark Walker were in love, but she rationalized that he was
not
ready to commit so she ended their relationship. He never learned why she ended it and why she
left
soon afterward. Nora returns home and Mark picks her up at the airport. She surprises herself and
her chauffeur by pleading with Mark to stay the night as she does not want to be alone in a place
that contains ugly memories. Mark, who desperately wants Nora back in his life, readily agrees.
They make love, but the morning after Nora has doubts as she knows that her heart will break
when
he leaves her again as her father did years ago. Thus she fears risking even a second one-night
stand
especially now that she is pregnant. As for him, Nora has left her mark on him so that he needs a
lifetime of her, but how to persuade his beloved that he wants to raise babies with her. Readers
will
deeply feel for the complex Nora as she struggles between her heart's desires and her experiences
that people she loves abandon her. Ironically, in a Pygmalion Effect, Nora is causing Mark to
leave.
The story line is character driven as fans will appreciate the bewildered, patient, and desperate
hero
who seems unable to persuade his beloved that he wants forever too with her. Title aside, the
pregnancy angle complicates the relationship by forcing the lead couple into communicating.
However, the angle is unnecessary as the tale clearly belongs to the heroine, whose childhood has
turned her into an adult that believes relationships are ephemeral at best.
The Lady, the Chef, and the Courtesan
Marisol
Rayo
ISBN: 0060530421 $21.95
Chicago based reporter Pilar Castillo returns to Venezuela for the funeral of her beloved
grandmother Gabriela' Grenales. Attending the services is a male that no one recognizes. Pilar and
her mother wonder who he is and how does he know the deceased. Pilar inherits her
grandmother's
diaries divided into the themes of a South American proverb. To fully use your female power over
men, a woman must act the lady in the living room, the gourmet chef in the kitchen, and the
courtesan in the bedroom. Grandma encourages Pilar to listen to her heart as that will take you to
the passion of life, something that Gabriela failed to heed when she obeyed her father, marrying
the
proper man and not her beloved. Pilar is at a crossroads. She knows she must choose between her
family's local preference and her American boyfriend. Will she do what her grandma says or what
her
grandma did? THE LADY, THE CHEF, AND THE COURTESAN is a solid character study that
looks deep into Venezuelan society as seen by two women of differing generations. However,
there
is gap between the qualities of the two story lines. Whereas Gabriela's story hooks the audience
with
its deep look at Venezuela in the 1940s and 1950s, Pilar's tale overbearingly explains modern
Venezuelan life. Still the contrast and sameness engage the reader as Marisol furbishes an
intriguing
glimpse at Venezuela through two strong protagonists.
Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu
Devin Grayson and Flint Dille
Aspect
ISBN: 0446613924 $5.99
In Asia, ingenious but amoral immortal Sin Tzu begins taking control over vast parts of the
continent either through diplomatic guile or a blood show of force. His success is so rapid and
easy,
he feels like a modern Alexander the Great with no real competition to keep him from ennui.
However, he learns of the Dark Knight across the ocean in Gotham City and wonders if he might
prove a worthy opponent. Sin Tzu begins his deadly game of cat and bat by allowing his adversary
to catch him and lock him up in Arkham Asylum, home for some of most dangerous predators on
the planet. Applying his arcane skills, Sin Tzu recruits three subordinates, Bane, Clayface, and the
Scarecrow. This trio leads his army of cutthroats and murderous lunatics against Batman and his
three superhero allies, Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl. The stakes is simply the population of
Gotham
City and surrounding areas. Taken from a game with the same name; BATMAN: RISE OF SIN
TZU is an exciting fantasy tale starring one of the great characters of fiction. Batman's foe is as
tough as they come and is supplemented from some of the Dark Knight's stronger antagonists
including Bane who broke his back. The story line is fast-paced, never slowing down once Sin
Tzu
arrives in North America; yet the essence of the four superheroes stay true. Fans of Batman will
appreciate his latest crime fighting thriller.
Cry No More
Linda Howard
Ballantine
ISBN 0345453417 $25.95
While out shopping with her two month old son Justin strapped to her chest, two men steal the
infant but not before she gouges one of their eyes out. When Milla Edge recuperates, she becomes
determined to find her baby and goes to Need Finders, an organization that searches for lost
people,
mostly infants and children. Her husband divorces her because he can't live with a crusader which
is
fine with Milla who is too busy tracking down every lead pertaining to her son. For over a decade,
all clues turn into dead ends until she connects with James Diaz, a bounty hunter who freelances
for
Homeland Security, the Mexican government and corporations. He is a lone wolf who only opens
up
to Milla and he should be the last person she should be attracted to but her feelings for him
transcend common sense. With his help, she discovers all the answers that eluded her but when he
betrays her she walks out on him though doing so nearly destroys her. CRY NO MORE is one of
Linda Howard's best works in years. This suspense thriller wrapped around a deep and intense
love
story will appeal to fans of both genres. This heroine is very goal oriented and until she meets
Diaz
feels two dimensional as if she is a caricature instead of a person. The author did this on pretense
to
emphasize the obsession and what it can do to a person if they are not careful. The hero is a hunk
who believes in Milla and justice in that order and he goes to extraordinary lengths to prove his
devotion and need of her.
Until Dark
Mariah Stewart
Ballantine
ISBN: 0345447409 $6.99
In remote Smith's Forge, New Jersey, FBI compositor Kendra Smith has her rest and relaxation
interrupted. Agent Adam Stark delivers to her a package containing information on a serial killer.
A
strangler had just murdered his third victim, the young mother of two children in nearby Deal,
Pennsylvania. Adam wants Kendra to interview witnesses to obtain a drawing of a stranger seen
talking with the latest victim in town. Kendra interviews the witnesses, who are not coping well
with
the murder of a Little League mom. Kendra understands, as her brother was the victim of such an
atrocity. However, Kendra will soon find herself as the target of a deranged but clever murderer.
Only her intelligence and experience and the protection of Adam, who loves Kendra, keeps her
safe,
but her opponent is very clever and plans to isolate her as soon as possible. Fans of police
procedural romances will appreciate this exciting serial killer tale that starts innocently at a little
league game. The story line moves forward fast once the storm that rocks Smith's Forge leaves
the
area. Though there is an abundant of serial killer tales and the identity of the culprit is out of
leftfield, readers will enjoy this solid thriller.
The President's House: A First Daughter Shares the History and Secrets of the World's Most
Famous Home
Margaret Truman
Ballantine
ISBN: 0345444523 $27.95
Author and a former first daughter (unbelievably over fifty years ago) Margaret Truman provides
the
perfect combination to escort readers to an insider tour of the White House (past and present).
The
best-selling writer provides numerous anecdotes from history as she escorts her visitors through
the
kitchen, garden and the famous social functions, etc. The book also contains chapters on the
household, political and security staffs, the press corps, and White House weddings. Of course
other
sections provide insight into the first families including pets. Though history buffs will think it is
too
much fluff the former first daughter turned novelist provides a fun look at America's showcase
home
over the two plus centuries of residents. Readers will enjoy this book written in a light-hearted
upbeat manner enhanced by color and black and white photos.
The Edge of the Gulf
Hadley Hury
Poisoned Pen Press
ISBN 1590580834 $24.95
Love came late for Hudson De Forest but when he fell, he fell hard for Kate. Their time together
was short and though he is now on the road to recovery he feels that visiting their cabin in Laurel
Beach, Florida will be very difficult for him. Wealthy entrepreneur Charlie Brompton is
determined
to help Hudson while entertaining his only blood relative Chaz and his new bride Sydney Sydney
and
Chaz know that Charlie is very wealthy and that he plans to leave this wealth in a land trust. His
relatives feel that they deserve to be Charlie's heirs and they intend to make that happen by using a
disgruntled employee and a religious fanatic to carry out a scheme that will give them everything
they want. Their plan depends on stealth and subterfuge but they haven't reckoned with Charlie's
friends who will do anything to protect him. THE EDGE OF THE GULF is a powerful work of
psychological suspense that depends heavily on the characters to make the plot work. The
antagonists are amoral, diabolical schemers who readers will love hating and hope that the people
who truly love the benevolent kind-hearted Charlie, a protagonist who inspires the audience into
believing that most people are fundamentally good, stop their plans. Hadley Hury has written
some
movie reviews that are literary masterpieces and eerily mirrors events that take place in this
novel.
Dead Man's Touch
Kit Ehrman
Poisoned Pen Press
ISBN 1590580893 $24.95
He saw a man executed and was nearly killed himself. Twenty-two years old Steve Cline has
recovered but is still emotionally fragile and unable to return to his job at Foxdale Horse Farm. He
is
estranged from his wealthy and prominent family but when he learns that his father was killed, he
returns home for the funeral. His angry and embittered brother Robert tells Steve that he was not
biologically related to the individual he thought was his father. When he confronts his mother, she
admits that his biological father is racehorse trainer Kessler working out of Washington Park.
When
he finally tells Kessler who he is, the man tells him that he is glad to have a son. When he learns
his
father is having trouble with an unknown person who wants him to fix the races, Steve volunteers
to
go undercover to find the guilty parties. In the course of his inquiries, a co-worker is murdered
and
Steve comes within a pixel of losing his life too. Kit Ehrman has a unique voice that makes DEAD
MAN'S TOUCH an exciting amateur sleuth tale. The protagonist, rather young in physical years,
has
experienced so much that he comes across as a mature person so familiar with death that he
realizes
it can strike without warning at anytime. There is a lot of action in this straightforward mystery
much of it dealing with a protagonist who refuses to stay down after being threatened and
battered.
DEAD MAN'S TOUCH is as good as the works of Dick Francis.
Mr. Timothy
Louis Bayard
Harper Collins
ISBN 0060534214 $24.95
Tiny Tim is tiny no longer. He is a twenty-three year old man who no longer needs a crutch to
walk.
The only sign of his childhood malady is a pronounced limp that hurts at certain times of the
years.
Haunted by his father's death, he has distanced himself from the rest of the Cratchits and even his
uncle Ebenezer Scrooge. He lives in a brothel teaching the madam how to read and when his
money
runs out, he looks for treasures to be found in the Thames River at low tide. One day he finds the
dead bodies of two young girls that have a brand on their upper arm, the same type that he saw on
a
dead child in a London alleyway. When Philomela, a ten year old girl, comes into his life trying to
escape a wealthy and powerful aristocrat, Timothy finds that to keep his own humanity he must
rescue her from those who branded her and put them out of business. This dark Victorian Gothic
is a
moving and powerful tale of where good and evil resides side by side in London of 1860. Louis
Bayard has written an outstanding morality thriller that has Mr. Timothy risking his own life, time
and time again to help a poor and helpless orphaned girl who is already hardened by the knocks
life
has thrown at her. Timothy finds an unexpectedly ally in a street smart urchin who is wise beyond
his
years and refuses to let the evil that lurks around each corner get a grip on him.
The Way the Crow Flies
Ann-Marie MacDonald
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060578955 $26.95
RCAF officer Jack McCarthy, his wife Mimi, and their two children twelve years old Mike and
eight-year old daughter Madeleine have been stationed in West Germany for years. However, in
1962 Jack is been reassigned to the Centralia Air Force Base in Ontario. The family quickly
adjusts
and is happy to be home. Jack is assigned the job of safeguarding a Soviet defector until the
scientist
can be smuggled into the U. S. to work on the space program. However the ethical Jack is
shocked
tothe core when he learns that his ward is a former Nazi who used slaves to work on the Nazi
rocket
program. While Jack's morality is tested on a global scale, fourth grade school teacher Mr. March
molests students in his class including Madeleine. Soon one of them is murdered. Twenty years
later
Madeline remains haunted by the homicide and seeks the truth, but uncovers more that she
wanted
when she realizes the duplicity of her hero, her father. The fascinating story line starts very slow
as
Ann-Marie MacDonald paints the scenario of a military post during the height of the Cold War.
As
the tale takes off it turns darker raping innocence by betraying values. Globally it is America
sheltering Nazi war criminals to work on the space program; with family it is secrets that
Madeleine
and Jack ironically keep from one another that when revealed undermines their relationship. The
climax is incredible, as the audience will stop to reconsider all that previously past is not what it
seems. This historical novel is great work by a multitalented superstar.
Lost Christianities: The Battles for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew
Bart D. Erhman
Oxford University
ISBN: 0195141830 $30.00
Professor Erhman provides deep yet easy to follow insight into the early days of Christianity by
offering a deep look at the competing factions trying to gain supremacy and those documents that
failed to become scripture. Additionally the Professor provides a fascinating look at what if
scenarios in which a different group other than the"proto-orthodox" sect that reigned supreme
had
won. LOST CHRISTIANITIES: THE BATTLES FOR SCRIPTURE AND THE FAITHS WE
NEVER KNEW is at its best when Professor Erhman digs deep into a divided religion in which to
the victors goes the doctrine. He summarizes the various competitors through the first three
centuries so that the readers receive a powerful historical perspective of multiple Christian
factions
as opposed to the popular current belief of solidarity. However, though well written and thought
provoking especially with intriguing side conjectures, many readers familiar with similar works
will
feel that this religious thesis contains little new light on the Christian beginnings. Illustrated.
Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era
James M. McPherson
Oxford University
ISBN: 0195159012 $65.00
In 1989 Professor McPherson released his epic BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM: THE CIVIL
WAR
ERA to tremendous reception from critics and casual readers alike. The work has since become
recognized as the single source for anything involving the American Civil War. The tome
provided
insight into the causes (incredible introduction) and war with an extra emphasis on the slavery
issue.
Thirteen years later, the classic Civil War history book returns with a new illustrated printing that
adds further depth to this classic. History buffs, not necessarily just students will appreciate the
revised edition as the pictures and other illustrations add depth to an already deep reference book.
Though this reviewer has not finished reading this edition (one chapter a week), the
ILLUSTRATED BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM: THE CIVIL WAR ERA is a great historical
volume even better than the first.
Love and Country
Christina Adam
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316735000 $23.95
Following a nasty divorce from her Air Force pilot husband, Lenna Swanson accompanied by her
fourteen year old son Kenny moves to Idaho. Kenny's only interest lies in the rodeo. However, he
acquiesces to his mom's plea to not participate until she completes her probation period at her
new
job so they can have health insurance to cover any injuries. Kenny's loneliness intensifies when his
father dies in a plane crash. Lenna begins seeing rodeo star Roddy Moyers. Because he reveres
Roddy, Kenny is all for his mother dating his idol. Roddy also spends time with musically talented
high school senior Cynthia Dustin, over a decade younger than him. Kenny becomes agitated
when
he finds a treasure trove of his deceased father's stuff, but Cynthia's friendship helps him cope.
Roddy leaves town for the rodeo circuit while Kenny and Cynthia innocently fall asleep together
only to have her abusive father discover them lying down together. Now the troubles begin. This
low key small town tale is a deep look at individuals struggling with loneliness and a disbelief in
love, but finds some solace with one another. Roddy finds love in fan adulation. Cynthia doubts it
exists. Lenna believes that only her son truly cares for her. Finally, though he accepts his mom's
love
for him, even the adolescent Kenny ponders whether his father loved him and if so why did he
remarry? Though the action is minor, fans of modern day contemporary tales will enjoy LOVE
AND
COUNTRY as Christina Adam provides a strong character study.
She Is Me
Cathleen Schine
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316786098 $23.95
Greta is the sandwich generation dealing with her ailing mother Lotte and her adult (with her own
child) daughter Elizabeth. Things were okay for the California based landscape artist as her
spouse is
a nice person, her work enjoyable, and she is at some distance from the other generationals. That
changes after her father dies and Lotte demands more of her time especially since the Jewish
matriarch learns she has a nasty facial skin cancer. Elizabeth, with her preschool aged son and
boyfriend, has relocated from NYC to work on a screenplay of Madame Bovary. Greta loves her
extended family, but would prefer less demand as she can only supply so much. However, the
biggest issue to confront Greta is her deepest feelings especially after being diagnosed with colon
cancer. She wonders about what she has done with her life and why she suddenly finds herself
extremely attracted to film director Daisy Piperino since she has been a heterosexual from the
moment she discovered boys. SHE IS ME is an insightful look at three and a fraction (Greta's
grandson is only three years old) generations of Americans. Each of the key characters especially
the
trio of women is fully developed so the audience can easily distinguish what motivates each one.
The
support cast enables an even deeper look inside the prime threesome though the tale lacks any
major
relational conflict as everyone tries to be considerate of each other. Still fans of a powerful
perspective on the modern family will appreciate Cathleen Schine's novel because most of us will
see
much of ourselves as one of the she (or a support he).
Fire Flight
John J. Nance
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0743250508 $25.00
Near West Yellowstone, Wyoming the fires are out of control. They threaten the two nearby
popular National parks and the local populace. The National Forest Service is undermanned and
the
outlook is bleak. Air tanker fleet owner Jerry Stein knows they need more specialized help so he
asks his friend former fire bomber pilot Clark Maxwell to join the fray, which he does. Besides
fighting the out of control fires, Clark must deal with seeing his personal "pinup girl" married
smoke
jumper Karen Jones. A pilot dies in a plane originally intended for Clark's use. A second pilot
almost
has his wings clipped in the same way. Fighting fire and his feelings for Karen, Clark finds time to
investigate who and why someone is sabotaging the planes. The action is hot and heavy as
expected
form a John J. Nance thriller, but the author also makes sure his key characters, especially the
star,
are fully understood. Clark is a strong protagonist, who struggles between his secret love and
doing
what he believes his right. The sabotage conspiracy seems a bit stretched, but then again in a
world
where jets crash into buildings perhaps not. Fans will enjoy this action-packed tale that brings
alive
the dangers of forest fire fighting.
Last Car to Elysian Fields
James Lee Burke
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0743245423 $24.95
New Iberia, Louisiana homicide detective Dave Robicheaux and his friend private investigator
Clete
Purcel rough up former porn movie star Gunner Ardoin. Dave and Clete were retaliating for
Gunner's beating up New Orleans priest Father Jimmie Dolan. Gunner gets back at the duo for
their
assault by suing them. Meanwhile hitman Max Coll stalks Father Jimmie. Apparently there is a
nebulous connection to 1951 Angola Penitentiary where blues singer Junior Crudup was sent
before
vanishing. Then there is the link to three teens dying in a DUI incident. Thus Dave has a lot on his
plate, jurisdiction not withstanding. However, his typical two-fisted approach will not bring down
Castille LeJeune, who is the alleged power behind the scenes of all these seemingly unrelated
incidents. LAST CAR TO ELYSIAN FIELDS is the usual brutal but exciting look at the
underbelly
of society from James Lee Burke. If the story line sounds a bit disjointed that is because it is.
Dave
remains an intriguing wild man who does not worry about losing his job as he metes out street
justice as few characters do. Fans of Dave will appreciate this rowdy ride while those who prefer
a
more gentile or just a straightforward plot will want to pass rather than wait to see how the
subplots
finally tie together.
Soothe Your Nerves: The Black Woman's Guide to Understanding and Overcoming Anxiety,
Panic,
and Fear
Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett
Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 0743225384 $12.00
Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett practiced psychotherapy especially with black women who typically
avoid
such treatments because the community and family expect these super strong females to overcome
their case of "bad nerves". Dr. Neal-Barnett contends that "bad nerves" is a euphemism for
anxiety
and a myriad of fears and phobias. She ties her anecdotal findings with religious beliefs so as to
make the case that more black women need professional help. However, the image of
superwoman
and the lack of African-American female psychotherapists lead to the use of home remedies for
such
problems as obsessive-compulsive disorder, overeating and drug and alcohol abuse. This book is
written in such a manner as to encourage African-American females and others to seek
professional
help and where to go to find that assistance. Current medicines that are commonly prescribed at
least in the white communities are also described. Though aimed at the black women, any person
who suffers from anxiety and panic attacks will find this guide a solid first step. Dr. Neal-Barnett
provides solace and assurance to overcome the fear of those first steps towards seeking help,
something this reviewer first hand understands the difficulty due to the social stigmatism.
Confessions of a Deathmaiden
Ruth Francisco
Mysterious
ISBN: 0892967730 $23.95
After receiving her diploma from the Institute for Eternal living, Frances Oliver joins the Society
of
Deathmaidens. She wants to help people die gracefully and with dignity when they are ready to
cross
over. In Los Angeles, Frances the Deathmaiden has come to help young Mexican Tomas Gomez
die.
Though the lad lies in a comatose state and is pronounced brain dead, Frances feels he is not
ready
to move on and even might recover. However, the Silvanus Corporation arrives to harvest the
body
parts. Frances wonders if Tomas was murdered so that his organs could be reaped by Silvanus.
Unable to ignore what happened to the youngster, the ethical Frances begins to investigate what
happened to the child who suffered a head trauma. She traces his trail back to his Mexican
hometown. There in the remote mountain village she may find the handsome kind stranger may be
the one to speed up her steps into the afterlife. The concept of a deathmaiden serving as sort of a
midwife except at the end of life is an intriguing notion that is cleverly handled within an exciting
story line. Frances is a great character struggling with a need to right a wrong. Though
coincidence
is overdone, fans of medical thrillers will welcome CONFESSIONS OF A DEATHMAIDEN and
look forward to more tales starring this delightful six foot caring dynamo.
The Jupiter Myth
Lindsey Davis
Mysterious
ISBN: 0892967773 $24.95
In 75 AD, accompanied by his extended family, Roman auditor Marcus Didius Falco visits
Londinium to see his wife's aunt and uncle, the Procurator Gaius Flavius Hilaris, second in
command
of Britain. When a prominent British courtier Verovolcus drowns in a tavern well, Governor
Frontinus sends Falco, known for his sleuthing skills, to investigate. Falco realizes that the victim
was close to exiled King Togidubnus. Thus the case is politically sensitive. Not long afterward,
Petronius Longinus vanishes. Soon. Falco meets an old girlfriend, gladiator Chloris now known as
Amazonia. She wants to renew all aspects of their relationship, but he only offers to help her with
her battle against mob control of her gladiatorial troupe. Placing the tale in Londinium freshens up
this long running Ancient Rome (and now Ancient London) mystery series. Falco is a great
character struggling between solving a difficult case and keeping Chloris from pinning him to a
mattress as he wants to forget her other skills and remain happily married. Readers will receive
plenty of insight into Falco's family and much depth into first century Britannia. THE JUPITER
MYTH will please fans of the series and attract newcomers as Lindsey Davis provides a deep look
back in time.
Blood Canticle
Anne Rice
Knopf
ISBN 037541200 $25.95
Like most of his kind, the vampire Lestat is more a sinner than a saint but since his meeting and
metamorphous after dealing with Memnoch, he wants to be on the side of the angels. He proves
it
again and again when he and Merrick Mayfair help destroy Quinn's evil doppelganger Goblin. He
shows his kind nature again when he turns Mona Mayfair, the love of Quinn's immortal life, into a
vampire after being at death's door for two years. At Blackwood Farm, he helps a trapped spirit
move into the light instead of being trapped between worlds. When Mona begs Lestat to find her
Taltos daughter, he moves Heaven and earth and calls upon the mother of all vampires to help
him
locate the land of the Taltos. When they reach the Caribbean Island where they are held prisoners
by
drug lords, he liberates them and brings them back to Rowan Mayfair the woman he truly loves
but
will not touch. Lestat is one of the most fascinating characters in fiction today. He is living
(pardon
the pun) proof that one who chooses evil can also turn to the light and hope for redemption from
some higher power. The meeting of the vampires with the Mayfair witches is a peaceful one and
readers will be very pleased that these are two different forces of nature that can not only co-exist
but thrive in proximity to each other. Anne Rice has written another special novel brimming with
creativity, action and challenges the readers to question their ideas of good, evil, redemption and
honor.
Sime-Gen: The Unity Trilogy
Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Jean Lorrah Meisha
Merlin
ISBN: 1592220037 $20.00
Background. Humanity evolved into two species following the cataclysm. On the surface the only
obvious physical difference is the arms of the Sime. However, in reality, the Simes were much
bigger, faster, and deadlier than the Gens. The Sime need selyn to survive while the Gens contain
that energy source within their bodies. Over time the Sime began drugging and herding the Gen
into
pens so that they could suck dry selyn from its source leaving the Gen dead. "House of Zeor".
Gen
intelligence operative Hugh Valleroy is considerably distraught over his beloved Aisha being
apparently abducted by the Sime. He plans to risk his life to bring her home, but to do so he must
meet with Klyd, a Sime. Klyd is a new type of Sime. He serves as a channel between the species,
killing no one but providing nutrients for his race. Both are little regarded amongst their
respective
people. Hugh is considered a Sime lover because he speaks the language, which he learned from
his
Sime expatriate mother. Klyd and his House of Zeor are considered lunatics because the Gens are
a
source of food and death is a by-product of that feeding frenzy. Neither trusts the other. Yet if
they
fail to cooperate, they not only will falter on their quest to save Aisha, but they will also destroy
any
hope of peaceful coexistence as dreamed of by both men. "Ambrov Keon". Simes Morgan Tigue
and
his daughter Risa were sailing home on the Mizipi River when the storm suddenly hit killing the
father. Risa barely survives, but to do so drains much of her internal supply of life energy selyn.
She
must find herself a Gen so that she can replenish her source of life-energy. Risa meets Gen Sergi
ambrov Keon, who has the uncanny ability to provide selyn yet control the Sime so as to give
enough for the feeder to live yet not die in the process. Sergi offers shelter and selyn to Risa.
Having
just failed to keep alive a channel, he hopes she is the one that along with him will prove they can
live in harmony. Sergi believes she has that ability, but can he persuade her to stop the killing.
"Zelerod's Doom". The end times have arrived for both species of the human race. To survive the
life giving Gens and the feeder Simes must find a way to cooperate with channels being the
obvious
avenue. Failure to do so means the end of the Gens, which mathematically implies the termination
of
the Simes. Most Gens never heard of channels while most Simes think these renegades are
depraved
lunatics. Humanity is on the brink of extinction unless the two species stop the animosity and
prejudice to reunite the human race into one people. Together in harmony all live, but divided in
discord all die. The Sime-Gen novels are some of the best post apocalypse books written and to
see
this reprinting in one volume will bring plenty of pleasure to genre fans. The tales focus on the
Gen-Sime relationship, but the key to these three books is that the two species seem real
regardless
of whether Jacqueline Lichtenberg or Jean Lorrah or both wrote the tale. Readers will be caught
up
in the action, but will appreciate the depth to the prime cast members such as Hugh and Risa.
Whether the player is a Sime or a Gen they seem genuine and stay true to their people. Fans of
vampire tales in a different setting than Transylvania or London will clearly want to read the great
Unity Trilogy novels rolled together in one superb collection.
Last Things
David Searcy
Plume
ISBN: 0452284635 $14.00
Gilmore, Texas residents are becoming concerned with the weird events including the abnormal
weather that seems to have engulfed the town. Scarecrows containing the rotted animals have
begun
to appear. When a child vanishes, the townsfolk become divided. Many believe the end of times
has
begun as her disappearance marks the start of the Rapture. Other feel someone more mundane
and
mortal is behind the events. Loner Luther Hazlitt believes that what ever is going on has nothing
to
do with the Holy Spirit. A bit shook from an incident that leaves him mumbling "oh sh*t" as his
nirvana, Luther, accompanied by his dog Yurang, obtains the help of Agnes Peeler. They plan to
catch the culprit behind the weirdness. Deputy Sheriff Willis Beagle joins the team, but none of
them
know what they plan to trap. The concept underlying the story line is brilliant and most horror
fans
will find refreshing. The heroic quartet are as far removed as one can get from being heroes yet
are
believable, making them fun characters. The townsfolk add depth and feel that the audience has
entered a remote section of Texas. With all that going for it LAST THINGS should have been
great.
However, the problem is that sentences and paragraphs go on forever in a mimic of The Old Man
and the Sea. Other than this quibble this is a great book.
The Prodigal Project: Numbers
Ken Abraham & Daniel Hart
Plume
ISBN 0452284562 $13.00
After the disappearances of millions of adults and all of the children across the globe, a dynamic
new
leader emerged to try to bring peace to a troubled world. Azol Dante, a charismatic individual;
founded the Prodigal Project dedicated to bring together people into a one world and faith utopia.
As Dante consolidates his base of power, the Seven begins to see that he does not have the
world's
best interests at heart. The Mujahideen led by General Izbek Noir are taking control of central and
north Africa, the middle east, and south America. As Muslim fights Muslim, American operative
John Jameson infiltrates Noir's security forces but no matter how hard he tries, he cannot take out
the Muslim leader. When Noir sends Jameson to kill Dante, the assassin meets reporter Cat
Earley,
another one of the Seven. Together they race to freedom after John kills Dante's assistant. In a
church in Selma, Alabama, four of the seven make contact with Cat, hoping to learn what their
role
will be in the upcoming Tribulation. This end-times thriller is totally mesmerizing as readers try to
figure out what is really happening to the world and why. The authors let the audience know who
Azalea Dante and Izbek Noir are supposed to be but give only partial explanation of their
respective
game plans for the world. With so much action going on, one would think there is no time for
character development but the authors make the protagonists and antagonists very believable.
This
futuristic thriller, the third in the series, gives tantalizing glimpses of what will happen in future
books.
Death in Provence
Graham R. Wald
Intrigue
ISBN 1890768529 $24.95
Superintendent Lauriant is in a small French village to bury a man and wait until his widow's grief
eases a bit so they can find out if they can have a future together. While there, he is prevails upon
by
Chief Inspector Gischard to try to solve the murder of Gilles Mondras, a man universally hated by
all
who knew him. Lauriant learns that Gilles had enemies from both sides of the tracks and from
people who believed he was a traitor during WW II. In a DEAD MAN'S MORNING readers are
treated to a very cerebral brain twister. The big issue in France in the late 1960's is freedom for
the
colony of Algeria. When Marc-Henri Cailleburt, who is adamantly opposed to granting Algeria its
independence, is murdered, government officials are afraid that his death could cause civil unrest.
State secretary, Hector Biaggi orders Superintendent Lauriant to find out what happened. THE
SINS OF THE FATHER is a fun police procedural starring a very sympathetic and kind-hearted
protagonist who believes in justice Both stories that make up this collection are solid police
procedurals due to the superb protagonists, a dedicated individual trying to see that justice is
served,
French style.
Flinx's Folly
Allan Dean Foster
Del Rey
ISBN 0345450388 $24.95
The outlawed Gengineer Melianare Society biomanipulated Flinx's neurological system giving him
the ability to read minds and projects emotions. He is a very powerful empathic telepath who
many
races take a very deep interest in, which is why he travels under false credentials. The
viru-ujurians,
who are under indictment, gave Flinx a ship that is unlike any in the Commonwealth. They would
like him to use it to keep him safe. He is a very lonely twenty-four year old man who is only
emotionally bonded to Pip, an Alesphinian minidras snake who regards Flinx as his bondmate and
protector. Needing someone to confide in about his dreams where he is the key to saving the
universe from something that is coming in the distant future, he travels to the planet New Riviera.
There he connects with his old girlfriend Trinity in the hopes she can help him figure out if his
dreams are a premonition of things to come. While on the planet, he has to deal with Trinity's
boyfriend who is trying to kill him. He also must contend with a group that knows what Flinx is
dreaming about is true and want to eliminate him so the cosmos will be destroyed. With every
Flinx
and Pip adventure, readers come one step closer to learning how Flinx will grow into his mental
powers. Many races and people believe he is the key to saving the universe from a threat that is
not
fully understood. The way they protect him from his myriad of enemies is quite interesting but not
as
fascinating as the blossoming romance of Flinx and Trinity who is bonded to Pip's offspring.
FLINX'S FOLLY is space opera at its finest.
Crawlers
John Shirley
Del Rey
ISBN 0345446526 $14.95
In the town of Quiebra, not far from San Francisco, a man-made satellite falls from the sky and
lands
in Suisan Bay. Adair Leverton and her friend Waylon saw what happened. She rushes over to her
home to tell her father, the owner of a salvage operation, so he can try to land the job to recover
the
object. When Nick Leverton arrives at the site, he persuades the military into letting him retrieve
the
satellite. A sense of urgency forces the military to allow Nick to recover it, but the person who
comes back from the water is no longer the human being who dived. Something in the satellite
changed and took over Nick and whatever happened is spreading. Residents of the town are being
taken over and turned into a combination of human, machine and animals. It is a hive entity and it
is
planning to seed the rest of the world so it will be one big organism unless someone can come up
with plan to stop it. CRAWLERS is a horror story on a par with Dean Koontz, Stephen King and
Clive Barker. It is a story of science gone amuck and what the consequences are when not enough
safeguards are placed on a scientific black-ops experiment. The novel is fast paced and the action
never lets up yet the author doesn't ignore character development. The people who populate the
pages of this book are rugged individuals who try to fight the enemy and endear themselves to the
audience in the process.
Burn
Sean Doolittle
Uglytown
ISBN: 0972441220 $25.95
In the Mandeville Canyon just outside Los Angeles the forest fire burns much of the area. The
courageous firefighters however find something different among the ruins due to some luck (bad
for
the killer). An Alfa Romeo convertible and the corpse of Lomax Enterprise celebrity fitness expert
Gregor Tavlin lies in nearby Topanga Canyon. The police are immediately are called to take
charge
of the crime scene. Detectives Adrian Timms and Drea Munoz lead the investigation into the
homicide starting with retired arsonist Andrew Kindler. As the cops dig deeper, they find no
suspects as no one seemed to have a motive to murder the popular former decathlete. With no
leads,
the two detectives turn to David Lomax, heir to a fortune, but he is missing. This case appears is
going up in smoke as Adrian and Drea have no other avenue to BURN. BURN is a dark
exhilarating
police procedural that shows how difficult an inquiry can go when no suspects surface. The lead
detectives struggle with few clues, a missing key player, and a media expecting an instant
gratification arrest since a celebrity is involved. Fans will appreciate Sean Doolittle's terse thriller
that never eases up until the final page is burned.
A Perfect Day
Richard Paul Evans
Dutton
ISBN: 0525947655 $22.95
Robert Harlan loves his wife Allyson and their daughter, but detests his job as radio station sales
representative. Instead he dreams of one day becoming a writer. When he loses his job, Allyson
encourages him to write a book. He authors A PERFECT DAY that focuses in on the final days
of
the loving relationship between his spouse and her father, dying from cancer. The book is a
monster
success and Robert becomes an instant celebrity. He goes on a book tour and is the idol of
women
wherever he goes. Soon Robert loses sight of what he cherishes most in the world as he is caught
up
in the glitter and the adulation. His marriage is near collapse when an angel warns Robert that he
has
forty days to live. Stunned by the revelation, Robert reassesses what is meaningful in his life is to
love and be loved. This is what he once had and probably lost, but he plans to die trying to regain
the respect and love of his cherished wife and daughter. This is a delightful modern day cautionary
tale focusing on not losing sight of what is important in life. Robert is a great lead protagonist as
his
metamorphosis from living family member to glamour outsider seems so real. The angel's hep rap
may turn off some readers, but that adds to the overall effect. Richard Paul Evans provides a
powerful tale with some sugar coating, but no one will come away dry.
Under the Mistletoe
Mary Balogh
NAL
ISBN: 0451209788 $12.95
"A Family Christmas". Lady Templar detests the fact that her son-in-law Edwin is coming home
for
Christmas though he owns the estate because she believes he is beneath her. Her daughter
Elizabeth
married Edwin as Templar needed money. Both actually wed due to the respect they have for his
now deceased father, but neither know that what they feel for each other is love. "The Star of
Bethlehem". Ellen tells her husband Allan that she lost the Star of Bethlehem diamond that he
gave
her. Angry he informs her she will go into exile. Though they love one another, this marriage
looks
dead even when three betrothal rings surface. "The Best Gift". Warren's sister dumps her teenage
daughter on him. Needing a companion for his niece, he obtains the services of teacher Jane, who
has no family. Jane and Warren fall in love during their family Christmas. "Playing House". Lilas
asks Stephen for "payment" for the times her dad tutored him without remittance. She wants a last
Christmas together for her younger siblings before they are scattered as orphans, but has no
means
of doing so. He agrees to host a grand holiday, but soon he and Lilas fall in love. "No Room at
the
Inn". The storm is so bad that everyone stops at the White Hart Inn seeking shelter even with
Christmas coming. When Lisa goes into labor, Edward gives up his room for her and her spouse.
Pamela sees Edward in a kind light and soon they fall in love. These five Christmas tales are
delightful historical romantic gifts of the magi that fans of the author, sub-genre, or the holiday
cheer
will appreciate.
In the Presence of Mine Enemies
Harry Turtledove
NAL
ISBN 0451529022 $29.95
The Germans won World War III using nuclear bombs to wipe out a third of the population of the
United States. The borders of the Germanic Empire include England, Russia all the way to the
Urals
and India. The armies of the victorious German Empire occupy the U.S., France and Canada.
Most
Jews and Blacks have been put to death, making the empire and the countries it occupies racially
pure. The Germans believe that all the Jews and Gypsies were destroyed in the camps but in the
heart of the capital, a small cell of Jews hides their religion from the public at large. The Nazi
Party
led by the SS stormtroopers have kept the country in a grip of repression for over two decades.
The
newly appointed Fuhrer Heinz Buckhagen calls for radical reforms. He wants free elections in the
conquered and occupied countries as well as Germany. He strongly feels that Germany must
become
self-supporting instead of looting the treasures of the losers to keep the country in the black. The
people, particularly the Jews, wait with baited breath to see how far he will take his reforms and if
his enemies will stop him. The question of what would happen if Germany won W.W.II is
answered
very satisfactorily IN THE PRESENCE OF MINE ENEMIES. Hearts will go out to the German
Jews who live their lives in fear of being discovered and put to death by the SS. HARRY
TURTLEDOVE, the master of alternate history, has written a sweeping saga of a world where
the
Fascists won and to the victors go the spoils.
Until You
Bertrice Small
NAL
ISBN: 0451209745 $14.00
In 1511 The Border, widowed three times and only twenty-two, Rosamund Bolton informs her
cousin that she is no longer interested in having a husband. She especially wants to avoid a
betrothal
to anyone selected by someone but herself. Instead she plans to visit her friend Margaret Tudor
married to King James IV of Scotland unencumbered by a spouse. At the court, Patrick Leslie
sees
Rosamund sitting near the queen and knows he has found love for the first time in his life.
Rosamund shares his deep feelings, but has doubts about another marriage. When King James
assigns Patrick a mission in San Lorenzo to try to stop a pending war, he brings Rosamund along
not realizing at the time the danger of their adventure, but the feeling that they belong together.
UNTIL YOU, the sequel to ROSAMUND, is a delightful sixteenth century Scottish romance that
is
a typical Bertrice Small historical tale. The story line moves rather quickly once the duo leaves
Scotland (relatively early in the novel). Fans of the sub-genre, especially those of the author, will
appreciate this rich story starring two charming protagonists who feel like they have been part of
the
Skye is the limit mythos forever.
Bed of Nails
Michael Slade
Onyx
ISBN 0451411153 $7.50
The Forensic Psychiatric Hospital at Colony Farm in Vancouver is the home of the insane serial
killer known as the Ripper. He believes that he is actually the real Jack the Ripper who can go
back
in time through a wyrmhole in space caused by his magical manipulation of the tarot card The
Hanged Man. He blames Inspector Zinc Chandler of the Special External section of the RCMP for
his inability to do go anywhere besides Victorian England. Ripper holds Zach responsible for
ruining
a magical rite the Ripper was performing. He also knows that Zach's efforts led to his present
captivity. When the Goth visits the Ripper at the hospital, he begs the psycho to teach him the art
of
time travel. The Ripper does so in return for the Goth's promise to kill and then eat Zinc. The
police
feel that two murders, one and a half years apart in Vancouver and Seattle, were committed by
the
same person. Zinc, who is involved in both cases, is taking a vacation to the South Seas Cook
Islands lured there by the Goth who intends to spring his trap while on tour. Michael Slade is the
king of psychothrillers, and his latest work BED OF NAILS comes as close to horror as the genre
is
defined without actually crossing over the line. This is not a work for the faint of heart for there is
very gruesome, gory and explicit scenes spread throughout the story line. The incredible imagery
will give readers nightmares. Readers who like relish monsters wearing a human face must read a
Michael Slade novel.
Cut and Run
Jeff Abbott
Onyx
ISBN: 0451411145 $6.99
In Port Leo, Texas the doctors have given his beloved father, who raised Judge Whit Mosely and
his
five brothers, four months to live. As such Whit wants his mother Ellen, who abandoned the seven
Mosely males decades ago, to apologize for what she did to all of them before his dad dies. He
hires
private investigator Harry Chyme to make inquiries though his father did just that when the trail
was
warm with no success. Harry thinks out of the box tracing Ellen to Montana where she had run
off
to with a bank embezzler. Then he traces her in Detroit where she cut a deal with the Bellini mob,
who relocated with her to Houston. As Whit confronts Ellen, he becomes embroiled in a mob deal
involving a five-million-dollar Miami connection and double crosses that test his moral system to
the
core. Will he choose to protect the person who deserted him or will he opt to obey his conscience.
He is encouraged to do so by Claudia Salazaar, the woman he loves. CUT AND RUN is an
exhilarating thriller that runs on two levels. First there is the mob scenario with its double dealings
in
which Ellen is in the middle. Then there is Whit's ethical dilemma even when murder influences
the
equation. Thus the audience receives a powerful novel that will add to Jeff Abbott's growing
reputation for suspense.
Impossible Odds
Dave Duncan
Eos
ISBN: 0380818345 $24.95
In Chivial, Grand Duke Rubin of Krupina asks King Athelgar to help him regain his lost dukedom.
Rubin's warrior-cousin Lord Volpe tossed him off his minor throne and has attacked him with evil
magic as he crossed Eurania to come her for assistance. Rubin pleads with the monarch to assign
the
King's Blades to help him regain his power. King Athelgar has no fully trained Blade available so
he
selects the inexperienced Ranter and the rookie Ringwood led by the injured Bellman to assist the
Grand Duke. However Trudy of the Sisterhood, states that Rubin is using a magical device to
alter
his appearance. He turns out to be a she as the visitor is the Grand Duchess Johanna, who does
not
know the fate of her spouse or their son. Johanna accepts what she can and leads her motley crew
back to Krupina to confront Volpe and his magic practitioner knights. The fifth Chronicle of the
King's Blades is an exciting sword and sorcery tale that reads somewhat as if an amateur sleuth
story
was set in a fantasy realm. The quintet heads to Krupina for a final confrontation are very distinct
realistic characters. The story line is fast-paced so that fantasy fans will enjoy the enchanted
battles
while mystery readers who appreciate a radically different slant will relish Trudy. Fans of the
series
will want to read the latest Blades adventure as once again those magically bound to defend the
King
(and anyone he chooses even to the death) risk their lives.
Wolves of the Calla
Stephen King
Scribner
ISBN: 1880418568 $35.00
The original gunslinger Roland Deschain and his companions (Eddie Dean, Susannah Holmes,
Jake
Chambers) along with their pet Bumblers Oy deter from the quest of averting the eradication of
the
Dark Tower. Though they have no time to leave the Beam's path if they are to prevent Chaos
from
ruling the worlds, Roland follows his Ka anyway. The group are in the farming community Calla
Bryn Sturgis where apparently every decade the Thunderclap Wolves abduct a child from each
pair
of Calla twins. They take the misfortunate members to the Tower before sending the twin home a
mental and physical damaged husk of what they were. In 1977 New York City thugs from the
Drawing of the Three threaten bookstore owner Calvin Tower. They demand he sells to them a
vacant lot in midtown Manhattan where the Rose that is this world's manifestation of the Dark
Tower lies. The gunslinging quartet with the help of Old Fella must fight evil in two worlds. The
fifth novel in Stephen King's Dark Tower series is fantastic as the action continues, the team takes
a
detour yet paradoxically steps closer to their goal, and the connections to other books continue.
That link to SALEM'S LOT and THE STAND, etc. is part of the fun (Scribner offers THE
CONCORDANCE to assist the audience in following the who's who from where). This particular
volume contains an exciting story line starring absorbing characters who get deeper with each
tale.
Readers will appreciate the latest adventures of the gunslingers as Mr. King's epic fantasy is
moving
forward towards the climax.
Extreme Indifference
Stephanie Kane
Scribner
ISBN 0743245563 $23.00
After driving to a deserted area at night to have sex, the two lovers see a naked girl hobbling
toward
them with a dog choker around her neck as used in sadomasochistic games. The victim is
eighteen-year-old college student Amy Lynch, born with a silver spoon in her mouth. She lapses
into
a coma and is unable to tell the police who abducted her but the handcuffs she wore are traced to
United States Federal District Judge Glenn Ballard. An anonymous tip leads the police to the
isolated cabin where Amy was held, a getaway that belongs to the upright and honorable Glenn
Ballard. Glenn hires superstar defense attorney Jackie Flowers to represent him. Her job becomes
even tougher when Ketamine is found in his medicine cabinet and a video shows him in the cabin
with Amy. The judge insists he was framed so Jackie goes to court trying to prove her client's
innocence, something she has a difficult time believing. Stephanie Kane writes legal thrillers that
are
on a par with John Grisham and Scott Turow. The court room scenes are incredibly realistic, hard
hitting and action-packed. EXTREME INDIFFERENCE gives the audience a good
representation
at how the justice system works with the legal in fighting between the prosecutor, the defense
attorney and at times even the judge. The protagonist has overcome dyslexia to become a good
defense attorney that readers will admire.
The Last War: Detective Ferrets and the Golden Deed
Richard Bach
Scribner
ISBN: 0743227565 $10.00
On earth Shamrock Ferret has always answered questions almost from the day she was born so it
is
not surprising that she especially enjoys responding to those inquiries that seem impossible to
obtain
a reply. Her upbringing became her work and her skills have earned her a reputation as a
successful
sleuth. What Shamrock does is sit in the Cases Unsolved Chair to ponder the puzzle until she
finds
the solution. Having just succeeded in solving the Case of the Curious Patterns for local farmers
she
accepts a partnership with Mr. Burroughs. However, she also begins her most difficult mystery.
She
"sees" a forlorn ferret hopelessly moaning on a dying world seeking someone or some way to save
the survivors of the Ferret war that has devastated his people. Sitting in her chair she begins to
wonder if this vision is a shadow from the past reaching out to her for help. Besides the cleverly
designed time paradox (not explained here), readers will appreciate Richard Bach's latest tale that
clearly cries for give peace a chance. The story line focuses on Shamrock and her use of logic,
psychometry, cryptography, and patterns to solve mysteries. Yet with all this Mr. Bach insures his
audience understands his message that war is a last resort not a first preemptive strike because of
the
full impact on the innocent reminiscent of as Animal Farm in relation to Communism.
Once Upon A Midnight
Nora Roberts, Jill Gregory, Ruth Ryan Langon, and Marianne Willman
Jove
ISBN: 0515136190 $7.99
"The Witching Hour" by Nora Roberts. Cneturies of war has devastated the island Kingdom of
Twylia. The hope of the people lies in Draco's prophecy that an intrepid queen will lead her forces
to
victory over evil. As Aurora falls in love with Thane, she risks her life not knowing if she is
destiny
darling facing the malevolent Loreen. "Mirror, Mirror" by Jill Gregory. As King Mortimer of
Grithain lies dying he obtains a vow from Ariel to protect Prince Brandon from their enemies.
With
the help of a magic mirror, Ariel's sister Fiona the Healer, Conor the wounded knight, and an
incredible amount of luck and love they might succeed. "Dream Lover" by Ruth Ryan Langon.
Antiques expert Allison flies to Scotland to complete the purchase of Hamilton Hall from owner
Malcolm. Allison will strip the house of anything of value so her firm can sell them. On the plane
Allison meets the badly injured Heath. However the matchmaking of the mysterious Sir Malcolm
combined with the magic of love propels Allison to need to save Hamilton Hall. "Once Upon a
Midnight" by Marianne Willman. Californian Jenna searches for her roots but cannot find her final
destination. The locals insist that Beaumont Foret is a fairy tale. When Philippe senses her nearby
he
runs out to protect her from the wolves. As they fall in love, each keeps a genetic secret from the
other that if revealed will lead to happiness for both of them. The four magical romances are all
delightful novellas that add to the enchanting mythos of the "Once Upon A" series.
When a Texan Gambles
Jodi Thomas
Jove
ISBN: 0515136298 $6.99
In 1883 after confessing that she killed nasty Zeb Whitaker with two other women, Sarah
Andrews
is placed in a wedding raffle by Sheriff Riles. Shockingly the last person that anyone would expect
to
enter the contest, bounty hunter Sam Gatlin wins. He pays her fine, gets her out of jail, and
marries
her. Sarah expects he will abandon her like her husband and baby who died while heading west
and
the wagonmaster who kicked her off the train. However, before they can leave town, Levi Reed
stabs Sam in the back. He asks Sarah to pull out the knife and to get them out of town as he is a
sitting duck for anyone who wants a reputation. She pulls off the impossible, but on the trail
meets
three children claiming Sam as their father though he denies it whenever he awakens. As she
nurtures him back to health, they fall in love, but to have a long term relationship he paradoxically
must die because so many wannabees will try to gun him down. The second "Wife Lottery" tale
(see
THE TEXAN'S WAGER) is a superb western romance that moves at a fast pace, is filled with
plenty of action and contains a strong cast. The key, besides the fully developed lead protagonists,
are the townsfolk, the kids, and those foes wanting to kill the hero. Each one enhances the
understanding of the inner values of a pair who are on the surface seem inappropriate together yet
share similar ethics. Readers will look forward to the final novel in what is so far a delightful
series
focusing on players with principles.
Urban Tribes
Ethan Watters
Bloomsbury
ISBN: 1582342644 $24.95
This book fosters an interesting theory on why young Americans seem to be marrying at a much
older age than previous generations; that is if they ever marry. Mr. Watters contends that
relationships today are forged around a tribal mentality. Group dynamics form extended families
that
reflect much of what has happened in society in the past few decades. Many of the author's
targeted
groups (twenty and thirty something) grew up in a household of divorce parents and remarried so
that the extended family setting consists of a horde of step-siblings. Don't even try to get into
step-cousins, etc. Much of the premise is based on anecdotal information especially the author's
observations and interviews. Still the fascinating URBAN TRIBES is an amusing, intelligent and
serious social look at a different lifestyle. Readers who appreciate an irreverent yet insightful
social
commentary will take much delight in Mr. Watters explaining the relational revolution of those
arbitrarily over twenty and under forty. Alas Babylon, this reviewer grew up with the line being
thirty.
The Night Spider
John Lutz
Pinnacle
ISBN: 0786015160 $6.99
The serial killer murdered his third high rise victim with the same MO of tying up his prey with
sheets so tight they dig into the skin before he stabs her thirty-six to thirty-seven times. The
wrappings are so tight that little blood seeps to the floor in spite of the multiple stabbings. NYPD
Detective Paula Ramboquette is assigned lead as her senior partner Roy Bickerstaff nears
retirement.
Still both are amazed at the crime scene as it appears a spiderman climbed up thirty floors on the
side of a building before entering the apartment of Sally Bridge through a window. Assistant Chief
Roland Larkin worries that this case will need a special hand so he persuades disability retired
former homicide captain Thomas Horn to lead the inquiries. He looks at the crime scenes
especially
the last one and shows that the killer did not go up, but came down the shorter distance from the
roof. However, the Night Spider welcomes the challenge of Horn as he has no doubt that the
retired
cop or perhaps his wife will become his next victim. THE NIGHT SPIDER is an exciting police
procedural thriller that starts at an incredible pace and for the most part maintains the action until
the
end. The tale is incredibly gripping when the killer takes center stage during the novel. A subplot
involving Thomas' personal relationships unnecessarily horns in on the prime cat and mouse
scenario
that makes the book worth reading. Sub-genre fans will be elated with John Lutz's strong
Manhattan
police procedural.
The Actor's Guide To Murder
Rick Copp
Kensington
ISBN 0758204957 $23.00
He grew up on a Friday night sitcom and everyone adored him until he was caught making out
with
a male teenager at a gay rodeo. That picture in the paper torpedoed his career but his parents
invested his money wisely so Jarrod Davis doesn't have to work a day in his life if he chooses not
too. He still wants to act so he makes the rounds but is committed to his live-in lover Charlie and
their Pekinese dog Snickers. At an audition Jarrod runs into his first love Willard Ray Hornsby,
and
his friend wins the part. Jarrod invites him to his home to celebrate getting the role and his
birthday
but Willard never arrives. Jarrod and Charlie check on Willard only to find him floating dead in his
pool. The coroner rules it an accidental death but Jarrod is sure it is murdered and he intends to
prove it at any cost. THE ACTOR'S GUIDE TO MURDER is a serio-comic amateur sleuth novel
featuring a stubborn, but lovable hero who risks his own life to see that justice prevails. His
long-suffering lover and roommate has to keep getting him out of dangerous situations that makes
for some very funny conversations between the two. Jarrod manages in his own indubitable
fashion
to make enemies of everyone. One other point of interest is that the hero believes his friend was
murdered because his psychic predicted it.
Toasting Tina
Evan Marshall
Kensington
ISBN 0758202261 $32.00
The new publisher and editor of Corsair Books has notified literary agent Jane Stuart that she
intends to cancel the house's contract with her client Nathaniel Barre. When Jane insists on a
face-to-face meeting with Tina Vale to discuss the contract, Nate insists on being there. To the
shock of the agent and the writer they learn that Tina has never even read the book but is paying
Jane back for marrying the man she loved. When Tina does not show up at the awards dinner
where
she is being honored, the president of Romance Authors together (RAT) goes to her room and
finds
her body in the bathtub. She left a suicide note but neither Jane nor the police think the death is
anything but murder since the key to her room is missing. After solving several homicides Jane is
not
happy to be a suspect in a murder investigation so she sets out to clear her reputation and very
nearly winds up as a second homicide victim. Even Marshal has written a breezy and entertaining
first class cozy that contains a host of suspects who hated the victims and had the motive, means
and
opportunity to commit the crime. The heroine is a spunky and determined person who is
determined
to find the killer and she has the intelligence and the moxie to do it. TOASTING TINA is a must
read for anyone who loves a good mystery Agatha Christie style.
Chat Room
Linda Hall
Multnomah
ISBN: 1590522001 $11.99
In Maine, thirty-two years old wealthy Glynis Pigott hires former cop turned private detective
Teri
Addison to learn what happened to her missing best friend lawyer Kim Shock. Apparently Kim
quit
her job to join her lover Gil Williamson in Texas. Meanwhile, the unhappy six-foot plus tall Glynis
is
thinking of quitting her in town church to attend exclusively one sponsored over the Internet. She
feels she belongs there with the daily readings and sermons hosted by Chasco as he and the other
attendees warmly welcome her. Chasco even flirts with her and feels bad accepting her donations.
As Teri's investigations lead her to Chasco, she must persuade Glynis that her life is in danger due
to
her link to Kim and an alleged cult murder-suicide from four years ago. CHAT ROOM is an
intriguing romantic suspense that also contains a powerful message of opening the tent to
everyone
even those who seem reticent about belonging. The story line is loaded with action as the two
subplots cleverly converge in dramatic fashion. Teri and Glynis co-sharing lead protagonists with
both of them delightful in opposite ways. The rest of the cast adds depth to both characters so
that
the audience understands both of them on an intimate level. Though the ending seems to pat
readers
will appreciate this strong thriller.
Jumping In Sunset
Dawn Ringling
Multnomah
ISBN 1590522273 $12.99
After they celebrate his birthday at a restaurant, on their way back to their Minneapolis home,
Paul
Thornton drops a bombshell on his wife of two decades Pamela. Without any warning or sign he
tells her he's divorcing her and intends to marry Dana, the woman he is running a church program
with. Paul also says that he and his intended are moving to California where he has a new job
waiting for him. At first Pamela can't function, rejecting the well-meaning kindness of her friends
and
church until Starla offers the use of a summer cabin at Sunset Lake. Pamela finds peace there and
reconnects with an old school friend who is a famous composer of Christian music. Pamela hopes
that Paul will return to her, but as time goes by she realizes that she has to get on with her life.
She
takes her photograph career in a new direction, buys a winterized cabin, and slowly starts to let go
of the past to the point where one day she hopes to forgive Paul and Dana. The heroine is a
strong,
tough and independent woman even though she is unaware of these qualities that make her a
survivor. Paul is made too easy to dislike because he has carried on for years with Dana and he is
emotionally cruel to his wife by telling her he never loved her. Readers hearts will go out to the
woman scorned and hope she can let go of her anger to take a second chance at love. This is a
warm
and poignant tale that will leave readers emotionally gratified.
A Fine Line
Kathy Herman
Multnomah
ISBN 1590522095 $11.99
The city council led by mayor Charlie Kirby voted to allow the Thompson Tire Company to
relocate
to Barter, which means more jobs for the resident. Not everyone is in favor of the plant being
built.
Some residents fear that the new business will destroy the ambiance of the town and in turn the
downtown shops. Charlie's most vocal enemy Avery Stedman starts a rumor that the reason the
mayor pushed for the plant to be built was because he was having an affair with Thompson Tires
attorney Sheila Paxton. The rumor threatens to destroy the Kirby marriage. When Sheila is shot,
her
picture is plastered in newspapers across the country and comes to the attention of a Mafia hit
man,
searching for her father for eighteen years. He is a deadly sociopath who kills with no remorse
and
threatens to harm the town's newspaper editor if she doesn't locate Sheila's father who is in the
witness protection program. It will take a miracle to save the Kirby's marriage and keep the editor
safe after a trap to catch killer fails. This is the last book in the Baxter series and it is a powerful
story filled with characters readers have come to love and cherish. Two of the main characters of
this series are traveling to a new town and will be starring in The Seaport series so the audience
won't lose touch with Guy and Ellen. A FINE LINE shows how gossip can hurt people and push
people to the breaking point. Kathy Baxter is a master at writing suspense within the parameters
of a
small town drama.
The Guardian Denise
Fleischer Port
Town
ISBN: 0974083380 $9.95
In 1779 earth time, American Navy Commander John Paul Jones engages the British in a sea
battle
when a "demon" tosses him into the water. Near death, an angel saves his life. His rescuer
Crusader
Lea Netera Payton argues with the dark lord Seltar that earth is off limits as a non technical
world.
Seltar says on the contrary the planet is not part of the Intergalactic Alliance and thus not subject
to
her protection. He challenges her to face him in a Guardianship vs. Possession duel. She has no
alternative but to accept if she wants to save the indigenous population. She selects four major
events that must improve the people's well being or she and the planet will suffer. The first test is
Versailles where Seltar holds the frightened arisotcracy in the royal opera house. Lea arrives to
engage in battle though she already has set in motion her counterattack. She realizes that the soon
to
beheaded roi lacks leadership skills. The contest has begun and before it is over, the duel will
cross
the globe and millenniums past, present, and future. The stakes are the lives of all earthlings and
the
freedom of their self-appointed guardian Lea. Though the tale runs at a frenzied pace reminiscent
of
the movie Time Bandits, Denise Fleischer her insures that her key two antagonists are fully
developed. The audience will find the action incredibly fast paced as the combatants travel back
and
forth through the past and the future. Fans who appreciate a strong mix of science fiction, fantasy,
historical, and a touch of romance, blended cleverly together, will want to put on their seatbelts
and
come along for a rousing ride through earth time. Ms Fleischer is a rising star in the speculative
fiction genre.
Spenceworth Bride
Virginia Farmer
Love Spell
ISBN: 0505525607 $5.99
In 1799 Ramsgil, England, Haslett Ham places his wife Nelwina on the auction block accusing her
of thievery. She tries to talk him out of the humiliation that both will suffer, but he just grins at her
like she is a worthless waste of his time. All Haslett can think of his ridding himself of this bastard
daughter of an aristocrat. Nelwina wishes to be anywhere but in Ramsgil, but an old gypsy warns
her
to beware what you wish for. Chicago based architect Adam Warrick has inherited Spenceworth
and
has flown to England to try to work the finances. He is taking part in one of the famous marriage
auction reenactments and has drawn the role of buying the wife on sale. Adam buys Nelwina who
everyone calls Jocelyn Tanner. As they fall in love, he wonders about her sanity and she questions
whether he cherishes the Nelwina essence inside Jocelyn's body or the beautiful looking woman
even
as her American husband arrives to claim his wife. SPENCEWORTH BRIDE, the sequel to the
award winning SIXPENCE BRIDE, is a charming time travel romance. The story line grips the
audience from the moment a displaced Nelwina lands in the twenty-first century. As she struggles
to
adapt (though perhaps a bit too easily) while a bewildered Adam wonders what is going on, fans
gain a wonderful tale. Readers will enjoy Virginia Farmer's latest winner, as Nelwina's tale is an
entertaining novel.
The Love Potion
Sandra Hill
Love Spell
ISBN: 0505523493 $5.99
Research chemist Dr. Sylvie Fontaine is ecstatic over her scientific breakthrough that she believes
is
the greatest since Viagra. Sylvie created the Jelly Bean Fix (JBX), a love potion that uses female
enzymes to attract males, albeit after he has swallowed the sweet "pill". Attorney Luc "Swamp
Solicitor" LeDeux heads to Sylvie's lab to ask her to test a water sample that he believes has been
polluted by Cypress Oil. Sylvie and Luc have been "enemies" since she rejected his offer to dance
at
a Houma, Louisiana sixth grade event. He informed her then that one day they will dance naked
together. Sylvie agrees to look at the sample. However, she panics when he eats the jellybeans
containing her enzymes that were targeted for her boss. Not long afterward, he accuses her of
trying
to kill him with over testosterone production as he cannot get Sylvie out of his head. As they fall
in
love, Sylvie believes it is her sugar pill, but Luc knows otherwise for he has loved her since
elementary school. Though love potions sound inane, Sandra Hill provides a delightful Bayou
romance that will bewitch the audience though mindful of the Bullock movie Love Potion #9. The
story line is filled with double entendres as Sylvie and Luc, supported by a cast of eccentrics,
debate
chemistry. Their dynamic relationship is so much fun to observe that the strong pollution subplot
involving Luc's estranged dad seems out of place except for bringing the hero to her lab. Throw in
a
Samson hunk on the cover of this fine tale readers will be seeking the JBX or green M&Ms.
Sleepless in Savannah
Rita Herron
Love Spell
ISBN: 0505525445 $5.99
She is thirty, single, and in love, but Sophie Lane cannot convince Lance Summers that they
belong
together. Her sister, married a whole month (see MARRY ME, MADDIE), encourages her to
pull a
trick. Maddie wants Sophie to use the guilt card to get Lance on the local "Sophie Knows Show"
Dating Game segment, but rig it so she is his date in Cancun. Lance learns of the ruse and pulls
his
own stunt so that Sophie's choice becomes former professional football player Rory Dalton's date
instead of his. However, now that he has what he wants, Lance becomes SLEEPLESS IN
SAVANNAH. He realizes that he is jealous of Rory. Lance detests that his beloved is on a
romantic
date with this hunk and being without her is too hard so he puts his own game in motion to win
back
his beloved, but this time forever. This sequel is a fun contemporary romance that never takes
itself
too seriously. The frolics and antics of the lead couple and a third Lane sister turns this plot into
an
amusing diverting read. Though Lucy Lane's (Sophie's other sister, not Lois' sibling) antics and
own
romance takes time away from the delightful lead duo, fans will admire Rita Heron's ability to
provide a jocular romantic romp.
Flying High
Gwynne Forster
Arabesque
ISBN: 1583144277 $6.99
Marine Colonel Nelson Wainwright hides his neck injury sustained when a missile hit his coptor in
Afghanistan because he fears that revealing it would end his career. After almost twenty-four
years
in the service, Nelson still hopes to retire as a Four-Star General, but knows his chances remain
slim.
On top of that he grieves the death of his brother a Navy Commander, who named him as
guardian
to look after his four-year-old nephew Ricky. Nelson hires Lena Alexander as Ricky's nanny. Lena
notices how often Nelson massages his neck so she calls her niece Dr. Audrey Powers who tells
her
aunt to stop the matchmaking. When Audrey and Nelson meet, sparks fly and they fall in love, but
she wants to help him with his whiplash problem while he stubbornly thinks in terms of love vs.
his
career. FLYING HIGH is part of a four book miniseries by different authors. The only book this
reviewer read is Gwynne Forster's terrific tale but if the other novels are anywhere near the quality
of this one, the collection will be one of the year's best. The story line is a crisp military
relationship
drama that emphasizes the characters while showcasing what our real heroes must do to thrive in
a
world where "out of bed" (even when not dodging bullets) is the norm. The lead couple is a
delightful pair and the support cast (the military brass, the hospital staff, and his nephew and her
aunt), enhance the look inside the lead pair. This is a strong tale that fans will enjoy, but note that
I
am biased because I hold in high esteem Ms. Forster writing skills.
Path of Fate
Diana Pharaoh Francis
Roc
ISBN 0451459504 $6.99
Ever since she was a baby, abandoned by her mother all Reisil ever wanted was a place to call
home.
Growing up in Kallas, she was fostered to different families so that nobody would have to bear
the
burden of another mouth to feed for any extended periods. When Reisil is old enough, the village
pays for her training as a healer and she hopes that they will want her to stay with them
permanently.
Just when it looks like her dream will come true; the goshawk comes to bond with Reisil,
choosing
her to be one of the Lady's soldiers in the fight against evil. Reisil tries to avoid this dubious honor
but when a noble woman from another country is kidnapped in Kallas and spirited away, Reisil
accepts her destiny to find her. If she fails, the realm of Kudas will be plunged into war against an
army that can use magic to cause terrible harm. Very rarely does a writer's first novel come along
that is so realistic and emotionally moving that it achieves total acclaim from reviewers and
readers
alike. PATH OF FATE will because of the strong protagonist who grows and changes to meet
each
situation that comes her way. She charms her way into the readers' hearts and the audience will
adore the special relationship she has with Saljane the goshawk who has a winning and loveable
personality of her own.
Low Red Moon
Caitlin R. Kiernan
Roc
ISBN 0451459482 $14.00
He's a gifted psychic who gave the police the break they needed to find Mary English, a serial
killer
who killed fourteen children. Deacon Silvey solved many cases for the Atlanta police before the
ugliness he subjected himself to finally wore him out. He was an unemployed drunk living in
Birmingham when he met Chance, a young woman on the right side of the tracks who wanted
Deacon but only if he gave up the bottle. They eventually married, the geology professor and the
recovering alcoholic and they expect their child to be born in a matter of weeks. Their happy life
shatters when serial killer Narcissa Snow enters their lives first through a vision and then in
physical
form. She wants their child to offer up to the monsters in the hope that they will make her one of
their own. When she kidnaps Chance, days before the birth Deacon must rely on an otherworldly
being to track Narcissa before she can have his wife and child. Caitlin R. Kiernan will appeal to
readers who like the works of Poppy Z. Brite. She writes dark fantasy where happily ever after is
never guaranteed. The protagonist is a dark and brooding Heathcliffe who can act the hero when
the
need arises and has the inner fortitude to handle the tough breaks fate throws at him. LOW RED
MOON is a haunting gothic urban fantasy that will not easily be forgotten.
Trickster
Steven Harper
Roc
ISBN 0451459415 $6.99
Slavery is common and legal on certain planets in the universe. The most valuable of all is the
Silent
because they can enter dreams and send communications as well as conduct commerce over
several
light years. When the Despair came and over ninety percent of the Silent could no longer enter the
Dream, they become ever more valuable. The children of Irfar, a silent nomadic order, is trying to
rescue as many of the lost silent as possible. Father Kendi Weaver, temporary captain of the
spaceship Poltergeist, intends to rescue two of his family located on the planet Drin. Before he
makes that attempt, he snatches his crewmate's son out of slavery. When they arrive on Drin, they
discover his brother and sister have been kidnapped by a mega conglomeration Silent
Acquisitions.
Kendi and his crew have to figure out a way to rescue them, an almost impossible task but one
that
can be accomplished by those ready to risk everything on one roll of the dice. This is the third
book
in the Silent Empire series and it continues the stories of characters of the previous two books.
Kendi and Ben are now a couple; Kareen has her son restored to her after her spouse sold him
into
slavery; and Kendi has a chance of reuniting with part of his family. All is not roses because Ben
discovers his true biological heritage and unless someone can figure out a way of bringing the
Silent
back into the Dream, a futire civilization will cease to exist. Steven Harper is a genius when it
comes
to believable world building.
The King's Service
Katherine Kurtz
Ace
ISBN 0441010601 $23.95
The King of Gwynedd, Donal Haldane rules through divine right and his powers are said to come
of
God. The Deryni, a race of sorcerers, are said to be evil and secular. Church law doesn't grant
them
the same rights as humans. In actuality, the power of the Haldanes and the Deryni are much alike;
Donal has no problems using the Deryni to help him maintain peace in the Eleven Kingdoms.
Lady
Alycee De Corwyn is the sister of the future duke and a great heiress who knows she must make a
dynastic marriage. While she awaits the king's decree, she arrives at court to serve the Haldanes as
only a Deryni can. After losing a father and brother to Gwynedd's enemies, Donal implements a
plan
that would make her child his son's protector by betraying a woman he has come to respect and a
man he calls friend. This novel takes place after the massacre of the Deryni following the Haldane
Restoration. The survivors are slowly coming out into the open again hoping to prove to the
humans
that they are not evil just because a few commit malevolent acts. Still they are feared and the
church
encourages mankind to hate the Deryni but through their loyal service to the crown, humanity is
slowly being shown that being Deryni is not a bad thing. Katherine Kurtz still reigns as the queen
of
historical fantasies in a series she started almost three decades ago.
Omega
Jack McDevitt
Ace
ISBN 0441010466 $23.95
By 2230, humanity has known about the Omega Clouds for a quarter of a century. They seem to
hunt planets where signs of civilization exist. When they find them, they destroy all life forms and
geometric shapes and angles. Even though an omega cloud is due to pass Earth in nine centuries,
not
much research has been done on them because humanity believes they have plenty of time to find
a
way of dealing with them. Time runs out when mankind discovers a sentient race of humanoids,
so
much like us they could be our cousins. An Omega cloud has diverted from its path when it finds
the
world of Goompahs and the masses on Earth do not want them killed. Linguists, scientists and
socialists from all over the galaxy race to the newly discovered civilized world (technologically on
a
level with Ancient Rome) to try to find a way of destroying the Omega. Failing that they hope to
convince the Goompah's to flee their cities and seek higher ground so that they will survive the
coming catastrophe. It is great to watch a united galaxy use all its power to save a newly
discovered
sentient race (a rare find in the McDevitt universe) despite the danger they bring unto themselves.
The society of the Goombahs is examined in such great depth that readers will feel they have
actually visited their planet. As more is learned about the Omegas, mankind comes to believe they
are not forces of nature but things constructed by an unknown entity. Mr. McDevitt is one if this
decades great world builders.
Any Man So Daring
Sarah A. Hoyt
Ace
ISBN: 044101092X $23.95
Christopher Marlowe was considered the leading playwright of the sixteenth century until he dies.
His mantle after a brief vacuum passed on to William Shakespeare, who has problems coping with
fame now that the Elizabethan court recognizes his talent. He knows that Marlowe's death and his
own dealings with the Elven king Quicksilver were the catalyst. He deeply regrets the price
feeling
he lost more than he gained by his encounter with the elves and remains haunted by Marlowe who
Will knows died at the hands of a malevolent essence. William learns that his son Hamnet has
been
abducted in the elven forest. Distraught the playwright concludes that Quicksilver kidnapped his
son.
When he races to the woods near his hometown of Stratford to confront Quicksilver, he finds out
that his nemesis is innocent, but a blood relative of the King has set in motion a plot to take over
the
throne. Will William and Quicksilver partner to save a lad and a throne or is the past too much to
overcome? The third Shakespeare fantasy tale retains all the fun, excitement, and magic of its
delightful predecessors (see ILL MET BY MOONLIGHT and ALL NIGHT AWAKE). The story
line is action-packed and the cast (historical human, literary human, elven, and other supernatural
creatures) is fascinating. Readers see a wildly different Shakespeare from the legendary author as
he
struggles with the otherworldly, what happened to his friend and rival, and now his son. Sara A.
Hoyt brings new meaning to the Bard as she provides a delightful Elizabethan fantasy thriller that
demands more such tales (Canterbury anyone?).
Agents of Light and Darkness
Simon R. Green
Ace
ISBN: 0441011136 $6.50
Private investigator John Taylor works London's Nightside where gods, angels, demons and
monsters hang out at three in the morning. He currently meets with Jessica Sorrow, perhaps the
most dangerous essence in town. She believes in nothing so strongly she can turn anyone into
nothingness. He survives that encounter at St. Jude, the only church in town, by giving her
something to believe in her childhood teddy bear. As John leaves, he sees a bedraggled soul
shouting
he owns the Grail. John wonders if the Holy Grail may actually be in Nightside. He begins a
search,
but this is not Jesus' Last Supper cup. This artifact is Judas' Unholy Grail also from the
treacherous
Last Supper. John knows that if he finds the evil cup, he must be extra cautious. He fears its
power
to corrupt the most innocent soul. He also knows all the creatures of the night want the evil
goblet
that would give them immense power. The NIGHTSIDE novels are a great blending of Lovecraft
and Holmes that becomes a delightful private investigative fantasy tale. The latest entry is an
action-packed thriller in which John searches for the Unholy Grail while the AGENTS OF LIGHT
AND DARKNESS plan to take away the object if he succeeds on his quest. John is a tremendous
protagonist who serves as the focus that makes this eerie center of weirdness seem real. Anyone
who appreciates a well-written offbeat story will want to journey to Nightside. However, upon
return to reality fans will ponder what type of mind could create such an awesome strange story
like
this one.
The Darkest Part of the Woods
Ramsey Campbell
Tor
ISBN: 0765307669 $24.95
American professor Dr. Lennox Price moves his family to Goodmanswood, England to study the
dark legends surrounding the area especially the delusions of the nearby residents. However,
instead
of debunking the myths, Lennox is soon sucked into his work as a converted true believer. Thus
he
is committed, but quickly develops a cult following among the asylum's crazier folks. His daughter
archivist Heather follows up on her father's enigmatic beliefs about Goodmanswood that links
them
to the alchemist Nathaniel Selcouth, who resided there. Heather digs into the works of Nathaniel,
who apparently was trying to fashion a messenger who would serve as his servant in seeking the
outer limits of the spiritual and physical universe. Meanwhile, children insist a grotesque "sticky
man" resides in the woods. Heather wonders if he exists and if he does is he the evil behind all the
malevolence destroying the Price family? THE DARKEST PART OF THE WOODS is a classic
horror tale that works because of the set up by Ramsey Campbell is at its best here. The Price
family
are intelligent nice people who are being overwhelmed by a sinister darkness that grows ever
menacing with each new page. The story line is taut as readers will feel the creepiness of the
woods
that transforms into something immoral and dangerous. Mr. Campbell is at his best with this
superb
horror thriller.
Skyfall
Catherine Asaro
Tor
ISBN: 0765306387 $24.95
Twice married and widowed, Roca, heir to the Ruby Dynasty's pharaoh, seeks freedom from the
manipulations of her son Kurj. He sees his mother as a tool to use in furthering the empire's goal
of
eliminating the Skolian Empire enemy, the Aristos. Desperate, she in a bid for freedom from her
overbearing, manipulative son, Roca flees into space, but ends up stranded on the backwater
planet,
Skyfall. Local ruling bard Eldrison captures Roca He takes his sky fallen prisoner to an isolated
sanctuary. However, he soon finds himself enthralled with his prisoner. She quickly becomes his
advisor and ultimately his spouse. As he teaches her to trust, she shows him what a woman can be
when love allows her to soar. SKYFALL is a stand alone entertaining since fiction romance that
focuses on a clash of cultures between a highly advanced race and a more primitive people. Fans
of
Catherine Asaro must realize that this tale may be set in the same galaxy as her classic tales, but is
quite different when compared with her previous Saga of the Skolian Empire works as this tale is
a
bit thin in terms of the physics that turn her thrillers into action packed cerebral gems. Still this
warm
tale of love between diverse cultures is another winner from one of the best writers the genre
offers.
The Ethos Effect
L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
Tor
ISBN: 0765308029 $27.95
Taran Republic Space Force Commander Van C. Albert defeats an unknown enemy's cruiser that
attacked his vessel, the RSFS Fergus. However, his rejoicing is short-lived as his actions also
caused
the destruction of a civilian liner. A board of inquiry condoned his actions, but his career is over
though he retains the rank of Commander. His current loser position is as a military attach‚ at the
Taran embassy on Scandya. However, he gets once last chance to show his courage when he
stops
an assassination. To the elation of his superiors, Van ends in a coma so he is decorated and given
a
disability retirement. Van awakens to learn that he no longer works for the military. Integrated
Information Systems of the Eco-Tech Coalition hires him to command a starship. The exiled
former
commander finds he is the prime focus in an interstellar conflict that will leave no world the same
and some potentially eradicated. THE ETHOS EFFECT occurs two centuries after the Parafaith
War has ended, but retains much of the complex military science fiction that made the previous
saga
a fan favorite. The story line is action-packed yet contains fully developed characters especially
the
lead protagonist. Van is more than just a strong strategist and courageous warrior. Readers will
feel
his guilt over the civilian deaths and his dissatisfaction with his post incident assignments, his
shock
over his dismissal, and finally his sense of self worth when he is placed in a vanguard position. He
makes the tale that will provide much enjoyment to L.E. Modesitt, Jr. fans and sub-genre
readers.
Noise
Hal Clement
Tor
ISBN: 0765308576 $23.95
The twin planets Kainui and Kaihapa are covered by water and orbit a binary star system.
Polynesians settled on Kainui, a planet with deep oceans and a poisoned atmosphere. The
horrendous climatic conditions include a horrific noise way over acceptable decibel levels
requiring
special equipments to survive the racket and the pollution. The inhabitants of this watery orb live
on
floating cities developed by biotechnology. Maori Earthling Mike Hoani arrives on Kainui to
study
the changes in language since colonization. Trader Captain Wanaka accompanied by her husband
and a ten-year-old apprentice takes the off-worlder on her boat. Their boat becomes damaged and
soon they drift towards the South Pole. There on the edge of the frozen realm they encounter
inhabitants of an ice city. Neither race knew of the existence of the other, but confrontation is the
reaction. Upfront the story line seems a bit weak as the novel feels more like an exciting
anthropologic study tale than an action adventure science fiction thriller. The Kainui environs are
superbly drawn so that the audience has a feel for the floating culture and to a lesser degree the
civilization of the ice men. Fans who appreciate a strange different realm will enjoy this water
world
tale.
Goddess of the Ice Realm
David Drake
Tor
ISBN: 0312873883 $27.95
Prince Garric and his retinue, which besides trusted humans includes the ghost of the great King
Carus inside his head, crossed the island of Haft to reach the ancient capital of the Old Kingdom
Carcosa. Garric plans to unite the people living on the numerous islands that make up the Isles.
Garric's fianc‚e Liane works closely with him as they try to bring the competing, often hostile,
religious groups under his rule. Meanwhile, unknown powers trying to abort Garric's efforts
attack
his loyal supporters. Upon being inexplicably transported to a strange deadly land, Garric's best
friend Cashel and royal sister Sharina struggle to survive. Cashel's sister, the witch Ilna and her
beloved Chalcus must find a way to overcome a bizarre winged plague threatening trading ships.
Isolated from his most steadfast supporters, Prince Garric's efforts to establish a government with
him as the monarch seem doomed to failure as the enemy to human civilization maliciously wrecks
havoc throughout the Isles. The fifth tale in the Lord of the Isles series is an exciting epic fantasy
filled with several major subplots starring either the Prince or some of his key followers. The story
line is very exciting and imaginative, but at times seems over written and endless. The cast
remains
solid, especially the good guys, who stay in character from their previous appearances, but by
book
five with all those nasty elements tossed at them one must wonder about growth. Though not as
good as David Drake's military science fiction, fans of the series will appreciate GODDESS OF
THE
ICE REALM, just set aside plenty of extra time.
Slayer: Stigmata
Karen Koehler
Black Death Books
PO Box 588 Effort, PA 18330
ISBN: 0967922089 $22.00 http://www.khpindustries.com
In 1501 Zurich, Jan Keller came into the world, a blind baby born into a prominent wealthy and
powerful family. Even as a young child, he was different having visions that came true. He was a
loner, an empty shell and marriage did nothing to fulfill him. After he drove his wife away, he
applied to become a priest in Vatican City. Once he was accepted he began to learn one of its
dark
secrets including the one that changed him into a dhampire After discarding his masters he formed
the coven that would make the vampires abide by its rules or face the consequences. Three
hundred
years after traveling to the New World, he meets Alek, the love of his life, who leaves him after he
witnessed something horrific. Alek, a slayer who left his coven and gone Rogue, promises to
protect the young woman Dania, also a creature of the church. When they abduct her, Alex goes
to
the Vatican to find her and there he will have one last meeting with Jan, now known as Amadeus.
Karen Koehler is a new breed of horror writer, a combination of Poppy Z. Brite and Stephen King
with a Goth flavoring. Her characters are dramatic and unusual and her story line totally
fascinating.
SLAYER: STIGMATA exposes the corruption of Vatican City and those who rule it thus leading
the reader to ponder who the monster truly is. Alex is a very easy character to like, a dhampire
who
shines with purity and goodness despite the vampire blood that flows through his veins.
The Maiden #1: Out of Ashes
Karen Koehler
Black Death Books
PO Box 588 Effort, PA 18330
ISBN: 0967922038 $16.00 http://www.khpindustries.com
For centuries the two factions fought for supremacy on their homeland. The result is that their orb
is
in the final stages of death from the devastating holocaust. However, the civil war continues
unabated with the fighting continuing off planet to remote rocks like earth where the indigent
populace remains ignorant that aliens live amongst them with one side planning to conquer the
backwater planet. In Chicago, the cruel leader Talos poses as highly regarded human Police
Commissioner Tate Taloni. He uses alien technology to direct the activities of his earthly minions.
His niece Janna almost died in a confrontation with Uncle Talos. Only her loving mechanical
scientist husband Ty saved her life, but at a cost of converting her into a cybernetic fighting
automaton. Janna may be more machine than human, but she has two strong motivators. She
remembers the love she share with her spouse and also seeks retribution for herself and all those
who died and suffered atrocities by destroying her uncle and his soulless underlings. Janna, Ty and
two earth recruits unite in an effort to prevent Talos from achieving his latest objective,
enchaining
the human race. OUT OF ASHES is the powerful debut of a new series that with the high quality
level of this novel will be great due to a fully developed cast and an action-packed story line. The
fascinating heroine is an alien Robocop with less of the programmed safeguard restrictions and a
deeper mourning, along with Ty, on what they have lost. The evil villain feels like Darth Vader
from
the original Star Wars. Put all this together and readers will appreciate Karen Koehler's strong
tale.
Beyond Those Distant Stars
John B. Rosenman
NovelBooks
http://www.novelbooksinc.com/
publisher@novelbooksinc.com
ISBN: Paperback 1591051363 Electronic 1591051118
Radiation Protection Supervisor Stella McMasters answers the meltdown siren thinking that the
work crew knows a lot more than she does about reactors. Still the retired naval officer performs
her
job, but disaster strikes. Stella almost dies but is saved by an experimental merging of seventy
percent synthetic material so that she is the first human-cyber Commander. Physically she is back,
greater than ever, with superhuman strength and reflexes, but mentally she doubts any man would
cherish an individual more machine than woman. Stella has returned to her military roots with a
mission to join up with General Loran in the fight against the Scaleys who turn humans into slaves
to
the All-Mother, a powerful essence that uses mind control and wants Stella. As Stella struggles to
withstand the lure of the enemy she also feels feminine for the first time since the operations. She
wants her pilot, but he may be mad from separating his essence from his body. Still even if it is
just
his voice she feels so much like a desired woman. Though this may sound like a female Cyborg
Cop
in outer space, Stella insures that the tale is quite different. The tale plays out on two interlocking
story lines. Fans of military science fiction will appreciate the survival war the humans are in
against
a powerful alien foe. That subplot serves more as a background for the audience to follow a
wonderful protagonist trying to regain what she lost and to apply her new abilities. Her doubts on
several levels as to being human female add a psychological underpinning to a strong cross
species
war BEYOND THOSE DISTANT STARS.
The Starry Child
Lynn Hanna
Novel Books
http://www.novelbooksinc.com/
publisher@novelbooksinc.com
ISBN 159105236X $16.95
Three years have passed since Alan Nielson, a caring father and wonderful husband, died. Alan's
positive outlook on life brought energy and stability to anyone he touched. His widow Rainey has
had to bury her own grief over the loss of her beloved spouse because their daughter Sasha has
not
coped at all with the loss of her idolized dad, who affectionately dubbed her the "Queen of the
Woodland Fairies". Instead, Sasha has not spoken one coherent word since she learned that her
father was never coming home again. Sasha occasionally speaks in gibberish, leaving the medical
profession and unsympathetic neighbors to believe that she should be committed to an institution.
Rainey's friend, who never heard the child speak before, recognizes the gibberish as a form of
Gaelic. She convinces Stanford University Linguistics Professor Matt MacInnes, who speaks
fluent
Gaelic, to visit the Nielson home. Shockingly, the little girl and the teacher easily communicate.
However, Sasha's story is even more frightening as she describes the tale of a long dead Scottish
princess whose mission on earth is being carried out by a small American child who doesn't
understand what is happening to her. Rainey find herself attracted to the gorgeous professor but
her
daughter must come first which means find out what the spirit of the princess wants. THE
STARRY
CHILD is one of the most imaginative love stories to have been published in several years. The
mixing of the mystical myths of the Celts with modern day California is brilliantly designed,
making
for a unique, crisp story line. The three main characters are all warm and real as they struggle to
deal
with a perilous inevitability that most likely will lead to their doom. If this is any indication of her
creative juices, Lynn Hanna has a long time destiny of her own as a very successful writer.
Jerusalem's Rain
D.S. Lliteras
Hampton Roads
ISBN 1571743405 $19.95
Hampton Roads Publishing Company 1125 Stoney Ridge Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 When
Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross at Golgotha, the skies turned stormy and driving rain
poured down on Palestine. Peter is drowning in self-contempt for denying his Rabbi three times
before the rooster crowed. Philip, who like Peter did not witness the crucifixion, gets into a fight
and
is seriously injured. With the help of Andrew and Thaddeus, who were also afraid to show up at
Golgotha because of the Roman soldiers, Peter is taken to Aaron's home where the families await
the return of their men and will care for Peter.. The men are lost and afraid, starting to doubt
Christ's
teachings, while the women are firm believers who will risk death to spread their Rabbi's word.
Peter's wife is leaving him and taking their son with her. Peter gets drunk at a cock fight
awakening
in a back alley where Christ appears to him and talks to him. He learns from Aaron and John that
Thaddeus, Mary Magdalene, and Peter's mother also saw him rise. Peter now believes and intends
to
spread the word. This fictionalized account of Peter's torment during the three days following
Christ's crucifixion is believable. The disciple's angst as well as self-doubt now that the one they
followed is gone is understandable as well. Amazingly the women remain steadfast and don't
believe
that his death will stop the message from being spread around the world. Their love for Christ is
rooted in his treatment of them as equal to men. D.S. Lliteras has written a compelling and
memorable tale that turn the aftermath of the first end days fascinating reading.
Judas the Gentile
D.S. Llitteras
Hampton Roads
ISBN 1571741445 $19.95
Hampton Roads Publishing Company 1125 Stoney Ridge Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 While
Jesus was dying on the cross at Golgotha, Judas was drinking himself into a stupor in a tavern that
overlooked the crucifixion. Judas has many regrets for what he has done but he is glad that he
converted to Judaism. The thirty pieces of silver in his pocket mean nothing to him and he leaves
them behind when he departs the inn. He is captured by the bandit leader Ganto who lost
everything
he owned to the Romans. Gantoro is the one who had Judas infiltrate Jesus' band of followers in
hopes that the charismatic leader would join forces with him in trying to initiate civil disobedience.
Judas lost sight of his objective as he fell under the spell of his rabbi and when Gant ordered him
to
kill Jesus so he wouldn't become a martyr; he was unable to do it. Alone, friendless and totally
unable to live with his betrayal, Judas sees only one way out. D.S. Lliteras has given readers much
to
think about in JUDAS THE GENTILE. His portrayal of Judas feels right for a man who betrayed
the most important person in his life. Readers will not love Judas but pity him for his lack of
honor
and inability to break free from those who want to use him. This tortured creature, who wanted
too
much, in the end wound up with nothing.
Harriet Klausner
Reviewer
Laurel's Bookshelf
The Catskills Alive: A Hunter Travel Guide
Francine Silverman
www.hunterpublishing.com
ISBN 1588433544 $18.99 soft cover
The Catskill's heyday was a generation ago and some say the area has lost its charm. In The
Catskills
Alive, author Silverman casts a loving yet realistic eye on this world renowned vacation area.
As in previous guides by this author, information is arranged according to specific areas of the
Catskills. Highlights of Sullivan, Ulster, Greene, and Delaware counties are listed systematically in
helpful fashion. Anything travelers or tourists could possibly want or need to know about the
Catskills has been researched by the author. In a style that feels like reminiscing with an old friend,
Ms. Silverman shares insights on food, lodging, and points of interest both past and present. And
if
her directions don't help travelers find their way through rustic country on mountain roads, the
author states law officers and locals are friendly and helpful to lost tourists.
Catskills history is fascinating. In addition to step by step guides for each county, readers will
discover charming stories about famous visitors - a who's who of the past.
The Catskills and Hudson River Valley come alive, thanks to Francine Silverman's skill. With
fresh
air, clean water, and pristine forests, it would make a most appealing destination.
As was her previous guide book, Long Island Alive, this latest book is a must have for anyone
planning a visit to the Catskills.
Through the Eyes of Love
Alexander Shaumyan
ashaumyan@hotmail.com for orders
ISBN 1591961548 $10.00
Soupcons of love and hope are mixed with satirical social and political commentary in this fine
poetic stew. Gentle humor, American icons, alcohol and testosterone driven desire, the despairs of
war, and much more are subjects of poet Shaumyan's focus. And always, underlying quietly, is a
sense of sadness as is found in "I Don't Belong":
I don't belong
that is my deepest pain
I stayed here long
but like the autumn rain
my tears flow
from my heart
where do I go?
Love, freedom, and courage can be found in "Wildflower":
And if a thousand deaths should rain on me,
I'll feel her gentle presence come alive
Within each breath I take - now brought to life -
Ignited by her spirit bold and free.
Shaumyan's Russian ancestry and creativity is addressed in "The Blood of Russia":
The blood of Russia is the spring
In which the poets and writers dip
Their pens of madness -- on their lips
The bleeding past of Russia sings.
Within this poet's grief and anger, humor and desire, I found eternal human hope clearly spoken in
"A Higher Way":
If life has taught me
anything, it is
resilience
in battling these demons
that crush our dreams.
There is not space enough to quote extensively in this review. Mr. Shaumyan's thoughts and
words
bear reading and inspire deeper thought, which is what I suspect he intended.
Act of Love
Sophie Simonet
www.wings-press.com
ISBN 1590882016 $6.00 e-book
Ms. Simonet has spun a tale that should enthrall romantic suspense buffs, as well as readers who
appreciate good fiction. Complete with appealing characters and a fast moving plot, Act of Love
has
all the elements that keep a reader hooked.
Eleanor is alone, living in Florida, hoping to establish a career in modeling. Angel Snow is her
lover,
a man whose violent jealousy frightens Eleanor and ultimately kills whatever love she had for him.
Emile Boisier is tall, dark, handsome, rich, and mysterious. At 38, he's easily a decade older than
Eleanor. Slowly, with deliberate intent, Emile insinuates himself into her life. The love that
blossoms
between them is sweetly erotic, marred only by Angel's guttersnipe tactics and Emile's secret.
Emile's
final act of love is unexpected, poignant.
The author ties it all together nicely. Her writing style is rich and engaging. Well done, Ms.
Simonet!
Place Where Light Is
Alexander Shaumyan
ashaumyan@hotmail.com for orders
ISBN 1591962966 $10.00 paperback
In these cold rainy nights,
In thee streets, in these dreams
I'll walk in my solitude
To a place where light is.
Place Where Light Is has been aptly named. Mr. Shaumyan zeroes in on contemporary topics -
war,
oil, greed, political chicanery, the shock of 9/11 - and shines his unblinking light for us to see
beneath the surface. He sets the tone early on with "Hope Is":
Hope is a song that lifts
A man beyond his time,
It feeds the hungry with its gifts,
Yet never spends a dime.
In "A Toast to the World", he skewers just about everything modern man holds dear, and rightly
so:
Let us make this world safe for bureaucracy
And let's embrace patriotic pomposity
and intellectual precocity and Nicaraguan atrocity,
Love in all its many forms is well represented, as always, in this poet's work. I particularly liked
this
excerpt from "Razor-Sharp Love":
a fleeting memory
of your caressing tongue
on my chest
that's what you are
a black veil of
loneliness.
He cries out for human rights and speaks for the unheard masses. "The New World Manifesto"
was
brilliant. I excerpt here a small portion of his long poem:
We the people are living breathing human beings and not
mere machines manipulated by the media
And finally, he hits the nail on the head in "Politics Sucks!":
There is a deep freeze
over Washington that
numbs the hearts of
politicians and makes
them deaf and blind to
the real needs of the
people....
Alexander Shaumyan is a new voice crying in the wilderness.
Sometimes humble, often profane and touched with sorrow, his poetry speaks truth.
The Helmsman
Bill Baldwin
www.timberwolfpress.com
ISBN 1587521504 $26.95 hardcover Special Edition
In this re-release of Bill Baldwin's best selling The Helmsman, Timberwolf Press kicks off the Wilf
Brim series. If this first installment is any indication, the series should reach best selling status
once
again. The first paragraph of chapter one was so well written, I read it through three times. This
man
can write!
Wilf Ansor Brim - the helmsman - is a charismatic character indeed. Through intelligence, skill,
and
grit he has raised himself from humble beginnings to reach what to most would be an impossible
goal. Determination has taken him from life in lowly Carescrian mines to one as officer of the
Imperial Fleet. His courage eventually transforms him into a decorated hero of space battles,
mingling with royalty in palaces of State.
Wilf Brim is a warrior with the soul of a poet. In The Helmsman, we meet his compatriots - Nik
Ursis, the huge Barbousse, Capt. Collingswood - as Wilf sees his first battle action. He soon gains
a
reputation as one who excels at whatever he's assigned, whether it be blockade duty, ground
battle,
or rescuing prisoners of war. Through it all he forges strong bonds of friendship, gaining respect
from peers and commanders. Oh, and his life is not all battle action all the time. Wilf finds love
with
Princess Margot Effer'Wyck. The beautiful royal is scheduled to marry another man, but seeks out
Wilf to be her secret lover. Does she really love the commoner, or is he simply a pleasant
diversion?
Maybe we'll find out in future books if Wilf and Margo stay together.
The battle action is tremendous and the characters well defined. Bill Baldwin turns a fine phrase.
Whether you are a sci fi genre fan or not, give this one a try.
Canzoni dimenticate
Alexander Shaumyan
ashaumyan@hotmail.com for purchase
ISBN 1591960479 $10.00 paperback
From first page to last, Shaumyan beguiles with Canzoni dimenticate. (forgotten songs). The
introductory sonnet entitled "Darling, because I'm given to extremes..." sets the tone:
Darling, because I'm given to extremes
Of exaltation and the ultimate despair --
A madman torn by outlandish dreams
Obsessed by metaphysics of your hair --
Because I'm an idiot, I think,
To sing these ardent love songs in this town,
Because I think too much, because I drink,
Because I'm just another drunken clown......
"If Ants Could Speak, Would We Listen?" is a humorous title for a succinct rendering of
American
problems:
If ants could speak, would they tell us that we're
intellectually inferior -- retarded, in fact, by their
standards?
What would we do then? Would we get pissed off and
bomb them or would we agree on a mutual strategic
arms limitation?
Shaumyan often writes of love, and openly explores the painful wounds he suffered in love's
name.
With two lines in "Eros", we understand why he keeps hoping:
Eros is the winged god, the highest form
of love, and all the passions cower in its presence....
Canzoni dimenticate presents sonnets, prose, musings on love and desire, and scathing political
commentary. I'll end the review with an anthem:
America, I sing that you may rise
A newborn country, where the people reign,
And may your spirit soar above the lies
Of those who exploit the others' pain.....
This is the fourth book of Shaumyan's poetry I've read. Each one is different and all are well
worth
reading.
Spirit of Rebellion
Alexander Shaumyan
ashaumyan@hotmail.com for purchase
ISBN 1931413754 $10.00 paperback
Alexander Shaumyan's trademark is wry or self-effacing humor, heart rending psalms of loneliness
and love, and cynical commentaries on modern times. Each of his four books is different,
however,
and Spirit of Rebellion is exceptional for the addition of prose. The stream of consciousness prose
in
"It was a Long and Lonely Night" was first rate. But as always, it is his deeply felt poetry that
shines.
"Just Once" expresses Shaumyan's deep loneliness:
Just once I want to feel free from this depression,
Just once.......
O to feel the sadness of the naked Moon,
to touch the needles of despair, to hug the stones of pain.
Tonight dress me in black velvet and hang me upon a
cross.
In "O God, I Could Never Create" he cries out for an Earth and a humanity he longs to
rescue:
But I can kiss the Earth, breathing Love into
this once infertile soil,
And I can make this paper into music,
"To a Poet Who Looks for Dinosaurs in His Toilet Bowl" mixes Shaumyan's bizarre humor with
the
poet's hope:
.....that verbal acrobat playing
with images and words
that spread a magic veil
over the world of anguish,
loneliness and despair --
He rails hopelessly against the world's ugliness and sorrow in "Some Thoughts on War and
Human
Ugliness":
I'm not in my right mind and
I cannot write poetry amidst it all --
as if something inside me has been
cut --
As always, he dreams of desire, love and hope, but tempers these thoughts with harsh realism, as
in
"With Years":
With years your drive goes down
And your soul
Becomes accustomed to the daily grind --
With years you, too, become a local clown
Indifferent to everything and blind.
Alexander Shaumyan is a prolific poet who writes in a wide range of styles on a multitude of
subjects. His work is well worth contemplating.
Memory Babe:A Critical Biography of Jack Kerouac
Gerald Nicosia
www.ucpress.edu
ISBN 0520085698 $17.47 paperback
Chronologically, from birth to death, author Nicosia tells Kerouac's life story with unflinching
honesty and utmost respect. Blessed with a sharp memory, very early on Jack's childhood friends
nicknamed him "Memory Babe" and that is where the book got its name. Packed with fascinating
details and exquisitely written, this book needs to be discovered by a younger generation of
readers.
Many of us alive today have heard of Jack Kerouac but I doubt few know the details of his tragic
life. That he remains the voice of a generation and a literary icon goes without saying. Kerouac
was
a physically beautiful but emotionally flawed man with a tormented spirit. He spent his life as man
and writer trying to prove that "the past is the root of the future, and that a man cannot live
without
the continuity of both." Jack remembered everything he heard, as if words were sacred and his
mind
was a sponge. Despite his many flaws, he always paid "exquisite attention to the sound of
language."
Even as he mapped new territory as a writer, Kerouac was adrift as a man. As the first spokesman
for the "beat" generation, he perfected that voice with guilt, self-doubt, and self-punishment. This
biography clearly states Jack's definition of "beat": "beat down, beat up, all-tired-out." Still, his
words were always carefully chosen. Word by word, Kerouac carefully created phrases to express
time, place, emotion, and man's senses, communicating deep meaning. His writing was full of
symbolism and visions, allegory and veiled reality, profanity and parody, as he groped his way
with
prose towards his own death. For his time, Kerouac's verbal ingenuity was unsurpassed.
Personally, his charismatic male persona disguised a quicksilver child, mischievous and
unpredictable. As he aged, Jack became a brooding, paranoid, hard drinking drug user, insecure
in
his sexuality and prone to alcoholic blackouts. As addiction wrecked his health, his light slowly
drowned out and he became a lonely and despairing figure. But for decades in between youth and
death, this trusting, shy, socially awkward man became a literary legend.
Jack Kerouac rubbed shoulders with Jackson Pollock, Allen Ginsberg, and every jazz great of his
day. He was published by several of the major New York publishing houses. His prose and poetry
were unprecedented and have not been successfully imitated since. He died young, never fully
realizing the effect of his mind and his work on subsequent generations.
Gerald Nicosia has penned THE definitive biography of Kerouac. From letters, journals, tapes,
interviews, and Jack Kerouac's books themselves - all faithfully recorded in a detailed bibliography
-
the author has skillfully dissected the life of the "beat" generation's strongest voice. The result is
both scholarly and deeply personal, touching and disturbing. It should be required reading in every
college and university, and a must have book for any reader curious about Kerouac and his
time.
Road Trip: Conversations With Writers
Shelly Clark and Marjorie Saiser
www.thebackwaterspress.homestead.com
ISBN 0972618708 $20.00 paperback
Shelly Clark and Marjorie Saiser had a brainstorm on the way home from a poets' conference at
the
University of Minnesota at Duluth. Nebraska has many fine, award winning, multi-published
writers
and poets. Why not travel around the state and interview them, see what makes them tick as
wordsmiths? Road Trip is the results of that collaborative brainstorm, and a fine idea it was. As
stated on the back cover, there are more fascinating writer- subjects in Nebraska than can fit in
one
book, but this is a start.
Their sojourn begins with William Kloefkorn, Reynolds Professor Emeritus at Nebraska Wesleyan
University. He has also been the designated Nebraska State Poet since 1982. For Koefkorn, the
language of the King James Version of the Bible is a touchstone. I quote here an excerpt from his
poem, "My Love For All Things Warm and Breathing":
........inside
this room just now my love for all things warm and
breathing, that lifts it high to scatter it fine and
enormous into the trees and grass, into the heat
beneath the earth beneath the stone, into the
boundless lust of all things bound but gathering.
Don Welch is Reynolds Professor of Poetry, retired, from the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
He
believes that poetry is the closest thing that anybody can get to a prayer. His favorite poem is
"Funeral at Ansley", excerpted here:
I write of a cemetery,
of the perpetual care of buffalo grass,
of kingbirds and catbirds
and cottonwoods;
of wild roses around headstones,
with their high thin stems
and their tight tines
and their blooms pursed
in the morning.
Brent Spencer is Professor of Creative Writing at Creighton University, a writer of poetry, novels,
and short stories. He contends that words saved him at one point in his life and "...I keep thinking
I
can find words that will save other people if I work hard enough...." I chose an excerpt from his
short story, "Save or Turn to Stone":
No epiphany, no dark cloud crackling with light; the scales have not fallen from our eyes. In the
morning, when we wake up, we'll be the same people. How sad to be no wiser than we are. To
walk
into the wilderness of the new day and lose our way again.
Jonis Agee is Professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.
She is the author of novels, poetry, and short stories. Ms. Agee believes, "The attention writers
have
is a giant sieve, and we put all experience through it. The things that catch in that screen are the
things for your writing because the rest of it just leaves." The following excerpt from her short
story
"Earl" caught my fancy:
He kept seeing himself delivering the melon, so rich and cold, the sweet flesh filling their mouths
until they laughed. They'd have it for dinner -- they'd eat the whole thing in one sitting, just the
two
of them, and not once, not once would she glance out the porch window toward the tall rows of
corn pressing against the yard fence, her face filled with a kind of longing that hurt to look
at.
Barbara Schmitz taught Writing and Literature at Northwest College in Norfolk. She apprenticed
with Allen Ginsberg, who advised her to take herself seriously as a writer, and to do readings. I
excerpt here a poem she wrote for her mother, "I Kiss You":
Did you get enough of this planet
when old and bent and sick
you decided not to eat?
Sweet brown eyes,
radiant daylight smile,
I love you.
Charles Fort holds the Reynolds Chair in Poetry at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. He
states,
"To me, words are magical. They do things beyond the page." I chose to excerpt a poem written
for
his father, titled "The Worker":
When my father came home at seven a.m.
lifting his black aluminum lunch box,
we seven children met him at the door,
knelt, and untied his shoes.
His tired eyes burned lines
into the side of that box.
Hilda Raz is Professor of English and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Ms. Raz is a writer
of
poems, essays, articles, and reviews. She states, "I love the apt phrase so when I read for example
the New York Times Book Review on Sunday my pen underlines phrases that catch my ear;" I
quote here an excerpt from her poem, "Accident":
Twenty-one years ago
I panted and bore down
into scarlet and dazzle
between my thighs
in order to release him
to the shiny air....
Ron Block teaches Creative Writing at Mid-Plains Community College in North Platte. Mr. Block
writes poems and short stories. He believes that as writer "You have to have a sense of integrity;
things have to be written with a good heart, with a desire to tell the truth. In the poem "Salvage",
he
writes about his father, excerpted here:
All day I thought of my father weeping in
his hands that morning, under a reproduction
of an old man praying over bread and soup,
his hands dry and full of stiff veins, perhaps
in shame at what people in that town would say.
Eamonn Wall taught at Creighton University and now is Professor of Irish Studies at the
University
of Missouri at St. Louis. He has published several collections of poetry and essays. Mr. Wall
states,
"Nothing really can stand up to twentieth century American poetry. It's a kind of marvel..."
Following is an excerpt from "The Country Doctor":
.....Dr. Bowe rode out into the
night's romance to heal the sick to talk and talk and talk,
beating his knuckles on your chest and bringing you back to life,
You learned the history of County Wexford with the glass jammed under your tongue.
Twyla Hansen is a Creative Writing presenter through the Nebraska Humanities Council and a
horticulturalist. She has several books of published poetry and anthologies. Ms. Hansen states, "I
think it's good to have a writer as a writing teacher. There's theory and then there's writing. They
don't always jive." I chose an excerpt from her poem "Planting Trees":
.....Like my
father and grandfather before me,
I pray to the soil, to the sky
for strength, for good planting
weather, to continue. Each
shovelful now a sacrament:
Take eat, this soil my body
crumbled for your roots, drink
of this water, my blood, shed
for you now, and ever more.
J. V. Brummels teaches at Wayne State College and directs the Plains Writers Circuit. He has
several published books of poetry and anthologies. Mr. Brummels believes that "Literature can
make
some sense out of things that nothing else can. Literature addresses those matters of the human
spirit. Some of those are enigmas that never can be solved or explained or articulated in any way
except with a poem." He proves his belief in this excerpt from "The American Heart":
The American heart travels alone, feeling
its way along vague and inaccurate maps
of a common frontier where rumor says
some other impatient heart might wait.
Ted Kooser is a multi-publiched poet and retired Vice President of Lincoln Benefit Life Insurance.
He currently teaches writing students one on one and lives in Garland Nebraska. Mr. Kooser
states,
"I've learned over the years that it's very useful to trust the metaphors that come to your mind
even
though they seem off-the-wall at first. They are coming from some place that makes sense...."
What
follows is an excerpt from his poem "So This Is Nebraska":
The gravel road rides with a slow gallop
over the fields, the telephone lines
streaming behind, its billow of dust
full of the sparks of redwing blackbirds.
Saiser and Clark are accomplished writers in their own right and this collaboration is warm and
engaging from page one. It has the feel of swapping stories and experiences with well
worn friends.
Bet Your Life
Richard Dooling
www.harpercollins.com, www.amazon.com, www.bn.com for orders
ISBN 0060505400 $13.95 paperback
In Bet Your Life, Richard Dooling spins a tidy mystery suspense tale with twists and turns
aplenty.
Think Raymond Chandler complete with hi-tech savvy and a contemporary edge. Press releases
dub
this book "classic noir", and it certainly is that, combined with well-defined characters and an
unusual plot
Carver Hartnett is a straight arrow insurance fraud investigator who tells the story in first person.
Miranda Pryor is the chaste but seductive object of Carver's desire. And Lenny Stillmach is the
friend who manages to be a high tech genius despite manic-depression and chronic drug and
alcohol
abuse. These three friends comprise the team of fraud investigators who are very good at what
they
do. Each brings different but effective skills to the team.
Lenny's unexpected death under strange circumstances casts suspicion on his friends. These
suspicions are compounded by the discovery that he has purchased multiple six figure life
insurance
policies naming Carver and Miranda, as well as others, as beneficiaries. Seems that Lenny's boss,
the
local police, and FBI think he has been running a lucrative scam by buying and selling high dollar
policies for fun and profit. Carver can't trust anyone, including Mrianda, and he finds himself up to
his eyebrows in a local and federal investigation. His life is in danger and it's up to him to find out
why as he tries to separate the good guys from the evil doers.
Richard Dooling is an award nominated author because his wordsmithery is unique. His style is
modern with the noir voice of past masters of the genre. Bet Your Life is not a simplistic tale.
Intelligent fans of the genre will enjoy the experience.
Laurel Johnson
Reviewer
Shelley's Bookshelf
Murder at Shots Hall
Maureen Sarsfield
The Rue Morgue Press
87 Lone Tree Lane, Lyons, CO 80540
ISBN: 0915230550 $14.95
Maureen Sarsfield published three novels, two of them mysteries featuring Lane Parry, an
Inspector
with Scotland Yard, in the 1940's. Both were reprinted in the United States, which was fairly
notable
for the time. Then Sarsfield disappeared from the public eye, until the Rue Morgue Press decided
to
bring them her books back to the mystery reading audience.
Murder at Shots Hall introduces the reader to Inspector Lane Parry, who is called upon when
there
is a murder in Shotshall, which is the name of both the village and its manor house. We are
introduced to the lovely and inscrutable Flikka Ashley, who is living at Shots Hall with her
down-to-earth Aunt Bee Chattock. When their housekeeper Molly Pritchard is found poisoned,
the
horrible Detective Sergeant Arnoldson immediately assumes that Flik is the murderess.
Fortunately
for Flik, there are several gentlemen in the village who worship her from afar, which comes in
very
handy when the bodies start piling up and the evidence points to her as the probable suspect. The
village doctor, Abbot, is one of her admirers, and knocks himself out seeing to her safety even as
his
duties exhaust him. There is still a doubt in his mind, which drives him wild:
"Abbot said nothing, thinking she was all dressed up int hat lovely wool dress not to be grilled
but
to kill. It was the color of her hair, and very tight in the waist, and plain. She'd a fancy for Parry,
all
right, and Parry, might the devil take him, wouldn't hesitate to hang her if needs be. Then, less
unjustly, he decided it was all pretty bloody for Parry, unless he was unmoved by her loveliness,
which seemed impossible, even for a policeman."
The tone of Murder at Shots Hall is what sets it apart from so many of today's stories. It is a story
Hitchcock would have loved...all moody and surreal. The characters, who are well drawn and
each
desperate in their own right, are constantly having to battle wretched weather to get where they
are
going, which is usually to the scene of another murder. Nothing is what it seems, and the ending is
delightfully twisted. But when one thinks about it, it all makes perfect sense. Those are the
elements
of a wonderful cozy. Too bad Sarsfield didn't write more...she was definitely on a par with Agatha
Christie. Thanks to the Rue Morgue Press for resurrecting this little gem. A fascinating read from
an
underrated author.
Buried in Burrywood
Lana Waite
Booklocker.com, Inc.
ISBN: 1591132290 $14.95
Lana Waite credits the Cabrillo Suspense Writers' Conference with being a major inspiration in
her
writing. She lives in Northern California, but was born in Seattle. She studied Architecture at the
University of Washington and married a Navy man.
Burrywood, Washington is a small town with lots of characters living in it. Not all of them are
what
would be referred to as upstanding citizens. Take Tolly, for instance. He used to be a great
principal,
but succumbed to the evils of drink. Then there is the mayor, Neal Thomas. No one likes him, and
he is the first murder victim. His wife Charlotte isn't too friendly either...she runs the drugstore
and
is a nurse, which most people don't know. Rose lives in a huge mansion her father won in a poker
game. Her brother, Sam, shows up to help her sell its contents...he is the perennial rolling stone.
Then there is Reverend Amos...a man in his 80's who wanders around town. His son is the Police
Chief. It takes the town newspaper owner, Diana, and her sidekick, restaurateur Winona, to sort
things out when dead bodies start appearing:
"Still to search were Neal's desk and the file drawers and cabinet behind it. Big, big job. It
exhausted me to think about it. I pulled the desk chair out, intending to sit and think things over.
Instead I found myself staring at a green packet sticking out of the crevice between the back of
the
seat and the cushion. It was money, all neatly done up with a rubber band."
Lana Waite writes a terrifically funky and thoroughly non-violent mystery where character is the
driving force. Her townspeople could be characters in a play...they are well-defined and each have
their role to play. Diana and Winona are delightfully wise middle-aged women who don't stand for
any nonsense and cut to the heart of the other characters' foibles. Diana is the focal point of the
book, as she runs the town newspaper. Although she is a down-to-earth character, she does get
rattled enough to take action and kick the other characters out of their neuroses.
Buried in Burrywood is a charming story that is about what people are really like. Sweetness
comes
in the form of ultimate acceptance of their condition. It is when these characters see themselves as
they are that they are able to overcome the blocks that have been keeping them from
self-acceptance
to become contributing members of their little town. An inspiring read.
Off Pace
Brittan Barclay
Barclay Books, LLC
St. Petersburg, FL
ISBN: 1931402043 $15.95 www.barclaybooks.com
Brittan Barclay grew up in Michigan, and became a registered nurse, working in her profession
for
nine years. She worked for eight years as a pacemaker representative for a national company. She
has a Ph.D. in Psychology, and degrees in nursing, psychology, creative writing, and biology. Off
Pace is her first novel. Her dissertation is now a nonfiction book entitled Everybody Lies, and she
is
working on her next novel entitled Borderline Obsession.
Meagan is a registered nurse, and is mulling over continuing her education to become a doctor.
She
has a solid relationship with her doctor boyfriend, Dallas MacGuire, when she is offered a position
as a pacemaker representative. The job is lucrative, and Meagan works hard to build her territory
as
the only female representative. But two problems crop up...one is the obvious sexual overtures
which many of her doctors make towards her. The other problem is more sinister, when people
associated with the pacemaker industry start turning up murdered. Meagan begins to have life
threatening accidents, no one around her believes that her life may be in danger:
"The curtain shifted a bit to her front before Dallas pushed it up over his head and ducked into her
stuffy space. 'You've done it again,' he said, briefly squeezing his eyes shut as he shook his head
from
side to side. 'What am I going to do with you?' He looked and sounded bewildered. 'What did you
do? Take them out of your purse? Take a different purse? What? I don't understand? You know...'
'Dallas.' Meagan interrupted. 'I don't know what happened to them. You watched me put three of
them in my purse last night. I never took them out."
Off Pace is an intense, adults only story which is fast-paced and extremely well conceived. The
plot
is nothing short of smashing. Although it is more of a suspense story than a mystery (as there are
no
prominent investigators in the plot), Barclay does a fine job of masking the true killer until the
very
last denouement. The story is an "edge-of-your-seat" plot, the characters are liars in the extreme,
and the character of Meagan is every woman who tries to navigate the working world with the
best
of intentions. Barclay knows her stuff in many areas. She is a fine writer, is a knowledgeable
nurse,
and knows the pacemaker industry well enough to scare the pants off of us non-medical people. A
great tale from a smart lass. Off Pace is an excellent first effort.
One Death Too Many
Glenn Ickler
SterlingHouse Publisher, Inc.
7436 Washington Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15218
ISBN: 1563153041 $11.95 www.sterlinghousepublisher.com
Glenn Ickler is an old newspaperman from way back, having had a career in journalism which
included the St. Paul Pioneer Press. He was also an editorial page editor for the Middlesex News
(now the Metro West Daily News) in Framingham, Mass and editor of the Ware River News in
Ware, Massachusetts. He earned several awards in journalism, including being part of a Pulitzer
Prize nominated team. He is a graduate of Hamline University. He is also a retired U.S. Navy
officer.
Set in St. Paul, Minnesota, two reporters from the Daily Dispatch in St. Paul, Warren "Mitch"
Mitchell and Alan Jeffrey discover a "nice and gentle" doctor is losing more elderly patients to
sudden heart attacks than statistics could explain. Mitch's landlady's sister dies, and then Al's aging
uncle. The list keeps growing as Dr. Sinfahdi's name is bandied about:
"'The body count is up to ten,' Mitch said when Al answered. 'And the woman I just talked to said
her husband was very upset because his mother's death was a real shock. She seemed to be
recovering from a stroke and then her heart gave out. Sound at all familiar?' 'All too,' said Al.
"What
did Jennifer learn from Doctor Sinfahdi's nurse this afternoon?'"
With two sleuths on the trial of a killer, Ickler has a chance to develop their relationship into a
funny,
all too testosterone-filled relationship. The use of puns defines their banter, and a mutual trust
permeates a friendship that is entertaining to read about. The plot moves along nicely, and the
characters are all well-defined and interesting. Ickler creates a page-turner that is big on suspense
and contains a romantic element that is creatively male. Ickler gives the reader a bird's eye view
on
relationships and how men struggle with how to relate to the women in their lives, whether they
are
delicate roses or hot tamales.
One Death Too Many is a nice little book designed for a read anywhere from on the beach, where
some of the more racy moments might be reproduced, or sitting at home on a rainy day.
With You In Spirit
Steven Cooper
Alyson Publications
6922 Hollywood Blvd Suite 1000, Los Angeles, CA 90028
ISBN: 1555837832 $13.95
Steven Cooper is currently the anchor for the "Problem Solver" and "On Your Side" programs for
WKMG-TV in Orlando, Florida. He originally hails from Boston, and has been an on-air
personality
for WGGB-TV in Springfield, Mass and Phoenix's KNXV-TV.
Graydove is part American Indian and part Jewish, which is confusing enough. But after his father
was mysteriously murdered, the powers that be threw his jet-setting, fabulously rich mother,
Celeste,
in the slammer. Meanwhile, the love of Gray's life, Pedro, is deciding whether or not to have a
sex-change operation which would, in Gray's mind, end their relationship. Gray's sisters, a
pregnant
wannabe Black woman Chaka and Skye, his wannabe model younger sister, plus best friend and
pilot Stevie, make the acquaintance of medium of Brenda Cloudholder and her seeing eye cat,
Lourdes, and begin trying to make contact with his dead father. Instead they get their
grandmother:
"'You were saying Colin wants us to know we're heading in the wrong direction.' 'Yes. He hasn't
told me who murdered him. But he's told me who hasn't.' 'Who hasn't?' Brenda coaxes. 'Bobby
Bose.' 'Bobby Bose?' 'Yes, that good-for-nothing son of a bitch my granddaughter married when
she
somehow lost her head.' Chaka Shrieks. Stevie belts out a good laugh."
With You In Spirit is a rollicking good time. It is a murder mystery; love story; fantastically funny
look at the rich and richer set; and it is a good puzzle to boot. Using unorthodox methods seems
to
suit Mr. Cooper, and he pulls the reader in to Graydove's sweet and wacky world right from the
first
page. The characters are all likable, and none of them is at all conventional, which adds to the fun
of
a crazy plot. Cooper shows us that mysteries don't have to all be dark and British. A wonderful
first
novel from a talented guy with a sense of irony and a big heart.
Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer
Shirley's Bookshelf
Caleb's Daughter
Kay Flowers
Flowers Fables
P.O. Box 21, Westfield Center, OH 44251
ISBN 1591130956 $13.98
It is not very often you find a book that combines the history of the Jewish people with a story of
tender love, for family and for God. This is such a book. The story is of a young Israelite girl
named
Achsah, who is the only daughter of a high leader of the tribe of Judah, Caleb.We are told at the
beginning of the story some of the traditions of the Jewish people, such as the Father always
chooses
a husband for his daughter, this does not set well with young Achsah.
Achsah is a strong willed girl, not wanting to be told whom she will spend the rest of her life with,
as
is the custom. The author takes you into the heart of young Achsah as she battles with her
emotions
of loyalty to her father, her God and the traditions of their faith. Will she be able to submit to
these
traditions and still find the happiness she believes belongs to her? You become entwined in her
mind
as she comes to terms with her destiny. It is a tender story, carefully written with respect for the
history it is based on, yet full of adventure and drama. A taste of the past flavored with emotions
felt
in the present, very good mix.
Unveiling during the conquest of Canaan, the work allows you to experience the victories and
defeats of these chosen people, taste a little of their rebellion and understand a great deal of their
faith, as young Achsah blooms into a woman and takes her place in the land of promise.
A very good read! Thumbs up on this one!
The Everlasting Mountains
Rita Gerlach
Publish America
PO Box 151, Fredericks, MD
ISBN 1592869157 $17.95 http://www.publishamerica.com
As I sat down to begin my read of Ms. Gerlach's sequel to "Thorns In Eden", I sat in anticipation
of
the words before me, wondering how the author would be able to pen a work finer than the one
before. I was not disappointed.
The author begins the story with our young heroin Rebecah finally standing on the soil where her
beloved Nash is. Your heart leaps with joy as you want to jump into the pages of the book and
hurry
her along to his side; however the author does not allow our young lady to find her love that
easily.
No, before she even reaches the small town that Nash is in; she is confronted with cruel slave
sellers,
stories of horrid massacres, and is held by none other then Nash's enemy, Jean LaRoux. It is only
through an act of God that her life is spared. What a scene! Excellent! Again the author carefully
weaves in the element of faith as young Rebecah meets the kindly Reverend Filmore who puts her
into capable hands that will speed her towards her beloved. I liked that! Gently through her
writing,
the author lets us know that God is always near! Great beginning!
Nash is also undergoing great stress, grieving for his beloved, whom he thinks he has lost forever,
he
is trying desperately to bring peace to the settlers and the Indians, knowing that soon a war with
his
own countrymen will be fought. Torn in many different directions, his heart yearns for the
tenderness of a love he fears he will never have.
Finally the author brings the two of them together, but it is not the blissful meeting this reader
hoped
it would be. Instead the hurts that each bear surface and for a while the bitterness in their hearts
keep them apart.How so in all our lifes I fear!
True to the Romanist that the author surely must be, their love indeed is stronger than
the scars they bear, as Rebecah and Nash kindle their love for each other and unit in marriage. Oh
my heart melted!
This was not the end of the story however, they still had many hurtles to cross, and as with all of
Ms. Gerlach's work, she saves the best for last. She builds on the characters personality and love
for
each other and mankind, their strong faith and trust in God and each other, using orphaned
children,
black slaves, and the final test when the evil Jean LaRoux and his group of renegade Indians,
burns
down their home and kidnaps Rebecah and two other women. My heart sank! What a story!
The author brings in different elements to her work, such as a deep love between an Indian and a
white woman, gossiping townspeople, friendship that goes beyond the love of a brother and deep
commitment to God. She threads these in a way that only a crafted craftsman could do, constantly
giving her work a refreshing , like frequent rain showers on a hot blistering day! Bravo!
I wept with joy and I wept with sorrow as I read this work. The way the words were penned I felt
as
if I were there, facing the problems, battling the enemies, feeling their pain and sharing their love,
strength and faith! Truly Ms. Gerlach is a painter, painting words with her writing that wrap
around
your heart and whisper through your spirit; words of a story of love, life and courage that only
God
can give! A story you will carry within you forever!
Foods that Heal
Maureen Salaman
Statford Publishing
1259 El Camino Real, Suite 1500, Menlo Park, CA 94025
ISBN 0913087025 $19.95 1-415-854-9355
Talk about a book packed full of useful information, "Foods That Heal" fits the bill.
The author lists just about every imaginable infirmity known to man, it's possible cause and a food
source or vitamin that may help eliminate or ease the suffering. What could be better than
that?
Not only does she give all that information, but she also includes delicious recipes and a listing of
alternative doctors for your convience.
I found this book to be invaluable. I keep it handy at all times and use it often as a reference in my
daily life. Hats off to Maureen Salaman for a great book that should be in every household.
The Women's Book Of Home Remedies
John H. Renner, M.D.
Publications International Ltd
7373 North Cicero Avenue, Lincolnwood, Illinois 60646
ISBN# 0785301410 $4.99
Someone gave this book to me and I know it is a little bit old, but was I thrilled to receive it. It
has
so much useful information in it for woman that the read was quite enjoyable. Are you having
trouble with infections in your bladder? This book will tell you what to do to help lessen your
suffering. Is your skin oily, read the hints in this book for help. As you can see many subjects are
covered and put in simple to understand terms. I liked this book, and if you can get a hold of a
copy
you should read it. Interesting.
There is Eternal Life for Animals
Niki Behrikis Shanahan
Pete Publishing
P.O. Box 282, Tyngsborough, MA 01879
ISBN 0972030107 $12.98 hickory4@world.std.com
I was excited when I received this book to review, actually, I asked the author for a copy which is
something I rarely do.
If any of you have been following my reviews you know I am a Christian and an animal
lover.
This year has been a tough one for me personally, as I have lost 5 dogs and to me this was like
losing family members. I needed to read this book and I was not disappointed.
Is God truly interested in animals and what happens to them for eternity? The author has the
answer
to this question for you, with countless Scripture references, showing our loving Creator does
indeed care about all of His creation, even your beloved Fideo.Thank God! As an Ordained
Minister
of the Gospel I have always known that animals would be a part of eternity but never took the
time
to research the Scriptures on this subject as author Niki Shanahan has. I tip my hat to her for
doing
an outstanding job in bringing to light the truth of eternity for all living things.
If your heart is broken because you have lost your beloved pet, this book will bring you peace. If
you question where animals go when they die, this book will quiet your mind and bring a smile to
your lips. A book that can be read with the heart and with the intellect, this is a must read for all
that
love animals and for those who have stepped so low as to be cruel to God's creation. After
reading
this book you may just change your actions, I hope so.
Highly recommended reading, top of the line research. Excellent, Outstanding and Life changing!
Good job Ms. Shanahan! Thank you!
Day By Day
Billy Graham
World Wide Publications
1303 Hennipin Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403
ISBN 089066336X $5.99
I love devotional books but this one, to me, is top of the line. Each day starts out with a passage
from the Word of God, followed by a short discussion on that word, and ending with a short
prayer.
Very nice.
I like to be able to read a morsel or two before my day begins and this is such a good way to do it.
This book can be read year after year, it's words will still apply.
Great devotional! Heart warming!
How To Survive an Italian Family
Rick Detorie
Perigee Books
the Putnam Publishing Group
200 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016
ISBN 0399513590 $4.95
I have to say that this book was one of the few that I have read that actually made me laugh out
loud. I don't know if it is because I could relate to what the author was saying, since I am Italian,
or
if it was the way he wrote, but this book is a gem.
The author gives you first hand information on how to survive dealing with an Italian
family.During
meals, on trips, and yes even at a funeral. Hey, I have been to many Italian funerals, you just don't
know what you are missing until you have attended one.
I loved "The Italian Mother's Early Morning Worry List." Yes, that is because I myself
have worried about the same things that are on the list. Great!
The cartoons add just the right amount of visual aid to enhance the pure joy of this read.
Fantastic!
Chuckle a minute!
If you need a good pick-me-up book that doesn't require anything from you, but only gives you a
good belly laugh, you need to
pick up this one.
Thank you Mr. Detorie, I needed that smile!
The Power Of Covenant Prayer
Francis Frangipane
Charisma House Publishers
600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, Florida 32746
ISBN 0884195481 $9.99 http://www.charismahouse.com
Have you ever wondered exactly what a covenant is all about? Just what benefits, if any, would
you
as a believer receive from making a covenant with God? In this work, author Francis Frangipane
unleashes the answers to these questions and more.
Explaining in an easy to understand way, Mr. Frangipane explains the power of being in covenant
with the Lord and how you, the believer can finally obtain the fulfillment you have been longing
for.
Your prayers will take on a dimension that you never deemed possible.
As a Christian you know that your life is no longer yours, but you gladly give it to the one you
serve. In this mighty book, the author shares the power of the covenant prayer, teaching you
through examples and the Word of God, how the power released in covenant prayer can be a
reality
in your life.
Do you want to go higher in your spiritual walk, in your prayer life, in your communion with the
Lord? If you do, don't miss this read, it will change your walk with the Lord, forever.
Good Health with Vitamins and Minerals
John Fallagher
Summit Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020
ISBN 0671660985 $6.95
I am finding I am starting to really enjoy reviewing the health books that I have been reading of
late.
Not only am I learning many things to help myself, but also to pass on to others.
Good Health with Vitamins and Minerals is packed chock full of valuable information about every
imaginable vitamin and mineral you could think of. Not only does the author tell you what food
source these vitamins/minerals can be found in, but he also gives you information on food
preparation so you do not 'cook out' the nutrient. Great advice.
I liked this book, felt it was easy to read and understand and I could use the information in it. I
recommend it to those seeking more knowledge on their vitamins and minerals.
To your health!
The Day Of The Saints
Dr. Bill Hamon
Destiny Image Publishers, Inc.
P.O.Box 310, Shippenburg, PA 17257-0310
ISBN 0768421667 $14.99 http://www.destinyimage.com
I don't believe I have ever read a work that has given me so much knowledge about the
history of the church and the different movements that we have experienced as this one has.
Dr. Hamon details each one of these movements, explains their importance in the timetable of
God's
plan, points the way towards the next move of God and finally to the climax of mankind's
destiny - "The Day of The Saints." What an exciting time that will be! Never have I read it
explained
in such detail, nor understood the importance of each move that God planned for the Church.He
writes in an easy to understand manner, not condescending but clear and pointed, leaving you
with
the knowledge of knowing the why's of God's movements and their importance for mankind's
destiny.
I have to admit that I must shift my thinking some and get it in line with what the Lord is about to
do; however this is of course what the work is about isn't it? Helping the Body of Christ to know
where we have been, where we are and where we are going! This is an outstanding study book; it
would be wise to keep it handy to help explain to others where we are on God's timetable. It also
is
a great witnessing tool to generate excitement for those whom you are trying to reach for the
Lord.
Share with them the future and show them what part they can play in the drama of God on
earth.
Very highly recommended reading for all Christians and a real wake-up call to our destiny. Thank
you Dr. Hamon!
INTERVIEW WITH NIKI BEHRIKIS SHANAHAN
AUTHOR OF THERE IS ETERNAL LIFE FOR ANIMALS!
A Sticky Note From Shirley:
How many of us have had the joy of a faithful pet by our side during our journey in this life? Even
the mention of that sweet companion, that may be by your side right now, brings a warm glow to
your heart and your soul. A friend that you can tell anything to, anytime you chose. One that
never
talks back, accepts you the way you are, even in your ugliest moments, and loves you anyway.
How
precious is that?
Few books have touched a spot in my heart the way Ms. Shanahan's work "There Is Eternal Life
For
Animals" has. Being in full-time Ministry for over 20 years I have had the opportunity to hear
many
wonderful sermons, read numerous books filled with revelation of God's Word and I myself have
searched the Scriptures and studied to show myself approved for years on many subjects.
However,
to my shame, as much as I am an animal lover and protector, I never took the time to seek out
God's
Word on the eternal hereafter that awaits the creatures I love so much. I am so thankful that Niki
did.
The author, as you will read in her own words, combed the Word of God to find out how He feels
about our beloved friends and just where He says they will spend Eternity. I devoured this book
from cover to cover and eagerly awaited the answers in this interview. I wanted to know more
about
the lady behind the book. I was not disappointed and feel I have found a new friend, for which I
am
grateful. If you love your pet and you are wondering if they will be with you in eternity, I urge
you
to read this book and I pray you will enjoy getting to know Niki Behrikis Shanahan. She is one
'special' person. Please see my review of her outstanding book in this column. Let's begin!
SPJ: Niki, thank you for doing this interview with me. Would you please tell us, is this your first
published work?
NIKI: Yes.
SPJ: Niki, what made your decide to write this book?
NIKI: After the passing of my wonderful cat, Pete, the great bond between us inspired me to
research the Bible to see what God had to say about the afterlife of animals. I had experienced the
wonderful warmth, value, appreciation, and the great benefits of animal companionship for the
first
time in my life. I found many scriptures in my research, and I felt the need to document it in an
organized way for myself. Once I began to type everything in a file, I just knew that God wanted
me
to share these findings with other people who could benefit from it.I was delighted with my
findings
that proved scriptural that all the animals go to heaven!
SPJ: Tell us how much research did you have to do? I would imagine it was hours upon
hours.
NIKI: I conducted a thorough Bible study, extensive research into the original Greek and Hebrew
words to find the accurate meanings using tools such as, Interlinear Bibles and Strong's
Concordance, I researched various theologian's commentaries and read books.
SPJ: That is interesting. I have found that it pays to search out the original Greek and Hebrew
words
when it comes to Bible research. That was quite a job,how long did it take you to complete
it?
NIKI: Six months working full time.
SPJ: You did an outstanding job. Tell us,did you find it difficult to find a publisher and if so what
did
you do to remedy that?
NIKI: I didn't send my manuscript to any publisher. I decided that I'd rather self-publish.
SPJ: Self-publishing has its good and bad points. One area that many authors seem to have
questions
about is promotion. How difficult has it been to promote your book and would you share any tips
you have with our readers for success in this area. Also, do you ever accept any other authors
works
for publication and if so what would be the guidelines they would need to follow.
NIKI: Since I am a small publisher there is more responsibility on my shoulders. Larger sized
publishers usually have sales people who will work to get the book into the bookstores and help
with promotion.For the most part, sales are handled online through retailers such as Amazon and
Barnes and Noble.
You have to pursue the appropriate individuals for book reviews. In my case, reviews from
people in
the ministry are important. However, anyone with a Bible can read it for themselves, and come to
their own conclusions on the meaning of scriptures. Also, reviews from people who work with
pets
and animals and book reviewers are great to have.
One area that I had never given any thought to is working with the media. It is essential to inform
the public about your book. I had never realized how stories got into newspapers and magazines.
The articles just appeared there and I had no clue how that happened. You need to send the media
information and often a review copy of your book. Having them do a story, review or even a
mention are hard to come by.There are many people who would like to know about animal
afterlife
from a Christian perspective, but you have to try to convince the editors that their readers want to
read about it. This is very time consuming since you must scout out the publications and then
find the appropriate editors. Once you have submitted information to them, your job isn't over.
Now
you must follow-up on it several times to see if they will do a story. Often this task is fruitless, but
when you do succeed, it's well worth it and I often hear from people who were happy to find out
about the book. These publications have limited space and time so they have to make decisions on
what to publish.
An author website is an excellent promotional tool. Since I've had the website, I have noticed
increased visibility. Of course, having a website, if it's going to serve its purpose, has a life of it's
own so that keeps you busy as well. Since Pete Publishing is such a new company, we're not in a
position right now to accept other works from authors
SPJ: Wow, thanks Niki, a lot of great points there to consider. As we both know, many people do
not feel animals go to Heaven ( I totally disagree) Have you had a lot of feed back from these
believers on your book? Tell us a little about the reactions you have received concerning your
book,
both good and bad please AND how you have handled them.
NIKI: Most people don't read my book unless they are interested in pets and animals, and they
seem
to know in their hearts and minds that it's not in God's character to abandon any of His creatures
after they die. When they see it all written in the scriptures, it really brings them joy and
peace.
For the very few people who have read the book and are not totally convinced of the afterlife of
animals, I usually discuss their concerns with them. If they are still unsure, I let it go at that. If
they
don't believe the Bible, and they don't believe what God says, I'm certainly not going to be able to
say anything to convince them.
Usually people who don't believe that animals go to heaven, will not bother to read the book.
There
are people in the ministry who don't think animals go to heaven, and I believe one reason for this
is
that they never studied the subject. This will be especially true for those who don't personally have
any interest in animals and pets.
SPJ: Have you had feed back from Ministers concerning your work and how favorable have they
been?
NIKI: I have had feedback from a few ministers who have given me very favorable feedback.Thus
far I haven't had anyone in the ministry read the book and say they don't believe it. Several
ministers
declined to review the book, and gave no comment on their position on the subject.
SPJ: I hate to say it, but I think most Ministers just haven't given the subject that much of their
thoughts and study. I certainly know I was guilty, although I always believed animals had a place
in
God's Kingdom. Now, let me say this, I really enjoyed the section in your book of the
experiences
that the children had during their NDE's. Do you think you might consider researching that further
and writing a book about children's experiences and the animals they see. It seems they are more
open to seeing the animals then others are. Or perhaps researching accounts of NDE's and finding
those that have seen animals and compiling a book with those accounts in it. What do you
think?
NIKI: If I could find sufficient material, that would be something that would interest me. Children
aren't aware of tunnels, bright lights, and other things that are commonly seen. They just tell you
what they saw, and it's fascinating. I'm always interested in finding out about anyone's near-death
experiences, and the first thing I look for is whether they saw anyone's pet there. I also have a
great
curiosity about what's going on in heaven. Since my Dad and my cat, Pete, passed away, I have
really been intrigued with this subject.
I'm aware of the fact that many Christians are uncomfortable about near-death and out-of-body
experiences, however, in the Bible you'll find that the Apostle Paul, in fact, had a near-death
experience, and he saw things that he was not permitted to tell anyone. He said whether he was in
the body or out of the body, he didn't know. (See II Corinthians 12:2) Also, the Disciple, John,
had
a vision on the Isle of Patmos, which seems likely that it was an out-of-body experience. (See
Revelation Chapter 1)Another out-of-body experience recorded in the Bible was Stephen who
was
stoned to death. When they were about to kill him, he looked up to heaven and said "I see Jesus
standing on the right hand of God."(See Acts 7:54-60) There are several other examples in the
Bible, as well.
SPJ: Interesting, thank you Niki. Tell me,have doors opened to minister to those who have lost
their
beloved pets since your book was published?
NIKI: Yes. Many doors have opened to minister to people. I receive emails and phone calls all the
time from folks who are so happy to have a book that Biblically proves that all animals go to
heaven.
They also appreciate having a website dedicated to this subject . I invite people to submit prayer
requests, and therefore, I interact with people who have sick pets and those who are grieving the
loss of a beloved animal companion.
SPJ: Thank is wonderful! Have you had the opportunity to meet other authors who have written
on
the same subject?
NIKI: I have not met any in person, but I've met one over the telephone and email.
SPJ: Tell us Niki,what has writing this work done for you and what do you hope it will do for
your
readers?
NIKI: Writing this book has given me a great purpose in my life. It is most rewarding to bring this
uplifting message to those who have lost a pet and those that love animals.My hope is that
everyone
who wants to know about animal afterlife from a Christian perspective will have the opportunity
to
read the book. I hope that it will bring peace and assurance for all those who are concerned about
what happens to their animal companions.
SPJ: It certainly has helped me and I thank you for it. How supportive was your family in your
writing experience and how important do you think this is to a writer?
NIKI: My husband has been especially encouraging and supportive. He has helped me with
proofreading, editing, and many other things. I can always count on my mother to support me,
and
the rest of the family, as well.I think family support is very important particularly for new writers
who are trying to get started.
SPJ: Are you considering writing another book on this topic?
NIKI: I would love to, however, I don't seem to have much time these days to take on another big
project. What I am hoping to accomplish is to write some smaller e-books or e-documents on the
same subject and other Bible-based subjects.
SPJ: That would be great! Do you have any other works in progress?
NIKI: I write articles for my website frequently, and I'm hoping to write e-documents or small
e-books.
SPJ: How many hours a day do you write?
NIKI: It varies. Some days I don't write at all because of book fulfillment, promotion, website
maintenance and other responsibilities.
SPJ: Is there a special place that you write, one that inspires you?
NIKI: Any place in my home is comfortable for me, and using the computer is better because I
find
it easier and faster to type than to write by hand.
SPJ: Has having a book published changed your life in anyway and if so please share that with
us.
NIKI: It has been very fulfilling because I feel that I am doing what God always intended for me
to
do -- research and write about how much God loves the animals and that He has a plan for their
resurrection and eternal life, as well as ours.
SPJ: Nothing is more important then being in the will of God. Let me ask you this,where do you
hope your writing career will be in 3 years and what are you doing to achieve that goal.
NIKI: I'd like to write articles for publications, such as magazines. I'd be interested in pet articles,
as
well as Bible related work. I'd love to write another book, but I don't know when that would be.
If I
wrote another book, I think it would be either on the same subject or a related subject. I think
writing some e-books or e-documents will be likely. I study and research various topics on an
ongoing basis.
SPJ: A question a little off the beaten track,do you read and if so what genre is your favorite?
NIKI: I read Non-fiction books with a particular interest in Christianity/Bible, Religion and
Spirituality. I also like pet/cat care and books on natural remedies.
SPJ: Niki, would you tell us a little about yourself, outside of being a published author?
NIKI: I was born and brought up in Massachusetts in a Christian home with loving parents. I live
with my husband, Jack, and two cats, Luke and Joey.When I adopted my first animal
companion, Pete, I experienced a wonderful bond and relationship with him that I had never
known
about before. Several years ago I began to feed some feral cats before they all moved on to other
places. One of them was my cat, Luke, who I managed to capture and make part of our family.
After
Pete passed away Joey wondered into our backyard, and seeing that he had no home we adopted
him, as well.Near and dear to my heart are God and my family, which of course, includes Luke,
Joey, and of course, Pete, who currently resides in heaven! I like working with computers. I
have held positions, such as Desktop Publishing Specialist and Document Control Administrator.
I
built my own website and love maintaining it. It's another wonderful creative work, especially
because I feel that I can help other people with this tool. I've also always liked writing although I
never thought I would write a book. I like to study various Bible topics, but it didn't dawn on me
to
investigate animal afterlife until my Pete passed away at almost 22 years old.
SPJ: Thank you for sharing Niki, please use this space for anything you would like to share with
our
readers concerning publishing, writing or your publishing experience in general.
NIKI: It's a lot of hard work, however, it is very rewarding to make a useful contribution to
society.
SPJ: Again, thank you Niki for sharing your heart with us. I know this is a work in progress for
you,
a ministry that has only begun. Many blessings on the works of your hands!
"This-----That-----And The Other!"
It has taken me several months to be ready to write this commentary. I didn't want to write it in
anger, I wanted to be fair and just when I wrote it. What is the subject? Something perhaps many
of
you have encountered. Or perhaps you have had even worse experiences than I have, I certainly
hope that is not the case!
Let me start from the beginning. I am an author, as many of you are. I, with my nephew Michael
have written over 100 children's stories. My hearts desire has always been for each one of these
stories to be in the hands of a child. Before I obtained an agent, I was always busy sending
inquiries
to different publishers. You could find me night after night combing the internet and reading the
guidelines at different children's publishers sites. Sound familiar!
How did I fare? Well, sometimes I would get a bite, even asked to send in my material several
times,
but every time it ended in heartbreak and great disappointment! Again sound familiar?
As I said, I have many children's books, some of them are Christian and some are secular. I
remember one time I queried quite a big Christian company, if I were to write the name most of
you
would know them. I received a prompt reply and was told that my query could quite possible be a
divine appointment as they were just thinking about adding some children's books to their line-up.
I
was excited! A Divine appointment! What could be better than that?
"What do you need?" I asked them with my heart pounding and my mind wondering if this could
possibly be my break.
"Send what you have, give us a good sample and send your music too." I was told. I gathered my
little group of workers together, Mike and I, our Illustrators and we perfected 10 of our books
and
our music and sent them off. One week went by, two weeks went by, three weeks went by, four
weeks went by,two months went by, then three! Finally I couldn't stand it anymore and I wrote an
email. What reply did I get?
"We have been so busy, we'll get to them soon, promise!" One week goes by, two weeks go by,
three weeks go by, four weeks go by, well you get the picture! Finally I write yet another email
asking to please let us know something.
We waited and we waited and yes we waited some more only to receive an email stating that they
had finally carved out some time to look at our material and decided that they were not going to
import any outside music or books at that time!They were going to keep using in-house material!
WHAT? It was not our material, they said, actually it is quite good, and would be great for young
children, but they have decided to keep things the way they are for now? WHAT? It took them 6
months to tell us that after they had hyped us up to the point of a frenzy? How fair was that? Do
publishers forget that there are real people on the other end of that submission?
I think they do!
How did it make me feel? Angry? Yes! Discouraged? Yes! But, more determined then ever to get
those books out. I started digging some more and sending out more inquiries. I heard of another
company that was just starting up, it sounded really interesting to me as they were doing their
children's books on DVD, something that Mike and I had been working on with ours.
My work was sent in and again we waited and waited and waited. I believe this time it was a mere
5
months, only to find out that they were going to use our material, but the backer had run out of
money and for now the door was closed and there would be no material published.
WHAT? How does a backer run out of money when they are not even a year old? This was just
getting to be too unbelievable! What else was I going to find in this new world of publishing!
Did we give up?Of course not! We went digging some more!
I came across another publisher, and yes this one you would know as well if I were to use their
name, but I am not going to because I don't want to condemn them, only tell what happened.
I sent an email query and received again a prompt reply that they were just talking about opening
a
line of children's picture books and would I send in my material as soon as possible. Yes, here we
go
again, but this time we had everything ready since the first publishers had been 'nice' enough to
return all our samples.
I also decided to send them the first book of my memoirs, after asking if that would be alright to
do!
I was told yes! Again, we waited and we waited and we waited and we waited.Finally I sent an
email, first about the children's books. I was told that the women Editor, who had requested my
children's material was no longer with the company, but my material was still being considered
and
they would appreciate it if I would wait a little longer. OK, we waited and we waited and we
waited
until I finally sent a letter asking what had happened to both my submissions, children's and
memoirs.
Now this was the strange part ! No one seemed to know where the children's submission was.
Somehow it had gotten lost, filed away, it was no where to be found. I was confused and had one
question. How were they considering it if they didn't even know where it was? Nobody seemed to
have an answer to that one!
How long did we wait to hear this revelation? How about ONE year! Yes, you read that right,
one
entire year wasted on this publisher. Was I seeing RED? Yes! Red, green and purple! And they
didn't want us to resend the material because they didn't understand why their Editor( the one who
had suddenly left the company) had asked us to send it in the first place, as they were not ready to
do children's picture books at this time.
What? Hello! Could you at least find out if she took our submission with her? Perhaps ask her if
she
placed it in a far away desk drawer somewhere? Ok, like that was going to happen, I really don't
even think they know where she went, and to be honest with you, at this point I could understand
why she had left this publishing house.
The worse part, I think, is that they made us feel as if we had made up the entire thing just to send
in
a submission. Did I keep the original email from the woman? Yes I did! Did I send it to them?
No!I
decided not to play their game as it would have gotten me no where in a hurry! Have you ever
noticed how mean people can get when they are proven wrong? But wait it gets better.
So, what happened to my memoir submission? Oh they had that and would be getting back to me
on
it in a week or two, as was stated in a very nice email from one of their Editors. Oh my! Did I
smell
hope? This email sounded promising, even if they did lose our children's submission, perhaps there
was a light at the end of this long tunnel.
I was so excited the day I saw the email from the Editor, I quickly opened it up anticipation racing
through my being! I was excited!But my joy was soon to be shattered as I read the acceptance
email
that they were just so happy to send to me!
Without my knowing they had turned my submission over to their partner company who would be
happy to publish my book and list it with the Christian bookstores if I would agree to buy 2,000
to
3,000 copies, which of course I would need for book signings and all.The cost would be around a
mere $12,000. WHAT? Surely I had not read that email correctly. They certainly would never
expect someone like me to be able to pay such a large amount to have a book published would
they?
Did they even read the story, if they had they would have known that I have not won the lottery
yet,
nor have my husband and I had the good fortune to Pastor a church of thousands. If I had
$12,000
didn't they think I would publish my own book at a far lesser expense? I was shocked! What were
they thinking?
Did I have "I'm an idiot" stamped on the back of my submission? Oh wait, that's right! I'm the one
who pretended that the Editor wanted me to send in my children's material and wasted a year of
my
life waiting for a reply, which at my age is not a small thing! I read and re-read that email
countless
times not truly believing my eyes. How could a publishing company actually do this and one that
called themselves a Christian Publisher? I was shocked and yes I did write and tell them how I felt
about this action.
What was their reply? A lot of nothing! It went something like this!
PUBLISHER: We certainly did not mean to upset you or insult you in anyway!
Really? Did you think it would make my dreams come true and that I would not think my work
was
so bad that I had to pay some outrageous amount just to get somebody to publish it?
PUBLISHER: Many authors chose to buy that number of their own books!
Really and would these be famous Preachers who happen to have that kind of money? Or has this
publisher not been down to the local church where the Pastor is barely making it these days and
would never be able to pay $12,000 to purchase 2,000 copies of his own book? Being a reviewer
and interviewer of countless authors, I certainly have found very few that could afford that kind of
money to publish their books!
PUBLISHER: We were only trying to give you an option and an opportunity to get your work
out?
Oh! Well then why don't you just publish it and YOU pay for the books? That would be the
opportunity that I would be looking for! You pay me $12,000, that would be a good deal and an
option I would be willing to discuss with you!
So, what is the moral of this little write-up? I wish I had one. I have found that there are a lot of
publishers out there that are just waiting to take a great big bite out of you, that do not care how
deep they cut you, nor do they care how much blood,sweat or tears went into your work. The
bottom line is money!
Now do not misunderstand me, we all want to make money on our labor, but we did not write our
books to pay someone $12,000 so we can sit in the dark on the street corner.
That's where we would be too, since we have lost our house due to not having the mortgage
payment; after all we had to purchase all these books for our many book signings that somehow
never materialized!
Some of these publishers need a reality check and they need to let an author know in a reasonable
amount of time whether their book is of interest to them or not, and ASK the author if they would
like to have a company look at it that would charge them for publishing it.
Give them the facts up-front! Is that so hard?
Don't get an author's hopes up just to dash them on the rocks. How cruel is that? Don't just
assume
that they have "idiot" stamped across their forehead and would take out a loan just to see their
book
in print.Especially to the tune of $12,000. Give authors a little bit of respect please!
I am not saying all publishing houses are like this, but I am warning you that they are out
there.........so WRITER BEWARE! My advice is to get an agent if you possibly can and let them
weed out all this crazy stuff that comes your way. Because if you haven't tasted it yet, believe me
you will!
And, decide what you want to do. If you want to pay to have your work published do some
research, there are a lot of good self-publishing companies out there that will not charge you
$12,000 to publish your book. Of course you would get 2,000 books to decorate your home with
if
you chose to go with this company,if you still have a home, isn't that thoughtful of them! That is,
if
they decide that your book is worthy enough for you to pay that ridiculous amount for them to
publish it and offer it to Christian bookstores. Who, by the way should be open to supporting the
little guy who just wrote a book about his faith,without going through a publishing company that
makes them pay for their books upfront. Something just isn't right in this equation is it?
Or, you can do what I am doing. Mike and I have decided to step out in deep waters and attempt
to
publish our own children's books. Look at what you have and make a decision. We know that it is
not realistic that we would ever be able to get all 100 children's books published by traditional
publishers and we want the books out there. This was a logical move for us and something we
have
felt a real leading to do. I plan on writing more about this next month, giving you the inside scoop
of
how we began and how we are progressing with out new adventure.
I think you will find it interesting and educational as we share our triumphs and our failures in this
new venture.
But for now I will sign off and I hope my experiences will give you a little warning. Watch out for
the sharks out there, they swim right along with the good intentional fish and in the sometimes
muddy waters of the publishing world, it may be hard to tell the good from the bad at first glance,
so
try to make sure you have nothing in the water that they can devour! You and your work are
worth
much more than that!
Until next time.............
Shirley Johnson
Reviewer
Vicki's Bookshelf
Prudy's Problem and How She Solved It
Carey Armstrong-Ellis
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011
ISBN 0810905698 $14.95 www.abramsbooks.com
Kids love collecting, weather it be rocks or marbles, dolls or stuffed animals, coins or stamps. But
Prudy's problem is that she collects everything. Rocks and marbles. Dolls and stuffed animals.
Coins
and stamps. Not to forget old calendars, worn-out toothbrushes, tinfoil, shoelaces, salt and pepper
shakers, plastic lizards, pointy sunglasses, and even tufts of hair from different breeds of dogs.
Her
friends and family try to help Prudy get her massive collecting problem under control, but one
problem is that Prudy doesn't think she has a problem. Sure she can barely get into her room
anymore, dad can't properly mow the plastic-flamingo-and-gnome-covered lawn, and mom is
grosses out by mushroom's growing among the living room clutter. And still: "I do not have a
problem," is Prudy's reply. Until, that is, a tiny addition to the collection is the final straw, causing
Prudy 's overstuffed room to explode, sending her junk er, treasures everywhere. Now what
can
Prudy do to salvage and reorganized her collection once and for all? Well, she visits a variety of
museums for inspiration and comes up with a novel solution that young picture book readers are
sure to enjoy, if not employ.
The Magical Garden of Claude Monet
Laurence Anholt
Barron's
250 Wireless Blvd., Hauppauge, NY 11788
ISBN 0764155741 $14.95 www.barronseduc.com
Using the theme of history's greatest artists, Laurence Anholt has, throughout his career, created
wonderful stories, charmed readers with unforgettable characters, and taught people not just
about
great art, but about themselves. With his latest artist-inspired picture book, "The Magical Garden
of
Claude Monet," Anholt has created one of his most captivating stories yet. Julie is a happy little
girl
living in Paris, but she wishes to walk in a country garden. When her mother takes her to visit the
most wonderful garden in the world, the girl enters a dream world which, of course, looks very
much like the paintings of Claude Monet. When Julie's dog runs away, she asks the gardener to
help
find her pet and the two quickly become friends. Not only does the amiable old man cultivate the
garden's plants, he also paints beautiful pictures of them. Yes, Julie has made friends with the
great
impressionist painter, Monet, and enjoys a personal tour of his wonderful living creation. Based
on a
true story about the daughter of another fine artist, Berthe Morisot, this lovely book is a glorious
introduction to the artist for picture book and art enthusiasts.
Black Bear: North America's Bear
Stephen R. Swinburne
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, Penn. 18431
ISBN 159078023X $15.95 www.boydsmillspress
Three species of bear inhabit North America: the grizzly, the polar bear and the black bear. The
American black bear is truly North America's bear, argues this picture book by Stephen
Swinburne
("Coyote: North America's Dog" and "Bobcat: North America's Cat), as it is only found in North
America, ranging coast to coast from New England to California, and from Canada to Mexico.
"Black Bear" takes young readers age seven and up to the habitat of the big bears, joining
biologists
in search of bears in the Pennsylvania woods where a mother bear is examined and her cubs
tagged
for scientific study. Readers visit a "schoolteacher" for orphaned cubs who teaches them how to
survive in the wild. Along the way, the author offers personal observations as well as fascinating
facts about black bears and their world. Color photos provide appropriate depictions of most
topics
covered in this nature journal, perfectly geared for elementary school curriculum study.
The Lost World of the Anasazi
Peter Lourie
Boyds Mills Press
815 Church St., Honesdale, Penn. 18431
ISBN 1563979721 $19.95 www.boydsmillspress
More than one thousand years ago, a people known as the Anasazi lived in the North American
Southwest. Their culture flourished in the Four Corners region where Arizona, Utah, Colorado
and
New Mexico meet. Here they farmed corn, beans and squash; produced pottery, baskets, and
cloth;
and engaged in trade. They were master builders, erecting magnificent structures several stories
high. Then around the year AD.1250, something mysterious occurred. The Anasazi walked away
from their world and vanished into history. But why? "The Lost World of the Anasazi: Exploring
the
Mysteries of Chaco Canyon" investigates the clues and presents them well in this educational
picture
book for readers age seven through 11. The unsolved mystery is engaging, and the book's curious
approach to learning all the facts should be a winner with young detectives studying Native
American culture.
The Earth, My Butt and Other Big Round Things
Carolyn Mackler
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
ISBN 0763619582 $15.99 www.candlewick.com
Fifteen-year-old Virginia Shreves has a larger-than-average body and a plus-size inferiority
complex.
She spends all her time on the Web, snarfs junk food and follows the "Fat Girl Code of Conduct."
Her stuttering best friend has just moved to Walla Wall, of all places, and her new companion,
Froggy Welsh the Fourth has just succeeded in getting his hand up her shirt so Virginia fears he'll
next look underneath. In her newest young adult novel, Carolyn Mackler ("Love and Other
Four-Letter Words") gets inside the head of an endearingly blunt heroine whose story will speak
volumes to teens struggling with their own insecurities and family issues. After all, the other
Shreves
have their own weighty issues: Mom is an exercise fiend, dad ogles thin women, and older siblings
are slim gods. Compared to Virginia they're all picture perfect, but then a shocking phone call
changes everything. Mackler's irreverent humor, insight and surprising gravity has created a
more-substantial-than-most "chick lit" novel for girls age 14 and up.
Figures of Speech
Mervyn Peake
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
ISBN 0763621765 $14.00 www.candlewick.com
The eccentric talent of the legendary Mervyn Peake ("Titus Groan," "Gormenghast" and "Titus
Alone") figures prominently in this 1939 oddity "Figures of Speech." Perfect for period parlor
games, the wordless book consists of 29 caricature-like drawings, each one representing a
common
saying. The trick is to study each quirky pen and ink illustration and to figure out which figure of
speech is being personified in the image. What on earth is the meaning of the man and woman
shown
with their noses on fire? Burning their "bridges," of course. And the man beheading a seated
couple?
Severing relations. The cover image of a happy man giving a piggy-back ride to a grizzly? Grin
and
bear it. It's all terribly corny and considerably dated, but that's the charm, especially when enjoyed
by
a group over inhibition-liberating cocktails. The crudely-illustrated book "Figures of Speech"
plays
like a silent comedy that lets the "readers" provide the laugh track. A wonderfully novel hostess
gift
and party ice breaker.
Growing Frogs
Vivian French, illustrated by Alison Barlett
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
ISBN 076362232X $19.99 www.candlewick.com
When a little girl collects frog spawn from a neighboring pond, she's in for one exciting,
amphibious
adventure. For years, "Growing Frogs" has been a classroom reading staple for elementary classes
studying introductory biology and metamorphosis. The clear, concise text is part storybook, part
educational data, and 100% engaging, while the beautiful and bright illustrations by Alison
Bartlett
("Oliver's Vegetables") are joyful, through and through. This new, jumbo-sized "Read and
Wonder"
edition is perfect for classroom and library use, big and sturdy enough to be shared by a whole
room
of young biologists in-the-making. A rudimentary index is a good training extra to encourage
self-readers to read passages again for learning reinforcement. Pre-readers will be equally engaged
by the miraculous transformation of spawn to tadpoles to hip-hopping frogs. A School Library
Journal Best Book of the Year, and a Texas Library Association 2x2 reading list title.
Night Is Gone, Day Is Still Coming
Edited by Annette Pina Ochoa, Betsy Franco and Traci L. Gourdine
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
ISBN 0763615188 $16.99 www.candlewick.com
"When the night is gone and the day is still coming We will be rising as the next generation is
coming." The title excerpt from "Next Generations" by Crow teen Marcia Blacksmith, is just one
of
58 poems that rise to command attention in this revelatory anthology of contemporary poetry,
prose
and memoir. "Night Is Gone, Day Is Still Coming" is a compilation that gathers together the
voices
of young people ages 11 to 22, from many different American Indian nations. Thomas M.
Yeahpau
writes wry and biting fiction like "Butch's Drop" and "My Favorite Runner," both set on a rural
reservation. Byron "Dirk" Little Light offers a comically honest take on infatuation in "My Love."
And Sara M. Ortiz captures the dissonance between her heritage and contemporary culture in the
impressionistic "Disneyland." Together, the interesting collection provides numerous
points-of-view,
revealing the ways young Indian writers are interpreting and reflecting upon their lives in the
modern
world.
Sock Monkey Goes To Hollywood
Cece Bell
Candlewick Press
2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140
ISBN 0763619620 $13.99 www.candlewick.com
The lowly sock monkey doll finally gets to take center stage in this whimsical, postmodern picture
book for all ages. In "Sock Monkey Goes To Hollywood: A Star is Bathed" the famous toy actor,
Sock Monkey, has been nominated for an Oswald Award. But to attend the ceremony, he must do
something terrifying he must take a bath. Just the thought of bathing makes Sock Monkey shake
with fright in this cartoonish soap opera gone amuck. Stinky though he is, Sock Monkey's three
best
pals Miss Bunn, Froggie and Blue Pig know just what to do to help the reluctant bather
become
Zestfully clean maybe even presentable enough to accept his own Oswald trophy. The quirky
story
has the earmarks of a cult favorite, particularly for those of us with similarly grimy old sock
monkeys of our own.
Horse Hooves and Chicken Feet
Edited by Neil Philip, illustrated by Jacqueline Mair
Clarion Books / Houghton Mifflin
251 Park Avenue South, NY NY 10003
ISBN 0618194630 $19.00 www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
This unique collection of 15 folktales draws on the rich story-telling tradition of Mexico's people
and
culture. Classic themes and fairytale elements are blended with magic and transformation, and are
then infused with Roman Catholic imagery to create a distinctly Mexican flavor. The Virgin Mary
plays the role of a fairy godmother, devils gamble for souls, and witches reveal themselves when
dancing at fiestas by their horse hooves and chicken feet. And as in other folk traditions, cats,
dogs,
fools, soldiers, and princesses go on quests and have magical adventures. Lively retellings and
vibrant, whimsical paintings are based on Mexican folk art, making these spirited tales a great
introduction to this little-known body of folk literature.
The Library of Alexandria
Kelly Trumble
illustrated by Robina MacIntyre Marshall
Clarion Books / Houghton Mifflin
251 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0395758327 $17.00 www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
One of the wonders of the ancient world, the Library of Alexandria was the largest library of its
time
and a major center for learning and scholarly research, particularly in the fields of astronomy,
geography, mathematics and medicine. Caesar and Cleopatra, Erastosthenes and Euclid,
Archimedes
and Alexander the Great were just a few of the famous people connected with its story. Historians
still argue about how the library was destroyed, and no one knows exactly what it looked like.
Yet
the library continues to fascinate and intrigue us, many centuries later. This extensively researched
look at what we do know about the Library of Alexandria features writer Kelly Trumble's short,
accessible chapters, and Robina MacIntyre Marshall's richly-detailed paintings. A sure-fire hit with
modern librarians everywhere, "The Library of Alexandria" is recommended for elementary
students
age eight through eleven.
Uluru: Australia's Aboriginal Heart
Caroline Arnold
photographs by Arthur Arnold
Clarion Books / Houghton Mifflin
251 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0618133356 $16.00 www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
"Uluru: Australia's Aboriginal Heart" is a stirring photo essay about Australia's most imposing
natural wonder: Ayers Rock, the stunning landmark in the center of the vast Australian continent.
Rising suddenly more than a thousand feel above the flat desert floor, the huge, red, sandstone
rock
is a wonder. Now called Uluru the name given to it by the Aboriginal Anangu people who live
on
the land surrounding it, the site is remarkable for its exceptional beauty, spiritual inspiration, and
unique geologic importance. Author Caroline Arnold ("When Mammoths Walked the Earth,"
"Easter Island") discusses Uluru's role as a sacred site for the Anangu, and how Uluru's plants and
animals are an integral part of their tribal life. Students age 8 to 11 will learn about the geologic
processes that formed the rock's distinctive shape and color, the land and climate of the central
Australian desert, and how unique wildlife has adapted to the extreme conditions. Arnold and her
photographer husband must have an enjoyed a wonderful research trip for this book; the result
will
inspire wanderlust or walkabouts in a majority of its readers.
Zee
Michel Gay
Clarion Books / Houghton Mifflin
251 Park Avenue South, NY NY 10003
ISBN 0618381481 $15.00 www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
Little Zee is an adorable young zebra who's only allowed to climb into bed with his parents after
they're awake in the morning. And on this particular morning they are very, very sleepy. But Zee
is
craving a cuddle, so figures out just what they need: coffee. When the coffee spills, however,
there's
not enough left to do the job and Zee must find another way to wake his parents without making
them angry. In this cute-as-a-button picture book by Michel Gay, children will identify with Zee's
task and the challenge of finding a creative solution to a common problem. Sweetly humorous,
"Zee" is a lovely read-aloud alternative to bedtime reading. Why not take a page from the
charming
story by starting a new family tradition instead try waking up with some coffee and an a.m.
reading
of "Zee."
The Beginning
Peter Ackroyd
DK
375 Hudson St., NY, NY, 10014
ISBN 0789498367 $19.99 www.dk.com
"The Beginning," appropriately enough, is the first in a new non-fiction series called "Voyages
Through Time," telling the story of life from prehistoric times to the present in a lush, literary
narrative form. Writing for children for the first time, acclaimed author Peter Ackroyd
("Hawksmoor," "T.S. Eliot: A Life" and "London: The Biography") gives a thought-provoking
account of the Big Bang, and moves chronologically through the creation of life on Earth,
evolution
of fishes, reptiles and mammals, dinosaur rule and diversity, and the emergence of mankind. A
10-page postscript reference section includes data and charts regarding fossils and evolution;
dinosaur and mammal family trees, extinction events, glossary and index. Full-color illustrations
and
images of fossils, single-celled creatures, extinct plants, dinosaurs and more enhance the text. The
book's narrative format is an interesting break from tradition by the publisher, whose usual
encyclopedic style has become synonymous with DK's well-known and much-mimicked
non-fiction
style featuring choppy, easy-to-browse text grouped into single spread chapters with multiple
side-bars and color images. Those characteristics are still found here in abundance, acting as the
framework around running text which runs in chapters of 10-14 pages on average just enough to
richly tell the tale without losing the interest of short-attention span readers. Ackroyd also plans
an
ambitious series that will include future titles on ancient Egypt, classical Greece, imperial Rome,
imperial China, Islam, Medieval Europe, America, among others.
Boxes for Katje
Candace Fleming, illustrated by Stacey Dressen-McQueen
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0374309221 $16.00 www.fsgbooks.com
After World War II there's little left in Katje's town of Olst in Holland. Her family, like most
Dutch
families, must patch their old worn clothing and go without everyday things like soap and milk.
Then
one spring morning when the tulips bloom "thick and bright," Postman Kleinhoonte pedals his
bicycle down Katje's street to deliver a mysterious box a box from America! Full of soap socks
and chocolate, the box is from Rosie, an American girl from Mayfield, Indiana, and her package is
part of a goodwill effort to help the people of Europe. What's inside so delights Katje that she
sends
off a letter of thanks, beginning an exchange that swells with so many surprises that the girls, as
well
as their townspeople, will never be the same. Based on the author's mother's childhood, "Boxes
For
Katje" is an inspiring story that parents and teachers can use as a wonderful catalyst for
international
diplomacy among young soon-to-be pen pals around the world.
The Dirty Cowboy
Amy Timberlake, illustrated by Adam Rex
Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0374317917 $16.00 www.fsgbooks.com
Pee yew! It's dirty, stinkin' work, being a cowboy. When picture book buckaroo in "The Dirty
Cowboy" realizes that there are so many buzzing flies circling him that he can't even hear
properly,
he finally figures it's high time he head to the river to take a bath. Once there, he peels off his duds
and tells his trusty dog to guard them against strangers. Trouble with that is that once the
cowboy's
all cleaned up, his dog doesn't recognize him. The dog takes his task seriously, so two reach a
stalemate during negotiations. A wrestling match ensues in a tale that grows taller and taller by
the
sentence. The mud-slinging climax creates a whirlwind of a scene. First-time author Amy
Timberlake
does a fabulous job incorporating Western twang to create a terrific tall tale of good clean fun.
Recommended for little wranglers and bath-protesters age 4 to 8.
The Tree of Life: Charles Darwin
Peter Sis
Frances Foster Books / Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0374456283 $18.00 www.fsgbooks.com
Charles Darwin was, above all else, an independent thinker who continues to influence the way
we
look at the natural world. In Peter Sis' lush new picture book biography, "The Tree Of Life,"
Darwin's endless curiosity and passion for detail is revealed through a multi-layered journey as Sis
presents tremendously visual interpretations of Darwin's journal entries and published pieces.
Beginning at the beginning, "The Tree Of Life" examines Darwin's childhood, then traces the arc
of
his life through university and career, follows him around the globe on the famous voyage of the
Beagle, then back home again to a life devoted to science and family. Award-winning Illustrator
Peter Sis is brilliant. His pen-and-ink work is a wonder of detail, his visual sensibilities fine-tuned,
his
messages perceptive. "The Tree Of Life" is an exceptional follow-up to his Caldecott Honor
books
"Starry Messenger: Galileo Galileo" and "Tibet Through the Red Box," a pair of works that have
gone far to elevate the non-fiction genre for children. "The Tree of Life" is an artistic triumph, and
a
valuable addition to the elementary school library.
Firebirds: An Original Anthology of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Edited by Sharyn November
Firebird / Penguin Putnam
345 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014
ISBN 0142501425 $19.99 www.firebirdbooks.com
Launched in early 2002, Firebird is a new imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group devoted to
publishing fantasy and science fiction for teenage and adult crossover readers. Rather than simply
draw excerpts from the imprints backlist of impressive titles including Brian Jacques' "Redwall,"
William Sleator's "Interstellar Pig" and Lloyd Alexander's "The Beggar Queen" -- editor Sharyn
November commissioned original science fiction and fantasy short stories from her list of authors
and/or Firebird's consulting editorial board. The commonality makes this anthology more cohesive
than most, despite its variation of subjects and writing styles from 16 accomplished, best-selling
writers who, together, have won virtually every major prize from the National book Award to the
World Fantasy Award to the Newbery Medal. "Cotillion" by Delia Sherman opens the thick book,
followed by Megan Whalen Turner's "The Baby in the Night Deposit Box" and Sherwood Smith's
"Beauty." Much attention will be drawn to "Remember Me," the entry by "The House of the
Scorpion" author Nancy Farmer, and to "Hope chest" by Garth Nix and "Max Mondrosch" by
Lloyd
Alexander. Interestingly, a great majority of the stories here are by women, leading one to wonder
if
young women and the Firebird imprint are intentionally breaking ranks with the core sci-fi
readership: teen boys. In this boom period for the genre, could the crossover gender-switch an
omen
for the future of fantasy?
Read With Dick and Jane: Go Away, Spot
Read With Dick and Jane: Go, Go, Go
Read With Dick and Jane: Something Funny
Read With Dick and Jane: We Look
Grossett & Dunlap / Penguin Young Readers Group
345 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014
ISBN 0448434164 (Go Away, Spot)
ISBN 0448434172 (Go, Go, Go)
ISBN 044843413X (Something Funny)
ISBN 0448434121 (We Look)
$13.89 hardback edition; $3.99 paperback www.penguin.com
Chances are that most parents of today's elementary students grew up learning to read with the
"Dick and Jane" books. Featuring simple vocabulary, repetitive phrases and na‹ve little stories, the
primers were an educational staple in every U.S. classroom during the 1950s and 1960s. The
original editions are highly collectible today as nostalgic souvenirs of a kinder, gentler time when
childhood was simpler and adulthood more na‹ve especially the very earliest editions dating back
to 1930. No wonder there's been such a popular public clamor for these new "Read With Dick
And
Jane" reissues from Grosset & Dunlap, in cooperation from the original publisher, Scott
Foresman.
"Go Away, Spot," "Something Funny," "We Look" and "Go, Go, Go" are just four individual
titles
in the freshly redesigned series, cheerfully dressed in a rainbow of institutional pastels. The images
of
perfectly coiffed Dick, Jane, Baby, Mother and Father are delightful mid-century artifacts, the
pages
filled with gingham pinafores, Buster Brown oxfords, red trikes, green jalopy push cars, and
Radio
Flyer wagons. Even the male/female stereotypes are something to be celebrated here as historic
icons worth preserving and treasuring for kitsch sentimentality at the very least.
A Treasury of Dick and Jane
Grossett & Dunlap / Penguin Young Readers Group
345 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014
ISBN 0448433400 $10.99 www.penguin.com
Look, look. See Dick. See Jane. See three books in one. See 40 classic, easy-to-read stories in "A
Treasury of Dick and Jane for just $11. See Father smile. Hear Father say that is almost as little as
they cost back in the 1950s when he learned to read with them. See individual Dick and Jane
stories
sell for $4 each. See Mother buy this book instead. See Mother buy a new hat with the money she
saved. Go, Mother, go!
The Borrowers
Mary Norton
Harcourt Inc.
525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
15 E. 26th St., NY, NY 10010
ISBN 0152049282 $19.95 www.HarcourtBooks.com
In the world of children's literature, there are very few fantasy novels more imaginative, more
thrilling and more heartwarming as Mary Norton's "The Borrowers." For more than fifty years
this
classic story -- of tiny Pod, Homily and Arietty Clock, who live under the kitchen floorboards and
borrow from "human beans" -- has charmed readers around the world. Harcourt's golden
anniversary edition celebrates the great novel by adding an insightful introduction by children's
literature historian Leonard Marcus, dressing the book with a satin ribbon bookmark, and, most
importantly, by presenting it in much the same way it was first introduced in England in 1952.
American readers are no doubt familiar with the upbeat line-drawings of Beth and Joe Krush;
those
artworks have been replaced here with the book' s more mysterious original art by Diana Stanley,
plus a 1951 drawing of Arrietty and Homily by author Norton herself. The redesigned "The
Borrowers" is thusly renewed in a truly conservatory way, and begs to be read and reread again.
It's
a winning edition of a book already deemed the winner of the Carnegie Medal, the Lewis Carroll
Shelf Award and an ALA Distinguished Book credential.
The Encyclopedia of Surfing
Matt Warshaw
Harcourt Inc.
525 B Street, San Diego, CA 92101
15 E. 26th St., NY, NY 10010
ISBN 0151005796 $40.00 www.HarcourtBooks.com
"The Encyclopedia of Surfing" is the most comprehensive, most up-to-date, and most readable
history of surfing published. It's perhaps the most authoritative too, having been written by Matt
Warshaw, the former editor of "Surfer" magazine, and an ex-pro surfer who has been writing
about
the sport for more than 20 years and claims to own the world's best library of surfing information.
His massive encyclopedia on the subject goes far to substantiate those claims. Among its 774
pages
are a thorough A to Z of more than 1,500 entries everything you ever wanted to know about
surfing history, techniques, equipment, pioneers, competitors, locations and culture. All of the
sports
patriarchs and champions are well represented from Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern
surfing, to 1950s Malibu rogue Mickey Dora and other California surf idols, dapper Nat Young,
Australian Bernard "Midget" Farrelly, current sport superstar Kelly Slater and a healthy
percentage
of female leaders. The book is peppered with interesting surfing terms mysto break, kickout,
surfari and nearly a page is devoted to the history of surf slang through the decades. Yes, the
famous exclamation "cowabunga" receives an entry which credits the origination of the word to
the
"Howdy Doody Show" character Chief Thunderbird, who would use the nonsense word
"Kawabonga" when surprised. The book's only failings are its surprising lack of visual interest,
and
the too-short history of surfing that opens the book. More photos, more color, and more narrative
seems called for to more appropriately pay homage to such a fun and exciting subject.
The Red-Hot Rattoons
Elizabeth Winthrop
Illustrations by Betsy Lewin
Henry Holt & Co.
115 W. 18th St., NY, NY 10011
ISBN 0805072292 $15.95 www.henry.holt.com
In her first middle-grade fantasy novel since "The Battle for the Castle," veteran children's writer
Elizabeth Winthrop has created a rollicking adventure about five tap-dancing country rats that
come
to the big city to seek fame and fortune. Armed with a boom box, costumes, and city maps, the
"Rattoons" set off for Rat Hollow, the rat community that exists beneath the streets of New York
City. But when Rat Hollow turns its back on them, the Rattoons break rat law by taking their act
above ground to dance for humans in front of the Metropolitan Museum, only to find that danger
assails them from every direction. So the Rattoons turn to Oliver String Bean Bailey, a human
impresario who knows rat speak. Will he help them achieve their dancing dream? Illustrated by
Caldecott honored artist Betsy Lewin ("Click Clack Moo" by Doreen Cronin) come alive as
comical,
empathetic cartoon characters. The charm and determination of Winthrop's nimble-footed rats
place
them among the most lovable rodents to grace the pages of children's middle-grade fiction.
The Alphazeds
Shirley Glaser, Illustrated by Milton Glaser
Hyperion
114 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011-5690
ISBN 0786808659 $19.95 www.hyperionchildrensbooks.com
Make room on the crowded ABC bookshelf for "The Alphazeds," the most unique alphabet
picture
book to come along since "Chicka Chicka Boom Boom." While that singsong ABC classic's
popularity is due to its infectiously fun rhythm and rhyme, "The Alphazeds" appeal lies in its high
concept and design sophistication. Those same admirable traits, however will likely be the book's
downfall as its wit will soar over the heads of its intended pre-readers, and the alternating format
text and cartoon bubbles for up to 24 different letter characters on each spread makes for
awkward reading aloud. Created by Milton Glaser the founder of New York magazine and
worl-reknown graphic artist and his curator wife Shirley the founding director of New York's
Visual Arts Gallery "The Alphazeds" has exemplary, high-brow credentials. Considering the
book's
steep cover price, this will mainly appeal to graphic artists and design enthusiasts who will
appreciate the bold personalities the husband-and-wife creators give to simple A-to-Z letters by
attaching alliterative adjectives, and will rejoice at the Glaser 's clever ode to typography. Kids
may
be left scratching their heads, but that in itself is a worthy accomplishment.
Mary Had A Little Ham
Margie Palatini, illustrated by Guy Francis
Hyperion
114 Fifth Ave., NY, NY 10011-5690
ISBN 0786805668 $15.74 www.hyperionchildrensbooks.com
The author of "Piggie Pie!" again brings home the bacon with "Mary Had A Little Ham," a
laugh-out-loud fractured fairy tale of a determined pig and the little girl who believes in him. In
this
cartoonish picture book, Stanley Snoutowski has always been a precocious piggie and Mary has
always encouraged her little ham. In the barn and even at school (where Stanley followed her,
even
if it was against the rules), Stanley shows star quality. Mary knows she can't keep him down on
the
farm, so off he goes to the bright lights of Broadway. The days of cattle calls and nights of
waiting
tables are rough on the runt, but he persevers knowing that some day he'll maybe get to play the
ultimate role: Hamlet.
Letter Hunt
Number Hunt
Illustrated by Shelley Delice
Innovative Kids
18 Ann Street, Norwalk, CT 06854-2258
ISBN 1584762053 (Letter Hunt)
ISBN 1584762063 (Number Hunt)
$9.99 www.innovativekids.com
These colorful memory match game books are each a lift-the-flap book and a multi-game
collection
in one sturdy board book package. More than 150 flaps in all open up a world of activities. Count
to
20 by lifting the corresponding flaps to peek at the group of bugs underneath. Total the monsters
that go out to play for a simple lift-the-flap addition challenge. Say aloud the name of each
picture,
then peek under the flap to see its name and alphabet letter. Solve the basic rubics puzzle by lifting
the correct flap to answer such questions as "What opens a lock?" The piece de resistance is the
memory match game at the back of the book, which provides a variety of playing chips for a
variety
of games from rhyming pairs and things that start with the same letter, to number-to-number and
number-to-word matches. Users simply punch out the playing chips and place them behind empty
flaps to play. There's one minor flaw: there's no place to store the loose chips, so pieces are sure
to
get lost, making subsequent usage difficult.
Rain Forest Adventure
Susan Ring, illustrated by John Patrick and John Buerling
Innovative Kids
18 Ann Street, Norwalk, CT 06854-2258
ISBN 158476211X $19.99 www.innovativekids.com
Kids will be rain forest heroes in this deluxe book-game conceptual gift item that teaches amazing
lessons while players make like Indiana Jones. Open the sturdy box and the action-packed
adventure
begins with the turn of the first page. Readers learn all about the animals, plants and indigenous
people that inhabit the fascinating, endangered environment. The exciting narrative draws readers
into the story by challenging them to become a member of the Helping Earth's Rainforests
Organization (H.E.R.O.) to solve dozens of mind-bending puzzles and games to reveal the code
that
unlocks the box. By the end of the first 38-page book, kids will have all the clues they need to
know
the secret code, turn the dial, and reveal a secret chamber containing a Rainforest Rescue Game
board and 24 game pieces; four plastic animal figures; 24 animal stickers; an at-home science
experiment and activity guide; and a 24-page travel "journal" book containing a wealth of factual
information about four different rainforest regions: South America, Asia, Africa and Australia.
Developed in consultation with the Rainforest Alliance and Stepping Stones Museum for
Children,
this hands-on-learning tool is a thoroughly enjoyable lesson sure to leave users with tons of
information and the important message that everyone can and should -- help save the
rainforest.
Eragon
Christopher Paolini
Knopf / Random House
1540 Broadway, NY, NY 10036
ISBN 0375826688 $18.95 www.randomhouse.com/teens
"Eragon" is a standout, a major achievement in the flourishing genre of fantasy fiction for
children.
Not only is this debut novel the impressive bow of an imaginative new writing talent, it's a
masterful
introduction to an epic fantasy trilogy that will be this decade's answer to J.R.R. Tolkien' s "Lord
of
the Rings" series. That's quite an accomplishment for any mere mortal, but it's even more
remarkable
considering that this book was written by a home-schooled 19-year-old who self-published the
story
earlier this year. Edited by Knopf for this edition, the story is the majestic tale of a young man,
Eragon, who lives in a magical land called Alagaesia, and believes he is merely a poor orphan until
a mysterious blue stone changes his life forever. He unwittingly becomes linked with a brilliant
blue
dragon, Saphira, and inherits the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders. The tyrannical King
Galbatorix, however, has no intention of letting a Rider challenge his authority, and his dark
servants
murder Eragon's family. Bereft of his home, Eragon and Saphira embark on a quest for
vengeance.
Deeply involving and endlessly inventive, "Eragon" is a lushly-detailed adventure that will have
readers mesmerized for every one of the book's vast 514 pages. Bravo! Highly recommended for
fans of Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey, Ursula Le Guin and Philip Pullman.
Swear To Howdy
Wendelin Van Draanen
Alfred A. Knopf / Random House
1540 Broadway, NY, NY 10036
ISBN 037525053 $15.95 www.randomhouse.com/kids
Best friends Joey Banks and Rusty Cooper make a pact to keep their secrets safe with one
another
in the latest middle grade novel by popular author of the Sammy Keyes series, Wendelin Van
Draanen. "Swear To Howdy" is the story of a fun friendship filled with harmless pranks until their
secret pacts must remain confidential not only for the sake of their friendship but also for Joey's
protection. When one stunt goes terribly wrong, their secret pact threatens to pull the boys apart
and
Rusty must decide for himself the true meaning of friendship. Van Draanen has written a
poignant,
thought-provoking novel that will strike a chord with young readers hooked by the boyish antics
of
the early chapters, later to be emotionally drawn to the honest portrayal of characters struggling
with the consequences that follow every action. Authentic dialog, scenes and settings make this
short novel an easy read, appropriate for boys and girls age 10 through 13.
Blue Aliens: An Adventure in Color
Tony Porto and 3CD
Little, Brown and Company
1271 Ave. of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0316613592 $14.95 www.twbookmark.com/children
Where's Mulder and Scully when you need 'em? The young narrator of "Blue Aliens: An
Adventure
in Color" could use some help proving his paranoid theory that extraterrestrials have landed on
earth
to gobble up everything here that's green or blue. His blue jeans have disappeared, as have the
blueberries in his breakfast waffle and even the color of water (after all, the drinking fountain stuff
is
clear what more evidence do you need?). OK, still not convinced? Blue whales are really gray,
and
the cafeteria special, "Blue Meatloaf Surprise," just HAS to be invented by aliens. The picture
book's
real adventure, however, is in its riotous colors and bold images a beautiful mixed media of color
blocks, crisp photos and graphic illustrations. It's gorgeously executed and conceptually
interesting
though the thin story tends to meander. From the graphic arts team behind "Get Red: An
Adventure
in Color."
Flawed Dogs
Berkeley Breathed
Little, Brown and Company
1271 Ave. of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0316713597 $18.95 www.twbookmark.com/children
Berkeley Breathed's gone to the dogs. The Pulitzer-winning creator of "Bloom County" puts his
ample heart on his sleeves with this hilarious ode to un-pedigreed canines of all sorts. "Flawed
Dogs" is presented as a catalog of "The Year-End Leftovers at the Piddleton 'Last Chance' Dog
Pound." But despite the critters' terrible DNA, it's clear the only thing that's really wrong with
them
is that they have no one to love them. The woeful cover dog a big-eyed dachshund with a broken
golf club apparatus replacing one of his hind legs -- is an apt example of the imperfect dogs
seeking
a loving new home. And then there's Jeeves with jowls so huge he becomes airborne whenever it's
windy. Little Pete has a different sort of wind problem (and the need for a good
gastroenterologist),
while Buttercup the Sharpei suffers from too many surgical nips 'n' tucks. Ben and Titus seem to
know they're freakishly ugly, but petite Pepe, on the other hand is overly confident: "Pepe has set
his
crossed eyes / On winning a dog show grand prize. / He looks in the mirrors / And glamour
appears
/ He'll win when a pig up and flies." Short and not-so-sweet, each doggy description is a funny,
punny limerick to accompany a vivid portrait depicting the dogs with their previous, dissatisfied
owners. The variety of pooches and their complaints is enormously creative and entertaining.
Beegu
Alexis Deacon
Melanie Kroupa Books / Farrar, Straus and Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
ISBN 0374306672 $16.00 www.fsgbooks.com
Infinitely cuter than E.T., Beegu is also an alien who becomes lost when her spacecraft stands her
on
Earth. Waiting for a rescue signal from her mother(ship), she fails to make friends with the
strange
creatures she encounters: leaves won't stay still to listen, and though rabbits look something like
her,
they don't seem to understand Beegu. But eventually, on a school playground, Beegu discovers a
group of companions who happily invite her to join their games until a grownup spoils the fun.
This simple, bittersweet picture book shows us out world through the three eyes of an innocent
outsider. From the author illustrator of the quirky "Slow Loris."
My Tour of Europe by Teddy Roosevelt, Age 10
Edited by Ellen Jackson, Illustrated by Catherine Brighton
Millbrook Press
2 Old New Milford Road, Brookfield, Ct. 06804
ISBN 0761319980 $14.95
When Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, was 10 years old, his family
traveled around Europe for a year. All the while, Teddy kept a journal, describing the places he
visited and the fun he had. This engaging picture book contains the most interesting entries from
those journals, in Teddy's own writing (though some misspellings have been corrected). The
passages are enhanced with illustrations by Catherine Brighton ("The Story of Mary Anning" and
"Gallileo's Treasure Box"), who carefully researched historic details. The result is a rare look at
the
lifestyle of wealthy people in 1869-1870, showing what they wore, how they traveled, and what
they
saw. Most interesting is the close-up peek at a little boy -- who suffered from asthma, and
occasionally got into trouble who would later become a great leader. Also included is additional
information on Roosevelt, and ideas for journal writing.
It Can't Be Done, Nellie Bly!: A Reporter's Race Around the World
Nancy Butcher, illustrated by Jen Singh
Peachtree Publishers
1700 Chattahoochee Ave., Atlanta, GA 30318-2112
ISBN 1561452890 $12.95 www.peachtree-online.com
"It Can't Be Done, Nellie Bly!" by Nancy Butcher ("The Fire-Us Trilogy") is the adventurous,
true
story of a courageous woman's famous journey in 1889 that took her all the way around the world
in
record time. Bly was a newspaper writer for the New Tork World in the late nineteenth century.
But
instead of writing about proper "ladylike" subjects like tea parties and charity balls, Nellie wrote
about the social problems of her day: poor job conditions, dilapidated housing and dishonest
politicians. Many people objected to the things she wrote about, but Nellie was unstoppable. If
someone told her "It can't be done," she went right ahead and did it anyway, proving them wrong.
When Nellie read Jules Verne's novel "Around the World in Eighty Days," she was inspired to
circle
the globe even faster herself. Has the plucky young reporter gone too far this time? Young
readers
age seven to 10 will cheer for Nellie as she embarks on her exciting 22,000-mile trip equipped
only
with one sturdy dress and a small suitcase and a pet monkey she picks up in Singapore. Traveling
by ship, train, and foot, she has all kinds of incredible experiences, from surviving a monsoon at
sea
to visiting a leper colony in China. A wonderful true story tale sure to inspire readers to tackle
their
own unique challenges.
Sister Spider Knows All
Adrian Fogelin
Peachtree Publishers
1700 Chattahoochee Ave., Atlanta, GA 30318-2112
ISBN 1561452904 $14.95 www.peachtree-online.com
For 12-year-old Roxanne, there were two things in life she could count on: her beloved
grandmother, Mimi, and her weekend job at the flea market where she helped Mimi buy and sell
fresh produce and other people's junk. Strange as it was, this was her home but outside this
fragile
weekend world, Roxanne finds herself lost. In this middle school novel by Adrian Fogelin
("Crossing
Jordan"), "Sister Spider Knows All," the protagonist is a friendless, parentless, so-so student with
few aspirations for higher education, and no idea what happened to her family. "Finding yourself"
takes on true meaning for her in this coming-of-age drama, as Roxanne struggles with painful
revelations of her mother's past, and setting the stage for her own future. Author Adrian Fogelin
sensitively captures the fragility of life's certainties in this touching novel of an adolescent girl
attempting to find her own way in the world.
Four Fudge Books
Judy Blume
Penguin Putnam
345 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014
ISBN 0142501964 $23.96, 4 book boxed set, www.penguin.com
What's better than a double dose of fudge? An entire box, that's what. The first four books in the
incredibly popular Fudge series of chapter books by the remarkable Judy Blume have now been
made available in a boxed set. Four paperback editions are well packaged in a bright and cheerful
cardboard slipcase 7 3/16" x 1 5/8" x 5 1/8", neatly designed for display on bookshelves. Titles
included are "Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing," "Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great,"
"Superfudge" and "Fudge-A-Mania" -- four of Blume's top sellers. Whether Fudge is swallowing
a
turtle, digging up worms, or vowing to marry his neighbor Sheila, he'll definitely be driving his
older
brother Peter crazy. One thing's for sure, anything is possible when Fudge is around, and kids will
want to read all about it again and again. A recommended gift item for kids age 7 to 11.
The 100th Day of School
Brenda Haugen, illustrated by Sheree Boyd
Picture Window Books / Capstone Press
151 Good Counsel Dr., P.O. Box 669, Mankato, Minn. 56002
www.picturewindowbooks.com
ISBN 1404801960 $21.26 (list), $15.95 (school/library)
"The 100th Day of School" is the first title in a new very basic informational picture book series
on
holidays and celebrations for grades kindergarten through 3. Each of the eight titles including
"Birthdays" (ISBN 1-4048-0198-7MD), "Christmas" (1-4048-0192-8MD), "Easter"
(1-4048-0194-4MD), "Halloween," (1-4048-0195-2MD), "St. Patrick's Day,
(1-4048-0197-9MD),
"Thanksgiving" (1-4048-0191-XMD) and "Valentine's Day" (1-4048-0193-6MD) includes
introductory explanations, history, traditions and activities related to the celebration focus.
Colorful
illustrations and fun facts are interesting and age appropriate, and the two pages of related
activities
will give students and teachers some big ideas. "The 100th Day of School" is perhaps the weakest
link in the series, naturally lacking an interesting cultural framework, and just offering a few
examples of ways the momentous kindergarten day is commemorated. The educational series is
aligned with the standard "Culture" and "Individuals, Groups, and Institutions" as required by the
National Council for Social Studies.
Nature's Fireworks: A Book About Lightning
Josepha Sherman, illustrated by Omarr Wesley
Picture Window Books / Capstone Press
151 Good Counsel Dr., P.O. Box 669, Mankato, Minn. 56002
www.picturewindowbooks.com
ISBN 140480093X $21.26 (list), $15.95 (school/library), 24 pages
"Nature's Fireworks: A Book About Lightning" is the most dramatic of the six titles in the launch
of
this new "Amazing Science: Weather" educational series of institutional picture books. Designed
for
grades kindergarten through 4, the attractive hardback books cover the spectrum of elementary
weather subjects, namely: "Flakes and Flurries: A Book About Snow (ISBN 1-4048-0098-OMD),
""Gusts and Gales: A Book About Wind (1-4048-0094-8MD), "Shapes in the Sky: A Book
About
Clouds" (1-4048-0095-6MD), and "Sunshine: A Book About Sunlight (1-4048-0096-4MD). The
dance of snowflakes. The patter of rain. The thunder of lightning. Kids will learn why the sky acts
as
it does in these eye-pleasing books that are just right for emergent readers. Includes bare-boned
educational extras: table of contents, index, glossary (thought this title only defines five words),
two
"fast facts", two safety tips, three further-reading suggestions and a few web research sites,
including
a direct link to the subject at the child-safe Fact Hound site, researched by the Capstone Press
staff.
The series is aligned with the standard "The Physical Setting: The Earth" as required by
Benchmarks
for Science Literacy: Project 2061.
Inkheart
Cornelia Funke
Random House
1745 Broadway, NY, NY 10019
www.listening library.com
ISBN 0807273509 $39.95 10 cassettes
From the author of the best-selling "The Thief Lord" comes an exciting new adventure about
magic
and self-discovery. This 10-cassette audio edition of "Inkheart" successfully takes the listener into
the heart of imagination itself. Cornelia Funke's newest print and audio novel tells the story of
Meggie, and her father Mo, who both possess an extraordinary gift: they can read a book aloud
and
actually bring the characters to life. One cruel night, when Mo reads aloud from the literary
"Inkheart" and an evil ruler named Capricorn escapes the boundaries of fiction and lands in their
living room. Suddenly, Meggie is smack in the middle of the kind of adventures she has only read
about in books. Funke's book is a riveting thriller, a wonderfully satisfying piece of storytelling,
replete with mystery and magic. Likewise, this unabridged audiobook edition brings the print
story
to life by enlisting accomplished actress Lynn Redgrave as narrator. Her inspired performance all
fifteen hours and thirty minutes of it -- makes listening to Funke's latest characters jump off the
pages almost literally.
Maggie's Door
Patricia Reilly Giff
Wendy Lamb Books / Random House
1745 Broadway, NY, NY 10019
ISBN 0385326580 $15.95 www.randomhouse.com/kids/
Fans of "Nory Ryan's Song" now have an additional reason to sing the praises for author Patricia
Reilly Giff. The much-lauded children's writer has chosen to make her latest book a gripping
sequel
to the award-winning historical-fiction novel, finally revealing what happened to Nory, the Irish
girl
who set out alone on the road to Galway, hoping to find her family and sail for America. Told by
in
alternating chapters by Nory and her neighbor Sean Red Mallon, the twin stories parallel on
another,
yet both arrive at the same destination: the home of Nory's older sister Maggie in Brooklyn, New
York. And though the passage is harrowing, Nory and Sean as well as Da, Granda, sister Celia,
and little brother Patch -- are each pulled onward by a single dream: to reach Maggie's door. Once
again, Giff provides her readers with an unforgettable story of one girl's courage, hope and
strength
during a time of hardship. And with no food an shelter to rely on, Nory must put on a brave face,
especially when she is reunited with Patch along the way. Giff fans will also enjoy that the
prequel,
"Nory Ryan's Song," is also now available in a paperback reissue with new cover art, and that a
new
audio release of "Maggie's Door" features the voice talents of actress Fionnula Flanagan.
Halloween Night: 21 Spooktackular Poems
Charles Ghigna, illustrated by Adam McCauley
Running Press
125 South Twenty-Second St., Philadelphia, PA 19103-4399
ISBN 0762415525 $15.95 www.runningpress.com
"Halloween Night: Twenty-one Spooktackular Poems" is a funny, punny collection of original
poems celebrating the ghoulish holiday spirit. Written by award-winning children's poet Charles
Ghigna (aka "Father Goose") and illustrated Adam McCauley ("The Time Warp Trio," "The Lima
Bean Monster"), the not-so-scary poems are genuine treats about Frankenstein, gargoyles, ghouls,
witches, and werewolves but mostly are about the scariest Halloween creatures of them all:
costumed kids. In "What To Wear on Halloween" the protagonist weighs the options before
deciding to dress as the monster kids all fear the most: the school principal. Another
trick-or-treater
is embarrassed by her toddler sister turning into a scaredy-cat, and still others are suspicious of
their
parents stealing goodies during "The Candy Check." It's terrific fun, and is uncommonly original
in
an over-saturated children's book market. Like the perennial ghost costume, this book could
become
a holiday staple. Recommended as extra holiday reading fun for boys and ghouls age 4 to 8.
I Am America
Charles R. Smith Jr.
Scholastic Press
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0439431794 $14.95 www.scholastic.com
This patriotic picture book is a sentimental ode to the American ideal. Written and photographed
by
Charles R. Smith ("Rimshots" and "Short Takes"), "I Am America" is a bold collection of
photographs and poetry that poignantly captures the beauty and spirit of a diverse yet unified
America. ""I am America. I am proud. I am diverse, soft-spoken and loud " goes the simple,
rhyming poem, which continues to take the first-person point-of-view and apply it to everyone. "I
am almond eyes/ I am a proud nose. I am cheeks freckled the color of a rose " Photos illustrate
every description, featuring color photographs of children of all ages, races, colors and
personalities,
giving youthful vitality to the accompanying rhyming text on each spread. Bold, graphic
background
colors, framing and word layouts infuse the simple message with extra punch. Riding high on the
post-9/11 patriotic sentiment, "I Am America" is a general audience gift item for sharing and
evoking national unity to our youngest readers and pre-readers.
Scholastic Book of Outstanding Americans
Sheila Keenan
Scholastic Press
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0439283582 $19.95 www.scholastic.com
"Scholastic Book of Outstanding Americans" is a hefty biographical reference book, providing
brief,
200 word summaries of the achievements good and bad of more than 450 men and women.
The
variety of figures covered here is vast, reflecting the diversity of the American experience over
five
centuries. And so entries include Native Americans and American Revolution patriots;
abolitionists
and suffragists; heroes from the Civil War to World War II; politicians, presidents and first ladies;
civil rights leaders, scientists, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists and entertainers. Albert Einstein,
Buffalo Bill Cody, I.M. Pei and Barbara Streisand don't have much in common, but her are judged
to be among the top 450 famous and infamous figures in U.S. history. Not all the entry subjects
are/were American-born, and not all were even American citizens, but all lived and made their
mark
on these shores, and helped shape the country's major events, movements, discoveries and culture.
The thumbnail sketches are sufficient introductions for elementary and middle grade students
seeking general information, and should do the job of inspiring further research. Recommended
for
school and civic library reference shelves.
Inkheart
Cornelia Funke
The Chicken House / Scholastic
557 Broadway, NY, NY 10012-3999
ISBN 0439531640 $19.95 www.scholastic.com
From the author of the best-selling "The Thief Lord" comes an exciting new adventure about
magic,
self-discovery, and books and the imagination they inspire. Best-selling author Cornelia Funke's
latest tells a thrilling tale of Meggie who lives alone with her father, Mo, a book restorer with a
strange literary talent. A frightening new chapter in their lives begins the day a strange figure from
the past arrives at their door. Mo reveals an extraordinary secret that when he reads a book out
loud, the fictional characters come to life. He is warned that a villain he read out of a book is
looking
for a precious book in Mo's collection and will stop at nothing to steal it. Soon, Meggie discovers
that she too shares her father's gift and hopes she can use her newfound powers to send the
villainous character back between the pages where he belongs. The fire of Funke's imagination in
"Inkheart" proves that her award-winning "The Thief Lord" was no fluke. She' s a master of her
craft who has earned every one of her millions of fans around the world through her vision and
craft.
Watch out J.K. Rowling. Cornelia Funke has quickly climbed the ranks to become the world's
third
best-selling children's author, and "Inkheart" is a sure sign that she hasn' t yet reached her peak. A
must-read for book fans from upper elementary grades to adulthood.
The Essential Worldwide Monster Guide
Linda Ashman, illustrated by David Small
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0689824400 $16.95 www.SimonSaysKids.com
As picture book concepts go, this one's a winner from start to its dangerous finish. Linda
Ashman's
latest children's book is her best yet, and perhaps her simplest idea. For the frighteningly fun "The
Essential Worldwide Monster Guide," she has gathered a cast of monstrous characters from
international folk literature, and introduces them one by one to kids who will salivate over every
juicy detail. On each spread a limerick-like poem provides an entertaining story about a different
monster, a short side-bar gives a fact-filled description of the beast, and David Small's funny
illustrations provide giggles rather than scares. A few of the cool creatures will be familiar to most
young readers Sasquatch and the Loch Ness Monster, for instance but most are intriguingly
exotic. The gold-eating Alicanto bird wings in from South America, leading greedy gold-diggers
to
their doom. The gentle Abatwa of southern Africa and hungry-but-harmless Mimis of northern
Australia are rarely seen due to their size. Readers learn why the pretty Chinese Ki-lin is a unicorn
best admired from a distance, why to avoid hugs from the 20-armed Ravana, how to pacify the
Domovik so he won't burn down your house, and how to spot a Hotot. Indeed, as a self-help
book
"The Essential Worldwide Monster Guide" is oh-so practical, and so much more fun than
commonplace field guides. Excellent for repeat readings. Recommended for eliciting lots of "that's
so cool" responses.
Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist
Jim Benton
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
ISBN 0689862911 $14.95 www.SimonSaysKids.com
Are all little girls made of sugar and spice? No way, says Franny K. Stein, a unique grade-schooler
who's filled her spooky room with bubbling beakers, crackling electrical gizmos, flying piranhas,
tarantulas and pet bats ("They 're like rats with pterodactyl wings. What's not to like?"). Her
normal
family doesn't get it, and her normal schoolmates at her normal school are afraid of her, making
life
pretty lonely for a young mad scientist. So she decides to change her ways in order to win new
friends. Will it work? Yeah, right. Monstrous mishaps ensue, including Franny's weird creation of
a
monster made from lunchmeats to do battle with a pumpkin-crab monster. Havoc ensues. Can
Franny ever make things normal at school again? The hilarious resolution is surprising poignant
without the usual "be true to yourself" moralizing. Franny K. Stein is a hard-to-resist chapter
book
for girls who wished the "Captain Underpants" series wasn't so boyish. Filled with cartoonish
humor,
fast pacing and line drawings, it's immensely entertaining. The illustrations occupy more page
space
than text, making it a breezy, satisfying read. Warning: do not read in quiet libraries, as "Franny
K.
Stein: Mad Scientist" will elicit uncontrollable laughter.
Stray Sheep
Tatsutoshi Nomura
Tokyopop
5900 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
ISBN 1591822874 $18.99 www.tokyopop.com
The "Stray Sheep" hardback picture book is the tent-pole book release in the launch of a new
import-TV tie-in book series from the show created by graphic artist Tatsutoshi Nomura. Like all
licensed characters, one's interest relies on one's familiarity with the characters, so the relative
obscurity of the Japanese cartoon series seems a Stateside gamble. The adorable nature of the
fluffy
sheep, however, has universal appeal, particularly in this vibrantly-hued introductory storybook,
so
the risk may pay off if the show doesn't do baaaaadly. The book could have used some additional
finesse, however. It's back cover says its about "what sheep dream about," but to the contrary, it's
a
story about sheepy protagonist Poe, who searches high and low for his lost friend Merry, fearing
the
big, bad wolf will eat her. A simple, repetitive "have you seen Merry" poll of fellow friends
follows,
leading to an animated twist ending when danger encroaches. Cute as the characters may be, the
story follows such a well-worn path, and seems to merely reflect a scene in a pre-existing cartoon,
so would have been better suited for a budget paperback edition than this steeply-priced
hardback.
The book also suffers somewhat from over-saturated colors and text layouts that are often
obscured
by background bleeding, making reading occasionally difficult. By the end of the book, non-fans
are
left without a clear concept of the sheep's personalities but perhaps its just temporarily lost in the
translation, much like Hello Kitty, the tremendously successful Japanese line that's as confounding
as
it is adorable.
Stray Sheep: Merry On The Move
D.J. Milky
Tokyopop
5900 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
ISBN 1591822890 $9.99 www.tokyopop.com
This licensed title is one of several in a new toddler series of board books based on the charmingly
obscure Japanese TV cartoon "Stray Sheep" created by graphic designer Tatsutoshi Nomura.
Unlike
the primary "Stray Sheep" hardback picture book, this chunky board book series seems to use
original art, story and text. Like the primary series title, however, it's about one cuddly sheep
searching high and low for the other. Standard rhyming couplets follow the romping lamb Merry
as
she looks for Poe up a mountain through a forest and in a hilltop meadow. Illustrations are boldly
graphic, and laid out in a storyboard fashion for each of the five simple spreads. The story is a big
bore, but the piece-de-resistance is darling: a pillowy, fluffy sheep is mounted inside the book's
back
page, with all forward pages die-cut to reveal her running across each changing landscape. It's
beautifully presented, but void of substance.
Rare Beasts
Charles Ogden, illustrated by Rick Carton
Tricycle Press
P.O. Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707
ISBN 1582461104 $12.95 www.tenspeed.com
What Edgar Allen Poe did for the pendulum, Edgar and Ellen now do for childish mischief. "Rare
Beasts" introduces two new anti-protagonists to root for, a pair of troublesome twins who pass
their
days scheming schemes and hatching plans. Something unspeakable is happening to the beloved
pets
in the town of Nod's Limbs, and you can bet that Edgar and Ellen are to blame. Family pets are
missing puppies and kitties, bunnies and birds and a mysterious "Exotic Animal Emporium" has
rolled into town. Will the citizens of this idyllic hamlet replace their lost pets with pricey "rare
beasts," or will Edgar and Ellen's plan be foiled? And what exactly are Uggprons and Snifflepops?
Evoking the gothic sensibilities of Poe, Edward Gorey, Charles Addams and Roald Dahl, "Rare
Beasts" and its nefarious ne'er-do-wells will finagle their way into the hearts of young readers
ages
nine and up. "Rare Beasts" is the first in a series sure to offer Lemony Snicket's "Series of
Unfortunate Events" a little competition. Look out for Edgar and Ellen's upcoming misadventure,
"Tourist Trap."
The Roald Dahl Treasury
Roald Dahl
Viking / Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers
345 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014
ISBN 067003665X $19.99 www.penguinputnam.com
"The Roald Dahl Treasury" is a respectful and irresistible compilation of tasty tidbits from the
amazing children's book oeuvre of Roald Dahl, the most important and imaginative writer -- and
apparently, unique personality of the Twentieth century. A proper tribute to Dahl's literary
genius
has been a long time coming, and this treasury does not disappoint. Compiled by his long-time
publisher, Tom Maschler, the thorough "Treasury" contains 75 selections spanning 75 years of
fiction and non-fiction, prose and poetry taken from the pages of Dahl's many, best-loved
children's
books. From "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" are the segments about Charlie discovering the
Golden Ticket, meeting Mr. Willie Wonka, and hearing the Veruca Salt Song. From "James and
the
Giant Peach" are scenes in which James first crawls into the giant peach and first sees the
oversized
insects. From "The Witches" are abridged chapters regarding how to recognize a witch, cooking
up
a Formula 86 Delayed Action Mouse-Maker, the metamorphosis scene, "The Heart of a Mouse"
and
a brief teaser about the witch hunt to come. Those edited segments -- or "extracts" as they're
called
in the table of contents are just some of many grouped in the "Magic" section. Other works are
grouped topically in other parts: Animals; Family, Friends and Foes; and Matters of Importance, a
comically poignant et cetera collection. "The BFG," "Boy," "Matilda," "The Twits," "Revolting
Recipes, "Revolting Rhymes," and more are all generously represented.
The collection also contains fragments from private letters, essays, interviews, and poems which
have never before been published, and foreword insights from Dahl's publisher, daughter Ophelia
and a fascinating report on Dahl's writing "hut" by artist Ralph Stedman, one of the many new
illustrators of Dahl's work found on these pages. Visually, the book is a feast for the eyes. Rather
than simply republish select illustrations which were primarily created by long-time Dahl
collaborator Quentin Blake from the original books, Viking chose to commission a large number
of new illustrations for this "Treasury," by Blake as well as Stedman, Patrick Benson, Raymond
Briggs, Babette Cole, Bert Kitchen, Lane Smith, Posy Simmons, Fritz Wegner and Christopher
Wormell. "The Roald Dahl Treasury" is a splendid sampler to pique the appetite of readers young
and old to discover or rediscover the magic of Roald Dahl's great works in their entirety.
Brother Bear Read-Along
Walt Disney Records
350 S. Buena Vista St., Burbank, CA 91521-6230
www.DisneyRecords.com
ISBN 0763420921 $5.98 1 CD
The "Brother Bear Read-Along" book and CD follows Disney's longstanding tradition of releasing
the multi-media self-readers in conjunction with the release of their major animated motion
pictures.
Unlike previous titles, however, this one dispenses with the bonus play-only cassette and
significantly lowers the suggested retail price from $9.98 to a value-priced $5.98. All the other
bells
and whistles are here, however, including an illustrated, 24-page paperback book, and a CD that
can
be played in a deck for read-aloud narration-only entertainment, or in a PC for an interactive
computer experience. A roulette-style scene navigator lets kids five to ten years old skip ahead or
shuffle back to favorite scenes. The movie on which this is faithfully based, is old-fashioned
Disney
animation at its best. Set against the majestic natural splendor of the Great American Northwest,
"Brother Bear" tells the story of a boy named Kenai (voiced by Joaquin Phoenix) whose life takes
an
unexpected turn when the Great Spirits transform him into a bear, his own worst enemy.
Befriended
by a bear cub named Koda (voiced by Jeremy Suarez), Kenai sets out to regain his human form
while his brother (who doesn't realize Kenai is now a bear) pursues him on a mission of revenge
and
family honor. With memorable music, breathtaking animation, powerful emotion and humor, this
film tie-in introduces an exceptional cast of characters and paints an unforgettable tale of courage,
honor and self-discovery.
Ready, Set, Read
Janet Chambers
Zephyr Press
www.zephyrpress.com
ISBN 1569761515 $34.95
This educational guide shows how to build a love of letters and literacy through fun phonics
activities for pre-K through grade three students. In clear, concise sections, "Ready, Set, Read"
explains how one can simply introduce and practice early literacy skills and concepts through
multi-sensory activities children will enjoy and make them eager to learn. A variety of techniques
and ideas are presented for each letter of the alphabet, providing "see, say, and sing" projects,
crafts,
hands-on elements, and imagination games. The easy-to-follow book also teaches how to advance
skills with word walls, personal flashcards, drawings, wordbooks, and other parallel and extension
activities. Many of the ideas presented here are already employed in classrooms across the nation,
giving credence to its content. "Ready, Set, Read" is a tremendously useful tool for curriculum
planning by elementary educators and parents.
Vicki Arkoff
Reviewer
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
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