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Volume 5, Number 10 October 2006 Home | MBW Index

Table of Contents

Dunford's Bookshelf Kaveny's Bookshelf Klausner's Bookshelf

Laurel's Bookshelf Mary's Bookshelf Shelley's Bookshelf

Shirley's Bookshelf Taylor's Bookshelf Vogel's Bookshelf

Dunford's Bookshelf
Teenage Nervous Breakdown
David Walley
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016
0415978572 $19.95 www.routledge.com 1-800-634-7064

Written by popular music and culture expert David Walley, who has documented the evolution of rock and roll since the late sixties, Teenage Nervous Breakdown: Music and Politics in the Post-Elvis Age is a close scrutiny of how rock and the rock lifestyle have been commercialized and merchandized, first to a teenage audience, and now to a worldwide consumer society. In particular, Teenage Nervous Breakdown explores how modern culture has been "adolescentized", and what the consequences are. How did the counterculture movement get commercially hijacked, what exactly is the "cool" aesthetic, and why has youth culture been elevated to the mainstream? Teenage Nervous Breakdown offers keenly aware answers to all this questions and more. From the marketing of politicians to the ramifications and cultural views of psychotropic drugs, no issue with a tangible connection to rock-and-roll goes overlooked. A "must-read" for rock-and-roll fans especially, as well as students and even businessmen interested in the dynamics of popular culture.

My Own Places
Don Kerr
University Of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, NW Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N IN4
1552381706 $24.95 www.uofcpress.com

My Own Places: Poems On John Constable by Don Kerr (Professor Emeritus in the Department of English at the University of Saskatchewan) is a collection of free-verse poetry from brief lyric poems to extended narratives, all inspired by British landscape painter John Constable (1776-1837). Constable's work had a local quality that reflected his unwillingness to travel far from home. A handful of black-and-white and color images of Constable's artworks illustrate the collection. A soulful reflection of serenity and contentment with one's lot. "Sleight of Landscape": he pruned a tree / and chopped a willow / enlarged a house / cut a gable / he planted trees / dug up a hedge / moved a church / from here to there / and a windmill too / drew down clouds / out of thin air.

Taking On The Local Color
Cynthia Genser
Wesleyan University Press
215 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06459
0819510858 $14.95 www.wesleyan.edu/wespress 1-800-421-1561

"Taking On The Local Color" is a compendium of poetry by Cynthia Genser who writes her verse with witty, evocative, and carefully selected language offering readers a memorably lyric poetry that is intelligent, imaginative, and beautiful. 'Heartlands': All the tall women are dancing/with their hair in their teeth,/in the mouths./From the lit circumference rivers break,/and break their bans.//These read like a map:/Sweet Georgia and Niger with her pale scar./Marked off, and off limit/to any man's mark/they conquer me, whispering:/this is no Everest,/remember your manners.//And the night waits, sharp,/behind the door./Soon, or later, its eternal invitation./Not yet. Not now/when I am moving in a deep warmth/beneath a face/pearled and fiery--Oahu,/cooling after birth.

Michael Dunford
Reviewer

Kaveny's Bookshelf
Are the terms academic and interesting a contradiction in terms when applied in a complimentary sense to the Jack London's short story "A Piece of Steak"? This story may be found in

Sporting Blood: Selections from Jack London's Greatest Sports Writing
Jack London
Presidio Press (1981)
ISBN: 0891411267 $14.95

Let me elaborate a bit just what I mean to do. I thought I would start this month's Kaveny's Bookshelf as a kind of thought experiment in which I ask the question are the terms academic and interesting used in a complimentary sense a logical contradiction in terms. In doing this I will acknowledge to the world that as an author and critic that is my intent. I am at an age and a stage in my life where I do not have to use my publications as a means of manufacturing tenure, rather though a lifetime of hard work and a decent retirement I have earned the right to discuss what I find interesting. It is my hope that my reader would share that interest.

I thought I would focus this month's Kaveny's Shelf on a single short story by American writer Jack London's (1876-1916) l whose literary works are embodiments of his lust for life and thirst for adventures, and his cries for social justice. Jack London not only wrote his novels and stories he lived them first in the San Francisco Bay area and later around most of the Pacific Rim. Jack London was forced to come manhood very early life in the 1890's. He was a living paradox that the young reader finds fascinating. London was doubly gifted with both a keen mind and a robust physique and great physical strength and coordination, yet concurrently he was plagued with ill health. Some of which originated from the demands he placed on his body by the life he lead.

London worked as a mill hand, newsboy, coal shoveler, sailing sloop owner, "an oyster pirate" an able-bodied sailor, seal hunter, Alaskan gold rush a prospector, war correspondent rancher, and sports writer before he was thirty years old. The authenticity of his experiences is reflected in the honesty of his works. This makes them particularly attractive to the young readers who find that they can relate to his stories that feature action and outdoors themes on the frontiers of human experience. Though London is best remembered as an action writer his accessible style also evidences a profound moral dimension. As one reads his stories most written nearly a hundred years they seem to spring to life on the page since London easily involves the young reader and holds their attentions because he engages their sense by showing rather than telling the story.

Plato the Poetics & Jack London's short story "A Piece of Steak"

In order to test some of the Platonic and Aristotelian formulations on the philosophy art that we covered in the first two weeks of the course I thought that I would write a bit about the Jack London (1876-1916) 1909 short story a "Piece of Steak."

The story set in Pre-World War I Australia is about Tom King the forty-year old former heavyweight boxing champion of New South Wales who along with his wife two children have been reduced to the direst form of poverty by social and economic forces beyond their control in an age when there were no safety nets. All of the family's credit with the butcher has been exhausted when the Tom King the boxer gets one last chance to win thirty quid as long end of purse in a preliminary bout to a main event. But the boxer, Tom king, had not eaten dried bread and gravy the day of the fight, and his wife and two little Uns had not eaten at all. Further, Tom knows that though he has not lost all of his skill and guile as a boxer, and has paid dearly with his youth for his ring knowledge. He will need a piece of steak which is not to be had to carry him through the later rounds, with the upstart contender who is half his age. But nobody will give him or his family credit to buy that piece of steak.

Jack London a socialist who lived the narratives he wrote about creates a series fight scenes which are at least the literary equal, and perhaps visual equal, of 1976 academy award winning best picture" Rocky I". However, this stories, "A Piece of Steak "is not a fairy tale like "Rocky". It is over a purse of thirty quid. Tom King fails when he does not have it to put the kid away in the last round, loses out of exhaustion... The story ends with Tom King crying bitter tears with broken hands which will not allow him to work in the ship yard for weeks, and him and his family face eviction and starvation.

It is interesting to conjecture that Plato would have been familiar with boxing as an Olympic sport, and having served as a Hoplite grunt in the Peloponnesian Wars, would have seen the brutal side of life.

But, I think would have read this story with utter disgust on a theoretical and moral level. Yet he might have grudgingly granted that since London was a boxer himself he might have known something about what he wrote, however, this is a trivial point because London's story would still be an inferior copy thrice removed from the universal ideal of Olympian Athletic perfection However, the thing he would have found the most despicable was that this was a story about a third rater who could not support his family with slopping forehead, and dragging knuckles. Tom king was forced to hunt a forage for his family like a crippled lion who when he failed committed the cardinal sin of bitter and public tears for his failure to provided for his family. The story this teaches us to be weak and fall into tears at our failures, not as great and fallen men but as third raters, not even well enough for the main event. This would be true no matter what level of beauty and power London might be able achieve with his self evident literary skill which is apparent in the attached story. London worse sin is that he has used is craft to portray a poor subject and bad morals.

And yet I think in those it tears which Plato would find despicable that we can find a kind of Aristotelian validation of this story which hangs only partially on Jacks London's necessary but not sufficient craft as one of the 19th and early Twentieth Century story Tellers. What I mean by this simply that it takes the great craft of Jack London to make this story come alive, but that is not enough to make it a great story. Just as everything Tom King learned and paid with all he had was not enough to win the match because of what he lacked, "a piece of steak". What makes it a great story is it conformity or at least resonance with at least those aspects of "The Poetics" which deal with tragedy.

However, upon re-reading Chapter three in Wartenberg I realized that there was a major problem I must deal with. "A Piece of Steak" exists in narrative form without a word of dialogue. This is a form that Aristotle specifically excludes from "The Poetics "which is really about poetry. I am not satisfied Wattenberg's assertion that we should take Aristotle's views on poetry as applicable to all literary forms. So let me suggest another way of approaching this question which involves a slight historicizing of the matter, since for almost all American writers found the popular short story market as way of earning a living collapsed in the late 1950's. Thus these same short stories writers were to face the grim fate of teaching creative writings courses in the short story with no viable economic market, or in the case of Kurt Vonnegut opening and failing at a Volvo Dealership in up State New York.

However when the short story existed as a viable and respectable for of public entertainment (roughly from about 1890 to 1960) Vonnegut claims that it was to the writer's most critical function to create a theater in the mind of the reader through the narrative structure of the story would play out. This where the reader though the process of imagination could see how the action of the story take place. So for our purpose in this story London's Narrative becomes transparent only to remerge serving the function of the cultural space of the Greek Amphitheater where the action plays out in the readers mind. This were "A Piece Steak achieves its dramatic potential

The power and artistic unity lies in the inevitable conclusion of the story which London has craftily miss direct us from with all of the visual poetic force and skill of his narrative. This is not a story about boxing this is a story about a simple mans horrible realization that the tears he cries are the same ones his first opponent a man like himself now cried when Tom won his first match. Tom's opponent is no longer other but himself.

I have one last question to answer about Tom King "a third rater who could not support his family with slopping forehead, and dragging knuckles". What does that have to do with us the literary and academic reader? The answer to me is this he is us. At least any of us who have family we really love and care about. Be it wife children or aged parent. True Tom has been trapped by earlier choices he made, which must by necessity lead to the conclusion of the story. For example think of the humanities scholar was worked for twenty years since he was a first year undergraduate, a doctorate in a very competitive field, only to be denied tenure in favor of a younger and more completive and flashy scholar who had a free ride his whole career. But even them that same scholar would be physically intact enough to pursue a career in house keeping, food service or cab driving. But it also must be noted that we are living in a country which my in not so many years look more like early 20th Century Australia than the America I grew up during the 1950's and 1960's.when I first read this story as a young man and heavyweight college wrestler, and I first read Plato's Republic.

Phil Kaveny
Senior Reviewer

Klausner's Bookshelf
Wild Things
Douglas Clegg
Cemetery Dance
132-B Industry Lane, Unit #7, Forest Hill, MD 21050
1587671565 $20.00

"The Wolf". A wolf comes down the mountains to eat the sheep. Hunting parties can't find it so a rancher hires a professional hunter to kill the wolf. The hunter is accompanied by a young man who feels he owes the rancher. The hunter describes the differences between wolves and sheep. This is an allegorical tale that can be applied to different kinds of humans.

"A Madness of Starlings". A man takes an abandoned baby starling bird into his home and his family nurtures it until it is ready to fly solo. The boys don't want to let it go but the man insists yet when he does he misses the fledgling. He becomes obsessed with birds to the point it interferes with his human relations to the point he dives deeper into the world of birds and lets go of his normal life. This is an exciting tale of one man's decent into madness.

"The American". At ae cafe in Rome, a man tells the people at his table that he tried to commit suicide because his lover didn't love him. He told his audience the man did terrible things to him and now he wants the American to kill someone. The people at the table advise him to leave the man who forces him to do these horrific things. They departand the American stays in the shadows following two of them. This story is scary not in a supernatural kind of way but in a horror of the human kind setting.

"The Dark Game". A nineteen year old American is taken prisoner of war by the enemy and is tortured. He escapes by playing the Dark Game his mother taught him that allowed him to travel in his mind to places where he feels no pain. After a time, the brainwashing starts but he uses the Dark Game to avoid being turned. His captors think he is on their side until he shows them differently. This dark and gothic tale is chilling.

These four short stories demonstrate why Douglas Clegg is such a brilliant storyteller of horror tales both supernatural and of the atrocities humans carry out.

Isis
Douglas Clegg
Cemetery Dance
132-B Industry Lane, Unit #7, Forest Hill, MD 21050
1587670895 $20.00

She was born Iris Catherine Villiers, the youngest of four siblings. Her oldest brother Lewis was six years older than her while the twins Spencer and Harvard were three when she was born. Their mom was an artist from Chicago while their dad was a Brit living in Manhattan. They initially lived on Fischer Island in Long Island Sound, but when their father was assigned to Burma, the family except for Lewis moved to his ancestral home Belerion Hall in Cornwall to be with the dying "Gray Minister", their paternal grandfather, who considered them sinners. Still in spite of the dark mutterings of her crazed grandfather, life is good for preadolescent Iris and the twins as they play together the Tragic Tale of Isis and Osiris.

As the years pass by, Iris continues to dabble as Isis though her governess Edyth believes this is sinful pagan byplay. When Iris discovers her governess is sleeping with her brother Spence, the two women argue. Edyth slaps Iris, almost knocking her out the window. Her brother Harvey comes to her rescue but Iris can't hold on to his hands and they both fall out the window. Harvey dies but using the spell she has learned over the years, she brings him back from the dead, not realizing that what she has done will come back to haunt her.

ISIS is a terrific horror novel that grips readers who know what the outcome is, but wonders how a kindhearted precocious little girl transforms into the Oracle at Harrow. The story line is a dark coming of age thriller as Iris begins to become Isis. Fans who appreciate a character driven horror novelette will enjoy this fast reading one sitting transformation tale.

The Other End
John Shirley
Cemetery Dance
132-B Industry Lane, Unit #7, Forest Hill, MD 21050
1587671506 $40.00

Although the world does not know it, Judgment Day is fast approaching but it is nothing like the scenario that evangelical Christians believe. It begins with cones moving counter clockwise in different parts of the world, sending out light that shines on certain people, allowing them to see themselves for what they really are. Some change and release the darkness in themselves but others are so steeped in evil that they don't want to change.

Energy beings inhabit the bodies of people that have passed on and inform certain people that the world as they know it will change and they must make a change or what follow will mean nothing for them as their lives will go on as before. A sheet of light sweeps the globe, killing many, those that are evil beyond redemption. People learn that the Creator is really an Undergod, a being left on earth to serve as a referee only he became a megalomaniac and encouraged the evil and depravity that now exists. Now he is gone and the people will have to choose whether to side with the adjustors as they call themselves or give life on earth another chance.

THE OTHER END is John Shirley's answer to the left behind scenario. His theory is that when Judgment Day comes, people of all creeds and religions will have a choice for true justice if they choose the right path. Although there are many characters given their second chances, they serve as archetypes and avatars that move the story along. Mr. Shirley has a wonderful imagination and a way of creatively (pun intended) putting his ideas into a fascinating and unorthodox storyline that readers will thoroughly enjoy reading

The Harsh Cry of the Heron
Lian Hearn
Riverhead
c/o The Berkley Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
1594489238 $26.95 1-800-847-5515

Over fourteen years have passed since Otori Takeo defeated his enemies and united the Three Countries. Prosperity and harmony are everywhere, but underneath the surface calm, Takeo's foes rage as they treacherously plan to avenge their previous defeat. Kikuta Akio and his assassin, followers of the Tribe, want a return to their notorious past that Takeo stopped; his brother-in-law Lord Zenko wants to usurp power; the Emperor wants to end Takeo's independence by dispatching deadly warlord Saga to do whatever it takes; and finally the seer prophesizes that his unrecognized illegitimate son will one day kill him.

Akio raises Takeo's teenage son Hisao by training the lad to hate his father. Takeo has never told his beloved wife Kaede that he has one more offspring from a previous relationship; instead they raise their daughters in love with Shigeko being his acknowledged heir. To reconcile with the emperor, keep his family safe, and to insure Shigeko inherits his legacy and rule, he offers to Saga his daughter in marriage as he knows the forces of military, assassins, and magical destiny will soon converge on him.

The forth Otori tale is a terrific historical Feudal Japan thriller with some fantasy elements. The story line is fast-paced and filled with action. However, it is the cast that makes the tale and the full saga is one of the best of the decade as the audience obtains a taste of political maneuvering to survive. Readers will want to read the quartet, but also know that THE HARSH CRY OF THE HERON can stand alone, a tribute to Lian Hearn's talent.

Wild Harmonies
Helene Grimaud
Riverhead
c/o The Berkley Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
1594489270 $24.95 1-800-847-5515

WILD HARMONIES is an insightful delightful "Un" autobiography that breaks the rules of chronological order most books in that genre follow. Instead, the renowned French pianist is all over the place yet contains enough discipline so that the reader can follow her story. Most interesting is the combining of a love for music with a love for wolves. The music started as an unmanageable and unpredictable child in France while the love of wolves began as an adult in Florida when she met her neighbor's she-wolf. As she did with the piano Helene Grimaud became an obsessed fanatic who has opened up a wolverine conservatory in Upstate New York.

Readers will appreciate the sidebar reflections as Ms. Grimaud relates her life with music freeing her from a dull un-life though she has always refused to perform anyway but her style. The isobar lateral entries on the history of wolves in Europe and America add to the feel of a deep zealous uncompromising autobiography that is not for everyone from an author who would say so what as long as Ms. Grimaud believes she has remained true to her essence. Not an easy memoir to read, but well written and worth the time to comprehend the odd passionate combination of a "Life of Music and Wolves".

Witchery
Amber Benson & Christopher Golden
Del Rey
c/o Ballantine Books
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
www.randomhouse.com
0345471318 $23.95 1-800-726-0600

When their grandfather dies, Tamara and William Swift become the new protectors of Albion, sworn to protect Britain from her mystical enemies. Although they are new to their positions and must learn how to use their powers, Tamara and William, the "mystic defenders of the soul of England", have the help of the ghosts of Lord Byron, Queen Bodicea and Lord Admiral Nelson.

William is determined to oust the demon Oblis from his father but he shuts out his fiancee Sophia Winchell who has nobody to turn except William's father when she thinks he has temporarily defeated the demon within. Tamara is at Camelford where it is said King Arthur and Mordred fought their fatal battle. Virgin girls from the town and fairies from Stronghold, the border manor between the mortal world and faerie and unseen by human eyes are disappearing and whispers of witches, half humans and half demons are said to be taking them. Tamara knows that they are still alive and will be used in an evil spell to bring forth a malevolence into Albion that she and her allies must prevent at any cost.

This magical and enchanting Victorian Gothic thriller shows the champions of light battling the minions of darkness in a horror tale that pulls the audience into the storyline and keeps them there because there is no break in the action. Surprisingly, in spite of the non stop adventures the characters are fully developed including the ghosts. The amusing Serena, the less than one foot sprite who is always ready to fight, is used as comic relief to lessen tension levels when they threaten to become too overwhelming, seems in a small way genuine.

The Tea-Olive Bird Watching Society
Augusta Trobaugh
Plume
c/o Penguin Group, USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.us.penguingroup.com
0452287499 $14.00 1-800-847-5515

In Tea-Olive, Georgia, the four friends (Beulah, Zion, Wildwood and Sweet) attend church together and enjoy bird watching and their late buddy Love-Divine bequests to the Tea-Olive Bird Watching Society a patch of land, the King's Woods Birds Sanctuary. If the club breaks up the town obtains the parcel to do what they want with it.

Retired New York Judge Hyson Breed moves to the town where he courts Sweet; they marry and he gains control of her family estate, which he plans to develop. Hyson isolates Sweet from her bird watching pals and becomes a favorite of the town merchants and leaders. Beulah and Zion worry about their friend who never sees anyone and when they visit her they see the bruises of abuse. Learning more about Hyson's plan to exploit their town like he has their friend, the ladies decide only his death can stop the evil he has brought with him.

Though the cast is stereotyped with the ladies being sweet, caring and pious and the villain malevolent sinister and devious, readers will laugh at the antics of steel magnolia vigilante justice as the tea-toting, bible-quoting ladies fumble and bumble in their endeavor to protect their cohort and town. The breezy story line is fast-paced as the classic good rural vs. evil urban premise makes for a fine polite (sort of like a southern contemporary Arsenic and Old Lace) regional character driven tale.

Lisey's Story
Stephen King
Scribner
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th floor, New York, NY 10020
0743289412 $28.00 1-800-223-2336

Two years have passed since Lisey Landon's husband Scott died. While she mourned her loss and found an emptiness and loneliness with his demise, the outside world never gave her a moment of peace. Everyone from college professors to paparazzi to collectors pulled stunts to get the grieving widow to acquiesce to their demands to allow them to catalogue his papers and publish his final manuscripts. Scott was a rarity, as an extremely popular author with strong critical acclaim. The last intruder threatened to harm her if she failed to give him access.

Sick of everyone, Lisey decides peace will only come if she chooses to donate her beloved late spouse's papers to a reputable archival library. She begins to organize his work while someone increases the threats to physically hurt her. Though frightened Lisey hears Scott's voice advising her to go to the dark place where he and his dead brother used to escape to hide from their psychopathic father and where he as an adult found his muse. She trusts his love for her and ventures to this dark place where beauty and horror reside side by side as Scott's demons dominate, but here in Boo'ya Moon, her demons surface to destroy her if she lets them.

This is a haunting love story that is part psychological horror and part parable as Stephen King is at his best with the dangers of traveling through the darkness of the mind to reach a personal enlightenment. Readers see first hand what disturbed Scott and how he dealt with his nightmares as well as Lisey's fears and strengths. While there is real potential harm from those making demands of Lisey, the most dangerous and ironically loveliest place in the world is the imagination. Mr. King is the king with this terrific touching tale.

This Is Chick-Lit
Edited by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Benbella
1933771011 $14.95

There are few sub-genres, if any, more suited to the short story format than chick-lit as this superb anthology proves. Each of the eighteen entries are fun with no duds as female protagonists struggle with everyday relationships while providing "wisdom" in asides to the audience. All the tales are new having been written in 2005 and as far as this reviewer knows never published before. How can fans not enjoy tales like "Secret Agent Chick" starring a woman who enjoys girl fights or the satirical "How To Be a Millionaire". Fans of the sub-genre will appreciate this entertaining anthology that is unabashedly pleasant reading as each entry showcases the sub-genre at its strongest. To be honest, I believe this is the format (more so than the novel) where chick-lit is at its best; where one finds humor, jabs, irony and satire like a woman dreaming of becoming a pumpkin wife in a "Shell Game". Ladies � you have done a great job with THIS IS CHICK-LIT anthology that requires no further defense of the maligned sub-genre because of the contributions.

Goodnight, Texas
William J. Cobb
Unbridled
2000 Wadsworth Boulevard, #195, Lakewood, CO 80214
www.unbridledbooks.com
1932961267 $24.95 1-888-732-3822

The Texas gulf town of Goodnight by the Sea, Texas is dying as the once profitable shrimping industry has tottered towards extinction due to the unfair global market and the destruction of the natural habitat by warmer temperatures. Former shrimper Gabriel Perez teaches driver's-ed and
is now girlfriendless as Una Vu, a waitress, dumped him apparently for a fry cook Falk Powell.

Russian restaurateur Gusef learns that an alleged extinct zebra fish has landed on the nearby beach with a dead horse inside its stomach. He wants to use the fish as bait to bring in some new customers. He sends his fry cook Falk to at least photograph the gigantic corpse while he works on ways to make money off the caucus before the hurricane that is coming blows it back out to sea at a time when Gabriel plans to harm his teenage rival.

Readers will appreciate this look at a dying small Texas town with no future as events well beyond their control have destroyed their livelihood, aspirations, and future. The characters are a solid cast who make for a fine ensemble look at no tomorrow (except for the hustling Gusef) at least here with the hurricane symbolizing the end. Fans of strong character studies will want to visit GOODNIGHT, TEXAS where denial battles reality as hope is abandoned there.

The Proof
Austin Boyd
Navpress
PO Box 35001, Colorado Springs, CO 80935
www.navpress.com
1576839451 $14.99 1-800-366-7788

Captain John Wells, Captain Sean O'Brien and Dr. Micelle Caskey head to Mars to see what if anything they can learn from the spider like aliens that were seen on the planet. As they depart, the creatures appear at the landing site and proclaim to be the Father Race. Father Malcolm Raines has gained worldwide recognition by claiming to be in communication with the aliens and every prediction he makes comes true.

When the astronauts land on Mars, one of the aliens gives them a globe while the earthlings provide her with a snow globe. In reality, the gift contains a recording device that tracks signals from the alien. They also gain a sample of the material the spiders are made of, which prove astonishing. Six aliens are attached to an underwater sub commanded by a terrorist who attacked Washington DC. On the long voyage home John has only his memory to sustain him in the time of his greatest hardship and to puzlle out the link between aliens, a preacher and a terrorist.

The scenes on Mars are vivid and exciting as the astronauts deal with one revelation after another. However, THE PROOF is more than a Martian adventure as it is also a conspiracy thriller only readers do not know what the conspiracy is, nor its motive or who is behind it. THE PROOF is a terrific alien encounter thriller, but will be enhanced by reading the first tale of the Martian Hill Classified files, THE EVIDENCE while waiting for THE RETURN to be released.

The Draft
Wil Mara
Dunne
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
0312359292 $23.95 1-888-330-8477

Baltimore Ravens General Manager Jon Sabino has been toasted as the latest genius as his team has won the last two Superbowls. He plans to make history with a trifecta and many professional football pundits make the Ravens the favorite the three-peat.

During the off season, the star quarterback Michael Bell is injured in an accident that leaves him out for the season and the team without a strong player at the key position as neither the back up nor free agency provides the leadership needed to go all the way. Jon knows the best chance lies with the upcoming college draft by taking a chance on a rookie adapting to the NFL right away, which he believes Wolverine Quarterback Christian McKinley can; as he has the talent and played well in the major bowls and Big Ten games. However, without him the Ravens go nowhere. To get him means working a deal with San Diego who has the first draft pick and is willing to sell the rights to the highest bidder of the McKinley Sweepstakes. Sabino plans that to be him at all costs.

Though the intrigue elements (industrial espionage and a quarterback thinking of passing on the pros) seems more like a forced throw into coverage, NFL fans will enjoy the look behind the scenes of a successful professional football franchise. When the plot focuses on Sabino's efforts to insure an opportunity for the historical third ring, the tale is fast-paced and fascinating; when the story line focuses on other characters like a rival General Manager, it becomes time to punt. Still since much of the tale centers on Sabino trying to keep from being sacked, football fans will enjoy THE DRAFT especially with its parallels to Brady (Michigan QB) and Roethlisberger (bike accident).

The Shadow of the Lords
Simon Levack
Dunne
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
031234841X $23.95 1-888-330-8477

In 1517 in Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire, citizens are afraid as rumors abound of a sighting of a person running through the streets; the fear comes from his visage which is that of a snake and his sparkling green plumage that coats his body. Could the Feathered Serpent of God, Quetzalcoatl, be haunting the streets as a foretelling of impending doom? Or could Tezcatlipoca, the most feared God, have come as a final day reckoning?

Yaotl is a slave to the second most powerful person in the empire, Chief Minister, Chief Priest and Chief Justice Lord Feathered in Black. He is known for his merciless use of living examples; those who provide the slightest affront or disobey him are publicly dealt with so others learn. He ignores the apprehensive prattle of the end of days because Yaotl has a more personal problem; his cruel owner seeks the killer of the odious merchant Ocotl; the suspect is Yaotl's son, who has vanished. Yaotl knows that once Lord Feathered in Black makes the connection he is dead plus he is worried about his child so he investigates who dismembered the victim, seeks his offspring, avoids the apparent appearance of the God, and dodges the lethal belligerent warriors of his master while uncovering avarice amidst the feather artisans.

Though obviously a historical mystery, THE SHADOW OF THE LORDS is much more as the audience obtains a deep insightful look at the Aztec Empire in the early sixteenth century. Yaotl is a terrific amateur sleuth who seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but has no choice as he follows the clues wherever they lead. Readers will appreciate this astonishingly well written exhilarating tale that is sure to obtain award nominations and make Simon Levack a sub-genre favorite (see DEMON OF THE AIR).

Offspring
Liam Jackson
Dunne
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
031235570X $23.95 1-888-330-8477

The Runner, as Lucifer prefers to be called, knows that he won't be the one to cause Heaven's Gate to fall; instead the Usurper, one of the Seraphim, has turned against the Creator with over one third of the angels joining his cause. Lucifer turned his eye towards earth and has corrupted the Eye of God, the vortex in the multiverse where all planes connect. This enables travel from one locale to another. Lucifer makes a temporary alliance with the demons from the plane of Sitra Akhra to further corrupt humanity.

The Greater Demons want the Offspring, the descendents of angel and human mating, destroyed so Lucifer sends his Fallen to perform the task. He also wants them to un-make the Earthbound Host. Of particular interest to the Demon and by default Lucifer is teenager Sam Conner, an Offspring, who like his peers is heading to Abbottsville, Tennessee. Along the way he has divine assistance and joins with other Offspring, who answer the Call of the Eye of God, which must be closed before more and greater demons enter earth to destroy it.

The fearful protagonist is prepared to fight his enemies and if need be die at the gateway to earth to accomplish his mission. Acting as he does, he displays courage though he is very afraid and does not want to die. The adrenaline pumping story line is reminiscent of Frank Perretti's books in which spiritual warfare on earth is common. Liam Jackson opens his six saga thriller with an awesome tale as the OFFSPRING try to give humanity a choice between the light and the dark.

Against a Crimson Sky
James Conroyd Martin
Dunne
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
0312326823 $24.95 1-888-330-8477

While fleeing the Russian assault on Warsaw, the arrogant Countess Zofia falls off a suburban bridge into the River Vistula only to be rescued by a teenage peasant and his grandfather. When she recovers, she returns to the capital to stay at the home of her suitor Count Pawel, whose previous offer of marriage she has rejected as Zofia plans to wed Napoleon. However, she is carrying a child so Zofia must modify her plans for now as the Little Emperor remains her ultimate objective.

At the same time, Zofia's cousin Anna has married her true love Lord Jan Stelnicki, who tries to be a father to her son Jan Michal, an offspring of a rape (see PUSH NOT THE RIVER). Anna soon gives birth to their son, Tadeusz at time when supoerpowers Austria, Prussia and Russia divide the nation and force the Polish King Stanislaw into exile who seeks help from Napoleon. As Zofia, who has given birth to a daughter, manipulates her way up the aristocratic elite ladder, Pawel plots to place Tadeusz on the throne, and Jan joins the resistance while his wife worries and rusticates raising their two sons alone even as the years move on

AGAINST A CRIMSON SKY continues the saga of Anna Berezowska and her family as Poland is caught in a deadly vise from its more powerful neighbors. The story line provides a feel for the history, but is more a historical romance spanning over two decades of two people (Jan and Anna) trying to do what they feel is right for their country yet also keep their loved ones safe. In many devious ways Zofia is the star of the tale as a Lady Macbeth plotting at the cost of others (collateral damage) to achieve her goal. Fans of Polish historical tales and Regency era romances but in central Europe will enjoy James Conroyd Martin's fine sequel.

Almost a Crime
Penny Vincenzi
Overlook
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
www.overlookny.com
158567852X $27.95 1-800-743-1312

Everyone envies the "power marriage" between charity lawyer Octavia and public relations specialist Tom Fleming except for her father Felix Miller who detests his son-in-law though he loves his three grandchildren, the twins and the infant Minty. A widower, Felix has a girl friend, but his life is his daughter.

Octavia's best friend Louise Trelawny informs her that her beloved mother Anna is dying from cancer. Her spouse Sandy and their young child Dickon are worried about Louise who is very upset. Octavia is upset too as Anna is like a mother to her.

Octavia finds a lacy hanky that does not belong to her and becomes suspicious. She checks up on Tom, who is on a business trip and learns he is staying at a hotel with his "wife". She informs him she wants a divorce. He meekly agrees as his life professionally collapses too. Tom knows he loves his wife and screwed up, but he doesn't know what to do as Felix is coming for him and Octavia has apparently found someone else. He hides the worst of his indiscretion from her (who he did it with) because the consequences of his actions would make the betrayal hurt her so much more

Though the tale takes a bit to get started as Penny Vincenzi introduces her ensemble cast, readers will enjoy this complex contemporary (the above only follows one subplot of several) )with strong characterizations. Fans will believe in the relationships that form or break up as these move the multifaceted story line forward. With a cast of many, all containing differing personalities, Ms. Vincenzi provides a deep modern day English relationships drama that is totally enthralling.

The Magic Toybox
Edited by Denise Little
Daw
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.dawbooks.com
0756403790 $7.99 1-800-847-5515

Taking the premise from the movie Batteries Not Included, THE MAGIC TOYBOX contains fourteen new tales based on toys coming to life. Each contribution is lighthearted fun as if the contributors had a good time deciding who the lead character is and what setting and or cause to bring that protagonist to life. Especially enjoyable to readers will be to decide whether they recognize the star like Mr. Magoo (though as Ms. Little implies in her introduction that might mean a few tree rings for some of us) or a take from a popular movie like a wooden Roman gladiator, or a Chucky clone taking possession of a doll, etc. The stories are well written and for the most part kept extremely light even with the touches of horror so that the worst catastrophe that could occur to a young adult is not the end of the world in a whimper or a bang, but returning to live with their parents. Fantasy readers will enjoy the fabulous adventures of these come alive playthings.

The Forest King: Woodlark's Shadow
Dan Mishkin and Tome Mandrake
Actionopolis
0974280356 $12.95

John and Beth Woodlark accompanied by their preadolescent son Justin relocate from the big city to the small woodland village founded by an ancestor on the edge of the forest. Their new house in fact abuts the woods. Justin makes friends with kids his age especially athletic Alice Crane and sprouting up Rob Prichard.

However, though he plays Hide and Seek, and Old Man of the Forest, the nearby woods scare him as he has heard shrieks and other noises and seen things that should not be. He believes that something evil, perhaps the Old Man of legend, lives in the forest and is growing. Justin fears the shadow that seems to be coalescing into to something else, but also wonders what to do as he knows no one will believe his ridiculous story including him, but if he does nothing his parents, his friends, the town and he will be engulfed by an ancient malevolence growing stronger by the nanosecond.

This is a terrific young adult horror thriller starring a likable lead character struggling with what to do as he thinks he's just a kid and should not have to deal with the weight of the world (or at least his town) on his shoulders. The story line is action-packed and enhanced by terrific illustrations that add to the feel of foreboding and doom. Readers will enjoy Justin's adventures as the frightened lad battles an ancient evil to determine who the true Forest King is.

Heir to Fire
Rob Worley and Mike Dubish
Actionopolis
0974280372 $12.95

In Gila Flats, fourteen year old shy teen Ryan Morales with his friend Donut finds a spider that has never before been discovered before. Both boys go to Corrine's pool party where somehow Ryan make the water turn hot. His faints and when he comes to he is told by his parents that he always had an affinity for fire and heat. They also tell him he was adopted as his father found him in the desert with an amulet near him and a protective circle drawn around him.

When Ryan goes to see his friend Donut, he acts strange and sees the new spider around his neck just like the ones that are attached to the necks of the townsfolk except for Corrine. They go to the Oobakka house where they find the humanoid spider king who has come to earth to kill the fire prince of the world of Akasalon. The spider king and his minions conquered Ryan's former world and they want to do away with the last heir to the throne; Ryan doesn't know how to stop them but Corrine feels he will find a way.

Targeted for middle school pre-teens, HEIR TO FIRE is an exciting horror story in which young readers will identify with the reluctant hero, a reticent teen who tries to do his best to defeat evil. The characters are realistic and the audience will find themselves rooting for the hero to defeat the monsters. The illustrations are well drawn enhancing the fascinating storyline.

What I Did On My Interstellar Summer Vacation
Adam Beecham and Dan Hipp
Actionopolis
0974280364 $12.95

Teddy Harper is not looking forward to summer vacation because his parents enrolled him in Summer Science. Prince Al'ak of the planet Manoosh is not allowed to leave the royal compound and see the world outside. He uses the Manoosh crystal and is transported to Teddy's room. When Teddy arrives: the two lads talk and agree to change places.

Prince Al'ak shows Teddy how to use a holo-imager that makes him look like the prince. Teddy then uses the Manoosh crystal to go to Al'ak's world. He hears the king's bodyguard and advisor talk about the coup they are planning. Teddy, with the help of Al'ak's friend Ker'plok, leaves the compound and asks Ker-plok's father, the leader of the citizen's army to fight the traitors in the royal guard to preserve the monarchy. He agrees to do so if Teddy can cause a diversion, dismantle the null field and find a way to delay the royal advisor from giving the word to start the coup.

This science fiction Prince and the Pauper space adventure will appeal to young readers who like stories with lots of action, descriptions of another world and a hero who just wants to have fun but instead he finds himself trying to save an alien world's government. The black and white illustrations add a nice touch to a fast paced sci-fi adventure tale.

Cat Scratch Fever
Sophie Mouette
Black Lace
0352340215 $7.99

In Southern California, the Zoological Association is investigating the consequential impact of an apparent financial crisis at the Southern California Cat Sanctuary. Gabe Sullivan of ZA is to judge whether the myriad of various felines are being neglected by the fiscal shortfall and if they should finance it or shut it down. Their inquiry has caused a media feeding frenzy worse than a leopard in heat. Meanwhile someone is sabotaging the efforts of SCCS to remain solvent with little potentially dangerous incidents like breaking the lock to release the ocelots.

SCCS Felicia DuBois has enough on her plate with a need to raise money ergo with a fundraiser that is behind the times, the sabotage, and the lack of a sex buddy because she has gone through the available male population at the sanctuary. Now she meets gorgeous Gabe, who makes her body smoke with one look. Felicia knows she must cool down her ardor because the cause of her heat is probably the enemy. Still her brain says one thing while her heart says sleep with the enemy. Gabe feels the same way from the moment she shut down his upper head and activated his lower head with one look. As two torrid cats on a hot tin roof battle for sexual supremacy, Felicia tries to uncover the identity of the culprit destroying SCCS's hopes to keep their felines safely housed.

Not for everyone CAT SCRATCH FEVER is an ultra hot erotic romance that starts off with a temperature warmer than Venus with Felicia's Brazilian underwear off and never slows down until the final sex scene. The story line contains a solid amateur sleuth subplot as Felicia investigates who the culprit is harming her facility, but also provides solar heated subplots and not just between Gabe and Felicia. Sophie Mouette provides a chili pepper erotic whodunit.

Cruise Ship Diaries
Irene Magers Gingold
Publish America
PO Box 151, Frederick, MD 21705-0151
142411618X $21.95 publishamerica.com

In New York forty-four year old married trice but now single Margaret Maghpye is stunned when after twelve years at the firm she loses her position as a paralegal at Goodman, Barr & Noune. Her boss Laura Noune unfairly blames Margaret for poor research for a terrible day at court. Stunned and with no one to tie her down, Margaret decides she needs to escape her troubles and the wintry teen temperature of Manhattan so uses her meager savings to go on a Mexican cruise though she knows she cannot afford this financially. She prays this will lift her out of her growing depression.

She flies to San Diego where she boards the Mexican Star for seventeen days and nights of what Margaret hopes is uplifting fun. However, instead of an upbeat time, Margaret feels the sexual shenanigans on board too overwhelming and the port stop at Acapulco too commercial. However, the topper occurs when an elderly passenger Francine Wirth is being tossed from the ship at a remote Mexican hospital because she suffered an injury, which cannot be treated by the ship's doctor; this stuns Margaret (and readers). On the plus side she meets and is attracted to passenger Michael Sanders, though he seems withdrawn. While he has a different agenda for being on this excursion, he cannot stop himself from wanting to spend time with Margaret.

The sea cruise romance between the middle age couple is handled deftly as the two protagonists fear love, but cannot help themselves stop the attraction. However, what makes the CRUSIE SHIP DIARIES different than the myriad of ship romance novels is the insight into the downside of cruises in which the lines are held unaccountable once they cross into international waters as the Francine incident apparently is genuine. Irene Magers Gingold provides a delightful and charming contemporary with quite a stunning message that the passengers have fun but beware.

Landon Snow and the Island of Arcanum
R.K. Mortenson
Barbour
1597893587 $9.97

Landon Snow, his two sisters Bridget and Holly and his parents are visiting their relatives in Button Up, Minnesota. When they arrive in the library, it suddenly fills up with water and a stone boat allows them to survive the experience. They sail into uncharted waters followed by an ark, which at first they believe is Noah's but soon know it came from their Wonderworld friends. Together with the three children they sail to the island of Arcanum.

There they will gather the animals that were taken from Wonderworld but first they must battle the Arcans, inhuman evil monsters who feed off of fear instead of food. The animals are under an enchantment to obey the Chief Arcanum who worships the shadows of Malus Quidam, the prince of darkness. Once they break the enchantment with the help of the Auctor who is in their hearts and soul, they fight the Arcans with freedom for all at stake.

R.K. Mortenson's latest Landon Snow adventure is a great fantasy even though the protagonists use no sorcery. Their belief in the Avatar sustains them through the darkest times and young adults will enjoy this cross between Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia. Reference to the other books in this series will have readers wanting to go their nearest bookstore to obtain them.

Von Neumann's War
John Ringo and Travis Taylor
Baen
PO Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
1416520759 $25.00 1-800-223-2336

Within months of one another three probes are sent to Mars from Russia, Europe and America respectively, but contact is lost on all. Astroscientists are further stunned as Mars seems to have abruptly changed from the angry red planet to an aging grayish orb. No known natural phenomena can be postulated to have caused this radical sudden change. Finally communication with Mars probes vanishes entirely.

Desperate to learn what is going on to insure it does not spread inward to earth, a special probe is sent, but this one is destroyed far from the planet. The conclusion is a foreign force is industrializing Mars with no concerns as to the environment. The only reason to destroy communications with probes from earth would be that the aliens are setting up a home base to stage a military invasion of Earth. While the military strategists work on a plan to prevent the invasion and the scientists work on a weapon, they come, but these are not little green men. They are the race of Von Neumann probes ignoring people while stripping all planetary metal to replicate themselves; some misfortunate humans die as collateral damage. Meanwhile the American military establish new command posts where metals are not a major issue such as the Huntsville hooters because breasts, wings and beer attract men, not Von Neumann robots.

VON NEUMANN'S WAR is an excellent military science fiction thriller that pundits will read in one delightful sitting as fans will need to "watch the second half". The key to this Armageddon thriller is humor as John Ringo and Travis Taylor lampoon the sacred icons of society. The story line contains a solid Mars attacks tale based on the theories of late Hungarian mathematician John von Neumann, but filled with a droll wit as we have finally found the weapons of mass destruction in our face.

Paid in Blood
Mel Odom
Tyndale
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
1414303068 $13.99 1-800-323-9400

Though somewhat immune to murder having been a Naval Criminal Investigative Services Agent for a few years, in Wilmington, North Carolina Commander Will Coburn sadly looks at the corpse of NCIS Chief Petty Officer Helen Swafford, who was on her own unauthorized hook when her throat was slashed. As he wonders what she was involved in, Will and his team (Maggie Foley, Shel McHenry, Estrella Montoya, Dr. Nita Tomlinson, and Frank Billings ) begins tracking clues involving the illegal trafficking of military weapons being sold to rogue states and terrorist groups. Their efforts lead them to Chainae, Republic of Korea where they spy on a suspected weapons dealer.

However, to their shock and chagrin, hooligans working for a drug dealer abduct their prime suspect. When they finally catch up to the kidnappers and their victim, the NCIS team find corpses only, as if someone knows what they are doing and wiped out the evidence. The Navy takes control of the body of their prime suspect, only to have it snatched from them leaving behind a dead NCIS agent. With no time to mend fences at home though each, except perhaps Frank, face personal crisis, the unit finds clues in South Korea, Colombia, Russia, and the Middle East, but how drug dealers and weapons sellers converge as their commodity markets are so different remains just out of reach.

Though the investigation turns over the top with global repercussions, Mel Odom's fine NCIS thriller is an exciting tale starring real people as the Navy investigators. Each of the team members has issues back home with family members or with themselves as they struggle with personal demons while battling an insidious unknown enemy who may be connecting two major illegal commodity selling groups into a super power. Fans will enjoy observing the dedicated team members follow the clues in North Carolina and overseas trying to save the big world while their little world teeters on the brink of implosion.

Family
Karen Kingsbury
Tyndal
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
0842387463 $13.99 1-800-323-9400

Though she will be a star witness at the assault trial of Margie Madden that does not frighten her as she survived the woman's efforts to make her the latest Los Angeles' homicide statistic. However, Katy Hart fears her new found fame and her relationship to Hollywood heartthrob Dayne Matthews will make her a paparazzi moment in which her privacy and those of her family will be forsaken. Still she believes their love for one another will carry her through the trial though she it not as confident about their relationship surviving his fame.

Dayne feels on top of the world since he met and fell in love with Katy; much greater than any of his films have taken him. Through his love for his cherished Katy, he and his father John Baxter have gotten together and he has forgiven him and his late mother even as he looks forward to meeting his siblings. However, he does not want them or Katy to become meals of a media feeding frenzy that his blood link if exposed will bring to them.

Fans of the Firstborn series will enjoy the continuation of the Baxter family saga, which inspires the audience to believe in God's overall plan even when it feels off kilter. The story line is action-packed especially during the trial scenes and insightful as the Baxter brood, Dayne, and Katy forge new relationships. Though the repugnance of the paparazzi is overkill, series readers will appreciate this entry while newcomers should start with book one FAME and continue sequentially (through FORGIVEN and FOUND) to better grasp the complex interrelation nuances of the extended FAMILY.

The Bachelor's Bargain
Catherine Palmer
Tyndale
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
0842319298 $12.99 1-800-323-9400

In 1815 Devon, England, servant Anne Webster desperately hopes to sell the Honiton lace to her employer Alexander Chouteau, son of an earl, so that she can use the money to hire a barrister to represent her incarcerated father. His crime was supporting the Luddites who complained about working conditions before rioting. However after a prayer for help though she knows God is aware of her family's predicament, but before she can offer her wares, his long thought dead brother, the Marquess of Blackthorne and the actual heir to the earldom, has come home.

Ruel Chouteau assumes no woman would marry an adventuress rogue like him but wants to keep the mothers from throwing their singles at him so he proposes to Anne to prove his worthlessness, but before she can respond she is accidentally shot and is apparently dying. On her death bed she accepts his offer thinking he would have to help her family as honor dictates he does. However, to their shock, Anne miraculously recovers forcing the duo to face marital survival as the tabloids look forward to much scandal from them.

The sequel to THE AFFECTIONATE ADVERSARY (the link being Society Tattler Miss Pickworth) is an intelligent Regency romance starring a strong support cast and two interesting obstinate lead protagonists. The story line is action-packed but driven by the lead pair as she needs his wealth and power to assist her father and her family while he sees her skill with silk as a means for his future. Fans will appreciate Catherine Palmer's fast-paced one sitting historical.

Before I Wake
Dee Henderson
Tyndale
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
1414308159 $13.99 1-800-323-9400

Rae Gabriella left the FBI after years of dedicated service when a case went ugly. She accepts a position as a private detective at Chapel Detective Agency II, headed by her former Fed partner Bruce Chapel in Justice, Illinois though she has doubts about working with her former lover, but her hometown is nearby so she can visit family and she has to start somewhere.

Justice County Sheriff Nathan Justice has his hands full with a strike that could turn violent and his grandfather. However, he soon has more to deal with when Peggy Worth is found dead in her hotel room, five rooms away from where Rae is staying; a woman she met earlier in the day. Peggy's parents hire Rae to investigate what seemed likely a natural death in her sleep of a twenty-eight years old healthy female. Soon Bruce, Rae and Nathan know that a serial killer murders women in their hotel room without a whisper or a hint of a struggle, but never takes their money or jewelry so no motive has surfaced. Whereas she seeks justice, he fears she could be next.

This is a fabulous police procedural serial killer thriller though two of the "cops" are former law enforcement officials. The story line hints at a romantic triangle, but that simmers on the back burner as the trio work together to stop a clever silent killer. The story line is action-packed as the tension mounts on two levels, personal and professional. Fans witness a tense suspense cat and mouse thriller.

Road of the Patriarch
R. A. Salvatore
Wizards of the West Coast
PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707
0786940751 $27.95 1-800-821-8028

After disabling the Zhengyian Construct in the shape of Castle Perilus ruled by a drcoliche and inhabited by gargoyles and other dangerous creatures, the assassin Artemis Entreri is awarded by King Gareth of Bloodstone with the Knight of the Order; his companion Jarlaxle is named a Bloodstone hero. The drow dark elf and Artemis are the furthest thing from heroes imaginable as the human does not have a heart and the drow lusts for power and adventure.

After receiving their rewards, Artemis has a run in with the Assassins Guild. He and his companions run for their lives before reclaiming the castle and restoring it using magic. The elf claims the land of Vaasa renaming it D'Aerthe ruled by King Artemis I. King Gareth and his army march to defeat the usurper because he wants to make Vaasa a barony of his kingdom. The elf knows his side cannot win so he retreats to his homeland while Artemis is exiled with the drow coming to rescue him.

Although Jarlaxle is selfish, he finds himself genuinely fond of Artemis, which is why he used magic and an ensorcelled artifact to let him feel again. There is plenty of action, political intrigue, and battles in this spellbinding tale. The Sellswords Chronicles has a special feel to them as the supernatural seem natural whether they be dragons in human form, drows or gargoyles. R. A. Salvatore provides another strong sword and sorcery saga that demonstrates his exceptional world building skills.

Posted
From the Belly of the Dragon
Mark Mynheir
Multnomah
601 North Larch Street, Sisters, OR 97759-9320
www.multnomahbooks.com
1590523997 $12.99 1-800-929-0910

With incredible sales success from his books and tapes, psychiatrist Dr. Walter Simmons has amassed a fortune. His ability to merge basic psychological concepts into an optimistic moral and spiritual holistic wholeness has made him extremely popular especially amongst college students. He currently invites his top (meaning alienated, lonely, or both) Florida State University students to a special "boot camp" training program.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement Agent Tim Porter is worried about his daughter Ruby, who has been acting stage of late though her being at FSU and he being divorced from her mother, her prime caretaker, means he sees her infrequently. Still he mentions is concerns to his former wife and his partner John Russell. Soon he learn that Ruby is undergoing special training along with other students under the tutelage of Dr. Walter Simmons; special training that looks like a cult, acts like a cult, sounds like a cult; ergo a cult. How to free his daughter in a scenario in which the local police back the psychiatrist, the FBI demands he stay out so as not to taint their investigation of Simmons, and the charismatic doctor appears to have the spiritual edge that claims Ruby's soul is his quest.

The first "Truth Seekers" tale, ROLLING THUNDER, was a strong police procedural supported by an inspirational family drama with John as the star. This time Tim is the focus within a powerful family drama supported by a fine "unsanctioned" police procedural. The fast-paced story line grips the readers as John turns from concern to fear as he feels he is losing the soul war to his dynamic adversary. Fans will appreciate this deep insightful look at a cop willing to do anything including losing his job and team up with his ex-wife for the first time since before their split to save his child.

Spin Control
Kate Donovan
Silhouette Bombshell
c/o Harlequin Books
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0373514190 $4.99

In Northern California Judge "Taylor the Jailor" informs FBI agent Justin Russo just because he fires his lawyers in court that he will not receive any delay to prepare his new representation. Justin asks Judge Taylor to appoint attorney Suzannah Ryder, who is in court having worked on another case, to defend him. The Judge gives her no choice so she reluctantly agrees to be his defense lawyer as he is on trial for second degree murder. Worse, the judge frees him on bail into her custody.
Hearing his facts and with no other information, Suzannah begins her defense by spinning the image of the accused into that of a handsome heroic hunk who she hopes a predominant female jury will desire and free. However, when she looks into his eyes, she begins to wonder if he committed the act especially as the evidence mounts against her client. With Taylor pushing to end the trial fast and allowing her no flexibility, she wonders if perhaps this time she is defending a heated killer though she finds whatever SPIN she takes she still wants the Fed.

This is a terrific investigative legal thriller that hooks the audience from the opening prologue and never slows down until the final confrontation. The exciting story line is filled with action, but also contains a terrific romantic subplot. Like his lawyer, readers will slowly begin to believe that Justin is guilty as Kate Donovan spins a strong romantic suspense thriller.

Dark Revelations
Lorna Tedder
Silhouette Bombshell
c/o Harlequin Books
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0373514204 $4.99

Dr. Ginny Moon stole art for the highly connected deadly "philanthropist" Adriano family, but wants out as she wants to go straight. However, the family patriarch refuses to free the notorious Aubrey de Lune jewel thief, somewhat out of an obsession, but also because she could cripple the gang if the authorities learn who she is. Besides, the bottom line is no one leaves his Family.
The Family asks her to perform one last job for them with bodyguard Eric Cabordes at her side; she assumes as a babysitter. However, she soon finds out that the object she is purloining is worth a lot more than just money if it ends up in the wrong hands. She turns to Eric in a desperate move to keep the Adriano Family from stepping closer to obtaining the Madonna Key.

Ginny makes the action-packed thriller work as she struggles between doing the right thing and the demands of her "employer" in the latest stand alone yet interrelated Madonna Key tale (see HAUNTED ECHOS). The fast-paced story line never allows the audience to catch their breath as she and her new cohort try to remain one step ahead of their former employer. With its Joan of Arc connection already making DARK REVELATIONS fascinating, part of the delight of this fine romantic suspense is the heroine's turmoil as to whether she should trust the bodyguard who she is falling in love with. Lorna Tedder adds a strong thriller to this fine miniseries.

Getaway Girl
Michele Hauf
Silhouette Bombshell
c/o Harlequin Books
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0373514212 $4.99

Having been the getaway driver for thieves and having worked on the underground racing circuit, Jamie MacAlister feels good that she is using her skill of driving at high speeds for the side of justice. Her first assignment in Paris working for the Robin Hood like Faction is to help with the rescue of a kidnapped woman. She succeeds and feels good about being on the right side, not necessarily of the law, but the right side.

However, as she does more work for the Faction, she begins to question whether she miscalculated the Faction's motives especially after meeting "client" Sacha Vital, son of a dangerous criminal. Jamie wonders if she has been naive and set up, but by her employers, another group or perhaps Sacha. If she is to stay alive, out of jail, and keep the latest victim herself safe, Jamie has one option and that is to trust Sacha.

This terrific thriller keeps the audience on edge wondering just like the lead female who is the good guys and who is the bad dudes. The fast-paced story line accelerates from the first time Jamie drives the getaway car that seemingly rescues a young woman and never slows down as she begins to realize nothing is simple as nothing is what it first appears. Sacha is a fabulous counterpoint as readers will ponder whether he is the villain, hero or in between. Michele Hauf provides a one sitting romantic suspense.

Too Close to Home
Maureen Tan
Silhouette Bombshell
c/o Harlequin Books
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0373514220 $4.99

Hardin County, Illinois Deputy Sheriff Chad Robinson misses his former girlfriend Brooke Tyler. She dumped him without a reason and joined the Maryville police department. Brooke hides secrets about her family that she has vowed to never reveal; this pledge and to a greater degree shame led to her leaving Chad.

Chad calls her about a corpse found in her jurisdiction. Hearing his voice reminds her of how much it cost her when she realized she had to end their relationship for his sake as he deserved better. As she investigates, more dead bodies surface and Chad seems to be at her side just like when they were partners on the county's sheriff department and in bed. With no one to turn to except her former lover, Brooke investigates the serial homicides fearing her family's darkest secret will surface also.

Though the climax seems implausible, TOO CLOSE TO HOME is an exhilarating police procedural with plenty of sexual tension between the lead couple. The story line focuses on Brooke as her inquires lead closer to her home and her heart. Fans will appreciate her efforts to uncover the truth without revealing the dark secret that forced her to end her relationship with her beloved.

Expecting His Brother's Baby
Karen Rose Smith
Silhouette Special Edition
c/o Harlequin Books
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0373247796 $4.99

Recently widowed Kylie Warner has no time to mourn as she struggles with debts that threaten the Saddle Ridge family ranch and with a pregnancy. However, she is shocked when she comes across undisputed proof that her late husband Alex cheated on her. Whether it was grief, hormones or despair, following a fight with the other woman Trish Hammond she reacts poorly and ends up hospitalized after an accident.

Saddle Ridge foreman Dix worries about Kylie so he informs her brother-in-law geological consultant Brock, who leaves Texas immediately for Wild Horse Junction, Wyoming to insure she is okay. Brock is between consulting jobs so hangs around the ranch to help Kylie. She finds his presence unnerving as she was sweet on him years ago, but nothing came of it. Brock is half way in love with his hostess, but both he and she know that she is EXPECTING HIS BROTHER'S BABY so neither is ready to take that first step towards the other.

This is another superb Baby Bonds book (see CUSTODY FOR TWO and THE BABY TRAIL) starring once again very likable protagonists. The story line focuses on Kylie who internally scuffles with her relationships, past, present and future. Brock is a solid person willing to sacrifice his feelings for her to insure his brother's offspring and widow have what is best for them. Karen Rose Smith provides an entertaining contemporary family drama.

It's Only Temporary
Eric Shapiro
Permuted Press
097655593X $8.99

Sean always thought he had plenty of time to make something of himself until six weeks ago when the government proclaimed that a meteor was going to strike the earth; best estimates were 60,000 would survive the impact. On his last day of existence, Sean spends it with his beloved Selma, who ended their relationship to start seeing another man before the pandemic collision was announced.

With a few hours left in the countdown, Sean drives off into the "sunset to be with his lost love. On a deserted road, he picks up a previously kidnapped woman who persuades him to rescue the others. When that is completed they head up to someone's home to get a car and wind up delivering a baby. Will he get to Selma before the people of earth are wiped out?.

Eric Shapiro's fine tale with its limited cast will remind the audience of some of the classic disaster tales from the 1950s and 1960s like On the Beach. The story line is action-packed, but as the countdown continues, readers will begin to believe that no Bruce Willis will save the world from Armageddon. Instead the plot is an insightful character study of what one person finally understanding that life, IT'S ONLY TEMPORARY, and must choose what to do while the clock ticking towards certain death nears.

Madmen's Dreams
Eric S. Brown and D. Richard Pearce
Permuted
0976555913 $12.99

This horror-science fiction anthology consists of thirty-four for the most part ultra short stories (mean average length is 4.2 pages) that are predominantly written by Eric S. Brown as D. Richard Pearce contributes two solos and three collaborations. The tales run the gamut of horror and science fiction from A (angels) to Z (zombies) with plenty of supernatural and alien stops in between. The bloodsuckers bring a new meaning to "Family" while Zombies display how high the price of gas can become and tyro Demons attend "Hells Daycare. Most of the stories are well written, but in this minuscule format no character develops beyond their front fangs. Overall a solid cross section of the two genres, MADMEN'S DREAM is a fine collection though at times readers will believe longer formats would have suited the contribution like the "Underdweller" and "Last One Standing".

The Undead
Edited by D.L. Snell & Elijah Hall
Permuted
0976555948 $13.99

These twenty-three short stories focus on zombies in all walks of life (pun intended) as the authors provide insight into the various ways of the "Living Dead". Each tale is well written as the contributions go way beyond Romero's Living Dead films. The entries were predominantly written in 2004 with three in 2005; two as ancient as 2001, and one in 2003. As far as this reviewer can tell, these have not appeared in print before. Most of the authors are relatively unknown (how can they be otherwise with zombies running wild in places like West Virginia and San Francisco) though Brian Keene has won a Stoker Award. Their entries are solid fun, as we learn how to properly dine on human leg that tastes remarkably similar to a chicken wing. The compilations range from fresh human meat struggling to survive in a world in which the superior being is the undead to zombies in outer space to reality zombie TV. Some tongue in cheek, some science fiction; all are fun horror thrillers that showcase the various lives of zombies beyond the usual stereotyping of flesh eating slobbering slobs. Sub-genre fans will definitely want to read this tribute to zombie mania while most other horror readers will also appreciate these dining on human gourmet collection.

Down The Road
Bowie Ibarra
Permuted Press
0976555980 $12.95

The illness struck New York City first then quickly spread to the entire country. Everyone who contracted it died but latest rose up as undead zombies eating human flesh and spreading the disease through bites. George Zaragosa is determined to leave Austin and return to his hometown of San Uvalde to be with his family, but getting out of town isn't easy as he has to avoid and kill the zombies by smashing their brains in; that's the only guarantee that they don't rise again.

In addition to avoiding the criminals who add to the chaos, George must also avoid Homeland Security and FEMA who are forcibly putting the disease free people in camps where rape, murder and enforced segregation is the norm. He is caught and put in a camp but he escapes when the zombies break through. He finds refuge in a makeshift shelter run by a drug lord and his police allies. Escaping means more killing but when George finds out what the leader of the group did, he feels it is his mission to take him out. In a world gone mad, it is not only zombies that are killers but humans exterminating one other.

Horror fans who want a real zombie killer thriller that pulls no punches, is full of action scenes, blood and gore, and violence that fits easily into the plot will want to get a copy of DOWN THE ROAD. The FEMA Camps are not so far fetched as many victims of Hurricane Katrina who stayed behind know first hand. The protagonist is a passive young man who reacts to events but never really takes charge and that character trait leads him into more trouble.

The Geographer's Library
Jon Fasman
Penguin
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.us.penguingroup.com
0143036629 $14.00 1-800-847-5515

In Lincoln, Connecticut, reporter Paul Tomm for the weekly newspaper the Carrier is assigned to write the obit for Estonian academia's Jaan Puhapaev. To do so Paul investigates Jaan though he expects nothing to come of it beyond accolades. Eerily soon after Jaan's death, the pathologist who conducted the autopsy dies in a car accident.

Recently graduated, Paul knows, from his college days, coincidences like these two deaths are rare though plausible. He makes inquiries which leads him to Jaan's neighbor music teacher Hannah Rowe and evidence that the late Estonian worked with lethal international jewel thieves. Soon Paul's efforts lead to a specific map created by twelfth century Arabic geographer al-Idris for a Sicilian client and artifacts allegedly owned by the cartographer, but especially the legendary alchemist's handbook the Emerald Tablet. As the journalist closes in on the truth, dangerous foes want him stopped with his demise being the preventative first choice.

The story line actually switches focus back and forth between the twelfth century and modern times, but never misses a beat as Paul's inexperience in investigative journalism and love makes him endearing and the tale fun to follow. As Paul investigates, he begins to uncover clues of a jewel thieving cabal, who he conjectures murdered the professor and the pathologist, but fails to see that as he gets closer, the killers will want to exterminate him too; thus in spite of his obvious intelligence, he seems too dumb not to anticipate they will come after him. Still though complex both subplots tie together nicely to make THE GEOGRAPHER'S LIBRARY.

Norah's Ark
Judy Baer
Steeple Hill
0373785666 $13.95

Pet store owner Norah Kent loves the Lord and animals; she dreams of one day having a family with Mr. Right, a person who must accept that she is prime caretaker of her beloved elderly Auntie Lou, is owned by Bentley the mutt, and must share her two passions especially her Christian faith.

Three bachelors show interest in Norah. US Navy Commander Connor Trevain seems to care for Norah, but she fears stepping out with him because her best friend Lilly wants him. The townsfolk push Joe Collier, who asks Norah for dates, but she knows he is not the one so has ruled him out. Finally there is police officer Nick Haley, who has three things going for him. Bentley has chosen him though he seems to fear the mutt and she keeps hearing the bells. Still Connor is nice if only Lilly wanted someone else like Nick for instance.

NORAH'S ARK is a pleasant optimistic Christian romance starring an upbeat somewhat innocent (too naive around men) protagonist and a cast of eccentrics starting with her matchmaking canine and a horde of other two legged, four legged, and no legged animals). The fast-paced breezy story line will provide fans of Judy Baer with plenty of entertainment from start to finish as the audience will wonder just who will win the Norah sweepstakes. The novel lives up to its classic second line "HAVE YOU HUGGED YOUR IGUANA TODAY?" as a fun filled tale.

Red Hook
Reggie Nadelson
Walker
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 300, New York, NY 10010
www.walkerbooks.com
0802715346 $23.95 1-800-289-2553

In 2004 as the Republican National Convention prepares to begin in New York City, NYPD and the Feds worry about terrorist activity. Department Detective Artie Cohen, born in the Soviet Union but a local for twenty-five years, feels optimistic with blues skies smiling at him as he is getting married to his beloved Maxine Crabbe and while Republicans will own Manhattan he will be honeymooning.

However his blue skies turn cloudy not due to the Bushian led invasion, but instead because his long time friend reporter Sid McKay calls him a couple of times with cryptic messages that seem to call for help and overtly accuse the news media of pampering corruption especially covering the administration. Only for Sid would Artie dig even a little into the connection between the Russian mafia and a questionable real estate deal as he is about to leave town on his honeymoon. However, when someone kills Sid, Artie needs to learn who and especially why, but unraveling the truth also opens information about his late close friend that Artie does not want to know.

Artie is at his best as he runs the City from Hunts Point in the Bronx to Red Hook in Brooklyn and a few stops in Manhattan. He is at his best as this investigation has turned personal at a time when he was euphoric but as he digs deep into the Sid scenario, he becomes sad and depressed. The story line hooks readers from the moment that Artie finds Sid and keeps readers' attention until the final altercation in the harbor. Artie is in top form as he behaves more like a noir star than a cop as he unravels truths that remind him of his heritage as much as solving who killed Sid.

Whirlwind
Cindy Holby
Leisure
084395308X $6.99

In 1867 Laramie, Wyoming Territory, following a roll with Maybelle, Zane Brody reflects on how his friends are all recently married. Chase has Jenny (see WIND OF THE WOLF); Ty is wed to Cat (see CROSSWINDS); Cole and Grace make a nice couple (see CROSSWINDS); Jake and Shannon (SEE WINDFALL) are together; and now Caleb has married Amanda (see FORGIVE THE WIND). Only he remains single and though he ponders marriage, he likes his carefree life as the centerfold of hunks.

Indians raid the train that was bringing new schoolteacher Mary Dunleavy and her doctor-brother to Wyoming. Zane finds himself wanting to help Mary rescue her sibling taken captive by the Indians. However, their efforts go astray when they become prisoners too. After escaping, they fall in love, but neither feels worthy of the emotion so they hide how they feel from one another.

WHIRLWIND is a delightful western romance that completes the Wind saga. The story line is at its best when it concentrates on the lead couple especially during humorous interludes like a goat assaulting the hero. The final pairing is a delight as two independent souls battle love, one another, and rogues. Though too many flashbacks slow down the tale, Cindy Holby provides a fun finish to a saga that started several years ago (see CHASE THE WIND).

Breadfruit
Celestine Vaite
Back Bay
c/o Little, Brown & Company
1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
0316016586 $12.99 1-800-759-0190

On Tahiti, a drunken Pito Tehana proposes marriage to cleaner Materena Mahi, the mother of his children. Materena, who loves anything involving love, considers his proposal by measuring it against proposals in love movies she has seen. By morning while she ponders how Pito's declaration compares to her fantasy, he forgets that he asked her.

Materena dreams of her nuptials while a sober Pito is in denial and struggling to thwart her expectations. She simply ignores his protestations and begins to consider what type of marriage she shall have. Meanwhile the "coconut radio" island gossip alerts everyone that these long time lovers will soon marry once they work out the details. This leads to family members encouraging Materena to force her "fiance to do right by her especially his mother, who drives a wedding car.

The sequel to the delightfully amusing FRANGIPANI is actually a wonderful prequel as the events occur much earlier than the first Islander novel. The story line is fun to follow though it is in many ways it is more a series of gossipy vignettes as the coconut radio visits to Materena provide the audience with insight into life on Tahiti. Materena is terrific as she guides fans on a warm and insightful tour of sharing BREADFRUIT and love, Tahitian style.

Small Acts of Sex and Electricity
Lisa Haines
Unbridled
2000 Wadsworth Boulevard, #195, Lakewood, CO 80214
www.unbridledbooks.com
1932961275 $23.95 1-888-732-3822

Mid thirties Jane and Mattie have been best friends since childhood, but during college they competed for the affection of Michael with the former easily winning the prize and marrying him. Jane and Michael have two daughters, teenage Livvy and preadolescent Mona. To Mattie's envious eye Jane has everything with her California family while she remains single in the Midwest.

When Jane inherits a house and a Jaguar from her recently deceased grandmother Franny, she decides to take the car and leave her family behind to seek glamour and men not spouses and children. She assigns her visiting pal Mattie to inform Mike that she left him and their kids. Mattie, who came to appraise Franny's art collection, becomes surrogate mother and wife in Chicago while Jane seeks adventuress men.

SMALL ACTS OF SEX AND ELECTRICITY is a strange but entreating relationship drama starring two women, me-me Jane and envious Mattie. They sort of switch places as Mattie, feeling as if she is IN MY SISTER'S COUNTRY, gets a chance to see what could have been if Mike chose her and Jane seizes the opportunity to find out what should have been if she stayed carefree and single. Fans of odd but perceptive family dramas will appreciate Lisa Haines' unusual character driven tale.

Queen of Fashion
Caroline Weber
Holt
175 - 5th Avenue, Suite 400, New York, NY 10010-7725
www.henryholt.com
0805079491 $27.50 1-888-330-8477

This is a terrific look at Marie Antoinette through the fashion she wore that defied French society over the objections of the aristocracy yet set trends with these same nay-sayers imitating or parodying the monarch while the hookers and madams copied her. The premise of Caroline Weber's fashionable biography is that the doomed queen was her own person from the time at fourteen she first sat on the throne to her last dance with Madam Guillotine. This book is well written and fascinating and fans of the French Revolution era will be enthralled by the detailed accounts especially the haunting all in white final ride to the execution as the author uses the clothing to symbolize the extravagance and ruin of a regime. With a salute top Arnold's Clothing Theory, Caroline Weber provides a fresh look at this violent period through the wardrobe of its most representative figure.

The Buenos Aires Quintet
Manuel Vazquez Montalban
Serpents Tail
1852427833 $14.00

His uncle hires Catalan private investigator Pepe Carvalho to go to Buenos Aires to learn what happened to Raul Touron. Beyond Diego Maradona, Pepe knows nothing about the country except that his cousin worked there before the military coup of '76 as a research behavioral scientist who discovered a link between rat behavior and the quality of their food. The military sold Raul's concept and put it to use to destroy the opposition subversives Peronists. Raul joined the rebels, but a year later his wife and baby were abducted though he spent time in prison too.

Pepe knows that a Spaniard cannot work as a private sleuth in Argentina so he hires elderly Don Vito Altofini as a front. They establish an office and Pepe begins the investigation with University Professor Alma, Raul's sister in-law. She provides little help only more questions especially why he would come home from exile except perhaps to find his daughter. Others seek the missing man too and they do not welcome the Spaniard sleuth as they have plans once they catch up to Raul that Pepe is not a part of.

THE BUENOS AIRES QUINTET is a fabulous private investigate tale that brings out the impact over two decades after its fall of the vicious military rule (1976-1983) in Argentina. The fast-paced story line never takes a break with Pepe on the case while others are willing to harm, maim or kill the foreigner as he gets in the way. Readers will enjoy his "illegal" misadventures with only his laid back partner seemingly on his side.

A Walk in the Dark
Gianrico Carofiglio
Bitter Lemon
1904738176 $14.95

In Bari, Italy, defense lawyer Avvocato Guido Guerrieri earns a living providing legal council to petty criminals; his business depends on returning customers as most of his clients are repeat offenders. However, for whatever reason deep in his pyche, Guido has a soft spot for the underdog especially abused females so at times he will take on impossible cases.

This is one of those times when Guerrieri turns champion because to his chagrin he is immediately attracted to Sister Claudia, director of Safe House, who asks him to help one of her volunteers now hiding at the shelter. The woman moved in with a wealthy Prince Charming who turned into an abusive beast. He beat her in public twice and in private several times. Because of his connections, the carabineri, the police and a judge deny the woman's plea for protection from his harming her. Two lawyers have said no, but Guerrieri agrees to take on the case of protecting the ex girlfriend Martina Fumai, Sistaer Claudia and the shelter from Ernesto Scaianatico, son of of a criminal appeals court judge. However, Guido will learn the hard way why his peers said no.

This terific legal thriller stars a fascinating protagonist who normally is indifferent and bumbling when it comes to his typical clients; however some cases fire up his inner gut turning him into a capable caring attorney and much more. Guido's two capers (see INVOLUNTARY WITNESS) are legal noirs as he struggles to insure his clients remain safe against powerful adversaries who use money and abuse of power to insure victory over justice. Gianrico Carofiglio provides a terific Italian thriller

With or Without You
Alison Tyler
Virgin
c/o Holtzbrinck Publishers
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
0352340657 $12.95 1-888-330-8477

In California, free sprit Nora Hammond announces a reality TV show to select the next head bartender at her popular in spot the Pink Fedora. At the same time, her look alike but opposite in outlook best friend Eleanor Jane Romano of the Art, research, Translation, Science Institute (ARTSI) learns her live in lover Byron Millman has a new lover. She swings her laptop at him, but instead hits and shatters an ancient urn her late Great Aunt Rose sent her. Ancient documents spill out.

After spending the night with Nora to include a menage de trois and voyeurism, the shell shocked Nora takes her find to her ARTSI peer Anthony Ginsburg. When she tells him if he translates one page by evening she will take him to dinner, he dives head first into this. Anthony has desired Nora since they first met and if a translation of an ancient language wins him her heart so be it. As his translation turns sexually hotter, life imitates art as Anthony and Nora make love even as they fall in love.

Nora is such a crazy lovable eccentric that she brings an erotic dynamic freshness to this superb XXX contemporary romance. Eleanor is a fine character in her own right and is the star of the story, but as she knows she pales next to her insane charismatic look alike except in the eyes of Anthony. Readers will enjoy the sexual antics of the two best friends while the ARTSI hunk takes advantage of the opening he has craved for quite some unrequited time.

Death of a Department Chair
Lynn C. Miller
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
0299219747 $24.95 1-800-621-2736

On a Monday morning at Austin University the chairman of the Department of Literature and Rhetoric, Isabel Vittorio is found murdered in her office with her clothes ripped off leaving her nude. Miriam Held, who lost to Isabel an election to be the chair, is the number one suspect for a number of reasons. She had an affair with the victim that ended badly; she is writing a book (started before Isabel was murdered) about the death of a department chair; and Isabel who agreed to hire a brilliant and well known African-American reneges on a promise to Miriam because she wants her lover hired instead.

In addition to these marks against her, someone is trying to frame Miriam as the killer. A file filled with false memos was found in her desk as was Isabel's diary. Miriam never saw either one of these documents. As the police place her under a greater scrutiny, she and friends are determined to find out who is trying to frame her and expects this knowledge will lead them to the real killer.

Many academic mysteries like DEATH OF A DEPARTMENT CHAIR are literary in style and scope. This tome is not only a mystery but a look at political infighting that goes on behind closed doors between dogmas that insist they are right and never listen to the opposite viewpoint. The protagonist is a strong willed woman who doesn't understand why someone is trying to make her look like a killer yet the victim steals the show though her diary entries. The who-done-it is superb so that readers will have a hard time figuring out who the killer is.

Sex and the South Beach Chicas
Caridad Pineiro
Downtown
c/o Pocket Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 13th floor, New York, NY 10020
www.simonsays.com
1416514880 $13.00 1-800-223-2336

In South Beach, Florida, the four young females are best friends and have been for quite a long time. They share their secrets, their desires, and their aspirations about careers and men; though they seem to be doing better with the jobs than the hunks. The quartet also support one another in trying to keep lethal mothers mating them with every unmarried male who can breath.

Of the fearsome female foursome, Tori would probably be voted by all of them including herself, as the most prim and proper; she thrives on structure and feels uncomfortable with spontaneity. Thus when she falls in love with Gil her three pals are shocked, but not as much as when Tori moves in with him and considers eloping. Her actions to impulsively grasp at love leads Adriana, Sylvia and Julie to reconsider their lifestyles.

The quatros amigas are terrific protagonists filled with energy that pulsates as it pulls readers into their lives. Each is an individual with likes, dislikes, and woes including mamas wanting them married with children. Though at times too lighthearted, fans will enjoy the skirmishes between the two generations of Latina-Americans as the band of sisters follow the lead of the most reticent when it comes to men.

Invisible Lives
Anjali Banerjee
Downtown
c/o Pocket Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 13th floor, New York, NY 10020
www.simonsays.com
1416517057 $13.00 1-800-223-2336

In India almost twenty-eight years old Lakshmi has a gift that her mom says comes from the Goddess she is named after who visited her when she was still in the womb. Lakshmi shares her ability to see inside the hearts of people to observe the tribulations that haunt them and she lifts those burdens off of that individual. As a side benefit of her mental skills, Lakshmi knows the perfect color and fabric for patrons of the family's sari shop.

However, because of her age, her mother worries that her daughter remains single so she arranges a match with a friend. Reluctantly as an obedient daughter and to honor her late father, Lakshmi accepts her mother's arrangement. However, as fate (and romance novels) would have it, she meets chauffeur Nick Dunbar and knows he is the one for her because her ability to look into hearts fail whenever she is around him.

Readers will enjoy this contemporary romance starring a delightful likable young woman who balances having one foot in the modern world and another in her heritage. Lakshmi's dilemma feels real as she wants to honor the desires of her mother and her late father, but loves Nick. This is a fine tale that rings true as a genuine chick lit Bollywood style.

Mozart's Sister
Nancy Moser
Bethany
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55438
www.bethanyhouse.com
0764201239 $12.99 1-800-328-6109

Prodded by their father Leopold and trained since birth to perform, by 1762, twelve years old Nannerl Mozart and her seven years old brother Wolfgang play in public for the first time. Thirty years later Wolfgang is dead not too long after Leopold passed away while Nannerl reflects back on their lives wondering if they started even earlier whether his precocious talent would have still overwhelmed her superb skills. Their late father believed this is so as Wolfgang got all the praise from royal patrons and especially from their dad. Though she dreams of performing to regal accolades and settles pragmatically in marriage to Johann, she looks back at what might have been.

This is a terrific biographical fiction of Nannerl Mozart, who apparently was a very talented musician, but never received any acclaim from patrons or her parents because she performed for the most part along side her superstar brother. The story line brings to life late eighteenth century musical Vienna from a different perspective as readers observe how Nannerl deals with a talented precocious highly acclaimed younger brother though some say she rivaled him in performing skills. This is a winner as readers learn the pressures on females to conform while their artistic male siblings can do almost anything and like Nannerl (at least in this novel) wonder what if. Nancy Moser provides a powerful insightful tale that has a modern day message of encouraging the young to be all that they can be.

Calculated Loss
Linda L. Richards
Mira
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0778323455 $6.99 www.mirabooks.com

When she hears the news that her celebrity chef and former spouse Braydon Gauthier committed suicide, day trader Madeline Carter is shocked because that seems so out of character for the upbeat bigger than life gourmand. Feeling an obligation and having divorced amiably, Madeline attends Braydon's funeral in Vancouver while wondering why he killed himself.

However, when she learns he killed himself by dining on a poisoned duck a l'orange and beef Shiraz, Madeline knows instantly he was murdered. She tries to explain to the local police her rationale, but they blow her away as a griever in denial. Knowing Braydon would never have had that type of combination that separately are delights but together kills the palate, she begins investigating starting with his finance even as someone watches her closely to insure if she seems too close to uncovering the truth, a second suicide of a the grieving "widow" will follow.

CALCULATED LOSS is a fascinating amateur sleuth tale starring a heroic protagonist whose logic for why Braydon died is odd, but shows she knew her ex spouse. When the police tell her to forget it, Madeline cannot; so she begins her inquiries seeking a motive as to why someone poisoned the gourmet chef. Linda L. Richards provides a delicious Vancouver whodunit that never slows down until the final meal is served.

Cutline
Bonnie Hearn Hill
Mira
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0778323471 $6.99 www.mirabooks.com

The Body of San Francisco Father David McCaffrey is found slashed to death in Golden Gate Park. Because the victim is a priest, a media feeding frenzy explodes as the police investigate the homicide. When the forensic report confirmed Father David had sex just before dying, the media turns euphoric as they now have sensational cutlines starring the Father and "The Razor Killer". Among those reporting on the murder is Times journalist Leta Blackburn, but she vanished soon after Father David died.

Reporter Geri LaRue arrives in San Francisco expecting to meet her friend's sister Leta at the airport, only to learn the award winning journalist has disappeared without a trace. Geri reviews Leta's file on the case, which leads her to therapist Malcolm Piercy, who believes the culprit gets off sexually by murdering beloved mates sort of like a black widow. As they work together and are attracted to one another, the killer observes Malc and Geri with plans of a horrific CUTLINE involving a female reporter dying after a sexual encounter.

The latest Bonnie Hearn Hill journalistic investigative tale (see IF IT BLEEDS) is a terrific tense thriller as readers ironically know how much danger Geri is in while the reporter is clueless in spite of her finding evidence pointing towards the killer. Geri is a dedicated solid reporter who knows that Malc is hiding something from her; Malc feels guilty but has doubts about revealing his theory even OFF THE RECORD (next LaRue installment). Fans of suspense cat and mouse thrillers with a romantic subplot will enjoy the exciting CUTLINE.

The Widow
Carla Neggers
Mira
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
077832303X $21.95 www.mirabooks.com

In Mount Desert, Maine, FBI Special Agent Chris Browning and his wife Boston homicide detective Abigail are on their honeymoon when someone murders him. Seven years later, the homicide is unsolved and classified as a cold case by local authorities.

Thirtyish Abigail has not been able to find closure as long as her spouse's killer walks free. She decides she has waited too long so she resolves to return to the killing scene to investigate. She begins questioning locals starting with Owen Garrison, who had informed her that Chris was dead. Most of the locals offer nothing while the summer people offer less. However though emotionally dying with every step, Abigail refuses to back off even when someone tries to kill her.

THE WIDOW is a fabulous private investigative tale (Abigail may be a cop but she is on her own) in which the heroine seeks closure, but finds a myriad of plausible suspects instead. The Maine background adds to the feeling of New England stoic silence that seems to hammer at Abigail's inquiries. Though a romantic subplot with Owen seems more a throw in to fans of that genre, Carla Neggers provides a strong thriller.

Facing Down Evil
Clint Van Zandt with Daniel Paisner
Putnam
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
039915308X $24.95 1-800-847-5515

This is a fascinating look from a different perspective of some of the major FBI incidents spanning a twenty-five year career that ended in retirement in 1995. Clint Van Zandt provides a little background material about his growing up and makes no apologies for being a family man who loves his country and his agency. However, the autobiography takes off with the specific incidents including some overseas especially the more famous ones like the 1985 siege of the Covenant, the 1993 Waco confrontation with the Branch Davidians, the Unabomber, and his paradigm suggestion that Oklahoma City was tied to Waco not the Middle East. This is an excellent autobiography of a dedicated law enforcement official who spent a career FACING DOWN EVIL as it is the behind the scenes look at these cases and more that will grip the audience.

Hundred Dollar Baby
Robert B. Parker
Putnam
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
0399153764 $24.95 1-800-847-5515

Boston private investigator Spenser makes no moral judgments of how people live so when hooker April Kyle (see CEREMONY and TAMING A SEA HORSE) needs help, he provides it. He goes even further hooking (pun intended) her up with a high class madam. April is in trouble again so she turns to Spenser for help. Someone wants to take over her business and so has hired Ollie DeMars to harass and frighten her into paying for protection.

Spenser learns that the man behind the muscle is Lionel Farnsworth who teamed up with April to scare her mentor out of money used to open up a chain of bordellos. April claims she broke off with Lionel when she caught him having sex with one of her girls and tells Spenser to back off. Soon after confronting his client, Spenser finds out that someone murdered Ollie, who once shared a low security cell with Lionel. Spenser feels strongly that April is hiding something from him; he needs to find out what that is because he believes she is in a lot more trouble than she admits.

Spenser is at his best in HUNDRED DOLLAR BABY as he tries to help a female friend who rejects his assistance as she spirals downward. One of the hero's endearing traits is he makes friends with politically incorrect individuals who in many cases work outside the law. Robert B. Parker refreshes his long running series as Spenser struggles with the object of his protection insisting he butt out.

Short Straw
Stuart Woods
Putnam
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
0399153683 $25.95 1-800-847-5515

Santa Fe attorney Ed Eagle wakes up surprised to see that his wife Barbara is nowhere to be found at home or in their new office. He learns that one and a half million dollars is being transferred to an account in the Cayman Islands. His broker tells Ed that he liquidated his million dollar account and are getting ready to wire it. He's able to stop the money from being transferred except for the $300,000 Barbara took out of her new account.

Ed hires private detective Cupie Dalton to Mexico City where the money bounced to from the Cayman Islands. He wants Cupie to find his spouse and have her sign six sheets of papers. Barbara ends up shooting him and even though the wound isn't severe he sends another private detective Vittorio for back up. Someone in Mexico wants Barbara dead and the two PIs end up protecting her. She tricks them into thinking she signed the papers not once but twice and Ed realizes just how dangerous she really is when he learns she took a hit out on him. Ed with the help of the two private detectives is determined to bring her down, but Ed wants his wife alive while other men want her dead for what she did to them.

The antagonist is the personification of a black widow, willing to kill her mate (and others) to get what she wants which is his money. This leads the audience to wonder how Ed and others missed her lethal avaricious traits. SHORT STRAW starts out at light speed and never slows down as is typical of Stuart Woods' action thrillers. Surprisingly his characters are three dimensional, not stereotypes and all of them are believable. Let us hope the author writes more works starring Ed Eagle, a protagonist who gets things done his way.

The Fourth Perspective
Robert Greer
Frog
1583941622 $24.95

Blaming C.J. Floyd for her brother's death, Celeste Deepstream is determined to even the score by killing C.J. After kidnapping and beating up his girlfriend Mavis, C.J. and Celeste tangle but she escapes and now is teamed up with Russian Mafioso Alexie Borg who will help her kill the former bounty hunter and bail bondsman.

C.J. sold his share of the business to his partner Flora Jean and opened Ike's Spot: Vintage Western collectibles after the trauma both C.J and Mavis suffered, . A college student comes in the store to sell him two books which he buys. When he goes to his car, student Luis Del Mora is killed and C.J. later discovers that in the book cover of one of the books was a million dollar daguerreotype of the golden spike railroad ceremony in 1869. Luis's mother Theresa hires Flora Jean to find out who killed her son.

Alexie has a colleague blow up C.J's store but most of the damage occurs to the adjoining store of his landlord. C.J. gathers his friends to help flush out Celeste who is determined now to take her nemesis out on her own Flora Jean, knowing C.J. is broke, asks for his help in tracking down Luis's killer. He minimizes the danger to Mavis, but realizes he is anticipating the adrenaline rush that he experiences when he is on a dangerous hunt. He wonders if he can find a way to stop Celeste and continue with his antique business and do some dangerous jobs without angering Mavis.

The latest C.J. mystery is filled with lots of action, intrigue, and a spot of romance. C.J. is the original tough guy but in THE FOURTH PERSPECTIVE is portrayed with more vulnerability then he usually is. This humanizes him and makes the readers root for him especially because he needs his friends to be safe and not worry about his safety before their own needs. Robert Greer has written a crime caper that is loaded with intrigue, double-crosses and dangerous games of cat and mouse.

The Splendor of Silence
Indu Sundaresan
Atria
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
0743283678 $25.00 www.simonsays.com

In 1942 in the Kingdom of Rudrakot in Northwest India, U.S. Army Captain Sam Hawthorne comes to this desert environs to recuperate from an injury he received while working a rescue behind Japanese lines in Burma. However, to the local desert people, Sam's claims as to why he is here seem odd. Truthfully, Sam is an espionage agent of the recently formed OSS, but his secret assignment is personal. His brother Mike vanished while voluntarily serving with the Rudrakot Rifles in an independence from the Britain movement.

Though he knows better, Sam cannot resist a tryst with Mila, engaged to a prince and the daughter of the kingdom's Indian political agent, who took the American into his home. He learns that his brother is a prisoner at a detention center and that Mila's brother Ashok has joined a group planning to assassinate the British representative in Rudrakot. If he stops the plot, he loses his chance to free his sibling.

Though the myriad of subplots can become difficult to follow though needed to emphasize the complexity of India in WW II, Indu Sundaresan provides historical fans with A FEAST OF ROSES as the deep look at Rudrakot enables readers to understand the war effort vs. the quest for independence. The story line is character driven by the locals who bring to vivid life the time and place. Sam is an interesting protagonist as he knows better, but cannot resist the lure of Mila. Fans will appreciate this strong historical tale.

Spy
Ted Bell
Atria
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
0743277236 $25.95 www.simonsays.com

Alex Hawke knew immediately that his vessel the Pura Vida on the Rio Negro was destroyed by the explosion killing many of his colleagues including marine biologist Dana Gibbon. He had to let go of her hand to reach shore. He made it to land only to be caught and sold as a slave worker to the Xucurur who guard the work camps of the Muhammed Top. Alex serves on a road contraction crew and as a human target in case enemy combatants attack; life expectancy is zero. Though death looks more welcoming than life, Alex, wondering about this Al Qaeda army in the middle of the Amazonian jungle escapes.

He realizes the American government leaders are preoccupied with reelections which mean fake temporary concentration on the Mexican border; though real issues abound involving masse illegals and the Mexican army crossing into American territory and young females kidnapped from border towns. Alex turns to trusted friends Ambrose Congreve and Stokely Jones to help infiltrate the Las Medianoches Al Qaeda cell because he believes they plan something spectacularly jihad against the United States probably at that suddenly prominent line in the sand called the Mexican Border.

In his fourth appearance (see ASSASSIN, HAWKE, and PIRATE) Alex is at his best as he suffers survivor guilt though he also believes those like Dana are better off dead. Yet the premise of Mr. Bell's work is that the "terrorists in the jungle scenario" is based on the immigration of Hezbollah operatives from Lebanon during the 1970s civil war. Fans will appreciate the fast-paced and action packed thriller; as readers join Alex and his teammates on a quest to prevent the jihad from happening with the odds heavily favoring the terrorists in their plan to devastate North America.

Come September
Jacquie D'Alessandro, Cathy Yardley & Stephanie Doyle
Harlequin
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0373837232 $5.99

"Summer Breeze" by Jacquie D'Alessandro. Though five years have passed since the death to cancer of her spouse Ian who fathered their two children, Elise Stanford and her kids, James and Maggie, move to her hometown on Long Island to start over. To her surprise she is attracted to a younger man Seth McGuire, but fears hurting her children, the memory of her husband and her reputation as a single mom.

"Sweeter than Wine" by Cathy Yardley. Chad McFee inherits the Honey Ridge Vineyards from his late Uncle Charles, but knows nothing about operating a winery. His winemaker Leila Fairmont has one month to teach him the trade and find a reason for him to stay besides her desire for him.

"Ice Cream Kisses" by Stephanie Doyle. Gracie McMillan owns and operates Sea Breeze-Ice Cream parlor that slows down once summer is over and it is winter in New Jersey. Dean Alexander Wright III arrives allegedly to write a book, but she wonders if she will survive the last chapter.

Sub-genre readers will enjoy these three fine contemporary romances starring likable protagonists.

Her Better Half
C.J. Carmichael
Harlequin Next
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0373881096 $5.50

In Toronto after being fired from an investment bank, Gary Holloway takes up yoga as a means to release his rage and frustration. Six months later he has found his enlightened side, which mean divorcing his wife Lauren and deserting their fourteen years old twin daughters Jamie and Devin to continue his spiritual journey with his instructor Melanie.

One year later, Lauren still remains in shock and struggles to adapt to the abandonment and being a single mom to teenage twins. The three female Holloways have given up their affluent lifestyle, much of their relationships with family and friends and their home as they relocate to a working class neighborhood. Their next door neighbor, single mom of six year old Shelley, private investigator Erin Karmeli offers the fallen upper class elitist a trainee job while diner owner Murphy Jones offers friendship. Lauren adjusts to her new surroundings and makes friends. However, Erin, who does not fear death, has one apprehension, Shelley's wellbeing, which forces the three Holloways to lovingly change even further.

HER BETTER HALF is a strong family drama starring fully developed likable characters who seem real because of relationships such as the friendship between Lauren and Erin as the newcomer believes the very tall ultra thin neighbor initially was a hooker then a drug addict before learning the truth as her pal becomes a loving sister to her. The other relationships also appear genuine so that this tear jerker makes for a strong contemporary fiction tale that fans will fully appreciate.

Suburban Secrets
Donna Birdsell
Harlequin Next
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
037388110X $5.50

Her husband left her and their three kids for an older woman so Grace Becker is struggling while Tom is having a good time and stretching out the divorce settlement so that she will soon have to beg. Grace is on the verge of capitulation when too much alcohol and a game of truth or dare leaves her giving her undies to a hunk who happens to be much younger than her

The hunk turns out to be Secret Service Agent Pete Slade, who thinks she can help him with her knowledge of Russian cuisine. Within two nights of losing her underwear, the suburban soccer mom is kicking up meals for a Russian mobster while males notice how pretty the single mom of three is including Agent Slade.

An over the top story line starring a likable woman wondering how she went from soccer mom to undercover espionage agent in a few hours of drinking make for a zany wild contemporary tale that has the audience wondering what is next for the heroine. The story line is fast-paced from the moment that a slightly drunk Grace chose dare and never decelerates until the final undie confrontation. Fans will enjoy Grace's wild turnaround.

The Merry Widow's Diary
Susan Crosby
Harlequin Next
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0373881088 $5.50

Her two daughters are attending college so suburban widow Jill Townsend feels lonely especially since her spouse, Wade, a college professor, only recently died. She knows she needs to get a life, but finds it hard not just because she is mourning. The difficulty lies in the reality that she has been a mother and a wife; but not a Jill in almost two decades.

However, Wade leaves her with an enigmatic key that makes little sense to her and related information that adds to her confusion, but soon takes Jill from suburbia to Manhattan where she plans to live the good life of a swinging single merry widow. Her husband's best friend writer Alan Haggerty refuses to allow Jill to totally sever her former life as a college professor's wife. What he fails to tell Jill is his reason is selfish; he has hidden his love for her from the moment Wade introduced her to him.

This is an insightful family drama as a grieving Jill wants to help her daughters with their anguish, but has issues of her own as she struggles to start over while still mourning her late spouse and worrying about her children. Readers will feel for Jill who's on a quest to find a life that she can label Jill instead of a role like widow and mother without devastating her cherished relationships with her daughters or the memory of Wade. Readers who appreciate a deep character study will appreciate the well written entertaining THE MERRY WIDOW'S DIARY.

Leaving L.A.
Rexanne Becnel
Harlequin Next
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
037388107X $5.50

In Los Angeles, thirty-nine year old rocker Zoe Vidrine is stunned to learn she is pregnant. Knowing the party lifestyle would prove hard to resist and not wanting to harm the life she carries, Zoe decides to leave L.A. and her hedonistic druggie ex behind and return to her Louisiana roots though she left there without a look back over two decades ago to escape her ditsy hippie mom.

Her widowed sister Alice does not welcome Zoe back though she allows her to stay at her farm. Zoe detests the holier than thou attitude of Alice, whose late husband was a minister. However, Alice fears her wild sibling's influence on her teenage nephew. Meanwhile newspaper editor Joe Reeves is attracted to Zoe, but though she reciprocates she trusts no one; not even her sister let alone a guy wanting her body though she admits he seems to desire her though she is pregnant.

LEAVING L.A. is a fascinating family drama starring estranged sisters whose outlooks on life are dramatically opposite. Zoe, in spite of her sister's constant anger which seems unfair and misplaced is the more intriguing of the siblings as Alice is prim and responsible. Their relationship makes the tale as each sees the other as the great sinner with Zoe disgusted with the pious in your face religion of her sister while Alice detests her sibling's loose behavior influencing her son. Though the ending is way too simple for this family feud, Rexanne Becnel provides an interesting tale of two sisters.

Fear of Falling
Cindi Myer
Harlequin Blaze
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0373792786 $4.75

In Colorado artist, John "Sartyr" Sartain is known as much for his erotic paintings as his lifestyle. Rumors abound that he built a castle high in the mountains to be away from peeping paparazzi when he hosts orgies. His business agent Douglas Tanner hires business manager Natalie Brighton to represent Sartyr's growing empire. She is to meet him for the first time at his remote abode.

At night Natalie arrives at Sartyr's isolated castle; not knowing what to expect from her employer. She finds herself already half seduced just by his work, but in person the lure is stronger. He feels the same pull. However, as they share games of lust and forbidden love, someone hates the artist so much a negative campaign has begun to destroy his reputation. Soon Natalie will find herself facing peril from an adversary who loathes Sartyr or perhaps from the great man himself who could be purposely playing adrenaline games with her heart.

FEAR IF FALLING is a heated contemporary romance starring a likable heroine and a hunk aptly nicknamed Sartyr. Because of the remoteness of the castle, the danger to the "innocent" heroine and the dark lure of the lead male, fans will fell that Cindi Myer has written a solid modern day gothic romantic thriller.

Just Trust Me
Jacquie D'Alessandro
Harlequin Blaze
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0373792808 $4.75

When Dr. Brett Thornton invented an antiaging formula, he did not expect the uproar that would cause though he should know better with the American capitalist market emphasis on youth or the demand on his time from companies wanting to own his product. Unable to cope with the pressure, Brett decides he needs to escape where no one in their right mind would follow him. He flees to the Andes in Peru so that he can spend quiet time as a tourist and decide what to do with his elixir.

Instead of preparing for her sister's upcoming wedding, Kayla Watson is heading to Peru disguised as a tourist traveling the Andres Mountains. Outraged but with no choice if she wants to remain employed her boss Nelson has sent her to keep an eye on Brett to insure he does not sell his formula while in South America. Her instructions are to use any dirty trick she must even her body to keep the scientist from selling. However, she does not need to fake her desires as Kayla finds herself in heat as she lusts after Brett although exhausted from the mountainous trek. As she falls in love, she fears her beloved will dump her once he learns who she is and why she is on tour.

Jacquie D'Alessandro is at her best with this terrific blazing romantic suspense thriller high in the Andes. The action-packed story line never slows down from the onset when Brett's creation becomes known until a distressed Kayla risks all for the scientist she loves. Fans will appreciate their relationship built originally on distrust and love as the heroine knows she must reveal why she is on tour, but fears her beloved will dump her. Kayla's concerns changed from job security to mate security in a refreshing setting that makes for a fun contemporary tale.

Angels of the Big Sky
Roz Denny Fox
Harlequin SuperRomance
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0373713681 $5.50

Former Navy pilot Marlee Stein leaves San Diego with her young daughter Jo Beth to start fresh in her hometown, Whitepine, Montana. She hopes the change of scenery and her family being there will help Jo Beth adjust to the loss of her father Cole who died at thirty six years old from lymphatic cancer. In Big Sky Country, Marlee plans to help her brother run the family's charter air service, Cloud Chasers and mercy missions for Angel Fleet.

To her shock and feeling a bit guilty, Jo Beth finds herself attracted to park ranger Wylie Ames. He reciprocates, but he too wants no relationships at this time as he raises his son Dean. However their respective children ignore the adult concerns and become close friends. As the single parents fall in love, Dean is diagnosed with cancer making life difficult for his father, but also disturbs his best friend and her mother, still grieving their loss.

ANGELS OF THE BIG SKY is a heartwrenching tale that stars a fascinating female who is unsure that love is strong enough to deal with a second cancer victim of someone who means so much to her. Marlee makes the tale seem so real as she loves father and son, but struggles with coping with the death threatening illness after she and he daughter watched Cole fade away. Her fears include how Jo Beth copes. Readers will appreciate Roz Denny Fox's well written realistic family drama.

The Return of David McKay
Ann Evans
Harlequin SuperRomance
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, ON, Canada, M3B 3K9
0373713703 $5.50

Ten years ago David McKay left Broken Yoke, Montana to follow his ambitious dreams, vowing only to come back for his grandparents. Two years ago his grandfather Herbert passed away, but before his grandmother could fulfill her husband's wish to have his ashes scattered, she underwent heart surgery. Now feeling recovered she plans to ride a horse over rough terrain to complete the quest over David's objection that she is too frail to do so; he offers a plane instead, but she says no as that is cheating her late spouse.

David decides to go along to insure his grandmother is safe during the two week trek. However, his gut is hit even harder when he learns his high school girlfriend Adriana "Addy" D'Angelo will be their guide; the girl he left behind. Both insist they are not in love, but a matchmaking grandmother with help from above knows better.

The key to this Big Sky romance is the characterizations (including the mountains) as the lead couple and the matchmaking grandmother are three dimensional protagonists. The story line focuses o

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