 |
Book Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Reviewer's
Bookwatch |
Reviewer's Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
The Slave Boy
Laurie Sheehan
Gopher Publishers
ISBN 90-76953-64-3 Price 9.99 British pounds
www.gopherpublishers.com +44 (0) 1343550245
Mark Lawson, Reviewer
marklawson@public-relations.freeserve.co.uk
Olaudah Equiano and his sister were among countless thousands of children who were wrenched
from their African homeland in the 17th century to suffer the inhuman and degrading brutality of
transportation and slavery.
From the moment Olaudah Equiano was cruelly snatched from the security of his Igbo village in
modern Nigeria, his life was never to be the same again. Transported to Barbados and the sugar
plantations Equiano was lucky to escape the fate of many who died of fever and overwork. An
English naval officer looking for a 'Blackamoor' servant to impress his friends bought him and
renamed the boy Gustavus Vassa.
After six years in the navy, where he saw action during the seven years war, his master returned
the
slave boy to the East Indies. Here, his luck started to change when his new master rewarded his
quick wits and honesty with the opportunity to purchase his freedom. Olaudah, now a young man,
returned to England.
Olaudah Equiano thereafter devoted his time and energies to helping abolish the infamous slave
trade and his own account 'The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa, the
African', made a great impact on the public. The book was influential in bringing an end to the
slave
trade of the 18th and 19th centuries.
Laurie Sheehan's widely researched book is an evocative tribute to Olaudah Equiano. It brings the
horrors of the slave trade to light in a way which, sadly, we can all too easily identify with in
modern
times. Where ever possible, he has included actual conversations and speeches: in the absence of
recorded dialogue, Equiano's descriptions have been drawn on to imagine what may have been
said.
Laurie Sheehan is an established author. He has previously written children's biographies of Lord
Shaftesbury and Dr. Barnado as well as three curriculum- linked historical fiction stories
Tough Beginnings: How Baby Animals Survive
Marilyn Singer, author and Anna Vojtech, illustrator
Henry Holt and Company
ISBN 0-8050-6164-9, 32 pp., $16.95 Picture Book (Hardback), Ages 4 - 8
Lynne Remick, Reviewer
UnderCoverReader@aol.com
With its surprising animal facts and enlightening art work, Tough Beginnings provides a vivid
learning experience for both readers and non-readers. Each two-page spread features different
creatures--sea turtles, whales, bats, ducks, opossums, fowl, Komodo dragons, cicadas, penguins,
frogs and toads, kangaroos, caterpillars, and even humans--and includes both informative text and
telling illustrations!
As an added bonus, a "Did you know that..." section at the end of the book discusses the natural
hardships that other animals--eels, flamingos, hornbills, eagles, sharks, rabbits, swifts, giraffes,
lions,
deer and seals--must face in order to survive.
"It's rough to have too many siblings...How many sisters and brothers are too many? Ten?
Fifteen?
Twenty? A mother Virginia opossum--the common opossum of North America--can give birth to
as
many as fifty babies at one time. The problem is that the mother has just thirteen nipples to
provide
milk for her young. Only the strongest babies manage to find a nipple and nurse. The others die of
starvation."
Tough Beginnings, like many of Singer's other picture books, informs, educates and entertains. As
usual, Singer demonstrates a keen eye for detail and a knack for relaying information in an
easy-to-understand manner. In this style, a timely author note at the end of the book asks readers
not
to make it tougher on animal babies to survive by polluting their homes or destroying their
habitats.
Anna Vojtech combines a unique blend of watercolor charm and realism to result in stunning,
artistic
interpretations of the subject animals.
Much like Singer's A Pair Of Wings, the appeal of Tough Beginnings extends beyond the
prescribed
age group. However, with its focus on predators who kill and eat baby animals, it may be more
appropriate for older children, rather than younger. All in all, this book has longevity and will
intrigue a broad age range of children.
The More Than Any Human Being Needs To Know About Freelance Writing Workbook
Jenna Glatzer
Absolute Write Publishing
c/o Booklocker.com
PO Box 2399, Bangor, ME 04402-2399
ISBN: 1-59113-058-1 2nd edition 2001 (191 p.)
Format: PDF (Adobe Acrobat Reader) Download Price: $12.95
http://www.booklocker.com/bookpages/jennaglatzer01.html
Judy Justice, Reviewer
http://www.creativepurrsuits.com/reststopnews/
Jenna Glatzer's More Than Any Human Being Needs To Know About Freelance Writing
Workbook
is a really a writing workshop in ebook format. Written in a warm, witty style the author takes on
the role of mentor. Readers will appreciate the printable forms and wealth of information provided
as they learn insider secrets of a successful freelancer as well as the basics of setting up a freelance
writing business. While I have read other books on this topic, I have to say it's the personal
touches
Ms. Glatzer incorporated into this ebook that makes this one really stand out.
Using many examples from her own files, aspiring freelancers are introduced to the back and forth
communications between Glatzer and various editors she has contacted and worked with. Sharing
insights gained from successful, and not so successful, freelancing experiences, Glatzer lays out
the
ups, downs and stresses she has encountered during her own career.
The author is well-published in national and international publications having had her work appear
in
such magazines as: Woman's World, Writers Digest and many others too numerous to mention
here.
Both sides of the query process are explained as Ms. Glatzer puts on her editorial hat and shares
snippets of the queries she reads as Editor-in-Chief of her
http://www.absolutewrite.com/workbook.htm Absolute Write website and WritersOnline.net.
http://www.writeronline.net And she is not hesitant in explaining, quite colorfully, what kind of
wording to avoid when writing a query letter
"Beware of mouse language: "I think," "I might," "I hope," "can I" and "may I," are all mouse
terms." (p.45)
The ebook is very comprehensive, new freelancers will find the section on how to structure an
article, after narrowing the focus on the 'big idea,' especially helpful. What, you don't have a 'big
idea?' Don't worry, by the time you finish Chapter 1 (p.11,) you'll have so many ideas you'll be
writing non-stop to get them all down. Ms. Glatzer explains the best way to use one 'big idea' for
several different markets, again, there are worksheets to help you grasp this concept.
The PDF format allows for easy print-out of the many worksheets provided throughout. This is,
actually, the only ebook I ever printed out in full. (I even managed to print out double-sided
pages.)
Now I can refer to the book wherever I am - even if not near a computer. The advantage to
reading
the book on the computer is that you can access the ten pages of paying market links that Glatzer
provides. You do have to be connected to the Internet to get the full benefit of this feature.
Just reading the listings of markets you may not be familiar with stimulates the imagination. One
thing that is really nice about ebooks is that they are easily updated so the market links can be
kept
current with each new edition.
I could list many more helpful features, but there are just too many of them. This is a real working
writer's ebook, Ms Glatzer doesn't fool us into thinking that a freelance career is going to be easy.
She is quite up-front about the amount of work involved; but, she does provide many, many
options
for new ways to think about writing and many tips and tricks that will expand your freelance
opportunities.
You can likely tell that I gave this book a rating of excellent. I recommend it to anyone who
wants
to learn more about how to become a freelance writer, or for any freelancer who wants to renew
enthusiasm for the freelancing way of life.
Red Sandstone: An Angus Childhood
Helen Mudie
Gopher Publishers UKI
14 Harrow Inn Close , ELGIN MoraY , Scotland, IV30 IBP
5.50 British pounds exc postage and packing on the website and 7.75 British pounds retail
including postage and packing.
125 pages, www.gopherpublishers.com fax # +44(0) 1343 550781
Jody Allen
Reviewer
With autobiographies making a resurgence, the publishing market appears to be flooded with
personal stories of the famous and infamous. So it is especially refreshing to find a story of a
time-gone-by, in a location not found on the front pages of today's news. Red Sandstone: An
Angus
Childhood is the recollection of young Scottish woman's life in the early part of the last century: a
time of innocence before the world felt the ravages of a world war. Ms Mudie's memories of the
time period are rich in detail and humor giving the reader a glimpse into a time when life was
simple
or was it?
As a Reid Lichtie along with her brother Alex, Helen Mudie grew up in the Scottish Royal Burgh
of
Arbroath with its rich red earth that could be washed from the author's clothes but from her heart.
Throughout her reminiscences she shares with readers not only the good times but the bad as
well.
For those who lived during the early 20th Century, but a world away, many will find many of Ms.
Mudie's life experiences not so far removed from their own. Whether it is a favorite toy (Tommy,
a
wooden horse on wheels), a childhood activity discovering their local world shared with a sibling
or
the "low days" of childhood which included life-threatening illnesses, each provides the reader a
unique insight into a time period of childhood innocence on the brink of war.
What makes this book so enjoyable is the clear voice of the author. Her memories are written in
snippets which could create a sketchy mish mash for the reader but her chapter headings work
well
to organize the memories. This book will appeal not only to those who enjoy Scottish history but
also amateur genealogist researching their Scottish ancestors be they from Angus or Scotland of
the
period. In Red Sandstone: An Angus Childhood, Ms Mudie's memories are an exceptional
example
of the kind of primary resource one who is doing family research seeks which can provide clues
that
go well beyond any information found in vital statistic sources.
This reviewer can highly recommend Red Sandstone: An Angus Childhood by Helen Mudie as
one
of this year's unique finds. That it comes from a small, unknown press, Gopher Publishing
(www.gopherpublishing.com), should not deter the reader from making this one an interesting
addition to their home library.
The Poisonwood Bible
Barbara Kingsolver
Perennial/HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St. New York, NY 10022
ISBN: 0-06-093053-5, $14.00, paperback, 546pp, 1998
Isaac Arten
Reviewer
When we think about missionaries, the image that generally comes to mind is one of a brave
explorer-type in a small airplane. "Here's Ted the brave missionary, going off in his Cessna to
bring
salvation to Darkest Africa." Some of us might remember Nate Saint and his friends, who had a
fair
amount of success in their mission field before being turned on and killed by a hostile native
population. But, when thinking of missionaries, no one expects a family like the Prices, whose
lives
in the Belgian Congo the diary-like entries in Barbara Kingsolver's
The Poisonwood Bible tells us about.
It would be harder to imagine a family less suited to the mission field. As the story begins, mother
Orleanna Price is reflecting on the experience and the reader gets the impression that she is unsure
whether it was healthy or not. Once her daughters have chimed in with their first impressions, the
picture is almost complete; the family which came "bearing Betty Crocker cake mixes into the
jungle" would have done better to stay in Bethlehem, Georgia, and preach to the choir. They
know
nothing about how the jungle works, how the people's attitudes are formed or even how irrelevant
the things they brought with them to sustain "the bare minimum" of human comfort would
be.
I hope I haven't given the impression that the book should end with this conclusion; the very fact
that the Prices are so unprepared for their new lives is the reason the reader can appreciate so
much
in The Poisonwood Bible. The note that accompanied this book when I received it as a gift from a
friend of mine said it "looks at missionary work from a whole new perspective; how we can't just
go
to these places and tell them they're heathen and have to change." Indeed, as the Price family
discovers, coming from America certainly does not guarantee a superior understanding of the
whole
world.
The people the Price family meets over the course of The Poisonwood Bible are many and varied.
There is Axelroot, the atheist bush pilot who carries their mail out of the Congo and their supplies
back. Anatole is a schoolteacher, mediator and liason between the Price family and the native
population. Mama Tataba; an enigmatic housekeeper, does her best to teach the new arrivals the
basics of making the land produce, and which plants to avoid touching. Each one teaches a
different
lesson, most of which come back to a spirit of tolerance which exists, in "The Poisonwood Bible,"
not in the missionaries where we might assume it belongs, but in the native people.
While the confrontations between the missionaries and natives might provide enough conflict for
some readers, Kingsolver adds even more when she introduces the political uprising that rocked
the
Belgian Congo in 1960. The missionary family is caught up in the middle of it and the story of
their
half-successful exodus from the Congo could make a book all by itself.
Anyone who has seen "Fiddler on the Roof" will recognize elements of the story in The
Poisonwood
Bible. The theme of ordinary lives irrevocably changed by romance, familial squabbles and politics
are highlighted in Kingsolver's novel by the vast differences in culture the main characters find and
the creative ways these differences are conquered. Early in the book Leah Price comments "It
struck
me what a wide world of difference there was between our sort of games- 'Mother May I,' 'Hide
and
Seek,'- and his: 'Find Food,' 'Recognize Poisonwood,' 'Build a House.'" Differing from "Fiddler" is
who these changes affect the most. Mrs. Price is the family member who suffers through her
daughters being swallowed up by Africa- Nathan Price might have been proud.
The Reverend Nathan Price is never given a chance to explain himself in the diaries of the novel.
His
family members all have opinions of him, and his illustrated bumblings in teaching the Africans
about
God, civilization, sin and politics manage to alienate him from the people he is supposed to
befriend.
This can be seen best in the chapter where the native people, newly introduced to democracy by
the
formation of the Republic of the Congo, vote Jesus out of power.
This would be a poetic stopping place for the novel, but Kingsolver is not content for the story to
end until a part of the Congo rests in each member of the family; in Nathan Price's case, until he
himself rests in a part of the Congo. Loosely following the pattern of "Fiddler on the Roof," one
daughter marries the undesirable Eeben Axelroot, then a string of others; another marries a native
anti-government activist; the third daughter dies of a snakebite and the last goes back to school in
America and uses her experiences in Africa as a standard by which to judge the people she meets
there. At the end of the book, the daughters have lost their united opinion of the Belgian Congo
as a
place they did not want to be and developed very different opinions of the place their childhood
was
mostly spent.
As the Price family left many of their possessions to the mercy of Africa in their headlong rush to
escape, so may a piece of you be left behind when you finish The Poisonwood Bible. Whether you
read it as a novel or as a guide to understanding world culture, this book is one you should never
leave your home continent without. When you do, be sure, following the example of the Price
family, to slip a packet of seeds or a few extra packages of dental floss into the cover. Even if you
never travel beyond America's borders, Kingsolver's poetic language, and touching storytelling
make
The Poisonwood Bible a book well worth picking up.
The Poisonwood Bible was written by Barbara Kingsolver and published in 1998 by Perennial.
Kingsolver is the author of "The Bean Trees" (fiction), "Holding the Line" (nonfiction) and
"Another
America" (poetry).
From Making A Living To Having A Life
Gloria Dunn
Violin Publishing Company
P.O. Box 550, Fairfax, CA 94978
ISBN 0-9660867-5-9, $17.95, 1998, 248 pages, http://www.WorkingChallenged.com
Bonnie Jo Davis
Reviewer
This book was given to me recently by the author as a prelude to some work I am doing on her
web
site. I was immediately attracted to this trade paperback by the gorgeous cover and the subtitle "A
Book For The Working Challenged." Who hasn't been "working challenged" at some point in
their
life?
This valuable and practical book is particularly appropriate now more than ever. We've been
downsized, rightsized, laid off and demoralized over and over again. Many companies are using
our
recent tragic events and the economy as excuses for bad choices and equally bad behavior.
In my opinion it's about time we took back control of our careers and our life. From Making A
Living To Having A Life will help us do just that.
The book begins with a story that tells how the author decided one day to "run away" and follows
her through her own discovery of her perfect work and her fulfilling life. The author, Gloria Dunn,
has been there and done that and offers in her book the nuggets of wisdom she discovered along
the
way. Ms. Dunn is an organizational behavior specialist, professional speaker, consultant and
president of Wiser Ways To Work(R).
The many topics covered in this book include: how to find the work of your dreams, how to make
your current job more fulfilling, how to determine whether to leave or to stay, what to do if you're
laid off or fired and how to have a more fulfilling life that is enhanced by your work and not
dominated by it.
The material in the book is presented logically and illustrated by true stories of the working
challenged. The book is fully interactive with quizzes, lists and cartoons along with an overall
summary of important wisdom learned at the end of the book.
Anyone who works will benefit from reading this book. It is particularly re commended for those
who have recently lost their job or who have a job they can't leave but wish they could.
Outback
Aaron Fletcher
Leisure Books/Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
276 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY l000l
Phone 1-800-481-9191, dorchesterpub.com
ISBNO-8439-4686-5, $5.99 U.S., 6.99 Can., 12.95 Aus.
Ruth Kuster
Reviewer
This is a tale of a cruel, harsh country and of those who survive and triumph ----- of strong men
and
stronger women, of kindness in the midst of cruelty, of a marriage which has to all appearances
nothing to recommend it. But that marriage between the bastard child of a convict, Pat Garrity,
and
the aborigine girl he purchased for a few tools and scraps of metal survives and turns into a love
affair, the founding of a family dynasty and the establishment of the enormous sheep ranch in the
outback of Australia----Wayamba Station.
Mayrah, the "abo" girl, brings to the union a native intelligence and a hunger for learning. (When
he
bartered for a wife, Pat had expected to see a typical stocky, dirty, ugly-featured native Australian
like the ones he had dealt with in his business as a grazier.) So he was amazed when the trader
appeared at his hut one day with a slender, exotic creature with lovely face and figure. In an
unbelievably short time, Pat and Mayrah managed to turn cultural and language differences to
advantage, each learning from the other.
The story tells in detail the problems and difficulties the couple faced as they advanced from
working
for an employer to ownership of their own station. Lack of rain and grass for the sheep, disease,
wild boars and dingoes, grass fires, and thieves-----these were some of the difficulties which they
encountered each day. When robbers came to their camp early in the story, Pat was shot while
killing one of the two intruders; Mayrah dealt with the other with her lance and the
double-barreled
shotgun. Then she nursed her husband back to health with native remedies, stripped the would-be
robbers' bodies and buried them, washed and appropriated their clothing for herself, and corralled
the robbers' horses.
Each day Pat realized a little more just what a prize he had in Mayrah!
If you, too, are curious about the "Land Down Under," your attention will be riveted to this book
from beginning to end! The author's ability to generate suspense is illustrated in a paragraph
describing Mayrah's stalking of the robbers, who had assumed that Garrity was alone in
camp:
"He (Garrity) was looking at Mayrah. She was naked and her slim body stretched out along the
ground under the lowermost branch in the bush, and supported on her left hand and knees. The
long,
heavy stick she always carried was in her right hand and parallel to her body, an inch off the
ground.
She was completely motionless, completely invisible against the mottled pattern of the ground and
foliage and at the same time in plain sight once the lines of her body were picked out. There was a
flowing movement, a couple of leaves on the lower branch of the bush stirred slightly as though a
breath of wind had touched them, and she was gone, disappearing behind a tree."
The next paragraph goes on to say, "And he (Garrity) realized what she was doing. She was
stalking. Fear exploded within him, and he gripped himself to keep from crying out and warning
her
away. It would serve no purpose to call out, because she probably wouldn't understand. And they
would be warned. But she was only a small, thin woman, and they were two armed men. And all
would be lost if he lost her."
At no point does the book become dull or disinteresting. The author has four other titles listed,
Outback Station, Walkabout, Wallaby Track, and Outback Legacy. I look forward to reading
them
all!
This Is The Place
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
America House Book Publishers
PO Box 1109 Frederick, Maryland, 21702
ISBN: 1-58851-352-1, $19.95, 1-800-444-3333 http://www.americahouse.com
David Leonhard
Reviewer
Believe it or not, it was the title that drew me to This Is The Place. From a savvy marketer like
author Carolyn Howard-Johnson, I would have expected a title with a real splashy hook. From
someone as enthusiastic as she, I would have expected a title with some oomph! This title seemed
so
so so out of character.
But that's because I knew nothing of Mormon history. Now I do. And so does anyone else who
reads This Is The Place a tale tossing on the stormy seas of a society divided by religion. "This is
the Place" is what Brigham Young had said when he first led his Mormon flock into the Salt Lake
Valley, where they would be free from the persecution they felt in the East. Howard-Johnson
writes:
"They were bringing with them a determination that would be tapped to deal with the harshness of
this land that both defied life and nourished it with spiritual intensity. He had said, This is the
place.
And it was."
Howard-Johnson warned me that her novel is "literary" and might not appeal to men. If literary
means there is a lot of angst and torment and gnashing of teeth, or at least a valley full of
soul-searching, then it is literary indeed. Howard-Johnson crafts very realistic characters
struggling
with prejudices, family pressure and their own internal contradictions.
Set in 1959, This Is The Place is built of one intriguing layer upon the next. Each generation of
the
Eccles family replays the same challenges, the same choices and the same griefs of the previous
one.
Early in the book, I lost track of how many generations carry the same burdens. Half the fun is in
trying to keep track of who is who.
Howard-Johnson calls her novel "historical fiction", but when I asked her, she said it is also "a
cross
between memoir and novel." Much about Skylar Eccles, the heroine of the story, is
autobiographical. Like her Mormon father and "gentile" mother. Like being the youngest reporter
ever hired by the Salt Lake Tribune at that time. Like the piano dragged across the plains.
So Howard-Johnson writes about Skylar Eccles, who writes about various family members who
tell
her about her ancestors. Trying to follow the layers in This Is The Place is a bit like trying to keep
track of the men playing female characters disguised as men playing roles as women in
Shakespeare's As You Like It.
To say that This Is The Place is controversial is an understatement. Howard-Johnson paints a
vivid
portrait of a society torn by prejudice, not on the surface, but in undercurrents just below the
secret everybody shares.
About her book signings, she says, "Unfortunately, I can't determine how to keep away the
religious
right who want to convert me away from Mormonism, which is kind of hard to do because I'm
not
one!" In hindsight, Howard-Johnson seems to have written such protests right into her novel:
"Sky
had the anonymity of a Mormon name bestowed upon her by her father. Sky had the coloring
carried
through the same seminal link. She was rarely asked if she was Mormon; people just
assumed."
Maybe the protesters should read the book and find out about Howard-Johnson er I mean
anticipated ... but maybe I would have to give Skylar, for themselves. And maybe you should read
This Is The Place, too. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Ride The Rough String
Eugene C. Vories
Family Publishers
P.O. Box 214, LaVeta, CO 81055
ISBN 1-56901-273-3 Trade paper back, 253 pgs. $10.60, post pd.
Meredith Campbell
Reviewer
Ever wonder what it felt like to ride a bucking bronco? The bronco rider, twisted in the saddle,
hat
flying to the winds, legs drawn up and one hand holding the rein, embodies the violent poetry of
the
modern western rodeo. But, in the 1880's on Colorado's eastern prairies the bronco buster wasn't
a
performer; he was a working man, a necessary hand on a cattle ranch.Often he was a youthful
drifter, circulating among the cow outfits, earning his beans and bunkhouse bed by letting his guts
be
shaken to jelly and his head be whipped back and forth until his nose bled. These daredevils
tended
to die young or were hopelessly crippled by age thirty.
Dean Archer finds himself forced into just such a role. But, he's no bronco buster. He's the former
foreman of a sizeable spread he walked away from three years before to follow a girl to Ohio.
After
going there he realized that sidewalks and humidity weren't for him, and neither was the girl.
Now,
thirty something, he has returned to his beloved Colorado, the land where the distant Rocky
Mountains paint the horizon purple.
A local rancher hires Archer to find out who is stealing cattle during the summer Roundup, which
the area's cowmen run as a pool. Because of a saloon fight, the elected roundup boss hates
Archer.
So when Archer joins the roundup party, the boss assigns him, exclusively, to ride the "rough
string," the meanest, orneriest, horseflesh this side of Hell. Normally, the hands would rotate
taking
turns among themselves to ride the rough string. That way no one cowboy would have to suffer
the
daily torment entailed trying to stay on one of these monsters' backs. But, Archer takes his
ill-deserved punishment over the four months of rounding up cattle, refusing to allow the boss to
break him.
An old time cowboy himself, born and bred on a cattle ranch in Colorado, Eugene Vories
describes
the roundup and the cowboys of that time with exquisite accuracy. One might say, he tells the
reader
"everything they want to know but are afraid to ask about" cowboy life.Without the cloying
sentimentality or overdone violence of many Westerns, Vories tells a gripping, dramatic story
that
rings true--a story about hard work, self-reliance, and love. Dean Archer meets Marian Shelly,
spinster daughter of the rancher who hires him. The way he overcomes his physical trials, survives
saloon brawls, poisoning, fist fights, and gun shoot-outs and does the task for which he is hired
makes the couple's shy love story that much more poignant.
The whole family will thoroughly enjoy Ride The Rough String.
Adams' Bookshelf
The Book Of Five Rings
Miyamoto Musashi
Bantam Books
ISBN# 0-553-35170-2, Price: U.S. $10.95, pages: 116
The Book Of Five Rings was originally written many centuries ago, in feudal Japan, a period of
"great social change." The country was united, and many samurai were out of work. Therefore,
master-less samurai roamed across Japan looking for other samurai, against whom to test their
blades (swords). Miyamoto Musashi was one of these master-less samurai.
However, Musashi was also a philosopher, a sumi-e painter, and a sculptor. Sumi-e, for those
who
are unfamiliar, is a form of Japanese painting, that emphasizes the white space in the painting, as
well as the lines painted.
When Musashi was an old man, he was able to write down coherently, the philosophy that had
determined the course of his life path. This writing is The Book Of Five Rings.
Reader's knowledgeable about Zen thinking will find Musashi's philosophy to be familiar. For
those
don't know, Zen is a philosophy, that focuses on being aware of one's surroundings, and of
knowing
intuitively how to respond to events. Zen, unlike Buddhism, is a philosophy that believes you can
achieve enlightenment in the present lifetime.
Heiho, Musashi's philosophy, is predicated on this belief. It is also, as Musashi explains,
"necessary
to keep in mind that the essence of Heiho is to build an indomitable spirit and an iron will; to
believe
that you cannot fail in doing anything." It is a demanding but optimistic philosophy.
One of the most refreshing things about Miyamoto Musashi is that his philosophy is more
practical
than theoretical. Therefore it is possible to practice the philosophy to a greater or lesser extent.
Musashi himself ostensibly lived this philosophy. We are given evidence that this is the case, from
multiple sources, including Musashi himself, that he was undefeated (in combat) in his lifetime, for
instance.
The Book of Five Rings is a book for warriors who are seeking enlightenment. But it is also a
book
for people, in general, who are concerned with discovering the truth in things, and with living life
to
the fullest. Is the book that good? Is the philosophy that remarkable? To both questions I say
yes.
Musashi recognizes that their are many paths in life. He emphasizes four such paths, including that
of the artisan, that of the merchant, and the path of farmer. Of course his path is the fourth one,
and
the most rarely followed. Interestingly enough, Musashi posits that, whichever path you choose,
you
should remember to apply your knowledge to other things. Specifically, he says, "To know one
thing
is to know 1,00o things." If you are a financier, for example, you should be able to apply your
knowledge as a financier to the study of other occupations, and to the understanding of how many
things work, generally.
Whatever path you choose to follow, Musashi says, you should seek to learn as much as you can
about that field. This includes knowing the tools, skills, and knowledge of that path. If you desire
to
become a master of the field you choose then your studying should be even more rigorous. To
become a master swordsman, is to know intimately the ways of the swordsman, to know the tools
of
the swordsman, and to know the swordsman's enemies. Ultimately however, it is to follow the
path
of Heiho.
Musashi compares the path of the warrior to that of a carpenter in an interesting an plausible
analogy. He also compares the path of the master warrior to that of the master carpenter. He
illustrates how the master carpenter must be intimately familiar with his or her tools and should
certainly be able to use them for any given (carpentry) purpose. The master carpenter should also
know the types of wood to use for a given project or aspect of a project, such as the doors of a
house. Furthermore, the master carpenter must know how and where to construct a house,
keeping
the landscape and the location of the site firmly in mind. To become a master, Musashi reminds
us,
requires great determination, learning and experience.
Musashi points out, that when you have mastered your own craft, you must also master the crafts
of
your enemies. "Unless," Musashi says, "one is familiar with the other schools, my Niten Ichriyu
[school of Heiho] school cannot be fully mastered."
For Musashi it meant knowing the various martial arts extant at the time. It also meant knowing
the
various weapons employed by practitioners of those arts. It is a daunting task to be sure. But, as
Musashi calmly reminds the reader, his school of philosophy is vastly superior to any of his
opponents' philosophies.
Musashi goes on to describe the other schools. He also devotes two large chapters to a discussion
of
the various attacks and movements available to a warrior. Some of the more interesting names
that
Musashi comes up with for his moves include, "crossing the expanse", "to restrain the pillow,"
and
"to become the enemy". He also describes briefly, the various weapons one might use, such as the
sword, gun and halberd.
What Musashi does not do, is describe the various other weapons one may use in combat. These
weapons include any device that you can think of. Bizarrely enough, Musashi was known to use a
variety of weapons including fence posts and sticks (when swords were not available). Musashi
believes that it is important to surprise the enemy and to use innovative techniques. Innovation, he
stresses, is one key to winning. The other is knowing the rhythm of a situation and acting
appropriately.
The Book of Five Rings is a short, but challenging read. It will probably be most appreciated by
practitioners of the martial arts, and others who want to learn a specific method of applying
Zen-like
principles to their everyday existence. I doubt that anyone will be able to fully grasp the meanings
and intricacies of this book after one reading. Small matter though, because it's about the size of a
back-pants pocket and is great reading material on the bus, the subway, or elsewhere.
Sage Adams
www.blackmoose.com
Brenda's Bookshelf
The Way Home
Allison Johnson
Five Star Books
PO Box 403, Unity, ME 04988
ISBN 0786230339 $25.95 1-800-223-1244
On the eve of her expected promotion, Carolyn Sayles is called out of town to deal with her
errant
father. Things couldn't get much worse than a runaway father until her car is totalled and her boss
calls....
Rex Barnett, all around good guy, has his own troubles. In the midst, Rex takes his dog to visit
the
residents of Desert Rose for Animal Friends. During these visits, he becomes friends with many of
the elderly. One of them, Carolyn Sayles father who just wants to go back home.
A poignant story of a family broken by years of sorrow, past mistakes and regret, The Way Home
is
a tear jerker as Carolyn learns to live rather than survive. But living and loving is much more
difficult
than she ever dreamed as Rex reunites with his children and she makes decisions that will change
her
life forever.
Johnson fills a need by telling this tale of Rex and Carolyn as they learn they have much more in
common than they believed as the story comes to an end with Edgar going home again and life
beginning anew for his children left behind.
A True And Perfect Knight
Susan C. Charnley
Leisure Books/Dorchester Publishing
276 Fifth Avenue Suite 1008, New York NY 10101-1010
0843949457 $4.99, 1-800-481-9191 http://www.dorchesterpub.com/
Alone and cast out from her peers, Genvieve Dreyford was afraid not for herself but for her dear
sister-in-law and her young son, Thomas. Just as she thought they would all perish, the man
claiming
to be her husband's best friend approaches. Thinking him an enemy as he was the one who took
Roger to his death, Gennie tries her best to stand up for herself and hate the man who saved her
little
group from death. Yet as they make their way to King Edward, her heart softens. Is it enough as
the
King Eof England orders them to marry?
Sir Haven de Sessions has a kind soul and a good heart for those he calls friend. But send on a
mission by order of the King, Haven must control his feelings not allowing his heart to melt for a
only a woman could turn a man to be a traitor. Yet the plan is already in motion with no way for
Haven to turn his back on the widow. Can he put his feelings aside and marry a woman he will
never
be able to trust?
Travels, battles, love and peril is a hard-won war when A True And Perfect Knight meets a fiery
woman destined to rule the keep and his heart. Gennie and Haven's story is not unique by any
means
but Charnley puts conflict to compromise perfectly on paper. This is a story that will tug the heart
strings while putting a smile on the reader's face.
Brenda Ramsbacher
Reviewer
Hine's Bookshelf
Excerpted with permission from:
Escape Routes
Johann Christoph Arnold
Plough Publishing House
Route 381 North, Farmington, PA 15437-9506
ISBN: 0874869196 $10.00 1-800-521-8011
Read it free by email at http://www.emailchapters.com
We all know that money can't buy happiness. Or do we? Usually after addressing an especially
affluent audience I feel as if I've just encountered an ocean of human despair. When I'm asked to
offer one-on-one counseling, the stories I hear confirm this impression.
It's not that the well-to-do have a monopoly on teen suicides, drug use, family break-up, or hidden
alcoholism and domestic abuse. But there's a jarring contrast between the glitter of success and
the
ugliness that often hides beneath the flashy appearance of prosperity.
We're always in danger of ending up possessed by our possessions. When this happens, we lose
our
dignity as human beings and become mere tools for wealth creation. Inevitably, we'll treat other
people as tools too. Strangers to our own humanity, we'll find ourselves adrift just when we
thought
the good life was within our grasp.
The bottom line to the trophies we seek as emblems of our success-a house we own, cars, a
stylish
wardrobe, exotic vacations, good colleges for the kids, or maybe a fast social life at fashionable
spots for eating and entertainment-is always money. And the truth is that money and happiness are
incompatible.
Pope John Paul II has spoken out eloquently against what he called "the culture of death," which
is
the poisonous fruit of such materialism: "The values of being are replaced by those of having. The
only goal that counts is the pursuit of one's own material well-being..." The first to be harmed by
this
are women, children, the sick, the elderly, the poor, and the weak. Instead of loving them for who
they are, we degrade them by measuring their worth in terms of what they have, do, and
produce.
But this culture of death doesn't injure just the poor; it's lethal for those who are economically
comfortable as well. If success is our main goal for living, what happens when it eludes us?
Having
invested so much of our time and even personal identity in our goal, can we bear to fall short? The
terrible secret is that our ambition for the good life may serve only to doom us to self-hate, mental
breakdown, and suicide.
How can we escape this trap? We can start by thinking hard about what we value. Do we put our
faith in money and the material signs of having made it, or do we find our fulfillment in close
relationships and a strong purpose for living? If we recognize the traps of materialism, what are
the
seductive distractions - the house, clothes, cars, and small luxuries of the good life - that we need
to
be rid of? Boldness and honesty are better guides than caution as we act to free ourselves to
pursue
our real goals.
Another thing we must look at is our underlying view of success, for it determines much, if not
most, of the goals we strive toward. Too often we think that by trying to be the perfect parent or
churchgoer we'll reach our potential and contribute to other people's lives. By driving ourselves in
this way, however, we painstakingly prepare our own catastrophe. The "perfect" mother can drive
her children to rebellion (and herself crazy); the "perfect" churchgoer can forget the purpose of his
religion.
Henri Nouwen, who left a life of academic distinction at Yale to become part of a community of
disabled people, came to conclude: "We have been called to be fruitful-not successful, not
productive, not accomplished. Success comes from strength, stress, and human effort. Fruitfulness
comes from vulnerability and the admission of our own weakness."
Too often we do our best to hide our weaknesses and failures from each other by struggling to
keep
up a respectable front. Afraid of revealing our inner unhappiness, we build walls around ourselves
to
block out others. Why do we pass each other by, wrapped up in our own thoughts and fears?
Perhaps it is because we are afraid to be seen for who we are.
By and large, we need to admit that our lives are a series of squandered opportunities. It's
tempting
to refuse to consider this shocking possibility and to turn our mental gaze elsewhere. Yet we
know
we are empty. We suspect that the kinds of success we strive for aren't worth that much anyway.
Our private lives don't express the joy and the love that we would like to think they do. The
promise
of our childhood remains unfulfilled; wounds of the past remain unhealed. We are scared of
getting
sick, of going crazy, of dying.
Yet deep down we all know that life's deepest fulfillment comes from valuing every human
encounter, and showing love to everyone we meet, especially if they are lonely, despairing, or
beaten
down. What excuse can there be for not loving? As soon as we're free from our drive to earn,
produce, and achieve, we'll discover in every encounter the joy of finding someone to love as we
love our self. Such encounters do not vanish with time; they are immortal, with lasting value.
Author Bio: Johann Christoph Arnold is a pastor, counselor, and award-winning author, whose
books on sexuality, marriage, raising children, facing death, forgiving, and finding peace have sold
over 300,000 copies in English and have been translated into 18 foreign languages.
See http://escape.plough.com/er/BooksbytheAuthor.htm
Joe Hine
Reviewer
Terry's Bookshelf
A Fortune Teller Told Me: Earthbound Travels In The Far East
Tiziano Terzani
Crown Publishing
ISBN: 060960841X $23.00, 384 pages
How interesting would it be if we all spent one year of our lives traveling solely by land or
sea?
Far East journalist Tiziano Terzani was warned by a fortune teller not to fly for an entire year.
Being
somewhat of a believer in these things, Terzani took the seer at his word and spent 1993 traveling
by
land, train, cab, bus, steamer, elephant, or cruise ship.
As I read this wonderfully lush travel guide, I was struck by what we 'frequent flyers' miss. We
miss
the rhythm of the country, the smells, common people, and the flip side of local life that airports
don't feature.
While some of Terzani's experiences were a bit graphic for my tastes, and I probably could have
done without yet another political commentary on how the West has corrupted the East, I
thoroughly enjoyed his many visits with local fortune tellers. I especially liked the vestal virgin. I
laughed out loud at Terzani's recanting of that meeting. Some of the fortune tellers he found
during
his travels were accurate, or close to it. Some were charlatans. They were all, however,
interesting.
What a rich life Terzani has lived. All the best to him and I look forward to more stories from his
pen.
The Bridge: A Novel
Doug Marlette
HarperCollins
ISBN: 0060186305 $26.00, 400 pages
This is not an easy book to read if you come from a family who (1) keeps secrets (2) has
interesting
members or (3) lived through some turbulent times. Time and time again I found myself listening
the
Marlette's characters say the exact same things my grandmother/mother/cousins said to me and to
each other. Situations in the book strangely resemble situations in my family....and reading about
them in a published novel made me a bit uneasy.
I loved the way Marlette intertwined the present with the past. In the present, Marlette tells the
story
of Pick Cantrell, an award-winning, but very conflicted cartoonist who moves from New York
City
back to his home in North Carolina and struggles to put his life back together. Waiting to collide
with Pick's story is that of his prickly grandmother "Mama Lucy." Seems she has quite a story of
her
own to tell. Until the ghosts of Pick's present and Mama Lucy's past are put to rest, nothing will
be
settled in either of their lives. Watching the two storylines converge was a pleasure.
This book is a strong testimony for anyone who has struggled with their family tree,
burned/destroyed bridges and would like to re-build them. It's not simple fiction, and is sometimes
difficult to read, but it's certainly worth the effort.
Marlette is a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist. This may be his first turn at fiction, but,
to
me, The Bridge is in the same league with the likes of The Prince Of Tides.
Hope To Die
Lawrence Block
William Morrow
ISBN: 006019832X, $25.00, 320 pages
An upper class Manhattan couple is brutally murdered in their home. Several days later the alleged
criminals are found dead in what looks to be a murder-suicide. The case is closed, as far as local
law
enforcement is concerned.
However, Lawrence Block's long-time hero, Matthew Scudder can't seem to forget the murders.
Maybe it was because he, too, is upper class, lives in the same area of New York as the couple
and
even attended the same concert the victims did the night of their murders. Circumstances pull
Scudder into the deadly circle surrounding the crime and he concludes that there was someone
else
involved in the crime.
Although I enjoyed the murder mystery, I had a problem when, about 1/2 way through the book,
the
author shifted gears and made the story more about the sick serial killer who drives the plot than
about Scudder and the murder victim's family.
This is my first Block book, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but rather than make it 1/2
Scudder and 1/2 killer, I would think the story could have been the first in a series of books on the
evil psychiatrist who kills without remorse and stays one step ahead of his detractors. Maybe the
editors thought a series on a villain wouldn't sell as well as a new Scudder book...who knows?
Hannibal Lecter sold a lot of books, didn't he?
Anyway, the villain is really despicable and evil to the bone. Block develops him well and compels
you to read about him, even though he wrecks havoc on those he chooses to destroy. The ending
certainly invites a sequel. I'll probably read it...not because I'm such a Matt Scudder fan, but to see
where the evil doctor winds up this time.
Enjoy!
Midnight Bayou
Nora Roberts
G.P. Putnam
ISBN 0 399 14824 8 $25.95, 352 pages
Bored, burned out, yuppie lawyer Declan Fitzgerald quits his cushy life in Boston and purchases a
decrepit mansion outside New Orleans. He saw the place while in college and has dreamt of
restoring it for years. Of course, the house is not just fashioned of wood and plaster...it has many
stories to tell...and ghosts to tell them.
Declan hooks up with a mysterious local woman with stories of her own. Together they try to
unravel the mysteries of Manet Hall and finally put the ghosts to rest.
I liked the characters and the way the stories from the past ran concurrently with the present, but I
figured out the 'twist' too early.
I'm not sure where Ms. Roberts grew up, but I can almost bet it was not Louisiana. Writers find
the
bayous and their surroundings full of possible plot lines, but unless they've lived there (or have a
research assistant who did), their work usually leaves me a little disappointed. I continue to buy
their
books hoping This one will have gotten it right. I'm almost always disappointed.
Leave Louisiana stories to the natives who have grown up with Spanish moss, bayous, rich oral
traditions, and just a touch of magic. They're the ones who can weave a spell just by saying:
"Cherie,
have you heard the story about that crazy Yankee lawyer who finally solved the mystery of Manet
Hall? No? Well, just sit yourself down and let me tell you ....."
The Cowboy Kind
Darrell Arnold
Mountain Press Publishing Company
ISBN: 0878424407, $18.00, 124 pages
Having spent the better part of my childhood on the back of a horse pretending to be a 'real
cowgirl,'
I found myself all wrapped up in memories while reading this fresh look at the life of modern-day
cowboys.
The author, a true cowboy himself, traveled all over the south and west photographing working
ranches and the people who own/work them. The author must have spent a good deal of time
interviewing his subjects, because the book offers up some great stories/quotes, too.
The book is broken down into interesting chapters such as: The Cowboy Lifestyle - Ranching
Country - Getting It Done - Family Life - Ranch Horses (my particular favorite) - Defining The
Cowboy - Ranching Traditions.
Some of my favorite quotes: On Ranch Horses: "If a horse ain't plum lame when you get done
nailing the shoes on, you've done all right."
"There is something about a horse. They are a lot prettier animal than a man is, but not quite as
pretty as a woman. They are beautiful animals. I was raising horses when I was raising my
children. I
raised them together. I credit that relationship with the fact that not one of my children has ever
been
involved in with drugs." (Rex Allen)
Or, the one in Family Life: "I'm Dusty, my wife is Sandy, my boy is Rocky, and my daughter's
name
is Wendy. Our names describe this ranch perfectly." (Dusty Ray)
I'm keeping this book on my coffee table for easy access. When I'm feeling penned up, I'll open it
up,
look at the wonderful photos, read the quotes and dream of life under the big sky of Montana or
the
scrub bushes of New Mexico.
Enjoy!
Good Work: When Excellence And Ethics Meet
Howard Gardner, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and WilliamDamon
Basic Books
ISBN: 0 465 02607 9, $26.00 - 288 pages
I was intrigued by the title of this book and really wanted to like it, but found myself struggling to
stay focused while reading it.
The three contributing authors have impressive academic credentials and I suppose this work will
be
used in university classrooms throughout the country, but I think the people who really need to
hear
the message that technology, economics and ethics can (and should) co-exist will not be attracted
to
this format.
The authors define people who do good work as: "People who do good work, in our sense of the
term, are clearly skilled in one or more professional realms. At the same time, rather than merely
following money or fame alone, or choosing the path of least resistance when in conflict, they are
thoughtful about their responsibilities and the implications of their work."
The authors spend a lot of time discussing Journalism and Genetics and how ethics and good
work
in these two arenas are under siege from a market-driven economy. They offer up solutions on
how
to restore good work to the world and they share their methods of studying good work and their
interviewing protocols, but the subject matter is just too academic for the average worker who
struggles with ethics v. economics.
Maybe the book will reach university professors...and they'll share it with their students...and
they'll
go out into the world and strive to do 'good work.'
Let's hope so.
These Granite Islands
Sarah Stonich
Little, Brown
ISBN: 0316815837 $24.95, 320 pages
This stellar debut novel is told from the deathbed of its heroine, 99 year-old Isobel Howard.
Suffering from the aftershock of a major stroke, Isobel's days are blurred between present time
and
past events during her long and colorful life.
While the story centers on Isobel, her tailor husband Victor and their three children, the crux of
the
novel occurs in the summer of 1936. Victor has decided to take the two boys and spend the
summer
on an island he purchased -- without Isobel's knowledge or blessing. Isobel and her daughter
Louisa
stay home to mind the tailor shop and brood about the money Victor spent buying the island.
Isobel and Louisa's quite summer is interrupted by the entrance of Cathryn Malley, a high-strung
heiress with a shady past, a worrisome husband and a potential deadly secret.
Cathryn pulls Isobel into her web of deceit, with dramatic results. As Isobel's life ebbs, her secrets
unfold and we realize that no life is 'normal'.... no one is 'ordinary.' We all have stories to be
told.
This is an author to watch...her prose is compelling and her story-telling ability is quite developed.
Although the story starts slowly, I found myself pulled into the storyline and could not put the
book
down until I had discovered all of Isobel's secrets. I read this book in one sitting and highly
recommend it.
Enjoy!
A Monstrous Regiment Of Women
Laurie King
Bantam Books
ISBN: 0553574566 $6.99, 336 pages
In the second book of her Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series, author Laurie King uncovers the
world of religious fervor and burgeoning feminism in London during the early 1920's.
A wealthy Oxford classmate of Mary's has given up her cushy life to work for a charismatic leader
of
a mostly female congregation. The only trouble with the arrangement is that some of the
congregation's most wealthy patrons are dying under mysterious circumstances.
Mary and Holmes join forces to find the cause and source of the accidental deaths. Their electric
relationship continues to grow, baffling both the young woman and her much older partner.
Russell
continues to learn from AND teach Holmes, while Holmes seems to be pulled closer and closer to
his young charge.
Their difficulties provide a rich backdrop to their relationship, making the entire reading
experience
fulfilling and thoroughly entertaining. Enjoy!
The Beekeeper's Apprentice
Laurie King
Bantam Books
ISBN: 0553571656 $6.99, 405 pages
Imagine yourself a precocious 15-year old orphan wandering the hills around Sussex. Your
guardian
(bitter old maiden aunt) doesn't understand your thirst for knowledge, nor can she keep up with
your
quick mind. Forget relating to kids your own age....you're alone...but not too lonely, as you have
your books and your long walks in the countryside.
Then, wonder upon wonder, on one of your sojourns, you stumble upon the recently retired
Sherlock Holmes and the atmosphere virtually crackles with possibilities.
The Beekeeper's Apprentice is the first in a series of four novels written by Laurie King which
explore the relationship between Holmes and his new pupil, the bright, intuitive and clever Mary
Russell.
The mysteries Holmes and Russell solve are almost secondary to the relationship between the
staid,
reserved detective and the blossoming young woman who is a match for Holmes in every
arena.
If you read these books, I suggest you do so in order, as they build upon each other. They're
worth
your time and they are thoroughly enchanting! Enjoy!
Terry Mathews
Reviewer
Skea's Bookshelf
The Pickup
Nadine Gordimer
Bloomsbury, Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 0747556342 A$29.95 (Paperback), 270 pages
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
ISBN: 0374232105 $24.00
What is it like to move to another country, another culture, a strange place with a strange
language
and strange customs? What sort of people do that?
Nadine Gordimer's imagination follows two young people who do move to another country but
for
very different reasons. Julie Summers, a young South African trying to free herself from her
affluent,
middle-class origins and free to choose where she wants to live; and Ibrahim ibn Musa, from a
tiny
Arab village in the desert, trying desperately to find new opportunities and a new life in any
country
which is willing to take him on. By accident these two young people meet. Maybe by accident,
maybe not, their lives become entwined.
Julie's friends, "young haphazard and selectively tolerant" are a mixed-race bunch who frequent
the
El-Ay Cafe in "a thoroughfare, the bazaar of all that the city had not been allowed to be by the
laws
and traditions of her parents' generation". In a few lines, Gordimer expertly conveys the style and
the
atmosphere of the place and the values of those who come to "sit over a single coffee" and talk.
It's
a meeting place for dissenters, free thinkers, drifters, poor immigrants, prostitutes, poets, "ageing
Hippies and Leftist Jews". Julie's friends, black and white, are a Brotherhood: "elective siblings"
who
totally accept each other and ask no awkward questions; their creed: "whatever you do, love,
whatever happens, hits you, mate, Bra, that's all right with me". It is here that Julie feels at home
not
at her wealthy father's place. It is here that she introduces Ibrahim, although at the time that she
makes the introduction she knows him only as Abdu.
Abdu has outstayed his South African permit and is hiding under a false name and working
illegally
as a grease-monkey at the garage to which Julie's takes her broken-down car. His introduction to
Julie's friends brings him into a new situation in this new country to which he came so hopefully,
and
it brings him new challenges and new opportunities. He is desperately trying to stay in South
Africa.
For Julie, it is partly the strangeness of Abdu which attracts her. She is curious about him - a
personable, intelligent young man who has a degree in engineering (from an unknown place) but
who works in a garage. For Abdu, perhaps, the friendship offers something else. Gordimer never
spells out any underlying motives. She simply tells the story of their friendship and the different
ways
each reacts to the strangeness of the other. It is subtly and beautifully done, and she allows the
reader's imagination full scope.
When the South African authorities finally catch up with Abdu, he persuades Julie to use family
connections to try and extend his permit. But when all attempts fail, Julie precipitates a
commitment
which neither had anticipated by buying two airline tickets to Abdu's country and insisting she will
go with him. For her, it is an adventure, she sees no complications other than hardships which will
be
an exciting challenge. For Abdu, however, this is a serious situation which requires that they
marry
before he can take her to live with his family. For Abdu, too, return represents a failure, but Julie's
background offers him some hope of reversing this.
The way in which Julie and Abdu/Ibrahim cope with the move and with the many necessary
cultural
adjustments is again beautifully and realistically imagined by Gordimer. The differences in attitude
to
family, friendship and connections; the questions of independence, values and responsibilities; the
problems of being a stranger in an unfamiliar culture and of bringing a stranger into your own
family;
all are explored from both Julie and Ibrahim's sides - not analytically or didactically but
imaginatively. Subtly and surely the reader is drawn into the scene and begins to sense and feel the
tensions, the fascination, the needs and the pressures which govern the characters' lives.
The Pickup is a superb story told by a very skilful storyteller. It is also a story which explores the
changes in the wider world in surprising but important ways. V.S. Naipaul said in a recent
interview
that he believed that "the serious function of writing" (and he was talking about novels) is to help
readers to understand society. The Pickup seems to me to do this enjoyably, topically and
admirably.
In a world of rapid social change, where issues of immigration are daily aired in the media,
Gordimer
offers insight into the radically different meaning which "another country" has for those who can
choose to move and those who must overcome seemingly insurmountable odds in order to be
chosen.
Mary Shelley
Miranda Seymour
Picador, Pan Macmillan
ISBN: 0330374478 A$23.00 (Paperback) 655 pages
Grove Press
ISBN: 0802117023 $35.00
If Mary Shelley were alive today she would be a "Famous Author". Publishers would be fighting
over the rights to all her work, she would travel the world on endless promotion tours and
become
rich on film rights. As a single mother she would be applauded; the hint of scandal in her private
life
could only enhance her reputation; and any connection to famously intellectual, philosophical and
socially radical parents would probably be hushed up so as not to frighten off the masses.
Instead of this, in Mary Shelley's own lifetime and for years afterwards the opposite was true. So
now, although everyone has heard of Frankenstein (generally believed to be the monster), not
many
could tell you the name of the author of the book from which he came and very few would be
aware
of that author's many other published works. As well as her novels: Frankenstein: Or The Modern
Prometheus, Matilda, Valpergo, The Last Man, The Fortunes Of Perkin Warbeck, Ladore and
Falkner, Mary Shelley published two plays, many stories for children and adults, travel writing,
biographical essays of famous Europeans and numerous articles. She also edited and annotated
several editions of her husband's poetry and prose. Her husband was, of course, Percy Bysshe
Shelley.
Not all of Mary Shelley's work, as Miranda Seymour notes in this excellent biography, was great
work. Much of it was mundane hack-work which Mary undertook in order to support herself, her
surviving son (Percy Florence Shelley), her father and step-mother and various other relatives
who
made claims on her. Throughout her life, Mary worked incredibly hard but only Frankenstein, Or
The Modern Prometheus, published in 1817 when she was only nineteen, was truly successful.
Even
this book was originally published anonymously and she made little money from it and none at all
from the successful dramatization of it by Richard Brinsley Peake which appeared on stage in
1823.
So, if Mary Shelley's later work was less brilliant than Frankenstein, why do we need a biography?
Is
it because of her marriage to Percy Bysshe Shelley, her friendship with Lord Byron and her
allegedly
scandalous life? Is it because at sixteen, along with her fifteen-year-old step-sister Claire
Clairmont,
she ran away from home to live with a married poet whose pregnant wife later drowned herself in
the Serpentine in Hyde Park?
Miranda Seymour tells us frankly that her reasons for writing this biography began with the
woman
and with questions which her own life experiences raised about the usual picture of Mary Shelley.
How, she wondered, could a young woman described as bad-tempered, a relentless social climber
and a nagging wife also be someone whose hard work, courage and determination supported
herself
and her family and who was responsible for establishing her dead husband's reputation as a poet.
Mary was a woman whose intense loyalty to her friends survived their betrayal of her; a woman
whose idealistic disregard of social conventions only made her own life harder. Consider, too,
Mary's parentage (she was the daughter of Mary Wollstonecraft, whose Vindication Of The
Rights
Of Women was published in1792, and William Godwin,whose Enquiry Concerning The Nature Of
Political Justice was one of the most influential arguments for a society of equals of his time); she
lived at a time when Europe was in revolutionary turmoil; she travelled widely and chose to live in
Europe until forced to return to England; and she mixed with people like Coleridge, Byron, Scott,
Trelawney, Disraeli, Lady Blessington and Caroline Norton. Seymour's curiosity was piqued. The
usual picture of Mary just did not seem right.
Clearly, this biography has been a quest for answers to some of the puzzles and contradictions
which
prompted Seymour to begin it. Equally clearly it has been a labour of love. Diligently and
meticulously researched as it is, it is still absorbing and very easy-to-read. And the portrait of
Mary
Shelley which it reveals is of "a woman who struggled all her life against the unpredictability of
her
own nature"; a woman who was clever, idealistic, and often misguided in her choice of friends; a
woman who was distraught by the deaths of all but one of her children and who suffered from
bouts
of clinical depression, yet "seldom revealed her unhappiness and continued, until the end of her
life,
to work to win Shelley, never herself, the honour she felt was his due". A remarkable
woman.
There is no doubt, given Seymour's summary of the various ways in which Mary's life was
presented
to the world after her death, that some rebalancing was due. There is no doubt, too, that it is good
to place Mary in the context of the changing times in which she lived and that her strong,
independent views on society and politics strongly influenced her life and were reflected in her
work.
But whether Seymour's understanding and her generous conclusions about Mary will be the final
picture is doubtful - there will always be another possible side to the story.
Biography is immensely popular with readers but it is well to remember that it is, as the
differences
of opinion amongst Mary Shelley's biographers demonstrates, a subjective art. At worst, it
panders
to prurient interest in the private lives of others. At best, it is reliant on limited factual evidence
about its subject, on the subjective comment of friends and relatives, and on the biographer's own
selective interpretation and presentation of the available material.
Miranda Seymour's biography of Mary Shelley is of the latter kind, and it is as objective and
factual
as it is possible to be without becoming dry and boring. Seymour wrote it with the general reader
in
mind and it is enjoyable, varied and easy reading.
Scholars, too, will find Seymour's discussion of Mary's work and some new suggestions of Mary's
sources for Frankenstein of interest, and her Bibliography and Notes valuable. The Notes,
however,
are frustratingly organized by chapter only, without the added assistance of page numbers; and the
Index is badly arranged with long, compressed chronological (rather than alphabetical) lists of
sub-topics under, for example, major headings like "Frankenstein" or "Mary Shelley". It is a pity
that
such irritations should mar a well-researched and well-written book.
Ann Skea, Reviewer
http://ann.skea.com
Schlagel's Bookshelf
Editor's Note: The following is Professor Schlagel's response to a review of his book, The
Vanguished Gods, previously reviewed by William Harwood for the Midwest Book Review.
-- Jim Cox, Editor-in-Chief, Midwest Book Review
Dear Mr. Cox:
Recently the publisher of my book, The Vanquished Gods, sent me a review that appeared in The
Midwest Book Review, which I believe is unfair and distorted. Having published many reviews in
the major philosophical journals, I know the temptation of using the occasion as an ego trip to
show
off what one knows, but that is not what a conscientious, responsible reviewer does. I was
particularly vulnerable because of the interdisciplinary nature of the book that attempts to provide
the reader with an adequate background for evaluating the viability of religion today.
While validly pointing out the limitations of my "expertise" in the chapters on the Old and New
Testaments, William Harwood never fulfills the primary responsibility of a reviewer, that of
describing and evaluating the essential purpose of the book, instead referring to the two chapters
that are in his own field of expertise. In the first sentence he states that though a professor of
philosophy, Schlagel "is becoming better known as a writer on biblical analysis." As my major
fields
of specialization are epistemology, the history of ancient philosophy, the history and philosophy of
science (my two volume work is listed on the inside dust jacket), and the philosophy of mind, I
have
no aspirations or pretensions of being a biblical scholar. The book is an overall philosophical
critique
of religion, not a scholarly exegesis of the Bible that is beyond my competence.
However, I do rely on scholarly biblical criticism to show that, rather than an infallible, sacred
work
revealed by God, the Bible is an ancient compilation based on an oral tradition. Primarily a
mythical
narrative containing many discrepancies and absurdities, it has little truth-value, yet there is a
strong
movement in the United States to reconcile science and religion. As I stated on the dust jacket,
the
"twentieth century brought about a dramatic change in our conception of reality. Advances in the
natural sciences radically altered our understanding of human existence and the universe; biblical
scholarship demystified the Bible, and scientific inquiry has superseded biblical and church
authority." Hence no reconciliation is possible. This is the essential thesis of the book which I try
to
defend.
As stated, the aim of the book "is to provide the open-minded reader with the necessary historical,
biblical, and scientific background for understanding and evaluating this crucial development,"
although this is not indicated in the review. While I make no pretense to being a biblical scholar
myself, I thought it necessary to inform the reader of what is called the "higher criticism" of the
Bible which, in my opinion, has demystified it while scientific developments have rendered it
outmoded. The last two chapters of the book defend this latter position.
As for my mistakes and factual errors, I am certain that I have made them and certainly regret the
fact; however, I would maintain that some of the reviewer's accusations are unfair because they
are
not recognized even by biblical scholars. There is not space to address every criticism, but I'll try
to
give representative examples of what I mean. At the very beginning Harwood states that "the
strongest evidence that he is a well-meaning amateur is to be found in his statement (p.128), 'All
one
can conclude with any confidence about the historical Jesus is that he was from Nazareth'"
Maintaining that "there was no such place as Nazareth until the third or fourth century," Harwood
attributes the erroneous belief to the author of Mark who asserted "Jesus came from 'the nazareth
of
Galilee,'" 'nazareth' meaning 'dispersion,' leading "Matthew and Luke to misinterpreted nazareth as
the name of a town." While he may well be correct, this ignores the fact that tradition or
convention
has assigned Jesus this place of origin. In Understanding the New Testament Howard Kee sates:
"Jesus of Nazareth is the historical base for the Christian claim to be the community of the new
covenant." (p. 81) Similarly, Bishop Spong, in Liberating the Gospels, states: "Was there a real
person named Jesus of Nazareth?" So apparently I am in good scholarly company. As for the
criticism of my dating of the Gospels, I have found various dates given in the sources, but
probably
erred in trying to give them the earliest dates possible to enhance the likelihood of their
authenticity.
Harwood claimed that I did not read Richard Friedman carefully or I would have noted all the
different instances of multiple authorship of the Pentateuch. However, it was from Friedman
(whom
I did read carefully) that I learned about the different sources (J, E, D, and P) of the Pentateuch,
but
it was not feasible, given the purpose of the book, to list all the instances of these different
sources
when I was recounting events in the Pentateuch. Instead, I relied on one striking example given by
Friedman. (p. 89). Harwood also states, "As for his writing (p. 83) that 'Yahweh usually was
portrayed as a monotheistic God,' that is unmitigated nonsense." Yet in A History of God, Karen
Armstrong asserts that "Yahweh had become the one and only God" (p. 61), although this did
occur
after a long tradition of polytheism. He also objects to my accepting "Yahweh's self-introduction
as
'I am who I am," rather than "the most reasonable translation, given that Moses was an Egyptian
prince," "I am Osiris, I am." But I have never encountered this translation in any of the scholarly
discussions of this important doctrine. The well-known Old Testament scholar, Bernhard W.
Anderson, in Understanding The Old Testament, describes three renditions of God's answer to
Moses' query as to what he should tell the Israelites when they ask what God should be called or
known as (pp. 61-63), none of which is Harwood's translation. The most commonly accepted
translation is "I Am Who Am." While there are some instances where Miriam is referred to as
Aaron's sister, as Harwood points out, there are other places where she definitely is described as
Moses' sister as I stated. As for my use of the term "Christian Sabbath," since the disciples of
Jesus
were all Jews, it was natural for them to use the term 'Sabbath' when referring to their holy day,
whatever day it was.
In all candor, I have to state that whatever mistakes I have made, none is as egregious as
Harwood's
objection to my assertion "that 'the crucifixion of an itinerant Jewish teacher named Jesus would
have the greatest impact on Western civilization for the succeeding two millennia.'" His
justification
is that "the crucifixion of Jesus was of no significance whatsoever. Had Jesus never existed, the
founder of Christianity, Paul of Tarsus, would simply have adopted one of the region's dozen or
more other crucified messiahs to be the posthumous figurehead of his new mystery religion." But
this ignores the fact that Saul, a Pharisee, originally was an ardent persecutor of the disciples of
Jesus which some scholars think many account for his mystical vision of Jesus on the road to
Damascus and consequent conversion, a kind of expurgation for his former attacks. And was
there
really another "crucified messiah" to match Jesus' charisma and the impact of his teachings?
While accusing me of not getting my facts right, Harwood states that "Schlagel's inadequacy as a
biblical analyst is most clearly revealed when one looks at his bibliography, not so much for its
omission of every single competent biblical scholar other than Friedman as for some of its
inclusions." Regarding my alleged omissions, here are the actual citations listed in the Index and
Bibliography: Bernard Anderson, Understanding The Old Testament, 7 references; Karen
Armstrong, A History of God, 5 references; John Dominic Crossan, Jesus: A Revolutionary
Biography, 7 references; Richard Friedman, Who Wrote The Bible?, 8 references; Robert Funk
and
Roy Hoover with the Jesus Seminar, The Five Gospels: The Search for the Authentic Words of
Jesus, 6 references; R. P. C. & A.T. Hanson, The Bible Without Illusions, 7 references; Burton L.
Mack, Who Wrote the New Testament?, 4 references; John Shelby Spong, Liberating The
Gospels,
9 references; and Rodney Stark, The Rise of Christianity, 7 references. This only includes the
endnote references, not the page references of the work cited in the text which are much more
numerous. How could a person with any integrity maintain that I had only included Friedman in
my
Bibliography? Either Harwood did not consider those I quoted "competent biblical scholars,"
which
would be hard to defend, or he did not read either the book or the Bibliography carefully. What is
even more perplexing is that, judging from the contents of Harwood's own book, he shares the
same
views of religion as an antiquated institution as I do. Yet, rather than join forces in a mutual
endeavor to convince others of this, he unfairly criticizes my biblical scholarship which is not the
focus of the book.
As for my references to Will Durant and Edward O. Wilson and Richard Dawkins, I have this to
say.
I know historians have been critical of the scholarship of Durant, but I have always admired him
for
his tremendous breadth of scholarship, along with his extraordinarily gifted style, while in his last
book he finally received the critical acclaim that he deserved from Hugh Trevor-Roper. The
passages I quoted from him were later confirmed in my reading of Robert Paynes, The Dream and
the Tomb. Regarding Harwood's derisive reference to "Edward O. Wilson and Richard Dawkins,
the
creator and popularizer of the pseudoscience of sociobable," this reveals his scientific ignorance.
Wilson is the creator of "sociobiology," a respected and valued branch of science despite the
original
criticism. Dawkins, on the other hand, is not a sociobiologist but a world renowned evolutionary
theorist. I would suggest Harwood interrupt his arcane study of the Bible, which has little
relevance
today, to learn something about science. Finally, Harwood is mistaken in inferring that I
supported
John Mack's endorsement of alien abductions. If he had read my critique of Mack carefully, he
would know that I was using it as an example, along with astral voyages and out-of-the-body
experiences, to illustrate how, in the past, these kinds of experiences were used to support
religious
beliefs, but that contrary to Mack and others, they are not acceptable today because they more
credibly can be explained scientifically in terms of aberrant brain processes.
I am writing this rejoinder because I have always believed that among scholars a certain civility
and
decorum should be maintained. Unfortunately, Dr. Harwood does not seem to share this
view.
Sincerely,
Richard H. Schlagel
Elton Professor Emeritus
The George Washington University
2737 Devonshire Place
Washington, D.C. 20008
Sullivan's Bookshelf
Rocks Of Ages
Stephen Jay Gould
The Library of Contemporary Thought
c/o Ballantine Books
0345430093 $18.95
The well-known Harvard paleontologist, geologist, essayist, and defender of Darwin's evolution
theory with some modifications, has written a brief volume in an ongoing, interesting, and diverse
series by this publisher, trying to make peace between warring factions: religion and science. As
they
are mutually exclusive, he says that they need not interfere with each other.
Classic examples of that interference would be scientists' deriding of William Jennings Bryan for
his
defense of the Bible's literal truth during the 1925 so-called Scopes' Monkey Trial. And from
religion's side would be the cruel punishment toward the scientist Galileo who in 1633 was made
to
kneel and recant his theory that Earth wasn't central to the universe. Then he had to remain under
house arrest for the remainder of his life.
The author explains: "This book rests on a basic, uncomplicated premise... NOMA
(Non-Overlapping Magisteria) is a simple, humane, rational, and altogether conventional
argument
for mutual respect... between two components of wisdom in a full human life: our drive to
understand the factual character of nature (the magisterium of science), and our need to define
meaning in our lives and a moral basis for our actions (the magisterium of religion)."
This is a good read, requiring concentration.
Understanding Thomas Jefferson
E. M. Halliday
HarperCollins
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
0060197935 $25.00 1-800-242-7737
With all the books written about former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, why another? Because
till
now, with one notable exception, he hasn't been exposed in all his contradictions. Particularly, he
wasn't shown in all his lustiness. The sexual overtones in this volume make Jefferson totally
human
to the reader.
Here, truly, was a man of inconsistencies; verbally opposed to the institution of slavery, yet he
didn't
free all his slaves at his death; religious, though he rewrote the Bible; loving of females, perhaps to
a
fault, yet chauvinistic towards them. He also was a man who condemned others for scandalous
behavior, albeit privately, while he sustained a several-year sexual affair producing many children
with his slave Sally Hemings, who incidentally was his half-sister-in-law.
Halliday takes to task other biographers of Jefferson, especially Dumas Malone, Merrill Peterson,
and Joseph Ellis, for side-stepping totally or skirting adroitly the Sally Hemings situation despite a
lot of circumstantial evidence that was nearly impossible to ignore. The author also praises and
dedicates this book to another biographer, Fawn Brodie, who in the face of public and academic
derision, courageously wrote lovingly about Jefferson, including his obvious Sally Hemings
liaison.
The prose in Halliday's book flows smoothly like a mountain stream, making this volume hard to
put
down. The author unstintingly depicts Jefferson, the man with all his warts, to readers. And the
writer of the Declaration of Independence, the creator of the University of Virginia, and the
architect
of Monticello still comes across as an extraordinary American.
Near the end of his book, the author asks: "Do Thomas Jefferson's character and his achievements
qualify him as a great American icon, worthy of having his features colossally carved into the
(more
or less) eternal granite of Mount Rushmore, along with George Washington, Abraham Lincoln,
and
Theodore Roosevelt? The answer, I believe, is a qualified but unhesitating yes."
An editor at American Heritage magazine for many years, Halliday also wrote about the allied
invasion of Soviet Russia during the First World War. He has also penned articles for The New
Yorker.
This book is highly recommended.
Jim Sullivan
Reviewer
Roger's Bookshelf
Managing With Carrots: Using Recognition To Attract And Retain The Best People
Adrian Gostick & Chester Elton
Gibbs-Smith Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
ISBN 1-58685-077-6 $18.95, 1-800-748-5439
A Fine Example of Self Promotion
Anyone with any business sense knows that recognition is important. Company owners and
human
resource professionals know that an entire industry has been built around this technique. There is
an
abundant supply of consultants, authors, and professional speakers touting the value of
recognition,
as well as companies that design recognition programs and sell the products that are used in
recognition.
This book is unabashedly written by two senior executives from O. C. Tanner Recognition
Company. The copyright is held by the company, rather than the authors. I approached this book
with the expectation that it was designed to be a thinly-disguised promotion of O. C. Tanner's
products and services. I wasn't disappointed. This perspective is not a bad thing, and a lot of
valuable information is conveyed in the 111 pages.
I was a bit overpowered by the theme of the book: Managing With Carrots. The illustration on
the
front cover is a carrot trophy. Every page number is accompanied by a carrot-in orange print. All
the
call-out boxes and chapter subheads are printed in orange. Even the flyleaf of the book is orange.
I'd
have to label this overwhelming use of carrot orange as overkill. Even the start-of-chapter quote
from Bugs Bunny was a bit too cute.
Part One is a chapter entitled "Carrot Seeds." Part Two gives us Carrot Planting, Carrot
Cultivation;
Presenting Carrots, Symbolic Carrots, Communicating about Carrots, and Creating a Carrot
Culture. Part Three is Carrot Harvest and Part Four is Starting Your Own Carrot Crop. The flow
is
to present the recognition concept, explain how to build a recognition program, then how to reap
the benefits. A number of case studies sprinkled through the book provide an illustrative
enhancement.
If you accept the infomercial nature of this book, you can gain some helpful guidance.
The Five Temptations Of A CEO
Patrick Lencioni
Jossey-Bass
350 Sansome Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94104-1342
ISBN 0-7879-4433-5 $22.00, Hardcover, 135 pages, 1-800-225-5945
Intriguing, Instructive
Every CEO understands that "it's lonely at the top." That loneliness contributes to temptations
that
can cause an otherwise dedicated executive to go down the wrong path. In this leadership fable,
Lencioni, president of The Table consulting group in the San Francisco area, stimulates our
thinking
with an enjoyable story that captivates the reader's attention. Identifying with Andrew, a troubled
CEO, isn't difficult at all . . . and may even be a bit uncomfortable. The discomfort dissolves with
the
learning that comes in page after page.
Working late on the night before an important board meeting, Andrew O'Brien finds himself on a
commuter train. Alone. Except for Charlie, who appears to be a janitor. A conversation develops
through which Charlie, an unexpected source of wisdom, shares valuable insight and perspectives
with Andrew.
The lessons are built around the five temptations that lead CEOs astray. The fable is well-woven
and
thought-provoking. Following the story, Lencioni presents his model: a summary of why
executives
fail. A self-assessment concludes the book. Though I wasn't that excited about the
self-assessment,
the value of the balance of the book overcomes any deficiencies I might see in those few
pages.
The Five Temptations Of A CEO are choosing status over results, choosing popularity over
accountability, choosing certainty over clarity, choosing harmony over productive conflict, and
choosing vulnerability over trust. Lest you think that you can now avoid reading this book
because
you know the secrets, let me admonish you that merely knowing the words is considerably
different
than understanding the concepts. That benefit will come with reading the book, then applying the
learnings to strengthen your personal performance.
This quick read can make a significant difference in your effectiveness and happiness.
The Ultimate Gift
Jim Stovall
Executive Books
206 West Allen Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
ISBN 0-937539-48-1, $10.95, Trade paperback, 124 pages
Captivating, Inspirational.
I started this book by looking at the Table of Contents. In the Beginning. A Voice from the Past.
The Gift of Work. The Gift of Money. The Gift of Friends.
What is this? Is this the kind of book I want to read?
I flipped to the back cover of the book for insight to the contents. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are
here to read the last will and testament of Howard 'Red' Stevens.." "Red Steves was a self-made
man
who gave his family everything-and ruined them in the process. Now, as his estate of oil
companies
and cattle ranches is divided among the greedy and self-serving relatives, one member is singled
out
for something special: Red's great-nephew, Jason. In a darkened room, isolated from the rest of
his
family, Jason is confronted by the image of deceased great uncle on a video monitor . . ."
I began Chapter One out of curiosity. It was a story, not a touchy-feely book, like I feared. The
narrative comes from an eighty-year old attorney who is reading the will of a very successful
long-term client who had become a close, dear friend. As part of the inheritance, the old man's
grand-nephew, a spoiled brat sort of young man, is given a special bequest. Each month he is to
return to the attorney's office for a learning assignment. If he stays with the program successfully,
meeting the approval of the attorney, he gains the Ultimate Gift. If he quits or doesn't meet the
grade
at any time, he loses his opportunity for the Ultimate Gift.
As the book progresses through the chapters, the young man, Jason, transforms from an insolent
know-it-all to a much different person. The series of learnings, prescribed each month by the old
man by videotape, gives a new meaning to Jason's life. Each of the gifts, a learning, is described in
Jason's words as he gains new realizations.
I found myself surprisingly captivated by this book. I couldn't put it down. No, it's not a mystery
or
thriller, but it certainly held my attention. I can think of a number of people I know who would
surely benefit from this book. One will receive my copy shortly as a very meaningful gift.
A word about the author. Jim Stovall has overcome blindness to become a national champion
Olympic weightlifter, a successful investment broker, and entrepreneur. He is co-founder and
president of the Narrative Television Network, which makes movies and television accessible to
our
nation's 13 million blind and visually impaired and their families. With revealing more about this
man's incredible background (see page 124), I "got" that this is a man to be listened to. You'll gain
the same feeling as you read The Ultimate Gift.
Full Price: Competing On Value In The New Economy
Thomas J. Winninger
Dearborn Books
155 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606-1719
ISBN 0-7931-3954-6, $25.00, Hardcover, 198 pages, 1-800-621-9621
What an idea stimulator! Let's start with a premise: we'd all like to get full price for our goods and
services. No one really wants to be on the losing end of a discount war. . . . and in that struggle,
everybody loses. Full price sounds like a good idea. But, is it realistic? I began Winninger's latest
book with a bit of skepticism.
Full Price begins with an emphasis on maximizing value perception. When I saw that phrase in the
table of contents, I wondered what this book might say that hasn't already been said by countless
authors beating the same drum. Aha! The difference is in the countless examples that illustrate
every
one of the author's points. Winninger walks his talk-the value of his book is certainly maximized
by
the real-life examples. I can't tell you how many ideas I gleaned from those examples-page after
page
of examples and best practices.
Winninger, founder of Winninger Institute for Market Strategy in Minneapolis, knows his stuff.
He's
a professional speaker and consultant who's worked with over a thousand companies in many
fields.
This is definitely a case of "been there, done that." You'll discover that value as you move through
his 15 chapters. I chuckled when I noticed what the author did with the quotes at the start of each
chapter. After quoting others for the first two chapters, he quoted himself for the rest! He must
have
enjoyed writing this book.
The book is organized very well. Chapter titles include Selling the Program, Vertical Integration,
Segmenting Your Services to Targeted Customers, Owning the Customer's Buying Cycle, and
Promoting Differences. This easy-to-read book gets more exciting as it continues, with chapters
on
Substantiating Value, Not Price; Living the Brand; Exploiting Technology; and Forging the
Indestructible System. And every chapter is stuffed with best practice examples. I was impressed
with the way these examples brought the author's points to life?
The whole premise of the book is achieving Maximum Value Perception: seeking and fulfilling the
highest need of your premium customer. Think about those words. Each is explained in the book,
but let me share the questions that flow from the author's discussion: 1. Who is my premium
customer? 2. What is my premium customer's highest need? 3. How do I determine my Maximum
Value Perception? 4. How do I achieve Maximum Value Perception and receive full price? These
questions are answered as the reader is stimulated, then we're off and running!
Fast read, summaries at the end of each chapter, validating footnotes, and a good index. This is a
book you'll read eagerly, salivating at the thought of how you'll apply your learnings to overcome
your competition. And this is a book you'll return to from time to time to stimulate more great
ideas
to differentiate yourself from the competition.
Invasion Of Privacy: How To Protect Yourself In The Digital Age
Michael S. Hyatt
Regnery Publishing Company
One Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
ISBN: 0-89526-287-8 $27.95, hardcover, 256 pages, www.regnery.com
Insightful explanation, great advice and resources
Privacy has become an increasingly important issue for ordinary citizens who thought their
personal
and concealed. More and more, we've discovered that information we thought was confidential is,
in
fact, public knowledge . . . or nearly so. The question for us now is how to protect ourselves from
the snoops-the marketers, bill collectors, stalkers, criminals, and so many others that shouldn't
really
know so much about us. Personal security is a major concern today, so this book is certainly
timely.
Hyatt reveals how much information about us is available for instant public access or can be
uncovered with a little legal (or illicit) research.
Shortly after reading in Invasion of Privacy that I should never give out my Social Security
number,
I looked into buying a car for my daughter. When the salesman and I came to the question of
financing, he sat down at a computer terminal and asked for . . . you guessed it: my Social
Security
number. After enjoying a good laugh, I asked him why he needed it. His reply: so he could check
on
what kind of interest rate I could get for the credit. He tapped a few keys and instantly knew my
credit rating . . . and a lot more information that I didn't think was any of his business. Real life
evidence about what this book reports.
And the book is filled with much more evidence of identity theft, credit card misuse, and how
stalkers learn about their victims. And that's just scratching the surface! Reading Hyatt's
information-packed book, you'll first learn about the threat. You can evaluate your own
vulnerability
using the self-assessment in the first of five appendices. With this knowledge in-hand, you have to
decide what to do about your privacy. How important is your privacy to you? After learning
about
corporate spies, predators, and government surveillance, you'll read chapters that will help you
determine your preferred level of privacy and security.
The rest of the book describes in fine how-to detail what countermeasures are available to you.
Hyatt covers Computers and the Internet, Banking and Finances, Your Physical Address and Mail
Privacy, Medical Records, Identification Documents, and Telephone and Fax. You'll be amazed at
your exposure and how you can overcome that openness.
You may find yourself wanting even more resources after reading all the information and
references
in the main text of the book. A Comprehensive Privacy Resource List shows up as Appendix C.
When you complete this book, you will feel considerably more aware of your circumstances.
You'll
know the secrets, so you will understand your vulnerability and what you can do to protect
yourself.
This topic is amazing as you dig into it, which Invasion of Privacy will help you do.
Obsessions Of An Extraordinary Executive
Patrick Lencioni
Jossey Bass
350 Sansome Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94104-1342
ISBN 0-7879-5403-9, $20.00, Hardcover, 183 pages, 1-800-225-5945
Engaging, Insightful
Obsessions Of An Extraordinary Executive: The Four Disciplines At The Heart Of Making Any
Organization World Class is Lencioni's second leadership fable. Weaving a story around a set of
principles can be an effective teaching technique, and Lencioni is skillful in the art of moral-based
storytelling.
The first 136 pages of the book are consumed in telling the story of a CEO who discovered an
effective way to lead his organization. The basis of the approach is a set of four disciplines, which
are not revealed to the reader until the problem scenario has been established. This sequencing is
valuable, since it forces the reader to come to grips with the real-life experiences of the characters
of
the story. The plot is intriguing.
The engaging tale holds the reader's attention strongly enough that there is minimal temptation to
read ahead to see if the butler did it. The lure of the story holds your attention. The realistic
scenes
and dialog give an "edge" to the story; you forget you're reading a business book. It's not difficult
at
all to relate to each of the characters, even to the extent, perhaps, of identifying some of the
characters with colleagues at work in your own organization. But there are surprises, so don't
think
you can second-guess this book.
The story told, the author changes hats on page 137 to slide into the role of consultant and
teacher.
He explains the four disciplines through a narrative style that I'd liken to a friend sitting across the
table from you. But then the questions start. Lots of questions . . . and answers. This effective
consulting style comes naturally: Lencioni is president of a consulting firm in the San Francisco
area.
I recommend this book for CEOs, company owners, and consultants who serve them. You'll learn
some interesting principles and how to convey them, but you'll also learn from the experience of
reading the fable. Those who want to improve their communication of leadership concepts will
benefit from the way Lencioni wove his story. Short book, big lessons.
No, I didn't tell you the what the four disciplines are. I don't want to spoil it for you. Give into the
temptation: read this book.
Money In An Unequal World
Keith Hart
Texere Publishing
55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055
ISBN 1-58799-075-X $27.95, Hardcover, 341 pages, 1-800-233-4830
Academic treatise that covers the topic
Dr. Keith Hart is a distinguished social anthropologist, widely published author, and scholar who
has
taught on both sides of the Atlantic. He is currently a professor and Senior Research Fellow at the
University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He has served on the faculties of Cambridge, Yale, University
of
Manchester, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, and McGill University.
This background should tell you something already about the author's perspective and what this
book will be like. Money In An Unequal World is a deep academic treatment of the role of money
in
society. For those engaged in the study of this topic, this book offers a revolutionary way of
rethinking money and society. Hart addresses how internet access separates societies by
controlling
their access to money and commerce. He shows how money that transfers outside national
controls-and taxes-gives some the distinct advantage of being able to use "wild money." Virtual
capitalism will change the money balance in the world.
You will find a tremendous amount of information and commentary packed into this book. Expect
to encounter page after page of small print text without illustrations. There are nine tables and
figures in the entire book. For the serious reader on this topic, this is a page-turner. For the
occasional reader in this field, this will feel like a highly focused textbook. In the introduction,
Hart
describes the book as being written from memory, but each chapter is backed-up by an abundance
of
footnotes. Fortunately, the book is indexed to help readers find particular areas of interest.
While we can certainly appreciate Dr. Hart writing such a book from his ivory-tower perspective
and manner, there are some really interesting aspects of this topic of value to the lay reader.
Unfortunately, the design and languaging of the book does not appeal to that market.
If this topic interests you, I recommend this book. If it does not hold high academic interest, move
on to another book on the topic. You'll get bogged down in this one.
Peterman Rides Again
John Peterman
Prentice Hall Press
240 Frisch Court, Paramus, NJ 07652
ISBN 0-7352-0199-4 $25.00, Hardcover, 225 pages, 1-800-631-8571
Like sitting at the feet of a guru
John Peterman became a legend in his own time. The creative entrepreneur is best known for
establishing and growing The J. Peterman Company, a unique catalog company. Through his
innovative work, his name became a household word for 40 million Americans. He is less
well-known for playing second base for the Pittsburgh Pirates, though baseball has been an
important part of his life for many years.
J. Peterman opened in 1987 with a $500 investment and grew to become a $75 million company
before hitting a cash flow crisis and being sold under the dark cloud of Chapter 11 bankruptcy in
1999. It was a wild ride that set new standards and broke new ground in the catalog industry.
Reading this book is like sitting at the feet of a giant of a man who took risks, challenged
tradition,
and changed the way an entire industry did business. Peterman was a maverick. People like this
always have fascinating stories to tell, and Peterman is no exception. In page after page, he
weaves
the exciting account of how he built his company. Woven throughout are baseball metaphors as
he
connects his sports life with his business life . . . and his personal life. It's almost like listening to
Uncle John spin the tales.
As you might expect, the guru has lots of wisdom to share. His down-to-earth advice is
disarmingly
simple, but valuable. It appears almost without warning as the text flows. Consider these
examples:
"Once you realize that most people are keeping up appearances and putting on a show, their
approval becomes much less important." Subscribe to the 'Economist' and the "Utne Reader' as
well
as 'Time' and 'Newsweek.' Try Ethiopian food. Strike up a conversation with a truck driver. It's a
big
world." "I might have a bad day, you might have a bad day, but that's OK; I'll come through for
you
on your bad day, and you'll come through for me on mine."
"Most people related to the catalog in a very personal way," Peterman explains, "almost as if it
were
a letter written by a good friend who can take you out of yourself, out of your routine-or remind
you
of who you really are." The watercolor illustrations and caring prose attracted a loyal following of
readers-some who never bought anything but still did not want to be removed from the mailing
list.
Did Peterman learn from his experience? As the book comes close to closing, he reveals a truth
that
should be heeded by all entrepreneurs. "Entrepreneurs genuinely need to take on many roles in
their
understaffed companies, at first, from chief cook to bottlewasher. It can be exhausting, but feeling
indispensable is habit-forming. Insidious, really. I never consciously pulled the tricks some
founders
do to feed the habit, like setting managers against one another in order to play Solomon. Still, I
tended to be more involved in too many tasks, too much detail. Overinvolvement sapped me of
my
energy, perspective, and judgment at precisely the moments where they were needed the most."
Great advice . . . and the book is full of such statements.
Interesting informal book with more learnings that you expect.
Patton On Leadership: Strategic Lessons For Corporate Warfare
Alan Axelrod
Prentice Hall Press
240 Frisch Court, Paramus, NJ 07652
ISBN 0-7352-0297-4, $14.00, Trade paperback, 279 pages, 1-800-631-8571
Easy Read, Inspiring, Instructive
General George S. Patton, Jr., was a legend in his own time. While known for his coarse
language,
he was also respected as a brilliant tactician and terrific motivator. Those who served with him
weren't just "in the war" or "in the army," they were Patton's men. This hard-driving leader
instilled
confidence, acted decisively, and excelled under relentless pressure. His army moved at
unprecedented speed, always on the attack and not on the defensive.
Patton did not write extensively; he was challenged by dyslexia. But he said a lot, was often
quoted,
and was written about. Historians have a rich treasure of who this unusual man was and the
impact
he had on others . . . and ultimately on the world. His approach to his work was clear and direct,
making him an excellent case study and role model. Role model? A man who spat profanity in
almost every sentence? Ah, look beyond the rough exterior that actually endeared him to his men.
Look at how Patton thought, his philosophies. That's where the lessons are.
This book delivers 183 of those lessons in short, tight, bite-size pieces. This is a book you can
read
cover-to-cover or refer to as an inspirational resource. Each lesson is constructed as a Patton
quote,
with Axelrod's interpretation of the meaning, the purpose, and the impact of the words. The flavor
throughout the book is how Patton's military style and experience applies to management and
leadership of today's business organization. Or any organization, for that matter.
The beginning of the book includes an enlightening biographical profile of Patton to understand
the
context of the man. The volume concludes with some recommended reading and a helpful
index.
As a reviewer, I'm tempted to start listing some of the titles of those 183 lessons. I'll resist,
because
it will be too difficult to present a representative sample. Every page of this book is filled with
concise, valuable insights. Thought-provoking as well as inspiring, Patton on Leadership should
be
read-and applied-by leaders at all levels. Invest a few dollars and some of your reading time.
You'll
get a good return on your investment with this book.
God Is My Ceo: Following God's Principles In A Bottom-Line World
Larry Julian
Adams Media Corporation
57 Littlefield Street, 2nd floor, Avon, MA 02322
ISBN 1-58062-477-4, $19.95, Hardcover, 253 pages, 1-800-872-5627
Interesting, inspirational reading.
America is populated by a great many people who attend religious services on a regular basis.
They
affiliate with a congregation of people who think, believe, and worship as they do. Millions of
people
build their lives around their religious beliefs and principles.
Then there's business. In the world of business, profit is worshipped by corporate leaders and
employees at all levels. Achieving corporate goals becomes all-consuming, with little room for
bible-based principles. Biblical teachings are fine for the personal side of life, but business is
business. Or is it?
The movement known as spirituality in the workplace has been gaining momentum, with
supporters
careful to differentiate between spirituality and religion. The human spirit is central to the
corporate
spirituality theme, but God and religion do seem to find their way into the picture. When people
express their spirituality, their religious beliefs underlie their values and approach, even if specific
teachings are not overtly expressed.
In God is My CEO, Larry Julian surveys the landscape through the stories of twenty
well-respected
leaders. Each of these influential people runs a business through the application of biblical
principles,
with great results. You'll learn from people like Bill George, CEO of Medtronic; Jerry Colangelo,
owner of the Phoenix Suns and the Arizona Diamondbacks; Al Quie, the former governor of the
state of Minnesota; and Archie Dunham, Chairman and CEO of Conoco, Inc.; Horst Schulz, CEO
of
the Ritz Carlton Hotel Company; and Truett Cathy, founder and Chairman of Chick-Fil-A, an
amazingly successful quick service restaurant chain that's always closed on Sunday.
The helpful organization of the book takes us first through an understanding of the Clash of Two
Worlds. You'll learn about the relationships and conflicts between profits and principles. The ten
sections that follow each includes a statement of the issue and Julian's suggestion of a solution.
The
rest of each section is two chapters telling the story of the biblically-based executives. The ten
sections are Purpose, Success, Courage, Patience, Leadership by Example, Yielding Control,
Tough
Decisions, Servant Leadership, Integration, and Priorities.
Each chapter explores real-life issues with some intriguing stories that will make you think. The
religious theme is, of course, prominent in this book. However, while it is ever-present, the
biblical
message is comfortably woven into the vignettes. You'll be surprised how fast a read this book is,
as
you turn page after page to follow the stories.
Roger Herman
Reviewer
Sandra's Bookshelf
Cancer Diagnosis: What To Do Next
W. John Diamond, M.D., W. Lee Cowden, M.D., and Burton Goldberg
AlternativeMedicine.com, Inc.
1640 Tiburon Road, Tiburon, CA 94920
www.alternativemedicine.com 1-800-333-HEAL
ISBN: 1-887299-40-8 Soft Cover 360 pp. $14.95
W. John Diamond, M.D., a board-certified pathologist and alternative medicine expert, and W.
Lee
Cowden, M.D., who is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and clinical
nutrition, joined forces with Burton Goldberg, author of numerous books on alternative medicine,
to
write Cancer Diagnosis: What To Do Next.
Many people don't know where to turn for information when diagnosed with cancer. And the
answers they often get from medical professionals include few options. Lack of knowledge causes
many people to undergo treatments they don't want. Goldberg says that "there is no single magic
bullet cure for cancer. Many factors contribute to the development of cancer and many modalities
and substances must be used to reverse it."
The authors emphasize that never giving up hope is a critical first step in cancer treatment, no
matter
what therapy is chosen. They then outline some positive steps that patients can take that will help
them chose the therapy that's best for them. Included in this section is a simple test that reveals
whether a tumor will respond to chemotherapy, and if so, what the smallest effective dosage
is.
They also discuss the causes of cancer, and offer suggestions for prevention and early detection.
They provide complete information about testing methods used by alternative practitioners that
aid
in developing effective treatment plans.
Nutrition plays a big role both in prevention and treatment of cancer, and the authors explain how
to
choose the best diet for you. They also explain the role of supplements, such as vitamins and
minerals, in strengthening the body.
Herbs and other nontoxic therapies can be very helpful for many people. All the details are
included,
as well as complete information on techniques for stimulating the immune system. Detoxification
and
energy therapies are also explained. Detoxification is especially important because of all the
pollutants in our air, water, and food. According to the authors, "most conventional doctors do
not
take these factors into consideration when treating cancer."
Each chapter includes "Quick Definitions," which are explanations of medical terms, in the
margins,
making it easy to understand the text. Whenever a special test or procedure is discussed, contact
information is provided.
"Alternative medicine has established the causes of cancer--from radiation and dietary factors and
pesticide residues to stress and dental factors and free radicals--and has safe, nontoxic, and
effective
therapies that can address each one." Cancer Diagnosis gathers all this information into one
easy-to-use book. It's an essential reference for anyone desiring full information on treatment
options.
The PK Man
Jeffrey Mishlove, Ph.D.
Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc.
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
www.hrpub.com 1-800-766-8009
ISBN: 1-57174-183-6 Soft Cover 283 pp. $14.95
Psychokinesis is when "the mind exerts a direct influence on distant physical systems, with no
known
mechanism of mediation," or more simply, mind over matter. However it is defined, Ted Owens
possessed PK ability. Or perhaps it possessed him.
Jeffrey Mishlove, Ph.D., tells Owens' fascinating story in The PK Man. Respected as an authentic
investigator of spirituality and parapsychology, Mishlove writes books, hosts a talk show on
public
television, and serves as a director of Intuition Network.
He established contact with Ted Owens in 1976 and began "an investigation into the supposed
powers and life of this eccentric man." He witnessed and recorded demonstrations, interviewed
other witnesses, and collected documentation. After years of observations and study, he
concluded
that "Ted Owens had the rare gift of mind-over-matter."
Mishlove analyzes everything that's known about Owens, including his often petty uses of his
powers.
Owens took credit for causing earthquakes, hurricanes and other weather disturbances, and power
blackouts. He wanted to be believed and have his powers accepted, but often chose the wrong
way
in his aggressive attempts to gain attention.
Because of his capricious nature, Owens was often dismissed as a crackpot. He also claimed to
have
received his powers from "Space Intelligences" and at times said his actions were directed by the
Intelligences rather than himself. Some experts claimed that Owens had psychic abilities which
allowed him to accurately forecast events, rather than to cause those events as he claimed to
do.
Mishlove attempts to sort through all the conflicting claims and confusion surrounding Owens. He
doesn't always agree with what Owens has to say, and at one time angered the self-styled PK Man
to
the point of retaliation. Mishlove fell victim to a physical ailment that Owens took credit for
causing.
Was Owens "the world's greatest psychic" or "a prodigious liar and dangerous con-man"?
Mishlove
presents the known evidence in The PK Man so you can decide for yourself. But take
warning--many intriguing questions remain unanswered. You may end up wondering about the
PK
Man for a long time to come.
Creating True Prosperity
Shakti Gawain
Nataraj Publishing/New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com 1-800-972-6657
ISBN: 1-57731-170-1 Soft Cover 178 pp. $12.95
Shakti Gawain is well-known as an expert in personal growth and consciousness. She's written
numerous books and leads workshops internationally. Her latest book, Creating True Prosperity,
teaches that the way to happiness is not necessarily the accumulation of wealth.
Gawain defines prosperity as "the experience of having plenty of what we truly need and want in
life,
material and otherwise." She adds that "the key point to understand is that prosperity is an internal
experience, not an external state, and it is an experience that is not tied to money." This is one
reason why many people find themselves unhappy, despite the fact that they have more than
enough
money to cover their needs.
This does not mean that money is unimportant, and a certain amount of it is obviously needed to
meet basic survival needs. The difficulty for many people comes from how they think about
money.
Gawain says that "essentially, money is a symbol for energy." We use our energy in a certain
way--work--and receive money in exchange. We can then exchange our money for something
created by someone else's energy. This defines money as a flow of energy and "our financial
affairs
tend to reflect how our life energy is moving."
Prosperity eludes many of us for a variety of reasons. Gawain provides some exercises for
understanding personal patterns and overcoming habits and thought processes that keep
individuals
from achieving their prosperity goals. From this, she gets into a discussion of polarities and how
most of us feel that we must always choose between opposites, with neither choice providing
happiness. She details six steps that help individuals to balance their own inner polarities.
Gawain then answers common questions that readers might have, such as where to begin when
needs seem overwhelming and how to overcome a "not enough" mentality. She finishes with a
chapter of "stories of prosperity," filled with examples of how everyday people have created
prosperous lives.
Creating True Prosperity is for every person wanting guidance in identifying "where they need
more
balance in their lives, freeing them to pursue fulfilling relationships and personal satisfaction."
Simple Wicca
Michele Morgan
Conari Press
2550 Ninth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.conari.com 1-800-685-9595
ISBN: 1-57324-199-7 Hard cover 171 pp. $14.95
Michele Morgan is a professional psychic, Tarot counselor, certified NLP practitioner, writer, and
teacher. She is also a Wiccan. She expertly describes the practice of Wicca in her first book,
Simple
Wicca.
She explains that "Wicca, known also as Witchcraft or the Craft of the Wise, is a beautiful and
sacred religion, centuries older than Judeo-Christian theosophy." It incorporates a reverence for
Earth and all living creatures and includes "the worship of both the male and female aspects of
Divinity."
Many people focus on the word witchcraft and have attributed negative connotations to Wicca.
Morgan stresses that true Wicca has nothing to do with black magic or harming others. In fact,
one
of the basic tenets of Wicca is the philosophy of "harm none." Wiccans believe that everything
they
do comes back to them threefold, and therefore take care not to send out harmful thoughts,
words,
or actions.
While Wiccans can and do gather in groups to practice their religion, Morgan says "there are as
many ways to be Wiccan as there are Wiccans; spiritual truths are the sole proprietorship of the
individual." After delving into the history of Wicca traditions and describing the general practices,
she explains how to create sacred spaces and develop personal rituals.
Part of this includes the use of "magic," which is simply the power given to objects by people to
help
them enhance their connection to their spiritual practices. This often involves the use of symbols
such as candles. She advises "with all things in the Craft, use your instincts and your imagination."
Morgan also describes influences and energies, such as the phases of the moon, colors, days of the
week, the four directions, and crystals, and tells how to utilize them in creating your own personal
magic.
She defines a spell as "a prayer acted out," adding that "there is literally no end to the creative
methods" used in creating spells. She provides detailed instructions for devising spells to fit
individual needs. She then explains the various kinds of rituals, such as blessing, healing, or
protection, and again gives detailed instructions for individual practices. As guidance, she includes
examples of spells and rituals she's used.
Morgan says that "Wicca is not just a path to follow, it is a life to live, a life of awareness, hope,
and
love." Simple Wicca is an excellent resource for all those interested in an ancient wisdom that's
become "the fastest growing spiritual practice" of modern times. Written in a straightforward and
practical way, it will answer all the questions that beginners have and help them get started on
their
own paths, as well as provide a useful reference for experienced practitioners.
Sandra I. Smith
Reviewer
Shelley's Bookshelf
Hypershot
Trevor Scott
Salvo Press
PO Box 9095, Bend, OR 97708
ISBN: 1-930486-16-2 $13.95 paperback
It's hard to imagine that a publishing outfit out of Bend, Oregon, an outpost in the middle of the
Cascades, would produce a world-class high-tech thriller writer such as Trevor Scott. Mr. Scott
was
a weapons expert, a captain in the Air Force, with flight deck experience in the Navy, and also
worked in Germany for several years in a tactical missile unit. His writing credentials include a
bachelor's in English from the University of Minnesota and a masters in creative writing from
Northern Michigan.
Mr. Scott brings his powerful and prestigious experience into play with his newest thriller,
Hypershot. Blending his knowledge of Germany, his latest story features Chad Hunter, a private
weapons designer and expert hired by Camden Warfield to broker a weapons deal. The idea is to
merge the best new rail gun technology, designed by von Herz in Germany with the newest scope,
designed by American Frank Baldwin. Warfield wants the rights to produce the gun.
But When Hunter and Baldwin arrive in Germany to sign with von Herz, they find themselves the
target of killers trying to get their hands on the world's newest and most efficient killing machine.
Someone else has gotten their hands on the rail gun, and has been doing some recreational killing
of
their own. Two of Bavaria's best homicide inspectors are investigating the killers with no notion
that
their paths will soon cross with Hunter and Baldwin:
"Gustav asked, I've been told what happened, but what I don't understand is why? Could either of
you elaborate?' It was agreed that Chad would do the talking. I'm from the Denver area, and
Frank
is from Wyoming. I'm a business consultant negotiating a deal with a company in Munich. The
company I represent would like to build their product in the states. I have no idea why someone
would try to shoot us.'"
Mr. Scott utilizes his usual arsenal of literary techniques to build Hypershot into a first-class
thriller:
pacing, effective love interests, compelling characters finding themselves in unusual and deadly
circumstances, clear and effective dialogue, and just plain thrilling circumstances. His settings are
reminiscent of James Bond. A great fourth book!
Keepers
Janet LaPierre
Perseverance Press
c/o John Daniel and Company,
PO Box 21922, Santa Barbara, CA 93121
ISBN: 1-880284-44-8 $12.95, www.danielpublishing.com/perseverance
Janet LaPierre is a native of the Midwest who discovered her destiny in the area north of San
Francisco. Raised in Iowa, she states on her very cute and informative web page (which features a
picture of her what looks to be a golden lab, Emmitt) that after early "sinner-dunking" she came
to
California via college in Arizona. She taught high school and finally came to writing after raising
two
daughters. She has written seven mysteries and nine short stories, and is a member of "Sisters in
Crime," and is well connected in the mystery underworld.
LaPierre creates a mother/daughter duo with lots of wonderful baggage as her heroines in
Keepers.
Verity Mackellar has just moved back home with her mother, long-time PI Patience Mackellar,
who
learned her craft from her now deceased policeman husband. Verity is coming off of a yuppie
marriage to the son of a crusty old lawyer, and her erstwhile husband, Ted, is still coming on to
her
in a creepy way. But when Patience is presented with an unusual request for her services from a
reticent professor named David Simonov, who approaches her to find his former wife and
daughter,
Patience's instincts kick into high gear:
"Patience Mackellar, you're out of your mind. This is a messy circumstance and anyway beyond
your
resources. Patience reached out to push the photos back to their owner, but her hand disobeyed
her
and picked up the picture of the child. Mr. Simonov, are you intending to seek custody of your
daughter?' She lifted her gaze from the dark, intense face to the mild countenance across her
desk."
Besides wooing the reader with beautiful Northern California landscapes, Ms. LaPierre knows her
character and plot development. Each character is someone the reader either immediately loves or
hates. The plot is full of "squirm in your seat" situations, with little letup. Patience and Verity are
one of a kind who attach themselves to our psyche from the moment they are introduced.
Relationships are carefully crafted, and this mystery grabs us with its intensity, never to let go. I
hated reading the last page, because I just wanted it to go on and on. Keepers is a keeper of a
mystery, and I am already a big fan of the Mackellar investigative firm. The ending is a shock,
followed by a sigh of complete contentment. A great read.
The Ferryman Will Be There
Rosemary Aubert
Bridge Works Publishing
Box 1798, Bridgehampton, NY 11921
ISBN: 1-882593-44-8 $22.95, Hardcover
Rosemary Aubert is a native New Yorker who now resides in Toronto, where she translates her
work in the criminal justice system to her series about Ellis Portal, a former judge whose
experiences
within the homeless culture make him uniquely qualified to freelance for the police when needed.
Ms. Aubert's books have won Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for best mystery in 1999, and have
been
translated into many languages.
The Ferryman Will Be There finds Ellis in improved circumstances, after winning a divorce
settlement amounting to a small fortune. He is living in a rooming house run by his uneasy friend,
Tootie Beets. He has sent his friend Queenie north for schooling. His old friend, Detective Matt
West taps him for another case when a famous Toronto film maker is shot in front of fans as he
and
his daughter arrive for a premiere. It is Ellis' job to find out what happened to his daughter,
Carrie,
who has disappeared. Ellis returns to his old haunts as he hunts for both his landlady Tootie, who
has takes off after her house is appropriated for development, and the whereabouts of Carrie. Ellis
takes his own journey as he is forced to return to his post-breakdown haunts:
"I began to descend with eagerness to revisit the scene of my life as a bush person.' Despite my
genuine remorse for the errors that had led me to homelessness, I sometimes missed the freedom
of
that life, the anonymity, the lack of harassment from landlords, tax men, and friends.' As I scaled
down the slick cliff, I realized to my dismay that I was nowhere near as supple as I'd been when
I'd
been living rough."
Ms. Aubert does a marvelous job of juxtaposing life in Toronto between the homeless and poor
and
the more privileged segments of society. She makes full use of the irony of the judges becoming
rich
as the people they see in their courtrooms going down the ladder of civilization. This isn't so
much
of a "whodunit" as it is a journey of one man through the highs and lows of modern life. Ellis
manages to figure out who committed the crime, but his challenge is more about finding himself,
coming to terms with his past, reuniting with his son.
Aubert doesn't seem to intend for The Ferryman Will Be There to be an edge-of-your-seat thriller
as
much as a compassionate look at human nature. Ellis is a symbol as a reluctant hero who has
flaws
galore. But we love him anyway and want him to succeed. Sweet.
An Uncommon Woman
Rick Herrick
Parkway Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 3678, Boone, NC 28607
ISBN: 1-887905-45-6 $14.95
Rick Herrick is currently the Executive Director of the Valle Crucis Community Park. He has
been a
university professor and magazine editor.
A large percentage of women are battered by their husbands. As large a percentage of women are
raped each year. Many of these women are never helped, and never heal. Batterers are helped in
even smaller percentages. An Uncommon Woman addresses this, by writing a very sweet and
hopeful story about a woman named Carrie who not only deals with the loss of her mother, but a
brutal rape. Escaping into marriage, she is just beginning to heal when her husband becomes a
batterer. Only when she meets an extraordinary group of women does she find the answer to her
problems:
"Many men don't deal with their anger well," Heather explained. "They keep it in where it festers
and sometimes explodes. They usually take it out on those closest to them like wives and children.
Some men even believe they have a right to beat their wives. It is their way of getting rid of their
anger. It seems to help them feel better. The tragic thing is that men are so strong and can do so
much harm."
Carrie is one of the lucky ones. She has enough intelligence to seek out, and get, help for both
herself and her husband. Their story is an inspiring account of love emerging from a potentially
devastating situation. It is about how forgiveness works and what a powerfully healing emotion it
is.
Set in the mountains of Western North Carolina, nature provides an ethereal backdrop.
Carrie Presnell is an inspiring and strong woman. She emerges as an every woman, and she
creates a
wonderful life out of shreds of goodness, with the help of some very special professionals. An
Uncommon Woman is surprisingly easy to read. It's tale is logical, with just enough incidents to
get
the point across without overwhelming the reader.
Herrick has done an immense service in this writing of this book. Not only is it a touching story
that
is heartwarming, but he provides a wealth of information on the subject of abuse and rape. It
would
make a great addition to any high school library, as it is of particular interest to that age.
Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer
Klausner's Bookshelf
In The Shadow Of Dragons
Kathleen Cunningham Guler
Bardsong Press
P.O. Box 775396 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
Oct 2001, $22.95, 418 pp. ISBN: 096603712X
In 470 AD, Druid Priest Myrddin "Merlin" Emrys visits Marcus ap Iorwerth at the latter's home in
Dinas Beri, Gwynnedd to obtain his best spy's special services because a major conspiracy to kill
the
High King has surfaced. However, Marcus' wife Claerwen, gifted with the sight of visions, insists
she must accompany her beloved spouse on his quest to stop the assailants. Marcus acquiesces to
Claeri and accompanies him on the dangerous mission in which payment is in goods for his clan.
Marcus and Claeri soon discover that Pascentius, the son of dead King Votigern, is leading the
plot
to unseat the king. Pascentius is using Octa and his Saxon mercenaries and has control of
Macsen's
Spearhead, one of the items that make up the legendary High King's five piece Macsen's Treasure
set, to validate his claim to the throne. However, before Marcus and Claeri can stop Pascentius,
someone cleverly sets the intrepid duo up as fugitives, forcing the couple to prove their
innocence.
Book two in the Macsen's Treasure series, In The Shadow Of Dragons continues the romantic
saga
of pre-Arthur Britain. The story line is fast- paced and filled with non-stop action that enables
readers to glimpse a troubled nation. As with the first novel, Into The Path Of Gods, this tale
belongs to the lead characters, Marcus and Claeri. Their bravery and devotion to their country and
to one another provide a strong anchor for a powerful tale. Kathleen Cunningham Guler is quite a
bard with refreshing look at the Arthurian legend.
Into The Path Of Gods
Kathleen Cunningham Guler
Bardsong Press
P.O. Box 775396 Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
Oct 2001, $22.95, 418 pp. ISBN: 0966037103
During the fifth century AD, the hopes of most of Britain for a better life rest in the whispers of
Arthur becoming the High King though some will refuse to cede power and will do anything to
insure no one surfaces. However, as each year passes, the hope diminishes as no one steps forth
to
claim the crown. Needing assistance, Merlin recruits Welsh warrior, Marcus ap Iorwerth to work
undercover in the search for the now legendary Arthur. Claerwen escapes from one bad situation
to
another until she meets Marcus. He helps her understand her ability to see what no one else
senses.
As they fall in love, her visions lead them to the symbols of the High Kings of Britain, Macsen's
Treasure. However, their powerful, sly foes are many. They cause Marcus to disappear and
Claerwen must find a way to locate and rescue her beloved. Medieval historical and Arthurian
readers will enjoy Into The Path Of Gods. The fast-paced story line vividly brings alive the second
half of the fifth century in Britain. Marcus and Claerwen are a likable intrepid couple whose
romantic elements will delight fans of that genre. The support cast adds depth so that the audience
obtains a greater feel for the period than usually found in a novel. In her opening act of her four
part
saga, Kathleen Cunningham Guler provides a breathtaking panoramic view of the days leading up
to
Arthur's assent to the throne.
Last Kiss
Dominque Adair
Ellora's Cave
http://www.ellorascave.com/index.htm
ISBN 1843600536 $10.00 ebook
Dirk Prentice invites forty-one years old Elaine Nichols to his home, Prentice House, for a
weekend
of pleasure and sex. Ordinarily, she would never think of doing such a hedonistic thing but she
had
some very bad news a few months ago and wants to live life to the fullest in the time she has left.
Almost immediately upon her arrival she meets Count Alex Romanov, a man she has dreamed of
for
years but has never met. When he meets Elaine he believes she is the reincarnation of his lost love.
The pair gravitates towards one another and in a short period of time, realizes they love one
another.
However Elaine has not much left on this earth unless Alex, who is more than he seems, can find a
way to save her and keep her with him through eternity. Last Kiss is a very graphic and erotic
paranormal romance. The sex scenes feel appropriate to the story line so that the audience grasps
the
intensity of the feelings Alex and Elaine have for one another. Dominique Adair has written a very
sensual love story that will enormously entertain the audience.
Lone Rider
Lauren Bach
Warner Books
Nov 2001, $6.99, 336 pp. ISBN: 044661114X
Tess Marsh is driving on an isolated and deserted Montana highway when she runs out of gas. A
biker stops to offer assistance just prior to the arrival of a motorcycle gang, notorious for white
slavery and drug trafficking. Dallas forces himself on Tess by pretending she is his alone. When
they
enter the gang's hideout, Dallas pleads with Tess to trust him in spite of her current predicament
apparently caused by him. Weeks later there is a FBI raid on the compound and Tess learns that
Dallas is Federal agent Grey Thomas who has worked undercover for years seeking evidence to
incarcerate these nasty criminals. Tess is subpoenaed to testify at the trials, but someone wants
her
dead before she gives testimony. Grey is determined to keep her safe. Lauren Bach has written an
exciting romantic adventure reminiscent of a Big Sky version of Romancing the Stone. The
heroine
is feisty and brave while the hero intrepidly will do what it takes to keep the woman he loves
unharmed. Lone Rider is a fantastic reading experience for those fans that enjoy action in their
romances.
A Rose By The Door
Deborah Bedford
Warner Books
Nov 2001, $16.95, 334 pp. ISBN: 0446677892
Not quite eighteen, Nathan left home three weeks before he graduated from college. His mother
Bea
Bartling of Ash Hollow, Nebraska has constantly; prayed over the next five years that her son will
return home so they can reconcile. Her dream ends when the police inform her that Nathan died in
an automobile accident. Bea becomes angry with God for betraying her trust in the All Mighty.
She
also does not know what to do when Nathan's widow Gemma accompanied by her granddaughter
Paisley arrives broke and hungry. Bea reluctantly allows them to temporarily stay with her. As
time
passes, the three generations of females become close even though Bea still refuses to fully open
up
her heart to her guests. Unless Bea finds a way to tear down her walls, she will lose Gemma and
Paisley too. A Rose By The Door is an uplifting inspirational story that shows those individuals
with
faith in their hearts can surmount any emotional mountain. The poignant story line moves the
audience especially when the reader needs a lift. Deborah Bedford displays her talent with this
sententious novel that never preaches but clearly inspires.
Then Comes Marriage
Kasey Michaels
Warner Books
Jan 2002, $6.99, 368 pp. ISBN: 0446609188
Feeling pity when Viscount Willoughby Rutland and his wife Abby saw the innocent looking
Regina
Bliss begging for spare change outside the theater, they hired her as a maid. When Earl Bradley
James sees Regina working for the Rutlands, he asks her what brought her to such a crisis?
Regina,
an actress, relates her tale of woe, but Bradley does not believe her. He makes a few inquiries and
draws the attention of the wrong people. Soon three aristocrats abduct Bradley and toss him into
the
Thames to die. He survives and devices an ingenious plan to flush out the culprits with Regina's
assistance as she too has a score to settle with these thugs. As they work together to catch a
killer,
they fall in love, but a relationship will have to wait to see if they survive their endeavor. Adored
by
readers for her Regency romances, Kasey Michaels provides her audience with her best work to
date
in Then Comes Marriage. The relationship between the lead couple is hilarious due to their witty
repartee that camouflages their true feelings for one another. Also amusing is the straight-laced
Brady takes on the persona of Gawain Caradoc, a frivolous dandy so that he can move freely
among
the Ton. This is more than just a strong regency; this tale is an engaging historical romance that
should be on everyone's short list.
Swear By The Moon
Shirlee Busbee
Warner Books
Dec 2001, $6.99, 416 pp. ISBN: 0446609250
In 1788, at seventeen Thea Garrett feels mature enough to know what she wants. So ignoring the
advice of her older brother Tom, she falls for the charm of Lord Randall Hawley and elopes with
him. On the trek north, she finds he turns ugly when things go wrong culminating with his raping
her. Tom catches up to them, but Randall forces a dual and in the ensuing fight, he dishonorably
murders his opponent. Before dying Tom kills Randall. A stunned Thea vows never again to trust
a
male. A decade later American Patrick Blackburne visits his English mother. She informs him that
someone is blackmailing her. She does not want any scandal caused by her to ruin the image of
her
fianc‚. Patrick promises to see what he can do to fix her problem, but soon has one of his own
when
he meets and falls in love with Thea, a person he believes is a nasty pleasure seeker. Though she
returns his feelings, Thea still feels guilt over her brother's death and rejects all men. Swear By
The
Moon is an exciting Regency romance with an engaging, solid story line. Still readers will wonder
why a teenage Thea failed to see the true colors of Randall as a bad-tempered soul even if he
oozes
charm to disguise his nature. His pivotal role is short so that the audience can enjoy the principal
battle between Thea and Patrick. Shirlee Busbee has written a stirring historical romance starring
two individuals whom the audience will like and want to see together.
Last Man Standing
David Baldacci
Warner Books
Nov 2001, $26.95, 548 pp. ISBN: 0446525804
Web London leads his elite FBI Hostage Rescue Team on the raid of the drug operation, but the
enemy is waiting fully armed with remote electronic modern weaponry. Web's team is wiped out
with he the lone survivor. Washington DC Field Office Chief Buck Winters, a key contributor to
the
Waco fiasco, blames Web for causing a media nightmare. Web's peers and the family members of
the
dead want answers on why Web lived. Web knows he is the fall guy for this fiasco, but is
determined
not to just prove his innocence, but learn how his team was set up because this was a high tech
precision operation that required a FBI leak to succeed. Web knows that one other witness
besides
the remote ambushers survived the assault. A ten-year-old boy named Kevin happened to be in the
wrong place at the wrong time. He also needs to determine why the other side left him as the Last
Man Standing. This trail will lead to some personal revelations that will shake Web to the core of
his
being. Last Man Standing is an exciting psychological police thriller that contains two interrelated
story lines in which separately either one is very powerful, but collectively one takes away from
the
other. Readers will empathize with Web who in seconds horrifically observed his team eradicated
and feel for family survivors. David Baldacci furbishes an exciting thriller that never slows down
even as the tale meanders between the twin plots. Still, readers will enjoy this fast-paced different
type of psychological police procedural.
Finders Keepers
Linnea Sinclair
Novel Books
Oct 2001, 306 pp. $TBA ISBN: 1931696993
http://www.novel-books.com/index.html
Captain Trilby Elliot and her only companion Dezi the droid operate an obsolete outer space
cargo
ship when her intruder alarm noisily explodes, warning her of something nearing her vessel. The
best
she can hope for is a sizable fine that she cannot afford to pay when her binocs show only one
ship, a
high powered fighting Tra'Tark that crashes onto the planet. Trilby feels her luck has changed as
the
"sko" from that wreckage should be worth a fortune for the Finders Keepers salvage of what is
now
space garbage to anyone but her. However, Trilby finds one problem near the crash site as the
pilot
still breathes. Imperial Senior Captain Rhis Vanur informs Trilby that he is commandeering her
ship
and is kind enough not to maroon her on this isolated rock. As they become better acquainted
they
defy the astronomical odds and begin to fall in love. However, he is genetically engineered to have
no emotions while someone needs her dead and wants her old ship with its seemingly ancient
charts
for no lucent reason. Fan of romantic science fiction will enjoy this outer space adventure tale. If
it
sounds somewhat like Star Wars (loquacious droids, empires at war, etc.), it is to a degree, but
the
story line develops its own gravity due to the powerful lead couple. The audience will root for
Trilby
and Rhis to overcome their enemies and make it together. Linnea Sinclair has written a wonderful
novel that has strong cross-genre appeal to those readers who take pleasure in an action-packed
thriller.
Spirit Of Independence
Keith Rommel
Berkley
Nov 2001, $14.95, 276 pp. ISBN: 193402191
In 1947, Travis Winter was on a covert operation in East Berlin when his captain shot him in cold
blood. As he lay dying, a hand reached up from within the ground and pulled Travis though the
layers of the earth until he reached Hell. The devil using the name Navarro insists they must talk,
but
before they chat angels arrive freeing Travis. For the next half a century, Travis has been the
Spirit
Of Independence in God's Army. He serves as a modern day angel waiting to fight on the front
lines
when the Day of reckoning arrives. However his five decades of angelic living makes Travis
question God's ruthlessness so he joins Navarro's minion as the cold war between Heaven and
Hell
has heated up to what seems like the final solution. Anyone who enjoys the "Left behind" novels
will
gain immense pleasure from Spirit Of Independence, the first tale of the "Spirit Chronicles" series.
Kith Rommel visualizes images so that even an atheist will believe in Heaven and Hell. Travis is
one
heck of a lead protagonist, as he seems so human even in the afterlife that he is a sort of modern
day
doubting everyman. Keith Rommel displays his talent with this powerful inspirational fiction.
Dearest Beloved
Christine Holden
Berkley
Nov 2001, $5.99, 337 pp. ISBN: 0515131806
In 1816, Lady Arielle Stanford wants to become a doctor though England has never had a female
physician. Her goal has turned obsessive as she ignores everything else in her life except her
pursuit
of medicine. Even Arielle's friends consider her a harmless eccentric who they expect will end up
on
the shelf because she neglects the important things in society. Marquess Hunter Braxton has just
returned home from the victory over Napoleon. All he wants right now is to tend to his estate and
forget about the affairs of state. Arielle concludes she needs help from a hero and chooses Hunter,
whose reputation for providing assistance to people is well known among the Ton. Though he
agrees to see Arielle achieve her dream, he has his own idea about what profession suits Arielle.
He
prefers she practice medicine on him only because he wants his beloved's job to be his wife.
Dearest
Beloved is an exciting Regency romance that those readers who do not mind a medical
anachronism
or two (Christine Holden admits to taking poetic license) will find quite delightful. The story line
moves forward rather quickly and fans will find the lead couple likable and admirable. This novel
will
please the Regency audience, who are beholden to the author for her powerful historical
romances.
A Potion For A Widow
Caroline Roe
Berkley
Dec 2001, $6.50, 288 pp. ISBN 0425183653
By 1354, the plague has finally ebbed in Europe. In Girona, Isaac, a blind Jew, serves as the
physician to Bishop Berenguer. Isaac's prot‚g‚ Yusuf is a ward of King Don Pedro who is
fighting
in Sardina. A malicious person threatens Yusuf so his patrons feel it is safer for him to leave the
area. The Bishop has a packet for the king so Yusuf joins the party escorting it. Before they reach
the gates, Pasqual Robert arrives with a knife in his chest. He shortly dies but the man who posed
as
a cleric for years was really acting as an agent for the king. On the road to their destination, Yusuf
and his companions meet a girl, Clara, who is obviously of aristocratic stock. She accompanies
the
envoy to Sardinia where they search the records to find out who Pasqual's wife is and where she
lives so they can notify her of her husband's death. How Clara is connected to Pasqual makes for a
fairy tale. It is very obvious that Caroline Roe has done meticulous research on late Medieval
Spain
so that the reader will gain a better understanding of the callousness of the leadership along with
their politics and social mores. Although Isaac plays a secondary role in this tale, he is a pivotal
person to the story line. There are various sub-plots that return to the main story line so that no
loose threats remain dangling. A Potion For A Widow is a colorful and appealing historical
mystery.
Heartmate
Robin D. Owens
Berkley
Dec 2001,$5.99, 350pp ISBN: 0515132896
In Druida City, Celta, Rand T'Ash, a renowned jeweler, is lonely until his psi power, the Flair,
informs him that "Today you will meet your Heartmate". Suddenly his adrenaline flows to
extreme
levels as Rand anxiously awaits the arrival at his shop the Phoenix of whom he has dreamed of
forever. As he anxiously awaits her arrival, Rand pulls out of his safe his HeartGift, a special
necklace for his beloved. However, instead of falling into his arms as he has fantasized, Danith
Mallow seems frightened of the over eager and clearly ardent Rand with his brooding sensual dark
looks at her. She flees his shop and while he falls into in self-pity, someone steals his HeartGift.
Now
Rand must show the patience of Job (minor anachronism) while courting his reluctant beloved and
seeking the stolen necklace that symbolizes everything he cherishes in life. Heartmate is a jocular
fantasy romance with a touch of mystery that showcases Robin D Owens' ability to combine the
varying elements into an entertaining novel that engages fans of all three genres. The lead couple
is a
delightful duo and his familiar Zanth (don't even go there) adds humor and feline advice to the
mix.
The amusing one-sitting story line works on all levels as readers from the different genres will
want
Ms. Owens to return to Celta for more tales of heartmates.
Narcissus In Chains
Laurell K Hamilton
Berkley
Oct 2001, $22.95 400 pp. ISBN 0425181685
It has been six months since Anita Blake has seen her two lovers, Richard the shapeshifter and
Jean-Claude the vampire. During that time she has been learning how to control her powers so
something unpleasant doesn't shock her. She is almost ready to get in touch with her two men and
see if they can come to an amicable arrangement since Richard, Jean-Claude and Anita are bound
together in a triumvirate of power. Before she can make the first move, two of her were-leopards
are being tortured at the S & M club Narcissus In Chains. She calls on Jean-Claude for help and
he
agrees only if she acquiesces to open herself up to the marks of power so she has a fighting
chance
of coming out of this encounter alive. After Anita takes care of business, she fears changing into a
were- jaguar since one who was trying to save her life cut her. Meanwhile a were- Jaguar wants
to
merge his group with hers. Before anything can be arranged, an enemy strikes out at the
triumvirate,
forcing them to put personal problems on hold and learn who is after them so they can stop him.
Narcissus In Chains seems to be the definitive book in the series. The protagonist has come to
terms
with what she is and accepts that her vampire lover is a part of her life because he needs her. She
also sees that Richard will never change and makes plans accordingly. Laurel K. Hamilton has
written the best book of her career because she gives the audience the long waited answers they
have been waiting for. This action-supernatural thriller is a keeper and with the passage of time
will
be considered a classic.
The Texan's Dream
Jodi Thomas
Berkley
Nov 2001, $6.99, 342 pp. ISBN: 0515131768
In 1875 Pittsburgh, a worried Charlie O'Riley puts his beloved daughter Kara on a train heading
west. He informs her that she is to vanish for a year because it is not safe here. Charlie fears that if
she surfaces too early she will die. A desperate Kara reaches Texas with no money left. If she fails
to
get work soon, Kara knows she has one remaining option if she is to eat. So she applies for a
bookkeeping position on the Catlin Ranch and manages to get hired by the owner Jonathan Catlin.
Her first impression of her boss is that he is the coldest heartless person on the planet. However,
though he carries much personal baggage, she begins to see another caring side of Jonathan. Soon
Kara and Jonathan fall in love, but will that keep them safe and together when the past threatens
the
present? After several Texas romances, readers would expect that Jodi "Texas" Thomas would
reach
her Alamo, but instead the talented author once again provides her audience with a fresh character
driven western romance. The story line moves quickly because the delightful lead couple and the
secondary players seem genuine and turn the plot into a vivid look at a bygone era. The Texan's
Dream is a dream of a tale for those fans that gain pleasure from an gregarious Americana
romance.
A Century Of Great Suspense Stories
Jeffrey Deaver (editor)
Berkley
Nov 2001, $29.95, 590 pp. ISBN: 0425181928
When I first saw the title of this book all I could think of was oh no, another saves the century for
the ages with one more literary anthology. The Ancient Library at Alexandria could never have
contained more papyrus than we have currently available some short story theme involving the
century. Though I have fully enjoyed each of the previous collections leisurely reading them over
a
couple of weeks (which seems like a century when compared to my normal pace), I vowed no
more.
Than I opened this book just to glimpse at who contributed and soon was hooked again all
because
Lawrence Block submitted a Batman tale. Once again the quality is top rate as the thirty-six
well-written stories run much of the suspense gamut submitted by a notable cast of writers. The
tales
include police and legal procedurals as well as the classic private sleuth investigative story among
the assortment of other twist and turn tales. None of the stories shortchanges the ensemble, as this
is
a triumphant aggregation that is worth unhurriedly reading over a couple of weeks.
A Soft Place To Fall
Barbara Bretton
Berkley
Nov 2001, $6.99, 340 pp. ISBN: 0425182169
When his much younger friend asked wealthy Warren Bancroft for a place to hide for a while, he
arranges for investor Sam Butler to stay at Shelter Rock Cove, Maine. Warren also manipulated
the
staying at a nearby beach cottage of Annie Galloway. The widow struggles to regain her life ever
since her spouse Kevin died leaving her with quite a debt and a loss of innocence. Warren loves
Sam
and Annie and hopes by bringing these two deserving people together, a loving match will form.
However, Kevin's mother Claudia refuses to allow Annie to move on feeling that would be an
affront to the memory of her cherished son. She believes Sam cheated Annie with their real estate
deal and is still interfering with her former daughter-in-law. As Sam and Annie begin to fall in
love,
Claudia is like a ghost from the past reminding Annie that Kevin was forever. Barbara Bretton has
written a powerful relationship drama loaded with angst and emotion as the past and the future
clash
within Annie with the catalyst being the key secondary characters causing the skirmishes that tear
at
her gut. The story line provides the audience with a poignant character study as readers travel
deep
into the souls of the lead couple and the support cast. Anyone who enjoys a passionate look inside
the hearts and souls of the prime players will find A Soft Place To Fall a solid book to read.
Truffled Feathers
Nancy Fairbanks
Berkley
Dec 2001, $5.99, 272 pp. ISBN: 042518272X
Scientist Jason Blue specializes in how to clean toxins from the environment while his wife
Carolyn
is a gourmet chef. Carolyn receives an advance to write a cookbook on New Orleans cuisine.
They
travel to New York because Hodge, Bruce & Byerson want to hire Jason to help them with their
"Cleaning the Environment Through Chemistry" mission while Carolyn meets with her editor.
Upon
their arrival in the Big Apple, they learn that someone murdered the person who recruited Jason.
Without informing one another, Jason and Carolyn independently investigate the homicide.
Though
approaching the puzzle differently, each of them draws the same conclusions about the
perpetrators.
This reviewer provides two tips before reading this complex mystery. First fill up with a big meal
before starting because the descriptions of food are salivating and torturous. Second ignore why
two
amateurs would investigate a killing especially since they are at best remotely impacted. Nancy
Fairbanks writes a delicious, often amusing amateur sleuth story that will satiate the sub-genre's
gourmands.
Lord Of Fire
Gaelen Foley
Ivy
Jan 2002, $6.99, 432 pp. ISBN: 0449006379
In 1814, the Ton compares twin brothers Lucien and Damien Knight. While Damien recently
returned home a war hero, Lucien left the military two years ago. Lucien has earned a reputation
as
Lord Lucifer for his decadent parties while Damien seeks a wife. Lucien eliminates the widow
Caro
Glenwood as a spousal candidate for his sibling by sleeping with her. Alice Montague worries
about
her sick nephew Harry who wants his mother. She decides to go to Lucien's house of sin to bring
Harry's mother Caro home with her. Instead she meets Lucien and finds herself attracted to the
enigmatic male who can be so compassionate towards a little boy yet so passionate with her. Alice
will soon learn the truth behind Lucien's dual nature when she becomes a periled pawn of his
enemy
because Lord Lucifer uses his debauchery role to hide the counterespionage ring that will insure
Napoleon fails to return from Elba. Lord Of Fire is an exciting historical romantic suspense novel
that never slows down for a moment even as the story line remains within normal sub-genre
boundaries. Lucien is an intriguing lead character because he displays a duality that enables the
audience to understand his motivations as his two disparate lives clash between love and loyalty.
Alice is a heroine whether she is fighting with her country's enemies or raising Harry. It is this lead
couple that makes Gaelen Foley's novel so entertaining that the audience will anxiously await
Damien's tale released in February.
Dreammaster
JA Ferguson
ImaJinn Books
Oct 2001, $13.00 ISBN: 1893896609
Elasian scientist Tate Wyborn knows that his country's leader the Warmaster assigned his new
assistant Selie Konn to spy on him. That knowledge does not phase the loyal Tate who wants his
nation to win the war with the Gayomians, a people who believe in magic. However, Tate's latest
invention fails leaving he and Selie trapped behind enemy lines where woman warrior Janna Bezitt
and her soldiers capture them. They are escorted to the Tiria who questions the duo until the
Gayome leader goes into labor. Selie offers to help, leading to a successful birthing while Tate
fixes
his transporter device. However, Selie steals his gadget, abducts the infant, and returns home.
Tate
and Janna join forces to rescue the baby. During their quest, Janna and Tate fall in love, but can
they
find a solid ground for a relationship to form? Dreammaster is an exciting romantic fantasy in
which
the key cast members make the two warring countries seem like authentic nations. The story line
is
exciting because the differences in outlook between the lead characters mirror that of their
respective nations. JA Ferguson makes no apologies for a lucid bias towards the magical
Gayomians
who are much purer in spirit and contentment than the scientific Elasians. Sub-genre readers will
relish the complex, multifaceted conflicts that prove Ms. Ferguson is a master at providing her
audience with a dream of a tale.
Midnight Masquerade
Nancy Gideon
ImaJinn Books
Oct 2001, $13.00, 272 pp. ISBN 189389648X
Rae Borden was once Ginny's friend and a part of her family until a terrible mistake sent her
running
away in shame. Rae became a police officer in Detroit and hoped to reconcile with Ginny one day
but she was too late. Instead She returned to Washington D.C. to attend Ginny's funeral. On that
same day, Ginny's father supposedly committed suicide. Rae's police instincts go on red alert
when
she sees Kazmin Zarlos and Nick Flynn secretly leave the funeral. She is convinced they have
something to do with Ginny and her father's deaths. A special organization knows of Rae's
concern
and uses that to enlist her to obtain the dirt on Zarlos and his partner Anna Murray. She uses Nick
to
get her into the organization and unexpectedly falls in love with him. He reciprocates her feelings.
Neither of them realizes they might die while completing the investigation because the people they
need to bring down are more and less than human. Midnight Masquerade is one of the best
vampire
books this reviewer has ever read. The hero is to die for and the exciting story line is a one sitting
read. She is on a par with Anne ice and readers know thatNancy Gideon subtly adds meat to the
rice
so that the paranormal audience fully believes in the existence of the vampires.
Tangled Memories
Jan Scarbrough
Imajinn Books
Oct 2001, $13.00, 237 pp. ISBN 1893896552
Mary Adams was a widow for only a short time when she married Dr. Alexander Dominican so
she
could act as a mother to his child. His wife died recently as well from cancer but before her death
they saved the child's life by doing a cesarean section. In return for marrying Alex, he would pay
off
the fifty thousand in debts her late husband left behind when he died. Mary moves into
Marchbrook
Manor, a medieval house in the heart of Kentucky. Once she steps through the door, strange
things
begin happening to her. She has visions of a medieval woman and her husband, a great lord in
England of 1327. In addition to her visions someone in the house is trying to drive Mary away by
playing cruel and malicious tricks on her. When she tells Alex about the incidents he doesn't
believe
her, which hurts Mary a great deal because she has come to love him. Tangled Memories is a
wonderful gothic romance complete with a foreboding castle, a helpful housekeeper, strange
visions,
and an insane antagonist. Told in the first person from Mary's point of view, readers feel the same
fears that the heroine experiences. Jan Scarbrough has written a modern day gothic that will
delight
fans of this growing sub genre.
Pressure Points
Larry Brooks
Onyx
Dec 2001, $6.99, 464 pp. ISBN: 0451410012
In Seattle's very creative and highly sought after Wright and Wong advertising agency, three high
level executives are unhappy. Finance Officer/Controller Mark Johnson, Corporate Creative
Director Pamela Wiley, and Vice President of Client Services Brad Teeters realize they made
CEO
Wong a multimillionaire, but they remain stuck in a middle class lifestyle and income. The trio
unites
to issue an ultimatum to Wong, who has not even shown up at the office in months. Unless he
sells
them the company, they will quit and start a new company. At least half the present clients of
Wright
and Wong would come with them. Wong agrees with the stipulation that the threesome comes
with
him on a retreat first. They soon find themselves struggling to survive, as none of them know
what is
an exercise and what is a death trap. Larry Brooks has written an exciting thriller as the reader,
like
the group, never knows what is deadly and what is an exercise. In Pressure Point, ignoring reality
could mean death with no one trusting anyone adding to the individual's stress. This fascinating
novel is similar to The Deadly Game, but Mr. Brooks keeps it fresh because reality is so
blurred.
High Stakes
Justin Dare
Onyx
Dec 2001, $6.99, 352 pp. ISBN: 0451410114
In Output, Nevada's Golden Phoenix Casino and Hotel, Shelby Wyatt wins the $25,000 grand
prize
at the slots. Instead of collecting her money, she flees the casino for the hotel in a panic trying to
avoid the attention. The owner, Aaron Montana, watches what she did on tape and wonders what
would make someone so afraid to accept her winnings. He next watches her on live camera
managing to defeat his security and get into a hotel room. Aaron confronts Shelby, but does not
stop
her when she flees. He decides to track her down anyway and learns from the person standing
next
to her when she won the grand prize that she likes horses. He checks the nearby phone booth and
finds she ripped out a page containing Outpost Flat Stables. Aaron goes there and persuades
Shelby
to hide in his hotel. He takes her to his secure apartment through a secret passage. Aaron wonders
if
Shelby killed Pruett, but she accuses him of wanting sex. Shelby begins to worry that the kind
Aaron
who she is beginning to love will die due to the murder she witnessed and her knowledge of who
the
killer is, but will she trust him with the truth? Three-time RITA Award winner and a Reviewer
Choice Award winner Justin Dare provides her vast audience with a powerful romantic suspense
nobvel that never slows down from the moment Shelby plays the slots until the end. Though the
male lead is too perfect (except for being an ultra hunk), the tale is non-stop action starring a
feisty
female whose loyalty to her "mom" happens to leave her in the right place at the wrong time.
Readers will feel they won the jackpot with HIGH STAKES.
Vortex One
J.A. Layton
Jove
Dec 2001, $6.99, 416 pp. ISBN 0515132047
Jenny Richmond's father created, through a freak set of circumstances, a device called Merlin that
when hooked up with artificial intelligence would make drivers of airplanes, cars, and boats
obsolete. There was a small glitch in replicating the device so Jenny's father took it to the federal
government who for a price was willing to spend billions to make the device operational. When
her
dad was killed, Jenny was placed into protective custody but agents of the People's Republic of
China raided her safe house. She eluded them and contacted private investigator Tim Carpenter.
They retrieved her father's notes and Merlin before going on the run. The enemy agents were
always
one step behind them even tracking them down on a cruise ship where the ultimate cat and mouse
game was being played out. Vortex One is the ultimate techno-thriller that clearly delineates the
good guys from the bad agents. This is a very fast paced action packed novel so the
characterizations are not as developed as much as they could be. Still, J.A Layton has written
escapist work that is fun to read on wintry night.
A Place Called Home
Judie Aitken
Jove
Nov 2001, $5.99, 329 pp. ISBN: 0515131806
Five generations of Butlers have worked the soil of the family's Medicine Creek Ranch in
Wyoming.
However, times and financial circumstances change. Unable to pay his next note, Cody Butler is
selling the ranch to wealthy outsider Glenn Hubbard, just like many of his neighbors have recently
done. Glenn's attorney Shaye Frazier arrives at the Cody spread to complete the deal that the
owner
clearly detests. Cody knows this place as home and since their parents died three years ago and he
has raised his younger sister Maribeth there. Though the circumstances behind the first meeting
are
sad and that initial encounter unpleasant, Shaye and Cody are attracted to one another. With
Maribeth and inadvertently Glenn playing matchmakers, the rancher and the big city lawyer fall in
love. However, will they find the ground to begin to forge a permanent relationship? A Place
Called
Home is an enjoyable contemporary romance due to Judie Aitken's ability to mix humor and
compassion without slowing down the prime plot. The story line is fun though the conflict and
tension between the lead characters feel as if they resolved too easily. Still the strong characters
gain
empathy especially the lead male, as readers will feel Cody's pain while forced to sell his family
heritage. Ms. Aitken writes an engaging tale that sub-genre readers will relish.
Double Trouble
Claire Cross
Jove
Nov 2001, $6.99, 352 pp. ISBN: 0515131784
In Boston, Maralys O'Reilly enjoys providing netiquette advice to users. However, her quiet life
ends when she receives a call from her preadolescent nephew who tells her that their mother
Marcia
has failed to pick him or his younger brother up. Their father James remains en route from
California. Maralys picks up the kids and takes them to their suburban home. Not long afterward,
James arrives home to learn Marcia left him. A few days later, James visits Maralys and kisses her,
but she says she is not a Marcia substitute even if she is her twin. When her elderly father takes a
bad
fall, Maralys rushes him to the hospital. James arrives to help. He kisses her, takes her home, and
they have sex. He notices the mole on her left nipple and says he has dreamed of that birthmark
for
twenty years, having once made love to the girl of his dreams. He thought she was Marcia, who
did
not have the mole, but now knows it has always been the Maralys. He tells her he loves her and
wants her as his wife, but wonders how to persuade Maralys they belong together. Double
Trouble
is a very funny contemporary romance mostly told by the irreverent Maralys' perspective with her
Internet musings as a key element in understanding her. James and the support cast enhance
readers'
comprehension of what makes Maralys tick. Though James' problem with his father is an
unnecessary sidebar, even if it places him in financial jeopardy, fans will fully appreciate Clare
Cross'
amusing tale.
The Border Bride
Elizabeth English
Jove
Nov 2001, $5.99, 359 pp. ISBN: 0515131547
In 1375 Borderlands, the Scottish Kirallen Clan captures English neighbor Lord Haddon Darnley
when he tries to pilfer some of their cattle. Haddon's father negotiates for the release of his son.
However, the English border lord laughs at the last Scottish requirement that Lord Kirallen's son
Jemmy marry the daughter of Lord Darnley so after several generations of feuding peace will
finally
arrive. Though agreeing to all the Scottish terms, Lord Darnley refuses to send his legitimate
daughter Maude so he dispatches his other female child, Alyson, born on the wrong side of the
sheets. He uses her brother as a prisoner-pawn to insure that Alyson adheres to his demands of
masquerading as Maude and spying on his enemies. As Alyson and Jemmy fall in love, she worries
about the future once her beloved learns the truth of her deception. Though a typical borders
romance, The Border Bride will delight historical romance readers. The story line furnishes the
audience with a feel for the intrigue of the fourteenth century through a strong cast especially the
heroine. Energetic Elizabeth English demonstrates to her her audience that if her debut is any
indication, she has quite a long career ahead of her.
The Oracle Of Delphi
Elizabeth Rose
Wig Wam Publishing Company
Oct 2001, $12.95 ISBN: 1930076339
King Acrisus visits the Oracle Of Delphi in order to learn whether he will have a male heir. The
Oracle informs him no, but also tells him his not yet born grandson will one-day kill him. To save
his
life, the King imprisons his virgin daughter Danae, but not long afterward Zeus sires a son with
her.
Danae hides her son Perseus from his grandfather. Almost a quarter of a century later, Perseus
begins a quest to save his mother from King Polydectes. This leads him back to the Oracle where
he
meets Princess Andromeda. She begs him to help defeat a dangerous sea serpent threatening her
hometown. Together, they begin their quests to save her people and his mother. This reviewer has
been a great fan of the Greek myths ever since seeing the classic movie Jason and the Argonauts
(long before there was computer magic there was Harryhausen). This leaves me with a certain
bias
when I read a modern day retelling of one of the classics. However, Elizabeth Rose proves her
ability to provide a powerful and wonderful rendition of the story of Perseus. The fast-paced story
line remains true to the original tale yet feels fresh to even a person who read the English
translations of the original tale. Perseus and Andromeda are a fabulous duo who seems so real
that
they make the Greek mythos appear as if events actually happened. Ms. Rose has written a winner
worth reading.
Bikini Planet
David Garnett
Roc
Dec 2001, $5.99, 288 ISBN 0451458605
In 1969 Las Vegas, Wayne Norton is proud to be a Las Vegas police officer. Although
twenty-one
he remains a virgin who loves his girlfriend Susie and hopes to consummate their union soon.
Before
that can happen he sees Susie's father, a gangster, kill some rivals in cold blood. Her father then
punches his lights out and puts him in a cryogenic sleep chamber. He wakes up three hundred
years
in the future to a world he doesn't know. He's immediately drafted into GalactiCop and sent to
Hideaway, an exotic pleasure playground. He is on such a top-secret mission that he doesn't even
know what it is. While trying on some clothes, he meets a beautiful woman named Kiru who
escaped a penal planet with a bunch of space pirates. Wayne finally loses his virginity before he
and
Kiru are arrested. They both escape their captors but become separated which means there won't
be
a happily ever after ending for this couple or will there? Bikini Planet is a fun science fiction novel
that doesn't take itself seriously at all. It is a satire on the entire "grave save the universe" space
opera novels and movies that are so prevalent in fiction today. David Garnett has a delicious sense
of humor, which he shows off to perfection in ironically this one of a kind novel.
Slightly Single
Wendy Markham
Red Dress Ink/Harlequin
Jan 2001, $12.95, 288 pp. ISBN: 0373250134
Twenty-four years old Tracey Spedolini lives in a crummy New York efficiency. She works as a
secretary in a crummy ad agency where her boss takes advantage of her. She is fifty pounds
overweight and in love with a drop dead gorgeous wannabe actor. After three years with Will,
Tracey retains true, but Will rejects any commitment to her. He is doing summer stock in a small
town, but refuses to allow Tracey to accompany him there. She is hurt but turns mortified when
she
finds herself attracted to Buckley, someone she met at a party. Tracey plans to have that
confrontation discussion with Will and perhaps step out with the new man in her life. Slightly
Single
is a fascinating mainstream novel about a woman starving for love who lies to herself about her
boyfriend. Readers will feel the doubts, denial, and discomfort that Tracey suffers from in her
relationships with men. Wendy Markham provides an insightful tale about a nice person unable to
stand up for herself when the male of the species is unkind to her.
Milkrun
Sarah Mlynowski
Red Dress Ink/Harlequin
Dec 2001, $12.95, 288 pp. ISBN: 0373250126
When Jackie Norris agreed to accompany her boyfriend on his move from Penn State to Boston,
she
expected their relationship to strengthen and deepen. Instead, a few weeks later, Jeremy informs
her
he is taking a leave of absence to travel to Asia by himself even though she offers to come with
him.
After a few weeks of hysteria and depression, Jackie decides it is time to find a new and nicer
boyfriend. She goes to single bars, but only finds a string of losers. Jeremy returns from Thailand
and gets together with Jackie for a one-night stand. Nothing further happens because Jeremy is
seeing someone else. Jackie decides to refocus on something that treats her better than men have
cared for her. Milkrun is a poignant but hopeful picture of life for the Generation Y crowd. The
tale
is humorous especially with Jackie's machinations to find Mr. Right. The results of those dates
simply drive her crazy, as she seems to swim in a sea of Mr. Wrongs. Sara Mlynowski debuts with
an appealing contemporary tale.
L.A. Confidential
Julie Kenner
Harlequin
Nov 2001, $4.50, 249 pp. ISBN: 0373790201
Five years ago, though she loved her fianc‚ restaurateur Ken Harper, Lisa Neal deserted him for a
chance for fame and fortune in the movies. A heart broken Ken cannot believe the only woman for
him ended their relationship on the same night he planned to ask her for the deeper commitment
of
marriage. Now Lisa's career has tanked. Her chances for career resurrection are slim and none.
Her
only hope for a comeback resides with Ken. Willing to eat crow and beg, Lisa asks Ken to her
help
her. He willingly agrees on one condition that she enters his bed for a night of passionate
vengeance.
Though a November book, L.A. Confidential blazes more like a heated Southern California
summer
day due to the sexual hostility between the lead characters. The story line never loses its
sweltering
pace even though Ken has clear reasons for hating his beloved. However, what makes this
amazing
is that Julie Kenner actually makes Lisa into a sympathetic individual showing how much talent
this
author has in writing a fiery love story that readers care what happens to the stars.
The Fire Within
Kathryn Shay
Harlequin
Oct 2001, $4.99, 297 pp. ISBN: 0373710186
On New Year's Eve in Rockford, New York, psychiatrists Dr. Reed Macauley and Dr. Delaney
Shaw share a midnight kiss that leads to making love and ultimately falling asleep together.
However, their bliss turns upside down when Reed suffers a posttraumatic stress disorder
nightmare
reliving a firefighting incident when he lost his crew. Though he clearly cares for Delaney, Reed
ends
their relationship before it can evolve because he believes she deserves a complete man even if she
is
the first person to get this close to him in years. Five months later, Tony Leone dies while fighting
a
fire. Reed, who has avoided Delaney since their lovemaking, works closely with her to provide
solace and other assistance to Tony's loved ones and other firefighters and their families. Delaney
once again gets inside Reed's protective armor, but this time she refuses to allow him to push her
out
because she plans to remain at the side of the man she loves forever. The latest "America's
Bravest"
tale seems quite apropos following the loss of so many intrepid emergency people in New York
last
month. The story line is filled with heartbreaking action, but it is the lead characters that turn this
plot into an insightful read that provides perspicacity into what a firefighter and his or her family
must go through every time the alarm rings. Kathryn Shay pays homage to America's Bravest with
another powerful novel that returns heroic old friends for us to share in their passions and
adventures.
Gideon's Baby
KN Casper
Harlequin
Nov 2001, $4.99, 299 pp. ISBN: 0373710224
Gideon First feels his life will begin as soon as he marries his beloved Lupe Amorado. He is so in
love, Gideon looks forward to helping Lupe raise her two preadolescent children Miguelito and
Tersita. Everything changes when attorney Cavanaugh Pike informs Gideon that he has been
named
in a will as the biological father of fourteen month old Janna by a former girl friend who recently
died in a car accident. Gideon knows he practiced safe sex and though time wise Janna could be
his,
he insists on taking a paternity test. Gideon hides and then lies to Lupe for fear she will not marry
him. When she learns the truth she is hurt by his actions, but even more so when he leans towards
not raising Janna. However, one look at his baby changes his mind, but he wonders how to
persuade
Lupe to add a third child to the family. KN Casper always provides a captivating romance
especially
with her First Family of Texas contemporary series. Her newest entry, Gideon's Baby, is a strong
relationship drama. The story line hooks the audience from the start as Gideon goes through a
metamorphose starting with denial converting into fear and finally into love. Though why he
thinks
he can hide the truth from Lupe seems inconceivable, he remains a wonderfully flawed lead
protagonist. Lupe is quite a person and the support cast especially her children and Janna's
grandparents provide insight into the lead couple helping to turn Ms. Casper's latest novel into a
first
rate tale.
Last Breath
Michael Prescott
Signet
Dec 2001, $6.99, 400 pp. ISBN: 0451205013
By the time she turn ten, C.J. Osborne decides she no longer needs a babysitter and following
months of begging her parents give in to her demand. They leave her alone one evening on their
Mohave Desert ranch. This makes C.J. feel very grown up until she notices a light just outside the
window. An intruder invades her house, but not before C.J. takes refuge in the crawl space. She
manages to keep the invader at bay until her parents arrive, but they believe that their daughter's
overactive imagination kicked in big time. Fifteen yeas later, C.J. works as a police officer for the
LAPD, but she never forgot that night of terror. Although she fights crime in the city's worse
slums,
she remains afraid of that one bogeyman from her youth. Too bad she fails to realize that her
childhood nightmare has returned to eliminate the one person who escaped his clutches. Last
Breath
is an exciting thriller that will send shivers up and down the fan's spine because Michael Prescott
enables the reader to walk in the shoes of C.J. Her valiant efforts to overcome her fears are
laudable
and add to the thrills and chills of the plot. Mr. Prescott shows off his talent as a unique and fresh
author with a gift to keep the audience in a chamber of suspense.
Fire Cloud
Cassie Edwards
Signet
Nov 2001, $6.99, 336 pp. ISBN: 0451204565
In 1853, the Chippewa exile his mother, pregnant with the child of a warrior who is not her
husband.
With his father dead from the ensuing fight of honor, ten-year-old Fire Cloud accompanies his
mother as they leave their Minnesota home. In Missouri the Lakota accept Fire Cloud and his
family.
After meeting a friendly nun, Fire Cloud encounters the Sister's niece eight-year old blond hair
Janelle Coolidge. Though young, both find the other quite fascinating. Fifteen years later, neither
has
forgotten that the first time they met. Now they see each other for the first time as adults and
realize
the childhood attraction remains stronger than ever. However, her father Virgil would disavow a
relationship between his daughter and a savage. When a meteor crashes inside the Lakota village
and
cures the physical handicaps of Fire Cloud's half-brother, Virgil plots to steal the rock,
complicating
the love between his daughter and the Chippewa warrior. Fire Cloud provides Indian romance
readers with a deep look at the Lakota lifestyle just after the Civil War when a vast invasion of
Christians descend on the tribes in a "White Man's Burden" type of way. The main theme of the
story line is a powerfully written star-crossed relationship drama. However, several subplots such
as
the miracle cure take readers away from the shared passion of the likable lead characters. Also
Virgil, surrounded by very sincere non-prejudicial females, seems a bit of a stretch to be called a
bigot. Still due to her lead duet and the insightful historical references, Cassie Edwards furbishes
an
Indian historical romance that will provide much pleasure to readers.
The Cat Who Came For Christmas
Cleveland Amory
Little Brown
Oct 2001, $12.95, 240 pp. ISBN: 0316058211
The Cat Who Came For Christmas is a reprint of one year in the life of Polar Bear the cat who
adopted his biographer as his human pet. It was the night before Christmas when "Sergeant"
reluctantly drafted Cleveland Amory (everyone else went home for the holidays so she was stuck
with Cleveland as her assistant) to rescue a New York alley cat. They succeed, but Cleveland is
forced to take the mangy creature into his Manhattan residence for the Yuletide season. Though
an
animal lover and activist, Cleveland hopes to quickly find a home for his temporary lodger, but
soon
Snow Bear's lure hooks Cleveland into keeping the feline as his roommate. This book tells their
first
year adventures in living together. Though over fifteen year old and reprinted after the death of
Mr.
Amory, this nonfiction novel remains one of the best Christmas stories around. The book is clearly
for feline lovers, but other pet owners and even the bah humbug I hate cat lovers will relish this
delightful ageless story of the love and bond between a cat and his Homo sapiens significant
other.
The Drink And Dream Teahouse
Justin Hill
Little Brown
Oct 2001, $23.95, 360 pp. ISBN: 0316824003
In Shaoyang, China the generation gaps between family members is as wide as the Great Wall.
Differences between the outlooks of three age groups can be seen everywhere in the city as
heritage
and custom war with the encroachment of modernization. The geriatric set still dreams of a return
to
the "glory" days of Chiang. The "baby boomers" cherish the memories of the ideals of Maoism.
While the Gen X and Y crowd employ western style economics. Da Shan renounced his parents
beliefs in communism as he adopts quite nicely to the free market before returning home a wealthy
businessman even as his hometown's factory closes. His deserted girlfriend Liu Bei supports their
son through another western economic system, prostitution. Meanwhile another young woman
Peach sees Da Shan as a means of escape even as she spends time with a peasant. The future is
confusing for everyone as seniors, middle age, and the young skirmish for control of twenty-first
century China. The Drink And Dream Teahouse is an insightful look at modern day China through
three generations of several families. The story line uses wit and humor to ease the austere
outlook
that each age group feels betrayed by what they most cherish. The characters are the key to this
novel as the ensemble cast brings home a vivid disparity within a complex story line worth reading
by those interested in an engaging look at an awakening giant.
Skin Folk
Nalo Hopkinson
Aspect/Warner Books
Dec 2001, $12.95, 272 pp. ISBN: 0446678031
Skin Folk is a unique anthology collection that contains fifteen Caribbean fantasy tales centering
on a
sly look at everyday people struggling with incredible often seemingly impossible situations. The
key
to each entry is that the cast feels genuine regardless of the scenario the individual encounters.
That
is quite an accomplishment from award winning Nalo Hopkinson when one considers that the
characters include a geriatric Red Riding Hood and the wolf among other cast members. Anyone
who enjoys a deep look at humanity's ability to overcome frailty, flaws, and errors will enjoy this
divine speculative fiction anthology.
Come Back To Me
Josie Litton
Bantam
Nov 2001, $5.99, 369 pp. ISBN: 0553581643
In the minds of the Saxons, perhaps the most frightening of this generation of Vikings is probably
Dragon Hakonson. However, the mighty warrior knows that the times are a changing, as he must
marry a Saxon to complete the triad of weddings for peace. Though he will do the honorable
thing
for his people, Dragon goes hunting by himself one last time before his trip down the alter. While
hunting, Dragon meets Rycca, a Saxon woman garbed in male clothing obviously on the lam.
Rycca
does not want to marry a barbarous Viking even in the name of peace, but decides to feel passion
once in her lifetime with this handsome escort. As the Viking and Saxon war with words, they
share
two common feelings: love and not desiring an unknown mate, but neither one realizes that each
one
is the other side's peace offering. This reviewer has never before seen any publisher release a
trilogy
in two months for an established author let alone a debut writer. Anyone who reads Come Back
To
Me, or the two previous novels packaged in one book, (Dream Of Me and Believe In Me) will
understand why Josie Litton has been accorded this honor. Her latest tale completes this strong
medieval romantic trilogy with a powerful plot starring two energetic and charming characters.
The
previous lead couples also return so that the series is wrapped up completely. Though this novel
can
stand alone, sub-genre fans will want to obtain the three stories to read over a few pleasant
days.
Fortress Draconis
Michael A Stackpole
Bantam
Dec 2001, $14.95, 528 pp. ISBN: 553379194
A quarter of a century ago, the evil sorceress Chytrine made her bid to conquer the world and be
named Empress. King Augustus led a mighty army that engaged her in battle to try to stop her
achieving her ambition. He proved partly successful in that he captured her stronghold Fortress
Draconis, but he failed to kill her. Augustus managed to restrain her in the north. Still many lands
are under her control and she is now once again making a new bid for power. She is trying to
gather
all the pieces of the magical artifact called the Dragon Crown together because once she has them
she will be unstoppable. A new generation of heroes has risen up to destroy her including Will, a
teenager from the Yslinn's slums who is part of a prophecy that will spell Chytrine's doom. Also
battling the tyrant is Princess Alexia, a royal from the conquered land of Okrannel. She fights
under
the aegis of King Augustus using the moniker General Alex. Vilwan sorcerers have created the
most
powerful mage ever known, Kerrigan Reese, as their contributor to the upcoming war. Kedyn's
Crow and Resolute the Vorquelf whose land is also under the tyrant's rule are training so Will can
become the man that the prophecy describes. Fortress Draconis is an epic fantasy on a par with
the
Lord of the Rings and the Shannara saga. There is enough action to keep readers turning the
pages
and the author develops his characters so well that the audience understands them and their
motivations. It will be hard if not impossible to wait for the sequel to this exciting novel.
The Perfect Princess
Elizabeth Thornton
Bantam
Nov 2001, $6,50, 341 pp. ISBN: 0553581236
Prince Michael proposes to Lady Rosamund Devere because he believes she would make The
Perfect Princess for his principality Kolnbourg especially with her being the daughter of an
influential
duke. After Michael's declaration, a weary Rosamund thinks she should have been a male so she
could enjoy life like her brothers instead of putting up with loveless prattle. She delays the Prince
as
only an English aristocrat could do. Rosamund enjoys performing compassionate deeds that help
the
less fortunate though her father Lord Romsey would have a fit if he knew how far she went to aid
the poor. She accompanies her friend Callie Tracey on an errand at Newgate Prison. However,
things go awry when, sentenced for execution for murder, former Colonel Richard Maitland
escapes
Newgate using Rosamund as a hostage. Though frightened by her situation, Rosamund tries to act
bravely. However, she soon finds her abductor very attractive just as this lone wolf begins to fall
in
love with her. Is this a case of the Stockholm Syndrome or has Rosamund realized that her
kidnapper is an honorable person wrongly accused? Regardless, both know no future exists
between
them as the militia wants Richard stopped even if it means killing him. The Perfect Princess is an
exciting historical romantic suspense that never slows down until the final page is completed. The
lead couple is an intrepid charming duo while the vile villain seems to pale in comparison to this
delightful duet. Eighteenth century romance fans will find much satisfaction with Elizabeth
Thornton's latest thriller.
Diamonds In The Ruff
Emily Carmichael
Bantam
Nov 2001, $5,50, 406 pp. ISBN: 0553582836
After being murdered in Denver, drop dead gorgeous Lydia Keane learns that she is not yet
heaven
bound because she failed to take life seriously. Instead Stanley, agent of the Powers To Be,
assigns
Lydia the job of matchmaking as she recently did for her best friend, Amy Cameron. The cosmic
joke of returning to earth as a dog again takes much of the bite out of Lydia's second engagement.
This time she must help wedding consultant Josephine "Joey" Cole find an ideal mate. Joey is
arranging the ceremony between Alicia Sommers and the law enforcement official that saved the
bride's life Ben Ramsey. Lydia as Piggy the Corgi canine decides that Joey and Ben belong
together
even if both deny the attraction. However, the situation turns dangerous as someone stalks the
bride
adding extra work for Lydia if she is to succeed in her second matchmaking endeavor. The sequel
to
the whimsical Finding Mr. Right, Diamonds In The Ruff is an engaging paranormal romantic
suspense. The story line is fun when the amusing Piggy takes center stage. However, the subplot
involving the dangerous stalker is exciting, but takes away from a facetious prime plot. Lydia
remains delightfully incorrigible as her capricious outlook on life and the afterlife makes her a
modern day Holly Golightly. Emily Carmichael has the right ruff with this series and hopefully the
author provides a heavenly romantic tale between the fluffy Lydia and Stan the man (or
whatever).
The Royal Hunter
Donna Kauffman
Bantam
Oct 2001, $5.99, 400 pp. ISBN: 0553582429
Twenty-five years have passed since the healer Eleri Trahaern vanished and all efforts to find her
have failed. Now a dying Queen Catriona orders businessman Devlin Archer to find the missing
healer so that at least the baby she carries will inherit the throne and the Dalwyn line will continue
to
rule. The quest seems impossible to Devlin until the "Old One" explains that Eleri escaped into the
past. Devlin and the "Old One" go back in time to learn that the healer is dead, but her child, now
an
adult, lives in Connecticut as an animal rescue worker. The two males from the future fail to
persuade Talia that her mother's tales of yore were true stories of the future. As they struggle to
convince a skeptical Talia, someone else has a different future in mind starting with the modern
day
death of Talia even with Devlin trying to keep his now beloved from harm. Putting aside the
paradoxes caused by time travel such as why not leap to a time before Eleri left the twenty-third
century or even before she died, readers will enjoy this speculative fiction romance. The
characters
are warm and feel genuine and in turn make the mission of The Royal Hunter even more
adventurous for the audience to follow. Throw in a strong romance on top of the main plot and a
wonderful cast and fans of time travel and science fiction romance are left with a tremendous
royal
tale.
Some Sunday
Margaret Johnson-Hodge
Kensington
Sep 2001, $24.00, 305 pp. ISBN: 1575669161
In New York City, Sandy deeply grieves the death of her beloved husband who succumbed to
AIDS. As Sandy struggles to regain her equilibrium, she finds solace in a safe relationship with
her
brother-in-law before testing the deeper rapids with a contractor. While Sandy toils with finding a
reason to live, her best friends also struggle with life. In the courtroom Martha the assistant DA is
a
grandmaster, but her personal life consists of alcohol and the drudgery of trying not to lose her
lover. Insecure Janice goads her fianc‚ into returning to the arms of his previous lover. Britney
seemingly has it all with her wonderful husband and baby, but she is pregnant and along with her
spouse, nearly bankrupt by emulating the rich on a middle class income. The sequel to
Butterscotch
Blues, Some Sunday uses vignettes starring the four women to provide insight into a wide range
of
problems confronting African-American females though the issues seem more universal. The four
female friends emotionally support one another as each one skirmishes with different problems
and
stress. Margaret Johnson-Hodge shows she is quite an author with this deep look into the darker
side of the modern American dream that can only be brightened through friendship and caring
relationships.
Murder By Manicure
Nancy J Cohen
Kensington
Dec 2001, $22.00, 230 pp. ISBN: 1575666871
Beauty saloon owner Marla Shore lives and toils in Fort Lauderdale. She also works for an
organization that tries to make home swimming pools safe for children because she witnessed the
drowning death of a child. When it comes to pool safety, Marla will do anything, even
investigating
homicides involving clients. Marla applies for a trial membership at Perfect Fit Sports Club. On
the
night she enrolls, a swimming pool client dies in the sports club's whirlpool. The post mortem
toxicology reveals the victim's blood stream contained a strong sedative. Marla knows this woman
would never risk medication just prior to entering the heated whirlpool. Unable to resist, Marla
interferes with the official police investigation to quickly learn that many members and the staff
prefer having the victim dead. Nancy J Cohen has written another romantic mystery starring
delightful characters from her previous novels in this lighthearted amateur sleuth series. The story
line is fun due to Marla's machinations. However, the plot works because so many suspects exist,
which leads to readers making Murder By Manicure a one sitting experience to learn who did it
and
why.
Moonlight Becomes Her
Meagan McKinney
Kensington
Nov 2001, $23.00, 320 pp. ISBN: 1575667878
In 1881 New York, jewel thief Lady Moonlight holds up railroad owner Rafe Belloch. However,
sensing his anger, the felon makes her victim strip so he cannot follow her. An outraged Rafe
vows
to uncover the secrets of this blue-eyed thief. If anyone can find out who Lady Moonlight is it is
Rafe, whose obsession to escape the slums has made him a powerfully rich mogul. Two years
later,
Rafe meets Mystere Rillieux in one of the events hosted by an icon of the New York Four
Hundred.
They are immediately attracted to one another though Rafe still remains haunted by Lady blue
eyes.
As they fall in love, Mystere wonders if she should inform her beloved about her career as the
mysterious jewel thief Lady Moonlight? The cast is fully developed and quite gregarious
especially
Mystere and Rafe. The plot is excitingly filled with romance between the lead couple and action
especially when Lady Moonlight works her trade. However, Moonlight Becomes Her belongs to
1880s New York that picturesquely comes alive whether the scene takes place amidst the
environs
of the Lady Astor- Vanderbilt crowd or the teeming slums. What readers obtain is an incredible
historical romance that fans of historical novels and obviously romance readers will appreciate and
turn Meagan McKinney into an author of first choice.
Island Of Tears
Troy Soos
Kensington
Nov 2001, $23.00, 288 pp. ISBN: 1575667673
In 1892, the first ship debarks at Ellis Island loaded with hopeful immigrants looking forward to a
new start on the first day of the new year. A contributor to Harper's Weekly, dime novelist
Marshall
Webb is at the scene of the docking to observe the goings-on so he can write a series of articles
and
eventually a book. On the island, Marshal meets Dutch arrival Christina Van der Waak, whose
trust
and optimism in the American system he believes will make quite a good story, but she instantly
vanishes. Marshall concludes that there is more to Christina than just the tale of an upbeat
emigrant
and he begins to make inquiries into what happened to her. His investigation takes Marshall all
over
Manhattan and leads to reformist Rebecca Davies and Colden House, a shelter for abused women.
Rebecca joins Marshall on his quest as the search for the apparently abducted young woman turns
frantic and quite dangerous. Island Of Tears is a detailed historical mystery with romance to spice
up
the relationship between the lead duo. The story line is filled with action that occasionally slows
down when author Troy Soos pays homage to the Gay Nineties with incredible descriptive depths
rarely seen in a novel. This e thrilling mystery enlightens and entertains the audience. Hopefully
further collaborations between Rebecca and Christina will occur as fans of historical tales will
believe Mr. Soos hit a home run off of that Hanging Curve.
The Promise In A Kiss
Stephanie Laurens
Morrow
Dec 2001, $18.00, 288 pp. ISBN: 006018888X
In 1776 Paris, Helena de Stansion plans to flee to England to avoid an arranged marriage by her
guardian, Comte Fabian de Vichisse. However, duty calls and she tends to her ailing sister. In the
garden, she spots an intruder, who unbeknownst to her steals a dagger from her guardian.
Surprisingly she helps him escape, but not before he kisses her. Fabian uses Helena as a pawn to
gain
his desires. He agrees to allow her to go to England to marry a duke as long as the noble is
wealthier
than she is, which limits the field to almost no one. At a London soiree, Helena recognizes
Sebastian
Cynster whose kiss from that day in the garden still excites her. Sebastian also knows that Helena
is
the woman he never forgot. Helena tells Sebastian that she seeks a husband and asks him to help
her
find a spouse. Sebastian knows he loves Helena, but he is not sure how to propose to his beloved.
Then there is her guardian holding her sister hostage to insure Helena remains pliable. Stephanie
Laurens has written six Cynster tales including a NY Times bestseller. Her latest tale, The
Promise
In A Kiss, is a prequel to the other novels and may be the best of the lot. Besides containing an
exciting story line that shows the "roots" of the Cynster dynasty, the plot has a delightful hero and
an intrepid heroine who make this into a fabulous late eighteenth century romance.
Hope To Die
Lawrence Block
Morrow
Nov 2001, $25.00, 320 pp. ISBN: 006019832X
In Manhattan someone brutally kills Byrne and Susan Hollander in their home with their daughter
Kristin finding the bodies. A few days later the Brooklyn police investigate a bad odor emanating
from an apartment only to find two male Caucasian corpses and the Hollander loot. To NYPD
both
cases close as the apparent Brooklyn suicide-murder event resolves the Manhattan crime. Though
he
knew the Hollanders and actually attended the same dinner concert as the victims did on that fatal
night, Matthew Scudder has no reason to discount the police conclusion. However, his assistant
TJ
introduces him to the niece of the Hollanders, Columbia student and wannabe writer Lia Parkman.
She believes her cousin arranged the murders of her own parents to inherit a fortune. Unable to
resist, Matt begins to investigate, and quickly concludes Kristin is innocent, but someone else
arranged the homicides and is not finished with the killings. The mystery of Hope To Die is as
strong
as any urban detective story is even though Scudder has lost some of his street edge and is
showing
his age as a member of the geriatric set. Still that fails to impede him from touring the town
looking
for clues or interfere with his ability to interpret the evidence. References to past novels add a
nostalgic feeling to those long time fans of Scudder. Though the ending leaves an obvious sequel,
Lawrence Block furnishes readers with a strong edition of his hard- boiled detective.
A Season Of Miracles
Heather Graham
Mira
Nov 2001, $22.95, 304 pp. ISBN: 1551668734
Since her husband's death last year, though she hates hearing this, jewelry designer Jillian
Llewellyn
lives and breathes Llewellyn Enterprises. In fact she's so engrossed in producing this year's
Yuletide
winner, Jillian has not even met the company's newest partner Robert Marston. Following a
personal
tradition that she has done for years on Halloween, Jillian and her long time friend and her
administrative assistant Connie go Christmas shopping. However, unbeknownst to the designer,
this
is the beginning of a personal nightmare. Accidents start to happen and bad dreams commence to
haunt Jillian. Somehow Robert seems to always be there to help her. He claims her family wants
her
out of the way insisting he is heeding the advice of the paranormal, species, a book, and other
objects. Surprisingly even as he frightens her, Jillian feels comfortable and perhaps in love with
Robert in a d‚j… vu way, but wonders if he is the cause of the danger that threatens to engulf her
at
any moment. Heather Graham is a sure shot for providing the audience with the best in romantic
suspense. Her most recent novel, A Season For Miracles, uses paranormal elements to tell two
stories, one from the past that parallels the second in the present. Though tricky to move back and
forth through the (p)ages, Ms. Graham easily navigates the peril of disruption through a strong
story
line containing a consistent and veritable cast including a likable heroine in peril. Readers have
quite
a novel to luxuriate with while escaping the frantic pre-Christmas season.
Fender Benders
Bill Fitzhugh
Morrow
Dec 2001, $24.00, 326 pp. ISBN: 0380977575
Mississippi's Eddie Long feels one day he will take Nashville by storm. Eddie is currently doing
the
Southern bars and college route, but feels he is just paying his dues before the big break occurs.
However, while on the road, Eddie learns that his wife has died. Grieving, he pours his soul into a
eulogy-song that stuns the music world and makes him a hot prospect. Writer Jimmy Rogers sees
honky tonk performer turn superstar Eddie as the perfect vehicle for a biography. His research
soon
leads him to believe that Eddie may have arranged his spouse's demise via food poisoning and the
deaths of several other people while the musician toured the south. Jimmy, already jealous of
Eddie
stealing his girl, plans to prove that Eddie is more talented as a serial killer than a country western
musician. Fender Bender is an amusing satirical look at the music industry and indirectly at serial
killer novels. The story line skews any icon that falls in its path, but does so through not so subtle
references to movies and books and a strong cast whose eccentricities and personal agendas add
humor to a very funny mix. If novels like Cross Dressing and Pest Control have not already
introduced the reader to the sharp barbs of Bill Fitzhugh; Fender Bender is the right tale for those
who relish laughing at idols crumbling from the pedestals inside a dark facetious mystery.
Bring Me A Dream
Robyn Amos
Harper
Nov 2001, $6.50, 384 pp. ISBN: 0380815427
Spencer "The Sandman" Powell co-hosts a late night radio talk show when a female caller
threatens
to "sever his head" while he sleeps. This unknown stalker has also hurled other death threats
towards Spencer. To keep the shock jock safe, the radio station hires the Core Group Protection
agency. Nathan Pruitt assigns bodyguard Jasmine White to keep Spencer safe. After working a
"prom night" or two, Jasmine knows that the Sandman case is her chance to prove that she is
more
than just the token female. However, Jasmine struggles to keep her libido in check, as she is very
attracted to Spencer. He uses his best weapon, sharp double entendres, to restrain his own desires
for Jasmine. As Spencer and Jasmine begin to fall in love, his assailant closes in for the kill. Bring
Me A Dream is an engaging romantic suspense that stars two likable lead charcaters thrown
together in a gender bending bodyguard situation. The story line works because Jasmine is
believable
in her profession and Spencer is the type of hunk that lives up to his radio moniker as he will keep
readers awake dreaming of him. Though the identity of the stalker seems a bit stretched for shock
value, fans will appreciate the talent of Robyn Amos to bring readers a dream of a story.
The Doctor And The Dead Man's Chest
Robin Hathaway
Thomas Dunne
Nov 2001, $24.95, 383 pp. ISBN: 0312269560
A deceased patient, Reebesther Smith, bequests fifty acres of choice marshland in Southern New
Jersey to Dr. Fenimore with specific stipulations on the care of the land in its natural habitat.
There
is also a pirate's treasure map that provides a path to riches buried on the land. Dr. Fenimore and
his
able assistant Rat head south to see what he inherited especially the booty. They stop at the home
of
another patient Lynn Ashley, who is the recipient of some nasty pranks that are subtle pressure to
force the senior citizen to sell her property. Knowing the treasure is not going anywhere Dr.
Fenimore begins to investigate who is trying to scare Lynn off her land. To his surprise the list of
individuals and corporations that could gain with the purchase of Lynn's acres is large, making it
difficult to determine whom the culprit(s) is. The third Dr. Fenimore tale, The Doctor And The
Dead
Man's Chest, pays homage to Stevenson's Treasure Island though it is set in New Jersey. The
story
line is fun due to the strong supporting "good guys" and insightful references to historical tidbits
such as brickwork. Bringing most of the potential "bad guys" to one party allows Fenimore easy
comparisons, but seems to simple of a solution. Still the trek into the New Jersey wilderness is an
engaging diversion for those readers who enjoy a non- metropolitan northeast cozy.
A Reckless Encounter
Rosemary Rogers
Mira
Dec 2001, $7.50, 408 pp. ISBN: 1551668521
A few years before the War of 1812, English Lord Northington visits widow Leonie St. Remy in
her
Georgetown home without an invitation. Used to taking what he wants, he rapes Leonie and kills
her servant. When her twelve-year-old daughter Celia testifies to the authorities, the arrogant
aristocrat claims he and Leonie were consenting adults and that he was defending himself from the
Leonie's unprovoked attack. An exonerated Northington goes home to England while Celia vows
vengeance, especially after her beloved mother dies in childbirth. A decade later, Celia sails to
England with plans to confront Lord Northington with what he did to her mother. Unbeknownst
to
her, also on the ship is Lord Northington's son Colter. After debarking in England, Colter visits
his
father and they share their usual acrimonious discussion. Celia soon learns that her mom's rapist
must be Colter's dad so she plans to use the son to get at her target. However, Celia falls in love
with the son of the man she has obsessively despised for a decade. A Reckless Encounter is an
exciting Regency romance due to two strong story lines and two enticing, intrepid lead
protagonists.
The tale includes an exquisite personal relationship subplot along with a second theme centering
on
anti-aristocracy feelings and radical reform. The two premises brilliantly blend to form a strong
novel though there is some unnecessary baggage towards the end of the tale involving his
uncle.
Trouble Becomes Her
Laura Van Wormer
Mira
Nov 2001, $22.95, 300 pp. ISBN: 1551668475
Life looks good to Sally Harrington as she now works for DBS News in Manhattan even though
she
is the key witness at Los Angels' high viz "The Mafia Boss Murder" trial. Sally's boss Alexandra
Waring takes her off everything and assigns her to investigate her old mob pals, Presario-
Arlenetta,
so the show can produce a special. Choosing between mobsters whom she previously alienated
and
who almost killed her and advancement in the TV news world, Sally selects her career over
safety.
Perhaps if she knew what would happen when she agreed to hit New Jersey instead of Atlanta,
Sally
would have begged off the report. Soon a corpse is found in her trunk and someone tries to kill
her.
Fighting off males like her former boyfriend and her dazed intern just complicates life, but Sally
continues to do what she believes is right even with in your face threats telling her to back off this
case. The latest Sally Harrington romantic suspense thriller (see Expose and The Last Lover) is an
entertaining tale that readers will fully enjoy because of the lead character. Sally's narration livens
up
a powerful story line. The support cast, which includes those at the TV, shows, the mob, and
those
people in her personal life (especially her dog) enable the audience to understand Sally while also
propelling the yarn forward. Trouble Becomes Her is a strong entry in a top series that should
make
Laura Van Wormer a household name for those fans who cherish a keen story starring a
intelligent
heroine.
Snowfall
Sharon Sala
Mira
Nov 2001, $6.50, 384 pp. ISBN: 1551668440
Popular mystery writer Caitlin Bennett enjoys her life except for the nasty notes from a so-called
fan.
Caitlin initially writes them off as nothing to fear as some nut is upset with something C.D.
Bennett
did in a novel. As the letters keep coming and the tone turns angrier, Caitlin begins to worry that
perhaps she has a danger stalker after her. After meeting with her publisher, an unknown assailant
shoves Caitlin into ongoing traffic. Only perhaps the lack of speed on Manhattan's streets saves
her
life though she is injured. Her publisher arranges for his stepbrother Connor "Mac" McKee to
provide personal protection of his client. Mac moves into Caitlin's home, but soon learns how
dangerous her stalker-fan is when corpses with an eerie resemblance to Caitlin surface. Only her
now cherished Mac may keep his precious safe, but she doubts even he can do this from a deadly
serial killer targeting her as the final bulls-eye. SNOWFALL is a thrilling romantic suspense novel
that keeps chills sufcing on the reader's body even with the heat emanating from the lead couple
sharing her apartment. The story line is terse as the culprit moves closer to the prey and Caitlin
and
Mac fall in love. The starring protagonists obtain reader empathy especially when Mac feels
helpless
and Caitlin feels doomed. Sharon Sala furbishes a winning tale because the duo is a delightfully
realistic combo with an authentic threat hanging over their heads.
Beloved Protector
Linda O'Brien
Avon
Nov 2001, $5.99, 384 pp. ISBN: 0380813440
In 1898 Cheyenne, Wyoming a frantic Eileen Caroni dispatches a telegram to her best friend Eliza
Lowe back in Chicago pleading for help. The pregnant Eileen informs Eliza that the law is going
to
arrest her husband Francis for murder. Eliza wires back that she is on her way to provide comfort
and aid to Eileen. However, Eliza's Aunt Vi arranges, over her niece's objections, to have a
Pinkerton Agent accompany her. Though Case Brogan originally wanted to tell his boss Assistant
Chief Riley no but he quickly jumps on escort duty when he learns the identity of the accused
male
in Wyoming. Francis Caroni killed Case's father. As both have their own agenda in wanting to find
Caroni, Case and Eliza fall in love, but relationships require trust and neither established that key
element from the start. Beloved Protector is an exciting western detective romance that readers
who
enjoy historical tales will relish. The story line expertly merges the two genres into a taut plot in
which the lead characters and several secondary cast members enhance the flow of the tale with
their
actions. Readers will enjoy this Americana sleuthing romance and seek previous works by talented
Linda O'Brien.
Leaving Lonely Town
Cait London
Avon
Nov 2001, $5.99, 384 pp. ISBN: 0380815516
Twenty-seven years ago someone snatched the baby from her home in Shiloh, Wyoming. Now the
remains of the housekeeper Maria Alverez, who was watching the infant and her two siblings, has
finally been found, but the lost baby remains missing. In Kansas City, Sable believes she is that
abducted child. As a student in Forensics 101, she learned that her parents could not have
produced
her with the different blood types between her and them. She uncovers more circumstantial
evidence
and now criminologist Sable wonders if Faith and Jacob Langtry are her biological parents.
Accompanied by her friend, Sable travels to meet the Langtry family though she doe not tell them
why she come to see them. On first meeting with Sable, Faith believes in her heart that she is her
child. Sable turns to Langtry neighbor Culley Blackwolf for help in learning the truth as the duo
shares an attraction, but as they fall in love, will veracity end any permanent relationship between
them? Though coincidence brings the two-decade-old kidnapping case to the attention of Sable,
readers will enjoy this powerful romantic suspense novel. Once the players are introduced the
story
line hums with tension and romance as everyone including the audience wonders if Sable really is
the
lost child. Leaving Lonely Town shows why readers always obtain full value and more from a Cait
London novel.
The Seduction Of Sara
Karen Hawkins
Avon
Nov 2001, $5.99, 384 pp. ISBN: 0380815265
In 1815 London widow Saraphina Lawrence wants her older brother Marcus to just leave her
alone
instead of telling her how to behave. Sara simply embraces life and does not care what the Ton
thinks so she seems always one step away from scandal. Marcus wants Sara married again, as he
believes a woman especially a female under twenty-five needs a husband to protect her. Sara was
disappointed in her first husband because of his mistresses so does not want to go that route, but
if
she must she will choose a spouse that she can control. Earl Nicholas Montrose has just returned
from Paris with a goal of overcoming his reputation as a "bad boy" so he can attain social respect.
However, when he meets Sara, his plan goes out the window, as he desires her like he never
wanted
a woman before. She wants to use him to teach her seduction, but knows he is not malleable, as is
her requirement in a husband. Love enters the relational equation, leaving both bewildered and
wondering what to do next. Regency romance readers will appreciate The Seduction Of Sara, a
battle royale between the sexes. The story line is amusing as Sara and Nicholas struggle with an
unwanted attraction. The lead characters are a delightful duet whose disconcertion is exacerbated
by
caring interfering secondary characters. With this tale and its prequel (see The Abduction Of Julia)
the historical romance audience will recognize Karen Hawkins as a rising enchantress.
The MacGowan Betrothal
Lois Greiman
Avon
Nov 2001, $5.99, 384 pp. ISBN: 0380815419
In 1535 Scotland, every lass desires Gilmour MacGowan except apparently, Isobel Frasier, twin
sister of his brother's wife. Though he can have just about everyone, Gilmour wants the one he
cannot have as he admires Isobel's independence and fire. She rejects his advances though secretly
inside her heart and soul she covets Gilmour, but believes that she must forgo love and
relationships
because her clan needs her now. Additionally, he may be the enemy. Gilmour begins his quest to
win
Isobel's heart, but soon concludes he already has that just like she has his. Instead, he realizes he
must overcome her obstinate beliefs that personal relationships will interfere with her helping her
clan. He knows he must prove he cares for her clan as much as she does and that together they
can
defeat any foe. However, Gilmour will soon learn how much he underestimated the strength and
determination of his beloved. Though characteristic of a sixteenth century Scottish romance,
MacGowan Betrothal is a strong tale because the key two players provide readers with a humane
look at the era. The story line is fast-paced and Gilmour is a mighty male star that female readers
will happily adore. However the stalwart lead female protagonist owns the plot as her actions,
compassion, and inner strength moves the audience as easily as she moves the tale forward. Lois
Greiman has written a wonderful Highland Rogues novel that entertains her fans just as her
previous
stories have done too.
The Nightingale's Song
Kathleen Eschenburg
Avon
Nov 2001, $6.99, 384 pp. ISBN: 0380815699
In 1860, her mom died from the wasting disease two weeks ago in Limerick and now twelve years
old Mary Margaret Quinn knows her world is over even as she is presently in Baltimore.
However, a
guardian angel arrives in the form of Father Hugh Fitzhugh, who gently takes the lass with him so
she can live at St. Columbia's orphanage. Hugh promises to teach Mary how to play the harp if
she
provides him lessons on her fiddle. Fourteen years later, Maggie still lives in the orphanage, but
now
helps with the children. She especially feels an affinity to a frightened Clare. Civil War veteran
Gordon Kincaid arrives at the orphanage looking for his lost daughter. He only recently learned
that
he had a child. The girl turns out to be Clare, who he wants to bring home with him. He pleads
with
Maggie to accompany them because she is the only person to connect with Clare. She agrees and
soon Maggie's compassion reaches inside Gordon, who once disavowed love, but now struggles
to
tell her all that he feels for her. Using a powerfully vivid backdrop of the Reconstruction Era, The
Nightingale's Song is a wonderful historical romance starring three incredibly developed
individuals
who each steal apart of the reader's heart. The story line sings as the audience finds they want this
couple to make it and for Clare to obtain happiness. Because the cast is so human, sub-genre fans
will want to see Clare's tale told too from Kathleen Eschenburg.
The Wedding Wager
Cathy Maxwell
Avon
Nov 2001, $6.99, 384 pp. ISBN: 0380818329
In 1814 the residents of Lyford Meadow, England, believe Mary Gates, daughter of a squire, is an
eccentric person as she competes with men rather than doing traditional female activities. When
she
outbids Tye Barlow for a horse, he knows he will never forget her smile or the humiliation of
saying
"I pass". However, Mary does not have the cash to pay for the steed that she feels will begin
rebuilding her family estate. She cuts a deal with the horse's owner buying time to go to London
to
find and marry a wealthy aristocrat to pay for the horse. Tye follows Mary to London, planning to
insure she fails to land a husband because he still covets the horse. However, neither one expected
the glamour of the London balls would lead to a dance between them that makes both of them
reconsider what they want for her. Tye and Mary agree that he is the right one. The Wedding
Wager
is an adorable Regency romance that never takes it self too seriously. The amusing story line is
fun,
as Tye is a frustrated hero who loses whenever he competes with his beloved. Mary quite contrary
owns the novel, as she seems more like a modern woman displaced in time whose antics leave the
audience smiling. Cathy Maxwell provides her fans with a precious story that is a sure bet for
historical romance readers.
Wit'ch Gate
James Clemens
Del Rey
Dec 2001, $24.00, 544 pp. ISBN: 034544244X
The world remains in peril as the Dark Lord, though somewhat repelled, has established four
weirgates to absorb the magick that makes this realm survive. As Eleanor the Wit'ch and her allies
argue over what to do next, time slips away. Finally, they agree to break into three teams to
attack
the Dark Lord's minions at the weirgates in which the ultimate evil is not residing. All know if
successful and if they survive, there remains the ultimate battle at the fourth weirgate where the
Dark Lord awaits their presence. The four foes spread across the orb include a basilisk, a
manticore,
a wyvern, and a griffin. Though Eleanor and her cohorts contain elemental magic to bring the war
to
their enemy, each member knows the danger and the probability of death, but no option remains
as
the quest to save the realm leaves no choice. Now the adventure continues. Wit'ch Gate, the
fourth
tale in James Clemens series "The Banned and the Banished", is an exciting epic fantasy that is a
magical element or two stronger than most tales in the genre. Though several twists freshen up
the
story line, the plot is similar to many of the genre's novels. It is the characters, especially Eleanor,
who make this adventure spring to life as readers can feel her frustrations, fears and need to
triumph
over the evil Dark Lord. Mr. Clemens provides the audience with quite a thriller that still has a
weirgate to traverse.
The Immaculate
Kate Hill
RFI West
Nov 2001, 241 pp. $TBA ISBN 1586974025
A year ago Mara escaped an attack, but the effects it had on her were devastating. In time she
came
to believe she was assaulted by a vampire and to see if her theory was right, she traveled from the
United States to Europe to see if she can obtain proof that vampires really exist. In Spain, while
trying to translate an archaic language in a book she meets Adam who helps her in her quest.
Adam
is an Immaculate, born of two immortal parents and brought up believing that he was the anointed
one, chosen to kill the First Father, one of the original vampires. Mara and Adam know from
almost
the start that they are soul mates but before they can plan a future together, he and two other
Immaculates must perform the impossible and destroy the evil First Father. Kate Hill is one of the
more creative authors writing supernatural romance today. The Immaculate is a supernatural
techno-thriller but there is plenty of romance imbued in the story line. There are also touches of
humor as the heroes bicker amongst themselves and with their mates. Ms. Hill's mythos on
vampires,
hybrids, and their customs is so vivid that if one doesn't know better, one would think the writer is
a
sociologist proving vampires are a genuine species.
Night Terrors
Drew Williams
Barclay Books
6161 51st Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33715
Nov 2001, $15.95, 343 pp. ISBN 1931402248
Residents of McKeesport are shook by the four apparent suicides and one obvious gruesome
murder
that haunt this summer. Chief Detective Steve Wycoff and his staff diligently work to uncover the
truth, but are worried that someone more sinister is behind the rash of deaths. However, except
for
the homicide no evidence to prove the theory seems to exist. While death stalks the western
Pennsylvania town, local David Cavannah suffers horrendous nightmares. An essence calling itself
Dust seems to occupy his dreams and that being wants to escape the electrons of David's brain in
order to enter the physical realm. Dust must be invited into one's dreams, but only a lunatic would
ask a cretin like that to intrude the mind and soul. Now that David's father-in-law is dead, no one
alive knows how to stop Dust, leaving it up to a possessed David and a beleaguered Steve to try.
Night Terrors is as frightening a novel as those of King or Little. The story line performs like a
classic horror tale, building up the suspense and fear factor of the audience so caught up in the
plot
that Drew Williams has entered the mind of the reader. The heroes seem genuine and the
malevolent
villain appears real, not just a bogeyman, leaving horror fans with a few sleepless nights.
The Apostate
Paul Lonardo
Barclay Books
6161 51st Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33715
Nov 2001, $15.95, 254 pp. ISBN 1931402132
Chris has been fostered at the Crowley boot camp since he turned seven. At sixteen, he is finally
ready to run away because his foster father is an abusive person who works Chris and the other
children to the point of exhaustion. All he has left of his mother is a picture of her when she
somehow communicates with him when he is troubled; her advice is always accurate. When he
reaches Caldera New Mexico, she no longer transmits to him. Caldera is a strange and frightening
city that has an alarming growth rate. Julian, an environmentalist for Project Earth, has scientific
proof that alarms him. At the same time psychiatrist Saney finds evidence that frightens her as she
sees too many people suffering from bad dreams and psychoses than any other place she has
encountered. These two individuals along with Chris connect with one another to find the cause
of
the problems at Caldera and attempt to stop them if they can even if they are supernatural in
nature.
Anyone who likes a supernatural thriller similar to the "Left Behind" series will want to read The
Apostate. Unlike the "Left Behind" series this novel is more subtle and the supernatural elements
more covert. The story line is very entertaining and enriching while the protagonists are people
like
the neighbors next door, caring and helpful when called upon in need.
A Study In Death
Iain McDowell
St. Martin's Press
Dec 2001, $21.95, 192 pp. ISBN: 0312278683
In spite of properly casing the joint and doing everything in accordance with the break and enter
handbook, George "Geordie" McCulloch selects the wrong apartment to burglarize. He enters the
abode of Professor Roger Harvey only to find the occupant's corpse lying in bed. Doing the right
thing, Geordie calls the police though being a Good Samaritan probably means the two-time loser
will be doing time again. On the surface, the professor seems to have no enemies. He lived for his
work though he seemed to set aside plenty of time for the ladies. As the Crowley police dig
deeper
into the academic's life, they begin to find many secrets that the professor hid, one of which one
must have led to his murder. To this reviewer, a cleverly designed British procedural is always fun
to
read because of the comparisons with the American judicial system. In his debut, Iain McDowell
provides sub-genre fans with a creative tale filled with legitimate red herrings that encourages the
reader to guess who did it. Readers will remain on the look out for more novels from this new
talent.
Robak In Black
Joe L. Hensley
St. Martin's Press
Dec 2001, $23.95, 256 pp. ISBN: 0312241097
After years serving as a defense attorney, fifty something Don Robak becomes a circuit judge in a
Southern Indiana's County. Don, his wife Jo, and their son are a happy family when their joy is
shattered. Jo becomes ill with a dangerous fever that the doctors have no idea what is causing it.
When the fever finally breaks, Jo is left with brain damage that requires round the clock care
taking.
He brings Jo back home, but soon places her in a nursing home when someone fires a shot into his
house. He sends his son off to live with a friend in another state while Don begins to track down
the
individual wanting either he or his wife dead, knowing that he has made a wealth of enemies over
the
years. Readers feel the love the judge feels for his spouse as this first person narrative turns him
into
a sympathetic hero though his control rivals that of Job. Between a flaky militia, a local cult, and a
powerful family, the investigation leads he investigators down a Byzantine path. Robak In Black is
a
first class amateur sleuth tale because of the Robak relationship before, during, and after the
illness.
Echoes Of Lies
Jo Bannister
St. Martin's Press
Dec 2001, $23.95, 320 pp. ISBN: 0312284322
Following her divorce, Brodie Farrell opens up the Look For Something? Shop. Brodie takes on
clients seeking to find things or people. When a woman asks Brodie to find a man, she agrees to
accept the case because the client insists the person in the picture conned her out of money. A few
days later, Brodie locates the mark and provides the information to her customer. Not long after
completing her assignment, Brodie sees a picture of the man she found accompanied by an article
in
which the newspaper states he was tortured and killed. Brodie admits to the police her role in the
victim's death only to learn he remains alive in a hospital under watch. She asks for absolution and
receives it from the victim and soon Brodie and Daniel become friends, joining forces to track
down
the person who hired her. Soon the plot thickens as they find the torturers who thought Daniel
was
part of a scheme to kidnap a child. This novel is quite different than the Castlemane series, but
remains a solid tale. Brodie and Daniel are interesting characters with strong moral cores that
takes
them outside the law to do what each one feels is right. Echoes Of Lies is a combination character
story packed inside a Bond-like thriller.
A Morning In Eden
Anna Gilbert
St. Martin's Press
Dec 2001, $22.95, 240 pp. ISBN: 0312284381
Her mother giving birth to Lorna Kent so her Aunt Belle in Donneston, England raised her. Her
father left Lorna when she was five, but staying with her beloved Belle was fine to the little girl.
She
especially enjoyed visiting her Aunt Mabel in Canterlow; a place that Lorna felt and still feels is
her
Eden. In 1919 when Aunt Belle dies, Lorna is content staying with Aunt Mabel. Lorna soon
learns
that the isolated town is self sufficient with a personality of its own that turns ugly during
tumultuous times. She falls in love with Adam an older married person with two children. Lorna
knows nothing can come of this so she says nothing. However, after Adam's wife dies, he asks her
to
marry him, but someone wants to stop a wedding between the duo because she has personal plans
for him. There is a gothic undertone to A Morning In Eden though the tale is more of a character
study than usually found in that genre. The protagonist is a sweet person who mistakes infatuation
for love. Her common sense approach to life and her upbeat innocence makes Lorna an appealing
character. Though Anna Gilbert seems to overuse death to further relationships, fans will enjoy
her
unique voice.
The Richmond Diary
Peter Rawlinson
St. Martin's Press
Dec 2001, $23.95, 288 pp. ISBN: 0312275536
Elderly and gay Francis Richmond utilizes his connections to the social and political English
aristocracy to attend all the parties and galas of the rich and famous. Francis uses these events to
gather gossip to record in his diary. When he dies, his boy toy inherits this titillating piece of
scandal
mongering. He sells the diary to Digby Price, owner of a London paper. In one diary entry Francis
claims is to have observed the Minister of Defense Procurement Richard Tancred in secret
meetings
with defense contractor Oscar Sleaven. Digby has a score to settle with Tancred and exposes the
Minister's corruption in his paper. Tancred resigns from government service and sues Digby for
libel,
taking their squabble into the courtroom, a place where lies are the norm. This British legal
procedural is strong on characterizations yet contains an enigmatic plot that leaves the reader
wondering what is going on. The Richmond Diary exemplifies to the audience an astute look into
the British judicial system. Peter Rawlinson establishes himself as more than just a credible legal
thriller author. He proves he belongs with the sub- genre's elite.
Murder At The President's Door
Elliot Roosevelt
St. Martin's Press
Dec 2001, $23.95, 240 pp. ISBN: 0312274998
When President Franklin Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor moved into the White House, it was a
shabby place to live. The furniture and curtains were old with most needing replacement, but with
the country deep into the Depression, Congress refuses to authorize funds to redecorate the
President's home. Thus the Roosevelts do the best they can with what they have. While the
President
is a movie with an aide, someone tries to assassinate him, but kills a police officer instead. The
First
lady theorizes that the killer ran away when he heard voices in her husband's bedroom, not
realizing
that the sound came from the movie. Obviously, White House security is lax and anyone who
knows
the layout of the place can easily enter and leave without detection. Eleanor, DC police Lieutenant
Edward Kennelly, and the White House police join forces to ferret out the identity of the
perpetrators. Murder At The President's Door is the latest Eleanor Roosevelt mystery in this long
running series that provides a fascinating look at the 1930s White House. In this age of terrorism
and Pennsylvania Avenue cordoned off it is difficult to fathom the Presidential home lacking
security
measures, and containing broken down furniture and torn curtains. Though the who- done-it is
short
on action, history buffs will enjoy the late Elliot Roosevelt's latest homage to his parents early
years
in the White House.
Unforgivable
Tina Wainscott
St. Martin's Press
Nov 2001, $6.50, 368 pp. ISBN: 0312979088
In Possum Holler, Georgia life is good for young Katie Malloy in spite of living in a trailer park
with
only her mother. Everything changes when she gives a kitten to Gary Savino who tosses the
innocent creature against a window. Katie's neighbor teenager Silas Koole takes her and Gus the
kitten to the veterinarian Dr. Ben Ferguson. The trio becomes friends. When Silas is sent away to
a
foster home following the discovery of his father's long dead corpse, Katie's mother abruptly ends
the child's relationship with Ben. That night Katie's mother is found dead in their trailer home, an
apparent suicide. Eighteen years have passed with Katie now married to Ben and Silas recently
returned to live in his family shack. A serial killer is on the prowl and Silas fears that his beloved
Katie is an intended victim. He will do whatever it takes to keep his cherished Katie safe.
Unforgivable is a powerful romantic suspense novel that hooks the audience early on and never
slows down until the final "New York Times book review of the true crime story" (slick ending).
Katie is a remarkable individual overcoming her childhood real life nightmares while Silas is eerie
and Ben seems like a kind animal lover. The taut story line is loaded though the murderer seems
an
unreasonable choice in spite of several behavioral clues. The tale is as gritty as red clay and
suspense
fans will feel the growing tension that Tina Wainscot delivers and demand more from this
powerhouse of a writer.
Naughty Or Nice
Patricia Ryan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Carly Phillips, and Kathryn Smith
St. Martin's Press
Nov 2001, $6.50, 320 pp. ISBN: 0312981023
"Santa Baby" by Patricia Ryan. After informing his client Celeste Worth that her husband has a
lover, she hires him to steal said woman away from her spouse. Thus private sleuth Jack O'Leary
begins a different case than the usual cheating scenario. Jack is to entice Katherine Peale to leave
Worth alone, but his web of lies becomes entangled with love. "Love Bytes" by Sherrilyn Kenyon.
Samantha Parker loves her team leader Adrian Cole, but to her he only notices her as an
employee.
Adrian struggles between his desires to jump Sam's bones and the company policy forbidding
dating
between management and staff. "Naughty Under the Mistletoe" by Carly Phillips. Office protocol
has kept attorney Toni Larson from seducing Stephen Corbin until this year's office Christmas
Party
because she will relocate after the holiday. When she deeply kisses her target under the mistletoe,
she realizes she obfuscated with Max the non-compliant twin of Stephen who burns her soul. "A
Christmas Charade" by Kathryn Smith. In 1815 Viscount Garrett Maxwell expects to die from his
incarceration in France until widow, Eliza Vail rescues him. On the ship crossing the Channel,
Eliza
and Garrett give in to their needs and make love. They plan to meet again, but she fails to arrive.
Eight months later at his sister's home, Garrett finds the woman who has haunted his soul, but can
he
persuade her they belong together. The three contemporaries and the Regency are all well-written
entertaining Yuletide novellas that make for nice holiday reading.
A Case To Answer
Margaret Yorke
St. Martin's Press
Dec 2001, $24.95, 336 pp. ISBN: 0312284306
Though Charlotte was a widow for many years, she is content with her lot in life. However, when
Rubert, a person she knows from her charity work, begins courting her, Charlotte feels her life
expanding. When they marry, she becomes a society grand dame because her new spouse is an
industry scion. They enjoy two blissful years together before Robert suddenly dies. His two adult
children from a previous marriage move her out of the estate, but buy her a home in the middle of
nowhere so she can start over elsewhere. However, before she can get adjusted to her new home,
Rubert's daughter persuades Charlotte to take in her troubled niece Imogen. The young woman,
distraught over the separation of her parents, left school and is now pregnant. Charlotte readily
agrees unaware that the payment for her kindness will be her death. Margaret Yorke, winner of
the
1999 British Crime Writers Diamond Dagger Award, proves she remains the mistress of suspense
with her latest chiller. The characters are realistic yet haunting as none are evil but suffer, victims
of
an unjust fate. The rapidly moving plot makes A Case To Answer a one sitting book that will not
require a break.
The Troublemaker
Rexanne Becnel
St. Martin's Press
Nov 2001, $6.50, 304 pp. ISBN: 0312977557
In 1827 London Sarah Palmer knows she went too far this time with her aborted elopement with
Lord Penley. When her irate brother caught up to them, he challenged the usurper to a dual to the
death and only the intercession of her stepfather kept the scandal from turning ugly. Sarah has
two
options: marrying that fortune hunting Penley who dissolved into rancid pudding at the first sign
of
danger or visit her half-sister Olivia in Scotland. After having watched the spineless Penley
perform,
Sarah chooses Scotland. Bostonian Marshal MacDougal learns that his father Cameron Byrde in
1798 abandoned the infant Marshal and his mother and married someone else. All these years he
thought his father had died before he was born, but now Marshal vows to destroy the man if he
still
lives or his descendants if he does not. When he arrives in Scotland, he learns that his prime target
is
his half-sister Olivio. However, Marshal and Sarah meet and fall in love, but he cannot allow her
to
interfere with his plan. The sequel to The Matchmaker, The Troublemaker is an enchanting
historical
romance starring a born troublemaker even in the first tale and an American seeking trouble. The
story line is invigorating due to the "troubling" relationship between the strong lead charcaters.
Though Marshal's behavior can become a bit irritating with his paramecium-like thirst for
vengeance,
readers will appreciate this Regency romance due to the deep emotions that the key players
display
(a two edged sword in the case of the male protagonist). Rexanne Becnel has written another
jewel
that will beguile sub-genre fans.
Breaking And Entering
H.R.F. Keating
St. Martin's Press
Nov 2001, $23.95, 272 pp. ISBN: 0312269528
Most of the inspectors of the Mumbai (Bombay) Crime Branch are working on the shocking
murder
of business mogul Anil Adjami killed in his impregnable home on Mahdi Island. However, Deputy
Commissioner Kabir assigns Inspector Ganesh Ghote a different case. Ghote works alone on
uncovering the identity of "Yeshwant", a cat burglar nicknamed for a seventeenth century hero.
Ganesh's scrutinizes the crimes by visiting the scenes and interviewing the victims, but seems to
make little progress on the case. He meets an old friend; the recently widowed Swedish expatriate
Axel Svensson, who begins to help on the investigation. As he gets closer to solving his case,
Ganesh finds a link between the B&E robberies and the unsolved murder. Still, will he crack both
cases or will Ganesh find no final solutions to the two seemingly tied together crimes he now
investigates. The latest Ganesh Ghote Indian police procedural is an engaging investigative tale
that
stars an interesting lead character. The story line is cleverly designed so that readers see inside the
head of the kind Ganesh as he struggles with the cat burglar case and ultimately the homicide.
Though the audience will need to adjust to Ganesh's speech pattern (as with the previous novels)
most readers will believe Breaking And Entering is worth the time as author H.R.F Keating
provides
fans with a strong who-done- it.
Strip Poker
Nancy Bartholomew
St. Martin's Press
Nov 2001, $23.95, 272 pp. ISBN: 0312262590
Sierra Lavatoni works at the Tiffany Gentleman's Club, a high priced strip joint in which the ladies
do not provide extracurricular service to the customers. Sierra is actually an exotic dancer who
affectionately treats the girls and the club's owner Vincent Gambuzzo as her children. Life at the
serene club turns nasty when a back room poker game incites the murder of one of the
participants
and the police charge Vincent with the crime. Before the homicide occurred, Vincent signed over
the club's ownership as collateral to Mike Riggs, a charter boat captain in Panama City. Mike
lowers
the standards renaming the joint Big Mike's House of Booty. Most of the women quit, but Sierra
temporary remains to learn the identity of who framed Vincent. Between a gangster who wants
her
and a police officer that loves her, Sierra runs from relationships because she knows men leave.
This
makes her vulnerable and sympathetic to the audience when she dives into her investigation.
Readers
will like her and root for her, hoping she obtains whatever her heart's desires. It is very amusing to
observe Sierra try to not get killed while on the case. Nancy Bartholomew ties everything up with
a
bow except for one critical personal question that will leave the audience coveting the next novel
in
this series quite soon.
Whispers
Eleanor Taylor Bland
St. Martin's Press
Nov 2001, $23.95, 304 pp. ISBN 0312203799
Marti Macallister and her partner Matthew "Vik" Sessenovik are homicide detectives in the
greater
Chicago area. Due to a rare lull in active investigations, Marti and Vik decide to check into a
recently found defrosting arm and three other arms in the freezer of the morgue. During a forensic
examination, they determine the age and sex and that at least two people were somehow involved
in
the seventies art world. The remaining arms are more recent which adds to the puzzle that the
cops
are making slow progress on solving. While Marti is involved with her family and job, her friend
Sharon, whose daughter Lisa is living with Marti, becomes involved with De Vonte Luthell. He
gives her a whirlwind courtship and insists they marry. After the ceremony they go to De Vonte's
special place in the Bahamas where he has a special surprise for Sharon and Lisa. Marti, whose
case
is breaking wide open, has a bad feeling about De Vonte and rushes down to Freeport in the hope
that she can prevent Lisa and Sharon from getting hurt. Anyone who wants to witness a
quintessential "every woman" novel just has to read a Marti Macallister mystery. She balances her
family and job with expert aplomb (with a little help from momma) and she is there when her
friends
need her. The mystery itself is fascinating because readers get to see a whole case made out of
one
semi frozen arm. Although readers will despise some of Sharon's choices they will understand why
she made them and feel empathy towards her. It would be a shame for mystery fans to pass up
such
an excellent choice as Whispers.
Red House
K.J.A. Wishna
St. Martin's Press
Nov 2001, $23.95, 288 pp. ISBN: 031228182X
She honestly tries to stay out of trouble and obey the rules while working at a salary that keep her
bosses at the Davis and Bacon Company happy. However, former Ecuadorian freedom fighter
turned apprentice private detective Filomenia Buscarsella believes her adopted country should do
more for the poor that barely speaks English. This leads her to take on cases that are pro bono, as
many of her clients cannot pay the fee. When Mrs. Munoz comes to the office begging for help in
finding her missing son of three days, Filomena agrees to search for the lad. Filomena spends a lot
of
work time on the investigation only to find her client's son is dead. The police believe the victim
accidentally drowned in an icy puddle of water. Later Sonny Tescaro goes berserk and draws a
gun
on six cops. Filomena needs to find out why he did such a stupid thing, not yet aware that her
trials
are just beginning. Red House is a realistic depiction of the illegal immigrant story in New York
City. K.j.a. Wishna shows how these desperate souls are exploited and their civil rights trampled.
The heroine is a champion of fairness who tries to insure the right thing happens for those
individuals trapped beneath the safety net of the American justice system.
Fantasy Lover
Sherrilyn Kenyon
St. Martin's Press
Feb 2002 $6.50 ISBN: 0312979975
In New Orleans, Selena decides her best friend Grace Alexander needs healthy sex after four years
of abstinence She chose to abstain from sex indefinitely because a SOB used her following the
deaths of her parents. As a birthday present for Grace, Selena buys an ancient book that contains
a
picture of General Julian of Macedon. An occult believer, Selena feels that if Grace follows the
instructions she can summon Julian as her sex slave for a month. To shut up Selena, a skeptical
Grace says the enchantment spell, but nothing happens. After Selena leaves, Julian suddenly
stands
naked in Grace's house. To his shock, Grace flees from him. No woman has ever run from him
before now. She trips and he begins a seduction, but somehow she stops him. He explains the
curse
that keeps him in and out of the book. Grace says she will obtain his freedom somehow but they
will
have no sex. As the days go by, they fall in love, which leads to either the removal of the two
thousand years old curse or two depressed individuals for eternity. Romantic fantasy readers and
Ancient Greek lovers will take pleasure from the exhilarating story that centers on the love
between
Aphrodite's son and a modern American. Fans will admire the strength and resolve of Grace and
salivate over the compassionate "estrogen magnet". Grace's best friend and several members of
the
Greek Pantheon add considerable mirth, drama, and depth to this powerful tale of love.
FANTASY
LOVER proves that Sherrilyn Kenyon is a writer with cross-genre appeal, as fans will relish this
story for years to come.
The Bridal Season
Connie Brockway
Dell Books
Nov 2001, $6.99, 358 pp. ISBN: 0440236711
At the London train station, Henri Arnoux asks Lady Agatha Whyte to marry him. She agrees
dropping her train ticket on the floor of the station. Watching the romantic drama play out is
music
hall performer Letty Potts, who picks up the ticket destination Little Bidewell. She is desperate to
escape her boyfriend Nick, who has insured she remains unemployed and burns down the lodging
house she calls home destroying all of her possessions. Nick simply plans to force Letty to crawl
back on her hands and knees to him, but she takes the train instead. Letty arrives at Little
Bidewell
pretending to be Agatha of Whyte's Wedding Celebrations. Everyone welcomes the newcomer
except local war hero Sir Elliot March. He suspects Letty is hiding something, but perhaps this is
a
reaction formation on his part to evade his own unwanted passion for the visitor. Soon his
suspicions will prove true as London catches up with her, but by then Letty and Elliot love each
other. Readers will skip past the opening gimmick that enables Letty to escape because The Bridal
Season is a vivid historical romance that depicts life in an English country village near the end of
the
nineteenth century. The story line moves the reader because of how much the locals care about
one
another and the newcomer. The romance between Elliot and Letty is filled with guilt,
recriminations,
demons, and a deep love. Fans of Connie Brockway will thoroughly appreciate this gregarious
look
at a bygone era mostly through the eyes of a charming, caring, and compassionate charlatan.
The Abulon Dance
Caro Soles
Baskerville Books
Box 19 - 3561 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M1T 3K8
Nov 2001, 276 pp. ISBN: 0968677622 http://www.baskervillebooks.com/
In terms of the universe, perhaps the most unique residents come from the planet Merculian. In
every other orb, sentient beings are either male or female. However, Merculian has the distinction
of
every individual being a hermaphrodite. Merculians contain male and female reproductive organs
and can impregnate every other member of the species. Perhaps it is caused by their sexuality, but
no
other race seems as homogenized as the Merculian race is. To outsiders the entire species acts and
behaves the same in a sort of effeminate male type manner. The Merculian National Dance
Company
is a nightmare for any other world diplomats under the best of conditions as they tour other
planets.
Led by Triani, somehow this group lands smack in the middle of a civil war on planet Abulon. To
add to the dilemmas of the touring Merculians, one side of the conflict kidnaps Triani's young
lover
Cham while the other arrests Triani placing the troupe deep inside the conflict. The Dance Of
Abulon is a strange science fiction novel that uses the premise of sexual identity to establish a
unique
species touring the worlds of the more universal two gender creatures. The bias and not so subtle
distaste towards the Merculians enable talented Caro Soles to provide an entertaining social
commentary though the Abulon politics and civil war provide some action to the mix. Still the tale
works because readers believe that the race of Merculians is plausible and the sexual bigotry
towards
them for their natural make up shows how foolish and defeating intolerance is.
Firebreak
Richard Stark
Mysterious Press
Nov 2001, $23.95, 297 pp. ISBN: 0892967110
Parker has two jobs both critical to his well being. One is more along the line of his normal work.
Parker is employed to steal stolen art treasures stored in a remote area of Montana. The "owner"
Paxton Marino is a computer whiz billionaire so Parker knows he can expect anything and needs
an
electronic expert along for the ride. The other job is a bit more personal. Someone hired a pro to
kill
Parker. He needs to know who and why so he can concentrate on the art theft. The problem is
over
the years in his line of work Parker has made many enemies who would gladly urinate on his
grave.
As Parker makes inquiries through his underground connections, he soon realizes the art job
resurfaced his name to some nasty people who simply detest him. Still Big Sky is calling and with
the help of an electronic genius lunatic, Parker goes to work on purloining the art treasures.
Firebreak is the typical Parker tale as the exciting story line is loaded with twists and turns yet the
stark plot uses no unnecessary baggage. The tale belongs to Parker who seems relatively mellow
compared to his maniacal sidekick (why trust this psychopath is beyond this reviewer). Still, this
wild ride across the Northern Plains is an effective anti-hero thriller that proves Richard Stark
under
that name or as Donald Westlake can still be counted on for top-notch modern day noir.
Tucker Peak
Archer Mayor
Mysterious Press
Nov 2001, $23.95, 295 pp. ISBN: 0892967242
Though Vermont's Tucker Peak is popular in a small way by the ski crowd, the owners of the
resort
know they must expand or declare bankruptcy. The announced plan quickly runs into an
environmental nightmare as protesters arrive to stop any further development of the pristine
mountain. At about the same, a series of crippling robberies push the Tucker Peak ownership
closer
to shutting down the ski lodge. However, the state knows the importance of tourist money
especially from the ski industry. So when the local law enforcement asks for help, the Vermont
Bureau of Investigation sends its best, Joe Gunther, to investigate the felons. Joe quickly
determines
the identity of the thief, but the individual is missing and his girlfriend murdered. Joe concludes
that
several of the environmentalists could not care less about hugging a tree let alone a mountaintop
as
they have something else in mind that could kill the dedicated police officer. Tucker Peak is a
hard-boiled detective story with the added twist that it occurs on an isolated Vermont mountain.
The
who-done-it is solved rapidly and easily only to lead to another who-done-it and several
why-done-
its. Joe feels out of place in this backdrop, as he seems more like an inner city blue collar cop, but
that adds layers of personality to the tale as Archer Mayor has done in his previous Gunther
novels.
This is another winning story in a series in which all the novels are worth reading.
No Place For A Lady
Deb Stover
Zebra Books
Nov 2001, 352 pp. ISBN: 0821770918
In 1888 London, Lady Elizabeth Summersby learns that it takes only one indiscretion to become
pregnant. Her one night stand lover Dirk Ballinger had returned to his ranch in America when
Elizabeth's father sends him a letter informing him that he impregnated his daughter and expects
the
honorable action of marriage. Though it was not Dirk who went to London, he knows he must
marry because his nefarious outlaw relative impersonated him in England. When a gang holds up
the
coach containing Elizabeth and her maid Molly Riordan, they take the lady as a hostage. Dirk
finds
an injured Molly and thinks she is his betrothed. He rejects her explanations and marries her. They
begin to fall in love, but how can she persuade him to help her find her Irish ‚migr‚ father and the
missing Elizabeth while he must convince her he was not the rascal in London. No Place For A
Lady
is an amusing, exhilarating western romance that engages the audience from start to finish due to
the
strong cast. Readers will enjoy the battle of wits between the genders as love blossoms amidst the
lead couple and a secondary duet. Deb Stover provides her usual delicious tale that Americana
romance readers will conclude is a delightful treasure.
Her Leading Man
Alice Duncan
Zebra Books
Nov 2001, $5.99 ISBN: 0821768816
Though a very talented actress and in spite of thinking the film industry is a waste of energy,
suffragette Christina Mayhew performs in the movies to finance her life's dream of going to
medical
school and becoming a doctor. To earn her tuition as she already has acceptance from a school,
Christina performs in the latest movie produced by Martin Tafft for Peerless Studios on location.
Martin is an idealist, but is frustrated with all the negative publicity the young Hollywood industry
seems to produce. Thus he finds the intelligent Christina with her accompanying escort, her
grandmother, quite refreshing to say the least. Christina soon finds Martin not only her intellectual
equal but surprisingly he encourages her to use her intelligence rather than pretend to be a
vacuous
pretty babe. They begin to fall in love, but Martin's codes of ethics involving people working for
him
seem like a roadblock to any permanent relationship between them. Alice Duncan's entire "Dream
Maker" series has been a delightful look at the first decade of the movie industry, but this novel is
by
far the best of a wonderful collection because this is Martin's story. Martin has been a key
secondary
player in the previous novels and readers (except perhaps this reviewer) have patiently awaited his
venture into love. The story line is insightful, but also loaded with fun as Christina realizes that
she
must persuade Her Leading Man to reach for the stars with her.
Closer Than She Thinks
Meryl Sawyer
Zebra Books
Nov 2001, $6.99, 415 pp. ISBN: 0821772112
Alyssa Rossi fled New Orleans for Florence, Italy because her memories of her hometown are all
ugly after the betrayal from her loved ones. She succeeds in opening Rossi Designs, a costume
jewelry business that performs quite well Alyssa heeds her Aunt Theodore Canali's advice to sell
her
company to TriTech and go home as part of the purchase. Upon returning from Patagonia,
TriTech
CEO Jake Williams is shocked to learn that minority business partner Clay Duvall purchased
Rossi
Designs. He needs to know why because the small company is outside the obvious profile of his
firm's core competencies. Uncomfortable with this particular acquisition, Jake gets even more
paranoid when he sees Alyssa is a dead ringer for Clay's wife. Though a relatively small venture
for
what TriTech normally acquires, Jake makes inquiries to better understand Clay's motive. As Jake
and Alyssa begin to fall in love, everyone within their radar has their own dangerous plans that
could
harm either or both of them. Closer Than She Thinks is an exciting romantic thriller that runs on
all
cylinders from start to finish. The story line is filled with action and romance as the suspense and
tension heat to the melting point. Jake and Alyssa make a delightful duo and the support cast
amplifies the plot by fostering their own desires at the peril of the key couple. Meryl Sawyer
exhibits
why she is a New York Times best selling author with this extremely effective novel.
Moonlit
Emma Jensen
Ivy
Jan 2002, $6.99 ISBN: 0804119562
Viscount Trevor Robard, grew up abused by a nasty father who not only left the man with
physical
and mental scars, he wasted the family estate so that the St. Wulfson heritage is one of decay and
depradation. Trevor relishes his seedy reputation among the Ton as "Sin" though he also performs
the dirty deeds for his country including assassination. The Widow Nell Nolan, former mistress to
the late Lord Clonegal, is on a quest of her own. She wants to confront Lord Routland over the
money her deceased spouse left in his care for her when he died at the battlefield. Her only avenue
to
his estate is acting like a whore so that one of the rakes escorts her. Trevor agrees to take her to
see
Routland in exchange for an evening of sex. He succeeds, she confronts, but she also flees before
their evening together. Nell fears Trevor because she knows he is the one from the broken mirror
a
long time ago in Ireland. Trevor plans to collect, but love is a powerful stimulant. Award winning
Emma Jensen has written a stalwart Regency romance that will thrill fans due to the lonely lead
couple. The story line engages the audience from start to finish while showcasing the author's
ability
to refresh sub-genre elements. The keys remain Trevor and Nell who defy polite society that
would
prefer to flush them away. Ms. Jensen has another humdinger of a novel that will brighten the day
of
her innumerable fans.
Educating Caroline
Patricia Cabot
Sonnet/Pocket Books
Nov 2001, $6.50, 439 pp. ISBN: 0743410262
In 1870 London, Lady Caroline Linford accidentally catches her fianc‚ Lord Hurst Winchilsea
making love to Lady Jacquelyn Seldon. Unobserved, by the lovers, Caroline quietly leaves the
boudoir realizing that she must not be up to par in bed if Hurst is already seeking solace
elsewhere.
As Caroline tries to regain her equilibrium and debates calling off her engagement, Braden
Granville
arrives demanding to know where his betrothed Jacquelyn is. Caroline protects her fianc‚
knowing
he would be dead in a duel if Braden found him in a clinch with Jacquelyn. Instead Caroline asks
Braden to teach her how to seduce Hurst. Though he wants to avoid simmering virgins, he agrees
because he believes she knows the identity of Jacquelyn's lover and his lovemaking skills will soon
have her reveal the individual. However, Braden soon wonders who is educating who as they
soon
both want to become a permanent relationship. Educating Caroline is an inviting Victorian
romance
that is at its best when it is a tale of the manners of the elite in and out of the boudoir. The
infusion
of a well written and exciting mystery add suspense and action, but actually takes away from an
amusing yet powerful bedroom drama starring a delightful pair. Patricia Cabot provides readers
have
a novel that is an impressive yarn that will furbish plenty of pleasure for fans.
Three For A Letter
Mary Reed and Eric Mayer
Poisoned Pen Press
Dec 2001, $24.95, 372 pp. ISBN 1890208825
In 539 AD in Constantinople, the Emperor Justinian wants to bring Italy back into the Empire.
General Belarius succeeds in recapturing Northern Africa and is on the verge of retaking Italy so
that the Empire becomes a power again in the West. The Emperor has under his control, Godaric
and Sunilda, the two claimants to the Italian throne. At a theatre festival held at the seaside estate
of
Zeno, a patriarch known for his eccentricities, the Empress Theodora is in the audience, eager to
see
her favorite mime, the dwarf Barnrabas. The event ends abruptly with the death of Godaric and
the
disappearance of Barnabas. The lord Chamberlain, John the Eunuch, is assigned by Justinian to
find
the killer so that he can be properly punished. John, who is in disfavor with the Empress, comes
very
close to losing his head when the sole heir to the Italian throne disappears. Three For A Letter is a
fascinating historical mystery that allows the reader to imagine what Constantinople was like at
the
height of her glory. The political power plays, the court intrigues and the populous come alive in
Mary Read and Eric Mayer's latest John the Eunuch mystery. It is obvious that the authors have
done meticulous research so that the era feels very realistic. John is an amazing character that
would
made a fine twenty first-century detective.
A Dead Man's Honor
Frankie Y. Bailey
Silver Dagger
Dec 2001, $13.95, 220 pp. ISBN 1570721718
Bigotry thrives in Gallagher, Virginia in 1921, as the local Negroes know their place and what
would happen to them if they step out of line. Drifter Mose Davenport hooks up with Ophelia
who
works for the white doctor. They are blamed for his death when an old gossip observes them
leaving
the doctor's place just before his dead body is found. Hester Rose is with Mose and Ophelia when
the police arrest Mose and she witnesses his lynching. In the present, criminal history professor
Lizzie Stuart works at Piedmont University while writing a book about the Mose incident, a
project
she believes will help her professionally and personally. Before she gets deep into her research,
she is
the only person in the building when faculty member Richard Colby is murdered. Wanting to
cease
being the prime suspect, Lizzie decides to do a little investigating on her own, a move that places
her
in danger. Frankie Y. Bailey knows how to write a regional academic mystery that keeps the
reader
turning the pages to find out what happens next. A Dead Man's Honor is a very atmospheric book
that gives the audience the comparative flavor of the south in the present and in 1921. The
heroine is
a smart, understanding free thinking woman who makes her decisions and stands by them. This is
an
enjoyable one sitting reading experience.
Full Court Press
Mike Lupica
Putnam
Nov 2001, $24.95, 360 pp. ISBN: 0399147896
In New York winning is everything. Professional sports die without championships or at least a
temporary draw until the victories return. The New York Knights have neither so the attendance
is
down. Owner Michael De la Cruz informs scout Eddie Holtz that he better come up with a
superstar
or find work overseas. In Europe, Eddie checks out former NBA great Earthwind, but feels
raptures
watching the point guard, a D. Gerard pull a series of magic acts. After the game ends, Eddie
meets
Gerard whose first initial stands for Dee, a female. Eddie calls his boss, who sees an opportunity
to
fill a few seats with a wiggle and jiggle. However, the other owners and many of the players make
it
clear that the NBA stands for no babes allowed. Talented enough to compete, will Dee obtain the
opportunity to break the gender line? Full Court Press is a fast breaking sports novel that genre
fans
will either love or hate depending on the reaction to the basic premise that a woman is capable of
playing in the NBA. The story line is fun as Dee seems genuine (wonder if she is modeled after a
WNBA guard like Stacey or Stiles?) and the reactions to her seem humorous and ludicrous at the
same time. Mike Lupica provides a slam dunk tale that will entertain readers even as many
wonder
how they would look one on one with Leslie or Dydek (beside feeling short).
Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction Of The Century
Orson Scott Card (editor)
Ace Books
Nov 2001, $24.95, 416 pp. ISBN: 044100864X
This latest "best ... of the century" actually consists of twenty-six tales from the second half of the
twentieth century and one story from the 1940s. Either that means science fiction matured
considerably after World War II, the editor is too young to appreciate the early years, or the
anthology should be labeled differently. In either case, the contributions are all aces and represent
the wide gamut of the genre divided into three classifications: "The Golden Age, "The New
Wave",
and "The Media Generation". Though I enjoyed the other two periods, my favorite stories are
from
"The New Wave" because I cut my molars on several of these including having read some while
working on a masters thesis involving science fiction. Regardless of nostalgia or other reasons for
personal taste, each entry is powerful and shows how enlightening the genre can be when written
by
masters like those who rendered entries to Masterpieces: The Best Science Fiction Of The
Century.
Second Contact
JD Austin
Ace Books
Nov 2001, $5.99, 208 pp. ISBN: 0441008798
On two planets galaxies away from each other life surfaced on both at the equivalent solar time.
As
the millenniums pass Earth inhabitants travel into deep space, but the natives of Kivlan stay
planet-bound. The earthlings reach Kivlan, but the locals tell them to leave. A destructive laser
beam
enforces the command so the spaceship departs. On earth, the leaders refuse to accept the insult
quietly and send a fully armed military excursion to teach the Kivlan a lesson. No one on Earth
realizes that the Kivlans are a peaceful congenial people who are a bit lazy so they invented the
means of converting thoughts into objects. Their bellicose behavior towards the first visitors is out
of character, but recent volcanic activity has left everyone on edge. The Kivlans expect the
earthlings to return, but will this visit turn ugly with hostilities leading to mass destruction or will
calm prevail? Although this novel starts off as a Flash Gordon type of Science Fiction, the story
line
quickly turns upside down and spoofs first contact tales such as the Arrival. The characters from
both species seem real and engage the audience to want to know more about them especially the
Kivlan natives. JD Austin provides a refreshing tale of first contact that showcases a peerless
writing
style that and readers will derive joy from this reading experience.
Chase The Lightning
Madeline Baker
Leisure/Dorchester
Oct 2001, $5.99, 394 pp. ISBN: 0843949171
In 1869 Wickenberg, Arizona Territory, an angry Trey Long Walker robs the bank because he
feels
that the financial institution failed to play fair with his father and foreclosed his family's ranch.
Though Trey wanted no gunplay, a gang member fires a shot. Trey splits from his gang in disgust,
but is in danger when a stallion arrives from a strange mist. Trey rides the horse into modern day
Canyon Creek, Arizona where rancher Amanda Burkett resides. She helps him heal from his
wounds. Not long afterward, thugs chasing her boyfriend force Amanda and Trey to ride the
horse
back to his time. As Amanda and Trey become better acquainted they fall in love, but in either
time
period resides dangerous individuals wanting one or both of them dead. Highly regarded Madeline
Baker provides readers with an exciting time travel romance. When the story line settles on either
end of the chronological (historical and contemporary) eras, the tale is top rate as the lead
characters
capture the audience's attention. The time travel subplots occur faster than the All America
Futurity
quarter horse race at Ruidoso Downs so that these critical transition scenes feel abrupt and
incomplete. Still the marvelous Madeline Baker bakes a wonderful novel that will provide
pleasure
to fans of historical, contemporary, and especially time travel romances.
Here Comes Santa Claus
Sandra Hill, Kate Holmes, Trish Jensen
Leisure/Dorechester
Oct 2001, $5.99, 394 pp. ISBN: 084394918X
George Garrison and Mary Oliver invite Sam, Kevin, and Stan to attend their Christmas Eve
wedding in Snowdon, Maine. However, due to the weather, Logan Airport and New England and
Upstate New York air travel is shut. Navy Commander Sam Merrick, Private eye Kevin Wilder,
and
retired football superstar Stan Kjewski learn the only transportation to Maine is with the "Santa
Brigade", a senior citizen tour group providing good cheer to shelters and orphanages. Sam finds
his
high school girlfriend Reba Anderson runs the program. Kevin sees the opportunity to take
prisoner
Callie Brandt to law enforcement officials while making the wedding. Stan wants to meet forester
Dana Freeman and sees hitching with the geriatric set as an opportunity to do so. Here Comes
Santa
Claus is not an anthology though three talented writers collaborate on the tale with their own lead
characters. Instead the story line alternates between the three pairs so that time and events are
seen
from different perspectives. The amazing thing about this joint endeavor is that none of the
authors
trip over the subplots and characters of their partners, but instead blend their contribution cleverly
with the other two tales. Sandra Hill, Kate Holmes, Trish Jensen hold up their end of the tale so
that
readers obtain an amusing taut pre-holiday treat in which the whole is greater than the sum of the
parts.
Apache Destiny
Holly Harte
Leisure/Dorchester
Oct 2001, $5.50, 358 pp. ISBN: 0843949309
The Apache raiders killed her husband Alan. Though the grief has somewhat faded, a tired Abigail
Madison raises their two children and runs the Flying M Ranch near Arivaca, Arizona with just
the
help of her two kind servants. The whites murdered apache Chino Whitehorse's family. He follows
the spirits in his dreams seeking to avenge the deaths of his beloved family. His visions send Chino
to Abby's ranch, but she wants this reminder of death to leave yet he acts so differently than the
Apache killers of her beloved spouse. When he learns the identity of the individual pressuring
Abby
to sell her ranch, Chino offers to help her save the place because that same man ordered the
execution of Chino's family. As Chino and Abby warily work together, they fall in love, but can
they
overcome the mistrust and prejudice each one feels for the other's people. Then there remains that
odious common thread willing to do anything to own the land. Apache Destiny uses the lead
female
character to provide a fresh look at a common story line by having Abby make the first overture
to
the reluctant Chino. Abby owns the tale as a courageous and robust individual who goes after
what
she senses is right for her, her family, her memory of Alan, and her new beloved. The plot is well
written though the villain adds little to a strong historical romance that is at its best when the
magnetic energy of love flows between the lead couple.
Major Wycliff's Campaign
Katherine Greyle
Leisure/Dorechester
Oct 2001, $4.99, 285 pp. ISBN: 0843949201
For five years, Lady Sophia visited the wounded men at the hospital to provide some solace.
Many
of the injured would propose marriage, but Sophia always found a way to vaguely consider their
offer, while encouraging them to recover; though some never did. She regularly visits Major
Anthony Wycliff who appears near death, but she manages to obtain a vow that if she marries him
he
will recover. Unable to deal with the nonsense of the Ton or the dying any longer, Sophia flees
London to spend time with her aunt. Meanwhile, Anthony, though still limping, defies the medical
prognosis and miraculously begins to recover. Anthony has something to live for and he has
obtained a special license to marry Sophia in that regard. When Anthony catches up to Sophia, he
realizes she was only encouraging him to live. She believes he does not love her, but only feels
gratitude. Now he has a new campaign to prove that he loves Sophia who has her own strategy to
turn away her suitor. Katherine Greyle deftly deals with the seriousness of the wounded during
the
Napoleonic Wars, yet turns Major Wycliff's Campaign into a historical romantic romp. The story
line
centers on a war between the genders that seems as if the author moved a 1930s screwball
comedy
into the Regency era. Because the characters seem real yet eccentric, fans receive an amusing
treat.
Let Down Your Hair
Linda Jones
Love Spell/Dorchester
Oct 2001, $5.99, 359 pp. ISBN: 0505524511
In 1871 San Francisco, Rachel Connor feels gratitude towards her spinster Aunt Edwinna for
raising
her at the Sommerville Towers Hotel, but also feels like a bird in a gilded cage. Rachel does
anything her aunt wants of her even if it means acting dumb and pretty while never performing
work
at her relative's hotel except occasionally singing. Edwinna selected Rachel's fianc‚ and the niece
meekly agrees to wed the older and highly respected Daniel. Roland Connor wants to destroy
Daniel
and sees the vulnerable Rachel as the weapon of choice. He persuades her to sneak out to enjoy
life.
However, once Edwinna learns about her niece's nocturnal activities, she locks the girl in her
room
before Rachel causes a scandal. Rachel, now having tasted fun, uses a rope to be with her now
beloved Roland. He too is in love and wonders how to inform her about his odious using of her
without losing Rachel. Let Down Your Hair is an astutely drawn historical romantic rendition of
Rapunzel. The main plot is as good as any recent romance sub-genre novel produced because the
audience observes the machinations of Roland vs. the innocent Rachel's growing awareness of
love.
A serial killer sidebar adds tension to the mix, but takes away from the prime triangle even if it
tightly wraps the engaging story line together. Fans of fairy tale translations into adult romances
and
anyone who enjoys an Americana tale will want to read Linda Jones' fine novel.
Whispers Goodbye
Karen White
Love Spell/Dorchester
Oct 2001, $5.99, 361 pp. ISBN: 0505524554
Her son died and her husband accuses her of their child's death. He refuses to share his grief with
her
or allow her to mourn. Robert adds to Catherine Reed's distress when the former Confederate
soldier kills himself. Stunned by her husband's actions and still mourning her losses, Cat endures
strike three when she receives an urgent message from her older sister Elizabeth McMahon to
come
immediately. Since the two siblings have not communicated during the recent Civil War years, the
note is not only a shocker, but Elizabeth is unaware of Cat's losses. Still Cat runs home to the
family
plantation. At Whispering Oaks, Cat learns her sister is missing and her brother-in- law John
seems
unconcerned. When Elizabeth's corpse is found, a non- mourning John simply asks Cat to marry
him
for the sake of her niece Rebecca who he insists needs a caring adult female in her life.
Reluctantly,
Cat agrees, but when she returns from her honeymoon, she begins to hear the whispers of doubt
about her new spouse. Whispers Goodbye is a perfect novel for those readers who enjoy an old
fashioned Gothic romance. The story line is 200 proof Gothic with a foreboding tone and
whisperings in and around mansion, a dark mysterious hero, and a doubting damsel in distress.
Though often over melodramatic, the plot grabs the reader with its twists and turns that Karen
White cleverly ties together in a stirring but stunning climax. Sub-genre fans will really like this
tale.
The Star Prince
Susan Grant
Love Spell/Dorchester
Nov.2001, $5.99, 400pp. ISBN: 0505534570
A Vash Prince, Rom B'kah "adopted" the twin teenage children (Ian and Ilana) of his beloved Jas
as
his own. Rom stuns the Vash nobility when he names the outsider Ian has his heir as king of the
Vash Nadah Trade Federation as he sees leadership qualities and honor in the lad. Rom also
knows
that Ian would link the Vash Federation to the frontier that includes the youngster's home planet
of
Earth. Led by U.S. Senator Randall and his "Earth First" campaign, Earth seems posed to reject
the
Federation offer of an alliance. Ian needs to know why Randall is so opposed. His trek into the
outer
space frontier proves dangerous and he soon finds himself without a pilot. He hires Rom's niece,
Princess Tee'ah Dar, though he has no idea who she really is, to fly him in search of Randall. As
they
learn how dismal life in this sector is, Tee'ah and Ian fall in love, but both hid their real identity
from
the other. A permanent relationship seems remote, as the bond between them was not started with
trust. The Star Prince, Susan grant's latest science fiction romance, soars to the stars with a strong
story line and deep characters that are easy to like and admire. The exciting plot makes life in
outer
space seems real. Ian is a great character balancing his heritage with the Vash honor system.
Tee'ah
is an intrepid heroine who is not afraid to try anything even when her peers condemn her. As with
Star King, Ms. Grant takes the science fiction and romance genres on a ride not often seen by
readers.
Let Down Your Hair
Linda Jones
Love Spell/Dorchester
Oct 2001, $5.99, 359 pp. ISBN: 0505524511
In 1871 San Francisco, Rachel Connor feels gratitude towards her spinster Aunt Edwinna for
raising
her at the Sommerville Towers Hotel, but also feels like a bird in a gilded cage. Rachel does
anything her aunt wants of her even if it means acting dumb and pretty while never performing
work
at her relative's hotel except occasionally singing. Edwinna selected Rachel's fianc‚ and the niece
meekly agrees to wed the older and highly respected Daniel. Roland Connor wants to destroy
Daniel
and sees the vulnerable Rachel as the weapon of choice. He persuades her to sneak out to enjoy
life.
However, once Edwinna learns about her niece's nocturnal activities, she locks the girl in her
room
before Rachel causes a scandal. Rachel, now having tasted fun, uses a rope to be with her now
beloved Roland. He too is in love and wonders how to inform her about his odious using of her
without losing Rachel. Let Down Your Hair is an astutely drawn historical romantic rendition of
Rapunzel. The main plot is as good as any recent sub-genre novel has produced because the
audience observes the machinations of Roland vs. the innocent Rachel's growing awareness of
love.
A serial killer sidebar adds tension to the mix, but takes away from the prime triangle even if it
tightly wraps the engaging story line together. Fans of fairy tale translations into adult romances
and
anyone who enjoys an Americana tale will want to read Linda Jones' fine novel.
Whispers Goodbye
Karen White
Love Spell/Dorchester
Oct 2001, $5.99, 361 pp. ISBN: 0505524554
Her son died and her husband accuses her of their child's death. He refuses to share his grief with
her
or allow her to mourn. Robert adds to Catherine Reed's distress when the former Confederate
soldier kills himself. Stunned by her husband's actions and still mourning her losses, Cat endures
strike three when she receives an urgent message from her older sister Elizabeth McMahon to
come
immediately. Since the two siblings have not communicated during the recent Civil War years, the
note is not only a shocker, but Elizabeth is unaware of Cat's losses. Still Cat runs home to the
family
plantation. At Whispering Oaks, Cat learns her sister is missing and her brother-in- law John
seems
unconcerned. When Elizabeth's corpse is found, a non- mourning John simply asks Cat to marry
him
for the sake of her niece Rebecca who he insists needs a caring adult female in her life.
Reluctantly,
Cat agrees, but when she returns from her honeymoon, she begins to hear the whispers of doubt
about her new spouse. Whispers Goodbye is a perfect novel for those readers who enjoy an old
fashioned Gothic romance. The story line is 200 proof Gothic with a foreboding tone and
whisperings in and around mansion, a dark mysterious hero, and a doubting damsel in distress.
Though often over melodramatic, the plot grabs the reader with its twists and turns that Karen
White cleverly ties together in a stirring but stunning climax. Sub-genre fans will really like this
tale.
St. Patrick's Bed
Terence M Green
Forge
Oct 2001, $21.95, 220 pp. ISBN: 0765300435
Though only the stepfather, Leo Nolan deeply cares about his wife's son, Adam, a twenty-one
years
old University of Toronto English major, as if he sired the lad. Unexpectedly, Adam articulates
the
need to meet his biological father who abandoned his pregnant mother before the lad was born.
Not
wanting Adam hurt Leo seeks out his stepson's biological father in order to make sure he is a
decent
person. While conducting his search, Leo thinks back on his relations with his father, his
Grandfather, and his Uncle. The sequel to Shadow Of Ashland, St. Patrick's Bed, is a poignant
look
at the relationships in modern day extended families. The story line engages the reader because
the
characters feel so real and most people are either part of or at least know a rapport identical to
that
shared between Adam and Leo even though the duo do not share genes. The noble Leo who
ultimately keeps the novel fresh and from turning too maudlin as his trips back down memory lane
constantly shakes up the prime theme with solid subplots. Has written an exultant relationship
drama
that fans of contemporary tales will enjoy.
Bone Walker
Kathleen O'Neal Gear & W Michael Gear
Forge
Dec 2001, $26.95, 352 pp. ISBN: 0312877420
In the thirteenth century, the once majestic Anasazi Empire is in a rapid state of decline. A nasty
drought has led to a food shortage, which exacerbates the religious disputes and inter-clan
genocide
becomes the norm. War chief Browser and his trusted aide Catkin want to kill the witch Two
Hearts, who burned their home to the ground. Two Hearts covets an amulet Browser wears
because
the witch believes that will extend his life. At the same location, but in the twenty-first century,
the
FBI asks archeologists Dusty Steward and Maureen Cole to help on a homicide investigation.
Someone killed a mutual friend Dr. Dale Emerson in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico with the
evidence
pointing towards a witch. Dusty and Maureen have the knowledge to see what the Feds might
miss
because the proof lies outside their belief system. The alternating chapters between the thirteenth
and twenty-first centuries keeps the readers on full alert as they try to connect the link between
the
eras. There are many fascinating mysteries contained within Bone Walker, but it is the vibrant and
perceptive panorama on the Anasazi culture that makes this novel stand out amidst the crowd of
archeological who-done-its. The audience feels the decline of this mighty civilization and wonders
if
history will repeat itself with the United States.
Last Day
Richard Sears
Forge
Nov 2001, $24.95, 254 pp. ISBN: 9312878982
Eighteen months have passed since he even seen a picture of his baby Jade let alone talked with
his
wife Carolyn and their three-year-old child. However, Charlie Wolf knows his work as a cop
deeply
undercover is almost over. The raid on the Sons of Fire motorcycle club begins shortly and that
will
end the major manufacturing and selling of illegal methamphetamines. The problems for Charlie
are
that he is hooked on meth, but worse than that he that he and the club president Ray Sasso are
friends. The raid goes down, bullets are exchanged between the cops and the illegal drug
distributors, but a high Charlie errs, ending with a bullet in the brain. Removal will mean death so
he
must learn to live with a piece of ammo that activates psychotic nightmares due to its lobe locale.
After a few mental episodes Charlie begins to believe that only Ray can free his mind while Ray
knows Charlie betrayed him. Last Day is a thriller that never slows down from start to finish.
Readers will commiserate with Charlie even as everyone will find Ray as a likable family man and
detest the DA's lack of ethics to obtain a conviction. Some members of the audience will feel
shortchanged as Richard Sears has written an action/psychological thriller that engrosses those
readers whom accept the psychological incidents that make up much of the action.
Man And Wife
Andrew Klavan
Forge
Nov 2001, $24.95, 302 pp. ISBN: 0765302152
In New England, teenager Peter Blue loses control when he and his girlfriend Jenny Wilbur argue.
Peter beats her up, steals a gun and money from the recycling center, and sets fire to a church.
Police Chief Orrin Hunnicut arrests Peter, who is charged with arson, burglary, larceny, theft of a
firearm, threatening a cop, and reckless endangerment. When Peter tries to hang himself in his
cell,
Father Fairfax asks highly respected psychiatrist Cal Bradley to evaluate the nineteen-year-old.
Cal
lives a wonderful life loving his wife Marie and their two children, but he sees Peter as a
fascinating
look at the darker side of humanity. Cal quickly realizes that Peter is insanely enraged with a town
visitor. Cal also notices his beloved spouse talking with this stranger in the nearby woods, but
when
he asks her about him, Marie lies to him. Cal begins to learn about Marie's past, which stuns him.
Not long afterward, the stranger is found dead while Orrin struggles to uncover the identity of the
killer. Man And Wife is an exciting thriller that works because the townsfolk seem real and Cal's
first
hand account allows a deep look inside his mind as readers see first hand his metamorphosis.
Though a small town setting, the tale is fast-paced proving that global destruction is not the only
background for the genre. As expected from Andrew Klavan, readers have a one sitting thriller
that
never slows down for even a paragraph.
Knight Errant
R Garcia Y Robertson
Forge
Nov 2001, $27.95, 480 pp. ISBN: 0312869967
Hollywood, California's Robyn Stafford is hiking near Wales to recover from the shock of
learning
that her lover is married when she runs into a muddied knight. The full armored individual claims
to
be the Earl of March Edward Plantagenet. Robyn somehow has traveled back in time to 1459
where
England is embroiled in the War of the Roses civil war. At first sight Edward believes Robyn is an
effeminate male due to her twenty-first century chic short hair and her sweatpants. He is a bit
stunned when she uses a cell phone and shares the sweet tasting granola bar with him. Before they
separate, he steals a kiss from Robyn whom he now knows is quite a woman. In her own time,
Robyn learns that Edward is under a spell that one day will bring them back together. Fans of time
travel romance will enjoy this whimsical fantasy. The characters are fun to observe especially the
lead duo's feelings of inadequacy and non-synchronization when living in the century of their
beloved. That along with a resplendent look at fifteenth century England makes the story line
entertaining as the reader believes in displacement spells. R Garcia Y Robertson paints an enticing
story that sub-genre fans will find irresistible and want more novels from this talented writer.
The Precipice
Ben Bova
Tor Books
Oct 2001, $25.95, 349 pp. ISBN: 0312848765
In a distant future, the planet earth is in on the brink of extinction due to the greenhouse effect
leading to ecological mayhem and consequently mass starvation. The future looks nonexistent
with
the only glimmer of hope seemingly in outer space. Dan Randolph and Martin Humphries agree
that
saving planet earth depends on harvesting raw materials from other solar system orbs so that
pollution would lessen on their homeworld and subsequently reduce the greenhouse effect. The
caring optimist, Dan actually believes in saving his fellow human beings while Martin wants to
keep
costs down so as to increase his profit even if it means destroying his home planet. Martin's goal is
simple: he plans to rule over the survivors that he personally chooses to allow to live with Dan his
only true obstacle to success. Fans of Ben Bova's outer space tales will full enjoy his latest thriller
The Precipice. The story line is loaded with action, but in many ways is very simplistic with Dan
and
Martin as two opposite extremes if they ever took the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator psychological
test. Though typical of Mr. Bova's science fiction theories on industrializing (environmentalists
would say polluting) the solar system, the audience will relish this great author's latest this outer
space thriller.
A Paradigm Of Earth
Candas Jane Dorsey
Tor Books
Oct 2001, $26.95, 366 pp. ISBN: 031287796X
Having recently moved to the Canada Great Plains to escape from recent tragedies and feeling
alone,
Morgan Shelby decides to open her inherited mansion to a bunch of oddball outcasts. Though her
boarders are an eccentric group, one particular individual stands out among the crowd. After an
interview and studying her r‚sum‚ filled with work involving handicapped children, the Canadian
government hires Morgan to raise an alien infant Blue. Now one must understand that alien does
not
mean an immigrant from another country for in Blue's case alien denotes another world. Even
more
shocking is that Morgan's band of misfits are used to mistreatment and even taunting from an
ultra-conservative nation. People find it difficult to accept the androgynous off-world creature.
Morgan learns more than her blank slate ET as Blue begins to fill her soul with caring and
nurturing
even as the government and her other guests see Blue much differently. A Paradigm Of Earth is
an
exciting character study of the human condition through the interaction of an extraterrestrial
being.
The story line is incredibly insightful especially when those who have suffered abuse turn abusive.
The evolution of Morgan from a vacuous person into a tender and affectionate individual mirrors
the
development of Blue, which in turn augments the deep look inside the souls of the earthling and
her
alien guest. Candas Jane Dorsey is quite a talent as she provides science fiction readers with a
strong
tale, but those fans that need testosterone running amuck need to skip this relationship tale.
Swell Foop
Piers Anthony
Tor Books
Oct 2001, $24.95, 300 pp. ISBN: 0312869061
Cynthia Centaur knows the coast of asking a question of the Good Magician Humfrey, but feels
the
price is worth the answer. Perhaps she would have reconsidered her pros and cons of visiting
Humfrey if she knew that she as his latest visitor is fated to save Xanth (or die trying of course)
from
total destruction. She must find the Six Rings of Xanth that only the zombies know anything
about.
Upon obtaining the six Rings, Cynthia must use them to locate the Swell Foop so that she can use
that in turn to rescue the Demon Earth from an abductor. Without the Demon Earth, this planet
and
Xanth will lose its gravity and ultimately vanish forever. Though action-packed, fast-paced, and
loaded with the tons of puns, Swell Foop is clearly for those Xanth fans that need word play with
every meal. The problem with the tale is that with two worlds at stake and the adventure quite
harrowing, the quest seekers spend much of their time exchanging humorous often-sexual barbs
(Hans Solo where are you?). Though the jokes are amusing, the plot becomes sidetracked and
secondary to the bon mots. This reviewer can understand a shoetree, but the gravity of this story
line
is too much swill in the soup for those readers who enjoy the simplicity of A Spell For
Chameleon.
A Feast In Exile
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Tor Books
Sep 2001, $27.95, 496 pp. ISBN: 0312878435
In 1400 AD Timur-i leads his Mongol hordes across Asia, taking control of much of India. In
Delhi,
the world order changes, as the foreigners no longer have their special status. Those foreigners
foolish enough to remain behind in Delhi are either insane or in desperate straits because the city
is
no longer safe for them. Saint-Germain the vampire has lived in Delhi under the name of Sanat Ji
Mani. He knows he must flee before the Mongol horde ends his undead life, but he cannot leave
yet
because his honor requires he must care for his beloved Avasa Dani. Eventually she manages to
escape the city, but the Conqueror detains Sanat. Timur-i needs Sanat's medical skills, but refuses
to
accept night calls only. He demands twenty-four hour healing coverage, which the vampire knows
means sunlight and death for him. If somehow he survives, Sanat worries about his cherished
Avasa,
a woman alone except for a servant in a world gone mad. The latest Saint-Germain novel, A Feast
In
Exile, is a virtual feast for fans of the series and historical novel buffs alike. The tale brings to life
India around 1400, showcasing Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's vast research into the time and place. By
installing her hero in Asia, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro refreshes him so that the audience observes
Saint-German in a different scenario, which turns A Feast In Exile into one of the best books in
one
of the superior vampire series.
Enchanter
Sara Douglass
Tor Books
Nov 2001, $27.95, 544 pp. ISBN: 0312875827
When puissant Icariian enchanter Axis Sunsoar meets Faraday, wife of his half-brother Borneheld,
he falls in love with her. He vows that she will become his wife one day soon. Faraday, a follower
of
the Mother Goddess, expects her beloved Axis to save her from her current abusive husband.
However, raging jealousy for stealing the affection of his spouse, begrudging his sibling's recent
success, and envying his half-brother's new relationship with their father leads Borneheld to seek
Axis' death. Adding to the relationship mess is that for no apparent reason, Icariian desires the
mysterious Azhure. With traitors inside his inner circle ready to destroy him, Axis must find a
means
to neutralize Borneheld and stop another half-brother if he is to fulfill the prophecy of ruling his
fellow bird like people and the forest dwellers. The second novel in Sarah Douglass' Wayfarer
Redemption series, Enchanter, is a deep relationship fantasy that is filled with action and
adventure,
but succeeds because the various populations that make up this globe seem real. Though the tale
starts slow, especially for those who read book one, as Ms. Douglass patiently reintroduces the
cast,
once the story line gets into motion, it races faster than the speed of light. Subplot threads remain
dangling for more sequels but fans will concur to this enchanting novel deserved to win the
Australian Aurealis Award for Best Fantasy Novel.
Bloodtide
Melvin Burgess
Tor Books
Nov 2001, $24.95, 370 pp. ISBN: 0765300486
By the beginnings of the twenty-third century London is in ruins with warlord like gangs ruling
over
segments of the city. A wall similar to that built during the Roman period is constructed around
the
decimated metropolis more for keeping the riffraff inside and isolating the genetically engineered
vermin known as halfmen out of the city. This leaves many decent folks trapped in a dangerous
environs. The Volsons and the Conors, two of the strongest gangs, agree to merge through the
marriage of their children. However, the groom betrays his future in-laws during the ceremony
killing all but two, the bride and her brother. The Halfmen feast on the bodies of the Volsons.
Signy,
the fourteen-year-old bride, thirsts for vengeance, but has few avenues if any to succeed as she
now
struggles to survive. However, Odin followed by Loki and his daughter appear. Are they the real
Ancient Greek Gods or a hoax and if genuine will they aid Signy in her quest? Based on the first
part
of the classic Icelandic Volsunga Saga, Bloodtide is an exciting futuristic epic tale that will thrill
adult and young readers alike. The plot is loaded with action and turns believers of readers that
the
"history" and the "current events" occurred. However, the tale belongs to the key cast members
who
rotate first person narration enabling the audience to understand their motives. Though tagged a
children's novel, fans of all ages of epic fantasy will fully enjoy Melvin Burgess' powerful story of
a
horrific future that makes the world feel as if it has gone full circle.
Angelmass
Timothy Zahn
Tor Books
Sep 2001, $27.95, 430 pp. ISBN: 0312878281
The black hole dubbed "angelmass" because of what it emits has dramatically changed the
Empyrean
colonists on planet Seraph. Apparently the unique particles impact people so that everyone goes
out
of their way to befriend everyone else. Peace, tranquillity, and honesty run the Empyrean colony,
as
ethical behavior is more than just the norm, it is six sigma. However, even with this high rate of
adherence to using Angelmass to promote peace, some individuals fear the loss of free will. Still
the
Empyrean senate agrees to reject overtures to join the Pax Comitus alliance controlled by Earth.
When word reaches earth about these so-called "angels", the leadership concludes that it is a
Trojan
Horse sent by aliens to conquer humanity. To learn more about the perceived danger from the
angels, earth dispatches subatomic research scientist Jereko Kostas to investigate. He quickly
joins
forces with thief Chandris Lalasha, Empyrean Senator Forsythe and his aide Ronyon in a quest for
the truth. Angelmass is as deep a science fiction adventure tale as one can get due to the powerful
characterizations and the profound look at intergalactic political, social, and behavioral
interactions.
The question of what is and who determines ethics is interwoven into the fantastic story line
without
slowing done the action. Timothy Zahn paints quite a landscape that enables the reader to
understand the author's message while entertaining the wide spectra of speculative fiction fans
who
will fully enjoy this zestful outer space novel that seems like a throw back to the Golden Age.
The Ishbane Conspiracy
Angela, Kasina & Randy Alcorn
Multnomah Books
July 2001, $14.99, 300 pp. ISBN: 1576738175
The minions residing in hell target four young adults to turn away from Christ and unknowingly
embrace his enemy. Jillian left her father and now feels empty and alone. The opinions of other
begin
to weaken her faith until Rob enters her life. He was once the biggest sinner of all as part of a
gang
that did terrible things against society and Christ. Rob helps Jillian learn what it means to be a
Christian. Rob's friend Ian has doubts about what to believe in as he tries different New Age
philosophies and other religions that do not preach the teachings of Christ. Ian turns his back on
the
woman he impregnated until a terrible tragedy opens his eyes. Readers of Christian inspirational
fiction will want to read the Ishbane Conspiracy. At the end of each chapter, the minions assigned
to
destroy the human quartet discuss what happened, how they can improve their processes, and
what
weaknesses to exploit. The Alcorn trio delivers quite a message to the faithful.
Tested By Fire
Kathy Herman
Multnomah Books
Oct 2001, $11.99, 320 pp. ISBN: 1576739562
After almost three decades of marriage, Rhonda Wilson still loves her husband Jed, but is very
lonely. Every day Jed works and every night he joins his friend Mike McConnell and the other
good
ole boys at O'Brian's Bar. He always returns home drunk and goes immediately to sleep. Rhonda
prays for a miracle in which her beloved Jed rediscovers his love for her, but she does not truly
believe. An explosion on Heron Lake occurs. Jed drives over to see Mike's houseboat in flames.
The
townsfolk of Baxter are stunned as the five McConnells are presumed dead. Instead of bringing
Jed
and Rhonda closer together, he rejects her offers of comfort and buries himself deeper in self-pity
with beer. However, one of the McConnells survived the fire and Jed races against the Feds to
find
the missing person with his need to know the truth. Will Rhonda, who has turned to God for
solace,
remain waiting for her husband as he searches for life's meaning on his quest? Although Tested By
Fire is overpopulated with too many secondary characters, readers will enjoy the basic story line
because it is fascinating. The main theme centers on two people drifting apart so that even in a
time
of tragedy they cannot comfort one another. Kathy Herman provides a strong inspirational
suspense
novel that furnishes her audience with a clear message of hope if only couples will talk through
their
souls.
Tears In A Bottle
Sylvia Bambola
Multnomah Books
Oct 2001, $10.99, 320 pp. ISBN: 1576738027
Her father keeps a tight leash on seventeen year old Becky Taylor so when she becomes pregnant
with Skip's child, she has no one to turn to for help. After agonizing on what to do, she decides to
obtain an abortion. However, as she lies behind a curtain, an assailant kills everyone in the clinic.
Her silence or perhaps God's intervention keeps Becky alive. However, the investigation leads to
a
bigger story besides the mass killings as aborted infants are sold for their parts. The law
enforcement
officials have quite a task to uncover the truth of both the killings and the sales starting with Dr.
Emerson. Meanwhile Becky struggles with her own demons. Sylvia Bambola provides a powerful
indictment of the abortion clinics' factory-like approach to clients that leaves no doubt where she
stands on the complex issue. However, the author fails to provide the full picture by concentrating
on post abortion syndrome, but mostly ignoring the gut wrenching pre-decision process that many
people struggle with as a personal quandary. The story line is well written, but whether one
relishes
the novel depends on which side of the issue the reader supports. Using middle class characters
only
also fails to paint the panorama of a complex societal dilemma unless Ms. Bambola recommends
the
host mother be arrested for murder as the rich have Europe, the middle class has Canada and the
Caribbean, and the teenage poor not near borders have hangers.
Come, My Little Angel
Diane Noble
Multnomah Books
Sep 2001, $12.99, 128 pp. ISBN: 1576737632
In 1912 in the Sierras, life is not only hard for everyone, but most people believe they are worse
off
now than a few years ago. Ten years old Daisy James insists she sees angels, but her two older
brothers and her younger siblings look upon her as a lunatic. Still, Daisy believes while knowing
that
all the townsfolk are sad, especially her mother Abigail, who stopped singing and laughing when
she
lost the baby last year. Daisy has a plan to bring joy and God back into the lives of the
beleaguered
locals. She wants to build a church, but no one heeds the words of a preadolescent female. With
the
patience of Job, Daisy writes a play, Come, My Little Angel, in which she persuades her peers to
participate on the journey back home. Come, My Little Angel will catch the attention of the
reader
from start to finish with its "Little Engine that Could" story line to inspire everyone at a time we
need books like this. The historical tale never slows down as readers feel the pain of the
charcaters
and the hopes of the little heroine who refuses to bend from peer, parental, and sibling pressure.
Diane Noble provides a noble experience for those readers who need a lift or who want an angel
in
their life should share the novel with their children.
Take A Thief
Mercedes Lackey
Daw Books
Oct 2001, $24.95, 351 pp. ISBN: 0756400082
On Valdemar during the reign of Queen Selenay, his cold Uncle Londer Galko raises orphaned
Skif
as if the lad is a criminal. Though Skif laboriously works long hours at his uncle's Hollybush
Tavern,
his guardian sees the lad as a grudge earning his supper or dying. Required to attend school due
to
the royal edict, Skif eats breakfast there and becomes efficient at hiding food to dine on later. His
ability leads him to meet Deek, a pickpocket, and from that encounter, Bazie, an adult who cares
what happens to his charges. Skif joins Bazie's family of young thieves and becomes one of the
best
at robbing from the wealthy as he could sneak in and out of a home like a ghost can walk through
a
wall. When Skif steals a horse left unattended, the "magical" steed abducts him instead. Now his
adventures take a new spin especially when someone murders his beloved mentor and Skif must
work with the Heralds and Alberich if he is to see justice is served. For long time fans of
Mercedes
Lackey's Valdemar series, Take A Thief is quite a treat as Skif first appears in the mid 1980s
Heralds
of Valdemar trilogy. The story line is well written and fits quite nicely in the Valdemar Universe
circa 1376 AF. Skif may be young, but is a survivor who given the opportunity heroically thrives.
The support cast provides depth to the plot while insuring continuity to the main tales. Ms.
Lackey's
latest fantasy epic lacks nothing except many sub-genre fans will scramble for other books
describing
life during the reign of Queen Selenay.
Sherlock Holmes And The Secret Alliance
Larry Millet
Viking Press
Oct 2001, $4.95, 336 pp. ISBN: 0679030155
In 1899, to the excitement of many of the Twin City residents, President McKinley is coming to
Minneapolis. Apparently not every one is filled with good feelings with the pending visit from the
country's leader. Majesty Burke calls fellow saloon owner Shadwell Rafferty to sobbingly inform
him that assailants killed and strung up her barman, union activist Michael O'Donnell. The culprits
left Michael naked except for an ominous sign stating that "The Secret Alliance Has Spoken". The
police chief says that Michael was killed because he was "taking liberties" with a young girl. Maj
denies that her barman was not a pediophile and persuades Shad to investigate though he knows
how dangerous the Secret Alliance is with its antiunion busting. With the help from his two
visiting
friends from London, Holmes and Watson, Shad follows a meandering trail filled with danger.
The
fourth book centering on Sherlock Holmes' Twin City cases is an engaging tale that fans of the
great
detective will enjoy. Sherlock Holmes And The Secret Alliance brings Holmes' American host
more
to the forefront of the investigation than in the previous three novels, which adds an original spry
twist to the a tale loaded with copious twists and turns. Even while bringing Shad in more of a
lead
role, Larry Millet continues his ability to capture the essence of Holmes and Watson while
providing
a vivid look at America at the turn of the previous century.
Harriet Klausner
Reviewer
Harold's Bookshelf
A World Of Imponderables : The Answers To Life's Most Mystifying Questions
David Feldman
Galahad books
386 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
ISBN: 1578660963 $12.99, 880 Pages
David Feldman has yet another winner with this book. Personally I have loved his Imponderables
books and this is the largest collection to date. What are Imponderables? Well, to be brief, they
are
the questions that everyone seems to ask at one time or another, but would not have the first idea
where to find the answer. For example, why do weather thermometers use red mercury and
medical
thermometers use red mercury? Why are peanuts listed under the ingredients of plain M&Ms?
Can
one spider get stuck in the web of another one? While the questions are trivial this is not like
traditional trivia. Among other things, my trivia books are always where I left them. People pick it
up read a few and put it down. Then later they may pick it up again and read a few more. With
this
book I have a hard time keeping track of where the book is located. People pick it up read a few,
can't put it down and take it with them to another room. By the couch, by the chair, in a bedroom,
in the kitchen, in the bathroom, who knows where it ends up? Part of the fun is also being a child
again. The questions are the same kind of things that children ask when they are innocent and not
afraid to ask questions about anything. Get in touch with the child inside you and ask the
questions
that you wouldn't ask anymore as an adult . Do Penguins have knees?
5087 Trivia Questions & Answers
Marsha Kranes, Steve Tamerius, Michael Driscoll (Editor), Fred L. Worth, Martha Kuanes
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
151 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011
ISBN: 1579120865 $14.98, 752 pages
5087 Trivia Questions And Answers is one of the most thorough collections that I have read. Of
course one of the problems with trivia is that what one person finds fascinating another could care
less about. So, while one person would be fascinated by the 74 pages of questions on Sports and
Games, I could care less. Then again, the questions on the World and American history are great.
With that in mind, knowing how much emphasis is placed on which categories should help
determine
if this book would be of interest to you. It is divided into fifteen chapters, each with it's own focus
of questions. The chapters cover Arts, Comics & Literature, 64 pgs, Sports & Games, 74 pgs,
War
& the Military, 26 pgs, Television & Radio, 54 pgs, Business, Advertising & Inventions, 38 pgs,
Religion, the Bible & Mythology, 14 pgs, America Past & Present, 78 pgs, The World, 66 pgs,
Language, 32 pgs, Food, 24 pgs, Music & Theater, 54 pgs, Presidential Trivia, 30 pgs, Science,
Nature & Medicine, 50 pgs, The Cinema, 116 pgs, and Miscellaneous, 24 pgs.
One thing that was different about this trivia book when compared to others that I have read is
that
you can't really cheat with it. With most trivia books I have to admit that I end up doing
something
like the Jeopardy television show. It is so easy to look ahead when reading a question and kind of
steal a glance at the answer. When the answer is right there, right after the question it is just so
tempting to sneak a peak. After a while you can end up reading the answers and then the
question.
In this book the questions are on one page and the answers are on the back of the same page. No
sneaking a peak. In addition, you can have two or three of you reading the book and discussing
what
you think the answers might be without someone looking ahead at the answers. I really liked the
format, I really liked the trivia choices, I really liked most of the categories. Among trivia books, I
really liked the book.
Tongue Fu!
Sam Horn
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
ISBN: 0312152272 $12.95 Pages: 236
Tongue Fu is an excellent treatise on how to handle verbal situations in life. Complainers, bullies,
manipulators, it doesn't matter, all types of situations that are time-bombs and need to be diffused
are covered in the book. The book is a working manual on how to recognize, disarm and remove
those bombs before they explode and damage your reputation, your business, your relationship or
just plain ruin your day. It covers the full gamut of information from how to recognize that you
are
under attack, to how to recognize the particular attack and what techniques are appropriate to
disarm the attack. For some bombs cutting the blue wire disarms and for another one it sets the
bomb off. Knowing the right type of situation you are dealing with lets you know what type of
action disarms and what type sets the attack into high gear.
Lots of case histories and lots of examples so you will know what you are doing., action plans to
help you start putting the information into action, Tongue Fu! has it all.
Another book that augments Tongue Fu! would be The Gentle Art Of Verbal Self-defense, a
slightly
more dated book but one that deals with many of the items in greater detail. Together they are a
complete set of how to deal with verbally aggressive people.
Never Be Lied To Again : How To Get The Truth In 5 Minutes Or Less In Any Conversation Or
Situation
David J. Lieberman
Griffin/St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
ISBN: 0312204280 $12.95, Pages: 204
Another great book from the author that I have come to consider one of the most enlightened
professionals in the field of human behavior. Dr. David J. Lieberman, Ph.D. has written several
books that have been translated into several languages and are consistently best sellers because he
truly understands the psychological principles that affect us. Yet he has an easy writing style that
is
easy to follow and easy to understand.
This is a stellar book for those wishing to understand deception and how to uncover the truth.
Like
all books of this type it provides a wealth of information but you have to apply this information. I
decided to try practicing by using some of the techniques on the television game show "To tell the
truth". While this is not the best situation because the camera often leaves the contestants and it
would be better to be able to view them all at all times, it is still a good place to practice. Did it
work? Well, at the beginning I was getting the right person about one third of the time. A week
later
I was finding out who was lying ninety percent of the time! Now that is an excellent
improvement!
Okay, detecting when you are being lied to is one thing. Finding out the truth can be another. Dr.
Lieberman has received some criticism for this section of the book. It seems that many people
have
problems with some of the techniques. That is not to say that they are ineffective, they work well.
Some people have problems with such things as "leading questions" or feel that you are being
deceptive when you ask an open-ended question. What parent has not enjoyed the surprises that
come forth after telling their child "I know what you did and it will go easier on you if you just
confess now". Of course the child is wondering what thing that the parent knows about because
they
want to confess to the thing they know about and get a lesser punishment. But they don't want to
confess to things the parent doesn't know about.
To have a problem with doing the same thing puts one in the position of having to defend the idea
that something that is wrong to do with adults is okay with children because they are somehow
less
deserving of respect. Or, perhaps, an adult who is lying to you is more deserving of respect than a
child who is being honest with you. Not a position that I would want to be in.
Well, if you still have a problem with some of the techniques of getting to the truth then you can
just
try confronting them with the lies that you have uncovered. Remember that I successfully moved
my
ability to detect lies from one third to ninety percent just by using the information and not
interacting
with the person on the television at all. All I had to do was watch them and listen to what they
said.
I thought that it was great that he also included a chapter on being our own worst enemy when
we lie to ourselves.
In summary, it is a highly recommended book and very useful. It details why you should suspect
lying in various circumstances and how to confirm those suspicions. Is it effective? Yes. However,
if
you are dealing with a problem of a friend, co-worker or someone else that you have to deal with
on
a regular basis lying to you then I would recommend a couple of additional books to help you
confront them diplomatically and maintain the relationship. One would be Words That Hurt,
Words
That Heal and the other would be Get Anyone To Do Anything.
Get Anyone To Do Anything: Never Be Powerless Again
David J. Lieberman, PhD
Griffin/St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
ISBN 0312270178 $12.95, Pages 224
David J. Lieberman, Ph.D. is a recognized expert in the field of human behavior. With multiple
books translated in multiple languages this is yet another fine example of his ability to give sound
advice in a down to earth and useful manner. He divides the book into the five following general
sections.
Section 1 relates to building rapport both instant rapport and keeping it over long periods. It
covers everything from first impressions, to getting someone to like you, to appearing confident,
and many other items.
Section 2 relates to detecting if someone is lying or manipulating you.
Section 3 relates to taking control of a situation and getting people to actually do something.
Getting someone to actually take your advice, follow through on a commitment, do a favor, get
along together, etc. are all covered in this section.
Section 4 relates to winning at a competition. Possible competitions include not only a game but
job
interviews, dating and similar.
Section 5 relates to dealing with life's normal annoying, difficult situations. For example, people
who won't return phone calls, forgiveness, breaking bad news, dealing with rumors, dealing with a
complaint, dealing with jealousy, etc.
It is easy to read the title to the book and assume that inside are the secrets to manipulating others
and allowing you to take advantage of them. This is not the case at all as Dr. Lieberman starts on
page one with the comment that these techniques are not "ways to manipulate other people into
liking you". Are you going to get someone who can't stand your personality to suddenly like you
and stand in line for the opportunity to do you a favor? Not likely. However, in the hectic world
of
today just getting someone to slow down enough to even notice you can be quite a chore. This
sort
of situation is where these techniques are valuable.
Also if you feel manipulated by someone and don't know how to avoid it or get out of the trap
then
the information can be very valuable. Recognizing when you are not in control of your own
desires
is the first step to changing the situation. This book can help you to understand what is happening
and why you feel the way you do and then it goes one step further in showing you how you can
change the situation.
The bottom line is that everyone should know these techniques not only so that they can
recognize
when they are being manipulated and can do something about it, but also so they can tell when
strong feelings are not what they seem but are the result of some basic principle such as the law of
association or reciprocal affection or something similar. How to make a good impression, how to
change a bad one, how to stop being manipulated, how to regain control of your life, how to
handle
the problems of life, how to examine your feelings about someone and know if you really feel
positive (or negative) about them or if it is just the normal reaction to various stimuli, it is all
pretty
much here in this book. If there were a great book that gave an overview of these principles this
one
is it. There are other great books that deal with one or two of these topics in greater detail, but
none
that I have read that expose you to the whole gamut of psychological principles with persuading,
motivating, or getting others to at least accept your opinion as valid. A must on the bookshelf of
anyone but the most recalcitrant hermit.
Remote Viewing Secrets
Joseph McMoneagle
Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc.
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
ISBN: 1571741593 $14.95, 296 pages (including index and appendices)
If nothing else then you have to appreciate Joseph McMoneagle's attempt to work within a
scientific
framework for something that is very subjective in nature and interpretation. If you are looking
for a
book that discusses the "secret" methods or remote viewing or some "secret" formula for making
it
work then you will be disappointed in this book. On the other hand it is not filled with fluff and
overly optimistic promises for the reader. While McMoneagle indicates that pretty much anyone
can
learn how to do remote viewing, he also is more realistic in terms of what you should expect at
different stages. It is a growth process and he defines how to determine what stage you are at as
well as the level of success that you should expect as you get better and better with practice. If
remote viewing works then this is the most realistic book about it that I have seen. No "pie in the
sky" promises or expectations, quite the opposite he explains that success may be measured in
very
small successes and even being just plain wrong is going to happen at times. I think that he tries
too
hard to make the research appear more scientific than it is. However, it is probably as close a
scientific approach as can be done on this sort of subject. The parameters for learning remote
viewing are spelled out and done in a way that provides a working model for the reader to learn
on
their own without confusing the claims of publicity and ego-pumping charlatans with what can
really
be expected to occur.
MCSE Training Kit: Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft Press
PO Box 1095, Buffalo, NY 14240-1095
ISBN: 1572319038 $59.99, Pages: 1033 1-800-677-7377
This is not an appropriate book for those just starting into networking without some basic
knowledge to fall back upon. The book is clear about that position though as it states right in the
beginning that it is for "IT Professionals working with 2000 Server or who plan to take the
exam". It
also states that it "Assumes a fundamental networking windows interface knowledge and BIOS
settings and changing them".
Each chapter is followed by a lab exercise that helps the reader to apply the lessons learned in that
chapter. The problem is that in order to install the Windows 2000 Server software and be able to
do
the lab exercise you need two computers that meet the minimum requirements for Windows 2000
Server. For most people they probable don't have two of them just sitting around.
A lot of people have complained that the book covered a lot of topics that were not on the exam.
While this may have been the case, I think that it is a good thing. If you want something to make
yourself another Microsoft clone who can pass an exam but not know anything about how to
really
do anything in the real world then get a book that focuses just on passing the exam and not one
that
has any additional information.
If all you want to do is pass the exam then look at something else like Transcender that does not
require a Windows 2000 Server to learn on. This book is suited to study for the exam, but does
have
a lot of other additional information that a real administrator (as compared to a Microsoft
Certified
certificate holder) might need.
On the other hand, much of the information assumes a fairly strong knowledge of many
networking
topics. Many items are given in a cookbook fashion with a how to do it' focus and little or no
explanation as to why you would do it that way.
For most people this book is firmly in the middle ground; too much additional information for just
test preparation, not enough detail for understanding true administration. Too much of one, not
enough of the other. If this is where you are at in your knowledge level then it would be a good
book. If you can afford only one book then it would be a good book. On the other hand there are
better test preparation books and better administration book, but the cost is much higher for two
books than one that is somewhere in the middle.
Windows 2000 Registry
O. Kokoreva
Charles River Media
403 VFW Drive, PO Box 417, Rockland, MA 02370
ISBN: 1584500816 $34.95 Pages: 356
As the Windows operating system has become more and more complex and those old easy to
modify
ini files have been replaced with the registry and it's much more complex structure anyone who
needs to tweak the Registry need a good book to study just how the Registry works. This book
offers a very good overview of the Registry.
The book covers common problems, common fixes, how to back it up (very important since a
corrupted registry may cause your computer to not be able to start at all), how to restore it and
how
to backup and restore just certain branches of the registry. Making changes to the registry is not
for
the faint-hearted. Deleting a wrong key, changing the wrong key, or any other change can create
havoc for your computer. The book describes things in sufficient detail to allow you to make
changes with confidence and knowing that you can get back to the original registry if something
goes wrong.
I wish it had more information on how one could identify programs that a particular key is related
to. Why? Because it is still very, very unusual to find a program that completely removes itself
from
the registry when you uninstall the program. These dead parts of the registry make it larger and
larger and cause your computer to boot slower and slower and also create more and more places
where there may be software conflicts or other items that cause your computer to crash. In the
author's defense I have not been able to find any computer books that cover this topic in any
significant manner. So, it is still click and guess if you want to remove all the threads of a program
in
the registry.
All in all, this is still an excellent book on the registry and a good choice for a computer
technician,
or the courageous novice, to have on their bookshelf.
The Truth About Lying
Stan B. Walters
Sourcebooks Trade
PO Box 4410, Naperville, IL 60567-4410
ISBN 1570715114 $14.95, 256 pages
The Truth About Lying spends a great deal of time discussing the fact that the best way to
determine
if someone is lying is to examine their stress level. Even a person who lies as a regular
pathological
pattern shows some sort of stress and physiological reaction. It is not a quick process but it does
show how to determine when a person is under stress. When that stress level changes as a result
of a
specific question then it is time to determine why there was a stress change. Were they lying?
Maybe, or maybe it is because there are other stress factors related to the question.
The techniques go from learning to spot stress signals and knowing when a stress signal in one
person is not a stress signal in another person to how to move to a position of determining the
source of the stress.
The Truth About Lying also covers knowing when to shut up and let the person's stress levels and
psychological state push them to completing a confession.
The book deals with questions of how to spot a lie, how to deal with it once it is uncovered, the
social implications of lying. The book also covers the common ways that people react to being
exposed and how they try to continue the deception.
An interesting part of this book is the part where Mr. Walters does not let the person being lied to
off the hook. Sometimes the person being lied to is part of the reason for the lie. Sometimes they
set
up the situation so that the liar feels they have no choice but to lie.
An excellent book on the subject from a highly experienced author, it gives all the foundational
knowledge that you need to become an expert. All you need now is practice.
Cheap Psychological Tricks For Lovers
Perry W. Buffington Ph.D.
Peachtree Publishers
1700 Chattahoochee, Atlanta, GA 30318
ISBN: 1561452181, $9.95 160 pages
Cheap Psychological Tricks For Lovers is a collection of various tidbits of psychological research
and footnotes on where to go to get further information. Presented in a fun and light style it is
easy
to read and presents some interesting items. I don't really like the title because the items are not
really cheap tricks. They are pieces of information collected from many sources that are at least
educational in nature even if some of them are not particularly useful. There are parts that are very
useful and may help each partner understand each other better. Would I use this to try to save a
floundering relationship? No, but on the other hand, if you are trying to understand each other or
get
the other person's attention then it has several techniques for that purpose.
All in all it is fun and interesting and I enjoyed reading Cheap Psychological Tricks For Lovers. At
least when it described some of the ways that men think it was dead on. Hopefully, it is just as
accurate when describing the way that women think and you can gain some understanding of your
spouse.
Talk Your Way To The Top
Kevin Hogan
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053
ISBN: 1565544269 $21.00, 251pages (with Bibliography)
Talk Your Way To The Top is filled with very good and interesting information. From my
standpoint it was very interesting because in my occupation I am the one who is sent in when a
customer is unhappy and have to try to save the project. I am very successful at that but have had
a
very hard time training others in how to get to the root of a problem and find a way to work it out
to
regain a working relationship. As I read through this book I recognized item after item that I do
easily and naturally. Talk Your Way To The Top finally quantifies those items and does so in a
way
where a person can train themselves to deal with difficult people or difficult situations. Of course,
it
would be even better to know these principles from the beginning so that you don't get into those
awkward situations to begin with.
Unless you are a complete hermit who does not deal with anyone on a regular basis, this book can
prove helpful to you. Read it, practice it, read it again. Don't believe the title that this is just about
talking your way to the top of an organization, it is an excellent book about communication and
getting ahead in all aspects of life.
I even passed it along to a teenager who is having problems with social acceptance at his school. I
advised him to pick a chapter and try the techniques in it on purpose for a week, then pick another
chapter and concentrate on it for a week. After three weeks he indicated that people no longer
turn
away from him when he approaches, say hello to him on the streets, etc. It is taking hard work for
him but the results are nothing short of amazing.
I did not care for Chapters 11 and 12 where he moves from communication with and between
others
to a form of self therapy. Perhaps others will find it valuable but I did not. There are better books
where the whole book deals with self-talk and personal therapy of various types. That being said,
Talk Your Way To The Top is still the best book that I have found on communication skills and
how to deal with other people. It is in fact just what it says, communication secrets to change
your
life. Talk Your Way To The Top just became required reading for project managers at my
company.
The Practical Zone System
Chris Johnson
Focal Press
c/o Butterworth-Heinemann
225 Wildwood Avenue, Woburn, MA 01801-2041
ISBN: 0240803280 $32.95, 192 (including index and appendices)
The Practical Zone System is one of the easier books to understand on the zone system for better
black-and-white photographs. It does not get too tied up in the details of the system but describes
enough detail to allow the reader to understand the basics of the system. This book is really
targeted
to someone who is not familiar with the zone system or who has studied it in more complex books
and did not really comprehend the system. For this intended audience the book is right on target.
It
takes the complex issues of the zone system and removes the calculations and just gives you what
you need to know. Think of it like the difference between an art teacher who says "Color the
grass
green" versus one who says "The grass must be green because chlorophyll absorbs the green
portion
of the light spectrum and so reflected light appears that color". If you just want to know how to
use
the system without a lot of detail behind why the system works then The Practical Zone System is
a
good book selection for you.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia Of Knots
Geoffrey Budworth
The Lyons Press
123 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
ISBN: 158574073X $29.95, 160 pages (including glossary and index)
The Encyclopedia Of Knots covers most of the basic knots that a person would be likely to need
under normal conditions. The high point of this book is the quality of the illustrations. Between
drawn illustrations and large photographs it is easy to follow along. The knots are correct and the
illustrations represent the knots as tied. This may sound like what you should expect from a knot
book but it has been my experience that it is often not the case. Between books that show the
wrong
illustration with the knot, leave out a step or suddenly show it from a different direction it is hard
to
find a good book with these items done correctly. This book does a great job of getting the
illustrations right and is easy enough to follow along with that anyone can be tying knots correctly
quickly. It also includes some knot history and explains how each knot should be used. A
beautifully
printed hardback book, I really only had one problem with it. For several of the knots the
illustrations were clear but the method described and illustrated was not the easiest way to tie the
knot. For example, I know of noone who really ties a figure of eight loop using the method
indicated. The end result is the same and so this tying method is valid, but simply not the easiest.
Still, even with a more complex method of tying the knot illustrated it is so well illustrated that
you
have no problem tying it that way.
Words That Hurt, Words That Heal : How to Choose Words Wisely and Well
Joseph Telushkin
William Morrow and Company, Inc.
1350 Avenue of The Americas, New York, NY 10019
ISBN: 0688163505 $14.00, Pages: 240
Old children's rhyme:
Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.
Real life:
Sticks and stones break only bones and bones they heal so fast.
But words destroy and kill the soul till nothing's left at last.
Written by a Jewish rabbi and based on his years of experience and study, this book starts with the
problem of how we hurt others everyday with our words even when that is not our intention. He
discusses the obvious damages of slander, propaganda and gossip and also other ways that we
hurt
others. For example, if we know something to be true about someone then do we tell someone
else?
Well, that depends on the circumstances. Is there an issue of someone else's safety involved? Will
it
help another to avoid financial or other mistakes? If it is just something that you know but will do
nothing but cause humiliation to the other person then it is best to keep it to yourself, even if it is
the
truth. If the only reason to tell someone else is to lower their opinion of the person then it is
unethical to disclose the information.
Can people change? I'm sure that each of us knows at least one person who has made a complete
change in their lifestyle. Some for the better and some for the worst. As for me, I would not want
to
be judged today based on all of my opinions, words and actions as a teenager. The author looks at
several ways that the press and others have ruined people because while a person can change their
life, they cannot change their past.
This is a guide for all those who want to change or improve their relationship whether personal, in
business, or other circumstances. This is a guide for those who want to improve their marriage or
move it up to the next higher level. This is a guide for those who want to know that all their
communications are ethical and moral.
You can't remove hurtful and damaging words from your vocabulary until you understand what
they
are and what they do. Read this book and build a better tomorrow for yourself and your family
today. Don't just remove the bad ones, trade them in for new ones . Words that heal. Inspirational,
motivating, encouraging, moving words that bring your relationships into a new focus and
positive
balance.
This book should be given to every parent and spouse that wants to have the best relationship
they
can with their siblings, parents, or children.
GoldMine For Dummies
Joel Scott
Hungry Minds, Inc.
909 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022
ISBN: 0764506080 $21.99, 384 pages
GoldMine For Dummies is of great value or limited value depending on what your needs are. If
you
have been using GoldMine and have a good understanding of its purpose and function then there
are
interesting things in here to help you use it better. However, if you are not knowledgeable about
GoldMine and, as others have indicated here, your boss drops it on your desk and tells you to
learn
it then this book has minimal value. Like every other book on GoldMine that I have read, it lacks
an
integrated approach.
The information in the book is good and accurate, but is all scattered pieces of knowledge without
any information as to how all of it works together. Think of it like this, suppose that someone
wanted to teach you chess. They described each and every piece and the board. They described
the
manner in which each piece could move and restrictions on movement. Then they said to go play
chess. You would surely lose if you don't know that the goal is to capture the other king nor how
all
the pieces work together to create an effective defense or offense. This book describes how each
piece works but not how to get them to work together.
Unfortunately I can't point anyone to any other book on GoldMine that does not suffer the same
problem. They describe all the ingredients and how to prepare the ingredients but not how to bake
the cake.
Complete Idiot's Guide To GoldMine 5
ASAP GoldMine Consultancy
Que
201 W. 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290
IBSN 0789723506 $19.99, 360 pages
Complete Idiot's Guide To GoldMine 5 suffers from the same problems as the GoldMine For
Dummys book. If you have been using GoldMine and have a good understanding of its purpose
and
function then the book contains interesting information. If you are not knowledgeable about
GoldMine and your boss drops it on your desk and tells you to learn it then this book has minimal
value. The book lacks an integrated approach.
The information is good and accurate but is basically scattered pieces of knowledge. Think of it
like
this, suppose that someone wanted to teach you chess. They described each and every piece and
the
board. They described the manner in which each piece could move and restrictions on movement.
Then they said to go play chess. You would surely lose if you don't know that the goal is to
capture
the other king nor how all the pieces work together to create an effective defense or offense. This
book describes how each piece works but not how to get them to work together.
Unfortunately I can't point anyone to any other book on GoldMine that does not suffer the same
problem. They describe all the ingredients and how to prepare the ingredients but not how to bake
the cake.
Harold McFarland
Reviewer
Gorden's Bookshelf
The Trojan Sea
Richard Herman
Avon Books
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
0-380-80270-8 price: $7.99 US paperback November, 2001 468 pages
Herman was a former weapons systems operator in the Air Force and his novels are always best
when the story is in the air. The Trojan Sea is no exception. Herman's best storytelling is his novel
'The Warbirds' about F-4 Phantoms in battle. In 'The Trojan Sea,' Herman does a nice change of
pace by making the lead character, Lt. Colonel Mike Stuart, an Air Force bureaucrat. Herman
does a
smooth job of making a faceless paper shuffler into a hero. The Trojan Sea starts out with Stuart
learning to sail his forty-two foot retirement boat under the tutelage of Jane Ryan. A category five
hurricane suddenly develops forcing them to struggle into a Cuban port for safety. This is the first
step in a twisted tale that brings Stuart into the juggernaut of world oil politics and industrial
greed.
With billions of dollars at stake and the nation's access to oil in the time of war, Stuart is a liability
to
be removed by some and a tool to be used by others. The Trojan Sea is a good
military/technical/political novel. A reader of military genre will find the story a surprisingly
pleasant
read. The Trojan Sea soars when the plot goes to the air and is solid when it stays on the ground.
Overall, it is a satisfying action/thriller novel.
Sizzling Holiday Shorts 2001
Renaissance E Book Authors
Renaissance E Books
P.O. Box 494, Clemmons, North Carolina 27012
1-58873-045-X price: $4.00 electronic download Copyright 2001, 465 pages,
www.renebooks.com
Sizzling Holiday Shorts is a collection of nine original short stories and thirty-two selections taken
from Renaissance novels. The 'Sizzling' in the title is for erotic content. The nine short story
authors
are also the authors of the thirty-two novels represented in the samples contained in the holiday
collection. This is a lot of skilled storytelling for a single volume. The 'Sizzling Shorts' range from
heavy erotic tales to ones with just enough of an erotic touch that the stories are for adult readers.
They represent a broad range of human sexuality and fantasy. It would be impossible for a reader
not to find at least one of the stories titillating. Even the stories with erotic situations exploring
regions of sexuality beyond your personal preferences have a way of staying with the reader. The
genres represented by these shorts cover the range of popular fiction -- action, historical, fantasy,
romance, science fiction, western... A few even bring out the erotic depth of the holiday season in
a
way that will produce a particular smile on your face the next time you have eggnog with
grandma.
You know the smile. The one where granny raises an eyebrow and asks, "What mischief have you
been up to?" Sizzling Holiday Shorts 2001 is a great way for someone to explore the styles of
nine
unique authors. The biggest problem most will have is deciding which of the thirty-two sampled
novels to purchase first.
S.A. Gorden, Reviewer
gorden_sa@hotmail.com
Kinni's Bookshelf
The Warren Buffett Ceo: Secrets From The Berkshire Hathaway Managers
Robert Miles
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
605 Third Avenue, 4th floor, New York, NY 10158-0012
ISBN 0471442593, $24.95, 412 pp, 1-800-225-5945
Warren Buffett has often pointed to the management teams already in place at the companies he
buys as the real secret behind his success as an investor. This book, the best of the month, is
devoted
to those executives. It details the management philosophies and styles of twenty-one of them and
tells the story behind nineteen of Berkshire Hathaway's subsidiaries.
Getting The Bugs Out: The Rise, Fall, And Comeback Of Volkswagen In America
David Kiley
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
605 Third Avenue, 4th floor, New York, NY 10158-0012
ISBN 0471403938 $27.95, 302 pp, 1-800-225-5945
USA Today's Detroit bureau editor tracks the ups and downs of Volkswagen's 50-year run in the
US
with a particular emphasis on the company's marketing and advertising campaigns. It's a readable
case study that offers positive lessons from the 1960s and 1990s Beetle along with a lot of
not-so-positive lessons from the company's lackluster performance in between.
The Contrarian's Guide To Leadership
Steven Sample
Jossey-Bass, Inc.
350 Sansome Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94104-1342
ISBN 0787955876 $24, 233 pp 1-800-225-5945
Sample, who is the President of USC and a successful inventor and electrical engineer, maintains
that there is no formula for becoming a good leader - the job is "highly situational and
contingent."
In lieu of a step-by-step process, he offers fifteen principles designed to help managers break away
from the herd. They include: Think gray; Think free; Listen first, talk later; Work for those who
work for you; etc.
Breakthrough International Negotiation
Michael Watkins & Susan Rosegrant
Jossey-Bass, Inc.
350 Sansome Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94104-1342
ISBN 0787957437 $40, 346 pp 1-800-225-5945
In Breakthrough International Negotiation: How Great Negotiators Transformed The World's
Toughest Post-cold War Conflicts, this Harvard duo explores the major political negotiations of
the
Post-Cold War world (in Korea, the Balkans, and the Middle East) for lessons that organizational
negotiators can use in their careers. They find that the best negotiators are skilled at pattern
recognition, mental stimulation, parallel management, and reflection-in-action.
The Hard Road To The Softer Side: Lessons From The Transformation Of Sears
Arthur Martinez with Charles Madigan
Crown Business
299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171
ISBN 0812929608 $27.50, 272 pp, 1-800-726-0600
Ex-Chairman and CEO of Sears Martinez turns in a frank look at the mixed results of his eight
years
at the company that was once America's greatest retailer. The book pulls few punches as it
describes
a roller coaster ride of success and failure, the critical role and power of corporate culture, and
the
difficult work of change management.
The Most Effective Organization In The U.s.: Leadership Secrets Of The Salvation Army
Robert Watson & Ben Brown
Crown Business
299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171
ISBN 060960869X $25, 236 pp, 1-800-726-0600
Peter Drucker called The Salvation Army "the most effective organization in the U.S." and in this
book, Watson, its former National Commander, explains why. Focusing on the management
philosophy behind the $2 billion non-profit, the book describes one "big idea" (Engage the spirit)
and seven supporting principles aimed at achieving that goal.
Weird Ideas That Work: 11 Practices For Promoting, Managing, And Sustaining Innovation
Robert Sutton
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN 0743212126 $26, 232 pp 1-800-223-2336
Stanford's Sutton takes a contrarian approach to conventional business wisdom and uncovers a
mostly-original set of principles for fostering organizational creativity. The author offers
convincing
arguments and supporting examples for each rule along with a host of ideas for applying them.
They
include: hire people who make you uncomfortable, even those you dislike; find some happy
people
and get them to fight; reward success and failure, punish inaction; etc.
Giants Of Enterprise: Seven Business Innovators And The Empires They Built
Richard Tedlow
HarperBusiness
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
ISBN 006662035X $30, 512 pp 1-800-242-7737
Tedlow covers a century and a half of American business and almost every major industry in this
examination of the lives of seven world-class entrepreneurs. The profiles, which include Andrew
Carnegie, George Eastman, Henry Ford, Thomas Watson, Sr. , Charles Revson, Sam Walton, and
Robert Noyce, were originally presented as seminars at Harvard Business School.
Making It Personal: How To Profit From Personalization Without Invading Privacy
Bruce Kasanoff
Perseus
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
ISBN 0738205362 $26, 217 pp 1-800-242-7737
Privacy and customer personalization don't have to be in conflict, says privacy guru Kasanoff, but
today's standard practices will have that result. In this book, he explores personalization trends
and
products, the developing legislation aimed at regulating the use of personal information, and the
issues that organizations that gather such information must face.
The Hiring And Firing Question And Answer Book
Paul Falcone
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
288 pp, $18.95, ISBN 0814471102, 1-800-250-5308
Paramount Pictures' HR director Falcone serves up a quick reference guide to common personnel
situations. He presents 112 answers to questions covering hiring, recruitment (online and off),
interviewing, final selection, performance management, progressive discipline, termination,
lay-offs
and RIFs.
Hiring The Best And The Brightest: A Roadmap To MBA Recruiting
Sherrie Gong Taguchi
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
ISBN 0814406351 $27.95, 287 pp, 1-800-250-5308
The battle for the top b-school graduates may not be as superheated as it was a year or so ago,
but
talent is always in demand. Taguchi translates her experience in the business and academic worlds
into a four-phase (preparation, pre-recruitment, interviews, and second rounds and offers) process
for organizations that recruit new MBAs. It's backed up with plenty of case studies and advice
from
a couple of dozen expert recruiters.
At Work With Thomas Edison: 10 Business Lessons From America's Greatest Innovator
Blaine McCormick
Entrepreneur Press
c/o The Entrepreneurship Institute of Canada
P.O.Box 40043, 75 King Street South, Waterloo, ON N2J 4V1, Canada
ISBN 1891984357 $16.95, 254 pp, http://www.entinst.ca/Entpap.lead.htm
B-school prof McCormick is back with a look at what the prolific inventor of the electric light
bulb,
motion pictures, and phonograph can teach today's business reader. The book's lessons in
entrepreneurship and innovation are sometimes mundane (creativity is about connecting existing
ideas; find and keep the most talented individuals), but the career and thinking of the man that
supports them is consistently extraordinary.
Why Didn't I Think Of That: Think The Unthinkable And Achieve Creative Greatness
Charles McCoy, Jr.
Prentice Hall Press
240 Frisch Court, Paramus, NJ 07652
ISBN 0735202575 $22, 288 pp, 1-800-631-8571
McCoy developed his take on critical thinking, decision-making, and creativity as a judge in the
LA
Superior Court. He uses plenty of examples and exercises to illustrate how to be perceptive,
deliberate, systematic, intuitive, and emphatic in your thinking; how to control the quality of your
thinking; and how to be prepare yourself to act on your thinking.
Teams Work: Lessons From Successful Organizations
Will Friedman & Jill Casner-Lotto
Work In America Institute
700 White Plains Road | Scarsdale, New York 10583
ISBN 0893610704 $40, 129 pp, http://www.workinamerica.org/
The latest study from the Work In America Institute explores the maturing of the organizational
work team. The perfect-bound report includes the elements needed to implement and maintain
team-based environments, case studies drawn from five organizations in business and government,
and a discussion of management issues in team operations. An executive summary is available at
www.workinamerica.org.
Theodore Kinni, Reviewer
http://home1.gte.net/bizbooks
Harwood's Bookshelf
The Betrayal Of America: How the Supreme Court Undermined the Constitution and Chose Our
President
Vincent Bugliosi
Avalon Books
160 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10016, 2001,
ISBN 1-56025-355-X, 166 pp., ppb., $9.95
"No technical true crime was committed here by the five conservative justices only because no
Congress ever dreamed of enacting a statute making it a crime to steal a presidential election.... In
terms, then, of natural law and justice ... these five Justices are criminals in every true sense of the
word, and in a fair and just world belong behind prison bars, as much as any American
white-collar
criminal who ever lived." (p. 49)
The Betrayal Of America's most unfortunate quality is that it is written in logical, coherent
arguments that are only comprehensible to persons capable of rational human thought. That
means
that if anyone were to read it to the intellectually impoverished George W. Bush, he would
probably
not grasp that it is about himself. In the words of the editors of The Nation, who wrote the
Preface,
"In impassioned yet impeccably reasoned prose, Bugliosi shows that what five conservative
Justices
on the Supreme Court did, though not treason in the strictly legal sense, represented a betrayal of
trust by an institution revered by Americans like no other, one that was supposed to be above the
fray, above politics. As one reader put it: 'It's because I DO hold the institution in such high
regard
that I want to scream out TREASON.' ... As Bugliosi writes, too many of the press, the punditry,
and the legal establishment simply paid obeisance to the prestige of the Court. Their passive
acquiescence accorded legitimacy to Bush's accession. Against this consensus, 'None Dare Call It
Treason' [title of The Nation article that was the virtual first draft of Bugliosi's book] raised a bold
cry of dissent in the noble tradition of public pamphleteering." (pp. 4-5)
Molly Ivins in the Foreword adds, "Vincent Bugliosi has written the modern equivalent of
'J'Accuse,'
the famous indictment by the French journalist mile Zola of his government's misconduct in the
Dreyfus affair. The most startling thing these two historic accusations have in common is their
self-evidence. You pretty well have to be a total moron to miss the reeking injustice in either
case."
(p.7) And on the apathy of Americans who shrug off a coup d'‚tat that as recently as fifty years
ago
would have got the five perpetrators executed for treason, Bugliosi in his Introduction adds, "I am
still waiting ... for my first conservative friend or even acquaintance to show the slightest bit of
anger
over what these justices did.... Their guy Bush got in, and they don't give a damn how he got
there.
In other words, they aren't troubled in the least that the Supreme Court may have committed one
of
the biggest crimes in American history." (p.18)
While remaining polite to the actual perpetrators of the overthrow of the Constitution, refusing to
state unequivocally that their coup d'‚tat constituted treason, Bugliosi does not pull his punches
when discussing the right wing fanatics who said of the 3000 voters who unintentionally voted for
Buchanan instead of Gore, "If they're too stupid to read a ballet, they shouldn't be voting in the
first
place." Of them he remarks, "So not only did a century-old technicality enable Bush to win the
national election even though he lost by over a half-million votes, but he won Florida by mistake.
Yet there were human mutants who loudly protested outside the Vice President's home in
Washington, D.C., before the election was over, demanding that he 'get out of Cheney's home.' In
their partial defense, it is unlikely that the collective IQ of these people was higher than room
temperature." (p. 37)
In a discursion on an earlier, unsuccessful Republican attempt to seal the presidency, Bugliosi
expresses the conclusion that, "The monstrous, grotesque Ken Starr ... is a disgrace to
prosecutors
everywhere.... Starr went far beyond merely breaking rules.... Starr is one of the most
reprehensible
public figures we've ever been exposed to in America." (p. 79) If anyone has doubts that Bugliosi
is
excellently qualified to express an opinion of the atrocity committed by five black robed oligarchs
who defecated on the rights of the American people, those words should surely convince
him.
Bugliosi criticizes the incompetence of Al Gore's lawyer in failing to place on record the
illegalities
of the Court's incredible, partisan ruling. But he acknowledges the mitigating circumstance that
the
lawyer "already knew" that the five Republican Justices "intended to deodorize their foul intent by
hanging their hat on the anemic equal protection argument." He asks, "Wouldn't you think that he
and his people would have come up with at least three or four strong arguments to expose it for
what it was-a legal gimmick that the brazen, shameless majority intended to invoke to perpetrate a
judicial hijacking in broad daylight?" (p. 43)
"These five Justices, by their conduct, have forfeited the right to be respected, and only by
treating
them the way they deserve to be treated can we demonstrate our respect for the rule of law they
defiled, and insure that their successors will not engage in similarly criminal conduct." (p.60) "But
if
they aren't troubled by what they did, then we're dealing with judicial sociopaths, people even
more
frightening than they already appear to be." (p. 62)
It has been said that people get the government they deserve. If that is true, America will continue
indefinitely to tolerate a treasonously appointed president whose first act on assuming office was
to
withdraw foreign aid from every country that refused to enforce the taboos of an American
Religious Right that even as conservative a politician as Barry Goldwater denounced as extremist.
This is not the time to attempt to remove the President of the United States from office by
impeachment and prosecution of the betrayers of America who appointed him, since such action
could send the wrong message to the mad dogs the whole world supports Mr Bush in hunting
down
and exterminating. But once the Afghanistan situation has been reasonably normalized, either
America's five highest-ranking traitors MUST be brought to justice, or the right of future
conspirators to turn America into a totalitarian Republican oligarchy, perhaps even a theocracy,
will
be permanently legalized.
Why Atheism?
George H. Smith
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228
ISBN 1-57392-268-4, 250 pp., ppb, $19.00 1-800-421-0351
"George H. Smith, author of the influential contemporary classic Atheism: The Case Against God,
continues his defense of reason, freethought, and personal liberty by answering the age-old
question:
Why Atheism? Why would anyone question the existence of a supernatural deity? Smith reviews
the
historical roots of unbelief dating back to the ancient Greeks, argues that philosophy can serve as
an
alternative to religion, and defends reason as the most reliable method we humans have for
establishing truth and conducting our lives." So says the publisher on the back cover, and I have
nothing to add or subtract-although I have not changed my view that only the methodology of
history can hope to free the human race from the mind-crippling opiate of religion, and
philosophical
arguments such as Smith's are convincing only to persons too educated to believe in religion in the
first place.
On the issue of agnosticism ("absence of knowledge"), Smith writes (p.17), "Consider, for
instance,
an intelligent Christian who confronts the agnostic's claim that God's existence cannot be proven
one
way or the other, so we should suspend judgment.... [T]he Christian might decline to investigate
the
arguments for agnosticism in any detail, because his own belief in God is so strong, his degree of
certainty so high, as to render any further investigation unnecessary."
He continues, "Much of this book is more concerned with the credibility of atheism than its
justification. I shall argue that atheism is credible and should therefore be seriously considered by
theists and agnostics alike.... [M]ost Christians (and other religious believers) dismiss atheism
outright ... not because they have examined the arguments for atheism and found them wanting,
but
because they do not take atheism seriously enough to examine its arguments in detail. Atheism, in
their view, lacks credibility, so they have no motive to explore it further."
That paragraph merely hints at the problems faced by persons who choose to call themselves
atheists, rather than humanists, rationalists, naturalists, or some other label that has not yet come
to
be viewed by brainwashed believers as pejorative. That Smith recognizes the problem is made
clear
when he writes (p.18) "The word 'atheist' has traditionally been used as a smear word-or 'bugaboo
epithet,' as historian Preserved Smith once described it. To call someone an atheist was more
often
an accusation than a description, an invective hurled by orthodox Christians against any and all
dissenters, including other Christians."
I can personally confirm that observation. A few weeks ago, when I angrily stomped out of a
memorial I had been promised would be non-religious, one of the brain-dead zombies in
attendance
demanded to know if I was an atheist. The way she used the word made very clear that her
question
was equivalent to asking if I was a child molester or a serial killer. And George Bush Sr. is on
record
as expressing the belief that atheists should not be considered American citizens. But Smith makes
clear (p. 19) that, "Atheism, or the absence of theistic belief, is therefore a perspective, not a
philosophy."
Smith further observes (p. 28), "It is interesting to note how the prejudice against atheism is
reflected in ordinary language. It is commonly said, for example, that the personal atheist has lost
his
faith, as if he no longer possesses something of value. As the atheist sees the matter, however, he
has not 'lost' anything except ignorance and error, and he has gained in understanding and
knowledge."
Smith's arguments for atheism's credibility are valid. What his books will not achieve (apart from
curing the incurable) is making the word "atheist" respectable. I long ago adopted the description,
nontheist. Perhaps Smith should consider doing likewise.
William Harwood
Reviewer
Kaveny's Bookshelf
Kurt Vonnegut The Phenomenologist of the Fantastic Part II
As part of my ongoing Vonnegut Project I have decided to revise and expand and Earlier version
of
a review I presented into a short critical article which will then set the stage for a least a portion
of
January's Kaveny's Bookshelf.
For those of you who are interested the biggest difference between a review and critical article is
its
intended audience. A review is directed at those who have not read the book, a critical article is
directed to those who have.
The reason I chose to do this is that last night at about 4.00 A.M. I realized that Kurt Vonnegut
was
phenomenologist of the first order for several reasons, all of which were based upon his life
experience before 1950 when his "Report on the Barnhouse Effect" was published Collier's. In all
of
the roles that he experienced from the time he went into the United States Army until onset of his
career as a writer of fiction it was his function, as an infantry scout, graduate student,
newspaperman, and public relations writer. At the General Electric Company Research
Laboratory,
Schenectady, NY, to observe and report upon a world in which fantastic occurrences were part of
his daily experience.
At Millennium's End: New Essays On The Work Of Kurt Vonnegut
Kevin Alexander Boon, editor
State University of New York Press
ISBN 0791449300, softcover format price $17.95, 2001
204 pages with index and backgrounds sketches of all eleven contributors.
This collection of essays edited by Kevin Alexander Boon (assistant professor at Penn State
University) is greatly strengthened by a foreword by Kurt Vonnegut, the old trickster himself,
who
cleverly miss-directs us away from the reasons for his own literary survival, and even success in
less
than 700 words. Vonnegut's criteria for success is modest and in defiance of literary pretension.
To
drive home his point. Vonnegut evokes the horrific landscape of The Western front during WWI
and
compares it to the field of literary and artistic production in the 20th Century Vonnegut suggests
the
reason for survival on either field. "Any one who survives a human wave attack against such
daunting odds whether it is in war or art does so because of sheer dumb luck." (Preface vii)
It is deliciously ironic to note that a major theme of this collection of essays is to (at least to an
extent) contest Vonnegut's own assertion made in the introduction as relates to his own literary
and
artist survival. The collection leads one to the feeling that Vonnegut's 55-year career as a
newspaperman and writer was more than merely an accident. Not totally of courses because it
common knowledge that Kurt Vonnegut's physical survived one of the most horrifying events of
The
European Theater of World War II the Feb 18th 1945 Allied evening firebombing of the German
City of Dresden which killed 120,000 Germans in a single night. Vonnegut survived as an
American
prisoner War, solely because he happened to be imprisoned with four others in the deepest depths
of
a German Slaughterhouse.
At Millennium's End has a slightly different tone than the last major collection of essays on
Vonnegut. The Vonnegut Chronicles: Interviews and Essays Peter J. Reed, and Marc Leeds, ed.
Greenwood Press 1996, in the sense that it seems a bit more celebratory than critical in tone. This
pleases me because will make the collection of greater interest to the general informed reader
along
with the Vonnegut specialist. Here I must note that as I read a number of mainstream reviews of
this
work it seemed some of the reviewers were unaware of the extent to which the works of have
Kurt
Vonnegut were critically privileged in the last third of the 20th Century by the academic world
since
the appearance of Slaughterhouse Five in 1969. For example, I recently searched The Modern
Language Association database using Kurt Vonnegut as a subject and found over 400 items,
including dissertations, essay's, and monographs. While this was only one quarter of the 1600
items
on James Joyce, it was four times the number on Robert Heinlein Jr.
Therefore, I think it is time for a "Vonnegut Celebration" since Vonnegut's body of major works
appears to be complete. All the essays are solid well-researched and complete with necessary
references, and sadly, time and space do not permit me to comment on more than four of them. I
found the Kevin Alexander Boon, and David Pringle essay "Vonnegut Films" quite thought
provoking as it compared cinematic and literary audience expectations as they impact on the
success or failure of the adaptations of Vonnegut's work.
I was very pleased that Jerome Klinkowitz' "Vonnegut as an Essayist" was included in this
collection
since he is both a central figure in Vonnegut studies for the last thirty years. His 1998 "Vonnegut
In
Fact: The Public Spokesman of Personal Fiction" (University of South Carolina Press) is, in my
opinion, the best monograph on Vonnegut because it centralizes rather than marginalizes
Vonnegut
as part of the American Literary and cultural experience. "Vonnegut as an Essayist" shows us how
adroit Vonnegut was in always being able to maintain contact with his expanding public over the
length of his career as he was forced to migrate from format to format, and finally to the lecture
circuit.
I would like to see Lawrence Broer's fascinating "Vonnegut's Goodbye: Kurt Senior Hemingway
Kilgore Trout" expanded in length, but not necessarily at the expense of any of the other essays. It
may be better as a monograph in its own right because he illuminates Vonnegut's ability to
parody,
and even deconstruct Hemingway's cherished notion of the masculine and the heroic as easily as a
bored matador might dispatch a clumsy bull.
Worth noting also is Hartley S. Spat's "Vonnegut Ludic Luddite" as it makes important
connections
between Vonnegut's earlier and later work and establishes elements of continuity between them.
This
essay successfully contests other attempts to periodize Vonnegut, as some including Rodney Allen
in
his Understanding Kurt Vonnegut by William Rodney Allen University of South Carolina Press
1991
attempted.
I have two suggestions that might improve At Millennium's End. They take the form of a
suggested
expansion, or perhaps a direction for future work. I hope this is not the last collection of essays on
Vonnegut to appear in his lifetime I would have liked it to have included an essay that more
strongly
linked Vonnegut's War II experience to his fantastic mode of expression along the lines
Medievalist
Tom Shippey has suggested in his brilliant (J.R.R Tolkien: Author of The Century Houghton
Mifflin
2001) where Shippey suggested that is useful to group Vonnegut, Tolkien, Orwell, Leguin, C.S
Lewis together, in their use of the Fantastic to confront the darkest aspects of the twentieth
Century
This would make Vonnegut an outstanding candidate for guest of honor at a Future Utopian
Studies
International Conference on the Fantastic and The Arts. At Millennium's End would been greatly
strengthened had it included an Essay by Peter editor of. The Bagombo Snuff Box: Uncollected
Short Fiction by Kurt, Jr. Vonnegut. Paperback 357 pages Reissue edition (August 2000) Berkley
Publishing Group.
On a personal note At Millennium's End greatly enhanced my understanding of Vonnegut's career
as
the essays led me to realize that more than anything Vonnegut's artistic survival, and popular
survival were a result of his successful use of the fantastic in his break through 1969 Novel
Slaughterhouse Five to articulate and come to grips with the fact of his personal wartime survival.
I
would not only recommend At Millennium's End to major University and research libraries but
also
to public libraries and individuals with a healthy curiosity about Kurt Vonnegut as a chronicler
and
perhaps even the begrudging conscience of the last half of the American Century.
Phil Kaveny
Reviewer
Cindy's Bookshelf
Just A Little Sex: Harlequin Blaze No 9
Miranda Lee
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790139 Mass Market Paperback 248 pages $4.50
Years of workouts, crummy day jobs and night school finally complete Zoe's makeover from
plump
naivety to professional woman. Four months ago she met the guy of her dreams, with sexy looks,
a
successful job and lots of money. She's still incredibly self-conscious of her body, but with
candlelight the missionary position, no one else has to know. Then a gorgeous blond drops the
bombshell sharing an elevator in lieu of renting a room, and Zoe's world crashes down around her.
Drake excuses his behavior, claiming it was just a little sex it didn't mean anything. Now she has
to
decide between forgiveness and moving on. One time world surf champion Aiden Mitchell has
been
disillusioned by women who only surrender to men with wealth and fame. Six months at
Hideaway
Beach and celibacy has brought a lot of healing. Meeting Zoe leaves him a bit baffled, however.
He's
never met a woman that wanted him, yet resisted him. But he tired of "casual sex and a pocketful
of
condoms," and Zoe proved that one night wasn't nearly enough. But she thinks he's a no account
beach bum, and he didn't enlighten her. The last time he'd tried to be straight with a woman it
landed
him in court and in all the newspapers. But Zoe was the best sex he's ever had and now he's
determined they can share so much more. Of course, first he has to find her and prove that just a
little sex just isn't enough. Zoe's self-consciousness and prim attitudes may initially alienate
readers
who prefer their heroines dynamic and confident; however, Zoe overcomes her inhibitions in the
arms of Aiden. In addition, most pop psychologists agree that a man who cheats once will do so
again. So Zoe's girlfriend's advice and her own misgivings about his future faithfulness also may
strike a false note with readers. Those issues aside, however, Miranda Lee creates a sensual, sexy
romance that proves that in the right context, Just A Little Sex can lead to something very special.
Highly recommended.
We Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus: Superromance No 1021
Brenda Novak
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710216 Mass Market Paperback 297 pages $4.99
After all the counseling sessions, promises and confessions, Jaclyn thought she and her husband
had
a chance of healing of their marriage; that is, until she found Terry's truck parked in the dimly lit
parking lot of one of Nevada's legalized houses of prostitution. With three young children in the
car
and a broken heart, Jaclyn left a clear message behind when she pulled out of the parking lot.
Terry
had four slashed tires. A year later and the divorce is at last final. But Terry's wealthy father and a
legion of lawyers insured joint custody, lousy child support and no spousal maintenance. Since she
married Terry straight out of high school, Jaclyn lacks education and experience, but not
determination as she proves by long hours as a waitress. Then Cole Perrini shows up at the diner,
reminding her of everything she'd like to forget. Too bad his sticking up for her results in
unemployment. Cole likewise would like to forget the small town where he and Jaclyn attending
high school. He'd like to forget the responsibility of raising his younger brothers in a trailer where
his
mother lay dying and his father was always at work. Years of hunger and sacrifice, and failed
marriage, insured he never wanted a wife and children. So he's not sure what he's doing hiring her,
or later having dinner with Jaclyn and her children. Once again the talented pen of Brenda Novak
creates a heart-warming tale just in time for the holiday season in We Saw Mommy Kissing Santa
Claus. I can't help admiring a heroine with enough gumption to slice her husband's tires and work
as
waitress rather than keeping a comfortable life. With the characteristic painful situations of
divorce
and financial survival, Novak's tale is steeped in realism, yet balanced with hope. Cole's
overwhelming responsibilities in his youth make him a likewise appealing character. Another
terrific
hit from this author, We Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus comes highly recommended.
True Heart: Superromance No 1025
Peggy Nicholson
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710259 Mass Market Paperback 296 pages $4.99
A month after she announces her pregnancy to her husband, Kaley Cotter returns to Trueheart,
Colorado and the Circle C., the ranch her family has held for four generations. Instead of finding
sanctuary, however, she finds the ranch in financial peril. Although Kale has always been a silent
partner and sent half of her schoolteacher's salary each month to help financially, it's not enough.
Her
brother has struggled for years to hold the ranch together, borrowing extensively from the bank
and
even from their neighbor, Tripp McGraw. Now he's ready to cut their losses so that he might
follow
his own dream. He's enlisted in the air force, and his letter stating that he's selling out to Tripp is
probably sitting in Kaley's mailbox even as she pulls into the ranch. She hasn't the heart to tell her
brother of her pregnancy when she announces her divorce; instead, she simply wishes him well as
he
departs. And when Tripp turns up, she sure isn't going to tell him of her impending motherhood,
either; at least, not until it becomes self-evident. Tripp sold his best cutter, a horse he began
gentling
when it was only an hour old, to finance the purchase of Circle C. It's a fair offer; he pays what
the
ranch is worth minus the forty thousand his neighbor borrowed in a last ditch effort to turn a
profit.
When he knocks at the door, however, he is shocked to find Kaley, the girl he loved deeply nine
years ago. Even when he asked her to marry him back then, Tripp never understood what a pretty
girl would want with an uneducated cowboy with a sliced up face. His own mother had proven
the
fickleness of pretty women when it came to ranching. Anyway, something that good was to too
good to last and when Kaley postponed their wedding a second time, he'd seen the handwriting on
the wall. So while she was in Europe, he sent the letter that ended their engagement. Two months
later she met Richard, who she agreed to marry ten months later. Only now she's back and he
holds
a balloon note for forty thousand dollars. Filled with the struggle faced by ordinary people, True
Heart makes the ordinary extraordinary. Author Peggy Nicholson's storytelling abilities result in a
beautiful tale about second chances and the power of love. Kaley's resilience in the face of
overwhelming adversity coupled with Tripp's closely guarded, deep emotions result in delightful,
memorable characters. The struggles of ranchers in the face of challenges from weather, the
economy and day-to-day struggle to preserve their way of life likewise come alive with this
author's
pen, lending True Heart a strong background. Very highly recommended.
Shenandoah Christmas: Superromance No 1024
Lynnette Kent
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710240 Mass Market Paperback 296 pages $4.99
Rising singing star Cait Gregory sacrificed everything to her dream. When she was eighteen her
father threw her out on Christmas Eve because she didn't apply for college, but hid the
applications
in the attic. The rift has never healed between Cait and her father. Now her sister's on bed rest
waiting for the birth of her first child, leaving Cait to fill her place as choir director. Without Cait,
there won't be a Christmas pageant this year and ten-year-old Maddie Tremaine won't be able to
the
announcing angel. Single father Ben Tremaine is also a Christmas Grinch. His mother walked out
on
Christmas Eve, leaving her husband and child to grieve on each return of the holiday. Now
widowed, Ben cannot rely on anyone else to help his children celebrate. Worse, this year the
temporary choir director makes the holidays even more difficult. She's poised on the brink of
stardom, and wouldn't be able to offer him more than a brief affair. As a result, he finds himself
acting the first class jerk in an effort to defend himself from her sparkling presence. The magic of
Christmas brings healing in Shenandoah Christmas. With a brilliance that matches the season,
Lynnette Kent creates a lovely romance filled with the challenges of single parenthood and
mismatched dreams. Add a couple of adorable children and Shenandoah Christmas becomes a
memorable read. Gently touching, at times amusing, always heart felt, Shenandoah Christmas
comes
highly recommended.
Zoey Phillips: Superromance No 1020
Judith Bowen
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710208 Mass Market Paperback 298 pages $4.99
Zoey Phillips, Charlotte Moore, and Lydia Lane met just after high school while working at a
wilderness resort in the Rocky Mountains. Ten years later at the reunion of the Jasper Park
Lodger
summer staff, someone speculates what fun it might be to look up the boy that led to their first
heartbreak. Perhaps he's balding, paunchy, and boring. Then at the next year's reunion, they'd all
report their results. Zoey doesn't think about it again until six months later when she accepts a
friend's invitation to help plan her stepmother's wedding. Sitting in a restaurant in Stony Creek,
British Columbia, Zoey immediately recognizes her high school crush from across the room. Ryan
Donnelly, the handsome track star of Fullerton Valley High, had convinced her to "pretend" to be
his
girlfriend so he make the object of his desires jealous. Zoey's dream that Ryan might realize she
was
the girl of his dreams went unrealized. But she'd never forgotten the boy who taught her to French
kiss. Now Ryan enthusiastically greets Zoey, once he recognizes her, making her feel every bit the
gauche teenager she once was. Zoey intends to stay in town for five weeks, but the hotel is
closing
for the season, leaving her without adequate accommodations. When Ryan's brother Cameron
hears
she needs a place, he offers the ranch's garage apartment. He also intends to play matchmaker and
see his brother settled. Cameron is nothing like his younger, flirtatious brother. Cameron, a single
father, is steady, reliable, boring. So why does Zoey find herself drawn to the wrong brother?
While
the plot might be a bit predictable, that in no ways detracts from the fun of Zoey Phillips. The
premise is wonderful, as are the characterizations. Any return to the past is fraught with risk, and
Zoey meets those risks head on, with her own zany style. As she undercuts Cameron's desire to
control everyone and everything around him, Zoey demonstrates admirable self confidence and
pride
with the woman she's made herself into, from her choice of names and career, toher darkened
auburn
hair; too bad she knows nothing about men. Consequently, she becomes perfect foil for the
brooding, silent hero in a balance of light and shadow. Highly recommended.
Unexpected Marriage: Superromance No 1023
Anna Adams
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710232 Mass Market Paperback 299 pages $4.99
When her nineteen-year-old daughter announces her pregnancy, Caroline Talbot Manning is
mortified. She dreads to think her daughter Shelley is repeated her mistakes. Caroline had gotten
pregnant and gotten married too young; choices that led to an irate divorce and then later to the
realization she had fallen for a man who didn't want children. Disillusioned, Caroline stopped
believing in love and happily-ever-after, raising her daughter with the help of extended family and
a
lot of hard work. Caroline had sworn Shelley would never find herself deserted and penniless by
instilling a healthy respect for independence and education in her daughter. Now her daughter
announces she's marrying Jake, and if Caroline doesn't support that decision, Shelley will get
married
without her mother's help. Lt. Commander Matt Kearan worries that his twenty-year-old son's
dreams of becoming a physician are going to change. After Matt's divorce, and his ex-wife's
eventual
death, Matt had come to live with him; but the time apart had instilled permanent distance. He
understands Caroline and Jake's determination to make the kind of family for their child that they
had never had. He also understands Carolyn's reactions. Nevertheless, despite his own feelings,
Matt
prefers to support his son's decisions rather that risk alienating him. With the exuberance of youth,
Jake and Shelley believe they can have this child and still fulfill their dreams. He hopes if he and
Carolyn support their children, then they will succeed where their parents failed. Now his job is to
convince Carolyn that they can help Jake and Shelley stay together. As a mutual attraction
provides
stunning undercurrents, Caroline and Matt face some of the toughest parenting situations possible
in
Unexpected Marriage. Readers may be put off by Carolyn's prickly defensiveness, but will be won
over by her obvious dedication to her daughter's well being. Morning sickness, marriage plans,
and
the over confidence of youth lend this novel a powerful background as these unexpectd
grandparents
become unexpectedly attracted. Wonderful secondary characters and a strong secondary love
story
result in a delightful read. Recommended.
The Sheik and the Runaway Princess: Special Edition No 1430
Susan Mallery
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373244304 Mass Market Paperback 250 pages $4.50
When he discovers the woman wandering alone in the desert following a sand storm, Prince
Kardal
Khan recognizes her immediately as Sabrina Johnson - otherwise known as Princess Sabra, King
Hassan of Bahania's only daughter. She's everything he expected: willful, difficult, and spoiled.
She's
also his fiancee, as marriage has been arranged to promote an alliance between their people.
Trapped
between tradition and progress, Kardal struggles with modernity while still respecting his people's
ancient ways. His assumes that his proposed wife neither respects the ancient ways, nor lives the
exemplary western life he would prefer. Unfortunately, he's bound to her just the same. But she
obviously doesn't know who he is, and Kardal prefers not to enlighten her right away. Sabrina had
been certain she could find the City of Thieves when she left the palace alone. Raised in California
with her mother, she'd spent summers in Bahania, supposedly to learn the ways of his people. But
her father ignored her, as did her brothers when they weren't teasing her unmercifully. Sabrina
can't
help wondering if the desert troll she's supposed to marry wouldn't be preferable to being tied and
blindfolded by this desert kidnapper. She's stunned to learn their destination is the legendary City
of
Thieves. Shocked by the city's water supply and impressive castle, she's even more startled to
learn
that her captor is none other than Kardal, the Prince of Thieves. Opulence surrounds her, and if
Kardal has it way, decadence as well. After all, her antics in California are well documented, and
it's
never occurred to him that she truly might be an innocent. Susan Mallery creates fabulous fantasy
material in The Sheik And The Runaway Princess. The characterizations are at once outlandish
and
believable. The fiery heroine finds the prince of her dreams, despite slave bracelets and an
unearned
poor reputation. The sexy hero's path to believing in love proves to be impetuous, challenging and
absolutely delightful as he goes from finding Sabrina lackng, to wanting her with all his heart.
Indeed, Kardal plans to "tame" the princess; he grows to appreciate her instead. With an
interesting
plot and fabulous characterizations, The Sheik And The Runaway Princess is a keeper. Very
highly
recommended.
Wrangling the Redhead: Special Edition No 1429
Sherryl Woods
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373244290 Mass Market Paperback 250 pages $4.50
Sherryl Woods concludes this delightful miniseries, The Calamity Janes, with Wrangling The
Redhead. Five friends share an enduring friendship, begun in high school, self-named for their
penchant for broken hearts and troubles. Though their lives are widely divergent now, these
women
are still as close as sisters, despite their infrequent contact. Now with all her friends happily
spoken
for, Lauren Winters longs for the love and security her friends seem to share. Following the ten
year
reunion of The Calamity Janes, Lauren grows increasingly disillusioned with the tinsel glamour of
stardom, longing to be valued for herself rather than her looks and box office draw. Determined
to
earn her way, Lauren moves in with Grady and Karen Blackhawk, offering her skills with horses
in
exchange for room and board. For the first time, Lauren feels like she's where she belongs doing
what she truly loves. And freedom from the camera frees her from the rigid self-control she's
maintained for ten years. Wrangler Wade Owens can't believe his eyes when he sees a woman he
perceives to be a tenderfoot too close to the dangerous horse Midnight. Badly abused by a
previous
owner, Midnight doesn't allow anyone too close. Even when he realizes he's underestimates
Lauren's
skill with horses, Wade can't help thinking that she has "more sass than sense." Yet he finds her
ability to take him by surprise intriguing. Although he suspects she still has ties to Los Angeles,
Wade has no idea of Lauren's true identity. Lauren enjoys Wade's gritty reality, as opposed the
slick
perfection that characterizes the men she knows from show business. She revels in the
opportunity
to be appreciated for her skills, and hesitates to reveal her Hollywood success or her hefty bank
account, especially when she learns that Wade deeply despises the wealthy. Scars from the past
prevent him from seeing past to the dollar signs to the potential goodness of those with wealth.
But
Lauren risks all to keep her identity a secret. Sherryl Woods concludes The Calamity anes
miniseries
with a fiery match in Wrangling The Redhead, a character driven romance with a marvelous cast.
Wade doesn't fall into the trap of resenting a woman who earns more money than him; instead, he
bears scars that leave a bitter memory of the damage that the privileged wealthy can inflict.
Lauren
knows she should come clean, but fears rejection, making her an endearing and sympathetic
character. The Calamity Janes always hover in the background, fully prepared to meddle without
ever inferring with the pace of the tale. After five installments, it saddens this reviewer to say
goodbye to this marvelous cast of characters. With Wood's characteristic light-hearted touch,
Wrangling The Redhead is a dazzling series finale, coming very highly recommended.
Playing With Fire: Harlequin Blaze No 20
Carrie Alexander
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790244 Mass Market Paperback 248 pages $4.50
The game is teasingly seductive -- the beckoning come hither looks, the smoldering passions
luring
them. The game becomes a fevered seduction, as wild fantasy plays out myriad possibilities, a
sensual delight. The game is the savage hunter in pursuit of the woman who longs to be caught in
a
cataclysmic joining, without defense, winner take all. But the question remains as to what happens
when the fantasy isn't enough, and he longs for the woman to surrender not just her body, but also
her heart. Daniel Savage's life had become a clich‚ with long hours and an administrative assistant
that knows him better than he knows himself. He's drawn irresistibly to the woman's teasing
seduction, thriving on the thrill of the hunt, and delighting in her potent allure. When they leave
the
party to retreat to the quasi intimacy of a drink at another restaurant, the heat between them
becomes searing. Especially when Daniel wants to know what's she wearing beneath the daring
dress
that is only a dropped thread away from public indecency. When she leaves him with her golden
panties in hand as she departs the restaurant, he's hooked, forever. Now he's got to find the
woman
who plays the game complete with false identity and sensual allure. Lara Gladstone fled the brittle
city, with a lifestyle of struggling by day and partying by night, to the quiet of the Adirondack
Mountains where she recreates the beauty of nature in stained glass. A restaurant opening where
her
work is displayed lures her from her quiet retreat, and in a borrowed dress as dangerous as sin,
Lara
catches Daniel's eye. She knew immediately that he was uniquely her match. His distinctive aura
lures her, creating a chemistry she wants to play out. The night becomes like a dream sequence,
and
she is caught up in this otherworldly feel that allows her to seek reckless adventure. She wants to
live her fantasies, to be overwhelmed by passion. Carrie Alexander's Playing With Fire provides a
searing look at love, blending extreme sensuality with the struggles of maturty. Lara's no
frightened
virgin; she's a provocative, powerful woman unafraid of her sexuality, but terrified of a permanent
commitment that might weaken her. At thirty, Lara's grown beyond the limits of youth that loves
late nights and a party atmosphere. She needs something more; something offered in the sexual
fantasies and emotional implications of a relationship with Daniel. But as much as Lara desires the
fantasy, she fears the reality. A relationship with a man like Daniel can't be relegated to the
bedroom
and kept a secret. Their relationship must be more than just sexual games, wild nights and
excitement. Alexander captures the struggles of risk that come to all of us past our twenties as we
learn to cope with the changes maturity brings. These are memorable characters, from the best
friend
with her brightly colored kitchen and delightful daughter, to the fiercely independent aunt. The
gamut of possible roles for a woman are presented within the secondary characters, from fierce
independence and remaining single, to the traditional sister's marriage and two children, to her
best
friend's unconventional lifestyle and single mom status. Alexander's story honors each character's
choices, while pushing her heroine into pursuing the path that is uniquely her own. Very highly
recommended.
Leavesthe Baby In The Back Seat: American Romance No 897
Mollie Molay
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373168977 Mass Market Paperback 251 pages $4.50
Since he was fifteen, Sam Harrison dreamed of creating a family like he had when his father died.
His first attempt, however, didn't go well. He never felt wanted at home, and then his flighty wife
Paige divorced him -- crowned by the moment when he collected the last of his luggage and Paige
unknowingly put their six-month baby in his back seat. He'd been fine with the end of marriage,
but
the loss of his child was devastating, even if he had spent very little time with her. So when he
hears
the unexpected sound of his daughter's crying, Sam runs off the road on the western slopes of the
Colorado Rockies, plowing through a fence and smashing into a water tower. Then a woman with
a
gun arrives, turning his world upside down. Laura Evans holds a rifle in the crook of her arm as
she
rides up to survey the damage to her water tower and fence line. The guy's outrageous tale of an
ex-wife who put the baby in the back seat seems terribly unlikely, but certainly not a tale told to
cover an untruth. With a totaled SUV, the man can't just drive away, and she can't resist the
adorable child. So Laura invites him to the ranch to make repartition for the damage and to wait
for
a new rental car. The new father obviously loves his daughter, but hasn't a clue when it comes to
diapers and baby cereal. Laura's baby skills prove invaluable. Too bad he's a photojournalist with a
hard-bitten case of wanderlust. I have a little trouble with the premise of father who's remained
absent except for one brief visit with his six month old suddenly turning into Mr. Mom. While the
emotions are convincingly portrayed, Sam still should have had a few moments of intense anxiety
and feelings of being overwhelmed, even if he does have help. A bit more reality tempering the
idealism of the situation would have been far more persuasive for this reader. Despite my
misgivings,
I also found The Baby In The Back Seat impossible to put down as Laura struggles with holding
onto her land and her heart. The quick blossoming love affair and the struggles ith her past make
her
a sympathetic and believable character. Recommended.
Charlotte Moore: Superromance No 1026
Judith Bowen
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710267 Mass Market Paperback 297 pages $4.99
Zoey Phillips, Charlotte Moore, and Lydia Lane met just after high school while working at a
wilderness resort in the Rocky Mountains. Ten years later at the reunion of the Jasper Park
Lodger
summer staff, someone speculates what fun it might be to look up the boy that led to their first
heartbreak. Perhaps he's balding, paunchy, and boring. Then at the next year's reunion, they'd all
report their results. Six months after their discussion, Charlotte gains her unexpected opportunity
to
find out what happened to Liam Connery, the boy she had a crush on in fifth grade. Charlotte's
sister
Laurel offers to set her up with the opportunity to meet Liam again. Laurel supposedly made
arrangements to breed her show Labrador retriever Maggie with one of Liam's dogs. While
surprised to learn Liam gave up his dreams of flying to become a breeder, Charlotte happily
agrees
to drop Maggie off for breeding since she will be working nearby anyway. Charlotte has her own
business as a decorative arts supplier, and had landed the opportunity to carry out a special estate
appraisal on Prince Edward Island. The job should take three or four weeks, which should give
enough time for Maggie's breeding. Unfortunately, Laurel neglects to mention that Liam had
second
thoughts about breeding one of his gun dogs with a show dog. From the moment he first glimpses
Charlotte, Liam doggedly holds himself in careful control. With a haunting dark secret, he doesn't
want involvement with a woman. His life is limited to running his breeding and kennel service, and
taking care of his marvelous aging mother. But his mother Ada has her own ideas about how
things
should be, offering to care for Maggie while Charlotte works. One thing leads to another, and
soon
Ada persuades her son to offer a room to Charlotte. Their house had been set up as bed and
breakfast, so they obviously have the room and Ada can use the company. Even as the enigmatic
Liam maintains his careful distance, Charlotte can't help regretting that the cheerful boy she knew
years ago beame such a taciturn man. Yet there's something incredibly attractive about him when
he
forgets his careful control long enough to smile. Author Judith Bowen creates a delightful
conundrum in Charlotte Moore. Liam falls in love while still struggling with the past. Granted,
there
are extreme circumstances that certainly justify his decision. However, because he has not told
Charlotte the truth of the past, Liam's omission becomes not an ethical issue, but one of honesty.
Bowen uses this plot to great effect, leaving the reader to contemplate Liam's dark secrets and
question his motives before finally resolving the explanation. Contrasting the dark secrets of the
past
are several litters of puppies, a marvelous old house full of treasure, and terrific cast of characters.
A
novel of surprising depth and marvelous characterizations, Charlotte Moore comes very highly
recommended.
Mr. November: Temptation No 856
Lori Foster
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373259565 Mass Market Paperback 219 pages $3.99
Amanda Barker devotes most of her nonworking hours to charity work. She's currently putting
together a calendar that incorporates a different firefighter for each month of the year to benefit a
local burn institute. The calendar is virtually complete, lacking only Mr. November. Josh Marshall
would make the perfect model for the month, if only he would stop saying no. When her request
becomes personal, Amanda can't back down. She doesn't want Josh to see her panic every time he
comes too close. Seven years ago Amanda made a promise to herself, swearing to make
reparation
in the only way left to her, allowing her to live with memories and overwhelming guilt. In an
interesting twist on role reversal, Josh doesn't like the idea of posing for a calendar because it
makes
him into a sex object rather than valuing the work he performs. Beneath Amanda prissy exterior,
Josh senses a woman filled with fear. Her elegant control embodies the opposite elements that he
find attractive in women, yet he's attracted to Amanda in the strongest way. Josh wants to
Amanda
from a sweet, refined, classy recluse to the wild and unreserved woman he believes her to be. He
hadn't meant to delve into her past or confront her ghosts, but seeing her fear makes him involved.
Indeed, Amanda stymies Josh, but he's up to the challenge. He agrees to model for her calendar if
she'll agree to his courtship. Lori Foster's unmatchable talent for creating sparkling
characterizations
once again shines in Mr. November. As playboy hero Josh meets his match in petite Amanda,
sparks
fly. Josh doesn't hesitate to commit himself to Amanda, despite a string of women and wild
reputation. Nor does he dodge the tremendous burden of guilt that has paralyzed her for so long.
As
Josh's warmth brings healing, Amanda strokes a shared heat that threatens to blaze out of control.
In
addition, Foster successfully reintroduces favorite characters from the previous two novels of the
series, providing unobtrusive updates on favorite characters, thereby allowing their preence to
enrich
the storyline. Very highly recommended.
Taming The Tabloid Heiress: American Romance No 900
Michele Dunaway
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373169000 Mass Market Paperback 248 pages $4.50
With a father who is the chair of a Fortune 500 publishing company, Kit O'Brien manages make
her
own headlines regularly in the tabloids with her outrageous exploits. The most recent disaster
resulting in a bowl of dog food being poured into the lap of her father's favorite godson Blain
Rourke, who is also speculated to be her fianc‚. Kit's powerful personality and determination to
make a difference seems to backfire frequently, but no more so than when sets out on the Last
Frontier cruise. Kit accepts the assignment for the Last Frontier cruise hoping she can use it as
lever
to better assignments and a method of escaping her father. He owns the paper she works for,
forcing
her to publish her pieces under the pseudonym Carol Jones. While her father hopes her work is a
walk on the wild side before she happily settles down with Blain to make babies, Kit considers her
work a good deal more important. Tired of writing pieces on fluff like wine tasting, she finally
landed her first serious assignment. Kit's first interview is with Joshua Parker, a man who
unfortunately has sworn off the press. With Kit's perchance for headline splashing, Joshua likewise
does not take her seriously. Joshua immediately recognizes the tabloid heiress on the plane that
wings them both to the cruise. Nine years of writing the script of Final Frontier has band him
something of a cult figure, and he's ready to sacrifice notoriety for becoming a gentleman farmer.
He
quickly realizes that Kit doesn't recognize him from the television show, but as a man in his own
right. Too bad he's sick of headlines, and too bad she needs this interview. Michele Dunaway pens
a
lighthearted, delightfully fresh romance in Taming The Tabloid Heiress. With a sexy hero that will
make the reader's heart go pitter-pat, and a dynamic heroine with a perchance for trouble,
Dunaway
creates a glittering tale that keeps the senses reeling. Indeed, outrageous antics, mesmerizing
sensuality, and irresistible characters that find themselves at cross purposes combine to crate a
memorable reading experience. Very highly recommended.
My Heart Remembers: Special Edition No 1439
Patricia McLinn
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373244398 Mass Market Paperback 250 pages $4.50
Eight years ago nineteen-year-old Lisa Currick recognized that the detective Shane Garrison had
used her when they arrived in court. She sat at on the side of her mentor Alex, the defendant,
while
Shane took his place with the prosecution. A bare nod was all she got after weeks of intimate
talks,
long walks, and hours of fantasy. Lisa was disillusioned to realize that Shane had spent all those
hours with her that spring because he wanted information that would convict Alex. The needs of
his
profession had been the beginning and the ending of their relationship. Indeed, Lisa had believed
in
two men then. One disappointed her hopes. The other broke her heart. With the trial over, she left
New York to return to Wyoming, where she built a life of logic, schedules and control. After all
these years on the force, only one outstanding case still haunts Shane. Before he accepts his
newest
job offer, Shane intends to locate the missing necklace Alex absconded with. Certainly, Shane had
gotten a conviction, but even after eight years he wants to know where the necklace went. At
least
that's his justification when he walks back into Lisa's life. His entrance into her life results in
unexpectedly confronting a cold woman that distances herself from everyone rather than the
joyful,
spirited, artistic Lisa of his memory. Her life is so busy with work and school that Lisa doesn't
have
time for people. Shane intuitively knows, however, that somewhere behind those carefully
constructed walls still exists the woman who identified with the Bur-Marigold, because "they got
around, and brighten up everywhere they went." He intends to bring that woman back. Once
again
Patricia McLinn pens a touching romance in My Heart Remembers. The third installment of the
Wyoming Wildflowers miniseries, the tie between heroine and flower seems quite appropriate.
Hardly survivors who only need the slightest nurturing, both marigolds and this heroine grow
despite less than ideal conditions. But with a little nurturing and sunlight, they blossom
intoremarkable beauties. Lisa's tentative blossoming echoes Shane's growth as well, as he moves
beyond reticence into self-honesty regarding his motivations and emotions. A compelling,
poignant
read, My Heart Remembers comes highly recommended.
Under The Covers: Temptation No 857
Jamie Denton
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373259573 Mass Market Paperback 216 pages $3.99
Detective Blake Hammond must cancel his two week vacation in Hawaii to accept an under cover
assignment, leaving him feeling outraged. Normally a cool, smooth, together kind of guy, Blake
feels
frustrated and much in need of some R & R. Tired, overworked, frustrated cops are make
mistakes
that can be dangerous and deadly. Now he's assigned to assist DEA Ronnie Carmichael who's just
the woman to keep his world off kilter and his mind off business. A dangerous combination when
their lives depend upon remaining under cover. Ronnie plans this to be her last assignment,
looking
forward to escaping the world of designer drugs and false identities. The department's strict
fraternization policy forbids emotional involvement with Blake; however, their cover as
honeymooners require that they act like a couple in love. Two weeks at Seaport Manor posing as
newlyweds will give department non-fraternization rules quite a workout. Living in close,
romantic
quarters will cause the lines between pretense and reality to merge rather quickly when sexual
magnetism keeps drawing them together. As Blake and Ronnie fight mistakes of the past that
overshadow the present, they find themselves irresistibly drawn together. The sensual resort with
its
romantic overtones provides the perfect background to this wickedly delicious read. Once again
author Jamie Denton displays her sensually masterful storytelling skills. The novel reads like one,
long, sexy tease of emotions and erotic possibilities, making the necessity of remaining under the
covers absolutely delightful. While the ending feels a bit abrupt, the powerful characterizations
and
naughty sexual play will still leave the reader satisfied. Highly recommended.
The Wild Side: Harlequin Blaze No 11
Isabel Sharpe
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790155 Mass Market Paperback 248 pages $4.50
Melissa Rodgers wants to forsake her good girl exterior and take a walk on the wild side. Five
years
of a bland, but pleasant, relationship that never showed any sparkle makes her want it all. Not that
she looks forward to the day when she marries, has a couple of kids and drives a SUV. But in the
mean time, she wants wild nights, sex toys, and a boy toy. So she completes a makeover, and asks
her wild neighbor Rose for an introduction to a "friend". Rose complies, using the opportunity for
her own purposes. She fears for her safely and plans to leave town for a while. If her watchers see
a
woman in the window, they'll never suspect she's gone. So when Rose arranges an introduction,
she
never explains the blind date isn't for herself, but for Melissa. Riley Anderson, a private detective
working with the FBI and on an assignment to pinpoint a leak in the local police department,
arrives
at Rose's apartment expecting a sex siren. He's seen the evidence of Rose's revolving door and her
ability to transform her appearance and demeanor based on the company she keeps. But instead of
a
sex siren, Riley meets a tentative, frightened kitten eager to play. Her innocence awakens his
tenderness, but this is supposed to be Rose, the sex goddess that keeps an ever shifting population
of
men dancing at attendance. Soon Riley finds that the woman, he later learns she's actually Melissa,
can touch his heart and emotions deeply. Not exactly what he wanted from an undercover
assignment. The struggle between yielding to one's desires while remaining tightly in control of
one's
emotions becomes the focus of Isabel Sharpe's The Wild Side. Unfortunately, at times the plot
seems
to threaten to spiral out of control as it pushes the envelop of plausibility. Not that the individual
elements aren't possible, or the writing isn't good, but when the package is put together, it feels
like
a bit too much. Yet the characters are so incredibly dynamic and engaging that readers can't resist
their charm. In addition, the secondary plot provides avibrant contrast to the main plot, ultimately
proving that the promiscuous, wild Rose isn't so different from the conservative Melissa after all.
Indeed, Rose is such a wonderful character that she threatens to take over the storyline; perhaps
she
deserved her own book. Definately a walk on the wild side, The Wild Side comes
recommended.
Live A Little!: Blaze No 19
Nancy Warren
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790236 Mass Market Paperback 216 pages $4.50
Accountant Cynthia Baxter would like to learn to live a little. Her six year engagement to a doctor
more concerned with patients than his personal relationships drives her to desperate measures.
She
purchases the September issue of Raunch Magazine, which categorizes its fantasies into Boudoir
Beginners, Intimate Intermediates, and Erotically Advanced. She'd even highlighted her favorite
fantasies. But Walter leaves her naked and handcuffed to the bed while he leaves to deliver a
baby.
Hours later, a neighbor finally comes to the rescue. But meeting FBI agent Jake Wheeler under
such
conditions does not fulfill her fantasy. At first, Jake Wheeler assumes Cynthia's prone position
resulted from a working girl's day gone bad. Her trash looks juxtapose an oddly innocent
expression
in her eyes, driving his libido over the edge, even if he has sworn off wild women with revolving
bedroom doors. However, when he realizes that Cynthia's an accountant, Jake convinces her to
volunteer to help him crack a drug smuggling operation by accepting a new job with his quarry.
Cynthia leaps at the opportunity for change and excitement. She transforms herself into Cyn the
Bold and prepares to plunge into the world of black ops, spies and danger. Even as Jake suspects
that the sophisticated sex-pot routine is fake, it's too late to withdraw from a very dangerous
situation-both undercover and under the covers. Now this is what a Blaze should be! Sexy,
daring,
and bold with a dash of levity, Live A Little! lives up to my highest expectations. The heroine
doesn't waste time protesting her innocence, the hero doesn't struggle over needless issues, and
the
plot never slows. Indeed, the dangerous plot echoes the dangerous eroticism of a handcuff
fantasy,
resulting in a terrific read. Pleasing, tempting and erotic, Live A Little! comes very highly
recommended.
Going To The Castle: Silhouette Romance No 1563
Nicole Burnham
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 037319563X Mass Market Paperback $3.99
Antony is the oldest San Riminian crown prince ever not to have married and produced heirs.
With
King Edurado's failing health adding pressure, Antony must either choose quickly or his father
will
do it for him. He doesn't, however, expect to find the woman of his dreams in an area plagued by
overcrowding and poor sanitation. Despite her scruffy appearance, Antony easily imagines
Jennifer
Allen in a blue ball gown in his palace. He finds her relaxed attitude refreshing, and her genuine
affection for his people captivating. Never mind her lack of royal blood; he finds himself incredibly
attracted to this scruffy American who encourages him to follow his heart, and make his own
choices rather than accepting the dictates of others. Jennifer follows in her parent's footstep,
journeying into war torn lands to provide emergency relief for innocent civilians. When some of
the
refugees hear of Prince Antony's planned visit, she discounts the rumors since she's received no
official notification. Consequently, she's digging a latrine when she learns the reputed Playboy
Prince
will arrive in a few hours. She assumes he's like most politicians who make relief workers feel as
though he really cares about their work, but in reality only cares as much as his royal position
requires. His concern over the lack of media attention only affirms her assumptions. Yet she can't
help being impressed as he takes a seemingly genuine interest in one of the children in the refugee
camp. Nicole Burnham's debut novel Going To The Castle provides a delightful storyline
especially
appreciated in light of recent world events. The wretched conditions described could easily be
torn
from a news headline, making the background both believable and powerful. Indeed, this
Cinderella
story becomes effectively convincing in this talented storyteller's hands, with strong
characterizations
and careful attention to detail. Moreover, the striking contrast between Nicole and Antony's
background becomes a pivotal element that unexpectedly draws them together Poignant and
endearing, Going To The Castle comes highly recommended.
Harmless Error
Kate Donovan
iPublish at Time Warner Books
135 West 50th Street, New York, New York 10020-1393
ISBN 0759550239 Paperback 280 pages $13.95
Defense attorney Derek Graniger comes to the courthouse not to hear the verdict of George
Perry's
case, the father who stands accused to the kidnapping and murder of five-year-old Amy, but to
gauge the reaction of the victim's mother. Sure enough, Veronica Keys Perry's sneer of
satisfaction
reminds Derek how fortunate he had been to escape the psychotic woman. In fact, only Derek and
George could understand the harm of allowing an innocent child to grow up in Veronica's twisted
grasp. Two weeks later Derek finds himself at the prison planning to explain to George that he
cannot provide appellate representation. George changes his mind, however, when he reveals that
not only is Amy alive, but that Derek is the father. If the appeal succeeds, George will reveal
Amy's
location. Derek needs a creative, imaginative lawyer that can provide a flash of inspiration. Derek
is
the technician; he knows the law in all its infinite logical detail. Now he needs a renegade like
Laurel
Banyon, who has never lost a case. He admires Laurel's competitive, gutsy style and believes she
can
look beyond the logic of the transcripts to find the "emotional error" that will justify an appeal.
While he needs Laurel's skill, he also must control while carefully challenging her curiosity. He
must
keep her focused on the drama of the transcript rather than the drama behind it, or Laurel will
guess
the facts Derek prefers to remain concealed. Indeed, Derek risks his license to practice law with
this
case; in hiring Laurel he also risks his heart. While novels with legal backgrounds abound, Kate
Donovan's masterful display of creative lawyering and romancing lends Harmless Error
delightfully
fresh and original qualities. The characters are markedly believable without falling into the
predictable traps frequented by romance authors. For example, Laurel learns of Derek's paternity,
she doesn't waste a lot of emotional energy berating him for not revealing the whole story, thereby
proving her professionalism and understanding of the implications f such knowledge. Further,
while
many plots involve men who become unwitting fathers, this method is highly original. Indeed,
Veronica's obsession with her appearance and her sexual perversions lend the novel not only a
fascinating plot, but also an intriguing villain. Harmless Error comes very highly
recommended.
Gwyneth's Secret Grandpa: Family History Adventures For Young Readers
Annie Morris Williams, Linsey Doolittle (Illustrator)
Field Stone Publishers
331 Fields Hill Road, Conway, Massachusetts 01341
ISBN 0373710232 Paperback (Limited Edition) 168 pages $10.95
Twelve-year-old Gwyneth enjoys her older brother Davie's company, especially because he takes
her
along wherever he is going. Davie even lets her come along with him and Beth, except at night on
their dates. Davie has enlisted in the Marines to fight in World War II, which worries her. Before
Davie leaves, their father has encouraged him to locate his grandpa, their mother's father,
although
secrets from the past have alienated their mother from their grandpa. When Gwyneth realizes
Davie's
driving away, she convinces him and her father to allow her to go along too. Unfortunately, Davie
and Gwyneth neglect to ask about their grandpa's first name. When Gwyneth and Davie arrive in
the
town where their grandpa lives, they realize they don't know his first name. They consult the
phone
book, but with twenty-nine people with the same last name, they quickly give their task up as
futile.
They plan to return, but with gas rationing, find they cannot return before Davie leaves for the
war.
Gwyneth doesn't give up, however, taking the bus back to her grandpa's town. She still can't find
him the phonebook, and later takes her research to the local library when she convinces Beth to
help
in her quest. Sure enough, they find grandpa's address, but no one is home. Gwyneth's persistence
is
eventually rewarded when she meets her secret grandpa. The quest leads to lessons of honesty
and
forgiveness as she brings healing to her family. Especially timely with our country at war,
Gwyneth's
Secret Grandpa will touch the hearts of young readers. While our country does not currently
sharing
Gwyneth's concern for rationing and gas stamps, the glimpse into the challenges of the past comes
as
quite an enlightening experience. Further, author Annie Morris Williams carefully explores the
delicate balance between remaining respectfully silent and speaking up for what you believe in.
This
intriguing look into our shared cultural heritage becomes a lesson in history and love, resulting in
a
riveting read. Highly Recommended for Ages 9-12.
The Bachelorette: Desire No 1401
Kate Little
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373764014 Mass Market Paperback 187 pages $3.99
As she rushes to review the sketches for her latest jewelry designs, Meredith Blair can't help
reflecting on the irony of designing wedding rings, the very kind of rings she has no hope of
wearing. She's purposefully shut herself off from romantic entanglements after a professor burned
her badly in college. Loose clothes designed to conceal her busty figure, thick glasses and little
makeup allow her to avoid male attention. But millionaire Adam Richards looks beyond the
obvious,
seeing a beautiful woman conceal behind a wall of frump. When bachelor Adam Richards sees the
frumpy woman from the jewelry store transformed into a glitzy siren, he finds himself rescuing her
from the charity action. He prefers the non-flashy Meredith. He also can't help admiring her
talents
for designing not only small pieces of jewelry, but large sculptures complete with the need of
warehouse space and a blowtorch. Unfortunately, it may take a blowtorch to convince Meredith
to
accept a new relationship. Returned gifts and unanswered messages don't bode well for this
would-be suitor. The Bachelorette by Kate Little capitalizes on a bachelorette auction to bring
hearts
together. These charming characters demonstrate tenacity as they struggle with desire and love.
Meredith's sculpting talent, complete with blowtorch, gives her an unusual flair, and provides the
plot with some rather interesting twists as she blossoms when her work finding admirers. Adam's
touching persistence likewise touches a chord with readers as he risks all for love. A delightful
romance, The Bachelorette comes recommended.
Born in Secret: Intimate Moments No 1112
Kylie Brant
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 037327176X Mass Market Paperback 250 pages $4.50
Walker James has the assignment to infiltrate a Middle Eastern Terrorist organization called the
Brothers of Darkness so that he may locate and destroy an anthrax lab before a deadly plot
decimates the majority of the country's population. Walker's delinquent childhood and experience
as
a thief hold him in good stead as he walks the shadowy world of espionage. Indeed, Walker fits
well
into a world without the clarity of black and white, preferring to walk the ambiguous gray areas.
He's earned the nickname The Ghost for his ability to slip in and out of seemingly impenetrable
places. While he works well alone or as a part of a team, he's not prepared for his new partner.
Jasmine LeBarr outmaneuvered him three years ago, and he's never forgiven her. Jasmine goes
undercover as an emissary called Rose Mahrain with Walker accompanying her as her driver. She
has a gift for gaining people's trust, and of getting them to underestimate her, which she uses to
her
advantage. While Walker calls her an opportunist who will go any length to get what she wants,
Jasmine actually adheres carefully to her own moral code. Walker is dangerous to her well being
as
any man she's ever brought down. He's already hurt her once with his callous dismissal, and she
refuses to be that vulnerable again. Indeed, their lingering attraction may prove to be the most
dangerous aspect of the mission. Kylie Brant weaves an intriguing web of danger in this timely
tale
of terrorism and romance in Born In Secret. Unfortunately, while the theme of first-born sons
frames
the narrative, it does not affect the plot as a whole, resulting in a tacked on feeling at the end.
Nevertheless, Born In Secret is a highly believable, vividly realized tale. The fast paced plot and
the
strong characterizations are nicely balanced, resulting in a tale at once deadly, yet richly balanced
by
powerful emotions and physical attraction. Jasmine is a vivacious and strong heroine who refuses
to
allow Walker's scathing comments regarding their shared history get to her. In adition, she knows
exactly how to apply her feminine wiles to great advantage to the men she encounters. Further,
Walker's James Bond-like charisma and looks, complete with cool spy toys, makes him a
memorable
hero. Highly recommended.
I've Got Mail!
Robert Messinger, Illustrated by John Salerno
Little Mai Press
102 River Drive, LakeHiawatha, NJ 07034
ISBN 189323701X Hardcover 39 pages $12.95
Since she was very little, Laura has been entertained by her dad's computer. Before she
understood
the words, Laura would go into gales of laughter over her dad's "silly chatter." While she
eventually
came to understand bits, bytes and bugs, Laura was entranced most by the words "You've got
mail!"
Even her very own program filled with her favorite things couldn't compare to her heart's desire
for
her own mail. Then finally, by the time she's almost six, she knows enough to ask for her own
email.
I've Got Mail! adds originality to the truism of that children love mail addressed to them. Author
Robert Messinger captures that excitement and enthusiasm marvelously, bringing his text
vivaciousness by writing from a child's point of view. I've Got Mail! is certain to delight young
readers with its simple rhyme scheme; indeed, adults will appreciate the smooth rhyming verse
that
becomes a delight to read out loud. In addition, Messinger's verse is nicely showcased with
illustrations by John Salerno. I've Got Mail! provides ample motivation for repeated readings.
Highly
recommended.
Until Our Last Embrace
Joyce and Jim Lavene
Avalon Books
160 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10016
ISBN 0803495080 Hardcover 192 pages $19.95
Sharyn is the third generation of Howards to be elected sheriff in the small town of Diamond
Springs, North Carolina. She has her hands full when word of a bear attack throws the town in a
tizzy, especially when a reporter prints a false story claiming that the bear was rabid. The victim
was
Darva Richmond, the sister-in-law to Beau Richmond, a man previously murdered. Her husband
was
suing his brother's widow over a large inheritance. While the mauling is tragic, no one initially
suspects foul play until officers look beyond initial evidence. As clues are revealed, Darva's
husband
seems to be the logic suspect. But his bitter family also provides is also suspicious. Further,
Darva's
aunt, Miss Eleanore, arrives in town with her accusations. Contradictory reports of Darva's
marriage add to the confusion as friends report that Darva and husband Donald were the perfect
couple, yet family claims that they were always fighting and didn't sleep together. Donald was
contesting his brother 's will because it was changed during the last few months of Beau
Richmond's
life. Donald says he brother was stable enough to make out a new will that changed his heir from
being his brother to being his new wife. Millions are at stake. In addition to a touchy
investigation,
Sharyn finds herself confronting a host of other problems. District Attorney Jack Winter is
determined to express his romantic interest and doesn't hesitate to use political machinations for
his
own purposes. She also must find a date to attend her mother's engagement party, although her
mother's marrying Senator Caison Talbot, a man Sharyn neither likes nor trusts. Her deputies
seem
to be fighting affairs of the heart that leave her short staffed. Further, because she doesn't see
herself
or her job as desirable, she's clueless in realizing her medical examiner is interested. To top it off,
the
dry cleaners dyed her uniforms blue. Authors Joyce and Jim Lavene combine their creative efforts
in
Until Our Last Embrace. A touch of levity gives this mystery punch, aking it a fast, fun read.
Staunchly independent, and chronically curious, Sharyn Howard is a believable, determined
heroine
blind to her own possible love interests. Further, the conclusion Until Our Last Embrace proves to
be powerful and satisfying even as it keeps the reader guessing until the end. As each book in the
series gets even better, you have to constantly remind yourself that Sharyn and the town of
Diamond
Springs are a work of fiction. Very highly recommended.
Winter's Orphan
Elaine Corvidae
Novel Books Inc.
P.O. Box 661, Douglas, MA 01516
ISBN 1931696063 eBook download $6.00
ISBN 1931696934 paperback $13.50
Mina Cole is winter's orphan, a child abandoned to a cruel system of indenture and an iron slave
collar since she was sixteen, to repay an orphanage for her room and board following the death of
her mother. She pays her indenture by working twelve-hour shifts in a cotton mill under the most
difficult of conditions. The date she obtains freedom is stamped on the collar - when she's
thirty-two.
The abrasion caused by the collar runs very deeply, however. Not only does it rub her neck raw
and
feel very heavy, but the iron also inhibits her magic except in times of extreme duress. Mina is
unknowingly part unseelie faeling, half human and half fae, gifted with the ability to work with
earth
and water, and cold and night. She doesn't know that the inhibition caused by her collar has most
likely saved her life because the Seelie Court hunts magic users. Any other fae would have been
driven mad by so long of contact with iron. Living such a bleak existence has made this winter's
orphan believe spring will never come. When Duncan RiDahn discovers Mina fighting a seelie
hound, it doesn't take long to recognize her impetuousness and strength that reminds him of his
lost
love. Thirty-five years ago Aerin took her fight to the Seelie Court itself, where he was crippled
and
he believes Aerin died. Duncan only explains to Mina that once the seelie and the unseelie fae got
along fine. But over the past few decades, war has begun. The seelie fae now actively seek the
destruction of the unseelie. Duncan doesn't want to tell Mina that the Seelie Court itself hunts her
for fear she'll die the same way Aerin did. Further, Duncan doesn't face his own fears regarding
Mina. He fears her abilities, believing that she might be dyana, a fae capable of bending others to
her
will. He prefers to believe that his fears are nothing more than paranoid a fantasy, which seems
likely, despite how powerful she appears. Despite his concerns, the wheel chair bound teacher
would
love to witness the unfolding of Mina's powers, which would be both terriying and profound.
Author
Elaine Corvidae bring the smell of smoke, winter, and putrid water vividly to life in Winter's
Orphan.
Despite its bleak landscape, however, Winter's Orphan is also a tale of triumph, of hope, and of
courage. The primary characters possess an intensity that springs from the page, luring the reader
into their plight. Duncan's an especially unusual hero with his withered legs and poverty. The
secondary characters, including the seelie and unseelie fae, are likewise strongly realized. The
plight
of Fox, for example, the wealthy maiden who sees past, present, and future in her strings but is
kept
locked away by her family, can't help but touch reader's hearts. A powerful tale marvelously told,
Winter's Orphan comes very highly recommended.
Finders Keepers
Linnea Sinclair
Novel Books Inc.
P.O. Box 661, Douglas, MA 01516
ISBN 1931696004 eBook download $6.00
ISBN 1931696993 paperback $14.95
Captain Trilby Elliot owns the Careless Venture, a small, independent starfreighter. Four months
ago
the bottom fell out of her world. Her agent informed her that they can no longer work with
independent ships like hers. Her boyfriend informed her that he was marrying someone else.
Worse,
a series of raids by the 'Sko have all but obliterated any decent contracts because no one wants to
risk shipping goods on a short-haul freighters with antiquated navigational systems and inadequate
defenses. Now she's stranded on some obscure planet while she struggles to repair her ship when
a
'Sko Tark crashes nearby. She rushes to the crash site, expecting to find a body and salvageable
parts she can sell for a profit - finders keepers. What she finds is a man who is obviously not 'Sko
but will die of his injuries and the environment without her help. The man Trilby rescues identifies
himself as Z'fharin Lieutenant Rhis Vanur. Until Rhis met Trilby he had been getting reckless. Not
careless, but reckless, because he didn't really care if he lived or died. When he infiltrated the 'Sko
compound, he successfully relayed stolen data back to his ship. Never mind his rescue had been
botched, and almost resulted in his death. But Rhis cannot explain where he'd been to Trilby. No
way she would believe him. He must deceive her with a harmless, amiable, sympathetic demeanor
--
everything he is not -- or everything he'd risked his life for would be threatened. He intends to
commandeer her ship to return to his planet immediately. Too bad she's in the middle of repairs.
And
too bad he must lie about his identity. As he comes to enjoy this fiery, gutsy air sprite, Rhis hopes
she can eventually understand the precariousness of his position because of the urgency of the
situation with the 'Sko. His feelings for her have completely obliterated everything else from his
mind, even as he logically knows he should have offered an explanation regarding the truth of his
identity much sooner. Rhis is a man Trilby can relate to, but T'Vhar the Terible embodies
everything
Trilby dislikes, including her belief T'Vhar is a devious manipulator -- an emperor and sometimes
executioner on his own ship. Rhis has never before allowed his heart to overshadow his mind.
Trilby
stirs something primal, urgent and intense in him. It's incomprehensible to him how he could loose
control so easily to a woman because of a winsome face, a soft mouth, and a mesmerizing scent of
powder and flowers. But when he realizes that Trilby is being targeted for assassination, Rhis
vows
to do whatever it takes to keep her safe, even against her will. A compassionate heart and an
inquisitive mind combine with the gustiness, making Trilby an outstanding heroine. Likewise,
Rhis'
journey into the discovery of his emotions provides outrageous, and often amusing, conundrums.
With a marvelous 'droid to add a touch of levity, Finders Keepers is a marvelous space adventure.
This is not a derivative novel based on Star Trek or other such fair. Rather, this is a highly
original,
enormously entertaining tale filled with darkly dangerous and highly fascinating characters that
run
the gamut from humorous to dangerous. Readers will definitely be hoping for a sequel. Very
highly
recommended.
Trust To Chance
Gwyneth Atlee
Zebra Books/Kensignton Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10022
ISBN 0821770357 Mass Market Paperback 352 pages $5.99
Rebecca Marston's father disowns her when she announces her plan to become a nurse.
Unfortunately, Rebecca's empathic abilities cause her to identify too closely with her patients,
making the horrors of their wounds as real to her as if the wounds were on her own body. Just
before she plans to resign, Rebecca attends a birthday party in her own honor away from camp
with
her cousin and friends. Rebecca is happy to escape the horrors of the operation theatre, until the
day
turns deadly when southern born raiders kill her cousin and kidnap her. Now she must put all her
skills to the test if she and her fellow prisoners are to survive. That night, the kidnapers hear the
voices of desperate men coming from the Mississippi River. Jacob Fuller and his companions have
spent the previous three years in the notorious Andersonville prison in Georgia. He and his fellow
Union soldiers are finally going home when the riverboat explodes in the dark of night. Jacob
clings
to a floating stage plank as others fall victim to the frigid water, their wounds, and shock. At last
the
kidnappers pull him and four others from the frigid water. Rebecca's kidnappers are an effective
guerrilla force under the command of Colonel Lewis Hall. Most southern raiders would have hung
the lot of them for their Union ties after raping the women. But Hall has other plans. Ordinarily
his
men disrupt Union supply lines, attack occupied towns, and hang as many Northern sympathizers
as
they can. When he learns Rebecca's identity, her virtue remains intact so that the Colonel can
ransom
her to her father. Unfortunately, the plan fails, and Rebecca's life becomes forfeit. Gwyneth Atlee
masterfully captures the painful atmosphere of the waning days of the Civil War in Trust To
Chance,
the sequel to Against The Odds. Like the phoenix rising from ashes, so does love blossom out of
the
destructive forces of war when extreme circumstance brings the daughter of a wealthy
Philadelphian
businessman and a farrier from Indiana together. With a plot that graphicall exhibits the worst and
best of the human spirit, Atlee draws her characters into the most challenging of situations.
Indeed,
Rebecca's saucy grit and determination, balanced by Jacob's reflective nature, result in fierce,
powerful tale of love. Fans will look forward to the conclusion of this trilogy with Innocent
Deceptions, due in July 2002. Very highly recommended.
In Too Deep
Janelle Taylor
Zebra Books/Kensington Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue, New York NY 10022
ISBN 0821769332 Mass Market Paperback 384 pages $6.99
Heiress Jenny Holloway renounced her father's money years ago, preferring to make her own way
on her hard work and talent. Her first act of rebellion fifteen years ago hadn't gone so well. She
married Tony when she was eighteen to escape her father's marriage to a much younger woman.
When Tony became abusive, she allowed her father to rescue her and to pay Tony to disappear.
Tony never knew he has a son. Now Jenny is opening a restaurant in Santa Fe, pleased to be a
successful career woman and mother. She doesn't realize her ex has plans for her, or that her new
love interest has been hired by her father for her protection. Tony remembers Jenny as a good
thing
and looks forward to an opportunity to gain control to her father's money, not to mention getting
under her icy exterior. But he's underestimated his ex-wife. While Tony may find a way to
monopolize their son's emotions and make Jenny feel threatened, he doesn't know she has
protection
lurking in the background. When Tony killed Hunter Calgary's sister, escaping without charges,
Hunter's obsession never lessened. Now he intends to not only exact his revenge, but to protect
Jenny as well. But concealing his identity and motivation could easily prove counter productive as
they grow emotionally close. Indeed, it doesn't take long for Hunter to know he's in too deep.
Once
again author Janelle Taylor pens a fascinating read with In Too Deep. While she returns to an
often-used plot, the family dynamics as well as the tension of attraction between hero and heroine
led the novel a startling realism. Indeed, Taylor also a knack for getting into the head of the sadist
villain, brilliantly portraying his dangerous escalation of rage and cruelty. In Too Deep comes
highly
recommended.
A Capital Holiday
Janet Dailey
Zebra Books/Kensington Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue, New York NY 10022
ISBN 0821772244 Mass Market Paperback 320 pages $6.99
Presidential daughter Jocelyn Wakefield grows weary of living in a glass prison. She longs to
escape,
just once, to wander the tourist attractions of Washington D.C. and drink in the freedom most
folks
take for granted. Hosting too many state events, and being compared to Jacqueline Kennedy can
have that effect. In a sudden burst of inspiration, Jocelyn enlists the aid of her grandmother, an old
tunnel once used as part of the Underground Railroad, and transforms herself into an ordinary
woman for twenty-four hours. Once she makes good her escape, however, a rather rambunctious
dog trips up her plans. Literally. The man who pulls her to her feet is political column writer
Grady
Tucker. In a time of the acerbic political humorist, Grady just pokes fun; bringing his targets with
wit but without rancor. Yet Jocelyn fears that a representative of the very people she seeks to
escape
will blow her cover. A helpful passerby that remarkably resembles Santa Claus pauses to assists
them. Soon Jocelyn finds herself grudgingly acknowledging her attraction to Grady.
Unfortunately,
her false identity makes any kind of relationship impossible. Readers in need of a bit of
entertaining
fluff will find Janet Dailey's A Capital Holiday a lovely read. While impractical, and in wake of
terrorist activities, entirely too dangerous, A Capital Holiday does live up to the need to escape
and
have fun. Main characters are captivating while secondary characters like the grandma and her
butler
add special zest. The lively spirit that pervades the novel pays its debt of gratitude when
characters
acknowledge "Roman Holiday" and "Miracle on 34th Street" for inspiration. Lighthearted and
amusing, this comedy sparkles with starry-eyed holiday spirit, coming highly recommended.
Louie Larkey And The Bad Dream Patrol
Linda Kay Weber, Nora Hilb (Illustrator)
Moon Mountain Publishing
80 Peachtree Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852
ISBN 0967792932 Hardback List Price $15.95
As young Heather sleeps, Louie Larkey and the Bad Dream Patrol walk through her house
scaring
away the bad dreams. Louie Larkie is Heather's newest teddy, with lavender fur and red overalls.
Her older two teddies, Nilla and Bosley, form the Bad Dream Patrol. Zsa-Zsa, the white stuffed
cat,
remains on the bed with Heather unless called into emergency duty. One night, however, Louie
Larkey and the Bad Dream Patrol can't make it from the kitchen and up the stairs in time. Even
though Zsa-Zsa springs to their aid, Louie Larkey is the third stair from the top when dawn ends
nighttime magic. When Heather finds him, she knows her companion has been protecting her
dreams. Louie Larkey and his delightful companions are guaranteed to keep the bad dreams away
in
Linda Kay Weber's latest creation. Weber's gentle humor combines with Nora Hilb's charming
illustrations to create a story perfectly balanced between the fear of bad dreams and an
imaginative
solution. These wonderful teddy bears, always an icon of protection and comfort, come alive with
Hilb's colorful inks. Indeed, the bad dream looks a bit like a colorful bearded dragon, just
whimsical
and charming enough to entice young readers as they overcome nighttime fears. Destined to
become
a young reader's favorite nighttime tale, Louie Larkey and the Bad Dream Patrol comes very
highly
recommended.
Heartmate: Magical Love Romance
Robin D. Owens
Jove/Berkley Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, Sew York, NY 10014
ISBN 0515132896 Mass Market Paperback 352 pages $5.99
In the delirium of his third Passage when he gained mastery of his psi powers, T'Ash created a
HeartGift that binds him to his future HeartMate. He had fashioned a necklace that lacked his
current level of graceful craftsmanship, but that holds his creative, carnal energy. The fine jewel in
the center is a large roseamber pendant with an inner flaw that takes a different appearance to
each
person who views it. Only T'Ash and his HeartMate can see the true image captured within. The
necklace will attract and affect only his HeartMate. Danith Mallow prefers the charming and
whimsical over the expensive and gilt laden. She comes to the jewelry shop because she's drawn
to
T'Ash's most sensual and original creations. But the stunning necklace that T'Ash holds out to her
at
once attracts and repulses her. Overwhelmed by her responses to it, she believes he's cast a filthy
seduction spell in an effort to win a common woman to his bed. It leaves her feeling cheapened
and
oddly betrayed. A Null, someone unaffected by psi gifts, steals the necklace from the counter
before
T'Ash can convince Danith to take it. Worse, an heir to another Great House calls in his debt of
honor, forcing T'Ash to focus on another task rather than searching for the necklace and winning
his
HeartMate. Now his once serene life is suddenly in a shambles. He had believed pursuing his
HeartMate would be simple, easy. Instead, the task becomes incredibly complicated and
confusing.
Danith wants a family, marriage to a simple man, and a peaceful life, not a nobleman with Flair
and
dubious intentions. T'Ash, the man who once moved in Downwind circles, and now in rich noble
circles, is too different than Danith, too intense and too alone. She's an average woman of
common
birth and was raised in an orphanage. She's learned to accept that there are many things she
cannot
have, like an extraordinary psi gift, and T'Ash only reminds her of her insignificance. Danith's fears
result in a habit of refusing T'Ash, of disbelieving his words and running from him.Yet their
destiny
drives T'Ash to face her rejection again and again, even though his inept attempts at courtship
only
seem to infuriate her. Accompanied by his familiar, Zanth, T'Ash will steal the heart of readers
with
his inept wooing of his HeartMate and his fear of sharing his inner self. His incredible abilities
balance a carefully protected vulnerability that makes him endearing to readers. Zanth's attitude
about life, that "Life is good," as he stalks sewer rats and arranges jewels also provides excellent
amusement. Indeed, author Robin Owens' world of Celta that includes psi gifts and familiars who
communicate telepathically is delicious. Rich with humor and nuance, presenting danger on
multiple
levels while remaining utterly irresistible, Heartmate will capture readers' hearts, and leaving them
hoping for a sequel. Very highly recommended.
Voices On The Stair
Elizabeth Routen
XLibris
123 Chestnut Street, Suite 402, Philadelphia, PA 19106
ISBN 0738858358 Trade Paperback 236 pages $21.99
Author Elizabeth Routen creates a stunning collection of 33 stories and a final poem in Voices On
The Stairs. From the child dying of leukemia to the enraged man in Popeye's Chicken, Routen's
carefully sketched short stories reflect life that surrounds us; the very life most of us just as
carefully
choose to ignore. Yet Routen brings those often ignored moments a depth and poignancy that
forces
the reader to pause, to examine, and to reflect. Within Routen's tales are the people who surround
us
in grocery stores, on the street and in the night. Indeed, her characters strongly reflect humanity's
common fears, desires, and disillusionments. "Requiem", for example, tells the story of lose and of
learned lessons. A boy's father dies, and now another man spends time with his mother. This man
who "would be a father by choice and not by chance. Such things make all the difference." With
the
man, the child comes to understand what death is. And "To understand death and to deliver it are
two entirely different things." The results of death and poorly made choices are scars we can see,
and those we cannot; and those scars that we learn from and those we do not. Routen captures
the
essence of living in a melancholy collection that reflects wisdom beyond her years. Colors,
textures,
landscapes vividly come to life with flair and polish, becoming a microcosm of life. Routen's
poetic
voice moves with stately observation and recognition. Death, loss and sadness are embraced as a
part of living with reverence and respect. Unfortunately, at times the reader may loose their way
in
some of the shorter pieces, as with "Sad Bird" when the purpose becomes lost in the subtlety.
Nevertheless, the over all flow of the collection remains strong and true in its search for meaning.
Indeed, evocative, thought provoking, teasing memory and dreams, Voices On The Stair comes
highly recommended.
Jungle Baby
Elliot Nestle
iUniverse
5220 S 16th, Ste. 200, Lincoln, NE 68512
ISBN 0595197221 Paperback 316 pages $16.95
From surviving the jungle of Brooklyn streets to the jungle of South America, this New York
youth
demonstrates that "correct ethics" is not getting caught. We follow our hero through his difficult
childhood and him mother's bad choice in men to the day when he does get doing something
illegal.
The public defender gives the boy has two choices for staying out of jail: suicide or the Army. Our
hero joins the Army, where he proves his financial genius for actions that would have previously
stamped him a crook and a punk. Overweight and Jewish, our hero finds himself at the bottom of
the
pecking order in an outfit of misfits. He learns the value of camaraderie, of defying the system,
and
how to work around the military's hypocrisy, eventually landing in Korea. As he learns the art of
manipulating the system, our hero becomes not only the "first Jew who ever had communion in
St.
Patrick," but also struggles with lessons of love and sexuality. Korea brings further manipulations
of
the system, and the realization of real danger. Now an intelligence expert, he proves just how
absurd
some of aspects of that assignment can be, from the jungle of Korea to the jungle of South
America.
Jungle Baby demonstrates the best and the worse possibilities of publishing with companies like
iUniverse. The author would have seriously benefited from careful proofreading, correcting
misspellings, language usage, and punctuation errors. Despite these frequent errors, often several
on
each page, this shining new voice miraculously manages to overcome the flawed text to provide a
realistic, humorous and enormously pleasing narrative. Indeed, author Elliot Nestle's coming of
age
tale will touch a broad spectrum of audiences with his religious, political, and military
observations.
With the perfect touch of levity, this narrative is surprisingly fresh and original.
Recommended.
The Wildest Shore
Lisa Cach
Love Spell/Dorchester Publishing
276 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
ISBN 0505524546 Mass Market Paperback 393 pages $5.99
In 1811, lady's maid Anne Hazlett accompanies her employer on a journey to India, where Pamela
Goodwyn hopes to find a husband. Mrs. Goodwyn had hired Anne to accompany her
irresponsible
daughter, assuming that Anne's quiet ways indicate a dull reliability. The flirtatious Horatio
Merivale, a lieutenant in the East India Company, likewise underestimates the quiet lady's maid,
flirting outrageously with Pamela to while away the long voyage. Too bad Anne disregarded
mother's caution that she is too intelligent and sensitive to be happy in be a servant, in hopes
finding
her dream. Social classes fall away, however, when a vicious storm breaks up the ship. Pamela
and
her brother leave Anne to find her way to safety, too concerned with obtaining a place on the
longboat to save a mere servant. In the dark and rising water, it is Horatio's hand that reaches
down
to lend her aid. They eventually climb aboard the make shift raft three surviving crewmen lashed
together with rope and found objects, trusting the Hand of Destiny to lead them to safety. They
are
rescued by a loathsome pirate, and eventually mutiny, finding their way to the island that has
haunted Anne's dreams, driving to her quest to a South Seas paradise. Lisa Cach's deft pen once
again creates a marvelously imaginative tale of filled with exotic locations and fanciful characters
in
The Wildest Shore. Her own wanderlust and love of the unusual lends passion to the tale,
allowing
her distant experiences to sparkle through. Further, the fast paced adventuresome plot will hold
the
reader's rapt attention as the characters struggle with a biting monkey, leeches, and headhunters.
Rather than the perfect paradise, these details lend the novel a convincing sense of normality amid
an
extraordinary tale. In addition, the phenomenal growth of the hero and heroine gives the novel a
likewise convincing feel as Anne learns independence and as Horatio moves from a shiftless
ne'er-do-well to a man of depth and passion. Readers should be aware, if sharing with a young
audence, that the sensual exploration between characters is extraordinarily erotic, not because the
acts they share are especially unusually, but because they are described in great detail. Very highly
recommended.
Whispers Of Goodbye
Karen White
Leisure Love Spell/Dorchester Publishing
276 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
ISBN 0505524554 Mass Market Paperback 368 pages $5.99
Grieving the tragic drowning of her young son, Catherine was unprepared for her husband's blame
and subsequent suicide. The years of the Civil War brought devastation to their fields and
mansion,
leaving little for Catherine to live upon. When her sister Elizabeth's letter comes from Louisiana,
bidding her to come quickly, she immediately leaves for Whispering Oaks, the beautiful house on
the
Mississippi left to Elizabeth by her grandmother. She couldn't help wondering if her sister's letter
would leave to her salvation or to her ruin. When John McMahon married Elizabeth and took her
to
Louisiana, Cat had resented him with a fierceness reserved for the young. The sisters had been
close,
and at fourteen Cat had resented the implication that he might need Elizabeth more than she does.
Now twenty-two, she arrives at Whispering Oaks to learn her sister was not necessarily the
woman
she remembered. Elizabeth has disappeared, and whispered gossip and overheard comments
reveal a
selfish, sometimes cruel woman who always sought, but never seemed to find, happiness. When
her
body is discovered in a nearby field, even her husband does not mourn. Dark shadows of betrayal
and secrets lurk beneath a promise of new beginnings in Karen White's gothic romance Whispers
Of
Goodbye. Cat questions the truth as to her sister's character, boldly confronting danger and
disillusionment with equal strength of character. The dark and secretive John lends the novel a
sensual undertone, balancing the shadow with light as he and Cat fall in love and build a marriage
together. Yet classic gothic elements continue to cast lingering doubts and shadowed fears,
keeping
the ominous overtone consistent as ancient superstitions and dark family secrets come to light.
Highly recommended.
Shamara
Catherine Spangler
Leisure Love Spell/Dorchester Publishing
276 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
ISBN 050552452X Mass Market Paperback 368 pages $5.50
Women on Travan are only good either for breeding purposes or for trading for goods and
services.
Eirene Kane had hoped to escape those fates because she's a gifted healer, but her uncle has other
plans for her. He's going to barter her virginity for a trade route. Eirene can't let that happen; it
would only be a matter of time before her betrothed discovered that she's an Enhancer. So she
stows
away on a passing ship traveling to Saron. There she seeks employment as a courtesan, planning
to
rid herself of her irksome virginity quickly to make her worthless as trade fodder for her uncle.
She'll
use her gifts as an Enhancer to make the encounter swift, and then be on her way. Too bad her
client
seems immune to her mind manipulations. Jarek san Ranul stands as the guardian between his
people
and extension. His people are Shielders, genetically resistant to the Controllers' mind
manipulation.
He's found a wormhole that possibly leads to Shamara, meaning sanctuary, for his people. Jarek
believes that Enhancers, a race now believed to be extinct, had the ability to use a portal to travel
to
other galaxies. With such a heavy burden always with him, Jarek has never sought a relationship
with a woman. Sick to death of being alone, he allows himself to be talked into a visit to the
Pleasure Dome for a night of warmth and comfort in a woman's arms. He's stunned to learn the
woman is a virgin. But an assignation attempt proves the woman to have the very gifts he seeks to
aid his people. Shamara by Catherine Spangler is an outstanding read. With the perfect blend of
psychic gifts, space travel and old fashioned romance, Spangler creates a novel readers will find
impossible to put down. Eirene proves her extraordinary valor time and again as she puts other's
needs ahead of her own. Likewise, Jarek's concern for the survival of his people is only outshined
by
his concern for Eirene, a difficult balance indeed. Furthermore, the secondary story of the
dangerous
Leor Commander Gunnar juxtaposed by the lighthearted courtesan Lan, the "blue-feather lady"
from
the Pleasure Dome, provides comic relief for an otherwise very intense story. This fast paced plot
with its wonderful secondary plot line will please previous fans in addition to earning many new
ones. The carefully balanced characterizations and action make Shamara a Winner of the
WordWeaving Award of Excellence.
After Twilight
Amanda Ashley, Christine Feehan, Ronda Thompson
Leisure Love Spell/Dorchester Publishing
276 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
ISBN 0505524503 Mass Market Paperback 395 pages $5.99
In a collection as ageless as its subject matter, love and redemption become the themes that bind
those who come to life After Twilight. "Masquerade" by Amanda Ashley: Weary of living,
vampire
Jason Blackthorn takes little pleasure in his existence until he meets Leanne, an actress/singer who
brings life to the night. She is everything he is not - sunlight, hope and innocence. To be near her,
he
must masquerade as one of the ordinary living. But at some point, the mask must come off. "Dark
Dream" by Christine Feehan: On the point of turning vampire, the ancient Carpathian being
Falcon
longs to return to homeland just one more time before he meets the dawn. Then he meets Sara
Marten, a woman as isolated and alone as himself, recognizing her as his lifemate. A vampire has
stalked her for fifteen years, and intends to bend her to his own dark will no matter who tries to
stop
him. "Midnight Serenade by Ronda Thompson: An "accident" three years ago deep in the
Canadian
mountains turned two brothers into werewolves. Now veterinarian Rick Donavan isolates himself
in
the mountains fearing what he becomes on the full moon. He finds himself irresistibly drawn to
wildlife expert Stephanie who's there studying wolves. An accidental bite binds their destinies,
despite his best intentions. Authors Amanda Ashley, Christine Feehan And Ronda Thompson
bring
together their remarkable talent in After Twilight. Powerful emotions and overwhelming
challenges
unite these fabulously diverse tales. Dark desire, sensual response and incredible adversity makes
this
timeless collection come very highly recommended.
Metapocalypse
Mark Brendan
Hollow Hills Publishing
50 Bromfield Road, Redditch, Worcestershire, B97 4PN England
eBook/Multiple Formats $8.70
Metapocalypse is a science fiction morality play that is written as allegory. It abounds in multiple
meanings that must be understood on more than level. Further, it includes themes of
psychomachia--the battle within the individual's mind or soul, often represented allegorically in
literature as a conflict between virtues and vices for the possession of the soul. Even the name
John
Everyman is a personified abstraction. The result is stunning, richly created science fiction. Set in
the
present, the Leviathan controls government and the Pyramid controls big business. John
Everyman
finds himself caught between the two when something goes wrong with his deprogramming. His
mind tries to compensate for the damage by joining entirely disparate scenarios and possibilities.
Everyman moves fluidly through history. At one point he's a business owner in late 18th century
Brittania when he's shanghaied by the military, he goes to war against Patagonia (Argentina). He
later awakens in a modern day hospital where he's stunned to learn his doctor is a black woman.
He
believes its still 1790 and he's in Albion. Everyman finds himself entranced by the television until
he
realizes that it's merely used for propaganda. 27 electroshock treatments and mind control make
his
accept his role in a perfectly engineered society. A microprocessor is implanted into his spine to
make him a tool against anarchy and disorder. At another point, Everyman joins a big business as
an
executive in a Brittania where the Roman Empire never fell. Though it's the start of the 21st
century,
citizens wears togas, travel is by anti-gravity chariots, give allegiance to an Emperor. A company
called Hegemony fronts for government intent upon mandatory DNA donations by citizens for
their
own purposes. Metapocalypse is a roller coaster ride, filled with twists and convolutions that will
leave the reader reeling. Unexpected junctures and juxtapositions, altered reality and surrealism
result in a blend of satire and irony that keeps the pages turning. Withouta linear storyline, readers
are never certain where they are in the landscape, a fact shared by Everyman. Indeed, the reader
shares the hero's disassociations and delusions, nebulous reality and manipulations. Despite the
uneven pace, tone and humor of the narrative, readers will discover that beneath the shadows and
confusion lies dark political satire masked as science fiction that will hold one's attention riveted.
Highly recommended for conspiracy fans and fans of dystopian science fiction fans.
Paradise Shattered: Double Novel: The Beginning & Prince Of Paradise
D. Lee and Kammy Bonias
CrossroadsPub.com
806 N Black St., Silver City, NM 88061
ISBN 158338555X eBook/Multiple Formats Download $3.96 CD $9.95
Vincent McBride built his secluded resort to lure skiers in the winter and hikers in the summer.
With
a mobile population, no one would think to look too closely at the mysterious owner and his
managers who never age. He met Jeff and Sarah over forty years ago when they had emigrated
from
Europe only to be swindled out of their savings and left alone to face a cold New York winter.
He'd
made them an offer that they accepted of their own free will. In exchange for immortality they
gave
Vincent that absolute devotion. But after ten years of being alone, Vincent is incredibly lonely,
despite the devotion of his ghouls. Since Vincent needs a new lawyer, Sarah arranges for three to
interview with him. She carefully selects three beautiful women, the last being her preference.
From
his first meeting with Marilyn Thompson, Vincent senses a woman with deep passion that even
she
doesn't recognize. Intelligent, complicated, determined and strong, Marilyn's everything Vincent
finds most attractive, including the carefully concealed vulnerability. Vincent wants her, but only
because it's her choice, not from any vampire compelling. But even before Vincent can explain
exactly what he is, others threaten his newfound paradise. Shadow Stalkers are killing vampires,
ghouls and associates alike. With the latest in technology and final backing, they are
extraordinarily
dangerous, and their next target is Vincent's resort. With graphic violence strong sexual content,
Paradise Shattered is not for everyone. But for lovers of intensity and vampires, Paradise
Shattered
is a stunning, fulfilling read. Authors D. Lee and Kammy Bonias seem to take great pleasure in
exploring the sensual pleasures of vampirism, as well as its more dangerous aspects. In addition,
the
use of ghouls, particularly a secondary character's well thought out decision to become one, is
fascinating, as is the explanation of clans of vampire. While many of the characters are fascinating,
I
would have liked to see Marilyn's character more fully developed. The reade has little sense of
who
she was before arriving at Vincent's resort and what, beyond fantastic sex, motivates her to leave
behind an ordinary life. Nevertheless, intense and violent, Paradise Shattered comes very highly
recommended.
The CatsPaw: Blue Death
M.J. Hollingshead
Electric eBook Publishing
6254 Sycamore Street, Powell River, BC, Canada V8A 4K9
ISBN 1894618181 eBook/Multiple Formats $TBA
Alec Strand and his friend accept an opportunity to housesit in return for a holiday. On a
cross-country rail across Scotland, they meet Marilyn Swinney, a fearful young woman who
rightfully believes she is being followed. She had accepted a package from her younger brother
Rolf
some time ago, storing it in her pantry until such time as he might retrieve it. Then her brother
suddenly calls her, warning to take the package and flee London. Meanwhile, in London, medical
director Lord Henry struggles to save the life of the latest victim of "the blue death." The virulent
biohazard has disappeared from a secret MI6 lab. Now an unknown person or persons are using
the
virus against a group of people that appear to have nothing in common. Chief Inspector Patrick
Edwards of the Scotland Yard enters the action when vials of the deadly virus disappear from the
original thieves' possession. Freshness and informality characterize MJ Hollingshead's style in The
Catspaw: Blue Death. As the puzzle unfolds, seemingly disparate elements take a startling
cohesiveness. Train chases, a rescue mission, and an overt threat of a biohazard falling out of
control
briskly move the plot along. M.J. Hollingshead's unusual approach to characterization and plot
result
a novel that breaks with typical formulated mystery. Very highly recommended.
The Mind Of A Terrorist Fundamentalist: The Psychology Of Terrorist Cults
Stephen J. Morgan
AweStruck E-Books
2458 Cherry Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
ISBN 1587491362 eBook/Multiple Formats Downloads $4.50 Diskettes $7.95
Winner of the Word Weaving Award for Excellence: Nonfiction
In the wake of the World Trade Center/Pentagon disaster, many of us are seeking understanding
of
the mindset that would bring about terrorist behavior. Author Stephen J. Morgan strives to
answer
our questions in The Mind Of A Terrorist Fundamentalist: The Psychology Of Terror Cults.
Morgan
writes largely from personal experience, and supports his comments with studies that likewise
have
personal experience with different aspects of cults, extremism and psychology. Stephen Morgan
held
office in the National Executive of the British Labour Party at the same time as he served as a
mole;
that is, he used his office to carry out activities against the state. During the 1980s, he and others
infiltrated and captured senior positions in the British Labour Party, bringing Britain to the brink
of
civil war. Morgan spent years building terrorist cells worldwide, until he left the cult behind ten
years ago. Now he exposes the warped mentality and the collective pathology that exists in such
groups. He demonstrates how the cause comes to mean everything, and lives become secondary.
Further, Morgan examines how terrorist cults operate, the psychological profiles of its members,
and
the process of converting a human being into a killing tool. Motivated by the horrors of the
WTC/Pentagon bombings, Morgan wrote this book in three weeks. Boldly exposing his past
experiences, Morgan seeks to offer insight into the people behind such actions as displayed by the
WTC/Pentagon disaster. Further, Morgan converted to Islam some years ago and has an Arab
wife,
so he likewise can offer insight into the spiritual motivations of terrorists. A powerful and
profound
expose, The Mind Of A Terrorist Fundamentalist: The Psychology Of Terror Cults is an
educational
and necessary read for everyone. Very highly recommended.
Hennessey's Heaven
Judy Gill
AweStruck E-Books
2458 Cherry Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
ISBN 1587491052 eBook/Multiple Formats Downloads $4.50 Diskettes $7.95
Hennessey thought he'd caught a glimpse of heaven the first time he saw the woman traipsing
across
land where he's the caretaker. With the drive blocked, she boldly removed her shoes and
pantyhose
to walk barefoot across the lawn and through the wild flowers, presenting a delectable view to her
hidden audience. While he doesn't expect a spitfire when he meets her, Hennessey finds himself
irresistibly drawn to the woman who can fix cars, carve lifelike wild life, and mows right through
his
sister's wildflowers. Heaven certainly isn't boring, as Venny so beautifully proves. Hennessey
leaves
Heaven McLure stunned when she meets him. She came to family's island retreat to heal from the
dissolution of her goals and dreams after the loss of her company and the destruction of her
marriage. A woman of principle, Venny didn't pay for hex ex-husband's defense to heal her heart,
but
because it was right. But she doesn't want him back, has never wanted him back, and refuses to
see
him or speak to him now that he's finally out of jail. The last thing she needs to be confronted by a
sexy man who looks too much like her ex-husband and leaves her shaking with desire.
Hennessey's
Heaven is one of those sweet treats that just, well heavenly. These well rounded, if imperfect,
characters feel as if they stepped right out of real life with their sass and warmth. Amusing, with
just
enough tension to keep the plot flowing smoothly, Hennessey's Heaven is a delightful read.
Indeed,
author Judy proves the best possibilities of epublishing. Originally published as part of the
Loveswept Line, and now reissued as an eBook, Hennessey's Heaven would have been a sad loss
if
relegated to oblivion rather republished. Highly recommended.
Dreams Of Charni: Warrior Of Earth: Volume I
Alan M. Brooker
RFI West, Inc.
#431 5515 N 7th Street, Suite 5, Phoenix AZ 85014
ISBN 1586973606 eBook/Multiple Formats Pages 244 $TBA
Jason Williams' family has a reputation for their vividness of their imagination and the intensity of
their passions. But his stunningly realistic dreams repeat exactly over a period of six weeks feel
extreme, even to him. Each night his dreams transport him from his native New Zealand to an
unknown world with two suns, three moons, and lance-wielding men who kill him. As the dreams
grow stronger and increase in frequency, they still retain the same plot. It's as if something from a
distant planet seeks to make contact, growing more demanding daily. His physician refers Jason to
a
specialist in parapsychological phenomena. On his way to for the first appointment, Jason stops by
a
favorite bookstore. The proprietor has received a shipment of old books from an unknown
source.
In one carton Jason discovers a leather-bound edition of star charts as visualized by Copernicus in
1520. A page falls out that maps a cluster he's not familiar with called the Constellation of Cancer.
In the same carton he discovers an amulet that matches the amulet of his dreams. The amulet
gives
him previously unknown strength and abilities, transporting him across space and allowing him to
survive the dream that previously had marked a deathblow. Two naked slave women approach,
beginning his adventure on on Praesepe, a planet 525 million light years from Earth. He's no
longer
caught in a dream, but living out reality. The princess of the planet had called him there, hoping he
can save her and her planet. If Jason cannot, then the evil that menaces Praesepe will eventually
threaten the entire galaxy. 1960s lurid style comic books come to life in Alan M. Brooker's
Dreams
Of Charni. The violent, highly sexual worlds created in comic books draws a sharp line between
good and evil, leaving no middle ground and gray areas. Women are sexual beings in need of
assistance, comfort, and care, relying upon men for their needs. Not only does Jason have the
opportunity to have his way with the four women slaves in his care, but he also quickly relievs
Princess Charni of her virginity, which coincidentally will thwart her evil brother's plan to rape her
on an alter to the Evil Ones, before offering her heart to them in a human sacrifice. While an
interesting read, women in such dependent roles, complete with rape, torture and other violent
acts,
won't appeal to many women. But for men who love the clear delineation of between good and
evil,
strong eroticism, and violence, Dreams Of Charni will prove to be a highly entertaining read.
DarkWind
Charlotte Boyette-Compo
RFI West Inc.
#431 5515 N 7th Street, Suite 5, Phoenix AZ 85014
ISBN 0966820932 e-Book 200 pages $TBA
Dr. Caitlin Kelly, on board the United Space Alliance Medevac ship the Orion, responds to a
medical distress signal from the middle of part of space called the Sinisters. Caitlin can hear a
mental
call, something no one else hears. Ten women guards, dead of hemlock poisoning, protect their
crucified captive. The eleventh's words warn: "Let him die. When his earthly body is drained of
life
you must remove his head and..." But Caitlin is a healer and must save life, not end it. Soon she
learns that her patient is not entirely human, but is part Wolf. Khiershon Cree is the son of Captain
Kamerone Cree (Bloodwind), a Reaper who was carefully trained, conditioned, genetically
manipulated, and capable of dangerous transformation. Caitlin's shipmates find a Death Warrant
for
Khiershon for crimes against women. Years ago, when the Amzeen Queen captured the young
boy,
she believed a child of the union between her daughter Raphaella and the Reaper would produce a
vastly superior female soldier: "The child would be graceful and quick like her mother, but agile
and
strong in the way of her sire...a child born from the seed of the seed of Kamerone Cree would be
invincible." After the child became a man, five years ago, he escaped bondage and disappeared
with
the Amzeen Princess Raphaella and a few trusted others. Khiershon has a special gift with
women.
Not only can he read minds, but he can also use his psychic ability to rape women by filling them
with unbridled lust. Every woman aboard the Orien is deeply affected, unable to keep their hands
from stroking his body, or their kisses from his forehead. Every woman, that is, except Caitlin,
who's
sleep remains untroubled; yet finds she's strangely bonded to this stranger. Then Khiershon's
former
shipmate and friend Iyan McGregor arrives, explaining everyone aboardship will die unless they
fill
Kheirshon's needs: "You saved his life; his life belongs to you. The Sustenance must come from
your
veins." As Iyan holds Caitlin's blood to Khiershon's lips, the parasite inside the mn forced its host
to
drink, binding them in ways neither is prepared for. Drinking her blood insures Khiershon, an
assassin, will be able to follow Caitlin's blood scent anywhere in the universe. As danger brews on
earth as well, deadly plots for power stalk the universe, proving once again author Charlotte
Boyett-Compo's talent for creating a boldly terse, wildly violent, dangerously addictive read. This
is
a frightful world where assassins are genetically engineered, cruel manipulations abound, and
slavery
is commonplace. Cruelty, honor, and tenderness coexist in a fast paced plot of incredible intensity
where choices are dictated by survival. Indeed, the fabulously detailed dark mythos that lends
structure to this series reveals Boyett-Compo to be one of the most talent authors of our time.
Readers will eagerly await the conclusion of this series which will bring son and sire together. A
gritty, intricately woven tale, Darkwind comes very highly recommended.
Seven Rings Binding
Catherine Snodgrass
RFI West, Inc.
#431 5515 N 7th Street, Suite 5, Phoenix AZ 85014
ISBN 1586972901 (Electronic) $4.95
ISBN 1586978799 (Paperback) $11.95 eBook/Multiple Formats
Nate Blackburn vows to save his mother's inheritance from a psychic he believes to be out to bilk
her fortune. What better way to keep her from stealing his mother's money than to marry her?
After
all it is in 1875 when all that a wife possesses becomes the property of the husband. At least that's
what Nate tells his sister, but his heart is smitten from his first look into her violet eyes. Combined
with challenges of saving a business from rival companies, a house falling into disrepair, and his
mother's grief pushing her to spiritualism, and Nate feels as though "he was constantly battling
dragons with a toothpick." Libby Claiborne desperately accepts the chance at marriage to save her
family from the cruelties imposed by her stepbrother Clayton. Clayton has placed both her mother
and her grandmother in an insane asylum even as he forces her to exploit her empathic gifts for his
benefit. Indeed, Clayton's cruelties have created tremendous mistrust of all men, even as her heart
recognizes him as an ancient soul that had been separated from her by a long absence. Yet she
carefully guards her heart, fearing that once spellbound, she'll be able to deny him nothing. Yet
she
needs help battling the dragons that threaten her. Author Catherine Snodgrass creates a
delightfully
rich romance in Seven Rings Binding. With a poetic voice she gracefully moves the reader
through a
narrative filled with vivid imagery and meaning. While the paranormal element heightens the
tensions
of the story, and provides fuel for the villain's motivation, it does not dominate the tale. Further,
while Nate suddenly receives his own talent, the reason for it's appearance is not clear. Other
elements as well must be accepted on face value, such as a hasty offer and acceptance of
marriage.
Despite the lack of full explanation at times, however, Seven Rings Binding provides a delightful
afternoon's read, coming highly recommended.
Lying Innocent Eyes/Not As It Seems
Donald Clem
Wordbeams
P.O. Box 23415, Portland, OR 97281-3415
Lying Innocent Eyes: 2095 words, $1.00
Not As It Seems: 1050 words, $1.00
New author Donald Clem brings his background as a detailed observer, having been both a
detective
and an artist, to his short stories Lying Eyes and Not as It Seems. In Lying Eyes, almost
inconsequential details become the method of conviction. In Not as It Seems, fences being
constructed on the range divide two old friends. Both tales hold one element in common: startling
conclusions become Clem's trademark, undercutting reader's guesses with amazing panache.
Indeed,
with a keen eye for nuance and a crisp writing style, Clem demonstrates a stunning ability to
capture
the heart of the moment in only a few words. Further, brevity becomes a tremendous asset in
these
startling realistic word pictures, intense with color, emotion and power, making Clem a promising
author to watch for in the future. Very highly recommended.
Shadow In Starlight
Shannah Biondine
LTD Books
200 North Service Rd W., Unit 1, Suite 301, Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6M 2Y1
ISBN Disk 1553160371
ISBN Rocket 1553169670 eBook/Multiple Formats Download $5 disk $6
The king informs Lady Moreya Fa that it was her father who arranged her betrothal to a prince
regent in the neighboring kingdom Greensward. Unfortunately, her father choked to death at the
celebration dinner and the cook was immediately executed before anyone could question him
about
the possibility of poison at the banquet. The King appoints Preece the Warmonger, the spurned
and
denigrated Waniand mercenary, to escort her to be married. Although people of her race are
usually
irresistible to males, Preece doesn't seem to react to Moreya. Despite the ghastly rumors that
surround Preece, when Moreya looks beneath the cowl, she sees a man with the pristinely rugged
face of an avenging angel. She's led a sheltered life, unable to walk in the sun because when she
enters open spaces, something about her attracts dragons. They never harm Moreya; they only
abduct her. Others are often injured or killed. When their traveling party is ambushed, Moreya
initially calls the dragons hoping to save the lives of her companions. Preece eventually rescues
Moreya from a dragon's nest, and begins to understand the King's devious plot against them both.
Preece realizes that the King is using Moreya's to smite down a royal family. Rather than
complete
their journey, he offers her freedom, a new life and children. She could live in the sun without the
threat of dragons. But the price is high. Nearly as soon as they consummate their commitment,
political machinations intervene, tearing them apart and cast doubts on their motives. A meddling
a
wizard, however, insures that destiny is fulfilled. Shadow In Starlight lacks the graceful flow most
readers expect from fantasy novels. Instead, it's more like a string of pearls, with the motives and
actions of the sections remaining self-contained, and then strung like beads together. While the
romantic tale provides the string that keeps the pearls together, the breaks and shifts can be a bit
disconcerting, feeling forced at times. Nevertheless, Shadow In Starlight is a powerful, entertainig
read. The medieval setting, complete with magic and romance, provides a powerful background
for
the struggle against an evil king and the ravages of history on a weakened people. The mythos
surrounding the Waniand people is fascinating, boldly animalistic and yet sensual. The characters
are
richly developed and memorable, from the polydact king to the dragon calling heroine. Indeed,
this
is a world I would thoroughly enjoy revisiting in a sequel. Shadow In Starlight comes
recommended.
Nobody Told The Wind
T.K. Sheils
LTD Books
200 North Service Rd W., Unit 1, Suite 301, Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6M 2Y1
ISBN 1553160118 eBook/Multiple Formats Download $5.00 Disk $6.00
Following the bizarre paranormal events of the Butterfly House, Sabrina Osterling and Jackson
Rutledge part ways. She spends the next year pursuing reports of paranormal events, debunking
the
charlatans and validating the rest. When an anonymous letter arrives containing newspaper
clippings
about a vanishing island, she immediately begins an investigation. Her anonymous correspondent
also supplies keys to the cabin on Lonesome Pine Island, and stocks the cabin to meet her needs.
The owner of the island, Thomas Carew, but hasn't been back in thirty years. When Sabrina's
unexpected and cryptic invitation arrives, Jackson meets her as requested. When they pass over
the
area of water Sabrina specifies, the needle of the compass spins in circles, and they cannot seem to
create a wake on the perfectly still water. Moreover, a sense of menace hovers. They also loose
the
amount of time they spend over that location. It is the sight of the "Sometimes Island," as they
nickname it. Sometimes island only appears between sundown and dawn, disappearing during the
light of day. Initially it appears looking like a turtle, but as the menace increases, so does the size
of
the island. Odd occurrences compile in the realization that the something deadly lurks beneath the
shadowy waters. Children disappear, odd accidents happen, and all point to a Mayan legend of an
evil god who reappears every thirty years in an attempt to rule the world. The only way to
vanquish
the god is for everyone to forget. But while people can agree to never discuss, and try to forget
such
a god, someone still told the wind. Once again T.K. Sheils demonstrates his considerably story
telling ability in Nobody Told The Wind, combining Mayan legend with the paranormal to create a
grim and deadly tale. Sheils' story succeeds on a number of levels. His prose mesmerizes the
reader,
slowly revealing an ever-growing horror. Other readers, seeking only a story that delivers an
entertaining plot, will be riveted by the twists and turns of this carefully narrative. ith compelling
characterizations, a well-crafted plot that the reader won't be able to put down, and the perfect
touch of levity at just the right moments, Nobody Told The Wind comes very highly
recommended.
The Room Of Shrunken Souls
Michael Cale
LTD Books
200 North Service Rd W., Unit 1, Suite 301,Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6M 2Y1
ISBN 1553160258 e-Book/Multiple Formats $TBA
In a remote location of New Zealand, an oil exploration team trudges deep into uncivilized
country.
No one from the previous expedition returned for this one. The only proof of their work were the
photos, cave maps and seismo charts. By the third week, team members became jumpy, quiet. A
volcanic eruption shrouded them in odd light as clouds of ash drifted across the sky in a sooty
filter
for the sun. Despite ominous but unspoken fear, the team continues its duty using the latest
technology. Fitz pilots the "Fly," a tiny machine built from nano-technology, bringing new
meaning
to becoming "a fly on the wall." Through the use of virtual reality, he crosses the barriers between
man and machine, becoming one with the metal, gathering information of a delicate nature.
Beneath
the surface of the earth, deep in the caves of hoped for oil deposits, he discovers something else --
An unspeakable force, primordial, wielding a weapon of fear. The taniwha, a monster of legend,
stalks anyone whose soul is doomed. Eventually, it takes the soul and shrinks it to the size of a
pea
before taking it to its secret room. When Fitz and a couple of team members leave to gather
supplies
in town, they return to a devastated site. All remaining team members are found to be dead,
missing,
or insane. Fitz carries the awareness of the monster even over thousands of miles to his old life.
As
he continues to pilot the virtual fly, he looses the definition between virtual and reality, merging
nightmare and hallucination with everyday existence. As his mind begins to unravel, he knows he
must seek the answers deep in the earth, in The Room Of Shrunken Souls. Author Michael Cale
creates gripping entertainment in his horror novel, The Room Of Shrunken Souls. Playing off our
unconscious fears, Cale brings the worst of our primordial fears to light in this nightmarish blend
of
primordial evil and modern technology. Surreal, tragic, scary, The Room Of Shrunken Souls
builds
to an unexpected climax, leaving terror that resonates long after the bookis finish. Highly
recommended.
Pilikia Is My Business
Mark Troy
LTD Books
ISBN 1553160339 eBook/Multiple Formats Download $5 disk $6
Val Lyon makes trouble her business. With a background as an ex-cop, ex-con, and ex-pro
basketball player this private investigator boldly faces down anyone who blocks her chosen path.
Lawyer Brian Magruder hires Val to protect his client. A lot of people have taken sides on one of
his
cases and passions run high. Brian's representing Jean Pfeifer, who is locked in a bitter war over
custody of her son Nathan. Her ex-husband is accused of abusing the boy. Because she sent her
child into hiding, the mother now faces contempt of court charges. When a rally to support Jean's
cause erupts into violence, Val quickly learns that more than a simple child custody case is at
stake.
Jean's thirteen-year old son Nathan protects a secret that positions the Magruders, a wealthy local
family with powerful connections, against an unyielding group of feminine activists determined to
keep the child hidden. During the course of her investigation, Val becomes emotionally involved
with Brian, who is also a member of the powerful family. In addition, Nathan's testosterone laden,
abusive father likewise has had unfortunate dealings with the Magruder family. As danger builds
around this fiery triangle, leaving behind a trail of bodies, Val finds herself pitted against politics,
power, and murder. Author Mark Troy's hard boiler mystery Pilikia Is My Business will
thoroughly
satisfy even the most demanding readers. The authentic feel for Hawaii, as the background for this
mystery thriller, is only the intriguing beginning. The first person narrative offers a compelling mix
of
vulgarity and sensitivity, outlandish characterizations and off the cuff humor. Further, Troy strikes
a
surprising balance between brashness and femininity with this tough talking, enigmatic heroine. In
addition, this classically convoluted plot presents surprising twists and turns, with characters
dropping dead and teasing details that keep the pages turning. Very highly recommended.
Mr Snapper's Snappy Day
Linda Stephenson
Puff-Adder
35A Lower Park Road, Brightlingsea, Colchester, Essex, CO7 0JX, United Kingdom
ISBN 1904030092 eBook/PDF or HTML Format 19 printed pages Download: 1.50 British
pounds
Children's author Linda Stephenson has been writing children's books and articles for children's
magazines for over twenty years. In addition, for the last ten years she has also been a children's
entertainer as Linda the Jester. Now she brings her extraordinary skills for engaging young
readers
in her story telling in Mr Snappy's Snappy Day. Mr Snapper is a crocodile who also likes to take
pictures. One day he notices a dirty spot on the wall, and decides to find just the right picture to
cover it. Out he goes into the country side, looking for just the right picture to photograph. While
the day doesn't go quite as he expects, Mr Snapper does surprise himself with just the right
picture.
Rather than providing the traditional illustrations, Stephenson encourages young readers to draw
their own illustrations. This interactive method encourages their imaginations wonderfully. In
addition, she also encourages young artists to send their pictures to Linda the Jester for
publication
in her gallery. What a marvelous idea!
Write Your eBook Or Other Short Book-Fast!
Judy Cullins
Book Coaching
7000 Melody Lane, La Mesa, CA, 91942
ISBN 0967784816 eBook/Multiple Formats 50 pages $24.95
It isn't enough to put words on a page. A savvy author must also be able to assure publication and
publicity. Many writers find these challenges to be daunting tasks at best, becoming discouraged
with the proposed time and money investment, in addition to the overwhelming amount of work.
Worse, many books have an incredibly short shelf life, and authors worry their books won't sell.
By
exploiting the possibilities presented by the web, author Judy Cullins skillfully demonstrates how
authors can get their books published, and maximize sales in Write Your eBook Or Other Short
Book - Fast! Cullins' crisp presentation brings her own passion for the topic of writing to her
work,
allowing her book to becoming a working example of her ideas. Concrete advice combines with
inspiration to encourage would-be-authors in areas such as organization, creativity, and
marketing.
From covers and introductions to targeting an audience and testimonials, Cullins' examples,
checklists, and tips will save readers time and money, in addition to preventing frustration and
burnout. Write Your eBook Or Other Short Book - Fast! is worth its words in gold. Very highly
recommended.
The Fragile Egg
A.J. Russo
Word Wrangler Publishing
332 Tobin Creek Road, Livingston, MT 59047
ISBN 0744302102 (pdf) ISBN 0774302110 (html) ISBN 0774302129 (lit)
Email Attachment $5.00 Print $16.95
In Baltimore 2011, thousands of eggs are frozen each year in preparation for vitro fertilization.
Cloning has fallen under FDA jurisdiction, an agency renowned for moving slowly on doctor's
requests and requiring mountain of paperwork. With her friend's biological clock ticking, they
can't
wait two years for FDA approval. Consequently, Dr. Megan McGrath surreptitiously performs
the
cloning procedure that will lead to her close friend's eventual pregnancy. Even as she questions
her
right to play God, Megan impregnates her friend with two embryos from her own cloned cells.
Investigator Sean Duncan has a hunch about the lab he'd been watching. He gains access to the
room after a doctor leaves late at night and uses a scanner on an open notebook. With his
suspicions
confirmed, Sean has the power to destroy Megan's career and stop highly successful research into
human cloning. Megan is duly prosecuted, but then the plot takes a frightening twist. Someone
calls
anonymously, claiming that there's something wrong with the eggs Megan donated to her friend.
The struggle to define the point at which life begins provides a strong philosophical basis in AJ
Russo's The Fragile Egg. Truth lies in the point of view of the teller, for example, from the
woman
who desperately wants a child to educators, from social activists and politicians. As their points of
view lead to obvious conclusion, issues of abortion, cloning and vitro fertilization come to life.
Add
ethical and legal consideration, and Russo vividly presents the varying religious and moral
consideration of cloning. Further, by giving the story a very human face, he also presents the pain
and desperation of would be parents and their medical supports. Regardless of the reader's beliefs,
they will find something here to challenge their beliefs and affirm their humanity. Fans of medical
thrillers will thoroughly enjoy The Fragile Egg. Highly recommended.
Cindy Penn, Reviewer
Senior Editor, http://wordweaving.com
Whelan's Bookshelf
Five Trips To The Edge
Jim Lyke
Writers Club Press/iUniverse.com
5220 S. 16th, Ste. 200, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595174590 $14.95 www.iuniverse.com
Five Trips To The Edge is an anthology of five cutting short stories by Jim Lyke, each of which
share a razor-sharp core. From a young biracial man who is required to choose sides when the
United States bursts into civil war, to a hapless salesman who turns vengeful upon everyone
whom
he believes has wronged him, the stories are acerbic and darkly amusing. Five Trips to the Edge is
a
refreshingly unique, thought-provoking, highly recommended collection includes Stan's Not My
Name; Presidents Day; Segregatoin Anxiety; Mirror Image; The Big Hate; and About The
Author.
Chief Executive Officer
Mark Hanson
Writer's Showcase/iUniverse.com, Inc.
5220 S 16th, Ste. 200, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595136303 $17.95 www.iuniverse.com
Mark Hanson's Chief Executive Officer is an unorthodox novel about two men who, disillusioned
with the roles they have played so far, switch identities in hope of improving things for the better.
An urbane, business-savvy CEO dares to run a miners' union with numerous thugs and
knuckle-breakers, while a labor leader who once fought in the Vietnam War struggles to do
something about a rapidly failing 16-billion dollar insurance corporation. Unprepared and caught
in
totally unfamiliar environments, each leader must adapt to change not only to survive, but to
succeed where the other has failed, until ultimately their paths cross once again - as business
antagonists at the negotiation table. Chief Executive Officer is a highly intriguing, unforgettable
read
about being caught in the Fast World and struggling to run just as fast as you can to keep up.
One Pledge Unspoken
Patricia Hilliard
Writer's Showcase/iUniverse.com
5220 S. 16th, Ste. 200, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595163734 $12.95 www.iuniverse.com
Set in the 1960's, Patricia Hilliard's One Pledge Unspoken is an engaging novel about high school
student Elizabeth Ellen Anderson a.k.a. Bet, who dares to speak out against the war in Vietnam,
and
learns the price that American society exacts from its dissenters. Confronted with sexism when
she tries to make her voice heard and racism when she tries to welcome a new member of her
community, she is caught in a battle on the home front. Author Patricia Hillard has worked as a
writer and activist for 30 years advocating for women's rights, against racism, and for gay and
lesbian liberation and a cleaner environment. One Pledge Unspoken is a powerful story, relevant
for our troubled times and straight from her heart.
Born Of War
David E. Feldman
Writers Club Press/iUniverse.com
5220 S. 16th, Ste. 200, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595143709 $16.95 www.iuniverse.com
Based on a true story, David Feldman's Born Of War is a compelling novel about lifelong
friendship
between American GI's and Chinese residents of Kunming, near the base of the 14th Army Air
Corps, a.k.a. The Flying Tygers. The bonds between two American servicemen, a Chinese man,
and
a Chinese woman transform all their lives, and eventually brings them to a joyful reunion 30 years
later. Filled with struggle, inner conflict, and political embroilments that at one point lead to Mao
Zedong's dinner table, Born Of War is a riveting, heartwarming read.
Nothing Above
Sandro Levati
Writers Club Press/iUniverse.com
5220 S 16th, Ste. 200, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595196926 $9.95 www.iuniverse.com
Sandro Levati's Nothing Above is a compelling and unique story that reveals how one's
imperfections are one's greatest opportunity. Written about a protagonist born with no wings into
a
world of the winged, it shows how the wingless one divines the humdrum, ordinary, everyday
pattern that the winged fly in every day and charts a new course for himself. Charged with the
profoundness of discovering one's sense of life, Nothing Above is a brief yet thought-provoking
novel that leaves the reader pondering the true nature of human limits and the untapped potentials
of
growth that lie within.
Children Of The Grove
Robert Halmo
1st Books Library
2511 W. Third St., Bloomington IN 47404
075962318X $16.95 1-800-839-8640
Elder Earth, having been reborn of a powerful magic, is now on the brink of another "Changing of
the Age". Earthrage and Living Shadow are poisoning the land, while the magical power of
"glimmer" is diminishing. Ruhvaurog, the Ancient Enemy, is held bound in Mithymuriel (the land
of
spirit beyond the mortal realm) but his being is reforming as he seeks to rebirth himself in the
mortal
world. Only the two Great Stewards, Aor and Einaele, can oppose him -- but they have been apart
for nearly a thousand years and each has set in motion plans that may differ in purpose with
unexpected and cataclysmic results. Robert Halmo's richly woven fantasy novel Children Of The
Grove debuts the "Lords of Darkness, Lords of Light" series and is enthusiastically recommended
to
fans of the high fantasy genre. Children Of The Grove is also available in paperback (0759623171,
$11.95).
Thomas G. Whelan
Reviewer
Donovan's Bookshelf
Taming Your Inner Brat
Pauline Wallin
Beyond Words Publishing
20827 N.W. Cornell Rd. #500, Hillsboro, OR 97124
1-58270-050-8, $14.95
Pauline Wallin's Taming Your Inner Brat blends gentle humor with specific strategies for
controlling
feelings. Examples of 'brat' behavior patterns and how they manifest make for a revealing
title.
Memoirs
Edward Teller & Judith Schoolery
Perseus Publishing
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0-7382-0532-X $35.00 1-800-242-7737
Edward Teller was the 'father' of the hydrogen bomb, and this autobiography describes his
odyssey
through the 20th century, from his childhood in Hungary and his insights on the two World Wars
to
his relationship with scientists and his contributions to the development of atomic weaponry.
Chapters present an excellent overview of his sometimes controversial views on nuclear weapons
usage.
What! And Give Up Show Business?
Peter Wooley
Fithian Press
PO Box 1525, Santa Barbara, CA 93102
1-56474-366-7 $12.95
Fans of Hollywood gossip will find this an entertaining memoir which examines what part is
played
in the movies and television by production designers. The author has been a production designer
for
over thirty years: he's worked with many talents and his job is to make locations realistic - from
the
actors to the scenery. Gossip and tall tales abound here.
Ivan R. Dee
1332 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2632
1-800-462-6420
Christopher Einolf's Mercy Factory (1-56663-400-8, $27.50) examines American objections to
high levels of immigration and the presence of poor immigrants, contrasting these feelings to the
country's tradition of welcoming refugees from persecution. The asylum system is considered here
from the stories of five refugees, telling of how they progressed through the American
immigration legal system. An excellent examination of social issues and justice. Raul Hilbeg's
Sources Of Holocaust Research (379-6, $26.00) provides the evidence itself and the history it
contains. His scholarly survey of the sources used in the writing of Holocaust history analyzes the
types of materials and content of Holocaust source material. Excellent supplemental reading for
college-level students. Myron Magnet edits The Millennial City (398-2, $18.95), which provides
students of urban affairs with a new urban program for the 21st Century. These articles come
from the pages of City Journal magazine and consider both social change and the ideology of
urban renewal programs.
Answers To Satisfy The Soul
Jim Denney
Quill Driver Books
1831 Industrial Way #101, Sanger, CA 93657
1-884956-20-3 $12.95 1-800-497-4909
Answers to twenty of life's hardest questions tackle the basics of questions on the existence and
nature of God and personal meaning. From understanding different kinds of love and truth to
improving relationships, Answers To Satisfy The Soul is filled with suggestions on how to find
comfort and belief in the world.
Relax, Company's Coming!
Kathy Gunst
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
0-7432-0258-9 $25.00 1-800-223-2336
The focus here is as much on the entertainer enjoying time with guests as with presentations
which
look lavish and elegant but require little last-minute work. The key is to stocking a pantry well:
over
a hundred dishes based on such a pantry are presented in a title which lacks color photos but
includes many easy tips and appetizing dishes.
Encyclopedia Of Bach Flower Therapy
Mechthild Scheffer
Healing Arts Press
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
0-89281941-3 $29.95
The author's previous book presented the science behind Bach Flower remedies: Encyclopedia Of
Bach Flower Therapy provides a comprehensive reference which integrates her research on the
subject, from the techniques and methods of Bach Flower diagnostics to dosages, treatment
guidelines, and specific ailments of adults and children of all ages. Color plates of the flowers
accompany surveys of their uses.
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1-800-972-6657
These fine guides provide important spirituality accounts for discriminating readers. Katherine
Martin's Women Of Spirit (1-57731-149-3, $14.95) gathers stories of courage and spiritual
insight from the women who lived unusual lives. Stories of spiritual guidance and how these
women made a different in their worlds prove inspiration and absorbing, with the book providing
sections based on the type of spirit exhibited by each. Joseph Campbell's Thou Art That (202-3,
$20.00) blends mythology with religion in its discussion of the transformation of religious
metaphor. Read this as a long essay or extended lecture: the author blends autobiography and
reflection with explorations of common Judeo-Christian symbolism in light of world religions and
spirituality. A Simple Monk presents Robert Thurman's gathering of writings on the Dalai Lama
(175-2, $35.00), presenting such writings and reflections in a new visual biography which adds
full-color images by photojournalist Alison Wright. The result is much more than your usual
collection of quotes: a fine, rich gift edition. Mari Perron and Dan Odegard's A Course Of Love
(194-9, $24.95) makes the complete course available to a wider audience, providing teachings
which focus on love and inner wisdom. Spiritual concerns blend with issues of relationships and
love.
Parks Directory Of The United States, 3rd Edition
Darren Smith, et.al., Editors
Omnigraphics
615 Griswold, Suite 1400, Detroit, MI 48226
0-7808-0440-6 $165.00 1-800-234-1340
The price tag may limit this reference to the most dedicated reference library; but this new 2001
edition updates a reference which has not seen a new edition in seven years: there are many
changes
to contact information and details on facilities, activities, and special features have also changed.
This edition of Parks Directory Of The United States also enjoys web site and e-mail addresses
where possible, and adds four indexes by type of park, special features, geography and all park
listings. An excellent reference.
Perseus Publishers
11 Cambridge Ctr. Cambridge MA 02142
1-800-242-7737
Dr. Peter Breggin's Anti-Depressant Fact Book (0-7382-0451-X, $13.00) provides an important,
critical guide to the latest group of antidepressant drugs from Prozak and Zoloft to Luvox.
Chapters
cover how antidepressants work on the brain, how they affect other mental disorders, and the
process of withdrawing from the drug routine. Dr. Breggin's Talking Back To Ritalin (0544-3,
$16.50) also addresses the underlying dangers of this popular drug, examining issues raised by
Ritalin and stimulants and ADHD in general. This appears in a revised edition, adding new
research
findings and facts. Both are important updates to any modern health resource collection.
Dover Publications
31 E. 2nd St., Mineola, NY 11501
1-800-223-3130
Two excellent guides will appeal to beginners, offering step-by-step instruction for basic projects.
Jean Long's Art Of Chinese Calligraphy (0-486-41739-5, $11.95) provides practical instruction in
Chinese calligraphy, blending in historical background and explanations of how the characters are
used in Chinese art. There's a healthy dose of background information on methods and
development.
Edgar Whitney's Complete Guide To Watercolor Painting (41742-5, $17.95) comes from a
watercolor painter/teacher who provides beginners with the basics of producing fine watercolors,
from landscapes to portraits. Black and white and a few color illustrations round out his advice in
this reprint.
Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
Interior decorators will be thrilled with two fine new guides to style and decoration. Elizabeth
Wilhide's Bohemian Style (0-8230-0536-4, $21.95) explores major influences in the Bohemian
style's development, with black and white and many color photos showing how these different
styles
can be incorporated into the modern home. From textured walls and painted embellishments to
draping, this is packed with examples. Elizabeth Hilliard and Stafford Cliff's Paint: Big Book Of
Natural Color (3446-1, $35.00) covers the new colors and finishes available to modern
decorators,
showing how these modern interiors can be transformed through a variety of innovative paint
choices. Beautiful color photos abound. Both are fine choices for interior designers. Film
enthusiasts
with a special affection for Marilyn Monroe won't want to miss Richard Buskin's Blonde Heart
(8414-0, $35.00). It covers her screen career, providing a close-up examination of her
achievements,
talents, and progress as a screen actress and containing the complete credits, cast and story line
for
all her appearances. Black and white and color photos abound.
Diane C. Donovan
Reviewer
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Copyright ©2001
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing &
Design