Redemption
Morgan J. Blake
Atlantic Bridge
ISBN 1-931761-26-4 download $4.95 CD $7.45
Paperback format coming in 2002
Priscilla A. Maine
Reviewer
Wylie Kinson is a trained Army scout, good at what he does. But when his mother is killed and
his
sister, Cara, kidnaped in Arizona Territory, the signs and tracks appear to lie. On the surface
everything points toward the Apaches being the culprits. It's what's beneath the obvious that
confuses Wylie. Indians don't slit a dead woman's throat, they don't wear boots and their horses
aren't shod.
Cara Kinson grew up dogging her older brother's footsteps. She learned what he learned, or at
least
imitated his efforts. She rode a horse and shot a gun as well as most men and better than some,
she
fights like a cornered bobcat when the situation calls for it. As a result, she deals her captors
misery
and if not for the other female captives she probably could escape and made it back on her own.
But
the others need her. The question is, can they hold out until her brother gets there? Because Cara
never doubts Wylie is coming for her.
Wylie and Cara Kinson learn that friendships and trust often crisscross a dusty path until they
blurr
the truth, exposing ragged edges of disguised treachery and evil.
Tighten your cinch partner, Morgan J. Blake's debut novel, Redemption, is a wild ride.
Cover Artist: Ariana Overton
Rhode Island A To Z
Adam Gertsacov/Donna Atwood
Donna Atwood Design
1137 West Culver Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007-1908
ISBN: 0-9669293-8-0, $9.95, (602) 254-7168, www.atwooddesign.com
David Leonhardt
Reviewer
Quick! What's a quahog? Where is America's third oldest zoo? How many islands does Rhode
Island have?
For the answers to these and other exciting questions, we turn to a coloring book Rhode Island
A
to Z is a coloring book for kids of all ages. (Well, it targets children ages nine to 12, but adults
seem
to be buying it for themselves, too.) Author Adam Gersacov, a professional clown, calls it a
"coloring/learning book".
As you might guess, each letter of the alphabet in Rhode Island A To Z is attached to some aspect
of Rhode Island history and culture. Maybe you thought Rhode Island would be too small to have
an
entire alphabet soup of culture. Think again. Gerasacov has it covered from X-treme Sports to
Kingscote Mansion.
This may be Gersacov's first book, but illustrator Donna Atwood has produced three other
coloring/learning books, all about the southwest.
There is no question this book is educational for the age group it targets, and the concept is
refreshing. As I expected, it is easy to read and easy to understand. And it even includes a
historical
time line. Anyone living too far away for a weekend in Rhode Island can see the state in all its
splendor and with custom colors, too.
Can it be improved upon? Well, I have one suggestion: close up a few dangling questions. For
instance, we are told that "Rhode Island has more coastline (by percentage) than any other state."
By percentage of what? Area? Borders? Population? An educational book has to be clear to be
effective.
And we discover that Rhode Island has the third-oldest zoo in the United States, but where is the
oldest? Why are we left hanging? Are they playing a practical joke on us? Or are they just building
anticipation for 49 more coloring books? Well, maybe one more, admits Gersacov. Clever
ploy.
Oh, yes. A quahog is a hard-shelled clam.
The Tides Of Love
Annette Ploumis
Advocate House, c/o A Cappela Publishing,
P.O.Box 3691, Sarasota, FL 34230-3691
ISBN 9706576-7-6, $9.95, phone/fax 1-941-362-3482, Format: e-book and POD
Jodi Greene
Reviewer
The Tides Of Love turns the tide....of the romance novel.
Although the romance genre has been undergoing big changes in 2001 in such giants as Simon &
Schuster, Harlequin and Silhouette, one first-time author has jumped the gun on all three of these
publishing giants with the first-ever romance novel to feature a male protagonist.
Marcos is handsome, ambitious, charismatic and focused. He believes in hard work, love and
destiny. The novel begins with his first love and leads readers on an exiting chase -- from Miami
to
Rome to New York, from hard work to immense wealth, from simple beliefs to an understanding
of
life's complexities --as Marcos fulfills his own destiny in the name of love.
At the loss of his first love, Marcos is inconsolable - until, on a college-graduation trip to Italy, he
meets a wise old man who shares his wisdom on life and love. Giovanni's words free Marcos from
his obsession. Then, like a fairy godfather, Giovanni hands him great wealth, an international
jewelry
empire, and Giovanni's own beautiful granddaughter, Isabella, who becomes Marcos' wife. Their
love is marred by complex international intrigues and betrayals, which ultimately lead to Isabella's
betrayal of their vows and her death. Again, Marcos is bereft. But once again love appears in his
life.
( I won't spoil it for you by disclosing the surprise ending.)
This Cinderfella novel is unusual in many ways. Not only does it dare to feature a man in a
formerly
women-only genre, it takes on the contemporary problem of what happens when Latino values
met
American ambition.
This is a story filled with passionate love, international intrigue, cruel betrayals and reluctant
foregiveness. It's fresh approach to the Romance genre is sure to delight. Treat yourself to a
sample
chapter at www.elitagent.com/c-Ploumis1.htm, then get the entire book (paperback or e-book) at
www.booklocker.com or (e-book only) www.cyber-bookstore.com
Bear Snores On
Karma Wilson, author & Jane Chapman, illustrator
Margaret K. McElderry Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, N.Y. 10020.
ISBN: 0-689-83187-0, $16.00, Ages 3 to 7, 32 pages.
Emily S. Will
Reviewer
Page by rhyming page, this story unfolds as, one by one, a variety of animals take refuge in a
bear's
lair. They pop some corn, brew some tea, prepare a stew, and then they party! All this while,
"bear
snores on."
But when an errant pepper fleck causes Bear to sneeze, he awakens. He's not happy. "You've
snuck
in my lair and you've all had fun! But me? I was sleeping and I have had none!" Bear
blubbers.
The animals console him. More food can be cooked and more tales spun. Bear joins in the party
until
everyone is snoring except guess who?
This picture book provides a delightful, sprightful frolic for an adult and child to share on a wintry
night.
Chapman's acrylic illustrations impart warmth with the generous use of red-orange backgrounds.
By
focusing on the animals and their facial expressions, Chapman also creates a feeling of
togetherness
and coziness from the snowy outdoors.
As Karma Wilson's first book, it is definitely not a "big snore"!
Dev's Bookshelf
Edward Said And The Writing Of History
Shelley Walia
Totem Books/Allen & Unwin
PO Box 86, Kallista, Victoria 3791, Australia.
1840462701, $7.95, 77pp.
Earlier attempts to simplify matters only ended up in excessive and unnecessary scholarship,
leaving
you all the more bewildered in the labyrinth of postcolonial theory. The task of explaining and
clarifying the fundamental concepts had been undertaken by jargonizing it to the highest possible
magnitude. But here, in this book, the author goes straight to the crux of post colonial cultural
studies by taking up the central most issue of (re)writing history within the context of recent
debates
on ideology as a system of representation. In an earlier essay, "History and Its Discontents"
(Between Truth and History), Shelley Walia had expressed that "traditional practices of writing of
history fail to question the conditions of their own making and therefore retard any development
of
democratizing critical intelligence". Thus it becomes the need of the recent times to challenge the
"nature of objectivity, realism, and truth which traditional historians take as their essentials".
The present book, though succinct, proves significant in illuminating the notions and ideas
associated with postmodern theories through the kaleidoscopic vision of a great literary and post
colonial critic, Edward Said. Walia's concise introductory study examines him in the light of his
engagement as writer, teacher, and political activist. Tracing the evolution of Said's thinking over
the last thirty years, he draws attention to its conceptual coherence and value as a
work-in-progress
of cultural and historical critique, thereby emphasizing Said's involvement in public cultural
activity
and personal commitment to his insistent interrogation of political systems.
"Exile is a universal figure", says George Lamming and no one could apprehend this better than
Said
who has lived his life as an American as well as a Palestinian. But for Said "exile" is a position of
an
intellectual critic from where he can question the accepted tenets of society and also unveil the
essentialised truths to reveal the quashed realities. How far is history-writing free from prejudices
and to what extent does it bring to light disinterested facts is quite debatable. However the author
doesn't intend to show that Said, by advocating reinterpretation of history, considered all
historical
accounts adulterated with political objectives of their writers. He is only trying to elucidate the
true
aim of these scholars in employment of this practice of history-writing and other cultural forms as
a
vehicle of subjugation and a hegemonic strategy.
Shelley Walia, brings History and Literature' on the same platform to emphasize that "no writing
is
transparent". Applying Derrida's concept of differance' to historical narratives and literary texts,
one can contemplate that there cannot exist a single interpretation and that some meaning is
always
left out. To corroborate such thoughts, it becomes essential, to carry out a contrapuntal reading'
of
seminal texts like Heart of Darkness, Kim and Mansfield Park or Verdi's Aida. Said had
endeavored
to show the narratives as part of the relationship between culture and empire, emphasizing the fact
that the authors are impelled and modeled by their social set up. It has been implanted into our
psyches that the West is the only spring of anything and everything that is meaningful and
consequential. In other words the non-western regions of the world, by default, do not and cannot
be in possession of any history, culture or even dare to think of rectitude. And this is fortified by
the
science of Orientalism whose critique is studied in this book.
The author further reveals the length to which theorists like Foucault and Gramsci sway Said and
his
work. The concept of "field" is an elementary organizing principle to Foucault's writing whereby
he
means the "formal conditions which make the appearance of meaning possible". And Said by
conceiving orientalism as a field or a "power-in-space" seems to be gesturing towards the imperial
aggrandizement of geographical and psychic space of the colonized. Also crucial to the
understanding of Said's work is the relation of power and knowledge whose nexus establishes the
codes of society. At the same time Shelley Walia does not omit to speak of the point where Said
shifts his track of thought from Foucault's conviction that there is no premeditated design behind
western ascendancy. Said rather espouses Gramsci's standpoint regarding the relevance of counter
discursive practices and resistance from the subalterns along with his notion of "hegemony". The
author writes: "Gramsci's theory of cultural production and critique when applied to Said bring
out
the relevant issues of social domination and the subversion that takes place continuously to resist
any
fixed notions of cultural behaviour".
The book which will be of particular interest to the students of literature, history, social and
political
theory brings the perplexing issues of eurocentrism, universalism, postmodernism, cultural
positioning and political affiliations under the microscope of a secular critic. And Said, as a
secular
critic, desires for a "universal vocabulary" that can give "a greater human scope to what a
particular
race or nation suffered". Thus the author while bringing out interconnectedness of certain
fundamental concepts in postcolonial theoretical practice, draws attention to the inconsistencies
within western historical discourse that exposes the ends of ideology. And intellectuals like Said,
by
subverting ideological reproductions, indulge in revolutionary action.
Dev Datt Bayala
Reviewer
Enzo's Bookshelf
Maria Michela Sassi: The Science Of Man In Ancient Greece
Paul Tucker, translator
The University of Chicago Press
5801 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637-1496
ISBN: 0-226-73530-3, $34.00, 254 pp., 1-800-621-2736
The latin term "Scientia" literally referred to the action of "to see, finally, after having attempted
to
look at". According to this meaning, from its title, we understand that this book treats the
argument
of how the ancient Greeks had seen and defined themselves, put in the natural world that they
were
able to observe and, to some extent, to describe. The rich amount of different text sources from
which this task has been accomplished is related, principally, with physiognomy (i.e. the art of
estimating character from the features of the face or the form of the body), ethnography,
geography,
medicine and astrology. In the text an astonishing amount of different citations from ancient
literature, also form the less common authors, is continuously provided to support the statements
and the ideas developed. The last part of the book consists in 25 bibliography pages. Treated
topics
include contrasting representation and correlation of men, women, adolescents, barbarians, and
animals within the natural world, mainly described through astronomy, astrology and medicine.
All
of the themes are carried out using a convincing quantity of notes with different literary
provenance
and chronology.
Two observations immediately arise, characterising the science of man for Greeks from any other
previous typology of ancient philosophy. The first is that Man, not God, is put at the centre of the
investigation, and the second, with no lesser importance, is that the position of woman in the
Grecian world is almost neglected, at least considered just for comparison. This last observation,
even if expected, is astonishing, given the mole of different evidences systematically collected in
the
book, especially if compared with the importance of female figures in the Egyptian and Etruscan
worlds. Starting from this demonstrations the authoress leads the reader further on, offering him a
route, even if not a straight line, to elucidate how this "apartheid" situation had been able to be
established and strongly supported by "evidences" taken up and ordered from the observation of
natural events. The approaching readers should pay attentions to the different advice that the
authoress offers: at the beginning of the book, she notes that "Cultural models are much more
effective if they bear the stamp of nature, and they will therefore insist that natural law be
respected".
M.M. Sassi , to correctly estimate and collocate the meanings of the previous observations starts
her
work from the examination, in the first chapter "The Colors of Humanity", of how physiognomy
in
ancient Greece can be extracted not only directly from texts, but also indirectly, from art
masterpieces, frescos and theatrical representations. A common framework is outlined to classify
all
of the observations, trying to construct a rationale within which discussion can be opened for the
definition of the science of man. Using general and repetitive evidences coming in particular from
the
use of colors in texts, paintings and art in general, the authoress defines an increasing level of
systematic generalisation found in the various areas examined. Physiognomic classification fully
occupies the second chapter "The Physiognomical Gaze". Here animals, women, young men and
barbarians represent the main subjects of the comparative study through which the Greek male is
able to recognise and classify himself. At this point another observation, progressively emerging
since the beginning of the book, can clearly be stated. Whatever the source, in fact, the point of
view
remains the same: a middle aged free Greek male considering himself and his genre as superior to
all
others. Given explanations for this implicit statement arise from empirical observations
inextricably
bound with common prejudices as simple as coming from observation of body features, skin and
hair
colour, environmental climate and natural biological and sexual behaviours. Also remarkable is the
lack of break or paradigmatic changes in the common mental characteristics all along the Grecian
history. Changes or improvements from the common way of thinking will be found only when a
comparison is made with latin literature. This defined, starting from the third chapter "Reality and
Its
Classification: Women and Barbarians" a rationalisation is attempted, analysing medicine,
ethnography and geography. A gradual development of an explanatory paradigm, attempting o
give
reason of the existing differences in the human race from the Grecian point of view, is extracted
and
followed. We observe that a reduction of all of the observed different features is obtained relating
them to the cosmic elements: Earth, Water, Air and Fire, with their respective qualities, Cold,
Wet,
Dry and Hot. In the fourth, "Prediction and Norm", and fifth, "Framed by the Stars", chapters
additional works towards a deeper recognition of the rationalising method is offered from
medicine
and divination comparison, both of them trying to infer knowledge of human health and future
from
external, evident, objectives facts. The aim being the same for medicine and astrology, to analyse
signs in order to emit a prognosis on the human future events. Finally astrology is investigated as
a
comprehensive classificatory system incorporating physiognomic, ethnographical and medical
statements in a general coherent framework.
The origin of modern science is traditionally stated to begin with the Greek philosopher Thales of
Miletus. Somebody else before him had been able to elaborate scientific statements and
observations, as for the case of Babylonian astronomy or Egyptian architecture. Nevertheless
Thales
represents the first one whose name has been retained until now who was able to formulate
questions about universe and man, and that tried to give some answers without calling in help
gods.
As a consequence the Greek philosophy of Nature is still considered the reference point from
which
our Science developed. Nevertheless Greeks approached to Science, in the sense we mean it
today,
limiting themselves to noting the existence of a resemblance, without inferring any casual relation.
They did not develop any kind of experimental methodology. The aim was to appraise of visible
signs with the intention of ordering experience, and viceversa.
If we approach, thus, to the Greek ideological classification of empirical data with our knowledge
in
mind and refer conventionally to those old "scientific" pages only to assess the degree of
knowledge
anticipating our one, according to the established level of scientific achievements, this could result
in
a frustrating work. On the contrary from the same pages it is possible to extract information on
the
dynamics of observations of the world from which they have been elaborated. This work,
performed
by M.M. Sassi, can be inserted, exactly, within that part of classical studies whose attention
principally focus onto areas of ancient thought that for long have been neglected.
Astrology-alchemy-physiognomy too easily in the past have been dismissed as mere
"pseudo-sciences". As for this book, these kind of new studies incorporate examination of
evidences
coming not only from remained texts and from epistemological study but also from art
masterpieces
and manufacts, including grave inscriptions, vase paintings, coins ad sculptures. In some way we
have the opportunity to observe and correctly collocate, scientifically, the Greek world in its
natural
framework. This task to be accomplished results in a difficult and sometimes misleading work,
trying
to extract general information from singled observation. However to bring order to what could
seem
random observations in this context acquires great importance and, for example, it is helpful in
understanding the driving force of the Greek science. From the book we learn that Greeks have
been
able to elaborate regulating mechanisms to describe and foresee physical life development in
general,
human events in particular. As a second goal their Science had to explain, justify and, possibly,
glorify the Greek man's ability and his victory on nature.
At the same time given explications appear merely as tentative of explications, in the scientific
meaning we give to this term, or just observations with a rough lack of objectivity, even for the
oddest affirmations. Nevertheless what we can observe mostly is the need of rationalise this
ensemble of evidences, conjectures, philosophical concepts, realities and myths. Curiosity, at least,
can be evidenced, this last certainly related with Science in its modern sense. This necessary effort
in
rationalising can correctly be considered as the nucleus on which our knowledge began to
crystallise
and growth. It is thought to originate as the consequence of the interruption of connections with
the
previous civilisations of the Hellenic world. A situation that left Greeks with a poor and,
intellectually, not interesting theological panorama. At the same time they were rich with that sort
of
technological knowledge, previously developed, apt to render man's work and rule dominant on
the
natural surrounding environment.
To put order in the evidenced framework and to define a red line unifying the differently collected
and analysed signs, M. M. Sassi proposes a model with a high level of internal coherence, able to
interpret evidences of science, ethics and philosophy form the ancient world in Greece. Using
some
simple explanatory schemes it is shown as general and particular rules can be inferred for any
circumstance. The model proved to be able in combining data, it is a useful guide in the
exploration
of such ancient "disciplines of signs" and in the remaking of connections relating each with the
others (physiognomy, medicine, ethnography, astrology). Such a model has to be considered as a
meaningful instrument to analyse and to order the evidenced ancient Sciences of Man. Obviously
it
needs to be revised and developed, enlarged probably, to be able to work as an explanatory
algorithm in different contexts. Scientists would probably ask for a more detailed analysis of the
role
played by the natural elements (earth, wind, fire and air) outside the ancient scientific framework.
Ethymologists would ask for the deeper meanings of some words related with the model
following
the path along which ideas have been able to reach our cultural and anthropological context.
Applications of the model could be tried to enlarge until different cultures different from
Greeks.
If remarks could be moved to this book one should be a sort of disorder in organising the
discussed
materials, probably due to the difficulties in putting together several repeated statements again
found
from the VII century to the III century B.C. literature and cultural heritage.
Finally, it is impossible to avoid, while reading, comparisons with all of that kinds of sub-cultural
reminiscences of the ancient Science of Man still alive in our extremely technological world. In
some
occasions, familiar to everybody, the original meaning still remains unchanged, as for the expected
effects of the moon cycles on harvest and childbirth.
Dirt Music
Tim Winton
Picador, Pan Macmillan
0330363239, A$46.00 (Hardback), 465 pages
Scribner
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
0743228022, $26.00, 1-800-223-2336
No wonder Western Australians think their State should become independent from the rest. If
they
are like the people in this book they are obviously a bunch of anarchists who like to take the law
into
their own hands. Or maybe I live a sheltered life across here in Sydney. I've certainly not met a
community like the one Tim Winton describes. The inhabitants of White Point are rough, tough
Aussie blokes and Sheilas with a vengeance. Maybe, 'though, Georgie Jutland - divorced, drifting,
alcoholic, tough woman that she is - just mixes with that sort of company.
To my mind, the sad thing is that Winton is a writer whose skill at drawing Australian landscapes
is
superb, but this skill seems wasted on the bunch of course-mouthed, disillusioned characters who
people this story. I found it hard to listen to them and hard to like them, but perhaps that's just my
finicky taste: the book, after all, is called Dirt Music, which suggests a combination of the two.
And
there is music and sensitivity amongst all the ugly unpleasantness and tension, especially when Fox
(another drifter, but a musician) goes quietly "troppo"** in the isolation of a Far North West
Australian island.
To tell the story briefly:
Georgie lives with Jim Buckridge, a fisherman with a past she knows almost nothing about. Jim is
a
man who is treated with fearful respect by the White Point community. The romance has faded
from
their relationship and Georgie is contemplating moving on when she meets, and sleeps with,
Luther
Fox.
Fox has major sorrows of his own, which are eventually movingly revealed, but he fears Jim
Buckridge's revenge, especially when his van is shot-up and his dog is deliberately killed.
So, Fox takes off for the tropical islands and seas in the far North of Western Australia and, as he
fears, he is pursued by Jim, who takes Georgie along with him. What eventuates is unexpected,
exciting and, in the end, highly unlikely. However, to backtrack a little, on the way North, Fox
gets
lifts with an assortment of "characters": I use inverted commas deliberately, because Winton
teeters
on the edge of caricature here. A one-legged surfer called Rusty, with a grudge, a hypodermic
constantly stuck in his thigh and a manic, perpetual high from a cocktail of drugs, is a bit much.
And
an elderly ex-school-teacher, trying to run away from incurable bowel cancer, and obsessive about
Wordsworth, "Bill" Blake, Hardy, Anne Sexton and James Dicken, also pushes the bounds of
belief
a bit far. I am sure there must be people like these travelling that road but aren't there just a few
normal people too?
O.K., so this is fiction; this is entertainment; and it is well written and it will probably sell a lot of
copies and make Winton a lot of money. What more do I want?
I want to swim in Winton's warm, rich seas without being jarred by "arse" or "fuck". I want more
of
his sun-drenched, luminous island dreaming. I want, perhaps, the moon!
Winton is not, as Robert Taylor of the West Australian claims, "the most important Australian
writer
of his generation". How would one judge that? And on what criteria? But he is a very good writer
and he is an Australian writer who can capture the unique character of the land he loves in his
words. I wish he would just do that. And I hope that non-Australians reading this book keep in
mind
that the lawlessness and the characters he describes are fiction.
At least I think they are, but I haven't been to Western Australia for years.
(** "going troppo" is an Australian phrase used to describes a state of mental disturbance brought
on by living for too long in the tropics).
Portraits In Fiction
A. S. Byatt
Random House (U.K.)
0701173160, A$32.90 (Hardback), 101 pages
"Portraits in words and portraits in paint are opposites, rather than metaphors for each
other."
This is A.S. Byatt's opening line, but what does she mean? Surely both are metaphors for the
person
depicted, aren't they? Surely both can be equally informative and equally imaginative, can they
not?
Apparently not. Byatt, as an artist with words, favours words over pictures and argues that they
are
better at presenting a person's character and presence. But one of my favourite portraits is of two
young men and I know as much about them from this picture as any word portrait could tell me. I
know that the elder is the more serious, proud of his position, ready to shoulder responsibility.
And
the younger, who has a pleasant, open face, makes me laugh. I can see how pleased with himself
he
is; how carefully he has done his hair; how much he loves his soft, kid boots. No words can quite
capture the quality of that painting but the artist was inspired and that inspiration shines through
and
conveys something of the nature of his subjects. Words, too, can do this but in both cases it
depends
on the skill of the work's creator. Dull portraits are as common in literature as in art, inspired
work
is rare in both.
Byatt, nevertheless, presents an interesting argument and illustrates it with examples of portraits
in
fiction and fictional writing about art from a wide range of work, including her own. Amongst the
authors and artists she discusses are Proust, Ford Maddox Brown, Ford Maddox Ford, Oscar
Wilde,
Emile Zola, Joyce Carey, Iris Murdoch, Holbein, Durer, Monet and Manet. Rather spoiling her
argument about the superiority of words, however, are the many beautiful reproductions of
portraits
which accompany the text and add to the attraction of the book.
Ironically, considering her thesis, this book is based on a lecture which Byatt gave at the National
Portrait Gallery, London, last year (2000) for the Heywood Hill Annual Lecture. But this is not a
dry, heavy lecture - it is beautifully presented, entertaining and light in tone (it is literally light,
too,
being a surprisingly small, thin book for its price).
Byatt tells us that she first began to haunt the National Portrait Gallery when she was planning a
novel which, in part, concerned the difference between art and literature at the times of Elizabeth I
and Elizabeth II. The Darnley Portrait of Elizabeth I at the Gallery, she says, "dazzled and then
obsessed" her, and she offers us her portrait in words of this painting. But what does that do? It
points out things which an imaginative viewer might notice: that the fan is "dangled or gripped";
that
its colours suggest passion; that Elizabeth has the "stillness and energy of a young girl". All true.
All
part of the imaginative picture of Elizabeth I which a viewer might construct in their mind.
Yet, but both words and painting equally prompt and also limit the imaginative viewer in different
ways. Byatt's word description of her own fictional characters may suggest or state things about
them just as the Darnley Portrait does about Elizabeth I. Her presentation of her characters is just
as
subjective as the artist's presentation of Elizabeth, and readers or viewers will still construct their
own images from these sources, and no two mental images will be alike in every detail. So, is art
less
able than words to depict the "variety of selves" of its subject? Does a painting fix an image in
time
more than a word portrait does? I think not.
As you can see, this is a book which makes you think. For anyone who loves art and literature,
Byatt
has interesting things to say about both and says them in an interesting way, although she is,
naturally, biased towards words. As a lecture, this book is different to Byatt's fictional work and
will
appeal a different group of readers. But those who know and enjoy her novels will recognize her
style and find that her arguments, here, make interesting background reading to her stories.
Ann Skea, Reviewer
http://ann.skea.com
The Kaveny/Bogstad Bookshelf
Dr. Janice Bogstad has agreed to produce most of this month's Kaveny's Bookshelf as she focuses
her attention on of Houghton Mifflin's Lord of The Rings Movie tie-in items. I will have a few
comments on The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring movie after seeing it once in one
theater of an overflowing twelve-plex Cinema in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. My wife and I took two
of
our young women friends both graduate students, one from Kenya, and one from the Republic of
Georgia with us. Neither had ever really read or heard of J.R.R Tolkien, or Lord Of The Rings
before we took them to the movie. At the least I, think I can say with a degree of certainty we
were
all taken by the Northerness of it. What I mean by this is the film succeeded on all levels to set the
stage for the great epic which was J.R.R Tolkien (1892-1973), sought to create.
I can assure you, now that I have lived for the last two years in this small college town of 60,000
in
Northwest Central Wisconsin, that you don't have to be from Kenya or The Republic of Georgia
to
never have heard of J.R.R Tolkien. I found this out as I talked with several of my colleagues who
share space with me in a reconverted tire plant, now a high tech business start-up complex called
Banbury Place. But I think that will all change and these four tie-in books will satisfy a craving
created by the movie, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring. Let's also hope they
lead
young people to actually read the books themselves. In other words it is not necessary to have
read
The Fellowship Of The Ring to enjoy seeing The Fellowship of the Ring movie, but afterwards
you
will wish to.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring: Visual Companion
Jude Fisher
Houghton Mifflin/new Line Cinema
71 pg., $19.95, ISBN: 0-618-15401-9, Photographs on every page, 2001
An oversize, hardback book, this volume is clearly designed as a collector's item. The work is
arranged by major topic areas, and largely by 'type' of Middle-Earth character. A section entitled
History, begins the work and narrates the background material of the Lord of the Rings novels.
History focuses on the Rings of Power, and The Last Alliance of Elves and Men. Part 1 then
looks
at Hobbits, Bag End, Bilbo, Frodo, Samwise, Merry and Pippin. Part 2 describes Men, including
Bree and the major characters of Aragorn and Boromir. Part 3 gives us Elves, Elrond, Arwen and
Legolas, with a four-page foldout map and accompanying photos as well as a description of
Lothlorien, home of the Wood Elves, including Lady Galadriel, the more elusive and powerful of
the
female elves found in Tolkien's work. Part 4 is Dwarves with Gimli as a focus and the caves of
Moria as a setting. The Brotherhood of Wizards, the Istari follow Dwarves, but without a chapter
number, explaining first Gandalf the Grey, the Saruman the White. A final section concerns The
Dark Powers, Orcs, Uruk-Hai, and The Nazgul. As in other tie-in titles listed below, the
photographs are lush and lavish, all taken from the first film and allowing the reader to see 'still
photo' detailing of the costuming and sets. The text is a very basic, cursory description of places
and
'races' gleaned from Tolkien's narratives and presented as a factual listing.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring: Photo Guide
Alison Sage, editor
Houghton Mifflin/New Line Cinema
48 pg., $9.95, ISBN: 0-618-19558-0, (ages 8 and up), 2001
Portraying the major characters and events in action poses, this oversize trade-paperback (the
majority of which are photographs, with a few lines of text on some pages) is another 'picture
book'
for a young reader. With minimal text, it is ordered so that a viewer of the film can follow the
story's
progression. It begins in the Shire and describes Bilbo's birthday party and disappearance. Then it
pictures Frodo's discussion of the Ring with Gandalf, introduces his boon Hobbit companions,
Sam,
Merry and Pippin, and his departure from the Shire just ahead of the Ringwraiths. Saruman is
presented, first with Gandalf and then as he develops the dreaded 'Uruk-Hai' demons, as Frodo
and
his companions journey to Bree, meet Aragorn and rush off to Rivendell, Frodo in the company of
the elf princess Arwen. The forming of the Nine, four Hobbits, Aragorn and Boromir of the race
of
men, Legolas the Elf and Gimli the dwarf signals the beginning of a journey that takes them
through
Moria and encounters with Orcs and brief sojourn in Lothlorien with Galadriel and the Wood
Elves.
It ends in the breakup of the fellowship: Pippin and Merry stolen by Orcs, Boromir, dead,
Aragorn,
Gimli and Legolas going after Merry and Pippin and Sam and Frodo once again alone on their
quest
to destroy the Ring. Each of these stages of the first novel's plot is signaled by a box-heading on
the
appropriate pages and a few pictures from the movie, mostly half-page or less. The color
reproduction is as stunning as the film itself and this is the book you would get if you want a clue
to
the plot and well as a commemoration of this filmic adventure in the adaptation of Tolkien's
achievement.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring. Insider's Guide
Brian Sibley
Houghton Mifflin/New Line Cinema.
96 pg., $6.95, ISBN: 0-618-19559-9, (ages 8 and up), 15 pages color illustrations, 2001
This trade paperback (the text includes B/W illustrations on majority of pages) is clearly written
with
younger readers in mind. It's a slim but sturdy little book, with 16 pages of color illustrations in
the
center and the rest bw text with abundant bw illustrations. The book is written in very accessible
language, and designed around the idea that a young reader might want to know how the film was
made. Chapters focus on The Journey, The Book, The Director, Ideas and Images, Cast and
Characters, Locations and Sets, Props and weapons, Costumes and Armor, Makeup and Body
Parts,
Filming the Movies, Special Effects, and The Journey Continues.(which reveals that two more
years
will pass before we see "The Two Towers" (Dec, 2002) and "The Return of the King" (Dec,
2003).
The author suggests that those impatient to hear the end of the story might go ahead and read the
books.
Each short chapter gives a few background details on its subject. For example, "The Director,"
tells
us a little about Peter Jackson's life while filming and lists a few other films he's directed, as well
as
describing his early interest in Tolkien and Lord of the Rings. While all four books list 'eight and
up'
as the audience, this one is truly for a reader from 6-12 years old and will be collected by
completists
as an art object rather than as simply a source of information.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring: Official Movie Guide
Brian Sibley
Houghton Mifflin/ New Line Cinema
119 pg., $14.95, ISBN: 0-618-15403-5, Photographs on every page, 2001.
The Official Movie Guide is primarily about the actors and actresses who play major parts in the
Fellowship of the ring and is organized alphabetically by their 'real' names (p. 39-66). Thus the
first
character described is Sam, played by Sean Austin and Elijah Wood, as Frodo, is almost the last.
For
some reason Celeborn, played by Marton Csokas, comes last. The actor-introductions are
preceded
by material locating the characters in the book, the movie and the story. 1-The Road to Middle
Earth is dedicated to Peter Jackson and his pursuit of this project 2-from book to script, briefly
describes the conversion process enacted by Jackson and his various crews, including narrative,
scenery and costuming, and introducing the visions of Alan Lee and John Howe, and the
costuming
renditions of the Weta Workshop that gave us the marvelous Dwarf and Orc faces and Hobbit
feet.
The most endearing section is the fellowship, friends and foes with a collection of anecdotes about
how the actors came to play their parts in this epic before they are introduced individually. The
reader might be frustrated by the brevity of each section, especially those in the middle of the text
that give us a glimpse of each actor. However, the full-page photographs of each in full costume
and
makeup are very satisfying. Also satisfying are the detailed pictures of scenery that ends the book,
with a picture of the Weta model of Elrond's house at Rivendell being my favorite. This particular
title is a feast for the eyes of an adoring movie viewer.
Dr. Janice Bogstad
Reviewer
Terry's Bookshelf
Disappearing Into View
Andrew Stone
So There Books
73 Allston Street, #1, Cambridge, MA 02139
ISBN 0967907314, 260 pages - $14.00
Andrew Stone's second novel tells the story of a young man from an upper-middle class family
whose world blows apart, both literally and figuratively when he is 15. Rather than facing life and
its
consequences, he chooses to run away and live on the street, surviving by selling dead pigeons to
restaurants who then serve it to their patrons as "squab."
Colin "Birdy" Franklin is doing all right on the street, but then he hooks up with some shady
underworld characters and ends up working at a food processing plant that turns out surprising
fare,
including ground up rats.
Birdy emerges as a leader of the workers in the plant, and by examining their lives, he begins to
put
the pieces of his shattered life back together.
While reading this bleak novel, I was reminding of Sinclair Lewis' expose on the meat-packing
plants
and I decided NEVER to order squab again!
There are underlying subplots in the story, but the main focus is on Birdy and his re-awakening to
the realities of life....we're all human and we make mistakes. We all need to forgive and be
forgiven.
I gave the novel 3 stars because it is so very bleak and stark. I read for recreation and
entertainment...and being middle-aged, I've figured out some of the lessons in the story, so I
would
advise anyone looking for a quick, easy week-end read to find another story. It's not that Stone
can't
write...it's just that his subject matter is so dark and troubling.
This Is The Place
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
America House Book Publishers
PO Box 1109 Frederick, MD 21702
1588513521, 217 pages - $19.95
An amazon.com reviewer says, "Another great American novel, Gone With The Wind, depicted
the
people and times...Carolyn Howard-Johnson's great American novel, This Is The Place depicts the
people and the times...."
The only thing similar between Gone With The Wind and This Is The Place is that they were first
novels. That's where any comparison should end.
The jacket for the book says: "A fond and bitter story, This Is The Place is set firmly in the midst
of
the Mormon culture of the 1950's. It is about how intolerance affects souls and society, about
subtle
prejudice as well a blatant bigotry....It is about how prejudice can be disguised with love, family,
and
religion and how it can turn on those who use it."
Maybe you need to be from Utah or be 1/2 Mormon and 1/2 Protestant, as the book's heroine
Skylar
Eccles is. Maybe you need to have grown up not knowing about racial prejudice in the south or
ethnic prejudice in the northeast.
To me, the story never shows the reader any real bigotry, nor were there any real consequences
for
those who weren't Mormon. Other than not having her grandparents at her wedding (they couldn't
come because it wasn't in one of their wards), Sky doesn't seem to suffer much from being a
half-breed. She goes through normal teen-age crises, but nothing like being denied access to an
all-white bathroom, drinking fountain, or restaurant.
Another reviewer says: "The written word has never before congealed into such a beautiful
tale...." I
believe readers of Virginia Woolf or Issak Dinesen or William Faulkner or Ernest Hemingway
would
disagree.
What the book seems to be, rather than such a grand epic, is a possible fictionalization of the
author's own therapeutic journals. Her stories are singularly personal and really don't reach across
the page with any interest for her readers. The author had issues with her Mormonism, to be sure,
but to make them into a book seems to be a bit of a stretch.
If you grew up in Utah and you have issues with the Mormon's dominance of all aspects of your
life,
maybe this book is for you. However, readers from the other 49 states probably won't find enough
substance to hold their interest.
Family Correspondence
Teresa Miller
Hawk Publishing
6420 S. Richmond Avenue, Tulsa OK 74136
1930709145, 225 pages, $14.95, http://www.hawkpub.com/
Teresa Miller has written an exquisitely complex novel about 3 generations of women who work
their way through life's temptations and troubles.
Introducing each chapter with some kind of correspondence, Ms. Miller carries her readers
through
the lives of these women:
Kathleen Wallace is dying of breast cancer. Her beloved husband, Lee, the local veterinarian, is
bereft at the prospect of losing his wife and turns to another woman. Kathleen has to hold it
together
for the sake of her young daughter, Marie, who is coming of age just as her mother is dying.
Marie, in turn, knows about her father's dalliances and her mother's impending death, even though
her parents deny it. She falls desperately in love with Ben Ashbrook, the handsome but disturbed
heir to a huge ranch. When Marie becomes pregnant, she and Ben marry, to the dismay of
everyone,
including Alice Ashbrook, Ben's over-protective mother.
Fast forward to the story of Nora and Leslie, Marie's children. Marie has just died in a horrific car
accident that took the lives of 2 other people. It's up to Nora, the rebellious one, to find out (1)
why
Dr. Carlile and his wife were traveling with Marie on the late night of the accident and (2) why
there
were large amounts of sedatives in her mother's body.
The format of Family Correspondence is sometimes difficult to follow, but you should stay with
this
book until the end....when there is a moment when everything falls into place, the pieces fits and
the
questions of the past are finally put to rest.
This is Teresa Miller's second novel. Her first was Remnants Of Glory. She is an author to watch.
She is a wordsmith in the style of Sandra Scofield....her characters have very rich interiors and
they
deal with life-altering issues that don't always end up in pretty packages tied neatly with ribbons.
In
other words, she deals with real people facing real issues and the consequences of their
choices.
Enjoy!
The Sigma Protocol
Robert Ludlum
St. Martin's Press
ISBN - 0 312 27688 5 - 535 pages - $27.95
Recommendation: *********** (there aren't enough stars for this last Ludlum)
This book reminds Ludlum fans WHY he was once the VERY BEST at the spy genre! I've read
every one of his books (some more than once), and I am here to tell you his last work (?) harkens
back to the roller coaster ride/thrill-a-minute Bourne Identity. Once I started The Sigma Protocol,
I
could not put it down, even though it meant reading all throughout the night and into the next
morning.
The plot centers around Ben Hartman, a man who is trying to put the ghost of his twin brother to
rest on an overseas trip...however, everywhere he turns, there is confusion, danger and death. An
old college buddy tries to gun him down in broad daylight....his brother may or may not be
dead....and no one or nothing is what it seems. The book's parallel plot involves the deaths of a lot
of older me who once belonged to a secret Nazi organization called SIGMA and Anna Navarro,
the
beautiful intelligence agent assigned to find the connection. Ben and Anna's paths cross and the
chase is on. In other words, this book is VINTAGE Ludlum!
If I have a criticism of the book, it's that the publisher uses the present tense on the jacket ....
Ludlum died earlier this year. If there are indeed 11 outlines on the boards, I certainly hope they'll
do
us a favor and reveal who ghosted future work(s).
Although he steadfastly maintained he never had any 'spy' experience, he must have been either
(1)
hooked up with someone who LIVED the world of espionage or (2) he did more than 'voice
overs'
to put his kids through college. He simply knows too much.
I didn't like a lot of Ludlum's later works -- they were just too contrived and sometimes way
beyond
the realm of possibilities -- but with The Sigma Protocol, the master returned home for one last
triumph!
Enjoy!
The Evolution Of Intimate Relationships: How Our Brains Are Hardwired For Relationships
Thomas David Kehoe
Casa Future Technologies
ISBN 0965718131, 335 pages, $22.50
I must preface this review by stating the author contacted me and asked me to read his book. I
told
him to send me a copy, which he did, but not until he told me that other copies had not been
reviewed as promised. So, when the book arrived during the holidays, I put it on the top of my
stack. Maybe Mr. Kehoe's faith in volunteer reviewers will be restored.
With that said, I must admit that The Evolution Of Intimate Relationships is a quick, interesting
and
sometimes amusing look at the age-old question of how to find a mate. It's not new territory, nor
is
it scientifically sound, but it's a quick read and a pretty handy guidebook for those just entering
the
dating/mating game.
I found the part on gods/goddesses more interesting than the rest of the book, as I'm a
middle-aged,
monogamous woman married for many, many years....based on Kehoe's assertions, I'm a cross
between a Persephone, Athena and Artemis and I'm married to a cross between a healthy
Dionysus
(not so ego-centric) and a Hephaestus. Since we've been very happily married for a number of
years,
I'm assuming our combination is okay.
The Evolution Of Intimate Relationships is neither exceptionally scholarly nor is it new
information.
It is, however, cleverly packaged and easy to read. I suspect those who find it useful will be
young
and 'on the hunt' for a partner/mate.
Enjoy!
Terry Mathews
Reviewer
Sullivan's Bookshelf
Horse Sense For People
Monty Roberts
Viking Press
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
0670899755 $24.95 1-800-847-5515
From the author of The Man Who Listened To Horses and Shy Boy, this new book is a
fascinating
explanation of how gentle horse training techniques can be used to benefit humans.
"I suppose," Robert writes, "all readers of this book have the right to ask what gives me the
authority to expound my theories on human-to-human communication. to many people, my only
claim to fame, if there is one, is as a horse psychologist. As I write this book, it is my sincere hope
that I will give the reader the understanding that there is a balance between all living things on this
earth and that we are all one family. If my work only brings to light certain limited connections
between human and horse, then I am very disappointed. Humankind has the most complex brain
of
any species on earth, and with such incredible cerebral power we must be able to apply what we
learn from animals to ourselves."
The author has worked with horses for over 50 years. He uses a self-developed, nonviolent
method
of getting unbroken or recalcitrant horses to cooperate with him in a process he calls Join-Up,
often
done in under a half hour. Now he tells how humans, allowed the same freedom of choice as a
horse
during Join-Up, can lead themselves on the straight path of life.
Roberts makes a strong case for his 'contract method' with human youngsters and how they can
be
brought into line for their own best interests. In this part of the plan, the children agree to rewards
if
they do something right and agree to punishments if they do a specific thing inappropriately or not
at
all.
The author and his wife have raised their own children and over 35 foster kids. Many times those
boys and girls came as troubled and/or troublemakers to the Roberts' home. But with this
horseman's
gentle and dependable teaching techniques and guidance, he and his spouse were able to help
mold
all the children for the better.
Business executives and management can learn a lot from the author's methods on how to treat
people. Roberts, in fact, consults with numerous business clients each year on how to improve
relationships with employees, customers, and vendors.
With his wife, Pat, Roberts lives at their 'Flag is Up Farm' in California.
Every parent in America would find insights in this volume.
Recommended!
A Long Way From Tipperary
John Dominic Crossan
HarperSanFrancisco
353 Sacramento Street, #500, San Francisco, CA 94111-3653
0060699744 $23.00 1-800-272-7737
The son of an Irish banker and housewife writes a memoir of his life. Though he had a pleasant
existence in many cities within Ireland as a youngster, his home life ended early as Crossan was
sent
off to boarding school, then seminary, and to graduate study at schools around the globe. During
those years, the author became an ordained priest and a Servite Monk in the Roman Catholic
Church. He evolved into a scholar of religion, becoming a theologian and professor. His religious
specialty was the historical Jesus.
Nearly 20 years after taking his final vows as a monk/priest, he decided, after many frustrating
years
with the church's hierarchy, that he'd do better as a layman. So he applied for and was released
from
his vows. Soon he was wed. Surprisingly, to him and to this reviewer, he managed to get a
position
as a scholar/professor at DePaul University in Chicago, a Roman Catholic school.
There he taught religion classes for nearly 30 years. He also wrote scholarly works about the
historical Jesus. They stirred up considerable conflict for Crossan. For example, he said that Jesus
didn't walk on water, that it was just a parable. Crossan hastened to add that this stipulation
doesn't
make Jesus unbelievable. The Biblical story, he goes on, was written to make a point.
He arrived at such views after studying the Gospels in and out of the Bible and other sources, like
the historian Josephus. Fundamentalist Christians have been his harshest detractors. But Crossan
seems to thrive on this.
The author refers to himself these days as an academic scholar/public intellectual. As such, he
says,
"...that role means speaking as publicly as possible about the Gospels and the New Testament, the
historical Jesus and earliest Christianity, in language true to both their ancient first-century
situations
and their modern twenty-first-century continuations. And 'as publicly as possible' is not a question
of
volume, but of clarity, not of indoctrination, but education. And education means awareness of all
your options. This hope is for debate without caricature and argument without derision."
After his first wife died, Crossan remarried. The two travel extensively since his retirement from
DePaul University. He remains, by his own disclosure, a Roman Catholic, if nonpracticing. He is
also the author of Who Killed Jesus?, The Birth Of Christianity, and The Historical Jesus, among
his
writings.
This book is recommended.
James C. Sullivan
Reviewer
Rose's Bookshelf
Trying Times
Man, oh man, are we trying-ever since the emergency calls went out on 911. And as happens
during
any time of trial, we are discovering what we are made of and what we truly believe.
The War Against Terrorism is the first to be fought primarily in consciousness. All of us have
become warriors. So choose wisely where you put your attention, on terror or a higher truth. You
could even consider it your patriotic duty to avoid focusing on fears related to current events
which,
ironically, enables terrorism.
Your greatest source of comfort these days will probably not be your TV set. Why turn it on
when
you can tune in awareness of God? No terrorist can take away that presence, nearer than the
nearest
and dearer than the dearest. Now's a good time to use spiritual practice to discover in a real and
conscious way how God is woven into the fabric of creation; for those of us who are spiritual
seekers, nothing can remove this awareness except our indifference, fear, or pain. Ironically, these
deep human habits are being brought to the surface by current circumstances, all the better to
finally
be released. Shocking but true: In later years we may bless our collective release.
Meanwhile, helping others can add to your sense of stability. Instructions for Empathic Volunteer
Work, for instance, have been on my website since September 12-click on
www.Rose-Rosetree.com. (The site also includes new sample readings of people in the
news-inspiring folks worth reading about.)
Peaceful Earth: Spiritual Perspectives On Hope And Healing Beyond Terrorism
Lisa Hepner, editor
Hold The Vision
14845 SW Murray Scholls Drive, Suite 110, PMB #302, Beaverton, OR 97007
0971584591, 78 pages, $12.00, 1-503-524-7151, www.peacefulearth.org
Here's the single best resource in book form for anyone seeking perspective about the War on
Terrorism. This reasonably priced anthology shares a range of wisdom from some of America's
leading spiritual teachers. Commentary by Alan Cohen is his usual gold standard-wisdom that can
ease your heart and awaken your spirit. Dan Millman, another outstanding New Age writer,
explains
"Let's not give more power to a small group of zealots; let's not let them live in our heads
rent-free."
Other contributors include Jean Houston, Marianne Williamson, and Terry Cole-Whittaker. Their
teachings may inspire you to write the most important commentary of all: the one electronically
stored in your head.
The Book Of Practical Faith
D. Patrick Miller
Fearless Books
1678 Shattuck Avenue #319, Berkeley, CA 94709
0965680924, 84 pages, $12.00, 1-800-480-2776, www.fearlesssbooks.com
Grab your highlighter pen before you sit down with this book. If you're like me you'll need it.
Even
though I don't have problems with faith, this book taught me so much that I highlighted an
average
of one quote per page-a lifetime record with any book. If you know someone who agonizes over
spiritual skepticism, do both of you a favor: give Miller's extraordinary book as a present. And
throw in a couple of highlighters.
Miller is a brilliant writer, an original thinker who has distilled his life experience into practical
wisdom. He's never belonged to organized religion in any form. Perhaps that has hurt the
marketing
of his books in the short run. If he belonged to any mainstream denomination, his book would be
stocked in its bookstores worldwide; it already could have become a mega-bestseller. Still, this is
a
timeless book of wisdom. I believe it's destined to become a classic.
Also see A Little Book Of Forgiveness, another extraordinary book by D. Patrick Miller.
Workout For The Soul: 8 Steps to Inner Fitness
Chrissie Blaze
Aslan Publishing
2490 Black Rock Turnpike, #342, Fairfield, CT 06432
168 pg, $14.95 + $3 shipping, 1-800-786-5427, www.aslanpublishing.com
Just holding this book in your hand is a privilege, for it represents over 25 years of devoted
service
and avid learning. Between the covers you'll find a lifetime program for spiritual development. Of
special interest are techniques for breathing, drawing energy from the sun and moon, and a
knock-your-socks-off meditation with the violet flame.
Blaze's common sense balances the mystical practices. For instance, I couldn't agree more with
her
advice about affirmations. "You should never lie to yourself.. it is a waste of time to affirm to
yourself that you have no financial problems and that you are extremely wealthy if in fact you are
deeply in debt. This lie can only result in confusion and, possibly, ill health." (Her explanation can
be
found in the chapter on "Building a Bridge to Your Soul.")
Chrissie Blaze's how-to culminates with the 15-minute workout in her book's subtitle. Initially the
idea turned me off-I figured it was a slick attempt to McDonaldize the search for God. But guess
what? Because she systematically builds up to the final chapter, and has designed it with care, her
workout works.
A final reason to consider this book is the superb introduction to the very concept of doing
spiritual
practice. It couldn't be more timely, especially these words:
"While this book can bring you. benefits, that is not its main focus. Above all, it was written to
teach
you how to help others in a more powerful way-for this is the key to spiritual development. For
once, let's take the emphasis away from us and get on with the most important job of all-becoming
a
light in our dark world."
Virtual Foreplay: Making Your Online Relationship A Real-Life Success
Eve Eschner Hogan, M.A.
Hunter House Publishers
PO Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-2914
0897933303, 116 pages, $13.95, 1-800-266-5592, 1-800-266-5592, www.hunterhouse.com
Since 911, many of us have found ourselves reaching out to others. And even before the anthrax
scare, many of us were turning to e-mail rather than snail mail. We're forming friendships, making
business contacts, developing hobbies-and therefore, you can probably learn a great deal from
Hogan's perspective. It has relevance even if you're not interested in online dating; if you are
single
and searching this is an important book for you to buy.
As she explains, "virtual" is "a strange word that leads us to think of "almost, but not quite."
Virtual
dating is dating in essence, but not in actuality. . . . Unfortunately, there are many times when the
fantasy and the reality don't ever converge, which, in the world of Internet dating, can be
frustrating,
deceiving, and time-consuming."
Practical advice from this thoroughly researched book includes developing an ethical code,
identifying personal values, deciding on non-negotiable issues, appreciating what you have to
offer, a
consumer's survey of major online dating sites, and "Fifty Ways to Delete Your Lover." Even the
list
of emoticons is delightful. (Next time you e-mail your Mom, how about sending her a kiss: :-x
)
In addition to being an experienced relationship coach and emerging media personality, Eve
Hogan
is really a spiritual teacher. Her wisdom about relationships really transcends the topic of online
meet-&-greet, and it's matched by considerable finesse of expression. "Ultimately," she writes, "it
makes no difference whom we choose as a partner, if we ourselves do not have the interpersonal
skills to support and maintain a relationship. Even if we find the mate of our dreams, we still need
to
be the mate of their dreams, as well."
When you buy the book, turn to her extraordinary analysis of the mechanics of falling in love,
pages
66-67. You'll find plenty of spiritual insights mingled with this book's solid how-to advice. I'm
sure
I'm not the first reader of Virtual Foreplay to have fallen in love with Eve Hogan, or at least risen
to
a higher level of liking and respect.
Another interesting book about relationships is by local author Karen Gail Lewis, Ed.D.'s With Or
Without A Man: Single Women Taking Control Of Their Lives, 246 pg., $18.95, Bull Publishing
Company, www.bullpub.com, 800-676-2855. If you consider being single a problem, this book
will
take you step-by-step through an array of solutions. This is the book to give to those who worry,
"What's wrong with me that I'm not married?"
The Invisible String
Patrice Karst, author & Geoff Stevenson, illustrator
DeVorss Publications
PO Box 550, Marina Del Rey, CA 90294
0875167349, 31 pages, hardcover, $15.95 plus $3.95 shipping, (800) 843-5743.
Order online at www.devorss.com, click on "new releases," then click on "The Invisible
String."
You'll laugh, you'll cry-at least I did. You'll jump at the surprise ending-at least my 10-year-old
son
did. Of course I can't predict how you'll react to this fabulous book about your connection to
God,
but I certainly do urge you to buy it for everyone on your shopping list, young or old.
Illustrations by Geoff Stevenson are uncommonly effective: simple, attractive, expressive, and
free-flowing. The visuals of this picture book are perfectly matched to Patrice Karst's skillful text.
It
would have been so easy to make the words preachy or sentimental, yet she never crosses that line
(narrower, even, than the slender string in her title).
Karst's author photo on the dust jacket also deserves recognition. As an aura reader and
physiognomist, I always scrutinize pictures before I review a book. Especially when someone
writes
directly about experiencing God, I'm curious what deeper perception will reveal, spiritual
magnificence or wishful thinking? With Karst it's clearly the former (as one might guess from the
eloquent simplicity of the book itself). But the regular-perception aspect of the photo is
noteworthy,
too. Never before have I seen a professional-quality author's picture with such lifelike
presentation.
Without make-up or much of a hairdo, Patrice Karst sits in the photographer's chair as if leaning
over your kitchen table to talk to you.
Wonder what typical author photos will look like well in the New Age? That's it, I predict--no
artifice or posturing, simply an honest presence. Which, in a way, is what the main character in
this
book is about, too.
For more (and differently) inspiring photos, see the award-winning Inner Reflections 2002
calendar
from Self-Realization Fellowship ($12.95). In this calendar, gorgeous nature photography is
paired
with inspirational quotes by Paramahansa Yogananda. For instance, imagine a photo of dwarf
birch
trees, turned red in Alaskan autumn. The thought you're given to accompany this is, "Purity,
peace,
happiness beyond dreams, are sparkling and dancing within your soul." To order, call
800-801-1952.
Personal Pilgrimage: One Day Soul Journeys For Busy People
Viki Hurst
Northstone Publishing
1896836445, Hardcover, 224 pages, $21.95, 1-800-663-2775, www.northston.com
"A pilgrimage is a journey one takes in order to receive enlightenment, to experience a sense of
deepening, to find wholeness." Retreat facilitator Viki Hurst has put together a soul-nurturing
collection of practical pilgrimages in the form of spiritual day trips. Waits at the airports are long
these days. Here's an alternative. Let Hurst show you how to take a vacation close to home,
spend
your time wisely, and integrate the pilgrimage experience into your daily life.
Concepts for 12 different journeys have been thoughtfully designed by this college professor
whose
effectiveness as a spiritually-based businessperson makes her a role model for entrepreneurial
women.
And her journal-style book has been crafted with uncommon care and beauty. Personal Pilgrimage
would make a superb gift to anyone you know who would benefit from spiritual renewal.
For another kind of pilgrimage, see My Monastery Is A Minivan: Where The Daily Is Divine And
The Routine Becomes Prayer. Denise Roy's book from Loyola Press allows us to share her serene
inwardness. This is a thoughtful book about the search for God in the world; it offers readers
hard-won insights into soul, not mere chicken soup. The 212-page book is $14.95, available at
800-621-1008 or www.loyolapress.org
Rose Rosetree, Reviewer
http://www.Rose-Rosetree.com
Shelley's Bookshelf
The Icing On The Corpse
Mary Jane Maffini
Napoleon Publishing/Rendezvous Press
1005-3266 Yonge St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3P6
ISBN: 0-929141-81-4, $12.95 CAN/$10.95 U.S. paper
Mary Jane Maffini hails from Sydney, Nova Scotia and currently lives in Ottawa with her spouse
and
"various neurotic pets." A graduate of Dalhousie University, she is a former librarian who broke
into
writing via the publication of numerous short stories, which garnered many awards. Her short
story
fiction has appeared in: Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Chatelaine, Storyteller, On-Spec, Over
My Dead Body, as well as many anthologies. The Icing on the Corpse follows up the award
winning
Speak Ill of the Dead.
Camilla MacPhee, lawyer, embattled sister of three stiff-necked debutantes, and social crusader is
once again on patrol as victim's advocate for Justice For Victims. One of her clients, Lindsey
Grace,
has just testified against Ralph Benning, ferocious wife batterer. But Canadian law put Ralph back
on the streets in eighteen months. His first move was to revisit his former wife, who turns up
dead.
Camilla, her friend Merv of the Canadian Mounties, her rebellious and ever-surprising employee
Alvin, and her elderly neighbor and Harvey's aficionado Mrs. Parnell rush over to help Lindsey.
Somehow they all fall asleep, and Camilla's friend Elaine, Executive Director of "Women Against
Violence Everywhere," ends up as primary suspect when Ralph's frozen body is found as an ice
sculpture. Elaine rushes to confess to the murder that Camilla knows she didn't commit:
"As soon as it slammed shut, I turned to my alleged client. You're enjoying this.' Well, it is an
opportunity. Think of the profile for WAVE. You know, Camilla, at first I thought we had a
disaster
but on sober second thought, I realize this will give us some major media coverage."
Ms. Maffini has honed her writing skills to a sharp point with The Icing On The Corpse. She
juxtaposes Camilla's grim effort to solve the murder and save her friend against her hilarious
efforts
to deal with her sister's upcoming wedding and the issue of shopping for a bridesmaid dress.
Using a
skillful combination of snappy dialogue, endearing characters, and terrifying action, Maffini snares
the reader from page one until the alarming denouement. Camilla stays in lovable character
throughout the entire book, as women everywhere cheer her on.
8th Day
Kate Calloway
Bella Books, Inc.
PO Box 201007, Ferndale, MI 48220
ISBN: 1-931513-04-X $11.95
Kate Calloway is the author of seven prior Cassidy James mysteries, all with identifiable titles for
the
reader's edification: First Impressions, Second Fiddle, Third Degree, Fourth Down, Fifth Wheel,
Sixth Sense, and Seventh Heaven.
Cassidy James is a private eye and former teacher. She's quick with a computer, can ride a horse,
and is on the rebound after a couple of bad relationships. She's also a bit fey, and lately she's been
having dreams of being stuck in a mine. What she doesn't realize is that her dream is a
premonition
of things to come. Love is also in the mix, and she's as skittish as the horses who form the
backdrop
for this enjoyable tale.
When Grace Apodaca shows up at her house, scaring the be jesus out of Cassidy, her former
friend
is out for more than a rekindling of an old friendship and attraction. Grace's cousin Connie has
endured every woman's nightmare: an unjust prison sentence for a car accident after someone
slipped her drugs at a party, and the loss of parental rights to her now teenage daughter. Grace
and
Connie are convinced that Maddie is in danger and ask for Cassidy's help. Grace has gotten
herself
hired at Camp Turnaround, and Cassidy has no trouble following suit. When Cassidy arrives, she
finds people with names like Doc and Coach who use somewhat questionable methods to turn
around problem children:
"Coach turned around and faced her, the beam on his hard hat blinding her. 'Any time you get to
thinking you're pretty hot shit, Madeline, I want you to remember that sound. This mountain
could
swallow you up in one second. You're nothing to this mountain. Less than a gnat. Less than the
shit
of a gnat. You understand?'"
Calloway makes skillful use of point-of-view in this edge-of-your-seat thriller mystery. Written
from
an abused child's perspective, Calloway zeroes in on non-accredited military camps run by people
with no credentials and less moral fiber to allegorize just how precious a child is and how easily
they
are led into danger. Aside from moral considerations, 8th Day is a well written mystery with clues
galore leading the reader into the chaos of happy hunting. With an ending that is both surprising
and
logical, Calloway urges the reader further and further into the terrifying depths of the human
mind.
A smash-bang great story!
Lady Vanishes
Carol Lea Benjamin
Walker & Company
435 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 0-8027-3335-2 $8.95 (U.S.)/$13.95 (CAN), 1-800-289-2553
Carol Lea Benjamin is an expert dog trainer, and has written several books on the subject. She has
taught dog training seminars in the U.S. and Canada. She wrote her first Rachel and Dash novel,
This Dog For Hire, in 1996, followed by The Dog Who Knew Too Much and A Hell Of A Dog.
Her
first Rachel and Dash novel won the Shamus Award from Private Eye Writers of America. Ms.
Benjamin is a resident of Greenwich Village, New York.
In her fourth Dash and Rachel mystery, Rachel Alexander and her pit bull Dash enter the world of
autistic, or "throwaway" people. Lady, the resident therapy dog at Harbor View has disappeared,
and the owner and main benefactor, Harry Dietrich, has been killed in a bizarre hit-and-run bike
accident. Venus, the current administrator of Harbor View, contacts Rachel for her skills as a dog
therapist. But it quickly becomes evident that Venus needs Rachel's expertise as a detective, but
she
is reticent about explaining the reasons why she is so frightened:
"If Venus had been so lonely, where had it come from--the married man she met online? And why
was I hearing about him anyway? What did he have to do with a missing dog, a dead old guy, a
bunch of witnesses who don't speak and couldn't tell you the time of day if they did, and this
gorgeous, mysterious black woman who hires me because she thinks her life's in danger, then
won't
tell me why?"
Ms. Benjamin manages to grab the reader with this low-key tale about dog wisdom, autism, and
murder. From page one there is a wistful tone of whodunit, mixed with the obvious love the
author
holds for dogs, training, and dog-to-human therapy. We are quickly ensconced into Rachel and
Dash's world, and their own particular talents. The mystery is almost a background issue, but
nonetheless it is a real corker.
Ms. Benjamin uses wit, rigorous observational skills, and just plain old common sense to endear
the
reader to her characters. She spares no detail about autism, so that the reader comes away from
this
intensely entertaining tale both satisfied and a little wise. Rachel is a down-to-earth character who
has the uncanny ability to bring out the innermost secrets in virtually everyone she meets. She is a
real find as a crime solver, and is a true humanitarian to boot.
Theoretically Dead
Tinker Marks
New Victoria Publishers
PO Box 27, Norwich, VT 05055
ISBN: 1-892281-16-3, $11.95
Tinker Marks is a nom de plume for a husband and wife professor team, Mark Montgomery and
Irene Powell. Both are professors of economics at Grinnell College.
For anyone working in the field of academics, whether as an academic themselves or in a support
staff capacity, there is much to make fun of. Montgomery and Powell use a Philosophy
Department
conference as the setting for this hilariously funny, ribald and comedic mystery. Using the name of
Erik Weber (pronounced "Vee-bur" in true Teutonic form), this husband and wife team pull out
all
the stops to make for a delightful cosy thriller.
Set at Hammond College (all names are meticulously close to the mark while still being fictitious),
Professor Claire Sinclair, professor of economics and lesbian mate of famed philosopher Emma
Harrington, finds herself in the middle of a theater of the absurd murder mystery as she strives to
stay as far away as possible from Emma's upcoming conference. This conference, of course, may
make or break Emma's chance at a new chair, which would enable her to continue her
appointment
at Hammond. As the administration strive to deal with keeping public relations under control after
Professor Weber's body is found, Claire finds herself pulled deeper and deeper into the
quagmire:
"Claire,' Jack said, I guess that leaves you as the logical choice to talk to the media. Would you be
wiling to do that?' I couldn't believe my ears. Would I be willing to run a press conference on the
subject of Weber's death? Hell no, I wouldn't! I didn't have anything to do with Philosophy, I
didn't
have any knowledge of Weber's life, and I didn't have any experience dealing with the press. On
the
other hand, I didn't have tenure."
The Tinker Marks team does a first rate job of creating an enjoyable and witty mystery which
plumbs the depths of the academic world. While Claire stumbles through the mess constantly
created
by her "adorable" partner, Emma, we find a touching love story mixed with the consternation of
dealing with people who have been trained to focus on one thing...themselves. The plot thickens
nicely, and the Marks team effectively lead the reader through a labyrinth.
The Sewing Machine Murder
Michael McGrorty
Xlibris Corporation
436 Walnut Street, 11th floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106
ISBN: 00-193390; Hardcover: 0-7388-5218-X; Softcover: 0-7388-5217-1,
www.Xlibris.com
Even real private eyes have a tale to tell. Michael McGrorty is a private eye, or private
investigator,
living in Los Angeles. Also a writer, his poetry and articles have been featured in Gray's Sporting
Journal, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Los Angeles Times Magazine.
Told from the vantage point of Merck Bayern, a youngish Hollywood private investigator who is
at
a crossroads in his life, The Sewing Machine Murder is a Columbo style, tongue-in-cheek pulp
style
murder mystery. The title gives a tease that it might be a cosy, so it takes a bit of adjustment on
the
reader's part to get past the title.
But once there, McGrorty gives the reader a thrill ride based on the murder of a sewing machine
repairman who is too old to hurt anyone, but who is full of secrets. Merck Bayern is a thirtyish
private eye with a mind for puzzles and an English major under his belt. Although he quickly finds
and dispatches the murderer or Sigfried Jahannes March, the mystery lies beneath the murder.
McGrorty intersperses the investigation with Bayern's own story, and that of his now deceased
partner/mentor, Frank Drenck:
"Drenck didn't start to die until he'd been home about four months. After that he went downhill
pretty fast, wasting away to nearly nothing. Six months after the doctor wrote him off, he looked
like he'd been strained through a condom. The cancer played its game with him; not happy to have
his liver, it rambled about through his insides, setting up shop wherever it pleased. They pumped
him
full of some sort of poison to slow it down. He got a good three months out of that, and then the
thing came roaring back, making up for the lost time."
Just when the reader wonders where Mr. McGrorty is taking us, the second whammy of the book
comes out. Bayern, in between cavorting with his lady love, begins to put together the real picture
of
the murder. Just as his empty pockets draw him back to academia, reality crooks its finger,
drawing
him back into the morass of murder and investigation. It's where his heart and talents lie.
McGrorty
does a great job of creating a modern-day knight. His writing does the rest.
Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer
Sandra's Bookshelf
Magnet Therapy
William H. Philpott, M.D., and Dwight K. Kalita, Ph.D., with Burton Goldberg
AlternativeMedicine.com, Inc.
1640 Tiburon Blvd, Tiburon, CA 94920
ISBN: 1-887299-21-1, Soft Cover, 245 pp., $14.95, www.alternativemedicine.com
1-800-333-HEAL
William H. Philpott, M.D., Dwight K. Kalita, Ph.D., and Burton Goldberg teamed up to write
Magnet Therapy, a comprehensive guide to using magnets in the prevention and cure of
disease.
The authors explain that "electromagnetic energy is an integral part of the human body. It can
help
produce illness and help bring healing, depending on its type and strength." We are surrounded by
electromagnetism--nearly everything produces magnetic fields, including the human body.
Magnets
have two poles--north, or positive; and south, or negative. Generally, negative magnetic fields are
used in healing. Positive can be used only in special instances and under medical supervision.
The authors clearly explain the sources of magnetism and how it works in the body. They then
describe, in general, how negative electromagnetic fields are used to stimulate the body's ability to
heal.
The bulk of the book is devoted to listing of 35 health conditions, complete with a description of
causes and detailed instructions for using magnet therapy to prevent and heal each condition.
Health
problems discussed include addictions, heart disease, diabetes, children's ailments, and
reproductive
organ diseases.
"While magnet therapy may just now be gaining more widespread use and popularity in the United
States and elsewhere, the use of magnetic energy for healing dates back thousands of years."
Magnet
Therapy provides all the information readers need to begin using this ancient technique to improve
and maintain their health.
Simple Numerology
Damian Sharp
Conari Press
2550 Ninth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
ISBN: 1-57324-560-7 Hard Cover 123 pp. $14.95, http://www.conari.com 1-800-685-9595
Simple Numerology by Damian Sharp is an excellent book for newcomers to numerology. Sharp
begins with an introductory explanation of numerology, saying that it "provides us with a means
of
understanding our own individual cyclical patterns and personal qualities."
He is concerned only with Western numerology in this book, which is based on the teachings of
Pythagoras, a Greek philosopher who maintained that numbers were the basis of everything,
including relationships.
Important numbers are the name number, which reveals outer nature; birthpath, which indicates
destiny; persona, which tells how others perceive you; and soul number, which is inner destiny. He
also discusses the personal year number, the pinnacles, and challenge numbers.
Each number is easy to determine.
Sharp devotes the bulk of the book to explaining the significance of each number and how
individuals can use that information in decision making.
A final chapter describes compatibility between numbers, as an aid to successful personal and
business relationships.
Simple Numerology is a part of Conari Press' Simple Wisdom Book series. Simple Numerology is
Sharp's third book in that series; he's also won awards for other writing. Novices will find Simple
Numerology easy to understand and enlightening. Within minutes they will have new insight into
their personalities and lives.
Lakshmi Bertram has given birth to five babies, all under water. She shares her experiences in
Choosing Waterbirth, a book filled with practical advice and encouragement.
Bertram knew from the beginning that she wanted home births, maintaining that "most births do
not
actually require doctors or hospitals or fetal monitors or forceps or episiotomies or drugs." She
researched birthing methods carefully, learning about water birth shortly before her first child was
born. She learned that not only did water make birthing easier and less painful for the mother, it
also
provided "a kind, loving, and gentle entry into this world" for the baby.
In water birth, the mother immerses her lower body in a tub of water heated to body temperature.
The baby is born into the water. The baby continues to receive oxygen from the umbilical cord. It
is
then brought gently to the surface and handed to the mother. Babies will not try to breathe until
the
air hits their faces and are in no danger of drowning.
Bertram emphasizes that giving birth is a natural process for women and that, if left to their
intuition, they have the ability to deliver healthy babies. Having a baby does not have to be the
overwhelming and frightening experience that modern methods have led women to believe. She
provides lots of encouragement for women who want home births, even if they choose not to
have a
water birth. Alternatively some hospitals and birthing centers have water birth facilities available.
Each woman must do what she feels is best for her and her baby.
For those who do choose waterbirth, Bertram provides a wealth of information on where to find
birthing tubs (she purchased her first one at an animal feed store!), midwives and other attendants,
and birthing centers. She also details exactly the things to expect about birth in general, and water
birth in particular.
A long time yoga practitioner and certified instructor, Bertram includes a section on how
expectant
mothers may use yoga for relaxation and for strengthening and stretching the muscles that will be
used during childbirth. The detailed instructions are accompanied by pictures.
The final section of the book is entitled "Practice," and in it Bertram has included pictures of her
"water babies" and notes from her journals on their births. She says the hopes "to give women a
different view of what birth can be." Her experiences helped make childbirth "a part of the joy of
having children instead of a traumatic ordeal that had to be gone through in order to get
children."
Sandra McLanahan, M.D. , in a preface to Choosing Waterbirth says "Lakshmi's book provides
inspiration and support for women to learn to turn away from excess interventions, to return to
the
innate wisdom of the body and its natural resources." Every woman contemplating pregnancy,
whether interested in water birth or not, will find a wealth of information and
Dreaming While Awake: Techniques For 24-Hour Lucid Dreaming
Arnold Mindell, Ph.D.
Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc.
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
ISBN: 1-57174-187-9 Hard Cover 255 pp. $22.95, www.hrpub.com 1-800-766-8009
Arnold Mindell, Ph.D. has written more than a dozen books, and is known throughout the world
for
his work with dreams, bodywork, consciousness, shamanism, and conflict resolution. He's the
founder of the therapy known as Process Oriented Psychology and has established training centers
in
22 countries. Dr. Mindell has appeared on TV and radio and at conferences worldwide. He draws
on
his extensive experience and knowledge in his latest book, Dreaming While Awake: Techniques
For
24-Hour Lucid Dreaming.
In it, he explains that Dreaming (always with a capital letter) is "the energy behind everything; it is
the life force of all living beings, the power of trees and plants, and the power of motors, business,
and financial centers." While the dreaming we do at night has an important part in all this,
Dreaming
occurs 24 hours a day. Dr. Mindell says that "the Dreaming is always present, like an aura
shimmering around the objects and events you call everyday life."
His goal is to help readers "learn to move through and behind the world of everyday life,
exploring
the world of healing, divination, and immortality." He begins by defining Dreaming and discussing
it
in terms of religion, philosophy, and science. He then explains how it enhances personal health
(mental and physical), relationships, and work situations.
Dr. Mindell provides several simple exercises that individuals can use alone or with others to train
themselves in becoming aware of the subtleties of Dreaming. He says that many people have an
undefinable sense of something wrong or missing in their lives and says this is because they
unwittingly are only seeing half their lives and half the world--they aren't accessing
Dreaming.
Dreaming While Awake is not a dream interpretation book. Instead, it guides readers on a journey
of
recognition. A hidden world of information exists, with clues provided by the unconscious on a
continual basis. Individuals interested in learning to understand and use their Dreaming will find
the
help they seek in Dreaming While Awake.
Kundalini For Beginners
Ravindra Kumar, Ph.D.
Llewellyn Publications
P. O. Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164
ISBN: 1-56718-435-9, Soft cover, 329 pp., $12.95, www.llewellyn.com 1-800-THE-MOON
Ravindra Kumar, Ph.D. has studied the religions of the world and believes there is "a common
thread woven through all of them." He wrote Kundalini for Beginners to explore this common
thread and "to show that Kundalini or Sleeping Serpent Power is the common denominator in
most
cases of awakening, irrespective of the religion or faith of the aspirant."
Kundalini was awakened for Dr. Kumar in 1987. Later he retired from a long career as a
mathematics professor and devoted himself to spiritual research. He has lived and worked in
dozens
of countries. He's written several books and conducts workshops internationally.
Dr. Kumar defines Kundalini as a form of energy residing in every human. For many people, it
remains dormant. In a few, it awakens spontaneously. He says that "the awakening of Kundalini
causes a transformation and transcendence in life." Kundalini that is awakened prematurely or
incorrectly can be frightening, and in some cases, damaging.
He explains how people need to prepare themselves for Kundalini, then details how people can
work
to arouse their sleeping serpents in a safe manner. He calls his technique the "Integral Path,"
which
he says is "the shortest path to God."
As Kundalini is awakened, it rises through the chakras, which are energy centers located along the
length of the spine. Dr. Kumar describes what people should expect as Kundalini continues its
upward climb from the base of the spine to the crown of the head, which for most people, is a
12-year journey.
He also discusses the roles of psychic senses , free will, and reincarnation in the journey to self-
realization.
As Kundalini progresses, people experience what Dr. Kumar calls the "twin pillars of God," which
are Light and Sound. These are experienced on an inner level. People also achieve an inner
balance
between masculine and feminine aspects, and between instinct and intellectual powers. People for
whom Kundalini is fully awakened discover an ability to heal themselves and others.
Kundalini For Beginners is a useful reference for all those interested in learning "how to activate
and
assist the rise of Kundalini, and channel this energy in transcendent ways."
Sandra I. Smith
Reviewer
Peter's Bookshelf
Best Canadian Stories 01
Douglas Glover, editor
Oberon Press
400-350 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7S8, Canada
ISBN: 0778011879, $34.95 (hardcover); 0778011887, $17.95 (paperback)
142 pages by gross count, incl. intro., etc.; 132 pp. of actual stories.
In the online writers' group known as the Writers' SIG or Special Interest Group, within the
National
Capital FreeNet based in Ottawa, Canada, Mr. Russell E. Smith regularly posts information on
current literary-prize contests of potential interest to SIG adherents. Below is information on one
of
perhaps a number of non-prize, professional-level annual "competitions" which might easily be
overlooked.
The word "competition" is used here in the context that writers must compete with one another
for
the privilege of publication; getting published is not a "right", obviously, even if one is a relative
of,
or is in a position to blackmail, the publisher.
There is or may be this general sort of competition for every sort of textual print space, to the
extent
that publishers allow submissions by more than one author at a time. For instance, you, the reader,
might submit an initial proposal or query for a book named, in your manuscript (ms.), "19th
Century
Widget Winders" ... but within the publisher's offices it will come into competition with Joe
Jones's
proposal for "The Gryphons of Griffin's Hill", as well as with Sue Smith's proposal, "Wild Willies
I
Have Known", and with any number of additional mss., too.
That much is a simple fact of life, but here I refer to a somewhat different phenomenon, in which
writers are openly invited each year to submit stories for inclusion in the next year's
anthology/collection.
Experienced ms.-submitters, or rather proposal-submitters, must surely notice an unfamiliar ring
to
the following invitation, printed near the beginning of the book under review here:
"Contributions for the thirty-second volume, published or unpublished, should be sent to Oberon
Press, 400-350 Sparks Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 7S8 [Canada] before 31 March, 2002. All
manuscripts should enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope."
I mean to say, while that last sentence is familiar, how often does one get INVITED to submit a
ms.,
instead of being gruffly warned off with some statement like, "No unsolicited or unagented
manuscripts will be considered;" or perhaps, "No manuscript will be returned, only one winner
will
be selected, and the judges' decision will be final and binding." For, in the 2001 edition of "Best
Canadian Stories", eight stories are published. There seems moreover to be no specific reason
why
still more cannot be selected in given years, if their aggregate length is such as not to queer the
economic aspect for the publisher.
There clearly must be Canadian contents in stories selected in Oberon's annual publication, but
writers in other countries should be able to find comparable competitions for which they can
perfectly qualify.
I chiefly wish I'd realized all this years ago!
As to the actual contents of the 2001 edition, its Table of Contents lists the following authors and
their stories' titles:
Leon Rooke: The Yellow House
Alice Munro: Floating Bridge
Ramona Dearing: An Apology
George Bowering: Standing on Richards
Cynthia Flood: Religious Knowledge
Bill Gaston: The Alcoholist
Kevin Armstrong: The First Motion of Love
Charlotte Gill: The Art of Medicine
Five of these works had first appeared in one each of the following periodicals: "The New
Yorker",
"Malahat Review", "Prism International", "Event", and "Grain". Besides these five, 15 additional
magazines (generally of the capital-L Literary genre) were `consulted', apparently meaning that
their
contents were considered, but without additional stories having been selected. On the other hand,
three of the stories included in Oberon's 01 collection were evidently unpublished previously.
These
data, by the way - and I suppose you're aware that data is the plural of datum, "the given"? - are
to
be found on the back of the volume's frontispiece.
The bad news seems to be that ALL the writers listed above, and also the Editor, are shown by
the
author notes on pages 142-3 to be either Established (already published) authors, or about to
become so, implying that it will be as hard for a still unpublished author to make his or her
breakthrough by getting into Oberon's annual collection as it will for that proverbial camel to pass
through the eye of a needle.
What the world needs, therefore, is a book series of this general nature, but in which
Unestablished
authors may realistically compete on a level playing field; a series in which "Who You Are" will
not
be or even appear to be a, or even the, prime determinant on which success hinges!
Failing that improvement, the Unestablished need not apply, to all practical intents.
However, persons who buy a book of the present nature may well be attracted to do so precisely
because of a glittering series of known names - and a publisher whose purpose is to maximize the
work's sales seems unlikely ever to abandon that attraction while living in our hard-headed, "real"
world. The result tends to be the solidification of an oligopoly of Established writers from which
the
Unestablished tend to be indefinitely excluded.
"Well," the argument goes, "That is what the paying customer wants, and you know what they
say;
he who pays the piper calls the tune!" All of which suggests there badly needs to be an
educational
program designed to counteract the unreasoning public worship of celebrity for its own sake.
Pending that program's taking effect, though, a publisher's call to the Unestablished of the literary
field for manuscript submissions may amount to little more than window-dressing.
So much, however, for the apparent vs. the real role of the Oberon book as a mentoring medium;
for, to the book buyer as opposed to an author, the big issue presumably ought to concern
content.
It's a difficult task to devise a story title which is both decently concise and amply indicative of
content. Take for example the title, "The Yellow House". Concise these three words and four
syllables are, in contrast to the rambling and longwinded titles in vogue a couple of centuries ago.
They are not, however, awfully indicative of content.
True, there is almost certainly to be a yellow house someplace in the story, but for all one knows
before reading the work, the tale may be about the interactions of various people, one of whom
may
chance to own, or admire, or dislike a painting named "The Yellow House". Particularly if the
painting is modernistic, it may depict no detectable house shape, and it might even show no
yellow!
Leon Rooke's six-page fable of this name must therefore be read, to provide its gist. It proves to
be
a tale contrasting the vibrant life of a family across the way, in and around their happy, yellow
house;
and the dullness and fear of the writer's own family, afraid of its own shadow so to speak.
Of course there is more to it than this, but Rooke's story itself is so brief as to be almost a
summary
and I don't care to give away any more of it. It is in fact the shortest story in the whole 01
collection,
the closest others being about 12 pages long
The last piece in this group is the first tale I can recall ever encountering, written from the
second-person POV (point of view, or perspective). Nearly 15 1/2 pages long, it gets started
second-personating right away with the opening sentence, "University housing found you shared
accommodation."
I suppose one could get used to that quirky you-you-you style, but it happens to assign the wrong
sex to "you" (i.e., to me), for my liking. The author wants ME to respond when Colette says from
the doorway, Girl, is that all there is to you? ... and note also that quotation marks appear only
around books' titles - not in my writing, but in author Gill's.
It has been said, though, that capital-L Literature is defined, not for what it is, but rather for what
it
isn't (it must NOT be formulaic or genre writing). It must, by exclusion, presumably be whatever
is
left. That is, it must be innovative. Charlotte Gill's story is that, certainly.
Six more stories occupy the middle pages of this book. Are these eight really Canada's best, prior
to
the second quarter of 2001? I consider that as suspect a claim as "The world's best apple pie!"
was,
noted on a hand-lettered sign tacked to a fencepost along a secondary highway in, I think,
southern
Pennsylvania. The problems of the two situations were the much same: would the judging of the
pie
not depend heavily on the personal preferences of the taster? ... and just how was every apple pie
ever baked in the world tasted?
Granted, there quite likely are many fewer stories in Canada than there are or have been apple pies
in
the world - although the stories are less perishable and must be steadily accumulating - but all the
same, writers ignorant of the invitation quoted early in this review may have had on hand
thousands
upon thousands of stories which the "taster", whatever his personal preferences, has never yet so
much as seen!
Methinks the title doth protest, or claim, too much. However, these are GOOD stories in this
book,
there's little doubt about that.
The Floating Madhouse
Alexander Fullerton
Little, Brown and Company (UK)
ISBN: 0 316 85544 8; Can.$36.95; 376 pp., voyage map.
This romantically preoccupied naval historical novel is set before the lifetime of almost anyone
alive
today, recounting as it does events of the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. It nonetheless has a
quite
modern feeling about it, compared with this reviewer's more frequent reading (and writing) fare,
set
roughly one to one-and-a-half centuries earlier still.
By 1904, steel steamships had replaced wooden sailing ones; breech loading, turreted great guns
with rifled steel barrels firing cylindrical, explosive projectiles were used in place of muzzle
loading,
truck mounted cast iron or brass smooth-bore cannon firing solid, spherical shot; electric lamps,
including searchlights, had displaced candles and oil lanterns; non-voice radio communications, in
addition to such older systems as signal flags, increased signalling options and ranges; steering
engines were used in large ships, in place of tillers, steering ropes, and the like; and not only
torpedoes but also torpedo boats and such other new vessel types as destroyers had joined the
fleet.
Yet "historical" applies both to "The Floating Madhouse" and to works set even more recently
(during the Vietnamese War, for example), a fact which raises a vexed question of just how far
back
"history" begins - a decade? a year? a month? a day? even just a second ago? Perhaps it means
whatever is too far back to be described with some such adjective as "current" or "modern" - but
next, how far back do these words reach?
At all events, the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05 indirectly played a large role in precipitating
catastrophic events for Russia and all the world, over the next century. A rebellious spirit was
already loose in that land, but whereas a victorious war might have silenced the disturbances,
Russia
was in fact to lose this particular contest.
That outcome had just the opposite effect of encouraging disorder, culminating in the Russian
Revolution a dozen years later, the destruction of the ruling house of Romanov, the creation of
the
USSR, the massacre of millions of victims by the brutal Stalinist regime, the Cold War with its
Space & Arms Races - and eventually the failed Soviet War in Afghanistan which saw the arming
of
Afghan factions (including those since vilified) by the USA as a means of countering its
archenemy;
followed by the events of 11 September 2001 in New York and Washington, and tracing right on
up
to the present global war against terrorism.
As deeper background that old but fateful war was caused by a collision of the thoughtlessly
imperious, expansionist Russian attitude toward all eastern neighbouring lands, and the
determination of the Japanese, scarcely emerged from their feudal age, to make their own mark by
establishing hegemony in the same region, the two sides at first badly underestimating each other.
Change any of those factors, and who knows where subsequent events might have led?
Of course the link with 1904-05 grows more tenuous with the passage of decades, but it seems
possible that had the Russo-Japanese conflict been resolved through diplomacy, or had the
Russians
won, much else that has happened since might have turned out very differently.
The 1904-05 war, therefore, is not merely the basis of a good yarn. It also carries major history
lessons for us to heed, even today. For one thing, repercussions of intemperate actions may roll
onward for as much as a century after the fact, to touch possibly very numerous people in a
variety
of the most unpredictable and often unfair ways.
This novel, told from the Russian point of view (more precisely, from that of a Russian-English,
moderately bilingual naval officer, although Fullerton writes only in English), begins with that war
already in progress. It was both a land and sea war, but whereas soldiers could be rushed by train
over the great distance from Europe to reinforce the Russian army in nearly the farthest corner of
Asia, once the Japanese had defeated the Russians' First Pacific Squadron at Port Arthur and
Round
Island, bringing up naval reinforcements from the Baltic and Black Seas meant steaming halfway
around the world, the smaller vessels using the Suez Canal but the capital ships circumnavigating
Africa.
The title derives from the character of that re-armament venture. It was one of those desperate,
doomed moves during which everything, for a variety of causes such as an inefficient
governmental
system, paranoia, pusillanimity and panic-proneness, and the incompetence and blind
self-deceptiveness of officers, makes a complete hash of the task.
The Russians greatly feared Japanese torpedo boats and firmly believed they would be sent
against
them even in European waters. As a result they committed mayhem upon a peaceful flotilla of
English fishing trawlers they chanced upon by night at the Dogger Bank.
Thus the Russian squadron became a seagoing band of pariahs, afraid to coal - that is, to renew
their
coal supplies - also in France, deciding instead to steam onward to Spain ... but now with the
added
apprehension of a British declaration of war hanging over them. Sharpening that apprehension,
unlighted warships which prove to be five British cruisers shadow their movements at night, then
present a disdainful show of seagoing prowess by day, none of this doing anything to bolster the
hapless Russians' already sagging morale; for grudgingly, they have been coming to face the fact
that
there had been no torpedo boats, and that besides Hull fishing boats, they shamefully had also
opened fire upon vessels of other innocent nations, e.g., a French schooner.
Even when the threat of Britain's declaring war seems past, matters continue to go wrong. Vessels
break down almost regularly. Then in Tangier a Russian ship fouls a telegraph cable with her
anchor,
and is ordered by the admiral to sever the cable, thus cutting all rapid communications between
Morocco and Europe; a floating madhouse, indeed!
From the beginning there has in any case been a smell of doom over the entire affair, for the
Russian
high command has seen fit to send along to all intents every ship it could lay hands on, including
an
icebreaker and a number of old Hamburg-Amerika passenger liners hurriedly refitted as "cruisers",
plus assorted other rust-buckets which promised chiefly to retard and possibly collide with the
true
warships. According to Fullerton, one vessel was even so old as to have been converted from
sail.
Were being ill-equipped not handicap enough, this Second Pacific Squadron also was poorly
manned
in terms of both crew training and officers' leadership abilities, undermined in part by Russians'
lamentable background of constantly kowtowing to persons of higher caste. The book's
framework,
including the Dogger Bank incident and the squadron's poor state, is historical. We do however
have
the author's word that, evidently at the personal level (meaning Tasha and Michael in particular,
but
no doubt including others), the work is one of fiction.
Leaving Tangier, even the Russian admiral's flagship figuratively runs amok amid the squadron
when
her steering engine fails!
Fullerton provides clearer insights into the sociology of czarist (but apparently "tsarist" is more
correct) Russia, although his is chiefly the aristocratic, titled stratum described also by Tolstoi,
light-years from the lower class featured by Dostoevsky and his ilk. The protagonist, Michael or
Mikhail, is madly in love with Natasha or Tasha, a lovely young Russian noblewoman he has been
obliged to leave behind in Russia. She, though, has been promised against her will (in effect sold)
for
selfish reasons by her father to Captain Zakharov. Michael and Tasha never actually meet within
this
story, but live instead on warm memories of having been together earlier; on mutual longing; and
on
especially her bitterness over their separation.
About the author himself, notes on his book's back dustjacket flap place Fullerton in Royal Navy
College in 1938-41, and in the Navy for the rest of the war. He wrote a wildly successful first
novel,
"Surface!" in his spare time at a shipping-company office during 1953, the present work being his
43rd (or so) novel.
Oddly enough, (and this goes to prove, if proof be needed, that indeed "pobody's nerfect"),
Fullerton
gets it wrong about tidal effects in the Baltic Sea; for whereas a "bottom line" statement in the
Encyclopaedia Britannica is, "Tidal movements are almost completely absent from the Baltic,"
pages
22-25 of this novel have the larger, overloaded Russian ships grounded in the Baltic by a low tide.
They expect however to be refloated by a rising tide "in an hour or two" - but I can guarantee that
that was not about to happen! Perhaps, despite his extensive oceangoing time, Fullerton had not
yet
actually experienced such almost non-tidal (because nearly landlocked) waters as those of the
Baltic,
the Mediterranean, and, most obviously, the Black Seas.
In other respects, although he may get into a streak of composing non-sentences he writes well,
and
slowly but effectively builds a sense of dread over the affair of his protagonist, Michael and his
(eventual) captain's fiancee - but less so over the fate awaiting the Second Pacific Squadron,
which
was to be virtually wiped out by sinking or capture.
This book's front dustjacket flap proves significant in a different way by letting us know that,
"Michael Henderson, Lieutenant RN, has been caught `in flagrante delicto' with the young
Princess
Natasha Volodnyakova ... the scandal breaks in the aftermath of a party to announce Tasha's
engagement to a wealthy naval captain whom she's only just set eyes on ..."
That is a much clearer, more explicit telling of the party sequence than that on page 12 of the
book
itself, a passage which, oddly enough, is scarcely comprehensible without the dustjacket's aid. One
is
not warned accordingly, by the book's author; one thus may not grasp the "flagrante delicto"
aspect
in the tale's oblique phrasing, still unclear after one reads, nearly halfway through the volume on
page 175 in Chapter 12, what is presumed to be a torrid passage in which, as a typically unclear
example, "Up for air then" may possibly - or may not at all - hint that Mikhail has been giving
Tasha
cunnilingus.
Fullerton's writing can hardly be denounced as pornographic, then, when his spiciest bits are this
delicately vague. Relying on a dustjacket to tell one's tale, though, in itself seems a trifle mad.
(How
the couple came to be caught in the act - by her father's servant's prying - will at last be explained
in
pages 314-319.)
Another reviewer might however laud Fullerton for his subtlety, which may quite possibly be a
valid
perspective. Oh, well!
Michael initially ships out (please, not "sails", under steam power!) in the Second Squadron's
flagship. Between the Baltic and Spain he only sees what should be his own vessel once, when she
comes dashingly within hail alongside, to allow Michael's cuckolded (if that term properly applies
to
the merely affianced) rival to speak through megaphones with the admiral.
Michael thus has no need or opportunity to interact with the apparently unsuspecting captain until
at
last he is transferred while the squadron coals at Tangier, Morocco (page 129). Meantime, he
exchanges pining love & newsletters with his girl through trusted intermediaries in distant places,
who add new envelopes and postmarks so as to avoid the machinations of her very difficult
nobleman father, in particular, and in hopes of keeping their secret from Capt. Zakharov (who
turns
out to be an able, even likeable, but wooden officer who is a full generation older than Tasha;
whereas Michael is about the right age, by convention.)
Such missives take weeks to be delivered, as used to be true within living memory before the
advent
of airmail, let alone that of e-mail. There could be many anxious days whilst one awaited such
services!
All this time, Michael is steadily deceiving his captain about the nature of his relationship with
Tasha
...
Dakar in Senegal is next, with the prospect of up to five more coaling stops before reaching even
Singapore. Dakar was, however, neutral French territory, where the harbour authority was under
instruction not to permit belligerents to coal at all. The Russian admiral nonetheless adopts a
"might
is right" attitude, and even dictates double cargoes of coal so as to get beyond the southern end of
Africa, where Britain and her ally, Portugal, are firmly in control.
What did a double load of coal mean, in practice? It meant dangerously overloaded ships, with
decks
awash and stability compromised. It meant stowing coal to depths of three or four feet practically
everywhere throughout the living accommodations. It meant removing doors from their hinges,
because they could no longer swing. It meant every last man becoming covered with sweat and
black dust as the dirty, hot work was pursued in tropical heat and humidity. It meant, in sum, both
misery and added danger, as well as frequent appeals to guardian saints and angels - but it also
meant a hope of fulfilling the squadron's mission.
The book's map suggests Dakar lay perhaps 30% of the way toward the expedition's destination,
while we might be roughly 60% of the way through the book. "Getting there was more than half
the
fun", it seems. Next stop featured high winds & seas, followed by mail.
Then followed news of a seriously situation deteriorating at the Russian base of Port Arthur,
Manchuria; Michael is offered a chance to go ashore and catch a steamer home, but declines it.
Then
they hear of the First Pacific Squadron's annihilation in harbour.
Now comes a discovery that the lighter vessels sent via Suez were directed by High Command in
St.
Petersburg to refit (a timeconsuming process, while time is most precious) and lie elsewhere than
at
their prearranged rendezvous point; and that several of that division's vessels had somehow
vanished. Around the same time, an eagerly awaited munitions ship arrives, but proves to be laden
solely with clothing ... yet more madhouse stuff, contributing to the formation's ultimate
defeat.
At Singapore, they learn that Mukden, Manchuria has fallen to the Japanese, whose warships have
recently been seen in the Singapore area.
Daunting news notwithstanding, the determined Russian admiral pressed onward, now aiming for
Vladivostok in Siberia although it lies almost encircled by the hostile isles of Japan and the
Japanese-occupied Korean peninsula.
Such is, in general terms, the strategic position before the rival fleets clash. In closer, more tactical
terms, the Japanese vessels were freshly refitted and near their home base, capable of speedy
movement with bottoms free of barnacles and weed, and no need to be encumbered by coal and
general storeships. The Russians' sense of doom was well founded.
Nonetheless, Fullerton manages to snatch a happy ending for both Michael and his captain out of
the
chaos of the Battle of Tsushima. Read the book and discover how it was done!
Pete Hodgins Sr.
Reviewer
Roger's Bookshelf
The Great Siege: Malta 1565
Ernle Bradford
Wadsworth Military Library/ Wadsworth Editions, Ltd
Cumberland House, Crib Street, Ware, Herts SG12 9ET United Kingdom
ISBN: 18402220069, $12.99, 1999, 256 pages, paperback,
http://www.wordsworth-editions.co.uk/
First of all, I must confess to you that I normally do not read military history or battlefield stories.
A
book about one of the most life-changing historical events on a 122-square mile island nation in
the
Mediterranean Sea may be important to people on Malta, but not me. Except that I went to Malta
for a vacation and was given a copy of the book by another traveler who had just finished it.
"Good
book," he proclaimed, so I started reading. I couldn't put the book down. I hungrily read chapter
after chapter. The tale of how the Knights of St. John defended this strategically important island
from the onslaught of a Turkish force was fascinating. The Turks in the 1500s were a powerful
nation whose dominance spread far and wide. The Knights of St. John held the island of Malta,
strategically positioned to enable the Sultan to conquer Europe. Interstingly, the clash also pitted
Moslems against Christians in a struggle that even has relevance to current events.
A huge force of 200 ships and 40,000 men attempted to overthrow the Knights of St. John whose
force numbered about 9,600. The naval and ground battles, the heroism, the strategy, and all the
stories leap off the pages. The author brings this centuries-old historical event to life, based on
historical research that presents facts and figures which support the story he tells. This is a
masterpiece.
Yes, it should be a movie--to rival Ben Hur and a few other box office hits. It is said that to be
successful, every movie must have strong characters, violence, and sex. No sex in these pages, but
the strong characters and their heroic feats will hold your attention from cover to cover.
Suggestion: go to a web site where you can view a map of Malta to understand the relative
position
of the locations described so vividly.
Lean And Green: Profit For Your Workplace And The Environment
Pamela J. Gordon
Berrett-Koehler
450 Sansome Street, Suite 1200, San Francisco, CA 94111-3320
ISBN 1-57675-170-8, $24.95, 2001, 219 pages, trade paperback, 1-800-929-2929
From time to time, business leaders have invested time, energy, attention, and financial resources
in
the respected work of environmental protection. The work from the corporate sector has not been
consistent, appreciated, or encouraged. Through this book, the author hopes to stimulate more
organizations to be actively supportive of the environment-and good business practices. A
Certified
Management Consultant with significant personal engagement with corporate environmental
issues,
Pamela Gordon profiles the work of twenty employers to show what can be done.
Many authors gather profiling information for books like this by researching on the internet,
magazine articles, other books, and industry reports. To her credit, Gordon personally visited 16
of
the companies cited, with the other four being visited by people from her firm. This direct
involvement adds a higher degree of authenticity to her work and this book.
Lean And Green is organized into three sections. Part One presents four steps for creating a lean
and
green organization: Question Wasteful Practices, Gain Lean and Green Endorsement Using
Business
Language, Collaborate to Achieve Lean and Green Goals, and Track Progress for Environment
and
Profit. Interwoven through these introductory chapters are stories about how the 20 profiled
employers have applied these approaches. The organizations are mostly large, well-known
companies, and a city government, but the principles can be applied in smaller organizations, as
well.
The second section of the book presents Real-Life Examples of Putting Lean and Green into
Practice. Ten chapters lay out the how-to of building a higher consciousness and effectiveness of
environmental practices. Again, Gordon uses examples and experiences of her profiled companies
and their people to illustrate and emphasize her points.
The third part of the book, How to Make the Most Difference, is best reported to you by listing
the
powerful chapter headings: How to Become an Environmental Leader in Your Organization,
Work
with Your Organizational Culture to Support Change, Be an Environmental Activist Using
Tactics
That Benefit Business, and The Fastest Route to Lean and Green. Quotes are used to open each
chapter, as many authors do. To focus even more strongly on the dedication and focus of her
profiled corporate activists, Gordon quotes people from the companies rather than outside
sources.
Each chapter ends with a valuable summary of the chapter, entitled "Making it Easy."
This book will smooth the way for its intended audiences: employees, managers, top leaders, and
observers of organization that have great potential to make a difference. As I read the book, I
found
myself already becoming more aware of opportunities in my own surroundings to make a
difference.
If you're interested in protecting the environment and your company's bottom line, this book will
open your eyes and give you tools for success.
Competing For Talent: Key Recruitment And Retention Strategies For Becoming An Employer
Of
Choice
Nancy S. Ahlrichs
Davies-Black Publishing
3803 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
ISBN 0-89106-148-7, $32.95, 2000, Hardcover, 254 pages, 1-800-624-1765
Employers are continually concerned about competing with each other to hire and hold the best
employees they can find. Sometimes this competition becomes a frenzy, since the best
people-qualified, experienced-are in high demand. It's essential, to compete well, to become an
Employer of Choice. Ahlrichs, in her preface, observes that employers of choice "know that their
'choice' status is a significant achievement attained through consistent application of
comprehensive
strategies and tactics, as well as top-bottom organizational responsibility for retention.
This book is divided into three sections: the big picture, recruiting, and retention. In Part One,
How
Employers of Choice are Winning the Talent Wars, the three chapters focus on Learning from
Employers of Choice, Employer of Choice Foundation Strategies, and Building and
Communicating
a Top Employer Reputation. These writings present a good overview and insight into how
Employers of Choice are operating. The orientation is to learn what these companies are doing,
rather than a how-to approach.
The second part, Creative Strategies for Recruiting Top Talent, offers the readers four chapters,
starting with How Employers of Choice are Redesigning Recruitment. The next chapter, Only
You
Will Do, has a little more instructional tone, but still primarily takes a third person view. This
chapter concludes with a helpful Orientation Checklist. Chapter 6, Surfing for Recruiting Results
Online does provide a healthy amount of how-to. While this field is changing almost daily, there is
a
lot of value here for the reader. Plenty of website domains are included. The last chapter in this
section, Finding New Hires in Unlikely Places, is filled with good ideas. Here I felt a lot more of
the
how-to I was looking for.
The third section is entitled Comprehensive Strategies for Retaining Top Performers. Here the
chapters are titled Understanding Why Employees Leave; Managing and Leading for Retention;
Retrain, Develop, and Profit; and New Compensation and Benefits Strategies. There is a lot of
value
in these chapters-lots of ideas and perspectives. An exit interview guide will be helpful to those
companies that have not taken advantage of this tool. The author seems to really hit her stride in
providing ideas for readers in this section. The same holds for her conclusion, Becoming an
Employer of Choice.
The book is well-written, filled with valuable information for the reader. The solid chapters are
supplemented with a good resource guide and an index. I'd recommend this book for company
owners, senior executives, and human resource professionals. As an ethical reviewer, I must share
with you that I am co-author of How To Become An Employer Of Choice, a competing title in
the
same field. With that perspective, I would be quite comfortable recommending my clients read
Competing For Talent as a supplement to my book.
The Final Days: The Last, Desperate Abuses Of Power By The Clinton White House
Barbara Olson
Regnery Publishing, Inc
One Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
ISBN 0-89526-167-7, $27.95, 2001, Hardcover, 240 pages, www.regnery.com
In spite of questions raised during the 1992 presidential election, Bill Clinton was elected, largely
on
the issue of the economy. Yes, we had gone through a difficult economic period, but things were
improving. Then-President George H. W. Bush saw the improvement coming, but his words fell
on
deaf ears. Clinton was in, with promises of the most ethical administration in history. What a joke
on
the American public! The problems began very soon after Inauguration Day and got worse. We
discovered, to our dismay, that while he was bright, President Clinton and his wife, Co-President
Clinton, seemed to have low morals, a lack of character, a penchant for lying, and insatiable
greed.
In short, just the opposite of what honored heroic leaders should be. But the economy was in
great
shape, so the American public tolerated, with dismay, disgusting misbehavior in the White
House.
The final days of Clinton's administration were an almost predictable climax to eight years of
embarrassing behavior. Almost predictable, but not quite. The actions taken in the final hours of
this
scheme foisted upon the American people went far beyond what any reasonable person might
have
expected. We read with horror a plethora of articles in the newspapers and magazines about what
happened with pardons, commutations, and executive orders. Barbara Olson pulled it all together,
adding more that never got adequate media exposure, to produce a book that should be read by
every thinking American voter. There is no question that this book will be the topic of
conversation
at cocktail parties and other gatherings, so read it now to prepare for the discussions.
What gave Olson the right to produce this revealing, damning, and unsettling book? She watched
what happened in the Clinton Administration with a keen and critical eye. She served as a
prosecutor
for the Department of Justice and as counsel to a congressional committee before going into
private
practice. A much sought-after legal analyst and commentator on radio and television, she had a
drive
to present the facts for readers to gain critical insight. Just before The Final Days was to be
printed,
Barbara Olson was killed in the hijacked airplane that was flown into the Pentagon during the
9/11
terrorist attack on America. If we had not lost her in this terrible way, there is no doubt that she
would be in high demand as a talk show guest and public speaker. Her fees would surely be less
than
those charged by Mr. Clinton, with a great deal more honesty, substance, and character presented
to
her audiences. Clinton's speaking fees are an honor to the office he held, though, as this book
argues, he brought dishonor to the office for eight years.
The Final Days is compelling. Expect to get a lot of neck exercise; you'll shake your head at every
page. Expect to be incredulous. As you raise your eyebrows-can this really be, Barbara Olson's
research will dump more facts in your lap. You must wrestle with what she presents, and this
experience will probably influence the way you look at recent history-and the way you vote in the
future. What you read will be upsetting, I must prepare you. But, these are facts you must know.
Your children, from a vantage point of time, will have quite a view of the Clinton Presidency as
more like an "emerging third world dictatorship."
Olson delivers fact after amazing fact, with some doses of understandable cynicism. You will be
astonished as you learn about the "pardons for sale" and try to understand why they were
granted-outside established Department of Justice procedures. You'll develop a new sense of
Hillary
Clinton, as you learn about how she shamelessly solicited gifts. You'll be dumbfounded to
discover
that Clinton added four THOUSAND pages of federal rules in his final days in power.
This book names names, lots of them. It's all here in one place. And quotes. Olson quotes a wide
range of people, including Clintonites, so this book is not just one person spouting off. Consider
this
quote: "Former Clinton aide Dick Morris believes history will judge Bill Clinton as 'one of the
most
corrupt U. S. presidents.' " Refusing to face the Clintons is a national transgression from which
there is, and should be, no pardon." This quote, like all the others, is cited in the notes section of
the
book.
To respond to Dick Morris' concern, The Final Days faces the Clintons. Head-on. It is time for all
of
us to face the Clintons, to judge, and to decide how we will behave in the future. Bill Clinton is
still
out there, charging in the neighborhood of $100,000 a speech, as he continues to rub our noses in
what he has done. And Hillary Clinton is now in the Senate, under the watchful eyes of her 99
fellows, as she presumably prepares for her own run to the White House.
It's time for every thinking American to read The Final Days. It's time for the wake-up call. It's
time
to face what happened. All this said, Olson was a crusader against the Clintons and all they stand
for. While the real truth may be elusive, this provocative book will be food for thought and
considerable conversation. Time will tell whether the Clintons or Barbara Olson will have the
greatest legacy.
Global Teams: How Top Multinationals Span Boundaries And Cultures With High-Speed
Teamwork
Michael J. Marquardt & Lisa Horvath
Davies-Black Publishing Company
3803 East Bayshore Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303
ISBN 0-89106-157-6 $39.95, Hardcover, 246 pages, 1-800-624-1765
Management of cross-cultural project teams is increasingly important in the corporate world. As
global expansion continues, people with skills in Cross-Cultural Leadership will become more
valuable. They will need the kind of information packed into the 246 pages between the covers of
this book. "Globalization has reshaped not only the macro-level aspects of economic life, but also
the micro-level details of each individual's life More and more companies, whether small or large,
young or old, recognize that their choice is between becoming global-and building global teams-or
becoming extinct."
Message: the content of this book is imperative for companies to survive.
I found the book to be slow reading, because I found myself reading slowly to get every morsel of
this book. There is an incredible amount of information in this book-readable text, case studies
(written be people who have "been there, done that." Every chapter delivers how-to information,
with tremendous underlying background research. Footnotes are embedded in the text, enhancing
the value of what has been presented. Readers will find the issues and tips sections to be very
helpful. The how-to information is nicely supported with valuable checklists. Appendix A is a
comprehensive Global Teams Profile to assess the status of global teams. Appendix B lists web
resources for even more information and insight into global teams.
The first part of the book addresses the advantage of and resistance to global teams. Chapter 1
presents the GlobalTeams model, the ten benefits of global teams, with examples of global teams
that have done good work and how they achieved their success. Chapter 2 discussed the five
major
challenges of global teams: cultural diversity, geographic distance, coordination and control,
communications, and teamness.
Part Two explores bridges and boundaries-leadership, team identity, and norms. The third part of
the
book gets into cultural diversity and technological support, then Part Four zeroes in on human
resource issues.
The twelve steps and strategies for building global teams are fully explained, but I'll list them here
to
tease you. 1. Establish a strong commitment and sense of urgency about having effective global
teams. 2. Assess the organization's readiness and ability to support global teams. 3. Develop a
corporate culture that values global thinking and acting. 4. Connect globalization and global teams
to business strategies and operations. 5. Restructure the organization to better support global
teams.
6. Develop policies and practices that support global teams and their cultural diversity. 7. Commit
the HR unit to support global teams. 8. Provide guidelines and support for day-to-day operations
of
global teams. 9. Provide technological support for global teams. 10. Provide family support for
global team members. 11. Optimize the learning and share it with other teams. Celebrate
successes
and anchor global teams throughout the organization. You'll gain a considerable amount of
knowledge, insight, and step-by-step procedures as you read about these vital topics in Building
Global Teams.
Included in this high-content publication are key points to understand when working across
cultures
(page 117), leadership roles and expectations (page 109), culture and setting direction (page 53),
guidelines for creating a team vision (page 71), and attributes of successful global team leaders
(page 63).
I can't say enough about this book. It's an essential tool for anyone involved with global business.
Nicely balanced, covering a wide range of topics. Highly recommended.
The Startup Garden
Tom Ehrenfeld
McGraw-Hill
Two Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121
ISBN 0-07-136824-8, 2002, $18.95, Trade paperback, 210 pages, 1-800-722-4726
Thinking about starting a business? Good luck! There are so many things to learn, think about,
decide, and not forget in your new role as entrepreneur. Growing a new business can be much like
growing a garden-plant some seeds, add water and fertilizer, stir in loving care. Eventually,
something should grow. Ah, but business is a lot more complicated.
Wouldn't it be nice if you could spend a few hours with some friends who have been there and
gained significant experience? You'd probably learn a lot while listening to the contributions of
your
friends during the lively conversation. The experience would be enhanced if a few best-selling
authors dropped by to toss in their two-cents'-worth.
Reading The Startup Garden will give you that kind of an expertise and experience. Your host,
Tom
Ehrenfeld, is a business journalist with more than a dozen years of experience in print and radio. A
former writer/editor at Harvard Business Review and Inc. Magazine, he's a frequent speaker on
small business issues. You may have heard him on PRI's Marketplace, where he is a regular
commentator.
Tom (you'll feel a close relationship with your host) will introduce you to a number of
entrepreneurs
who will share their experiences and advice on a wide range of topics. You'll learn from Tom's
text,
plus a continuous flow of sidebars and quotes giving you more and more information. Your topics
of
discussion include Finding Your Calling; Planning as Learning, Learning as Doing; The Numbers
that Count, and Bootstrapping. The chapter on Walking the Line deals with human resource
issues,
followed by chapters on Just Managing and Perpetual Learning. A good index enhances the value
of
this book.
Bonus feature: You'll find references at the end of each chapter that will guide you to more
reading
to grow the knowledge you need for your circumstances. Tom's emphasis is that each company
situation is unique, though there are a lot of commonalities. There is more information to share,
on-
and off-line. You might want to check out http://www.startupgarden.com, a multi-linqual website.
At this writing, the site is still under construction. Keep checking; from what I've seen so far this
will
be a valuable site.
Recommended for start-up and early-stage growth entrepreneurs.
How To Say It In Your Job Search
Robbie Miller Kaplan
Prentice Hall Press
240 Frisch Court, Paramus, NJ 07652
ISBN 0-7352-0185-4, $16.00, 2002, 293 pages, trade paperback, 1-800-631-8571
Looking for a new job? Concerned about how to most effectively communicate how wonderful
you
are? This book will give you an incredible amount specific information about what to say and
exactly
how to say it-even suggesting the actual words you can use. The sample letters, resumes, words
to
use, words not to use, and much more make this book an invaluable tool for anyone looking for a
new job . . . or a promotion.
Part of Prentice-Hall's "How to Say It" series, this book is a fine example of how a tremendous
amount of information can be presented in a way that's easy to find and use. The contents are so
well
organized, the index is almost superfluous. And then there are little added-benefit surprises, like
the
index to resume examples, by occupation. Seventeen chapters are presented in three sections that
enable the reader to grasp the organization quickly and get to work. The table of contents
provides a
good view of the layout of each chapter, making it easy to slide into a reading rhythm.
Part One, Good Beginnings-Resumes, opens appropriately with a chapter on how to write a good
resume. The second chapter, keeping with the times, teaches the reader how to prepare scannable
resumes. Yes, Virginia, many corporations scan resumes into computers and use Optical
Character
Recognition software to sort of automate resumes into a searchable database. Chapter three
explains
how to submit an electronic resume. Users of this book will certainly be up-to-date!
The second section of the book deals with cover letters. This list of chapter headings will give you
some insight into the treasures here: Writing Effective Cover Letters, Putting Your Job Search
Letters to Work, Using Electronic Letters, Responding to Advertisements, Sending Unsolicited
Letters, Getting a Little Help from a Friend-Networking and Referral Letters, Writing Gracious
Thank You Letters, Using Follow-Up Letters to Get Results, Accepting or Declining the Job
Offer,
and helpfully, Writing Letters of Resignation. Are you getting the impression that this book might
offer more than just some fundamental writing tips? You bet! Then check out the next
section!
Section Three presents the techniques and skills that go far beyond just communicating. Chapters
on
Preparing for the Interview, Conducting Research for the Interview, Communicating Your
Qualifications, and Concluding Your Job Search Successfully complete a book that is almost
tiring
to read. There is a tremendous amount of knowledge in these pages. Even vocabulary lists for
success!
Extra bonus thought: if you're a salesperson, you could also gain considerably from this book.
Looking for that sale, you're selling yourself. Use this book as a guide to improve your
results.
The Leader Within You: Master 9 Powers To Be The Leader You Always Wanted To Be
Robert J. Danzig & Howard Kaplan
Lifetime Books, Inc.
2131 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, Florida 33020
ISBN 0-8119-0867-4, $21.95, Hardcover, 161 pages, 1998
Bob Danzig was the senior corporate executive in charge of the Hearst Newspaper Group for two
decades. During that time-and through his career leading up to that point, he met movers and
shakers and a lot of "ordinary" people who made a difference in one way or another. In this book,
he's tried to capture a wide range of experiences and perspectives-almost too much-to make his
points about leadership.
The autobiographical thread starts at the beginning of the book and continues all the way through.
If
you're interested in selected aspects of the life of a highly involved newspaper man, this book will
provide you with one historical anecdote after another. Danzig shares many of his experiences
with
people of significance and, well, other people of a different kind of significance. His professional
life
story weaves through the book-in disjointed pieces. I found myself wanting a stronger stream of
consciousness, a more connected flow of this man's life. He is obviously a key player kind of
person,
but the reader never gets a full story of Danzig, the man.
To present and illustrate his nine powers of leadership, Danzig shares the stories of men and
women
who exemplify the powers he enumerates. He provides evidence for his points, describing how
each
role model lived the power he describes. Then a third person's comments are inserted to validate
Danzig's points by lauding the celebrity. Some of these role models are well-known. Others are
not
as familiar to us, if known at all. As one example follows another in a well-designed flow, they
help
Danzig make his powerful points about the role of leadership.
Readers will learn about 9 Powers: Quality, Innovation, Inspiration, Perseverance, Passion,
Character, Charisma, Energy and Enthusiasm. The instructional thread can be followed,
interwoven
with the autobiographical and biographical threads. While sharing some of the experiences of an
important newspaper man, you'll gain from the knowledge and perspective he learned from the
people he met and quoted in this book.
For a thought-provoking and inspirational read, pick up a copy of The Leader Within You. You'll
learn a lot about leadership, the leader with in you, and what you can achieve with the resources
you
have.
Roger Herman
Reviewer
ROGERS BOOKWATCH: PART 3
The Hiring And Firing Question And Answer Book
Paul Falcone
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
ISBN 0-8144-7110-2, $18.95, 2002. Trade paperback. 288 pages, 1-800-250-5308
Whether you're a human resources professional or an executive or manager in a company without
a
human resources department, you are confronted by all sorts of difficult personnel questions.
Hiring
and firing can be highly complicated subjects. Scary. Unless you have someone you can turn to for
reliable advice.
Never fear. Paul Falcone is here! The author of "96 Great Interview Questions to Ask Before You
Hire" and "101 Sample Write-Ups for Documenting Employee Performance Problems" has
authored
a book that will relieve the stress in your people-management life. Falcone is Director of
Employment and Development Paramount Pictures in Hollywood and teaches for UCLA. Here's a
resource who knows what he's talking about.
This book is organized into two main sections: Hiring and Firing. Under the Hiring Section, you'll
find chapters on the hiring process, recruitment tools, online recruiting, interviewing, and making
the
final selection. The Firing Section begins with a chapter answering common questions about the
performance management and termination process. Next, the reader will learn about progressive
discipline, terminations for cause and summary offenses, and reductions-in-force and layoffs.
Through these chapters, Falcone presents 112 vital questions . . . and answers. Each question is
addressed with a basic answer, followed by a section titled "Tell Me More." What a wealth of
information!
And, as if this weren't enough, the book also includes an appendix with sample policies,
agreements,
and letters. The comprehensiveness of this section is amazing. A glossary, resource list, and index
provide even more value.
Hiring The Best And The Brightest: A Roadmap To MBA Recruiting
Sherrie Gong Taguchi
Amacom.
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
ISBN 0-8144-0635-1, $27.95, 2002, Hardcover, 289 pages, 1-800-250-5308
As this review is written, America is still in a recession. Layoffs abound. Hiring is down or frozen
at
most companies. Employers who recruited on college campuses have cancelled the offers made to
graduating students. Employers have hunkered down for a tight period that may last a few months
or, as some pessimists forecast, for years.
While campus recruiting is down dramatically, wise employers will still visit top colleges and
universities looking for the best and the brightest. If they're just going to hire a few people, it
makes
sense to go for the cream of the crop. The question becomes just how to do this kind of
specialized
recruiting in an employment market that was highly competitive, then became quiet, but that will
pick up again. Hiring top MBAs-and other highly desirable candidates-is now a strategic issue. To
maintain a competitive advantage now and later when the pace picks up again, it's essential to gain
the knowledge and insight that fosters high performance and stunning results. There hasn't been
much written about this specialized field. Now there's a book that will teach you how. Whether
you're a neophyte at this kind of recruiting or an old hand, you will learn from Taguchi.
Some things change; some remain the same. Taguchi presents a wide range of accepted protocols
that have not-and will not-change. All of these elements are important for recruiters to fully
understand if they are to gain the needed cooperation and support of the career professionals at
their
targeted schools. One thing that is changing is that "compensation may have won out in the past,
but
nowadays it takes a whole lot more to attract and keep top talent." This is a job that must be done
well, since so much is riding on your success.
Reading this book, I learned that there are four phases to MBA recruiting: up-front preparation,
pre-recruitment, interviews, and second rounds and offers. Cutting corners won't work; each of
these phases must be handled carefully. Each of these phases is explained for the reader in
chapters
3, 4, 5, and 7. Chapter 6? Page after page of lessons learned by 15 experienced recruiters, a
treasure
in itself. This author has done her homework. The chapter on Best Practices and Worst Mistakes
brings out more lessons to learn from.
Chapter 10 is by far the largest: School Profiles of the Top Twenty Picks. For each school, the
book
presents an overview of the MBA program and what degrees are granted. On campus recruiting
at
that institution is explained, with advice, followed by a school-specific list of dos and don'ts.
Other
recruiting options and key go-to people are included. While this is incredibly valuable information
that will save recruiters a considerable amount of time, the personal resources could become
outdated quickly. Hint: use this information now!
Other helpful chapters cover advice for established companies and for start-ups. The chapter on
recruiting on the fly may be particularly valuable if you simply don't have time to plan and design
an
elaborate recruiting program. If the economy heats up quickly or you have a fast-growing
company
with immediate needs, this chapter will be a vital resource. Web recruiting is explored in chapter
14,
followed by a couple of chapters on retention. There is no question that developing and keeping
the
MBAs you hire is critical, but the title of the book is specifically hiring. It's nice to have the
obligatory retention chapters, but the book is strong without them. The three appendices provide
some metrics and additional resources.
Bonus insight: Sherrie Taguchi's experience glows in this book. She gained experience as Vice
President of University Relations for Bank of America and Director of Corporate Human
Resources
for Dole Packaged Foods. Now she's on the other side of the desk as Director of MBA Career
Management and Management Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Her
conversational writing style gives the reader the feeling of sitting in a big, comfy chair in front of a
warming fire, chatting away about how specialized college recruiting really works . . . the inside
story.
Focal Point: A Proven System To Simplify Your Life, Double Your Productivity,
And Achieve All Your Goals
Brian Tracy
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
ISBN 0-8144-7129-3, $21.95, 2002, hardcover, 222 pages, 1-800-250-5308
Personal development, in years past, has been a primary interest among people of all ages. We
don't
hear as much about the topic today as we used to. Nevertheless, the need is still present . . .
perhaps
even more than ever before. With so many people today focused on their computers, some have
forgotten about the fine art of balanced personal growth.
Brian Tracy is a master in the field of personal and professional development. His speeches,
seminars, and consulting around the globe have contributed to Tracy's reputation. He is highly
respected and quite influential, particularly among the thousands who attend his presentations
each
year. As Tracy lived his life, then taught others his system, his approach was continually refined.
In
Focal Point, it all comes together for anyone who reads the book.
Focal Point explains how users of this tool (you'll do more than just read the words in this book to
get its powerful total value) can unlock their full potential. At the same time, using the system will
enable you to double your productivity and simplify your life. Of course, this sounds like the
makings of a fine motivational speech; Tracy is a motivator. But, this book invests most of its
pages
in the how-to.
The chapters are filled with the knowledge of the sages in this field. Many teachings will sound
familiar-good! In Focal Point, all that advice is pulled together into one place, one system to learn
and apply. A listing of the chapter headings will reveal what you will explore in these pages: Tap
Your Most Precious Resource, Practice Personal Strategic Planning, Supercharge Your Business
and Career, Improve Your Family and Personal Life, Achieve Financial Independence, Enjoy
Superb
Health and Fitness, Become Everything You Are Capable of Becoming, Make a Difference in
Your
Community, and Spiritual Development and Inner Peace. Note that these are how-to chapters,
filled
with things like "Six Steps to Doubling Your Income and Doubling Your Time Off" and "Seven
Keys to Higher Productivity." Each chapter includes challenging questions to help you see where
you still have some work to do.
Tracy's Focal Point process consists of seven steps to be applied in each area of concern: values,
vision, goals, knowledge and skills, habits, daily activities, and actions. The whole valuable system
is
explained so you can use the book as a tool to make a substantial difference in yourself, your
success, and your personal satisfaction. The book concludes with a chapter on Seven Lessons for
the
Twenty-First Century, a List of Values, a Recommended Reading list, and an index.
If you want to strengthen your life, your effectiveness, and your happiness, you'll discover a great
friend in Focal Point. And you'll probably recommend it to your friends. It's just that kind of a
book:
it bothers you, makes you uncomfortable, but shows you how to make the improvements you
want
to need and desire. Go for it!
Coming Up For Air: How To Build A Balanced Life In A Workaholic World
Beth Sawi
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023-6298
ISBN 0-7868-6549-0, $23.95, 2000, Hardcover, 253 pages, 1-800-759-0190
In her first chapter, which is really an introduction, Sawi explains that her "book is divided into
four
parts, each designed to show you how to change your work patterns and find more balance in
your
life." Part One, she explains, helps you understand yourself better. Part 2 tells how to make
changes
to create a balanced life. Part Three "describes particular situations that are common but may not
apply to everyone." The fourth part "talks about activities that will help you increase the balance
in
your life this year and in the years to come."
That's what this book does. It talks. At a very basic level. Opening a book written by a woman
who
is executive vice president and chief administrative officer at Charles Schwab, I expected more.
What I found was a combination of low-level training material that would come from a beginning
seminar leader and group therapy.
Each chapter starts with a parable. Anyone with a couple of years of experience as a trainer or
speaker-or active participant in seminars or conventions-would have heard them several times.
Nothing new, unless you just haven't had the exposure to this sort of presentation. The book is
filled
with quotes-I counted over 100-that appear on page after page. It seemed like the author's
research
consisted of heavy use of "Bartlett's Quotations." For people who like quotes to stick on the
refrigerator door or on a bulletin board next to their desk, this book is a treasure.
To present the various issues she deals with, the author uses unattributed quotes from people who
suffer from imbalance in their lives. Each is printed in italics to differentiate their contributions
from
the author's writing. Sometimes that's very helpful, or else it would be difficult to tell the
difference.
Reading through these pages, with all these "people" sharing their tales, I felt like I was in a group
therapy session.
If you'd like to experience a therapeutic sort of conversation that explores a lot of the issues
around
achieving life balance, and you like quotes and fables, read this book. If you're looking for a more
concrete treatment of this topic with clear steps to take, keep looking.
Home Office Life: Making A Space To Work At Home
Lisa Kanarek
Rockport Press
33 Commercial Street, Gloucester, MA 01930-5089
ISBN 1-56\496-775-1, $35.00, 2001, hardcover, 114 pages. 8.5" X 11",
http://www.rockpub.com
Lisa Kanarek is well-known for her expertise in home office design and operation. She's written
other books, published articles, and appears frequently as a professional speaker on the topic.
Because of her knowledge and positioning, Lisa appears in the media frequently. I was
understandably startled when I saw this coffee table book with her name on it.
I started looking through the book and discovered that the author's valuable advice is plentiful.
And
so are gorgeous full-color photos of examples of the designs and approaches the author
recommends. The book is best suited for someone contemplating developing a home office, but it
can be just as valuable for someone who already has a home office but is thinking about making
improvements. Prepare to take copious notes; you won't want to write in this book.
If you look in a bricks-and-mortar bookstore for this book, you may have some difficulty. The
publisher has categorized the book as "Home Decoration/Interior Design." OK, I acquiesce. It is a
beautiful book on decorating and design, and it is related to the home. But this is a business book,
make no mistake about it. The volume does, however, demonstrate that it is possible to have an
efficient workspace that also looks really good.
And that bothered me about Home Office Life. Everything is so neat and pretty in those pictures.
I'm
not sure our home office looked that good on the first day of operations! I suppose you have to
make everything look pretty and sterile for such photos, though.
Lisa Kanarek covers the waterfront for us. The first chapter deals with How to Make a Better
Business at Home. Some of us really need this! Included are planning, set-up, and organization.
You'll learn things about how to carve out a space for yourself and how to design the office that
will
work for you. And you'll get lots of tips along the way.
The second section of the book talks about Getting Down to Business. You'll learn how to put
your
home office to work, setting up shop and getting settled in. The third section deals with reality,
presenting real examples of how home offices can work. This section has the information needed
by
people considering a makeover of their home office. A resource list and an index make this book
even more valuable.
With the movement toward home offices, this book is a winner. You might suggest your architect
buy one, too. If you use an interior decorator, get yet another copy.
Roger Herman
Reviewer
Paul's Bookshelf
Like Water On Stone: The Story Of Amnesty International
Jonathan Power
Northeastern University Press
360 Huntington Ave, 416CP, Boston, MA 02115
1555534872, $30.00, 332 pages, http://www.nupress.neu.edu
Amnesty International was started in 1961 by Peter Benenson, a british lwayer who read about
students in Portugal (at that time under a military dictatorship) who received long prison terms for
toasting freedom. His idea of flooding the offending government with letters, telegrams and
unpleasant publicity was derided at the time as silly.
Over the years, AI has kept its emphasis on those prisoners who do not use or advocate violence,
and has stayed as non-partisan as possible in various international disputes while double and
triple-checking all information it receives. Today, with members in over 160 countries, Amnesty
International is the world's most influential private organization dealing with human rights.
This book looks at the difficulties faced by AI in its work around the world. Nigeria is the home
of
AI's most famous political prisoner, Olusegun Obasanjo (now President of Nigeria). Amnesty's
attention to detail and fine detective work exposed the massacre of more than 100 children in the
Central African Republic. Political freedom in China seems to go through phases of openness,
only
to be slammed shut by the government. The book also deals with death squads in Guatemala and
attempts to bring former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet to justice.
The author also explores human rights in America. Around the world, America is the first one to
say
something to other countries whose human rights records are less-than-perfect. But, looking at
America's domestic record of police brutality, racial profiling and inability to ratify various human
rights conventions and treaties, the word "hypocrisy" comes to mind.
This is a fine piece of writing. Those who are already active in the human rights field, and those
who
just want to know something about AI (before becoming members) will learn a lot from this book.
Highly recommended.
Akhenaten: Dweller In Truth
Naguib Mahfouz
Anchor Books/Random House, Inc.
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
ISBN 0-385-49909-4, $12.00, 168 pages, http://www.anchorbooks.com
Set in ancient Egypt, this is the story of the pharaoh Akhenaten, wose rejection of the Egyptian
deities and embrace of monotheism earned him the title "heretic pharaoh."
A man named Meriamun travels past the deserted city of Akhetaten, once the grandest city in all
Egypt, and is struck by a strong desire to discover the real story behind the "sun king". He talks to
Akhenaten's tutor (and father in law), his chief priest, one of his childhood friends, the head of the
army, and even his wife, Nefertiti, among others, each of whom give their own recollections.
Physically, Akhenaten was small, scrawny and rather effeminate looking. He was either a slavering
madman who should never have been allowed anywhere near the throne or he was a visionary of
the
type that comes along once in a lifetime. Growing up, Akhenaten showed no interest in learning
the
ways of war. Tuthmosis, his older brother, who would have made an excellent pharaoh, died
when
they were children. His father, and pharaoh, Amenhotep III, sent Akhenaten on a tour of the
empire,
hoping to make a man out of him. It didn't work. Akhenaten was summoned back to assume the
throne on the death of his father.
Akhenaten showed little interest in actually being pharaoh, but his wife, Queen Nefertiti, showed
herself to be an expert in running the empire. One day, he heard the voice of the One and Only
God,
and immediately set out changing the "state religion", getting rid of all traces of the regular
deities.
His obsession with his religion, to the exclusion of all else, made the outlying provinces easy
pickings for invaders. The seat of power had already moved from Thebes to the brand-new city of
Akhenaten. As the empire descended into anarchy, Akhenaten continued to insist that faith in his
god would prevail.
I really enjoyed this book. It talks about a part of the world and a period in history about which
few
Westerners know very much. The characters in the book, especially Akhenaten, feel like real
people.
I found it to be well worth reading.
9-11
Noam Chomsky
Seven Stories Press
140 Watts Street, New York, NY 10013), 2001,
ISBN 1-58322-489-0, 126 pages, $8.95, http://www.sevenstories.com
This book consists of a number of interviews given by Chomsky, during September and October
2001, with media from all over the world. As usual, it contains a lot of information not found in
the
American news media.
The Northern Alliance is a collection of warlords whose terror and destruction, while in power,
led
the population to welcome the Taliban as liberators. Before the US missile strike on the Sudanese
pharmaceutical plant in 1998 (which, by itself, led to the deaths of thousands of innocent
Sudanese),
Sudan was ready to give the US a vast intelligence database on Osama bin Laden and over 200
members of al-Qaeda, including photos, biographies and details about al-Qaeda's financial
interests
all over the world. The offer was refused by Washington, more than once, because of its hatred of
Sudan. Would there have been a better chance of preventing September 11 if the US had this
information?
In December 1987, during a previous war on terrorism, the UN General Assembly passed a major
resolution condemning terrorism in the strongest possible terms and calling on all countries to act
forcefully to overcome it. One can only wonder why the US and Israel were the only countries to
vote against this resolution.
The US is the only country condemned by the World Court for international terrorism. In the
mid-1980s, the Court ordered the US to stop supporting the Nicaraguan Contras and pay
reparations to the Nicaraguan government. Not only did the US ignore the ruling, it accelerated
the
war against Niacargua (by authorizing the attacking of undefended targets like health clinics) and
vetoed a Security Council resolution calling on all countries to observe international law.
For those who have never before read Noam Chomsky, this may not be the best introduction to
his
work. This still an excellent, and much needed, alternative to the perception that any criticism of
the
Bush Administration somehow borders on treason. This, and other Chomsky books, also show
just
how much the American news media has become a purveyor of pro-corporate propaganda. It is
very
highly recommended.
Conversations With Cuba
C. Peter Ripley
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive. Athens, GA 30602-4901
ISBN 0-8203-2163-X, $24.95, 243 pages, http://www.uga.edu/ugapress
This is one American's chronicle of several trips to Cuba during the 1990s. The story starts in
1991,
right after the end of the Soviet Union, and the ending of Soviet aid. One of the author's first
impressions is that the capital of Havana has needed at least a coat of pain for the last 30 years
(one
of many casualties of the US sanctions). In 1992 came the "special period", when, among other
things, the mere possession of dollars would get a person an automatic five years in jail (a policy
which didn't last long).
Throughout the period, life for the average Cuban was characterized by a huge lack of consumer
goods, so people made do as best they could. Whatever consumer goods were available went to
the
"special" stores, the ones that are only for foreigners and that only accept dollars, and the rapidly
growing number of tourist hotels springing up all over the country. Built by non-American
companies, they too are forbidden for the average Cuban, and are enforced by tourist police. The
thriving black market also helped cause the creation of a whole subculture of teenage and young
adult street hustlers. They would hang around hotels and offer their services at anything to anyone
who comes out, hoping for money at the end, or dinner in one of the hotels, or something from
one
of the special stores.
Ripley travels from one end of Cuba to the other. Among the places he visits is Santiago,
birthplace
of the Cuban Revolution, which started disastrously in 1953 and culminated six years later in
victory. He meets a number of people along the way, some of whom are very cynical and
apolitical,
and others who are as patriotic and loyal to the Revolution as a person can be.
In Cuban society, there are periods where Fidel Castro eases his grip on the people, allowing, for
instance, farmers to sell produce for dollars at local farmers' markets, and periods where he
tightens
the screws, forbidding all street hustler activities.
This is one person's look at a country about which most Americans know almost nothing. It's easy
to
read, it feels "non-partisan" (for want of a better term) and it is very much worth the reader's
time.
San Juan Solution
R.E. Derouin
Western Reflections Publishing
P.O. Box 710, 636 Main, Ouray, CO 81427
ISBN 1-890437-52-2, 283 pages, $14.95, http://www.westernreflectionspub.com
David Dean, retired Pennsylvania police detective, his new wife, Cynthia, and Fred O'Connor, his
stepfather, have just opened a bed and breakfast in the town of Ouray, Colorado. While the
building
is still being renovated, and while David and Cynthia are away, Fred signs in their first two guests,
an older man and a young woman, traveling separately.
Things get very interesting when, the next day, the man, whose name is Glick (but not really) is
found in a car at the bottom of a ravine, quite dead. The woman, named Claudia, is found by the
Dean's living in the woods by herself, with a story that she was almost forced into the trunk of
that
car.
The bed and breakfast, named Bird Song, is suddenly flooded with a very motley group of
characters. Claudia's mother lived in the same town as a small midwest college. She was the sort
of
person who would go to bed with practically anybody. An entire frat house full of guys was happy
to oblige, so Claudia doesn't know who her father really is. Claude, the man who probably was
her
father, wrote a will making her heir to an electronics company which may be worth nothing or
100
million dollars, and amount in which Claudia is extremely uninterested. There are a couple of
pompous attorneys from back east. Of course, there is a second will, with totally different
instructions for the money. A conniving older woman named Veronica Schumann, with three sons
who can charitably be described as jerks, has found another woman who she loudly proclaims is
the
real heir to the company. Add in a male gigolo, and the Dean's and O'Connor have a very
confusing
mystery on their hands.
At times, one needs a scorecard to keep track of everyone in this book. Derouin does a fine job
throughout. It's an interesting tale, the settings are well done, and it's an excellent mystery. Well
worth reading.
Paul Lappen
Reviewer
Linda's Bookshelf
My Louisiana Sky
Kimberly Willis Holt
Henry Holt and Company
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
ISBN 0-8050-5251-8, Price $13.99
In My Louisiana Sky, award-winning author Kimberly Willis Holt, stirs emotions and creates
compassion in her readers to help prevent prejudice in the young reader and to tear away the
shackles of prejudice and bigotry in the mature reader surrounding issues of differences.
Willis Holt sets the novel in Saitter, Louisiana, and in Baton Rouge, in the 1950's. Through the
strong and believable characters -- Granny Jewel Ramsey and her two daughters, Corrina Ramsey
Parker and Dorie Kay Ramsey ("Doreen"), her granddaughter Tiger Ann Parker, and her
son-in-law
Lonnie Parker -- the author creates a substantial and memorable framework. Through characters
such as Tiger's best buddy, Jesse Wade Thompson, who gives Tiger her first kiss, and his parents,
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, Otis, and Magnolia, Dorie Kay's cook, Willis Holt stabilizes that
framework. She floods light over haughty characters, such as Abby Lynn, Shorty Calhoun, and
Miz
Eula, the gossip, to reflect how interminably they are entrenched in their own fears and their own
shortcomings. Through Lonnie's extreme care and loving attention to nurseryman Thompson's
prize-winning "Louisiana Ladies" camellias, the reader can extrapolate that, given the opportunity,
everyone can contribute in his or her own special way.
In a touching and page-turning plot, she also deals sensitively with the issue of death. Granny's
unexpected death and, especially, Corrina's, Aunt Dorie Kay's, Lonnie's, and Tiger's reaction to it,
and even the comparison of the reaction of Darlie Reeves' reaction to her own mother's death,
clearly point to the truth of Granny Ramsey's words, "People handle death in different ways.
Sometimes they act strange on the outside, but inside it's the same for everyone. Their hearts are
breaking" (p. 96).
Aunt Dorie Kay invites Tiger, who will be referred to as "Ann," if she accepts "Doreen's" offer to
live with her in Baton Rouge; and Ann prepares to leave Corrina and Lonnie. Tiger wants to get
away from people like Abby Lynn, who shun her for having parents who are "slow." Tiger wants
to
free herself from the struggles between the remnants of her love for her parents from her early
childhood and her sometimes now poignant feelings of shame and guilt. She wants to accept Aunt
Dorie Kay's invitation, and she even marks her hope for a new beginning with her new bobbed
hairstyle. Magnolia's words -- "Take care of you? You a big girl. When I's your age my momma
laid
down and died. The world done wore her out. I had five younger brothers and sisters to take care
of
and I done it. Your family needs you" (p. 159) -- help Tiger to begin to find her way back to her
family.
In a heart rending climax, the reader finds the words, "We just kept running and when we met, we
clung to each other as tight and sturdy as those pines. And through the howling of that old wind, I
heard Granny's voice whisper to me: Your momma's love is simple. It flows from her like a quick,
easy river. And for the first time in a long time I felt safe in my momma's arms" (p. 188). Finally,
safe with her parents, Tiger makes her feelings definite in her words, "A warmth swept over me --
mightier than any devil's wind could blow. And despite all the pulled up trees and broken branches
on the ground, I felt my heart clear. I was home, and it was exactly where I wanted to be" (p.
192).
How To Publish And Promote Online
M.J. Rose and Angela Adair-Hoy
Griffin/St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
ISBN 0-312-27191-3, $13.95, www.stmartins.com
With their step-by-step approach in How To Publish And Promote Online, M.J. Rose and Angela
Adair-Hoy have created the perfect guide for your online publishing success. They, along with the
support of other noteworthy guest authors, cover everything from the inner spark that drives them
to write to how to keep that spark alive and glowing and how to find supporters for their dreams.
They define e-book, outline how to create and produce e-books, how to develop a marketing
strategy, register with search engines, build a loyal following with a companion e-zine and e-mail
newsletter, write press releases, prepare for fulfillment and distribution, get reviews and publicity,
approach and deal with the media, arrange for speaking engagements and conduct well-planned
media publicity tours, participate in online forums, and much more. They emphasize the
importance
of finding good editors to polish even further one's already well-written typescripts. In addition,
Rose and Adair-Hoy include a cornucopia of resources for writers and publishers and an array of
success stories from independent publishers to ignite that spark in aspiring writers and publishers
who have crucial messages to share and the burning ambition to succeed.
Hold It! You're Exercising Wrong
Edward J. Jackowski, PhD
Fireside
Rockefeller Center, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN 0-671-89077-8, Price: $9.95
In accord with the best exercise information available, in Hold It! You're Exercising Wrong,
Edward
J. Jackowski, Ph.D., likewise maintains the vital importance of the four stages of the best exercise
regimens -- warmups, static stretching after warmups, the full-blown exercise routine, and cool
downs. He repeatedly emphasizes the absolute necessity of the always incorporating all these
phases
into your workout, for he says, "Most injuries occur because of not properly warming up and
stretching before going into the routines" (p. 76). Jackowski guides exercise enthusiasts a step
further, though. He encourages finding the right exercises for trimming the body then producing
muscle while taking into consideration the controlling factors of any exercise program--lifestyle,
medical and orthopedic background, present condition and motivation, and body shapes--which
he
designates as "cones," "rulers," "spoons," and "hourglasses."
Jackowski sprinkles 150 commonsense health and fitness tips throughout his text. As all exercise
enthusiasts can attest, consistency of effort and motivation are crucial. He motivates with a
solution
to create consistency--(1) schedule three or four exercise times in your appointment book each
week
and let nothing interfere with those times, (2) arrange a special place for exercise--your own home
can be an excellent place, and (3) incorporate exercises that are right for your particular body
type.
Jackowski maintains that "Proper exercise is by far the single most important factor in reaching
any
and all of your personal, professional, and health goals" (Hold It!, p. 16). If you agree, then Hold
It!
is a must read for you. Other exercise experts you also will want to preview as you select your
specific exercise regimen are George H. McGlynn, Ed.D., and Timothy P. White, Ph.D. Happy
exercising!
Linda Davis Kyle, Reviewer
http://www.writingnow.com/dk
Judy's Bookshelf
Helpfulness Marketing: How to Charm Web Visitors to Buy and Buyers to Help You Sell!
Paul "The Soaring" Siegel
The Learning Fountain Network
http://www.learningfountain.com/helpfulnessmarketing.htm
Ebook PDF, 132 pages, $14.95
A refreshing change from the super-hyped advice seen in so many Internet marketing books,
Helpfulness Marketing is a comprehensive guide written from the perspective of someone who
has
worked in the computer field since the 1950's. Paul Siegal has the life experience and maturity to
know what really works to sustain a business and succeed on the Internet. This book will
introduce
you to almost every aspect of developing a successful Internet presence.
This is one of the few Internet marketing books I've read that places the focus on the customer
and
not just on sales. Many online business owners have adapted the basics of brick and mortar
marketing techniques which, while sound, don't address the way people want to do business
online.
Siegal bases his strategy on three principles of good Internet business practice:
Attracting clients
Building Traffic
Inviting Loyalty
At the core of each strategy are the qualities of generosity and caring on the part of the business
owner.
To attract clients: offer them something of value, help them learn something new, share your
knowledge freely.
To build traffic: enter into strategic business alliances and by using cooperation, enhance
opportunities throughout the group.
Invite loyalty: Provide support for your visitors and clients through community building. Give
them
a reason to come back, again and again, by making yourself available to answer questions and
interacting with them in a meaningful way.
The PDF format provides access (if connected to the Internet) by clickable links to websites that
demonstrate the concepts discussed in each chapter so readers can study and adapt them to suit
their
own business model.
Siegal sees the Internet as a 'learning network' and not so much an 'information highway.' When
you
travel on the highway, you may miss something as you zoom past. The 'learning network' is
someplace where you want to stop and stay awhile. Siegal doesn't see the Internet as a network of
machines, he reminds us that there is a person behind each computer and this ebook will show you
how to develop an Internet business that will help you connect with the person behind the
computer.
Helpfulness Marketing sets a new standard for Internet business owners. Siegal's experience in the
computer industry blends well with his knowledge of people and the Internet to make this one of
the
most valuable ebooks on marketing online out there today. An excellent reference manual for
anyone who wants to develop a thriving Internet business.
Writing in Flow: Keys To Enhanced Creativity
Susan K. Perry, Ph.D.
F & W Publications, Incorporated
1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinati, Ohio 45207
http://www.bunnyape.com/writinginflow.htm
ISBN: 1582970866, $14.95, Paperback, 274pp., August 2001
Susan K. Perry, Ph.D., a social psychologist, who teaches psychology at Woodbury University,
and
writing at UCLA Extension's Writers' Program, is the author of several books and has had over
700
articles published in leading magazines.
For her book, Writing In Flow, Perry interviewed 76 poets, writers, and novelists on how they
entered into 'flow'. This is a relatively new term for the feeling of suspended time, and total
concentration leading to productivity without apparent effort during the process of writing. Perry
likens it to sports players being 'in the zone'.
Criteria for selection included that the participants be successful in their field or genre and that
their
work be regularly published. As Perry stated in the introduction, "I investigated poets, short story
writers and novelists for whom writing is a major part of their lives (although not all of them make
their living at it) and who, in most cases, enter flow with some frequency too."
The book is exceptionally well organized in ten chapters, with an introduction that provides the
reader with a set of expectations and explanation of what is included in each chapter. Each
chapter
could stand independently of the other; although, the transition from one to the next is logical and
seamless. Those who are interested in how the research was conducted can refer to the extensive
appendix and note sections, themselves a good source of information for writers.
Perry's style is comfortable, warm and very readable. Direct quotes from writers and Perry's asides
about husband Stephen (himself a poet) give the reader the feeling of relaxing over coffee with the
author or eavesdropping on conversations with all the best writers of the day.
The author refers to "routines, rituals and habits of thought" in writers who reach the flow state.
From the data gathered, the author discovered a deeper purpose for these seemingly mundane or
eccentric practices. The 'deeper purposes are set out in five 'Master Keys' with an accompanying
Turning Key'. As the metaphors suggest, the Master Key explains the deeper purpose and the
Turning Key gives the reader access to practical advice on how to induce the flow state.
The reader learns through exercises and tips interspersed throughout the book. The freshness and
variety of the many exercises provided by Perry and writers interviewed encourage the reader to
grab a pen and get going on them. It is this freshness that strikes the reader as Perry takes topics
like
procrastination, writer's block and focus and suggests creative new ways to approach them. The
section on using e-mail to stimulate creativity is particularly original and helpful.
The large, bold-typed headings within each chapter allow quick reference to each topic. Perry
skillfully weaves her observations throughout, as the writers describe their thoughts and feelings
on
the creative process as it pertains to them. What do they do when they can't write? How do they
feel
before they write, while they write and after they have written?
Answers to the questions posed by Perry varied widely depending on the writer. When asked the
question, "Did you notice any physiological changes during flow?" Jonathan Kellerman answered,
"Occasionally when I have had a very strenuous day of writing I'm almost short of breath actually.
I
must have been tensing up, and I have to consciously relax my breathing. It takes a couple of
seconds. It's just that feeling of coming out of the hypnoidal state, of leaving one world and
entering
another."
Gerald DiPago, on the other hand, said, "If you've had a good writing day, you don't walk away
tense or stressed at all."
Established writers will enjoy Writing In Flow as they compare their way of working to the
writers
in the book. Novice writers will find tips here that they will not find anywhere else. The gap
between
the novice and published writer narrows as we see the subject writers struggling with the same
problems faced by the novice. Writing In Flow would provide a good starting point to class
discussions on writing and creativity. Writers' groups would find it motivating for discussions on
any
aspect of writing. It should be in every writer's collection of writing resource books; but keep it
nearby, you will refer to it often.
Cold Water Burning
John Straley
Bantam Books
ISBN 0-553-10643-0, hc., $23.95/$34.95
John Straley's depiction of an Alaska few tourists ever see is a triumph of skillful writing and
deep-felt understanding. This is an Alaska where the strong survive side by side with the twisted
and
the lost. It is a land of harsh realities where nature's whims are accepted without complaint, a
rough
and tough land where life is fragile but ever so tenacious. Above all, it is a place where man's
quest
for independence is tempered by his need for human company. All this and more is conveyed in
Cold
Water Burning, a tale that explores the wild beauty of coastal Alaska and the lifestyle of its people
in
a way that both chills and captivates the reader.
Cecil Younger is a haunted man. A private investigator in the town of Sitka, Alaska, his greatest
success as a defense investigator has left him suffering from recurrent nightmares of murder, fire,
and screaming children. Three years after the arson death of two adults and two children aboard
the
fishing scow Mygirl, Cecil is still convinced that Richard Ewers had nothing to do with the crime.
But just as a deadly storm heads straight for Sitka, the man who was found innocent at a highly
publicized trial goes missing along with fifty thousand dollars in tabloid payoffs. Ewers' wife
Patricia
fears for her husband's life, and seeks Cecil's help in locating him.
Cecil understands why Patricia is worried. Richard Ewers was not the town's most valued
resident.
Most of the people in Sitka believe that Richard beat the rap due to the clever defense tactics of
his
lawyer, Harrison Teller. Others think that ex-police detective George Doggy didn't work hard
enough to coax a confession from Ewers. The three people with the most reason to hate Ewers
are
Jonathan Chevalier, brother to murdered teenager Albert Chevalier, and Sean and Kevin Sands,
sons
of the two adult victims.
Cecil agrees to look into Ewers' disappearance, but when he doesn't act fast enough for Patricia's
liking, the distraught woman takes matters into her own hands. Her attempts to interrogate the
Sands brothers ends in tragedy, and Cecil is cast in the role of town villain, responsible for yet
another miscarriage of justice. Thankfully, Cecil has a few supporters in Sitka. Jane Marie loves
Cecil, and together with their baby daughter Blossom, Cecil's ward Todd, and old friend George
Doggy, she attempts to lighten the load he now bears. Cecil is determined, though, to find
Richard
Ewers, and that means he must reopen the Mygirl case, digging even deeper for a clue to the
arsonist's true identity.
Doggy, the man who could help Cecil the most, refuses to do so. When Doggy goes so far as to
hide
evidence from Cecil, the P.I. begins to question the ex-policeman's motives. Cecil's interrogation
of
Kevin Sands proves equally fruitless and only increases the hostility Kevin feels towards the
investigator. The tension builds until another tragedy strikes the town. Although Cecil is not to
blame for the latest trouble, his family is pegged for revenge. In a stunning conclusion to the tale,
Cecil must battle not only a personal enemy but also the deadly forces of nature.
Woven into this well-plotted mystery is the story of one man's search for inner peace and the
age-old
need for acceptance. Cecil Younger is not alone, but embracing that fact is difficult for a man
used
to bearing the guilt of the world on his shoulders. As Cecil puts it, "I can't shake the feeling that I
could have helped them somehow, and I'm wearing that feeling now, even on the warmest days."
Still, love has a way of freeing even the most guilt-ridden among us. For Cecil, that love comes
from
Jane Marie and provides a satisfying ending to this highly recommended book.
Dying To Meet You
Amy Talford
Silver Dagger Mysteries
c/o Overmountain Press
ISBN 1-57072-194-7 / hc. $23.95, ISBN 1-57072-196-3 / tpb. $13.95, 206 pages
Silver Dagger Press ventures into the darker side of mystery with their December release of Amy
Talford's riveting suspense novel, Dying To Meet You. Born into a family known for its literary
bent, Talford lives up to her lineage with this nightmarish tale of a psychopath bent on destroying
anyone who stands in the way of his personal goals.
Basketball has always drawn its fair share of fanatics. But when women start dying, all of them
connected in some way or another to the NBA's Nashville Jaguars, profiler Lori Patrick suspects
that one particular fanatic has crossed the line into insanity. Murder alone is not enough for this
killer known to the police as the Hangman. His real satisfaction seems to come from prolonging
the
deaths of his victims, then mutilating each woman in a manner that emphasizes her unique
qualities.
Police detective Mike Mitchell doesn't buy into Lori's theories, but he's a man with a past who has
experienced the work of profilers up close and personal and found it wanting. His prejudice makes
for rough sailing when he's paired up with Patrick, an employee of the Chasm Academy for Serial
Homicide. Not only is Patrick in a suspect profession, but she's also a woman with a serious
drinking
problem and a hidden past of her own. The two butt heads at every meeting, and their partnership
seems as doomed as their efforts to catch the Hangman.
It's only when Lori becomes romantically involved with Calvin Ray, a member of the Jaguars and
a
suspect in the murders, that Mitchell finds himself caring what happens to the profiler. With the
Hangman still on the loose and victims piling up in the morgue, Mitchell sets up a sting operation
that backfires on Lori and leads to a horrifying climax to the book.
Dying To Meet You is a downright scary suspense story. But more than that, it is a richly detailed
look into the hearts and minds of two people forever maimed by tragic events. Lori Patrick and
Mike Mitchell cope with guilt by turning it into a force for action, and thus, for personal
redemption.
By saving others, they save themselves, even if it's only for another day, another hour, another
minute. Their work is their justification for living, and without the impetus of another killer to
catch,
another bad guy to put behind bars, neither one of them seems able to face the future. Their
loneliness is as palpable as the pulse of a sprinter, their moments of inner peace as sparse as the
heartbeats of a dying man. Still, by the end of the book, the reader perceives some change in the
emotional makeup of both characters. By opening up to each other, they've started to loosen the
grip
of the past on their lives. Their relationship is a tenuous one, but there's a sense of hope about it
that
argues for the healing power of love.
Does the human spirit ever fully recover from great tragedy? Is recovery possible for those who
deal
daily with the worst the world has to offer? If you like thought-provoking writing, characters with
depth, and don't mind a little blood and gore in your mysteries, do read Dying To Meet You. This
chilling first novel by talented author Amy Talford is guaranteed to stir your heart while sending
shivers down your spine. I have only one warning for readers: if you're a fan of basketball, this
book
will make you think twice about walking through those lonely stadium parking lots!
A Dead Man's Honor
Frankie Y. Bailey
Silver Dagger Mysteries
c/o Overmountain Press
ISBN 1-57072-170-X; hc. $23.95, ISBN 1-57072-171-8; tpb. $13.95, 220 pages
The terms "lynching" and "lynch law" originally came into use in the United States during the
Revolutionary War when citizen-vigilantes resorted to non-lethal forms of punishment to penalize
suspected law-breakers. In the 19th century, lynching evolved into the killing of alleged offenders
by
vigilante mobs or posses. Although many people associate lynching with frontier law and the
hanging of outlaws, the practice was by no means confined to the Wild West. The majority of
lynchings occurred in the post-Civil War South during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the
victims in 99% of the cases being black.
Blending the past with the present, Frankie Bailey explores the ramifications of a 1921 lynching in
her latest mystery, A Dead Man's Honor. Bailey's protagonist, Lizzie Stuart, is a professor of
criminal justice who, driven by restlessness and a curious nature, abandons her tenured position at
a
Kentucky university and moves to Gallagher, Virginia, the birthplace of her maternal
grandmother,
Hester Rose. Hired to teach a course at Gallagher's Piedmont State University, Lizzie spends her
free time doing research on the 1921 murder of Dr. Daniel Stevens and the subsequent shooting
of
policeman Thomas Kincaid. The man held responsible for both deaths was Mose Davenport, a
black
gambler and drug dealer who died in an explosion of gunfire after running from a house set on fire
by a lynch mob.
Stuart is particularly interested in the case because her grandmother, who was twelve years old at
the time, fled Gallagher for unknown reasons after witnessing the lynching. Although she never
made a secret of her Virginia heritage, Hester refused to say why she left her hometown so
abruptly.
She even went so far as to caution her granddaughter against ever visiting Gallagher. With Hester
now dead, Lizzie can't resist prying into the past.
Her determination to research the case is publicly applauded by Richard Colby, a fellow Piedmont
professor who, like Lizzie, is an American of African descent. When Colby is found murdered in
his
university office after a Halloween party, Lizzie is the last person to see him alive. Her friendship
with John Quinn, chief of the campus police force, can't save her from an intense and somewhat
bigoted interrogation by the investigating officer, Detective De Angelo. De Angelo suspects that a
romantic link existed between Lizzie and the married Colby, and he goes out of his way to prove
it.
Harassed by the media and annoyed by anonymous letters left in her campus mailbox, Professor
Stuart discovers that there's more to criminal justice than what she teaches in her classroom.
Sometimes the only way to clear one's name is to ferret out the identity of the real criminal. Lizzie
does just that by tying an old murder to a new one. Unfortunately, her sleuthing jeopardizes not
only
her position at Piedmont but also her very life.
Dr. Frankie Bailey is a respected criminologist and talented writer who possesses a gift for
exploring
sensitive issues without reaching for the reader's jugular. In A Dead Man's Honor, she weaves a
good tale with a dual mystery and a lineup of characters that simply ooze realism. Lizzie Stuart is
a
complicated protagonist, a woman with one foot in the past and one in the present whose actions
are
guided as much by her heart as her head. One senses an undercurrent of pain shaping Lizzie's
emotional makeup, but in a world where revenge is all too often justified as a victim's reward for
past injuries, her advocacy of forgiving restraint is refreshingly hopeful. I look forward to learning
more about this fascinating woman in future Lizzie Stuart mysteries.
Splendor Bay
L. B. Cobb
Advance Books Company
ISBN 0-9706224-1-4, Tpb., $15.00, 236 pages, www.advancebooks.com
Eat your heart out, New York. Or, more specifically, all you New York publishers. You've let
another rising star slip through your fingers, this time to be grabbed up by a small press from the
Lone Star state. The Advance Books Company of Texas may not be a big name player in the
book
business, but with the release of L.B. Cobb's Splendor Bay, they showed the publishing world that
they recognize true talent.
And talent would be L.B.'s middle name if she didn't already have one in the form of an initial.
This
is one savvy lady who not only knows how to plot an intriguing mystery, but also how to people
that
mystery with remarkably complicated yet true-to-life characters. The fact that she does this so
skillfully belies Cobb's standing as a first-time author and makes this book a pleasure to read.
SPLENDOR BAY's story line might be considered trite if handled less deftly: jilted husband finds
body of wife's lover outside his home, becomes prime suspect in the murder, then escapes arrest
by
deducing identity of killer. An age-old theme of mystery novels, but in Splendor Bay, the
commonplace becomes extraordinary due to the identities and emotional intensity of the
characters.
Bill Glasscock is not your everyday high-priced lawyer. Instead, he's a man who walks away from
his job in the middle of a trial -- thus earning himself a suspension from the bar -- after discovering
his wife in bed with the governor of the state. But it's not only his job that Bill abandons. He
shakes
off an entire way of life, reverting to a beach-bum existence that includes shacking up with his
wife's
cousin, the beautiful state's attorney general, Sally Solana.
Likewise, Eleana Glasscock is no ordinary housewife bent on a fling with a political celebrity.
She's a
woman whose position as head of the state archives provides her with ample opportunity to
mingle
with the local power brokers. Her involvement with Governor Wallace Moreno is due more to
loneliness than love, her husband being too busy getting rich to pay her much attention.
Toss in Bill and Eleana's teenage son, Davy, an insulin-dependent diabetic who's torn between
both
parents, and you have the makings of a family in turmoil where forgiveness and healing seem
almost
impossible. But murder has a strange way of drawing people together. In Splendor Bay, the need
to
protect Eleana and Davy drives Bill to reexamine his relationships with both family members and
friends. Most difficult of all, he's forced to take a long, hard look at himself. His quest for
self-discovery becomes as arduous as his hunt for the governor's killer.
It's rare for a writer to be able to imagine, much less clearly convey, the emotions of both sexes.
Earning the simultaneous sympathy of the reader for differing characters is even more difficult.
Cobb, though, accomplishes both these things in Splendor Bay, and she does so in a way that is
neither maudlin nor contrived. Instead, she uses crisp dialogue and cleanly written prose to
portray
the torment of love gone astray and the soul-searching task of personal recovery. What makes
Cobb's feat even more remarkable is that it's accomplished in the context of a murder mystery.
Make
no mistake; Splendor Bay is a fast paced suspense story sure to appeal to lovers of the genre. But
it's
a mystery of the heart as well, and as that, it succeeds where many other novels have failed. L.C.
Cobb is one helluva writer. Thank goodness she chose to shine her light in the field of
mysteries!
Mary V. Welk, Reviewer
Lynne's Bookshelf
Morning Song
Mary McKenna Siddals, Illustrated by Elizabeth Sayles
Henry Holt and Company
ISBN 0-8050-6369-2, 32 pp., $15.95, Picture Book (Hardback), Ages 2 - 5
Mary McKenna Siddal's "Morning Song" begins with giggles and smiles, tumbling bunnies,
pillows
and bears and the promise of fun, as early as a first glimpse of the cover! Inside, "Morning Song"
does not disappoint--a tune young children will want to hear over and over.
Capturing the style and grace of Margaret Wise Brown's "Goodnight Moon," Mary McKenna
Siddals creates a soft, playful wake-up ritual in "Morning Song."
In the dim light of sunrise, a child awakens and greets those things it holds nearest and dearest to
it.
"Good morning, bear. Good morning, bunny. I see you there."
Peaceful, day-dreamy, shadowy blue illustrations by Elizabeth Sayles provide great
accompaniment
to Siddals' pleasant sing-songy text. A true picture book, "Morning Song" allows a very young
child
(approximately aged 2 - 5) to experience and become familiar with a small number of words while
being treated to delightful pictures that reinforce and expand upon the word recognition. With the
easy rhythms and familiar words, it won't be long until the young child will be able to read along.
The kind of book a parent wouldn't mind reading again and again, "Morning Song," makes my top
ten!
The Great Pig Search
Eileen Christelow
Clarion Books
ISBN 0-618-04910-X, 32 pp., $15.00, Picture Book (Hardback), Ages 4 - 8
"The trouble started the day Bert and Ethel's pigs escaped from the back of their truck. Right after
that, people all over town started missing clothes. Everyone searched everywhere. No clothes. No
pigs."
Bert mumbles and grumbles over the loss of his pigs. Then, a mysterious post card arrives from
Florida, addressed to Bert and Ethel and inscribed with the words "Oink." Ethel thinks Bert
should
take a vacation and forget about the lost pigs. Bert takes her advice and buys to tickets
to...Florida!
Missing pigs makes for great frustration as Bert and Ethel and the great pig search gets underway.
Bert and Ethel search every corner and can't find the elusive pigs, but can you?
Eileen Christelow provides plenty of fun and games in "The Great Pig Search." Pages busy with
humorous, brightly colored cartoonish illustra- tions (including some missing pigs) will delight
children who desire a bit of involvement in a story. For further interaction, a child can study the
maps of the search areas depicted on the inside of the front and back covers of the book and find
the
locales of the story scenes on the maps.
Whether a child wishes to listen to a story or search for pigs him/herself, "The Great Pig Search"
has
lots of entertainment to offer.
Lynne Remick
Reviewer
Klausner's Bookshelf
The Merchants Of Souls
John Barnes
Tor Books
Nov 2001, $25.95, 398 pp., ISBN: 0312890761
Among the Thousand Cultures that make up the galaxy, earth already has a decadent reputation
for
misusing things. The latest movement on earth involves what most other worlds would say are the
misuse of the recordings of the psypyx. Most of the worlds relish sharing their minds with the
recordings of the deceased, but on earth the push is to place the recordings into games as virtual
toys. The outrage among the Thousand Cultures and the earthlings' ignorance of this reaction
could
lead to war. Girault Leones vowed never to work for the Office of Special Projects, especially
with
Shan, because their last disastrous collaboration led to the destruction of the planet Briand and his
own divorce from Margaret. However, circumstances makes Girault realize never say never
because
he knows the galaxy needs him to influence the decisions on earth. He volunteers to try to keep
the
planet from taking actions that could lead to war. The third Thousand Cultures tale, The
Merchants
Of Souls, is an exciting science fiction tale that contains several intriguing premises especially the
concept of sharing brain cells. The story line is overloaded so pivotal events are passively
discussed
between characters as having happened rather than actively described. Still, John Barnes shows
why
he is an award- winning author by making his futuristic realms seem authentic while fostering
some
novel ideas.
Gene Roddenberry's Earth Final Conflict: Heritage
Doranna Durgin
Tor Books
Dec 2001, $14.95, 350 pp., ISBN: 076530208X
Liam Kincaid knows how complex life can get as he is the Protector of the Taelon Companion
Da'an
and leads the underground human resistance to the aliens. With all that already pressing on his
shoulders, Liam also struggles to contain his power that he gained from an alien ancestor.
Taelon's
Synod leader Zo'or discharges a virus that harms thousands of humans in an opening ploy of a
deadly gamut. Liam and his resistance followers struggle to find the cure before Zo'or's plan turns
fruitful and leads to a genocide, with a gigantic proportional of death counts. However, Liam
catches the virus' flu and more as his suppressed alien nature surfaces leaving him either as
another
statistic or humanity's savior. Gene Roddenberry's Earth Final Conflict: Heritage contains a fast
paced futuristic story line based on the popular TV series. Liam is an intriguing character
struggling
with balance and harmony inside his soul while also discharging his complex responsibilities.
Though
more for fans of Mr. Roddenberry's TV show, Doranna Durgin shows why she is an
award-winning
author because those readers who enjoy alien human encounters will find the novel entertaining
too.
The Dark Wing
Walter H Hunt
Tor Books
Dec 2001, $27.95, 491 pp., ISBN: 076530113X
By the twenty-fourth century, Earth has met other species and are forming colonies. However,
one
alien race, the Zor, feel the earthlings are an inferior breed and for over half a century, battles
between the Zor and the earth colonies have occurred usually resulting in the Homo sapiens
tasting
defeat. In 2311, the Zor decide to exterminate the vermin forcing the earth leadership to not only
take notice, but to counteract. Desperate, Emperor Alexander appoints Marais, a self-proclaimed
expert on the Zor, to take command of the Space Navy, normally run by wealthy aristocrats.
Marais
believes that peaceful coexistence cannot happen because the Zor will fight to the end. His plan is
to
take the war to the Zor and exterminate them. When Commodore Sergei Torrijos and his crew
begin
to win battles for the first time, the earth-bound politicians accuse Marais of genocide. Still even
with their first victories, the future looks bleak for both races if they fail to find a common ground
of
peace. The Dark Wing is an exciting interstellar military science fiction thriller that remains at
hyper
speed throughout the novel. The story line is fast-paced and the earth and its colonies seem
authentic
due to the varying reactions of individuals to the crisis. Though the Zor are not developed enough
or
shrouded in mystery to accept them as a challenge to humanity, readers will relish this strong
futuristic entry and want debut author Walter H. Hunt to provide more tales set in this intriguing
environment.
The Getaway Special
Jerry Oltion
Tor Books
Dec 2001, $26.95, 400 pp., ISBN: 0312877773
Allen Meisner is a member of the International Network of Scientists Against Nuclear
Extermination, better known as INSANE, an acronym that can be easily applied to this maniac.
Though he is a walking hard drive error, this Pollyanna-like genius apparently develops an
incredibly
efficient and effective hyper drive engine that can take anyone on an interstellar journey faster
than
the speed of light for very low costs. Allen expects his concept to change the world in a positive
manner, but shockingly many fellow earthlings fear his new technology. Governments acting as
ever
in self-servingl interest battle over whom owns the hyper drive-based power that now is being
implemented to propel bombs. Allen and his pilot Judy Gallagher search the heavens for allies to
stop Armageddon on earth. They ultimately return to earth accompanied by a brilliant butterfly
and
other aliens in a quest to save the planet from its most sentient yet stupid habitants. The Getaway
Special is a satire on mad scientists and outer space adventure stories. The story line is often
humorous as the nutty but optimistic Meisner and his heroic pilot hyper-leap from one dangerous
scenario to another. However, the plot is a few scenes too many as the basic underlying theme of
punishing those who care becomes almost as out of control as the scientist is. Overall, Jerry
Oltion
has written an amusing novel that those readers who relish a lot of wacky irony jabbing our
modern
day world will find delightfully engaging.
The Gates To Witch World
Andre Norton
Tor Books
Dec 2001, $27.95, 464 pp., ISBN: 0765300508
"Witch World". Of Cornish descent, court-martialed former US Army Colonel Simon Tregarth
seems on a path to certain death due to his recent activities when he meets Dr. Petronius. The odd
doctor introduces the desperate American to the world of his Cornish ancestors, which enable
Simon
to escape his earthly fate through the gate to Witch World. However, Simon quickly lands in a
war
against the powerful Kolder, who makes the Nazis look like pre-school children. "Web of the
Witch
World". The Kolder continues to menace Simon and the witches he has vowed to keep safe, but
the
coven he wants to protect seems reluctant to accept him. To save his brave new world, Simon and
a
witch must journey to their enemy's stronghold and accomplish the impossible by defeating the
Kolder in their home turf. "Year of the Unicorn". In far removed from the war Norsdale, a bored
Gillan obtains what she always desired, but soon learns that wishes that come true might not be
what
one really wants in life. Now she is embroiled in an adventure of a lifetime that probably means
certain death for her unless she can enable the power within her to come alive. The Gates To
Witch
World is a compilation of three of the best science fiction novels of the twentieth century. These
books deservedly made Andre Norton a household name in the early sixties and yet the tales
retain
the freshness that enthralled readers then and will fascinate a new audience with its exciting plots
and engaging characters.
Spherical Harmonic
Catherine Asaro
Tor Books
Jan 2002, $27.95, 428 pp., ISBN: 031289063X
Though both sides claim victory, the interstellar war devastated the Skolians and the Aristo
Traders.
Pharaoh of the Ruby Dynasty, Dyhianna Selei, obtains a fragile peace with the nefarious Aristo
Traders, but both entities know that hostilities will continue anyway. Dyhianna learns first hand
that
the "cold war" remains hot as she surfaces on a humanoid planet after making a desperate leap to
escape her enemies' effort to kill her and her family. Her foes pursue Dyhianna, but she is rescued
by
a Skolian battle cruiser, only to learn that her invention the psychic-Internet no longer exists and
that
the Aristos haves captured her husband, Prince Eldrin. A desperate Dyhianna knows that Eldrin's
psychic abilities accompanied by the ancient Lock the enemy controls will give the edge to the
Aristos. She turns to her former spouse and his special kids on Earth as a last resort to stop the
Aristo Traders from conquering her people. Spherical Harmonic, the seventh Skolian tale is an
engaging outer space novel that will excite fans of the series. The story line hops around the
galaxy
faster than the speed of light, but that is a two edged light saber as the action never stops, but the
subplots do not fully mesh. Catherine Asaro's audience will enjoy this novel because it is fun to
watch the wonderful gender bender heroine struggle to save her people at what might cost her the
lives of her family.
Point Of Dreams
Melissa Scott & Lisa A Barnett
Tor Books
Dec 2001, $15.95, 352 pp., ISBN: 0312875894
In the city-state Astreiant, it is the time of the year when ghosts are visible so city lawyer Kurin
Holles expected to see the apparition of his lover, but the specter fails to appear. Kurin knows the
most likely reason is his beloved is magically unable to return, which leads to the conclusion that
her
death was caused by a murdere. Adjunct Point Nico Rathe asks his superiors for permission to
investigate the death, especially since the victim possessed a copy of the spellbook The Alphabet
of
Desire. However, the assignment goes to a subordinate Voillemin, who intends to do nothing in
order to further his career. Nico decides to serendipitously make inquiries. Former soldier Philip
Eslingen provides weapons training to those performing in the upcoming The Alphabet of Desire
midwinter festival. Soon corpses begin to appear on stage accompanied by the appearance of The
Alphabet of Desire spellbook. The book provides a link back to Nico's other case, but if the cop
digs
to deep he will learn what death by magic means. Point Of Dreams cleverly places a well-crafted
murder mystery inside an enchanting fantasy tale. The cast makes this Renaissance world of magic
seem real as Nico and Phillip are wonderful heroes while every hard worker has had to deal with a
sycophant shirker like Voillemein. The taut story line works in such a way that fans of both genres
will enjoy the plot and seek out the previous novel of Melissa Scott & Lisa A Barnett set in this
realm, Point Of Hope.
Lancelot Du Lethe
J. Robert King
Tor Books
Dec 2001, $25.95, 461 pp., ISBN: 076301180
When Merlin first sees the newborn Lancelot he knows that the infant will one day destroy all that
King Arthur accomplished at Mount Badon and Camelot. The lad's father King Ban asks Merlin
to
bless his heir, but the mage wonders if the world would be a better place if he killed Lancelot right
then and there. Reluctantly, Merlin blesses the baby stating he will one day be the best knight.
Years
later, Lancelot is considered the bravest knight of the Round Table. However, he and Arthur's
Queen Guinevere feel a strong attraction to one another, but both try to do the honorable thing by
avoiding one another even as their fey blood screams for these soul mates to converge. Arthur
knows Lancelot owns the heart of his beloved wife and feels impotent. The wannabe lovers feel
hopeless to stop the inevitable betrayal of Arthur that will disrupt the mortal and mystical planes
as
never seen before. Lancelot Du Lethe, the sequel to Mad Merlin, is a superb retelling of the
Camelot
triangle. The lead trio is written as doomed heroes caught in a destiny beyond their control,
making
them seem human yet majestic. The secondary cast provides further insight into the threesome
while
deepening a powerfully written plot that adheres to the legend while dramatically freshening up
the
Camelot lore. Fantasy fans will fully enjoy J Robert King's exciting epic tale that keeps him firmly
on
the genre's throne.
The Slaying Of The Shrew
Simon Hawke
Forge
Dec 2001, $23.95, 240 pp., ISBN: 031287894X
Affluent merchant Godfrey Middleton wants only the best for the wedding of his beloved oldest
daughter Catherine. Among the festivities on Godfrey's lavish estate is a performance by The
Queen's Men acting troupe currently performing on the London stage. The troupe include best
friends Tuck Smythe (a ham who wants to act, but has no talent) and Will Shakespeare (a
wannabe
writer). Tuck overhears a nasty plot to kill the shrewish bride and use the more malleable and
seemingly promiscuous younger sister to steal the host's wealth. Accompanied by his best friend
Will, he tries to keep Catherine safe. When Catherine apparently dies anyway, the two amateur
sleuths investigate the homicide in order to expose the killer. The Slaying Of The Shrew, the
second
Shakespeare amateur sleuth tale (see A Mystery Of Errors), is a delightful tale that cleverly uses
references from the great Bard that smoothly flow within the plot. The story line is well written so
Elizabethan mystery fans will enjoy the who- done-it and the characters make the era seem alive.
However, this tale, like its predecessor, clearly belongs to Simon Hawke's irreverent look at the
author considered by most as the greatest English writer of all times. This means to write or not
to
write a third tale, that is not the question, only when.
Pact Of The Fathers
Ramsey Campbell
Forge
Dec 2001, $26.95, 432 pp., ISBN: 0312878699
Many Hollywood insiders say that Oscar winning film producer Teddy Logan's best production is
his
twenty years old daughter Daniella. He runs and owns Oxford Films along with his partner Alan
Stanley until the day Teddy dies in a car accident. Daniella will inherit his half of the film company
when she turns twenty-two. However, just before her beloved father died, Daniella noticed a
strange
looking box inside Teddy's safe. That item is no longer in the safe nor is a weird book entitled The
Bible Decoded. Daniella looks for the missing two items but soon observes her father's friends
perform rituals at his gravesite. Apparently, this group of successful business moguls believe their
success comes straight from the bible via the sacrifice of their first born. Though he made the
pact,
Teddy could not kill his cherished flesh and blood, but others try. Though the plot seems obvious
from almost the opening act and the twists are very few, readers will enjoy Ramsey Campbell's
latest
thriller, Pact Of The Fathers. The story line is fast-paced and the heroine is an intrepid individual
who the audience will find delightful. The support cast adds depth even though some of the
villains
are not the sharpest knife in the draw. Still, Mr. Campbell keeps his audience on edge throughout
this action-packed tale.
The Man Who Fought Alone
Stephen Donaldson
Forge
Nov 2001, $27.95, 463 pp., ISBN: 0765302020
Life stinks if you ask former private detective Mick "Brew" Axbrewder. The accidental killing of
his
brother years ago will always haunt Brew, a recovering alcoholic. Brew's former partner his
beloved
Ginny Fistoulari has barely been civil to him since he killed his sibling. He understands why Ginny
loathes him, but all Brew wants is another chance to redeem what is left of his life even if Ginny is
never at his side again. While Ginny finds work with another sleuth, an apprehensive Brew
accepts a
security job at martial arts tournament. Surprisingly, at least to Brew, is how deep two rival
schools
hate each other as both claim ownership of antique Chinese print blocks containing martial art
poses.
When someone is killed, Brew believes the murder is associated with the valuable blocks, but
struggles to uncover whom committed murder. In the fourth "The Man Who" series, Stephen
Donaldson provides quite an antihero battling his own demons in a seemingly futile attempt to
salvage his scarred soul. The who-done-It of The Man Who Fought Alone engages the audience
though the culprit seems obvious relatively early into the plot. Still, readers will relish this tale
because Brew's quest for redemption makes his efforts to solve the murder quite appealing to
readers in this terse private investigator thriller.
Blue Skies Falling
Arthur Winfield Knight
Forge
Dec 2001, $22.95, 283 pp., ISBN: 031287779X
Now in his fifties, director Sam Bonner is known for being a member of the Wild Bunch due to
his
years of boozing and womanizing as much as his highly regarded western movies though Sam has
not made a new flick in five years. His career may be over, but the worst blow to Sam is to learn
that
Sara, his third wife and the love he always sought, is dying from leukemia. Sara has one simple
request of Sam. With only three months left to live, she wants to learn everything she can about
her
beloved husband. Already grieving though the love of his life still lives, Sam agrees to escort his
beloved on a tour of his west starting with his hometown of Fresno. As Sara's physical health
declines, her mental state turns upbeat while they complete the odyssey through Nevada, Utah,
Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas before returning to California for Sara to die and Sam
metaphorically along with her. Blue Skies Ending is a warning tale that love must be cherished
and
nurtured because life is too short and second chances never regain lost time. The melancholy story
line remains upbeat due to Sara who hooks the audience with her courage even as the reader feels
empathy to Sam. Though Sara's final days in California seem stretched as she acts more like
someone recovering from health problems, Arthur Winfield Knight succeeds in providing his deep
message on life, death, and rebirth of relationships within an entertaining plot.
The Probability Broach
L Neil Smith
Orb
Dec 2001, $15.95, 315 pp., ISBN: 0765391539
In Denver homicide detective Win Bear begins to feel his age after years on the force dealing with
all
kinds of vermin. His latest case is the usual chasing a murderer in a country that is totally
controlled
by the government with killers seemingly the only individualists left. The economy is in the tank
and
the only thing rising is pollution. Individual freedoms are nearing "zero". Win stumbles on the
Probability Broach. He enters a different United States where individual freedom means
everything
and with limited government, technology has thrived within the blue skies. A different history has
occurred with the major divergence beginning in 1794 with Gallatin joining the revolting
Pennsylvania farmers, which results in the execution of Washington. The rest is history. This is a
reprint of a 1980s tale comparing two worlds, ours and an idyll realm based on L Neil Smith's
contention that we lost freedoms during the Federalist period that also cost progress. Readers do
not
have to be libertarians to enjoy a well-written science fiction that dramatically portrays
government
excess using an alternate historical base for comparison. The story line engages the audience while
making the readers think especially with today's debate over military tribunals for alleged
terrorists
or even the Steele case under Starr. Though avoiding the issue of the private sector stealing our
civil
liberties that also permeates American history, Mr. Smith's novel remains fresh today as the air in
his
alternate history is so that the reader gains a fabulous thought provoking novel that also entertains
its audience.
Combined the two siblings were a power like none the world has ever seen before. However, after
defeating an invincible evil, the duo turns towards each other. The Prince of Light Lysaer
demanding
justice wants to kill his brother Prince of Rathain Arithon just as the Curse predicted they would.
However, in spite of some powerful allies, Lysaer has found Arithon living up to his birth born
Master of Shadow abilities as the latter escapes perfect traps. Both brothers use magic to survive
as
their rivalry leads each into separate adventures. However, Arithon knows that Lysaer is coming
closer so he needs an ally to counterbalance his sibling's magical associates. Reluctantly, Arithon
turns to the enchanter Davien the Betrayer who has also lived up to his name, having betrayed and
killed Arithon's kin and could just as likely do the same to the Master of Shadow. Peril's Gate is
an
exhilarating sword and sorcery thriller, but feels bloated as Janny Wurts adds filler material. Still
the
adventures of the siblings are exciting when the subplots remain steady and not filled with
sidebars.
Sub-genre fans will enjoy the events that seem to slowly bring the siblings closer to the final
confrontation, leaving the latest entry in the Wars of Light and Shadow clearly for the S&S
crowd.
Falcon's Angel
Judith French
Ivy
Feb 2002, $6.99, ISBN: 0345437616
In 1810, Angel rescues a drowning sea captain Will Falcon. She saves his life a second time when
her Carolina Outer Banks island people, the Brethren, want to kill the outsider, but she instead
handfasts with him. Will escapes forcing Angel to accompany him back to Charleston. As Will and
Angel begin to fall in love, both knows that her lifestyle would never enable them to marry. Added
to their differences is the fact that Will plans to lead an expedition to destroy her people, who he
believes are the pirates that destroyed his family business and led to his father's suicide. Angel and
Will make love in spite of their differences, but she feels betrayed when he leads the attack against
the Brethren. Though fully in love, this pair seems destined to never become a permanent duet
Winner of an RT Career Achievement Award for American Historical Romance, Judith French
shows why she is one of the most beloved sub-genre writers of the last decade. Falcon's Angel is
an
exciting historical romance that hooks the audience through strong characters and vivid
descriptions
of early nineteenth century Charleston and the Outer Banks. Though Angel's inability to realize
that
the Brethren are pirates seems stretched, the lead couple remain an engaging pair who fascinate
fans
as the core of Ms. French's latest winning Americana tale.
Sianna the healer resides on the world of Tareth. Her father is First Master a position that he has
usurped the power of the king. He plans to rule through his daughter by having her marry the
puppet
king's son. Sianna doesn't know her father because she was sent to the Sisters of the Light
boarding
school that teaches a person the art of healing. One night Katya kidnaps Sianna, bringing her as a
captive to her brother Kyne's castle. Kyne is a rebel leader who plans to use Sianna to bring hier
father down. He despises his prisoner because he falsely believes Sianna is responsible for having
his
brother killed. Sianna insinuates herself into the working of the castle, saving lives and making it
run
smoothly. The more Kyne observes her, the more he realizes that she is innocent. He begins to
have
feelings for her but tries to contain them because the blood of her father flows in her veins. It
takes a
near tragedy for Kyne to realize that love is more important than revenge. Fans of sword and
sorcery
romances will want to read Crystal Moon, a novel that takes place in a world much like Earth's
medieval England. The characters are three-dimensional and endearing and the action packed
story
line enthralls the audience with its exciting and unexpected twists and turns. Elysa Hendricks uses
words to make a whole planet come alive in the reader's imagination.
The Haunting Of Rory Campbell
Katriena Knights
ImaJinn
Dec 2001, $10.50, 189 pp., ISBN 1893896730
From the time she was a child, Rory Campbell was able to communicate with the spirits and as an
adult she used her abilities to find ghosts and send them to the other side of the veil. The town of
Winding Falls hires Rory to exorcise a ghost so they can make a tourist attraction out of his
house.
It doesn't take long for Rory to be able to communicate with Lachlan MacGregor, the former
owner
of the house, who died over two hundred and fifty years ago. Lachlan fascinates Rory and she
wants
to help him pass on, but fears her heart will break in two when he does. She finds a spell that will
make him solid in this dimension and the pair fall ever deeper into love, never realizing a spirit
from
the past is now in the present, waiting for the right time to strike out at Lachlan. The Haunting Of
Rory Campbell is a spine-tingling ghost story imbued with a hefty dose of romance and a touch of
suspense. Katriena Knights is a master at characterizations and has crafted an intriguing secondary
subplot that leads directly and seamlessly into the main story line. Ms. Knights is a gifted
storyteller,
who shines as a bright star in the paranormal sky.
Hearts In Darkness
Keri Arthur
ImaJinn
Dec 2001, $13.00,245 pp., ISBN 1593896741
The Circle is a loose coalition of psychics, vampires and other paranormal creatures whose goal is
to
destroy evil supernatural beings whenever they find them. Michael, a vampire, last worked on a
case
with the mortal Nikki and the two fell in love with each other. He walked away from her rather
than
chance her getting killed because of his dangerous lifestyle. Fate ignores his wishes and the leader
of
the Circle sends him to work with Nikki on a case where a teenage boy in missing. She thinks he's
in
Jackson Hole, Wyoming and that is Michael's destination. Over fifteen rich men with young
trophy
wives have disappeared from a plush hotel in the own and when twelve return as mysteriously as
they left, they are never seen in the daylight again. Michael and Nikki's cases intersect and the two
of
them prepare to fight an evil stronger than anyone they knew existed and almost more powerful
than
the two of them combined. Keri Arthur is a fabulous writer who has such a powerful imagination
that she can actually make the audience believe that the creatures that populate the book are real.
That is a very special kind of magic, one that very few authors of the paranormal can do. Hearts
In
Darkness is a very finely crafted romantic supernatural thriller.
Love Her Madly
Mary Ann Tirone Smith
Henry Holt
Jan 2002, $24.30, 307 pp., ISBN 0805066489
She is a sassy, fresh and feisty independent thinker who goes her own way in the tightly structured
organization of the FBI because she's quick to get the job done. After reorganizing a whole
department in the FBI, the upcoming execution of Rona Leigh Gloeck catches Poppy Rice's
interest.
She digs up the case file and sees that the woman might not have gotten a proper trial. Poppy
wants
to investigate because it is only ten days until the execution and her supervisor gives her
permission.
She flies to Texas and starts asking questions about people who were involved with the case and
quickly comes to the conclusion that Rona Leigh was railroaded. All legal and political avenues
that
could grant the condemned woman a stay of thirty days disappear and Poppy witnesses the
state-sponsored death of Rona Leigh. The lethal injection fails to kill the prisoner and she is taken
by
ambulance to the hospital, but the patient disappears into thin air. Now Poppy must discover who
the conspirators are who took the prisoner away while seeing that justice is served this time. Love
Her Madly is a police procedural that actually has moments when it turns into a humorously dark
macabre tale. The heroine is a breath of fresh air taking herself seriously enough to get the job
done
without it killing her spirit. This is the first book in what looks to be an innovative series and this
reviewer can't wait for Big Girls Don't Cry to be published.
The Bridal Veil
Alexis Harrington
St. Martin's Press
Jan 2002, $6.50, 320 pp., ISBN: 0312979541
Luke Becker's wife Belinda died three years ago so his overbearing mother-in-law, Cora, moved
in
to help raise his eleven-year-old daughter, Rose. Cora turns the home into a shrine for her
daughter
while Rose turns into a surly child and Luke hates life, feeling like he lives in hell. Luke concludes
he
needs a mother for Rose and advertises accordingly. Alyssa Cannon of Chicago responds and
agrees
to journey to Oregon on the ticket Luke provided for her. Alyssa's sister Emily is depressed,
having
lost her beloved sibling as well as her job as a teacher. Frantic, she uses Alyssa's ticket to travel
west
hoping that Luke will wed her. Desperate, but irate over the deception, Luke marries Emily
almost
from the moment of her arrival. However, Luke makes it clear with his words and his actions that
though they are married, she will never be his true wife, something that Emily desires. Powerful
realistic characters turn The Bridal Veil into a stunning tale of second chances at love. The
well-written story line hooks the audience through the grieving of Emily, the hopelessness of
Luke,
the angst of Rose, and the need for Cora to keep her daughter's memory alive. The audience will
need a box of tissues handy when reading Alexis Harrington's moving feast.
Jacaranda Vines
Tamara McKinley
St. Martin's Press
Dec 2001, $25.95, 406 pp., ISBN: 0312284349
In 1990 at the age of ninety-one Joseph "Jock" Whitney dies. Few if any mourn his death and
many
rejoice at his expiring. The Australian mogul owned and managed the country's biggest wine
business, Jacaranda Vines, with an iron fist and an ugly temper that fell upon anyone within his
radarscope including beleaguered family members. However, like many despots throughout
history,
Jock must have felt he would live forever because he failed to properly train his successor. Most
business experts anticipate that Jock's survivors will carve up the kingdom of the "King of the
Vines" into little duchies before selling off their shares. If nothing else, the civil war between
Jock's
wife, her brother, and her children and grandchildren will probably kill the company. For years
Jock
publicly and privately humiliated his wife Cordelia. Surprisingly, she is the prime person refusing
to
sell the company. Desperate to find one ally among her relatives, Cordelia relates the family
history
starting with Rose in 1830 England to her prime hope of a supporter, her granddaughter Sophie.
Jacaranda Vines is an exciting Australian historical tale that spans over a hundred and seventy
years,
as Cordelia affectionately tells the family history, which enables the reader to understand why she
wants to save the firm. The strong story line provides the audience incredible insight into
Australia
through Cordelia's narrative. Tamara McKinley furbishes a terrific tale that will surely garner her
awards and several toasts from readers for this entertainingly deep novel.
The Happy Pigs
Lucy Harkness
St. Martin's Press
Jan 2002, $23.95, 256 pp., ISBN 031228269
Louise Barrat has been on the London police force for six years going from a street bobby to a
member of the child protection unit. She has seen and heard all the misery an adult can do to a
child
and is dangerously close to suffering from total burnout. Her latest case is one of the worst cases
she
has ever witnessed. Ten-year-old Candy was raped and tortured and it is Louise's job to look after
the child's best interests by steering her gently through the judicial system. One day Louise is
talking
to two hookers, trying to find out if any underage prostitutes has come into the area. While
conversing, a John comes over and Louisa walks away. The next thing she knows is the John has
her
in a back alley trying to force himself on her because she walked away from him. It's clear he
doesn't
know she's a police officer and since she has no proof to share with him, she flips him into the ally
and walks away very upset. That incident although she doesn't know it yet, will change the rest of
her life. This first person narrative will grab the attention of the reader from the very first page
because the protagonist is such a sympathetic and likable character. Lucy Harkness is able to use
the
written word to make the audience feel the pain and suffering police officers go through in pursuit
of
their job. The Happy Pigs is a refreshing and unusual work that stimulates the readers' intellect as
much as their feelings.
A Sunset Touch
Marjorie Eccles
St. Martin's Press
Jan 2002, $22.95, 208 pp., ISBN: 0312283539
Although Lavenstock is a small city compared to London, it has its share of crime, but rarely does
two major felonies happen on the same day. A house burns down to the ground on a low rent
street,
but the body inside the rubble is not the Polish man renting the abode. Deputy Superintendent Gil
Mayo assigns Abigail Moon to the case much to the dismay of her rival and peer Martin Kite. Gil
designates Martin as the lead investigator on the other case, that of a vicar's wife Cecily Haldane,
who was knocked unconscious. Her attacker called for an ambulance. Cecily's prognosis remains
bleak. On both cases law enforcement officials run into one dead end after another. They don't
know
that the two cases are tied to events that occurred over fifty years ago during World War II. Any
police procedural starring Gill Mayo is guaranteed to provide a pleasurable reading experience. A
Sunset Touch is one of the better works in this long running series because of the complexity of
the
characterizations and the intricacies of the two subplots. Marjorie Eccles packs a surprising
amount
of fascinating detail into this superb novel.
Fault Line
Sarah Andrews
St. Martin's Press
Jan 2001, $23.95, 304 pp., ISBN: 0312253508
Everyone expects earthquakes to hit the California coastline, but no one was ready for the 5.2
quake
to hit Salt Lake City just weeks before the Olympic Games commence. The Utah State geologist
Dr.
Sidney Smeeth provides an interview that warns of damage to key structures, but the local TV
stations without explanation cut off her talk. Not long afterward, Sidney is found dead apparently
a
victim of a fall from the patio of her home. Though a local police matter, FBI agent Tom Latimer
wants to insure that the death was not murder to cover up a geological problem that could
endanger
the upcoming visitors. He asks his friend Em Hansen, perhaps the only current unemployed
geologist in the Salt Lake area, to evaluate and give an opinion on several Smeeth reports.
However,
he does not want this amateur to get involved in the actual investigation. Still Em cannot help but
find the political Fault Lines that shake the core of the city and state leaving her at the epicenter of
the inquiry. The latest Em Hansen geological mystery is the best tale to date of a marvelous series
that provides the audience with strong sleuthing and interesting geological information
intertwined
into the story line. The plot engages the audience as Em gets involved in another mystery. The
support cast provides a local flavor that enhances the lead protagonist. Fault Line is an amateur
sleuth tale worth reading while Sarah Andrews' previous novels are worth digging up at the used
bookstores.
Heart Of A Lion
Hillary Fields
St. Martin's Press
Dec 2001, $6.50, 432 pp., ISBN: 0312979177
In 1212, teenager Jared de Navarre is expected keep his preadolescent betrothed Isabeau de Lyon
safe, but she sneaks away to watch the Children's Crusade. Somehow Isabeau becomes part of the
marchers and vanishes. Feeling guilty for failing at his mission, Jared vows to find Isabeau and
bring
her home. However, she is sold into slavery in the Middle East and he fails to rescue her. Years
go
by and though Jared still sort of seeks out Isabeau he believes she is dead. He has hardened his
heart
and become the notorious mercenary The Black Lion, willing to do anything for cash. An assassin
guild member, the Shadow Hunter, knows of his reputation and hires Jared to steal a jewel from a
rival. Neither the Black Lion nor the Shadow Hunter realize that the identity of the other is their
betrothed. Both have done ugly things to mentally survive, but a wall of shame makes a
permanent
relationship between them seems more impossible than the first meeting between them after all
those
years. Heart Of A Lion is a strong medieval romance that mostly occurs in the Middle East, which
enables the plot to feel quite invigorating in spite of the desert heat. The action-packed story line
hooks sub-genre fans because both lead characters obtain empathy from the audience due to their
respective plights. Hillary Fields provides an intense historical romance that will surely garner her
many new readers.
Murder On The Minnesota
Conrad Allen
St. Martin's Press
Jan 2002, $22.95, 294 pp., ISBN 0312 280920
George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield did such a good job unmasking the murderer on
the
Lusitania, the cruise line has hired them as ship detectives. For nine months the duo sailed from
England to New York but their faces were becoming too recognizable so when the Great
Northern
Steamship Company asked for their services, they were free to accept. They boarded The
Minnesota
in Seattle with their destination the Orient but the captain is worried about one of the passengers,
Rance Gilpatrick, an unsavory smuggler. Everyone who knows Rance believes he is working his
trade on the ship but nobody knows what he's smuggling or where he has stashed his booty. While
George and Genevieve are working different angles to get close to the gangster, a Catholic
missionary priest is garroted to death. The target was really a diplomat who was going to conduct
secret meetings in Japan. The daring detective duo hope to keep the diplomat safe while finding
out
what Rance is up to if they want to keep their perfect ocean sailing record unblemished. Murder
On
The Minnesota is a picturesque mystery, so much so that readers will feel the urge to take a cruise
to
the Far East just like the protagonists did. The story line is fast paced with plenty of twists and
turns
to keep the reader from guessing what the villain's ultimate goal is. Once again Conrad Allen
shows
his natural talents as a wonderful historical mystery storyteller who makes the first decade of the
twentieth century come vividly alive to his readers.
Cold Hunter's Moon
KC Greenlief
St. Martin's Press
Jan 2002, $23.95, 320 pp., ISBN: 0312278470
John and Ann Ransom live on prime lake front property in Big Oak, Wisconsin. Once they moved
into their new home, the couple posted no hunting signs so that deer hunters would stay away.
One
morning, Ann awakens to a gunshot, but ignores the noisy incident believing that a hunter fired a
gun. That same day, her Golden Retriever drags home a bloody boot containing human remains.
The
Ransoms call Sheriff Lark Swenson, who finds the rest of the corpse. Three days later another
body
is found on their property. Lark and State detective Lacey Smith work closely together trying to
determine whether the two murders are as related as they first seem and how. Though the two law
officials deny it even to themselves, their proximity brings out warm tender feelings towards one
another, but the investigation comes first for both of these dedicated people. Cold Hunter's Moon
is
as much a small town relationship drama as it is a police procedural. Lark and Lacey make a cute
couple because they spend much time persuading themselves that business is the only relationship
they share. Sub-genre readers will welcome newcomer KC Greenlief whose ability to place real
people in a taut investigative tale will make her a fan favorite quite quickly.
The Masks Of Auntie Laveau
Robert Randisi & Christine Matthews
St. Martin's Press
Jan 2002, $22.95, 208 pp., ISBN: 031226898X
After her last involvement in a homicide case, Claire Hunt wants to avoid trouble at all costs.
When
she and her husband Gil visit "Auntie" Laveau in New Orleans about selling masques on her
segment
of a home shopping channel, Claire realizes "Auntie" is an imposter. Before returning to their
home
in St. Louis, the police question the Hunts. Someone killed Aunt Laveau and Claire's name was
found in her apartment. Gil returns to New Orleans to identify a person in the hospital who the
police believe posed as Auntie Laveau for the Hunts. Someone kidnaps Gil, leaving it up to his
spouse, who refuses to wait for the police to act, to find him. Robert Randisi & Christine
Matthews
have written a fascinating mystery that provides readers with an insider's view of voodoo
practitioners and their impact on believers. In THE MASKS OF AUNTIE LAVEAU, the voodoo
subculture permeates the entire Big Easy, making the plot feel gothic-like. The two protagonists
are
endearing individuals whose love for one another has no bounds even conquering fear as proven
by
Claire's willingness to dive head first into trouble for her beloved.
Skeleton At The Feast
Patricia Hall
St. Martin's Press
Jan 2001, $23.95, 256 pp., ISBN 0312282687
Detective Michael Thackery is in trouble with the Bradfield brass since a female police officer
died
on his last major case. The leadership claims negligence on his part and failure to obey orders
caused
the death. He is up for review in a short time but his superior, Detective Superintendent Jack
Longley sends Michael to a seminar at St. Fridsuade's College to keep him out of the firing line.
The
Master of the college, which happens to be Michael's alma mater, wants his former pupil to
investigate the sudden disappearance of Professor Mark Harrison. The professor vanished with his
girlfriend, but left behind a wife under psychiatric care, a son dead from a drug overdose, and a
bitter daughter. Much to Michael's surprise, his investigation leads to scandals and crimes that the
college would prefer never see the light of day. Patricia Hall's ongoing series starring Michael
Thackery and his girlfriend Laura Ackray continues to be one of the better British police
procedurals
on the market today. Skeleton At The Feast is a complex, multi- layered mystery that shows how
ugly the academic world can turn. The romance between Michael and Laurie is progressing and
fans
of the series will take much pleasure in this novel and want to read the next book in this delightful
series.
The Great Baby Caper
Eugenia Riley
Lovespell
$5.99, Dec 2001, 400 pp., ISBN: 0505524619
To say that Bootle's Baby Bower CEO M. Billingham Bootle is a bit of an eccentric is probably
an
understatement. However, this year at the company's annual meeting in New Orleans, he outdoes
even his most famous and wildest capers. He announces his retirement and names the four
potential
candidates to replace him. Wally Gilchrist, Al Gideon, Gil Getz, and Courtney Kelly will compete
for the job by going against one another in a scavenger hunt. Kelly's assignment is to find and
marry
the most eligible bachelor in town. Though thinking EEOC and a lawsuit, Kelly reluctantly joins
the
game and soon humiliatingly searches Bourbon Street. She finally meets Mark Wiggleshaft, who
turns out to be her boss' nephew Mark Billingham. After sharing a night of passion, Courtney is
left
pregnant. Mark persuades her into marrying him, but she insists on a marriage in name only. Now
all
Mark has to do is convince Kelly that he is not his grandfather's puppet and actually wants her and
their baby. Once the reader accepts the bizarre CEO job prerequisite, which is not easy to do, the
fan
will enjoy this amusing contemporary romance. The lead couple is an amiable duo struggling with
their feelings and even more with the interference of that likable lunatic, M. Billingham Bootle.
Eugenia Riley has written a humorous tale that keeps the audience laughing throughout most of
the
story line.
Gabriel's Fate
Emma Craig
Lovespell
Nov 2001, $5.99, 358 pp., ISBN: 0505524295
In the nineteenth century out west, Sophie Madrigal makes a living by telling fortunes, but her real
motive is to bring Ivo Hardwick to frontier justice administered by herself for the murder of her
son.
Pinkerton undercover agent Gabriel Caine also seeks Ivo, but being a quasi-member of the law he
must bring the killer in alive. When Sophie and Gabriel meet on a train, the attraction overwhelms
everything else. However, they have nothing in common but the need to find Ivo links the
twosome.
Still, Sophie's Aunt Juniper decides that it is in the cards for Gabriel and her niece to share a
lifetime
of love. Using every trick she knows as a spiritualist, Juniper plays matchmaker between two
stubborn individuals who fate has deemed belong together. Gabriel's Fate is a refreshing western
romance because of the inclusion of the occult in the thrilling story line. The plot is action packed,
and the strong cast makes this is a fascinating reading experience. The lead couple disagrees on
everything, making them an engaging duet, but it is the support ensemble of eccentrics that allow
Gabriel and Sophie to shine as they amusingly enable fate to take its "natural course" of action.
Emma Craig provides the audience with an appealing amusing novel worth reading by sub-genre
fans.
Bethany's Song
Susan Plunkett
Lovespell
Nov 2001, $5.50, 360 pp., ISBN: 0505524635
At the Drexel Cemetery in the Wyoming mountains, the three James sisters sing Christian songs at
the burial of local witch Yolanda D'Arcy. No one else, including the caretaker, Digger Phelps,
attends the ceremony. Soon a fog comes out of nowhere and engulfs the threesome. Fifth grade
school teacher Bethany James quickly realizes that she is no longer in modern day Wyoming, but
quickly learns that instead is in 1895 Juneau, Alaska without her two siblings to accompany her.
Architect Matthew Gray grieves the loss of his father when Bethany lands at his feet. Matthew,
who
believes someone is sabotaging his family's mining operation, wonders what to do with this
bewildered witch, who soon takes over the local teaching position. As they fall in love, will
Bethany
be able to make the commitment to Matthew; an emotion she never could do in what was her
birth
decade. The second River of Time tale is an engaging time travel romance that will excite the
audience with its insightful look at the gay nineties in Alaska. As with the lead female in the first
novel (Alicia's Song), Bethany adapts too easily to a less technological era. Still the audience will
admire her courage to overcome her demons (from a car accident that injured her and killed her
parents) to find love with Matthew. Bethany's Song is a winner that will leave sub-genre fans
wanting to quantum leap into the future to read the concluding tale starring Caitlin.
She knows her father loves her, but though she caused a bit of a scandal, Lilla Traften cannot
understand why he exiled her to the Texas Panhandle. The spoiled Lilla becomes unglued when
her
stagecoach breaks an axle, but soon forgets everything after the driver gives her "nasty tasting
water" that leaves her drunk. Ranch foreman Grady Finch rescues Lilla from any unwanted
advances. Though he believes she is a prostitute, Grady refuses to take advantage of her in her
inebriated state, but plans to enjoy her as soon as she is sober. However, Grady soon realizes his
misconception, as Lilla is the snooty type who behaves just like the snobs that rebuffed his
mother.
Though very attracted to her, he cannot stand her airs of superiority. Meanwhile, Lilla believes
she
needs to prove to this uncouth cowboy that she can survive without daddy's money. As each one
tries to trump the other, love trumps both of them. Desert Bloom, the sequel to Prickly Pear, is an
amusing western romance. Readers will initially want the hoity Lilla to get her comeuppance, but
talented Ronda Thompson quickly turns that around so that the audience quickly roots for the
female lead to get her man. Grady still carries the scars of his childhood, which endears him to the
readers, who will delight in Ms. Thompson's humorous tale.
After allowing his younger brother Collier to run the family estate for the past two years, Lord
Edgar Pembroke decides to take over the operation. Even more shocking to the second son is that
the agreement they had is eradicated because Edgar plans to marry and have children to protect
the
name of his family and more important his male lover. A stunned Collier leaves for America. In
1898
Wyoming, Laurel Garrison claims land that she plans to live on and make a living. The local bank
refuses to lend money to a mere female and her father Jacob, a very successful rancher, worries
about his daughter alone on the mountain during the upcoming winter. Jacob arranges for Collier
to
meet his obstinate daughter and soon the exiled noble and Laurel agree to a marriage of
convenience
centering on the ranch. As the two work side by side, they fall in love, but she feels inadequate
when
she meets his family in Denver, making anything permanent seem remote even if Laurel carries
Cole's child. Proving Herself could easily be called "Proving Themselves" as both Laurel and Cole
have an urgent need to show to their respective families they can succeed. The story line engages
the
reader though the arrival of his family but it feels more like an intrusion than a key subplot. The
lead
couple charms the audience, which is not easy to do when toiling on a mountain. Fans of western
romance will enjoy this novel, seek previous "Rancher's Daughters" books, and look forward to
the
other tales by Yvonne Jocks.
The Marriage Bed
Claudia Dain
Leisure Books
Nov 2001, $5.99, 393 pp., ISBN: 0843949333
In 1155, when Lady Isabel Dornei's father dies she travels to the nearby abbey knowing she will
be
physically safe until her betrothed arrives for her. The heiress is not quite as sure of the haven
when
it comes to her heart because her beloved Richard, brother to her fianc‚, seeks ablution while
studying to be a monk at the abbey. Word soon arrives that her betrothed died so the honorable
Richard marries Isabel to keep her safe. Though Isabel and Richard love one another, both feel
guilty that their relationship formed with the death of his sibling, especially knowing deep down
inside that they prayed for a miracle to bring them together. Realizing that they obtained what
they
wished for at a high cost, both must find a way to overcome their deep regrets over the death of
Richard's brother or remain doomed to a marriage of unhappiness in which love turns hollow.
Medieval romance readers who enjoy strong lead characters and deep historical setting will find
The
Marriage Bed quite appealing though the story line ambles slowly forward. Isabel and Richard
make
for an engaging plot because they both feel love and the torture of guilt. More of a twelfth century
character study, Claudia Dain provides her audience with a change of pace historical relationship
drama.
Something More
Winnie Griggs
Leisure Books
Nov 2001, $4.99, 311 pp., ISBN: 0843949341
In 1892 Maryland, Elthia Sinclaire accepts a job as governess to the children of Caleb Tanner
even
though it means relocating to Texas. Elthia feels this is an opportunity for her to break free from
her
father. Caleb does not want a governess. He really needs a wife so he can adopt his six nieces and
nephews before the children are scattered among various families as what happened to he and his
siblings twenty years ago. However, the clock is ticking as he has three days to find a spouse.
Though she has doubts about marrying Caleb, especially since they differ on the "contract", Elthia
agrees to a marriage for the sake of the kids. She quickly falls in love with her children and tries to
ignore her growing attraction to her husband, who reciprocates her feelings of love, an emotion
neither acknowledges. Winnie Griggs' western romance will grab readers' attention from start to
finish because of the warm lead couple and the six charges that bring them together. The audience
will empathize with Caleb struggles with the nightmare that history is unfairly repeating itself.
Elthia
is very spirited, but amusingly is no housekeeper based on her futile efforts as such but her love
for
the Texas six makes her a perfect mom. Her hilarious battles with the hero on top of a wonderful
plot enable fans to receive Something More from Ms. Griggs.
Technogenesis
Syne Mitchell
Roc
Jan 2002, $6.99, 336 pp., ISBN 0451458644
In the not too distant future, most of humanity is hooked up to the net, if not through a computer
than through neural jewelry or special glasses. Most people stay on the net twenty-four hours a
day,
seven days a week, conducting business and pleasurable pursuits and even virtually eat and sleep
in
cyberspace. Jasmine Reese is one of the rare people that can find data anywhere on the net and is
able to immerse herself in it so thoroughly that she becomes part of it. When her hook-up to the
net
is broken she sees things that make her wonder if the neural computers transmitted by the net are
controlling her and everyone else linked to it. When a secret government agency kidnaps her and
forces her to do what the net wants, she vows to regain her individuality by avoiding cyberspace
and
do whatever it takes to fight her new enemy's intelligence network. Syne Mitchell has written an
absorbing and creative science fiction tale that is fine entertainment for those fans that like a
futuristic drama. Technogenesis addresses some interesting social issues, which are cleverly
intertwined inside the story line but it is the characters that raise the quality level of this novel
from a
poor man's Matrix into a strong story. The protagonist is flawed and weak at times yet so heroic
that
she represents the finest qualities inherent in our species. On a scale from one to ten, this novel is
an
eleven.
Season Of Sacrifice
Mindy L. Klasky
Roc
Jan 2002, $6.99, 352 pp., ISBN 0451458656
To the people of the Headland of Slaughter, there is nothing more important than The Tree. The
villagers of this small-secluded hamlet make their living through the bounty of the sea and are
dependent upon the Tree to keep the fisherfolk safe. The Woodsinger is the villager who
communicates with the tree through the bavins it grows enabling her to guide the fisherfolk on the
water. The nominal sovereign of the village is the king who lives in Smithcourt, but the townsfolk
are so isolated from the mainstream of society, they barely know the king is dead and the throne
vacant. Duke Coren and his men come to the village, ostensibly to trade goods, but in reality to
kidnap a set of twins from the village and take them to Smithcourt where they are to play a key
role
in the Duke's plan to become the monarch. Alana Woodsinger and others from the village are
determined to get the children back no matter what price they have to pay. Season Of Sacrifice is
a
very creative and colorful high fantasy novel that has enough action and drama it to keep readers
from ever getting bored. The characters, especially the kidnapped children, are so endearing that
they make a place for themselves in the reader's heart. Mindy L. Klasky proves she is a
super-talented author.
He Sees You When You're Sleeping
Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark
Scribner
Nov 2001, $20.00, 202 pp., ISBN 0743230051
After forty-six years of sitting in the celestial waiting room right outside the gates of heaven,
Sterling Brooks is finally summoned before the Heavenly Council. Eight female and male saints
explain to Sterling that he did not use his time on earth performing good deeds. For the most part
he
remained an uncommitted and indifferent person, more interested in himself than anyone else. He
is
given a chance to make up for his previous failings on earth by returning there and helping a
person
who needs help badly. If he accomplishes his goal, he will be permitted to celebrate Christmas Eve
in
heaven. He appears in Rockefeller center where he meets a little girl named Marissa who wants
desperately to see her father and grandmother. Unfortunately, they are in the witness protection
program ready to give testimony that would send two gangsters away for life. Sterling's heart
opens
to the precious little princess and vows to reunite her with her relatives. How he goes about this
and
what he learns in the process might earn him a permanent place in heaven or doom him to eternal
hell. Mary Higgins Clark and Carol Higgins Clark have created a beautiful parable that
demonstrates
the true meaning of the holiday spirit. He Sees You When You're Sleeping will appeal to both the
mainstream audience and those readers who like a supernatural novel. The two protagonists of
this
beautiful story will endear themselves to everyone who reads the book.
The Lions Of Lucerne
Brad Thor
Pocket Books
Jan 2002, $25.00, 464 pp., ISBN: 0753436733
The President of the United States needs time away from DC to regenerate his juices for the
upcoming fight with Congress on his pet project, the fossil fuel reduction bill that has big oil
screaming for its death. He also wants quality time with his teenage daughter Amanda. So the
President, his daughter, and the Secret Service go skiing in Utah when a rifle shot induces an
avalanche that in turn leads to the abduction of the president. Though badly injured, Secret
Service
Agent Scot Harvath keeps Mandy safe. Everyone assumes a Middle East terrorist group snatched
the President except Scot. Being an ex-SEAL, he believes the scenario is too overt for the Mid
East
and looks elsewhere. He begins to track a convoluted trail to Switzerland, the American capital
building, international big business, and the executive branch centered on the President who is not
in
Washington when the legislative debate on his fossil fuel reduction bill hits the floors of Congress.
This coalition plans to succeed even if people must die to accomplish that deed. Though an
exciting
political thriller, Scot turning into a James Bond type agent is hard to accept especially with his
bias
towards the Middle East. The story line is fast-paced and the coalition against the president is
very
powerful and surprisingly feels quite real. The Lions Of Lucerne is a roaring tale though the
audience never quite believes in the thoughts and actions of the hero.
A Very Gothic Christmas
Christine Freehan & Melanie George
Pocket Books
Nov 2001, $6.99, 422 pp., ISBN: 0743442717
"After the Music" by Christine Freehan. Critics and fans loved the music of Dillon Wentworth
until a
fire in his home killed his wife Vivian and scarred the musician when he entered the inferno to
rescue
his two children. Dillon fled to a small island leaving the kids with Jessica Fitzpatrick. Now
someone
has begun a stalking campaign aimed at the children so Jessica flees with them so their reclusive
father can protect them. Love blossoms between the two adults, but those feelings may prove
futile
against the assault from Vivian's occult friends. This novel is an exciting modern gothic romance
starring a brooding hero living in a remote home whose only hope for redemption rests in the
magic
of love. "Lady of the Locket" by Melanie George. Years ago, Rachel Hudson's parents met and
fell
in love at Scotland's Glengarren Castle. They planned to return to where the magic began, but
both
died before they did. Rachel travels to the site where her parents' love first blossomed. However,
she
wonders if her grieving is affecting her mind as she is attracted to a portrait painted in 1745 of
Duncan MacGregor. To her shock, Duncan appears in person, but even as they fall in love, his
malevolent enemy has followed to complete his odious task. Though a short novel, "Lady of the
Locket" is an exciting gothic romance with time travel elements intermingled into the plot. A Very
Gothic Christmas is a two for one book that entertains modern day gothic romance fans as the
authors, Christine Freehan & Melanie George, furbish strong tales.
To Trust A Stranger
Karen Robards
Pocket Books
Dec 2001, $25.00, 384 pp., ISBN 0671786539
After several years of marriage, Julie Carlson realizes that her spouse Sid slips out every evening
at
midnight when he thinks she is fast asleep. Julie figures Sid is cheating and plans to catch him with
his lover. She pretends to sleep and when he leaves follow him only to lose him. When her car is
stolen, transvestite Mac McQuarry rescues her. Julie assumes her savior is gay, but is unaware
that
Mac is an undercover private investigator trying to prove Sid is dirty with mob ties. Sid's friends
probably killed his first wife and Mac's brother, and ruined the latter's police career. Mac uses
Julie
to get at Sid, but soon realizes that the mob wants him and Julie dead. To Trust A Stranger is an
exciting romantic suspense novel that never slows down, as Sid and his pals need Julie and Mac
dead. Though a taut thriller, the weakness of the plot lies in the intrepid Julie, who remained
oblivious for years as to how cruel her spouse was until she decides to investigate his alleged
cheating. Karen Robards has written a terse tale, but some of the key characters are too malicious
to
care what happens to them.
Deception Point
Dan Brown
Pocket Books
Nov 2001, $25.00, 373 pp., ISBN: 0671027379
Though Rachel has never met President Zach Herney, her father Senator Sedgewick Sexton is
upset
with her because she works for the administration as an agent of the National Reconnaissance
Office. Sedgewick wants his daughter to quit her job and join his campaign for the presidency as
he
insists her working for the administration hurts his presidential ambitions. NASA has uncovered
quite a find in the Arctic that the agency believes will help them from Sedgewick's constant
bulldog
attack, as the politician uses the agency as a whipping post for his executive office run. Rachel
travels to the site where NASA scientists diligently work to recover a meteor, which apparently
contains ET fossils. However, though she wonders why she was sent, Rachel and scientist
Michael
Tolland realizes nothing makes sense especially with Delta Force soldiers standing nearby
seemingly
ready to assault the NASA encampment. Deception Point is an exciting techno-thriller that
contains
cleverly incorporated scientific know how to propel the story line forward,. When the tale resides
in
the Arctic, it is a powerful chilling thriller, but when the plot focuses on DC and its double
crossing
backstabbing political environs, the story line slows down. As a techno-thiller, Dan Brown paints
a
superb masterpiece; as a political thriller Mr. Brown scribes a stick figure.
Married For A Month
Susan Mallery
Pocket Books
Dec 2001, $6.99, ISBN: 074340586X
Recently receiving her doctorate, Taylor McGuire believes that a successful marriage depends on
compatibility. Media darling Jonathon Kirby feels relationships can only succeed through hard
work.
Taylor and Jonathan debate their position on marriage on the popular cable show, Psychology in
the
News. Jonathan challenges Taylor to put up or shut up. He offers a contest in which the two will
match up twenty couples each for one month to see whose grouping has the most survivors. To
sweeten the pot, one of the pairs can win a million dollars. Unable to gracefully back down,
Taylor
accepts the gauntlet especially coming from the person who dumped her seventeen years ago. As
Taylor and Jonathan renew their acquaintance, the attraction reheats between them. The
unceremonious ending to their teen dalliance keeps them apart as well as a beloved reminder that
Taylor never told Jonathan about, one that even love might fail to overcome. Married For A
Month
is an amusing contemporary romance though the hiding of his child from him is an overdone
device
that adds unnecessary strain to a humorous plot. The story line engages the audience as the sexual
tension between the delightful lead characters augments the professional debate and the contest
between them. The support cast adds depth to the tale by making the contest seem real or by
shedding light on the two doctors. Susan Mallory provides a jocular novel that will please
sub-genre
fans.
World Without End
Chris Mooney
Pocket Books
Nov 2001, $25.00, 390 pp., ISBN: 0671040634
Who is this Angel Eyes, who seems invisible and invincible as he steals special weapons leaving
behind dead people whom might identify him? No one in law enforcement, espionage, State
Department, or Defense can explain how this villain knows where to go. Whether it is
Massachusetts
or Texas or elsewhere, somehow Angel Eyes knows, comes, and steals. Even more confusing is
these state of the art weapons never seem to surface anywhere as if Angel Eyes destroyed them,
but
the CIA and FBI who have loosely collaborated on these cases have no proof beyond the
disappearance and suspicious deaths. The CIA believes they know where Angel Eyes will strike
next. They plan to finally end his successful pilfering of weapons. CIA operative Stephen Conway
has the assignment to keep safe a prototype cloaking device that allows users to move while being
seemingly invisible. However, others want this gadget too and the trap to capture the master thief
unravels with several CIA agents dead, leaving Conway apparently by himself except for perhaps
his
girlfriend, if he can trust her, to confront Angel Eyes. World Without End is an action packed
thriller
filled with double and triple crosses that keep on coming at the reader. Though the premise seems
stretched, the story line keeps the reader fully indulged wanting to know what next. The support
cast is incredibly developed though the lead character seems a nit wimpy in comparison. Still fans
of
non-stop techno- thrillers will enjoy Chris Mooney's fast paced tale.
Defender
CJ Cherryh
Daw Books
Nov 2001, $23.95, 480 pp., ISBN: 0886779111
Two centuries ago the human starship Phoenix fled the planet leaving behind kin to defend
themselves from the native atevi. The resulting war was a slaughter, but before global destruction
occurred a peaceful coexistence developed. The few human survivors were exiled to the isolated
island of Mospheira where they prayed for a miracle. Now the Phoenix returns, ignoring their
marooned human lineage while offering interstellar technology to the atevi in exchange for needed
manpower to renovate an aging space station. Now with three space shuttles in their arsenal, the
atevi internally argue about remaining earthbound or journeying into space. As they debate the
impact to their culture, atevi leader Tabini-aiji sends his human paidhi-diplomat Bren Cameron to
bargain with the Phoenix leadership. Bren learns that the Phoenix cowardly deserted its own
people
in the wake of a third species invasion in another space sector. Merge the best violations of the
prime directive of classic Star Trek with the wallop of Star Wars and the reader has Defender.
The
complex story line is a taut thriller that explores several layers of emotions including the impact of
technology on a race and the survivor instinct of both the individual and the collective society.
Bren
is a powerful character struggling to stand astride two cultures, one of which is innately alien to
his
core thinking. The key atevi characters, especially Bren's bodyguards, allow the audience to
believe
that the species exist. Fans of CJ Cherryl's Foreigner Universe and alien stories in general will
fully
relish this thriller.
The Valdemar Companion
John Helfers & Denise Little (editors)
Daw Books
Jan 2002, $24.95, 512 pp., ISBN: 0756400376
The Valdemar Companion is exactly what the title says it is, a complete reference book for fans of
the series not different than many other similar tomes. It contains a glossary of names and places
important to the Valdemar world as well as a synopsis of each book. Besides the standard articles
on
culture and people, this book also includes the unique element of a well- written novella by
Mercedes Lackey, author of the eighteen Valdemar novels. Though clearly for the Valdemar
mythos
audience, fantasy readers in general will enjoy this companion volume.
Malachi's Moon
Billie Sue Mosiman
Daw Books
Jan 2002, $6.99, 320 pp., ISBN 0756400481
Vampires exist in the world but they are not hell spawn or shunned by God. They once were
humans
who suffered from a mutated form of the disease porphyry. The disease is fatal and at the time of
their death they choose weather to become a Predator, Normal or Craven vampire. Predators
drink
human blood and kill when necessary. They also run the blood banks that supply human blood for
a
price to Normals who try to act like the humans they once were. Cravens are fearful, sickly beings
who beg for blood or do without. Malachi is a dhmpire, born of a mortal father and Normal
vampire
mother. He has most of the abilities of the vampire but he is not immortal. Many believe he is the
child of prophecy, destined to be a powerful vampire slayer. One who fears Malachi's power has
gathered an army of rogue Predators to destroy him and to take over the world. Balthazar joins
forces with the insane but very powerful vampire Charles Upton. They intend to destroy the
Cravens, turn the Normal into Predators, and rule the world the way they were meant to or die
trying (metaphorically speaking). Billie Sue Mosiman makes her vampires so detailed and realistic
that readers come away believing that this secret society actually exists. The vampiric characters
are
complex, yet easy to understand because they are a cross section of the human population in all its
glory and degradation. Malachi's Moon, the sequel to Red Moon Rising, is a special treat for
lovers
of the supernatural.
To Catch A Kiss
Karen Kendall
Avon
Dec 2001, $5.99, 384 pp., ISBN: 0380818531
Atlanta police officer Tony Sinclair visits Taylor FX Studios to ask the owner, Oscar nominee
Jazz
Taylor, where he can find her father Myles, wanted for questioning in the High Museum heist.
Tony
also has a personal reason to interrogate Myles as the prime suspect in the museum robbery
because
he has been seeing his Aunt Ellen. Jazz informs Tony that she has not seen her father in over a
year,
but gives the cop the last known address she has of him. When she returns to her home, Jazz finds
Myles waiting for her. He insists he is innocent and pleads with her to hide him. Being a special
effects expert should make that easy for Jazz, but Tony sees what she is doing. Instead of turning
her in for abetting Myles, Tony becomes her accomplice in trying to prove her father's innocence.
However, if he knew the danger to her life and his heart, Tony would have chosen a safer path for
the woman he now loves. To Catch A Kiss is a very amusing romantic romp that stars two likable
lead protagonists. The story line reads like a 1930s madcap comedic romance set in contemporary
times. It never slows down until the tale is finished. The support cast adds depth and much humor,
especially Myles. Fans of humorous romances will enjoy Karen Kendall's latest romp and want to
read her debut tale, the jocular Something About Cecily.
Too Wicked To Marry
Susan Sizemore
Avon Books
Jan 2002, $5.99, 384 pp., ISBN: 0380816520
In 1880 while attending a decadent party, Lord Martin Kestrel realizes he loves his daughter's
governess, Abigail Perry. He immediately leaves for London to propose marriage. A stunned
Abigail
says no and vanishes before Martin can persuade her otherwise. Martin cannot find Abigail until a
letter from her great aunt arrives. He visits her relative who sends him to meet Ian and Hannah
MacLeod on the Isle of Skye where Martin demands to see Abigail who informs him that she is
actually Harriet MacLeod, an English spy assigned to protect his daughter and him. An angry
Martin, already filled with mistrust after the infidelity of his deceased wife, calls Harriet a liar
before
leaving. However, she finds that she needs his services to gain entry to a house where her brother
might be held prisoner. He accepts the job only if she agrees to be his mistress during the
scenario,
making a permanent relationship even less likely between them. Susan Sizemore is known for her
strong historical novels, but her current tale, Too Wicked To Marry, may be the awesome
author's
best work to date. This exciting Victorian romantic intrigue stars a gender-bending heroine
assigned
to protect the lead male protagonist and a strong support cast. With a refreshing action-jammed
story line for the ensemble to star in, Ms. Sizemore provides one of the best historical tales of the
year.
His Unexpected Wife
Maureen McKade
Avon Books
Dec 2001, $5.99, 384 pp., ISBN: 0380815672
In 1894 Colin McBride returns to Denver after a long absence to see his friends, Trev and Kate,
while his leg still heals from the mining accident three months ago. There are a few extra children
since he last saw the Trevelyans. Even more shocking is to see how grown up the two youngsters
he
remembered giving piggyback rides to but especially twenty years old Kate, who is now a
beautiful
young lady instead of the four year old he remembers. Annie and her father have argued over her
future as she wants to be an actress and has turned down several marriage proposals while Trev
feels
the stage is not a place for a wholesome woman. Her parents have decided to send Annie to a
finishing school in San Francisco and appoint Colin as her escort since he is heading to California
to
start a ranch. On the journey west, Annie plans to seduce Trev into what she wants, but one thing
leads to another and soon adult love blossoms between these two unlikely individuals. His
Unexpected Wife is an engaging Americana romance due to the gender battle between the
dynamic
lead couple. The support ensemble provides depth that brings alive the gay nineties in several
western locales while showing off author Maureen McKade's ability to draw convincing, in-depth
characters. Though the pace seems slower than a nineteenth century Oregon Trail wagon trip
because of an unnecessary element of suspense, the war between Annie and Trev makes for an
enjoyable reading experience.
Heart Of Night
Taylor Chase
Avon Books
Dec 2001, $5.99, 384 pp., ISBN: 0061012904
In 1586 London, most people misunderstand Sir Adrian Thorne's gift, which he considers a curse.
Adrian can touch a person to see inside their soul and know all about them. This genetic monster
led
to his mother's suicide, a common ending for Adrian's ancestors. Now Adrian has been taken to
Bedlam, as befitting a lunatic. At Bedlam, he meets Lady Claire Darren, who surprisingly
understands his torment. Instead of writing Adrian off as a madman, she enlists his help in
exposing
traitors to Queen Elizabeth. However, in spite of his unique sense of touch, Claire feels the
attraction between them as much as Adrian does. Still, their quest is so perilous that their growing
love seems destined for a very short relationship. Though romance between the lead protagonists
strongly supports the tale, the heart of this tale turns it more into a historical novel than a
romance.
The exciting story line is filled with suspense and non-stop action that takes place predominately
in
the gritty underbelly of sixteenth century England. Readers touching this book's pages will know
that the lead couple is an intrepid pair suffering from demons as well as vile enemies, who seem
lacking in comparison. Fans of Elizabethan era stories will Taylor their next book-chase to obtain
the
author's previous novel Heart Of Deception.
The Prince's Bride
Victoria Alexander
Avon Books
Dec 2001, $6.99, 384 pp., ISBN: 0380818213
Even as a little girl, the vain Lady Jocelyn Shelton expected to marry a prince. Now in 1819 as a
debutante, anyone of a lesser rank is just not good enough for the conceited Jocelyn. As the
diamond of the current season, Jocelyn sets her sights on Crown Prince Alexei Pruzinksy of
Greater
Avalonia. She is so cocksure of her abilities, she expects Alexei to propose and thus accepts an
unchaperoned rendezvous with him. However, Alexei fails to meet her, but instead two assassins
believe she has seen and overheard their plot to murder the Prince. The two killers want Jocelyn
dead, but Viscount Rand Beaumont, assigned to keep Alexei safe, vows to protect her. To do
that,
he needs her out of London and entrenched in a safe house until the thugs are stopped. However,
he
cannot escort a single young woman by himself unless he marries her. To Jocelyn, life is
meaningless
with a mere viscount even if she reacts to his regal kisses. The Prince's Bride is an entertaining
historical romance once the readers moves past Jocelyn's princely requirement. Rand is a hunk of
a
hero and surprisingly readers will ultimately find the lead female protagonist smart and charming.
The support cast provides humor or tension depending on their role, but all enhance the
relationship
between Jocelyn and Rand. Sub- genre fans will relish Victoria Alexander's warm tale.
Bell, Cook And Candle
JoAnne Pence
Avon Books
Jan 2002, $6.99, 336 pp., ISBN 0061630848
After numerous false starts, plenty of failures, and several times quitting out of boredom, Angle
Arnolf has finally found a business that she performs well and that people appreciate.
"Commercial
Cakes" is doing so well that Angie barely has time to sleep. This frustrates her boyfriend homicide
detective Paavo Smith, who after much deliberating, has finally worked up the courage to ask her
to
marry him. Every time Paavo begins to propose, Angie is distracted, called to the phone or falls
asleep. She ends up hiring two employees who are into the Goth scene while Paavo happens to
work
on a serial killer case involving Goths. He doesn't know how, but based on experience with his
beloved, Paavo expects Angie is going to become involved in his case though he hates it when she
places her life in danger. Joanne Pence writes an ingenious mystery that is both hilarious and
deadly
serious, sometimes at the same time. The proposal scenes are hysterical while the action scenes
involving the Goth cult are frightening even as they seem otherworldly. Bell, Cook And Candle is
a
humorous novel that has cross-genre appeal.
In 1851 London, Nathan Price feels he is about to achieve his life's goal of acceptance by the
scientific community on a par with the renowned Professor Owen. However, before showing his
exhibit of the Megalosaurus jawbone to the ensemble, a distracted Nathan follows the lure of
dinosaur sculptor Mimi Marsh. When he returns to his moment in the sun, he opens the curtain
and
to his shock it is revealed his prize and the accompanying notes are stolen. He believes Mimi is an
accomplice of the thief, her father, but has no proof. Instead of accolades, Nathan receives pity
and
disdain while Mimi marries someone else. Two years later, Nathan returns after a self-imposed
exile,
but still feels humiliated and plans to expose Mimi and her father. However, his plans for revenge
go
awry because he still loves her. The widowed Mimi feels the same, but she knows the truth behind
what happened to the jawbone and must decide between her beloved and her cherished family.
Someone Irresistible is an irresistible Victorian romance that brings alive an era to a level rarely
seen
in a historical novel let alone in a romance. The fabulous story line blends the tidbits, especially
dinosaur mania, into the intriguing plot so that the audience feels the period without the tale
slowing
down. Nathan is a wonderful lead, but Mimi owns the novel as she carries the world on her
shoulders and in her heart. Award winning Adele Ashworth proves once again that her novels
belong on sub-genre fans' short list as one of the top books of the year.
Death Of A Celebrity
M.C. Beaton
Mysterious Press
Jan 2002, $23.95, 259 pp., ISBN 0892966769
Hamish Macbeth is the village bobby in Lochdubh in the Scottish Highlands. It is an isolated
quaint
little place where everyone knows everyone else and crime is kept to a minimum. Hamish's home
is
part of the village jail because major crimes occur so infrequently. He resents newcomers who
make
more work for him. If it were up to the local bobby, there would be a gate preventing any
outsiders
from coming into the village. Hamish is aghast and disgusted when Strathbane Television sends
BBC
reporter Crystal French into Lochdubh to do a show about a Highland Village. Crystal is more
interested in getting scandals individual crofters want to hide than in doing an informative show.
She
gets a lot of people riled up and the next thing Hamish realizes is that she's shot to death in an
isolated part of the village. Her replacement is also shot and Hamish has to find out who killed
whom while fighting off the advances a woman who wants a relationship with him. M.C. Beaton
paints a quite a picture of village life in the Highlands of Scotland due to her characters feeling so
real. This enables the reader to picture the lifestyle of the locals. Her protagonist is an interesting
person, who prefers being the local constable to join and preferring the sedate pace and the
wholesome virtues of village life rather than join New Scotland Yard. Death Of A Celebrity is a
wonderful police procedural story that makes reading fun.
The Children Of Cthulhu
John Pelan and Benjamin Adams
Del Rey
Jan 2002, $23.95, 480 pp., ISBN: 0345449266
The Children Of Cthulhu is an engaging horror anthology written by many of the more popular
genre authors of the last decade. The twenty-three contributors provide entertaining tales that
would
not turn HP Lovecraft over in his grave as many Cthulu "experts" do. However, though the
stories
engage the audience and are fun to read, they don't feel like a visit to that weird Lovecraft
mythverse. As an aside to the editors: "if it ain't broke", cost it anyway because you still may find
a
bigger payback. This short story collection provides a big payback to horror fans, but Lovecraft
fanatics will feel another let down as the original remains undisputedly the best even after seven
decades of "fixing it".
Vitals
Greg Bear
Del Rey
Jan 2002, $24.95, 336 pp., ISBN: 0345435281
Brilliant biochemist Hal Cousins conducts research on bacteria living on the ocean floor that if
proves fruitful will be the Fountain of Youth as immortality would be the norm. However,
someone
does not want Hal's work to reach fruition and actually one of the team tries to kill him. Others
are
also murdered and Hal comes under suspicion of the homicides that include his twin brother, Rob.
Hal soon learns that under Stalin's rule, Soviet microbiologist Maxim Golokhov discovered how
to
use bacteria to control human behavior. His program, Silk clandestinely came to the United States
to
set in motion a plan for world domination. As Hal uncovers more of the truth, he wonders if he is
paranoid as he sees Silk operatives in everyone including his brother's widow and wonders why
Silk
wants to stop him from developing the immortality elixir? Vitals is a powerful science fiction
thriller
that never slows down whether the tale is in a bathysphere on the ocean floor or in a lab. The
story
line is fast-paced, seems credible, and is loaded with action though the climax leaves some threads
dangling perhaps for a sequel. As he did with Darwin's Radio, Greg Bear stirs up the biological
paranoia that seems part of living in this century.
Charlotte Moore
Judith Bowen
Harlequin SuperRomance
Dec 2001, $4.99, 297 pp., ISBN: 0373710267
At last April's Jasper Park Lodge reunion, a challenge surfaced to learn what happened to your
first
crush. More like Lydia Lane than Zoey Phillips, Charlotte More finds the idea intriguing. She
remembers being in a Toronto fifth grade class pining with love for high school student Liam
Connery, who did not know she existed. On a business trip to Prince Edwards Island, Charlotte
sees
Liam. However, he is nothing like her dreams and memories portray him, as he acts very dark,
remote, and misanthropic except with his dogs. Charlotte finds herself still attracted to her first
love
even if he acts distant towards her. As she begins to break down his barriers and fall in adult love,
Liam cannot commit to the forever that Charlotte needs from him. Judith Bowen's second
"Girlfriends" novel feels more like a modern day gothic romance as opposed to the contemporary
tale of its predecessor (see Zoey Phillips). The lead couple is an interesting pair struggling with
deep
feelings Liam does not want. Prince Edwards Island makes for a unique Canadian locale. After
reading Charlotte Moore, fans will anxiously await next month's Lydia Lane tale.
Child Of His Heart
Joan Kilby
Harlequin Super Romance
Dec 2001, $4.99, 299 pp., ISBN: 0373710305
After a two-year engagement, Erin Hanson breaks up with her boyfriend when he once again
delays
their wedding. More important to Erin than a breakup with her boyfriend is the need for someone
to
stay with beloved her Gran who suffered a mild heart attack. Erin quits her job as a loan manager
in
Seattle to return to her home in Hainesville to stay with her beloved Gran. Worried about the
behavior of his twelve year old going on adulthood daughter Miranda, Nick Dalton leaves the Los
Angeles fire department to accept a job in Hainesville, Washington. There Nick and Erin meet and
both feel the attraction between them. As they become better acquainted, Erin learns she is
pregnant
carrying her former fiancee's child. Nick feels d‚j… vu has struck him because he doubts that he
sired
Miranda. Though he loves Erin, Nick struggles to cope with fathering someone else's child. The
story line of Child Of His Heart is an engaging relationship drama that plays out on several levels
besides the obvious one between the lead couple. Though the plot over emphasizes small town
living
at the expense of urban dwelling, the characters are likable (with one exception), charming, and
seem authentic. That critical genuine spin turns Joan Kilby's multi- layered relationship drama into
an
entertaining reading experience.
A Man For Maggie More
Kristine Rolofson
Harlequin Temptation
Dec 2001, $3.99, 218 pp., ISBN: 0373259581
Though the Bliss, Montana annual matchmaking festival is successfully over, The Hearts Club has
one last request to handle. Eight years old Georgianna Moore wants a new daddy for her and her
younger siblings. Precocious Georgianna believes single rancher Gabe O'Connor with a child of
his
own, is the perfect individual for the job. After success with finding A Wife For Owen Chase and
A
Bride For Calder Brown, the matchmakers set their sights on pairing Gabe and Georgianna's
mom,
Maggie. However, this time the Bliss sisters and associates have their work cut out for them in
spite
of the assistance of the children of their prime targets. For this duet, though clearly attracted to
each
other, the past looms in the way of the present and definitely the future. As with the previous two
Montana Matchmakers' novels, A Man For Maggie Moore is a very jocular tale. Gabe and
Maggie
are a likable pair and the interfering geriatric Heart's Club provides amusement and insight into the
lead couple. The return of the Chases and Browns add a homecoming feel to the delightful plot.
However, with all the humor and romance, the tale is stolen by that apprentice matchmaker
Georgianna, whose story fifteen years into the future should be the start of the Montana
Matchmakers, The Next Generation.
Trouble In Texas
Eve Gaddy
Harlequin Super Romance
Dec 2001, $4.99, 298 pp., ISBN: 0373710313
Fish and Wildlife Service Agent Mark Kincaid is on injury compensation leave while recovering
from gunshot wounds incurred during an undercover assignment. To recuperate and remain
occupied, Mark journeys to Arsanas City, Texas where he plans to renovate the house he
inherited
from his uncle. Early one morning he hears birds chirping and looks out his window to see Cat
Randolph setting up an aviary. To their mutual shocks Mark and Cat are attracted to one another.
However, he plans to sell the house and leave as soon as he heals so he tries to keep away from
her.
Failing to avoid Cat, they fall in love. However, he quickly connects the case that left him injured
to
an illegal bird smuggling ring here in town with his beloved's sibling as the prime suspect. Readers
will find no trouble enjoying Eve Gaddy's latest romantic suspense thriller though the topic of
illegal
animal trafficking brings vividly to mind the abusive methods used by smugglers though the
author
treads lightly. The audience will definitely feel empathy and support the efforts to stop this ugly
practice. The story line lures the reader into its' web from the first sentence due to the warmth and
dedication of Mark and Cat. His dilemma between his love for Cat and his duty to catch the
smugglers adds passion to the lead male protagonist. Even with the nasty but important
underlying
theme, sub-genre fans will enjoy Trouble In Texas and rejoice in knowing that Ms. Gaddy has
other
Brothers Kincaid stories to tell.
The Prisoner Bride
Susan Spencer Paul
Harlequin Historical
Dec 2001, $4.99 ISBN: 0373291876
Lady Glenys Spencer works hard at keeping her eccentric but harmless relatives safe, especially
those who would enjoy a witch hunt. When the family resides in Wales, no one gives them a
second
thought, but the six months every year in London can be dangerous. Though she prefers her
extended family remain at home when Glenys goes to London to manage the vast family finances,
they all insist on accompanying her. On this trip to the bank, her relatives provide her with strange
items that include a warmer cloak than she planned on wearing and several magical items to
protect
her on her quest. Though thinking they are kind, benign, but a bit out of their minds, she appeases
the brood by accepting everything. However, Glenys will soon be thanking her family as Kiernan
Fitzallen kidnaps her. Kiernan does the crime when he learns the identity of Glenys' brother, a
powerful knight. He escorts Glenys to his employer, Sir Anton Legasse, who plans to marry The
Prisoner Bride. However, neither Kiernan nor Anton counted on love blossoming between the
abductor and the abductee. The Prisoner Bride is a magical fifteenth century romance that
historical
romance readers will find quite charming. The story line is exciting as the lead couple battles one
another even as they fall in love with each other. The secondary cast adds villainy or amusingly
loving eccentricity that provides a uniqueness to Susan Spencer Paul's sixth and final "Bride" tale.
On a positive note for the audience is that descendants of some of the ensemble will star in a
future
Regency-based series.
Duets 64
Bonnie Tucker & Jennifer LaBrecque
Harlequin
Nov 2001, $5.99, 376 pp., ISBN: 0373441304
"A Rosey Little Christmas" by Bonnie Tucker. In Pegleg, Texas, local tax collectors embezzling
cash is a tradition. However, Rosey O'Leary and Daniel Sullivan soon learn how far tradition goes
when they find out they are paying taxes on the same property. Both claim ownership, but Rosey
loves Mandelay while Dan pictures tearing it down and replacing it with the American dream
home.
When Rosey meets Dan, the legal fight competes with the growing attraction between the two
individuals who should have been antagonists. Ignoring the underlying premise in an age of
web-based data bases will lead readers to an entertaining gender battle that is fought between the
lead characters and within each one's soul. ...."Jingle Bell Bride" by Jennifer LaBrecque. Delia
"Dilly" Fitzgerald jilts her fianc‚ Richard Barr with less than ten minutes before she walks down
the
aisle when she learns her daddy traded his prize bull's semen for this marriage. A crying Dilly asks
her limousine driver, Mick MacDougal, substituting for his brother whose wife went into labor, to
take her away from this farce. Surprisingly, the surrogate driver and the runaway bride are
attracted
to one another, but what will happen when she learns he is a rancher who could use bull semen?
This
tale is an amusing often-wacky romantic romp that will leave readers thinking they read a dilly of
a
story.
Once An Outlaw
Jill Gregory
Dell Books
Dec 2001, $6.50, 355 pp., ISBN: 0440235499
Emily Spoon feels Forlorn Valley, Colorado is the perfect place for her and her family to start
over.
However, Sheriff Clint Barclay has spent much of his law enforcement life jailing the Spoon gang
and feels that Emily is just a chip off the old block. He rejects her insistence that the family is
going
straight, firmly believing that outlaws never change their spots. At a town social, Clint is unable to
stop himself from kissing Emily. Though both are shaken by their respective reactions, Emily
knows
she must find a way to prove to Clint that the family's outlawing days is over. As Clint and Emily
fall
in love, evidence surfaces that seems to lead to the conclusion THAT the Spoon family is still
involved in illegal activities. The sheriff must choose between his duty and his heart unless new
evidence surfaces. The key to the well written Once An Outlaw is the depth of the characters,
especially the lead couple as readers can understand the growing feelings of love shadowed by
doubts and divided loyalties. The support cast, notably Emily's family, enables the audience to see
even deeper inside Clint and Emily hearts. The story line shows the strength of Jill Gregory as a
writer as she cleverly switches from amusing scenarios to situations filled with pathos that hook
fans
into seeking other western romances from this talented author.
Veiled Threats
Deborah Donnelly
Dell Books
Jan 2001, $6.99, 352 pp., ISBN 0440237033
Seattle based wedding event planner Carnegie Kincaid owns the Elegant Weddings with an
Original
Flair firm. She has poured all her money into her business and lives in a houseboat to cut costs.
Her
company is starting to obtain decent customers with the bridesmaid of her latest wedding to be
her
next bride. Nickie Parry, the daughter of a high-powered businessman can hardly wait until her
time
comes. Nickie's dad Doug is a nervous wreck waiting for the big day. He once chaired the board
of
King County Savings but the bank failed and numerous rumors abound about security fraud.
Doug
receives threatening letters and phone calls warning him not to testify against his former boss,
Nickie's godfather, Keith Guthridge. When Carnegie is accused of gouging the cost of the
wedding
to the tune of thousands, she is asked to step down. Instead Nickie is kidnapped and the event
planner is called in to be the family spokesperson. Carnegie intends to do everything possible to
free
Nickie and see the perpetrators pay. Veiled Threats is a cerebral mystery that is similar to a two
thousand- piece puzzle. All the clues are there but it takes a very long time to put them together
so
the whole picture can be seen and understood. Deborah Donnelly is excellent at characterizations,
but readers will not know who are the villains until the author reveals their true colors. Ms
Donnelly
is a fresh face in the mystery genre.
The Temptress
Claire Delacroix
Dell Books
Dec 2001, $6.50, 376 pp., ISBN: 0440236401
In 1194, Bayard returns home from the Crusades, but worries over a pending attack on his family
holdings. His family scoffs at his warning, thinking he suffers from paranoia from post Crusader
battle syndrome. To keep his Montvieux safe, Bayard knows he must act alone. He decides a
marriage of convenience will provide the alliance needed so he accepts an invitation to participate
in
a contest of brawn and brains to win the grand prize of marriage with Esmeraude. The lovely
young
lady wants a marriage built on love and trust rather than on military and political needs. She sends
her wannabe husbands on a wild chase leaving clues and riddles for her suitors to decipher.
Ultimately Bayard finds a disguised damsel in distress and realizes he has found the ultimate
award
Esmeraude. Though attracted to her, he refuses to let his heart open up to her until a rival forces
Bayard to choose between a love of a lifetime or a political union. The Temptress is an exciting
vividly written medieval romance that take the audience along for a merry ride. The story line is
fun
and quite entertaining as Esmeraude (picture a twelfth century woman singing "You Don't Own
Me") uses her intelligence to implement her plan to marry for love only. As usual Claire Delacroix
proves how powerful the historical romance sub-genre can be when a grandmaster writes the
tale.
Secrets, Vol 7
Julia Wells, Jade Lawless, Kathryn Anne Dubois, and Angela Knight
Red Sage
Dec 2001, $12.99, ISBN: 0964894270
"Amelia's Innocence" by Julia Wells. To pay off his gambling debt, Fletcher gives his virginal
daughter Amelia to Captain Hawke. After the abusive blacksmith leaves, Hawke and Amelia
renegotiate. She remains his sailing companion for three days and he will insure she disembarks a
virgin. However, neither one realizes how long three days could be when heat and love enter their
relationship. "The Woman of his Dreams" by Jade Lawless. Bank employee Joanna dreams of a
warrior who heats her sheets. When her sister introduces her to sculptor Gray she is stunned
because
he is the incarnation of her dream lover. "Surrender" by Kathryn Anne Dubois. Duke Nicholas
promised his dying friend he would consider marriage to the latter's youngest daughter. Expecting
a
marriage of duty, Nicholas is elatedly stunned by the passion of Johanna, but how will he tell her
that
he loves her outside the boudoir too? "Kissing the Hunter" by Angela Knight. Logan despises
vampires ever since a night creature killed his wife. Having killed his spouse's murderer, Logan
sees
an opportunity to enact more vengeance, but the vamp Virginia is meant for one human
lover-Logan. All four tales are hot and passionate though they differ in sub-genre. Secrets, Vol 7
provides torrid sensuous tales of love.
Uncatalogued
Julie Kaewert
Bantam Books
Jan 2002, $16.99, 320 pp., ISBN 0 553-582205
Alex Plumtree, owner of Plumtree Publishing in England, is on his way to America to marry his
one
and only love Sarah Richardson in Nantucket. After a brief honeymoon, the couple plans to visit
to
Dartmouth College in New Hampshire to participate in the 1986 reunion. The honeymoon is
perfect
but what comes next has them fighting for their lives. Alex is a bibliophile who is an expert on
Samuel Pepyss the diarist. He isn't a hero with super power but in the past his love of literature
has
gotten him into adventures that could have gotten him killed. Both Sarah and Alex think this is
one
such adventure because Alex had a hint that there were more papers from the Pepyss diary hidden
in
Dartmouth. His friend Mattie, also an alumni of the class of '86, calls him in England to tell him
that
she has knowledge of the Pepyss paper. When they are in the area where the papers are supposed
to
be, Alex is beaten and tied up and is on the run from people who speak with British accents.
Uncatologued is a fantastic book lovers' mystery because the actions of the characters ring true.
The
teamwork of the honeymooners seems precise and hooks the audience while serving as an
indication
that Sarah might have a bigger role in future works. Julie Kaewert is a fabulous writer who
appeals
to both the American and British amateur sleuth audience.
The Husband Test
Betina Krahn
Bantam Books
Dec 2001, $6.50, 392 pp., ISBN: 0553583867
The Abbess of the Brides of Virtue Convent prays to God that she does not kill novice Sister
Eloise,
whose good intentions seems to always lead to hell. Following the latest Eloise debacle, the Earl
of
Whitmore, Peril arrives with armed men to announce he seeks a virtuous wife. The Abbess comes
up
with a devilish of a plan to have Eloise accompany the Earl back to his home in order to judge his
merit and piety as husband material for one of the wards. At his impoverished estate, Eloise
believes
she can make things right, but every suggestion is met with either opposition or is outright killed.
As
Eloise and Peril argue, the Abbess' prayers seem answered as they begin to fall in love. Still, will
she
give up her strategic goal of becoming an abbess in order to be the virtuous bride that overcomes
the
land's curse? The Husband Test is a very amusing medieval romance that throws away the
sub-genre's book by making Eloise such an average human being. The story line is humorous,
descriptive, and down right entertaining as the lead couple squabbles over everything including
love.
Best selling Betina Krahn shows her incredible skills with this top rate tale.
My Best Friend
Laura Wilson
Bantam Books
Jan 2002, $23.95,256 pp., ISBN: 0385335792
Gerald was one of those people who seem to always have a black cloud following him around.
His
mother, Marjorie Haldane a famous but high-strung writer of children's books, ignored her son
almost from the day he was born because he wasn't the perfect baby she wanted. When he was
about
twelve he found the dead body of his pregnant sixteen year old sister Vera in the woods near his
home. The police questioned Gerald before deciding the perpetrator was her boyfriend. Later on
the
police questioned Gerald again because he was always showing up to see the schoolgirls play
soccer.
They never had enough evidence to formally charge him but he was always fearful of law
enforcement from that experience. Now in his middle age Gerald lives a quiet life and the only real
social contact he has is with his landlady. His co-worker Jo thinks he's an odd duck. When her
boyfriend Ron tells her that twice before the police questioned Gerald in regards to young girls,
she
becomes concerned because her daughter Melanie tells her that a man answering to Gerald's
description has been following her around. When Melanie disappears, Ron, Jo and the police
immediately focus their attention on Gerald who's also vanished. This leads to the police alerting
an
angry public to be on the lookout for him, not realizing that someone working behind the scenes is
stirring the angry the crowd into a riotous mob. This is a superb work of psychological suspense
told
from the view points of three people, Gerald, Jo and Gerald's Aunt Lillie. British author Laura
Wilson imbues her novel with a Gothic feeling of foreboding so that the audience senses that
something terrible is going to happen at any moment. My Best Friend is a book well worth
reading.
Jane And The Prisoner Of Wool House
Stephanie Barron
Bantam Books
Dec 2001, $23.95, 291 pp., ISBN 0553107356
In 1807, Jane Austen and her mother live in the home of her brother Frank until their own
residence
can be made ready. Frank, a captain in the British Royal Navy, is without a ship at present but
might
get command of the Stella Maris. Frank wants his own command, but not at the cost of his good
friend captain Thomas Seagraves, who will have been hung after a court- martial for killing a
French
officer during a flag of truce. His lieutenant accuses Thomas of this crime. On the day of the court
martial, the lieutenant fails to show up. Soon word arrives at the hearing that he was found
murdered by a garrote. Thomas is arrested for the crime and awaits trial but instead Jane Austen,
influenced by her brother's opinion of the man decides to investigate and see if she can find
evidence
that will clear him. Stephanie Barron writes in a style similar to that of Jane Austen so that the
reader actually feels that they are reading a nineteenth century style cozy-amateur sleuth tale. The
intelligent Jane is so independent, she seems as if she would be more at home in the present
century
then she was in her own time. The heroine never quite crosses the line into scandal, but Jane is so
out of the box that she pushes the boundaries to the outer limit as a blue stocking. Jane And The
Prisoner Of Wool House is a fascinating mystery that relies on the readers sleuthing abilities to
find
out who the perpetrator really is.
Lord Of A Thousand Nights
Madeline Hunter
Bantam Books
Dec 2001, $6.50, 384 pp., ISBN: 0553583867
In 1357 on the Scottish border, widow Lady Reyna Graham concocts a dangerous but necessary
plan to try to save her people. The siege led by English mercenary Ian Guilford and his ally
Morvan
Fitzwaryn (star of The Protector) is working so well that it jeopardizes her clan. Reyna dresses up
as
a courtesan to gain access to her enemy's camp so that she can kill Ian, known for his military and
boudoir prowess as the Lord Of A Thousand Nights. However, Ian is not anything like Reyna's
deceased much older spouse Robert and so she underestimates his intelligence while her efforts to
protect her people intrigues him. However, he learns that her past is an enigma as rumors abound
that she killed Robert. As Reyna and Ian bond in love, someone plans a different unhappy ending
for
this duo. Madeline Hunter continues to provide reader with some of the best medieval romances
on
the market today. Her latest tale, Lord Of A Thousand Nights, is a strong story containing two
deep
characters agonizing between love and responsibility. The story line contains much of the
elements
found in most sub-genre tales, but several twists and turns keep the reader guessing as to what
happens next and who Reyna really is. The return of characters from the Hunter pantheon of
novels
provide a myth like depth that proves once again that when it comes to fourteenth century
romance,
readers should hunt down novels by this wonderfully skilled writer.
Fool's Errand
Robin Hobb
Bantam Books
Jan 2001, $24.95, 496 pp., ISBN: 0553801481
Fifteen years ago, FitzChivalry Farseer used all his unwanted powers including telepathy and the
dirty magic of Wit that allowed mental ties with beasts to save the Six Duchies (see the fantastic
Farseer Assassins trilogy). A reluctant hero, FitzChivalry handled his abilities and his success by
fleeing into the countryside in a self imposed exiled retirement even though he was only twenty at
the time. Most of his friends and associates thought FitzChivalry died during The Assassin's
Quest.
However, top assassin Chade Fallstar visits FitzChivalry to enlist his help in finding the missing
Prince Dutiful, heir to the Farseer throne. Dutiful is to shortly marry and if he fails to appear at the
ceremony, the damage between the Six Duchies could lead to war. Chade believes only his former
student FitzChivalry has any chance of finding the vanished royal. Though disinclined to do so,
FitzChivalry begins a new quest. If you are a fan of fantasy and have not read Robin Hobb, you
are
missing one of the greats, as the Farseer Assassins trilogy that is as good as the genre provides.
Ms.
Hobb's latest tremendous tale brilliantly combines an epic adventure with day to day living so that
the audience believes that the hero is performing magical and daring deeds. FitzChivalry remains a
wonderful character who has matured from the youthful optimist into a middle age recluse.
Several
other players return, but the audience does not need to go back to the previous series as this novel
is
a stand alone book. As the returning Fool would believe that only a fool would miss Fool's Errand
and any subsequent adventures.
Hard Feelings
Jason Starr
Vintage Books
Jan 2002, $12.00, 256 pp., ISBN: 0375727094
When he worked at Network Strategies, he was the firm's top salesperson, receiving the esteem
and
kudos of his peers and management. Richie Segal regrets moving to Midtown Consulting because
he
has failed to make a sale in his seven months at his new firm and his boss is on his case to produce
or
else. Adding to his feelings of inadequacy is that his wife just received a promotion and a raise,
earning $10,000 more than Richie earns. The worst thing to happen to Richie is running across
high-powered attorney Michael Rudnick. When Michael was twelve, he molested then ten years
old
Richie. Now all his repressed memories surface and unable to cope with them, Richie takes an
action
that could jeopardize all he holds dear in life. Hard Feelings is a fine urban noir thriller that stars a
fascinating protagonist. Readers will understand his motives and even empathize with his deep
feelings, but deplore his decisions and actions. Jason Starr creates a riveting tale that enthralls the
audience with insights into a battered human psyche's struggle to survive. A novel worth reading
at
any price.
Dialogues Of The Dead
Reginald Hill
Delacorte
Jan 2002, $23.95, 424 pp., ISBN: 0385336004
Mid Yorkshire County Library and the local newspaper Mid Yorkshire Gazette jointly host a
literary
contest. Two librarians Dick Dee and Rye Pomona sift through the myriad of entries in order to
reduce the number for the final judging. Dick finds a strange entry "First Dialogue" that mirrors a
murder just reported in the paper, but the submission provides more detail. Not long afterward,
Rye
reads the "Second Dialogue", which also reflects with greater details the killing reported in the
paper. Rye brings both entries to the attention of law enforcement official Hat Bowler, who raises
them to his superior, but they mean little at this time. The "Third Dialogue finally hits home to the
police that there is a link between a serial killer and the literary contest contributions by a person
dubbed as the "Wordman" by the librarians. Police officials Andrew Dalziel and Peter Pascoe have
their work cut out for them in trying to understand the literary clues of a paronomania murderer.
Dialogues Of The Dead proves that Reginald Hill deserves the numerous awards he has earned
for
his strong police procedurals. His latest British psychological suspense tale contains an exciting
story
line that never slows down until the final twist reveals the identity of the "Wordman", who is
actually
in plain sight, but impossible to finger. The key police characters remain fresh as if this is their first
investigation instead of the newest tale in what is one of the best series of the last decade.
Peaches And Screams
G.A. Mckevett
Kensington
Jan 2002, $22.00, 256 pp., ISBN 1575667118
With a lush for a mother and a trucker for a father who was on the road more then he was home,
Savannah Reid and her maternal grandmother raised the eight younger Reids. As soon as the last
one was grown, Savannah moved from the backwater town of McGill in southern Georgia to San
Carmelita, California where she joined the police force. After a few years, the feisty woman left
the
department and opened her own one-woman private detective agency. Since business is slow,
Savannah finds time to travel back to her hometown to be a bridesmaid for her sister Marietta
who is
getting married for the third time. On the day she arrives, her younger brother Macon is charged
with killing the honorable Judge Patterson, a power in the county. Now while Savannah knows
her
brother is a thief and a liar, she also believes he is no killer. With some friends who fly in from
California, Savannah leads an investigation where there are more suspects than mourners for the
late
departed judge. G.A. McKevett has written another fine Savannah Reid mystery only this time the
action takes place in the rural south instead of California. Readers receive an up close and
personal
look at how a small southern town operates. The secondary cast is colorful and eccentric, good
for a
few chuckles to relieve the rising tension as Savannah closes in on the perpetrator. Peaches And
Screams is a delightful regional mystery.
Paint It Black
P.J. Parrish
Kensington
Jan 2002, $6.99, 416 pp., ISBN: 0786014199
At twenty-six, his police days seem over so when his former boss in Mississippi Sam Dodie calls
to
offer him some private work, Louis Kincaid leaves his current home in Michigan for Sereno Bay
in
the Florida Gold Coast. Sam introduces Louis to attorney Scott Beldsoe who wants the former
cop
to investigate who killed Walter Tatum, the husband of his client. The local police believe Walter's
wife Roberta and her missing brother Levon Baylis committed the murder that looks like a crime
of
passion. Louis immediately realizes that his black skin got him the job because the white lawyer
needs someone to communicate with his difficult black client. A second similar murder of a black
man, Anthony Quick, soon occurs. As Louis works closely with Police Chief Wainright, a deadly
pattern of a nasty serial killer surfaces, one who must be stopped if the carnage is to end. Paint It
Black is an exciting private sleuth tale that actually reads more like a police procedural because of
Louis's background and his cooperative alliance with Wainright. The story line is fast-paced and
loaded with non-stop action. Louis is an engaging lead character and the support cast augments
the
plot by allowing the audience to see the star in different relationships. PJ Parrish has crafted a
tense
serial killer thriller that sub-genre fans will appreciate and they will want to read Kincaid's
previous
novel Dark Of The Moon.
A Clean Kill
Mike Stewart
Putnam
Jan 2002, $24.95, 288 pp., ISBN 0399148943
Kate Baneberry, tired after a long day of jury duty, only wants to get home, eat and go to bed.
She
manages to convince herself that nobody is in the house with her after hearing strange noises. The
next day she is taken to the hospital suffering from symptoms of food poisoning and with
treatment
she seems to be on the road to recovery until she suffers an unexpected fatal heart attack. Kate's
daughter Sheri hires Alabama attorney Tom McInnes to investigate why her mother died when
she
showed signs of a full recovery. Once Tom takes the case his life changes dramatically. He's
followed everywhere he goes by very dangerous looking men, an arrest warrant is issued with his
name on it and he attends a bar hearing to see if he's still able to practice law. All his problems will
go away if he just drops the case but Tom is a crusader who won't rest until justice is served. Fans
of
John Grisham's The Firm will find this novel even more exciting and stimulating because it doesn't
look like the hero is going to obtain justice for his client or himself. Mike Stewart is a natural born
storyteller as evidenced by his work A Clean Kill that keeps readers turning the pages to see what
happens next.
Smoke In Mirrors
Jayne Ann Krentz
Putnam
Jan 2002, $23.95, 336 pp., ISBN: 0399147926
The once beautiful and vibrant Meredith Spooner is dead and her closest confidant Leonora
Hutton
cleans out the deceased's apartment when Thomas Walker arrives. He informs Leonora that
Meredith stole 1.5 million from the college alumni fund that his brother manages. Leonora tries to
ignore Thomas' threats to implicate her as an accomplice of Meredith if she fails to help him.
However, Meredith eerily contacts Leonora, informing her where the loot is, but that the
deceased
worried about something she learned. Leonora offers to return the cash if Thomas helps her
investigate Meredith's "accident". However, Leonora will soon hit the highest and lowest points
of
her life as she will find love at about the same time that someone tries to kill her. Jayne Ann
Krentz
has written a fine romantic suspense novel starring two quirky lead characters that endear
themselves to the audience. The fast- paced action works because the secondary cast adds the
needed depth to turn this multi-faceted story line into a realistic endeavor. Smoke In Mirror is Ms.
Krentz at her most romantic and suspenseful best.
No Place Like Home
Barbara Samuel
Ballantine
Jan 2002, $23.95, 320 pp., ISBN: 0345445651
As a teen over two decades ago, Jewel Sabatino fled her Pueblo, Colorado home never looking
back
over the years. However, the Greenwich Village resident knows that it is time to go home. So
Jewel,
her teenage son Shane, and her dying best friend Michael Shaunessey return to her hometown not
sure of the welcome she will receive. In Pueblo, Jewel is back in the fold of her Italian family
except
for her unforgiving father, who has not spoken to her in all this time. He refuses to welcome back
his
daughter. The rest of the family opens their arms to Jewel and her entourage. Michael's brother
Malachi arrives to help his sibling through his final days. However, as death is in the air, renewal
is
too as Malachi and Jewel begin to fall in love, but will then family crisis keep a relationship from
fully forming between them? No Place Like Home is an insightful relationship drama that plays
out
on several stages. The key cast is a warm ensemble though they seem stiff at times, but the story
line
belongs to the lead protagonist. Jewel feels like sandwich meat trapped between the two
generations
that surround her as well as trying to come to grips with her different types of love for the
Shaunessey siblings. Barbara Samuel shows that with love you can go home even if much has
changed in the interim.
Madame Marina Karitska lives in a shabby brownstone in a rundown neighborhood of Trafton. In
her window lies the sign "Madame Karitska, Readings", which on first look will mean to solicit
readings like any con artist, but on first meeting her client will know that Madame Karitska is
legitimate as she contains psychic powers such as clairvoyance and psychometry. Her readings are
so good that even the Trafton police can be counted on as one of her clients when a case stumps
them. Detective Luden Pruden is her biggest fan even using her in one week to help him catch
two
killers and a bank robber, and break up a cult. She also tries to help her walk-in and regular clients
with their needs. This is the first new Madame Karitska novel in over a quarter of a century and
the
lovable psychic remains as fresh as she did when she first appeared in a Dorothy Gilman novel.
Kaleidoscope reads like a series of vignettes with the heroine starring as the glue that keeps the
book
coherent. Ms. Gilman needs to realize fans like this reviewer are too old to wait the same time
span
for the next tale starring the delightful Madame Karitska.
The Day Trader
Stephen Frey
Ballantine
Jan 2002, $24.95, 352 pp., ISBN: 0345443241
In Northern Virginia, Russell Lake informs employee Augustus McKnight that he monitors
computer usage and is well aware of the latter's personal day trading over company equipment.
Russell informs Augustus that he expects to be handed over half the earnings of last night's
investment or be fired from his job analyzing paper product sales in Maryland supermarkets. Not
long afterward, Russell's wife Mel informs him she wants a divorce as she has found someone
else,
her boss Frank Taylor. He injures her wrist and she scratches his neck. Augustus makes a
nine-fold
profit from his one day ten thousand dollar investment. However, the murder of Mel leaves
Russell
wealthy as the beneficiary of her million-dollar life insurance policy and enables him to become a
full
time day trader. At night, Augustus looks into Mel's violent death and uncovers a shocker that his
wife worked at a mob operated strip joint. As he gets closer to the truth, Augustus may have
placed
himself in danger. The Day Trader is an exciting amateur sleuth novel that is not a financial thriller
as
the tale only uses day trading in a minor side role. The story line jumps from scene to scene so
that
the audience never quite gets its footing fully into the plot, yet readers will continue on because of
the non-stop action. Stephen Frey provides an exhilarating murder mystery for those readers who
delight in hopping from one action scenario to anther.
A Sensitive Kind Of Murder
Jacqueline Girdner
Berkley Books
Jan 2002, $5.99, 272 pp., ISBN: 9425183157
Somehow Kate Jasper has meddled in eleven homicide investigations. Murder has become such a
way of life for Kate, the police and friends dub her as the "Typhoid Mary of Murder" and raise a
cross when she is nearby(just kidding). Her husband Wayne Caruso always worries when his wife
becomes a murder investigation participant. So no one including Wayne is surprised when she
comes
to pick him up at a sensitivity meeting sponsored by the Heartline Men's Club and they witness a
deliberate hit and run killing of group member Steve Summers. The deceased left behind a wife
Laura, a member of the state assembly. Surprisingly, Wayne wants Kate, leading his Men's Club
members, to hunt down the perpetrator. Another member is killed and Kate barely saves the life
of
her husband. Now the investigation is personal, but the suspects are numerous while the clues are
few. A Sensitive Kind Of Murder is the twelfth but final Kate Jasper mystery though the author
will
start a new series next year. This tale is one of the best of a strong series as no one can positively
identify the killer until the final chapter. Ms. Girdner completes her delightful Jasper novels in
triumph, but hopefully this is one of those cases of never say never as amateur sleuth fans will
want
at least a baker's dozen.
The Ironclad Alibi
Michael Kilian
Berkley Books
Jan 2002, $22.95, 320 pp., ISBN 0425183254
Harrison Raines was the son of a powerful and rich plantation owner in Virginia. He was the
second
son who wanted for nothing and was secure in his family's love. Unfortunately for Raines, he
could
not close his eyes to the evils of slavery and when he was twenty-one he freed the slave his father
gave him as a birthday present. Harrison left the family home and moved, with his freed slave
Caesar
Augustus to a remote farmhouse in Northern Virginia. When the War Between the States broke
out,
Harrison declared for the Union. He became a spy for Pinkerton and the U.S. Treasury. His latest
assignment is to travel to Virginia and find out if the ironclad ship the CSS Virginia (formerly
known
as the Merrimack) is any real threat to the federal government. However, once he gets there, he
spends more time trying to keep Caesar Augustus from hanging than he does trying to infiltrate
the
circle of people who know about the CSS Virginia. The Ironclad Alibi will appeal to fans of
history
and espionage novels. The protagonist is the type of spy who messes up almost as much as he
succeeds in his mission. This makes him fun to read about. Michael Kilian is a meticulous
researcher
who make the early years of the Civil War come alive for anyone reading his books.
The Spiral Path
Mary Jo Putney
Berkley Books
Jan 2002 $7.50, 368 pp., ISBN: 0425183017
Kenzie Marlow is a great British actor who is a top Hollywood moneymaker. Though he loves
her,
he is allowing his wife Raine Scott, a highly regarded actress, to divorce him, after she caught him
in
bed with a co-star. He also hides his ugly past from her. While not quite as reticent, she too hid
much of her childhood from him. Raine visits Kenzie to ask him to star in the movie she will soon
direct based on a Victorian novel "The Centurion". He would star as John Randall who falls in
love,
fights one last campaign overseas, but is captured by his enemy. He comes home broken, but
considered a hero. Kenzie recognizes too much of himself in the character but cannot help but
agree
to do the movie for his beloved Raine. During the shooting that tortures Kenzie, their love still
shines but proves not enough for them to reconcile. However, when the tabloids reveal Kenzie's
past, will Raine stay by his side to help him heal so love can blossom between them once again?
The
Spiral Path is an extremely emotional tale starring a scarred hero filled with angst and a
devastating
childhood that dominates the tale though Raine too has family problems too. The use of
flashbacks
to portray the events of four years ago slows down the engaging plot. Still most readers will agree
that Mary Jo Putney provides a deep character study relationship drama that grips the hearts of
the
audience from start to finish.
The Clerk's Tale
Margaret Frazer
Berkley Books
Jan 2002, $22.95, 320 pp., ISBN 0425183246
It is a comparative mild January day in 1446 England. However, Dame Frevisse has a mixed
blessing
about the weather, as she must leave her home in the St. Frideswide's Priory. Travel is awful
because
the roads are muddy and slick. She and her prioress, Sister Domina Elisabeth are going to see her
dying cousin at St. Mary's Priory. Once they arrive, they find no room for them even though they
were expected. A murder has been committed and people are gathering for the inquest. They find
out the victim is her old nemeses Morys Montfort who had come to Goring to settle an
inheritance
dispute. Although Frevisse never liked the victim, she felt it was up to God to bring him to justice
not man. When Morys' son asks Frevisse to investigate she feels she has no choice but to agree.
As
she learns more about the inheritance dispute she becomes convinced that one of the many parties
involved is the killer. The only problem is how to prove who it is. Margaret Frazer is in top form
as
she write the eighth installment in the "Dame Frevisse Medieval Mystery" series. The heroine,
who
has chosen her true calling, feels closer to God than anyone and the audience responds to her
goodness and purity of soul. The Clerk's Tale is an excellent work for fans of historical mysteries
as
the tale is thoroughly researched and totally believable.
Ghost Of A Flea
James Sallis
Walker
Jan 2002, $23.95, 224 pp., ISBN: 0802733697
New Orleans street corner philosopher Lew Griffin knows first hand that life stinks. However,
though he expects the worst and life is hell, Lew surprisingly believes that to be human, at least in
his mind, means to keep on fighting regardless of what destiny tosses at you. A neighborhood
lunatic
is poisoning the local pigeons so Lew appoints himself as the savior of the park denizen. He
begins
to investigate his style, resulting in a cerebral evaluation of the murders so fowl. He also feels
strongly that he must protect his friend's daughter, an apparent victim of a stalker, and re-find his
son who has pulled another Houdini vanishing act. While being the self-proclaimed neighborhood
amateur sleuth and recovering from a stroke, Lew ultimately, in his meandering style, investigates
Lew. This is all in a days work for one who firmly concludes that Murphy is an optimistic idiot.
The
sixth and last Griffin tale, Ghost Of A Flea, is a fabulous ending to one of the weirdest but
delightful
series of the past decade. The wild but entertaining story line is all over the place, especially when
it
wanders through Lew's mind leaving those readers who enjoy a classic amateur sleuth needing to
go
elsewhere. Anyone who has kept up with James Sallis' books will want to read this novel to gain
closure. Those who have not read the previous books, will enjoy this strange tale, but will
probably
be better off perusing the previous novels first. Mr. Sallis' pulls off quite a heptagon with the
grand
finale answering many questions left from the previous five.
Mobtown
Jack Kelly
Hyperion
Jan 2002, $23.95, 288 pp., ISBN: 0786866152
In 1959 Rochester, New York private detective Ike Van Savage understands that the matrimonial
assignments pay the bills so he never refuses any of them. Currently his client wants evidence that
her husband Eddie Gill of Gill's Texas Hots & Ground Round is cheating. Ike takes photos of
Eddie
with an underage waitress that his wife can use to blackmail her philandering spouse. His next
client
Vicky Petrone wants Ike to find material on her husband that she plans to use to blackmail her
spouse into not murdering her. Vicky expects her spouse, local mob chieftain Joe, to kill her as he
has done to two previous wives. Ike also works on an arson case that he thinks ties back to the
Petrone mob if he can stay alive long enough to prove the link. Mobtown is an exciting historical
noir that never slows down as Ike bounces from case to case until he realizes all three are
connected.
The story line will remind readers of the movie Chinatown, but in upstate New York instead of
Southern California. Ike is a wonderful lead character whose precocious almost ten-year-old
daughter humanizes him so that he never becomes a caricature of Sam Spade. Fans of historical
urban noirs will relish a trip to Jack Kelly's hometown.
Color Of Justice
Gary Hardwick
Morrow
Jan 2002, $24.05,289 pp., ISBN 0688165141
Danny Cavanaugh is a white Irish police officer in Detroit who became assimilated into the black
culture when he was five years old and just one of three white children in the entire school. If one
were to close their eyes and listen to Danny talk, they would hear the voice of an African-
American
male. He is in a long-term relationship with a black woman and his partner on the force as well as
his
best friend is black. Danny doesn't have a prejudiced bone in his body but race suddenly becomes
an
issue with his girlfriend who attends law school and wants to hang around educated black people.
Race is also taking over his professional life. Somebody is carefully and methodically killing light
skinned blacks and the FBI profiler on the case thinks the perpetrator is a light skinned black man.
Danny has a whole load of suspects to draw upon but their killer is leaving no clues behind so the
police, including Danny work the street to apprehend the killer. On the surface Colors Of Justice
is a
well written, suspense thrilling police procedural, but in reality it is the dissection of an individual's
heart, a good person who made peace with his world until those closest to him challenged his
moral
beliefs. There never was and never will be again a hero quite like Danny Cavanaugh, a truly color
blind soul.
Someone To Watch Over Me
Jill Churchill
Morrow
Nov 2001, $24.00, 240 pp., ISBN: 0060199415
At one time siblings Robert and Lily were card-carrying members of the idle rich living off their
father's fortune. When the stock market crashed in 1929, the duo was left destitute as their father
committed suicide. Sadly neither has a skill to earn a decent living, upper class style that is.
However, a relative comes to the rescue by dying and leaving his vast estate to the brother and
sister
if they move into his mansion in Upstate New York and support themselves for the next ten years.
It
proves very difficult to find work in 1932, but neither sit idle. Robert finds a body on the property
and is determined to find out who he was, especially since Lily's new friend Roxanne is believed to
have killed her husband though no corpse has been found. Lily knows her friend did not commit
any
homicide and decides to prove she is right. Is amateur sleuthing acceptable under the stipulations
of
their inheritance? The Brewsters do not care because they believe they must do the right thing
regardless. Jill Churchill has written a delightful historical cozy that captures much of the
ambiance
of America's Great Depression. The bewitching Brewsters brood is adjusting to a radical lifestyle
change while trying to help a neighbor. Someone To Watch Over Me is enjoyable as the
characters
are engaging, the plot strong and vibrant, and the mystery cleverly executed.
Another Summer
Georgia Bockoven
Harper
Dec 2001, $6.99, 400 pp., ISBN: 0380818655
The Beach House has always been a place for relationships with some ending in love while others
in
broken hearts. The current owners should sell the California place since they live across the
continent, but Julia cannot bring herself to do so. Instead she and Eric rent the place from May
through August to various people. May. Back in high school twenty years ago, Andrew Wells
broke
Cheryl Cunningham's heart. Now he desperately wants a second chance with the woman he
always
has loved, but can Cheryl trust him not to break her heart again? June. Marine biologist Matt
Landy
provides a talk attended by attorney Kelly Anderson, who looks for an edge in an upcoming court
case involving the scientist. However, her attraction to Matt leaves Kelly wondering if her
personal
feelings might cause a professional conflict of interest? July. The death of their child Angela
destroyed the Davis family's joy in life. Craig and Ann and their other child Jeremy desperately
need
healing, but unless a miracle occurs, the Davis relationship seems near an end. August. Cheryl
brings
three Oakland teenage girls with her when she returns to the house to join Andrew. If he accepts
her
charges and still wants the complete her after a month of inner city chaperones, Cheryl knows that
she and Andrew can share both their lives. Another Summer, the sequel to The Beach House, is a
warm anthology that fans of contemporary romances starring strong characters will enjoy. Each
story is fun to read, as the audience will appreciate Georgia Bockoven's fine work.
The Fifth Daughter
Elaine Coffman
Mira
Nov 2001, $6.99, 448 pp., ISBN: 1551668424
In 1795 England, the gypsy informed Lord Strathmore that his wife will soon give birth to a son.
He
is pleased that he will have a male progeny after siring four daughters. However, complications
occur and Strathmore must decide between the life of his beloved spouse and that of his yet
unborn
heir. Anguished, he chooses the baby, but the prophesy was slightly off as the newborn is female.
Strathmore blamed his fifth daughter Maresa for the death of his wife and had nothing to do with
her
over the years. Maresa ran wild, never quite learning how to become a lady. Only her neighbor
and
friend Percy Bronwell kept the scandals to a minimum, but he joined the navy when he realized
she
failed to return his love. Without his influence, Maresa's latest debacle leads to exile to Italy where
she promptly screws up with another unwanted betrothal. Percy offers Maresa a marriage of
convenience, which she accepts. However, when Percy's life is endangered, Maresa risks her life
for
the man she now knows that she loves with all her heart. The Fifth Daughter is a character-driven
Regency romance starring two enticing lead protagonists. Though the story line remains inside
sub-genre boundaries, readers will relish the tale because Maresa is a refreshing individual while
Percy is the type of hunk the audience wants in their lives. Elaine Coffman furnishes an engaging
historical romance that makes for a pleasant experience for readers.
Deadly Grace
Taylor Smith
Mira
Dec 2001, $22.95, 480 pp., ISBN: 1551668297
In 1979 Havenwood, Minnesota, a fire kills long time British expatriate Grace Meade. The police
believe her daughter Jillian killed her mother. FBI Special Agent Alex Cruz arrives from DC to
question Grace about the deaths of her mother and two other British women, who were
companions
of Grace in the World War II French Resistance. They both died following a visit from Jillian.
Alex's
interrogation results in his inability to obtain any useful information from a tacit Jillian locked
away
for her own protection after an attempted suicide. Alex soon learns that Jillian was researching her
mother's role in World War II and that is why she met with the now deceased women. He finds
her
journal of notes and uses that as a springboard to try to learn whether Jillian is a serial killer or
just
an easy mark of someone who wants the three plus decades of events in France to remain silent.
Deadly Grace is an engaging historical police procedural that fans who relish good detective work
will find inviting because the FBI agent and the prime suspect are strong interesting protagonists.
However, the tale hinges on the characterization of Grace, but she fails to come across as real,
hurting the overall plot. In spite of that, the story line is crisp and the climax quite surprising and
powerful so that sub-genre readers will enjoy Taylor Smith's latest work.
The Stolen Years
Fiona Hood-Stewart
Mira
Dec 2001, $5.99, 448 pp., ISBN: 1551668335
In 1917, fraternal twins Angus and Gavin MacLeod fight side by side in the trenches in France
when
a German grenade strikes their foxhole. A badly wounded Gavin turns to Angus for comfort, but
his
brother stands frozen a mindless victim of battle fatigue syndrome. Angus is transferred to a
medac
facility where he meets his brother's fianc‚ Flora Finley, a nurse. A guilt-stricken Angus informs
Flora that Gavin died on the battlefield. Not long afterward, Angus returns to Scotland to inform
his
family of his twin's death. Angus and Flora marry, but unbeknownst to both Gavin survives his
ordeal, loathing his brother for failing. Gavin goes to America without informing anyone he lives.
In
the 1930's, a wealthy Gavin works to undermine Hitler. However, revenge towards his sibling still
eats at his soul. When he sees Flora for the first in years, Gavin knows he still loves her. He also
worries that she or his family will recognize him though two decades have passed since everyone
believed he died and compromise his mission. The Stolen Years is a deep historical relationship
drama that hooks the audience from the start due to the divergent personalities of the MacLeod
twins. Though the novel spans most of the twentieth century and ends in the nineties, the tale
mostly
takes place from World War I to World War II with Gavin being the prime focus. The story line is
character-driven, but contains action to keep most readers satisfied. A relatively newcomer, Fiona
Hood-Stewart provides a strong soul searching novel.
North Of Clever
Suzann Ledbetter
Mira
Dec 2001, $5.99, 384 pp., ISBN: 1551668483
The geriatric residents and the staff of the Valhalla Springs Retirement Community in the Ozarks
as
well as the citizens of Sanity, Missouri are excited over the arrival of the circus. However, the
community manager Hannah Garvey turns into numbing shock when circus magician Reilly Boone
introduces himself claiming to be her long lost father. He knows a lot about Hannah, but her main
squeeze Sheriff David Henrickson thinks Reilly is pulling a sleight of the hand con. The situation
turns deadly when Reilly's wife and partner AnnaLeigh takes a bullet during a performance. Reilly
has the motive (beneficiary of a large life insurance policy), the means (their joint act that included
a
gun prop), the opportunity (during a performance), and a history (two previously dead wives).
Everyone except Hannah believes he killed his spouse. As Hannah sets out to prove her father
could
never commit murderer, her elderly charges don clown costumes to infiltrate the circus and keep
their beloved manager safe. North Of Clever, the third Hannah Garvey "sedate" Ozarks tale,
retains
the wonderful wackiness of the previous novels (see East Of Peculiar and South Of Sanity) due to
the endearing, but ultra-eccentric ensemble. Though the story line is a romantic amateur sleuth
tale,
the plot is much more humorous than it is a taut suspense thriller. The characters leave readers
laughing from one incident to another so that fans will impatiently await West of whatever and
hopefully other in-between "due" directions on the amusing compass of Sanity.
Violets Are Blue
James Patterson
Little, Brown
Nov 2001; $27.95; 393 pp., ISBN: 0316693235
The case is difficult enough for Washington DC police detective Alex Cross because the alleged
victim was a good friend. The case turns frightening for Alex when the brilliant but amoral
criminal
the Mastermind threatens Alex's children. Alex immediately leaves the crime scene to return
home,
but the Mastermind reminds the cop you can run, but you can't hide. Even while he panics over
the
safety of his children, FBI Agent Kyle Craig calls Alex while he dines with a special date.
Someone
killed two military joggers in Golden Gate Park in which bite marks are all over the victims, much
of
their blood was drained, and they were left hanging upside down from a tree. The case reads
identical to one that they failed to solve in DC fourteen months ago so Alex immediately flies to
San
Francisco. Joined by SFPD Jamilla Hughes, Alex begins to find clues that take the duo into a
deadly
role-playing underground. However, his children are irate that his work comes first especially with
the Mastermind stalking them like a tiger after its quarry. The "vampire" slayings make for a
clever
police procedural that takes the audience on a unique tour of the Bay area as well as other areas
of
the country. The Mastermind subplot seems to interfere with the other tale though it enables the
audience to observe a depressed and panicked Alex using work to escape his plight. In his latest
Cross thriller, Violets Are Blue, James Patterson keenly blends his hero's personal and
professional
lives as each aspect clash leaving the audience with another complete tale.
Kiss It Goodbye
John Wessel
Simon & Schuster
Jan 2002, $24.00, 336 pp., ISBN: 0684870630
On his wedding day to Beth Reinhardt, English Professor Charles Muller fails to show up for the
ceremony. Two of the guests Harding and his lover Alison try to console Beth. Harding, an
ex-con
who plays sleuth without a license, begins searching for Charles because Alison wants him to do
this
for her friend Beth. Harding quickly learns that the Chicago police seek to question the missing
Charles on two murder investigations that seem linked. Harding concludes that there is more to
this
case then just a frightened groom fleeing matrimony. He thinks the tie in goes back to the days
when
Charles and Alison were University of Chicago undergraduates living in the Grand Terrace dorm.
Now Harding worries that his beloved Alison may also be in peril. The third Harding tale, Kiss It
Goodbye, is suggestive of the hard boiled detective stories though the lead relationship feels more
romantic then the "death ecstasy" sexual edge of the previous books. The secondary cast is an
eccentric ensemble who keeps the plot running wild and making life quite complex for the hero.
Still
with a engaging story line, a fabulous cast, and a vivid Ferris Bueller style tour of Chicago,
Harding
owns John Wessel's novel as he brings most of the subplots together into a cohesive taut tale.
The Jazz Bird
Craig Holden
Simon & Schuster
Jan 2002, 320 pp., ISBN: 0743212967
In October 1927 in Cincinnati, bootlegger George Remus kills his beloved spouse Imogene,
known
by all as The Jazz Bird. Immediately following the homicide, George goes back to his specially
modified Packard, but his misunderstood rambling leads his driver to take him back to his home in
Eden Park. Afterward, a stupefied George grabs a cab and goes to the police station to turn
himself
in for killing his wife. Prosecutor Charlie Taft is assigned the case of a lifetime. Already in the
limelight due to the pedigree of his father, the only person to have served as president and
Supreme
Court chief justice, Charlie believes this case is his big break to the national game though the
culprit
copping a plea of insanity somewhat muddies the water. As Charlie begins to sift through the
evidence and gain a complete picture of George and Imogene, he wonders whether the former's
feelings of deep betrayal from a three-year-old incident led to a calculated homicide? The Jazz
Bird
is a legal thriller based on a real case. The engaging story line is exciting with the trial filled with
twists and the key characters (Mr. and Mrs. Remus and Taft) quite fascinating as readers see
beyond
their public masks to the real person. Along with fans of legal thrillers, the historical fiction (the
Jazz
era comes vividly alive) audience will agree that Craig Holden has written a fabulous novel that
requires time for a one sitting read.
The Seat Beside Me
Nancy Moser
Multnomah Books
Jan 2002, $10.99, 450 pp., ISBN 1575738841
It is a cold wintry day when the takeoff of a flight to Arizona is delayed due to the inclement
weather. While waiting on the tarmac, aisle mates become acquainted and though they do not
know
it yet, their lives will be changed by that encounter in ways to numerous to mention. Merry is on
the
way to Arizona to stay with her single girlfriend and is dismayed that her husband and daughter
are
in the seats next to her. George is going to Arizona to commit suicide; he meets Henry Smith, an
ordinary person who feels God has called him upon for a special mission. Arrogant plastic
surgeon
Anthony sits next to Belinde who sees him for the mean spirited creature he is. Sonja is climbing
the
corporate ladder and is on the airplane because she played a trick on a co-worker. Tina hates her
job
as a schoolteacher and sits next to a teenager who questions her about God. Before she can
answer,
the plane hits a bridge and falls into the water. All but six are dead and one of them gives up his
life
so the rest of them could live. The Seat Beside Me shows how each of the survivor copes with
their
survival and how the trauma changes them. They all try to find answers and all roads leads back
to
God who they feel saved them for a reason. The story is electrifying and the characters represent a
cross-section of the population. Nancy Moser writes a gripping tale that touches the heart of all
who
reads it.
Little Girl Blue
David Cray
Carroll & Graf
Jan 2002, $24.00, 320 pp., ISBN: 078670943X
The corpse of the preadolescent girl in wintry Central Park leaves its mark on all the law
enforcement officials who saw the blue colored dead body. The Assistant ME and the Manhattan
North Borough Commander simply want the culprit dead for such a vile act. Even NYPD
Lieutenant
Julia Brennan, normally a stoic ambitious cop, strongly reacts, but she knows she must contain her
feelings to thoroughly lead the investigation. Julia and her team begin to make inquiries that
quickly
lead to pornography mostly focused on child prostitution and a link with international adoption.
Obtaining the help of sex crimes expert Peter Foley, Julia personalizes this case in every possible
way in order to see that the culprit who did this heinous crime to Little Girl Blue faces justice.
Little
Girl Blue is a strong police procedural that allows the audience to follow Julia and her cohorts as
they dig deep into the underbelly of Manhattan to try to solve the crime. The exciting,
well-written
story line is a delight for sub-genre fans because the investigation is intelligently designed while
keeping the readers' attention. The psychological impact on Julia, who has a teen daughter, adds
depth though the author never allows his character's emotions to overwhelm her work. This
strong
tale will send readers investigating bookstores for previous works by Mr. Cray (see Bad
Lawyer).
Dying To Meet You
Amy Talford
Silver Dagger
Jan 2001, $13.95, 206 pp., ISBN 1570721963
Residents of Nashville fear a serial killer because the culprit leaves behind no trace of evidence.
He
has killed three young girls so far, strangling them, using the infamous Hangman' knot. He
removes
a body part from each woman, but none of the victims have anything in common. One of the dead
is
a senator's granddaughter and he uses his political clout to make sure the NPD works with a
member
of the Chasm Academy for Serial Homicide. Lori Patrick is an excellent profiler because she has
an
intuitive ability to get into the mind of a killer. She also carries a lot of baggage from these cases.
When she was a child a repeat offender killed her son and remains on the loose to this day. She
works with Detective Mike Mitchell, a man whose wife and son were murdered by a man who
was
never caught. Neither Mike nor Lori wants to pair up but they don't have a choice. They begin to
narrow down the possible suspects, but also become entangled personally. Dying To Meet You is
a
very well crafted romantic mystery with two protagonists who, despite their own opinions, make
a
very good team on and off the clock. Amy Talford is a creative writer with the ability to create so
many viable suspects that the reader doesn't know who the killer is until the last three pages. This
novel is the start of what appears will become a great police procedural series.
Wedding Of The Year
Victoria Malvey
Sonnet
Dec 2001, $6.50, ISBN: 0743418840
In 1830, Lady Elizabeth Everley feels right at home in a science lab, but place her amidst the gala
of
the Ton and the reticent aristocrat feels like a fish out of water though this is her second season.
To
make matters more heart wrenching, her sibling Catherine is the life of the party. Based on their
personalities, no one would believe these are sisters. Marquess John Vernon looks forward to
leaving his responsibilities (that he inherited as a young man when his father died) behind to see
the
world. On the other hand, his brother, Richard, who was once quite a rake, wants to overcome his
reputation through hard work and by marrying the right woman. When John, Richard, Elizabeth,
and
Catherine meet, attraction seems everywhere. However, Richard's secret if revealed will bring
scandal and destroy any happiness the foursome might attain once they filter out which brother
and
sister belong together. Wedding Of The Year is an amusing historical romance starring four warm
distinctively different lead characters. The support cast adds mirth with their matchmaking efforts.
Though a "special" ghost adds little except for a bit of extra hilarity, Victoria Malvey provides her
audience with a humorous tale with a pinch of suspense to round out this wonderful tale.
My Lady Wayward
Linda Lael Miller
Sonnet
Dec 2001, $6.99, ISBN: 0671537881
The mummer finds the severely injured knight, Gresham Sedgewick lying unconscious near his
hurt
but awake squire. The mummer takes Gresham to the nearby St. Swithin's Abbey where the nuns
can nurse him back to health even as his frightened squire flees. Siblings, Meg and Elizabeth
Redclift, are the first to see the still comatose Gresham lie very still just outside the abbey. Meg
decides she must tend to the man's injuries, but when he finally regains cognizance he has no idea
of
his identity or who attacked him due to amnesia. However, the tiny tidbits that flash in his mind
tells
Gresham he has lived a violent life. As he and Meg begin to fall in love, he feels unworthy of his
cherished soul mate because of the possible atrocities he might have conducted. Still, the duo goes
on a quest to help him find his past and to insure her other sister Gabriella is safe even as the
plague
sweeps the land making travel hazardous. My Lady Wayward will invigorate those medieval
romance fans who want a deep enriching flavor of the times throughout their plot. The story line
is
at its majestic best when Meg and Gresham encounter various people on their journey. When
Gresham turns introspective the audience has a dual edged sword to deal with as he becomes
more
understandable yet he slows down the plot. Linda Lael Miller has written an appealing historical
romance that the audience will appreciate for its sonorous texture.
The Blooding Of The Guns
Alexander Fullerton
Soho Press
Nov 2001, $24.00, 286 pp., ISBN: 1569472599
On May 30, 1916, the biggest naval battle of World War I occurred as the English fleet of 150
ships
containing sixty thousand sailors fought the German armada of 100 vessels with forty-five
thousand
on board. Unlike the soldiers fighting in the continental trenches, most of those in this Battle of
Jutland taste war for the first time. On the British destroyer Lanyard, sub-lieutenant Nick Everard,
a
younger member of a highly regarded naval family, looks forward to a chance to make a name for
himself. For his own peace of mind, Nick needs to attain the illustrious levels of his father, uncle,
and older brother. So far his naval career has been one of flop and punishment, but he will soon
learn
how well he reacts under extreme pressure. The Blooding Of The Guns is a reprint of the first
Everard Naval story from the late seventies. Though the story line is rich with historical and naval
information, the tale lacks the blood, sweat, and guts needed of a war novel even one based on a
true event. Readers who relish depth on weaponry and sea tactics will enjoy Alexander Fullerton's
depiction of the devastating battle, but anyone who prefers to see real people dealing with the
death,
destruction, and battle trauma of World War I should return to the classic, All's Quiet on the
Western Front.
The Winston Brothers
Lori Foster
Jove
Dec 2001, 304 pp., ISBN 0515131733
This book is a reprint of three stories starring the Winston Brothers that were included in other
anthologies. "Tangled Sheets". This tale introduces the siblings, but predominantly stars the oldest
Cole, who suffers from unrequited love for Sophie Sheridan, who comes into his establishment
almost every day for hot chocolate and whipped cream. Sophie loves Cole too, but the reticent
woman cannot send him any signals. In desperation, she creates an outgoing fictitious twin Shelly
to
enable her to communicate with her beloved, but all this does is bewilder Cole who already loves
Sophie. Tangled Dreams. Allison Barrow seeks hidden treasure in her house populated by caring
ancestral ghosts, Rose and Barrow. She turns to one of the Winston brothers, Chase, for help
because he can read her mind. However, her brain is so triple XXX rated about him that cold
showers cannot aid Chase. With the help of matchmaking ghosts, they fall in love. Tangled
Images.
His family asks Mack Winston to pose in a male lingerie catalog, which the schoolteacher
reluctantly
agrees to do. At the studio, the photographer turns out to be Jessica Wells, a woman he salivated
over in college though she is several years older than him. Mack has to prove to Jessica that he
can
have a good time but also understands responsibility, something her spouse ignored. He needs to
prove he can be all things to her if she gives him a chance. The Winston Brothers are three hunks
and along with their respective beloved soul mates make for quite an engaging anthology. Fans
who
have read these stories in other books or for the first time will relish Lori Foster's ability to turn
up
the heat.
Ombria In Shadow
Patricia A. McKillip
Ace Books
Jan 2002, $22.99, 309 pp., ISBN 0441008954
Ombria is a city in trouble and its inhabitants know it. The ruler Royce Greve has died, leaving
behind his heir, the child prince Kyel. However, serving as regent is Domina Pearle, an evil and
ageless being, intending to rule with an iron fist. She practices the black arts and uses the sorcery
of
the shadow city to kill people. The sorceress Faey has an assistant Mag, a curious young woman
who likes to go into the city proper to spy on its inhabitants. A chance encounter with Domina
Pearle makes Mag determined to keep the young prince alive along with his loving uncle Dicon.
When Mag goes too far and is caught in Domina Pearl's clutches Faey travels to Ombria, causing
a
catastrophe of epic proportions. Ombria In Shadows is a beautiful lyrical fantasy, an adult fairy
tale
that makes no pretenses as to whom is whom when the forces of good battle those of evil. Patricia
A. Mckillip has such a vivid imagination that readers will believe that the author has written about
a
place she actually visited. Readers will want more visits to the magical realm of Ombria.
Divine Intervention
Ken Wharton
Ace Books
Dec 2001, $6.99, 400 pp., ISBN 0441008860
The mission of the Walt Disney Spaceship is to find a habitable planet and colonize it, reporting
back
to Earth periodically on their failures and their final success. They land on the planet they name
Mandala in galaxy light years from Earth and in the one hundred and fifty years they have lived on
it;
they have put their mark on the planet. Even their religion is based on the writings of the captain
of
the spaceship, a combination of science and theology. Earth has been notified of the colonizing of
Mandala and with the new technology that has been developed 33,000 colonists who have been
cryogenically sleeping are about to orbit the planet. The Prime Minister of Mandala fears that the
colonists will be a threat to his regime. He goes to the spaceship with a few of his allies and kills
off
all but one of the crew. He plans to murder all the new colonists with only nine year old deaf mute
Drew Randall, who has a direct pipeline to someone or something calling himself God, in his way.
Fans of space opera, political intrigue and precocious little heroes will thoroughly enjoy reading
Divine Intervention. It's fascinating to read about a group of people who colonized a world
according to their own collective needs and beliefs. Readers will believe that author Ken Wharton
actually visited his planet and has written about events he witnessed.
Harriet Klausner
Reviewer
Leann's Bookshelf
Coldheart Canyon: A Hollywood Ghost Story
Clive Barker
HarperCollins
ISBN 0-06-018297-0, $27.95
Clive Barker's talent notwithstanding, and the deep enjoyment I had while reading, Coldheart
Canyon was a very slow read. It is 676 pages in hardcover and my attention span, not to mention
my
free time, just doesn't hold out that long. Plus, certain details are a bit too extreme for my
personal
taste. Yet Coldheart Canyon is enthralling with the picture that it paints of old time Hollywood
excess. I grew up watching the old, classic movies and if you too are a fan then you will be unable
to
pull away from this disturbing yet intoxicating view. You see, there is a silent era actress, a
beautiful
star whose sumptuous home has the ultimate addiction hidden away in the basement. She throws
lavish, decadent parties and her guests stay forever. The name of the canyon deriving from the
inner
being of this outwardly lovely, elegant woman. The parties are indeed decadent and the
descriptions
of sex acts are a bit more than I could find comfortable. There is a male star of the modern era,
Todd, and it seems that while his career may be on the decline, his destiny will culminate in the
canyon. Read Coldheart Canyon and dive into "the devil's country."
The Everything Ghost Book
Jason Rich
Adams Media
ISBN 1-58062-533-9, $12.95 www.everything.com
Sometime back in my teens I picked up and read everything nonfiction on my favorite fiction
topics.
When it came to horror, especially, I did everything I could to educate myself. I read about ghosts
and various paranormal topics. So when I noticed this book, I had to pick it up as sort of a
refresher
course. The Everything Ghost Book is everything and more. I love this book! The resources are
exhaustive. The Web and email addys are especially useful in this day and age. If it concerns the
paranormal then it is bound to be covered in this book. Kudos to Jason Rich! I hope that you all
are
well and that happiness follows you into the new year. I have a few more reviews today;
books that I picked up at the library. Keep in mind that your local library is a wonderful
resource.
Leann Arndt, Reviewer
BuzzysReviews@aol.com
Kristy's Bookshelf
Sister Crazy
Emma Richler
Pantheon Books
201 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022
ISBN: 0375421084, $22.00, 1-800-726-0600
I'm not completely sure how to classify this book. I began it with the idea that it was a novel. As I
read more and more, I saw how the author was working the story as a series of short
pieces--glimpses of the narrator's family, which themselves take on the feel of short fiction. Each
glimpse, however, becomes part of the larger narrative structure, weaving an intricate story of one
woman's inability to deal with the process of growing up and growing apart from one's family.
The
narrator, offers glimpses of herself both as a fearless child and a mentally unstable adult, both of
which are reflected in the other. She progresses from adventurous child, thrilled with war-games
and
play, to a tennuous adult dealing with the rift between her and each member of her family,
particularly her father. Richler weaves each story effortlessly into each other, and into the whole
structure of the book. Both as an excellent engrossing story and a wonderful example of narrative
craft, Sister Crazy is highly recommended.
My Misspent Youth
Meghan Daum
Open City Books
225 Lafayette Street, Suite 1114 , New York, New York 10012
ISBN: 1890442269 $14.00
Meghan Daum, whose columns have appeared in several national and well-known magazines,
gives
us an interesting glimpse into a generations's neurosis. Ruled by what she deems the "REM
Aesthetic", or an attempt to get back to what's real and genuine versus glossy and commercial, the
collection contains several essays covering such diverse, but somehow strangely related, topics as
the necessity of hardwood floors and the middlebrow consumer culture. While some of the
statements Daum made made me shrink away because of their blatant cultural elitism, they also
made me cringe with recognition. In one of my favorite essays in the collection, Daum discusses
her
reluctance to leave the "intellectual" and "bohemian" world of New York, even though the cost of
living in New York City was ruining her both emotionally and financially. In another, she
discusses
her rampant aversion to carpeting, an aversion that, sadly, I share. She pretty much sums it up:
"Carpet makes me want to die." To Daum, carpet represents all that is "other"--an "other" which
is
reflected in the suburban shopping mall culture that many Generation X-ers grew up in, and many
I
know are dying to get away from. Daum is delightfully unapologetic about her snobbishness,
which
makes this book such a delight. Doubtless, many of those of us who share her sentiments will be
reading the book with a smile by the light reflected off our shiny hardwood floors.
The Kodak Guide To 35mm Photography is probably one of the best basic books on photography
on the market.
Although I photograph free lance for Today's Photographer Magazine and American Image Press,
I
consider myself an advanced amateur. I wish that I had had this book in my hands when I started
photographing. It would have saved me countless dollars of development expense and time on
photographs that were not at all what I wanted.
The book covers all the basics of photography: exposure, shutter speeds, apertures, light
metering,
composition, depth of field, etc. It covers the subjects in a very easy to understand writing style.
And
when it comes to pictures, the book is literally filled with pictures, excellent pictures, showing the
effect of various changes to camera settings. After reading the book (or any chapter in the book)
you will better understand what you need to do to take those beautiful and moving pictures that
elude the basic "snapshot" photographer.
For a new photographer this is the place to start. After you understand the concepts in this book
and
have a good handle on them then it would make sense to move up to a good book on the zone
system or learn developing or something similar. I've not encountered any other basic book that is
as
filled with good information and so many, many excellent pictures as examples of the
concepts.
Inner Cleansing: How To Free Yourself From Joint-Muscle-Artery-Circulation Sludge
Carlson Wade
Prentice Hall Press
240 Frisch Court, Paramus, NJ 07652
ISBN: 0134745949, $11.95, 264 pages, Copyright: 1992, 1-800-631-8571
Carlson Wade is a medical nutrition reporter who has completed 26 books on natural healing. In
his
book, Inner Cleansing, you will learn about the why and how of cleaning out the "sludge" that
accumulates in our bodies. How does it get there? We live in a toxic world. Between air pollution,
additives to our water supply, additives to our foods, dyes, colorings, preparation methods, stress,
etc. the modern person has no choice but to ingest, breathe or come into contact with various
toxins
and other problematic items. These in turn cause premature aging, aches and pains, fatigue, heart
problems, high blood pressure and a variety of other symptoms.
The book offers techniques to cleanse yourself of these toxins. The techniques are simple and the
things you need are readily available. Unlike other programs for detoxification, this one does not
require months to complete. After only a couple of days you should feel the difference. If you are
having a nagging problem or just not feeling like yourself these days, this book may have the
answers for you. If it doesn't work for you then you have lost nothing, if it does work then you
have
regained a better life. I will say that I often feel better after a regular cleansing program and am
much more active than most of my friends my age.
The Physics Of Christmas : From The Aerodynamics Of Reindeer To The Thermodynamics Of
Turkey
Dr. Roger Highfield
Little, Brown and Co.
1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN: 0316366951, $12.95, 293 pages
If you are one of those people who has to ask "Why" about everything then you will find this a
fascinating book. It is indeed centered around Christmas and all the traditions and expectations of
that season, but it is much more than another historical or anthropological book about the holiday.
It
does have a lot of historical information and makes a fascinating read just for that fact. But in
addition it has scientific information from many disciples that just builds more fascination into the
subject.
Each chapter stands alone and so you can pick one that sounds interesting and read it. Each deals
with a different aspect of the season and so does not build on a previous chapter. Read it in the
order of your interests. Chapters cover such areas as Santa, reindeer, Christmas trees, food, snow
and seasonal moods.
The writing style is easy flowing and fun to read. You don't need to know anything about physics,
or
any other science for that matter, to follow and understand the book. It is a unique style of writing
because the book is easy and fun to read like a novel and yet packed so full of information that it
is
more like a science book. So, which is it? I'm not sure, but if regular science books were this
interesting and fun instead of full of dry examples then perhaps science scores in schools would
climb.
Harold McFarland
Reviewere
Kinni's Bookshelf
Lessons In Collaborative Management From The World's Only Conductorless Orchestra
Harvey Seifter and Peter Economy
Times Books
c/o Henry Holt & Company
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
ISBN 0805066926, 225 pp, $25.00, 1-888-330-8477
"Everyone a leader" is the thesis of this month's best book, an exploration of how the 27-member
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra has successfully operated for three decades without a formal
conductor. The author team, which includes the Orchestra's executive director, details eight core
principles for driving leadership down to the front ranks of the organization and backs each of
them
up with examples of how they are being applied in today's business organizations.
Your Guide To Living And Working In A Multicultural World
Mark Williams
Capital Books
22841 Quicksilver Dr. Sterling, VA 20166
ISBN 1892123592, 237 pp, $14.95
When we look at other people, we see them through a combination of ten lenses or perspectives,
says CEO of The Diversity Channel Williams. By learning the strengths and weaknesses of those
lenses and how they are used, we can better understand interpersonal relations in diverse groups.
The book describes the ten lenses and introduces an eleventh lens, which combines the strengths
of
the ten in one set of behaviors.
The Key To Great Product Development
Sheila Mello
AMACOM
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
ISBN 0814406688, 223 pp, $34.95, 1-800-250-5308
Consultant Mello claims that nearly nine of every ten new products fail within two years for the
simple reason that they don't fill a customer need. To solve the problem, she offers her firm's
trademarked Market-Driven Product Definition (MDPD) strategy, a four-stage, 16-step process
designed to gather information through customer visits, transform customer desires into hard
metrics, survey and analyze customer requirements, and generate creative solutions.
A Step-By-Step Guide To Designing Effective E-Learning
Joseph Sinclair, Lani Sinclair & Joseph Lansing
AMACOM
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
ISBN 0814471072, 582 pp, $39.95, 1-800-250-5308
Instructional designers who are wondering how to put their work on the Web will find this thick
primer a useful reference. The authors explain thebasics of web page creation and publishing, and
the building blocks of WBT
(web-based training) design. They also offer an introduction to advanced techniques (such as
streaming audio and video), cost budgeting, and a CD-ROMwith case studies, tutorials and
templates.
Servant-Leadership For The 21st Century
Larry Spears and Michele Lawrence
John Wiley & Sons
605 Third Avenue, 4th floor, New York, NY 10158-0012
ISBN 0471411620, 396 pp, $34.95, 1-800-225-5945
Robert Greenleaf's concept of the servant-leader is expanded upon in this collection of twenty-five
essays from leadership thinkers ranging from Warren Bennis to Meg Wheatley. In a four-part
presentation, the material explores the impact of servant leadership on the individual, the
workplace,
the community, and the world.
12 Ways Technology Is Transforming Sales And Marketing Strategy
Stephen Diorio
McGraw-Hill
Two Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121
ISBN 0071376496, 232 pp, $29.95, 1-800-722-4726
Consultant Diorio analyzes the impact a dozen new and emerging technologies will have on the
sales
and marketing functions. From interactive direct marketing to peer-to-peer networking to CRM
systems, the book explores and explains how to create an integrated multi-channel strategy
capable
of supporting and enhancing sales growth.
Success Tactics You Won't Learn In Business School
Peter Morgan Kash and Tom Monte
Prentice Hall Press
240 Frisch Court, Paramus, NJ 07652
ISBN 0735202249, 231 pp, $23, 1-800-631-8571
Every coincidence and every bit of luck is all part of the "web of life" and each harbors
opportunities, according to biotech VC Kash. He proves it with an engaging book-full of
examples
and in addition, offers practical advice for turning failure into success, evaluating opportunities,
and
how to specialize for success.
The Networked Economy Demands New Ways To Innovate
Alexander Loudon
FT.com
ISBN 0273656465, 245 pp, $27,
Loudon says that the next stage of Internet evolution will be characterized by "webs of
innovation" -
networks that will be built around new concepts by new and existing companies working together.
He describes why and how established companies should participate in these webs and the three
strategies they can use: creating spin-offs from existing operations; mergers and acquisitions; and,
venture capital financing.
Overcoming The Crisis In Manufacturing
Richard Schonberger
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN 0743215516, 293 pp, $28, 1-800-223-2336
Three-quarters of the world's manufacturing elite have slipped off their performance highs of the
mid-1990s, and Schonberger claims that if the trend continues, they will be overtaken by new and
existing competitors. His prescription for regaining peak operational levels includes revitalized
product development, continued elimination of waste, lean control systems, and a global
strategy.
How Industry Leaders Create Growth, Wealth, And Power Through Spheres Of Influence
Richard D'Aveni
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
ISBN 0684871807, 297 pp, $28, 1-800-223-2336
D'Aveni's latest is aimed at established companies that want to win leadership positions in their
industries. Toward that end, he shows how to define and manage a "sphere of influence" -
comprised
of your company's core market, vital interests, pivotal and buffer zones, and forward positions --
to
define the playing field, delimit rivals' borders, and lead the evolution of your industry.
Build Your Business By Becoming A Recognized Expert
Larry Chambers
Dearborn Trade
ISBN 0793148863, 272 pp, $18.95, 1-800-621-9621
Chambers adds structure to the idea of low-cost, personal marketing via the media. The book lays
out a three-year, five-phase process for becoming a recognized media expert in your field. It
includes
practical advice on becoming a media resource, creating and placing your own articles, expanding
into radio and TV, and writing and publishing your first book.
How Exceptional CEOs And Presidents Make A Difference By Building People And Profits
Bette Price and George Ritcheske
Dearborn Trade
155 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606-1719
ISBN 079314826X, 198 pp, $25, 1-800-621-9621
The authors convinced 27 organizational leaders to complete self-assessments and interviews in
an
effort to uncover the common characteristics of "true leaders." They found four shared values
(social; utilitarian; individualistic; and, traditional) and a set of nine operating principles that are
explored mainly through anecdotal evidence provided by the leaders themselves.
The Five Keys To Achieving Trust, Commitment, And Passion In The Workplace
Patricia Boverie and Michael Kroth
Perseus
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
ISBN 0738205060, 221 pp, $30, 1-800-242-7737
People need to have a passionate connection to their work in order to fulfill their own needs and
deliver their best performance, say the authors. They offer a framework and tools for achieving
passion aimed at helping you discover your passion, design it into your work, accept risk,
continually learn, and build self-efficacy - that is, a belief in your own abilities and potential.
Building An Intellectual Property Strategy For Competitive Advantage
Christopher Pike
Nicholas Brealey Publishing
1163 East Ogden Avenue, #705, Naperville, IL 60563-8535
ISBN 1857882849, 198 pp, $29.95, 1-888-273-2539
Attorney Pike suggests that companies turn the protections conferred by intellectual property laws
into barriers against their competitors - creating what are, in essence, legal monopolies. His book
describes how to use patents, trademarks, copyrights, and design rights to leverage and protect
marketplace exclusivity.
Shh! The Whale Is Smiling
Josephine Nobisso, Illustrated by Maureen Hyde
Gingerbread House
602 Montauk Highway, Westhampton Beach, New York 11978
ISBN 0940112035, $13.56, Hardcover, 40 pages Revised edition, Children's Book (Ages
4-8)
Author Josephine Nobisso and illustrator Maureen Hyde bring enchantment to the play of
shadows
and wind deep in the night in Shh! The Whale Is Smiling. As a fierce wind blows outside their
home,
a sister comforts her brother turning fear of the cold dark into a warm, safe place of imagination.
Flying in their bed to the sea, they join a whale swimming among bubbles in a world of their
marvelous creation. The fear of the dark, wind and storms is gently confronted in this imaginative
story for children. The dark becomes deep water, movement the swimming of a whale, and wind a
part of the mystery of the sea, thereby replacing the fearful with the imaginative. A delightful tale,
with fabulously realized illustrations, Shh! The Whale Is Smiling comes very highly recommended.
Grandpa Loved
Josephine Nobisso, Illustrated by Maureen Hyde
Gingerbread House
602 Montauk Highway, Westhampton Beach, New York 11978
ISBN 0940112019, $16.95, Hardcover, 32 pages Revised edition , Children's Book (Ages
9-12)
Through his impressive example, Grandpa teaches an older boy how to love the beach as they feel
the water and smell the sea air. Indeed, Grandpa loved the wind, the woods, the city, the people,
the
animals and all things that inhabit those spaces. With his grandpa, the boy learns to listen, to feel,
and to love his world, too. Featuring the distinctive, water colors of illustrator Maureen Hyde,
Grandpa Loved will touch the hearts of the young, and the young at heart. The spectacular
illustrations reveal the illustrator's impressive technique with surprising detail and realism, seeming
to glow on the page as they accompany the simple message of love and memory. With a creative
appeal to the senses and to the heart, author Josephine Nobisso shows how the love of grandpa
lives
in the lessons he shared. Simple yet wise, Grandpa Loved is destined to become a classic. Very
highly recommended.
Grandma's Scrapbook
Josephine Nobisso, Illustrated by Maureen Hyde
Gingerbread House
602 Montauk Highway, Westhampton Beach, New York 11978
ISBN 0940112027 $16.95, Hardcover, 32 pages Revised edition , Children's Book (Ages
9-12)
An older girl doesn't remember when her grandma's hair was as black as a crow, but she cherishes
the lock of it in her grandma's scrapbook. Pictures, wisps of her own baby hair, a flower, and a
shell
all hold the power of memory. Each precious item tells a story and becomes a living legacy as the
girl shares the story of her grandma's scrapbook. With a majestic grace we are reminded that with
loss comes sorrow, but memory offers comfort and joy. The beauty of the illustrations
underscores
the beauty of the message in Grandma's Scrapbook. Illustrator Maureen Hyde brings her love of
classical art to bear with her own fluid style, creating illustrations that look and feel like snapshots
out of time yet are rich with intensity and emotion. Likewise, Josephine Nobisso pens a poignant
tale
of memory and joy captured in the pages of a scrapbook and shared through generations. Children
will warm to this poignant tale, wishing to create their own scrapbook of priceless memories.
Destined to become a classic, Grandma's Scrapbook comes very highly recommended.
The Star King
Susan Grant
Love Spell/Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
276 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
ISBN 0505524139, $5.50, Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages
Time and space pause, bringing two people from vastly different worlds together for only
moments.
Air Force Lieutenant Jasmine Boswell believes she's been shot down over the Saudi Arabian
Desert.
Prince Romlijhian B'Kah has just witnessed his brother's plane exploding when a vision of what he
believes to be an angel saves his life. For a moment, soul mates meet and recognize the profound
implications, only to be wrenched away. Later each believes that their meeting was only a
hallucination. Nine years later, an alien nation contacts earth to establish trade relations. A
glimpse
of one of the aliens on television brings instant recognition to Jas. She immediately arranges a
six-month absence and smuggles onto the airbase where Rom's star craft is about to launch. Jas is
divorced, her life missing something, and she longs to seek answers in the stars. Rom has been
disowned from the royal family and is making his living as minor smuggler. As their worlds
collide,
Jas and Rom struggle with their painful pasts, their growing love and an encroaching evil that
threatens to destroy the galaxy. With masterful creativity, author Susan Grant combines science
fiction, romance, and nail-biting suspense in The Star King. Her sexy hero Rom combines sensual
pleasure with admiration for stretch marks, making him every woman's fantasy. Jas is a likewise
wonderful heroine, with grown children, maturity and a love of adventure. Secondary characters
and
exotic locations becomes a source of humor and depth. For example, Grant exploits the unusual
and
the common with a deft touch with a three hundred pound bodyguard named Muffin and a
running
joke regarding beer. Indeed, the exhilarating plot keeps the pages turning, making The Star King a
keeper. Very highly recommended.
The Promise
Dee Davis
Love Spell/Dorchester Publishing Co., Inc.
276 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10001
ISBN 0505524759, $5.50, Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages
Cara Reynolds' sixteenth birthday is perfect with a new foal, dinner at the Bristol with her parents,
and the gift of beautiful silver heart shaped necklace. Then tragedy strikes in the form of car
accident, killing her parents. A stranger finds Cara in the blizzard and seeks shelter for them in an
abandoned mine tunnel. Michael Macpherson promises to take care of her, but in the morning,
he's
gone. Over time, doctors and her grandfather persuade Cara that her savior doesn't exist; that he
is a
way for her mind to deal with the tragic death of her parents. An artist, Cara tries repeatedly to
recapture her memories of the mine tunnel called the Promise, not realizing that his promise ties
her
to Michael, binding their hearts and futures irretrievably. Nine years later Cara realizes that time
shifted that night, allowing two timelines to cross when a wounded Michael appears in her own
time.
She is from the present; he's from more than a hundred years ago. Someone tried to kill Michael
and
he knows neither who nor why. He immediately recognizes the subject of one of Cara's paintings,
however. And he recognizes the unspoken promise of the two lovers in the mine's entrance. Later,
an admirer named Nick insists that Cara sell her paintings of the Promise silver mine to him, but
she
refuses. When she and Michael return to her studio for a last minute chore before the paintings
ship
to a gallery in New York, a fire breaks out nearly killing Cara. Struck by the strange coincidences
of
the evening, Cara and Michael investigate Nick's house. There they find her paintings, and a very
old
news account of Michael's disappearance and his father's death. His brother Patrick will die as
well,
if they can't return to the past to save him. Dee Davis pens an intriguing romance in The Promise.
At
the heart of Cara and Michael's story lays the Promise, the silver mine that brought the
Macphersons
the promise of wealth and tragedy. Further, promises made and promises kept bind the hearts of
Cara and Michael as they cross timelines. Mysery and love weave a mesmerizing account that
culminates in terrific finale. The secondary plotline likewise binds hearts and promises, as the
working girl Loralee and Michael's brother Patrick discover love in the midst of danger. Loralee is
an especially sympathetic and appealing character guaranteed to capture reader's hearts.
Furthermore, The Promise is engaging enough that it is a good choice for romance readers even
for
those who often avoid time-travel stories. Very highly recommended.
From Me To You: The Reluctant Writer's Guide To Powerful, Personal Messages
JacLynn Morris, Paul L. Fair Ph.D.
Writers Digest Books
1507 Dana Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45207
ISBN 1582970041, $14.99, Paperback, 192 pages
Words provide continuity from generation to generation that surpasses our limited life spans to
enrich the shared love of friends and family, to bind generations, and to offer hope to the future.
Despite the power of words, many people are reluctant writers, uncertain of what to say or how
to
say it. To that end, authors JacLynn Morris and Paul L. Fair, Ph.D. bring their own writing skills,
teaching experience, and research to bear, offering aid to the reluctant writer in From Me To You.
Simple, easy to follow steps guide the writer through the process of conveying thoughts and
emotions that might else wise remain unanswered and unspoken. Using the five basic elements
enumerated in From Me To You, writers can add depth and value to their messages. Concise
explanations and the generous use of examples accompany each step, clearly illustrating each
point.
Many of the examples are both poignant and inspiring, aiding the prospective reader in finding
their
own voices and experiences. Difficult to write messages that reveal secrets or explanations
likewise
becoming easier to write with the aid of From Me To You. At last, a writing book for everyone!
Whether your words are meant as a thank you, as an apology, to offer comfort or advice, or
simply
to affirm your love, From Me To You will aid all writers in expressing themselves. Powerful,
personal messages are our legacy to those we love, regardless of the purpose of the note, and can
easily be strengthened by following these simple steps. One of the best writing resources I have
encountered, From Me To You comes very highly recommended.
The Devil's Due
Melanie George
Zebra/Kensington Publishing Corp.
850 Third Avenue, New York NY 10022
ISBN 0821770101, $5.99, Mass Market Paperback, 350 pages
English sea Captain Gray Sinclair awakens thinking he has the hangover from hell until he finds
the
knot on the back of his head and the bars imprisoning him. Now in Scotland, he faces hanging for
a
murder he did not commit. The gravity situation is only lightened by the inability of the four
brothers
who hold him captive to be able to control their sister Bonnie MacTavish. Raised with only with
male influence, Bonnie dresses, fights, and uses weapons like a man. With long fiery red hair, the
spirited Bonnie entrances Gray. Bonnie is betrothed to a man of a neighboring clan, hoping to
bring
peace to a three-generation struggle. While she has serious misgivings about the marriage, she
believes in putting her personal desires second in favor of her clan's needs. Certainly no man,
especially not her fianc‚, has caused the fierce desire she feels for the Englishman. Soon Bonnie
doubts Gray's guilt, and when he's convicted, determines to free him. Gray kidnaps her instead. As
they journey on Gray's quest to restore his family's fortunes, Bonnie's desire for Gray grows. The
stronger her attraction for him becomes, the more fiercely she fights it. The youngest Sinclair
finds
quiet an adventurous path to love in The Devil's Due. Prepare to burn the midnight oil with this
fast
paced plot of murder, high sea adventure, lost treasure and found love; while readers will find
themselves a bit breathless, they will also find themselves immensely satisfied with this wonderful
tale. Surprisingly, the high adventure never overwhelms the poignancy of the personal struggles of
the hero and heroine. Strong sensuality and fierce family loyalty likewise heighten the reading
experience. Indeed, The Devil's Due is a bonnie romance that comes very highly recommended.
Enlightenment For Beginners
Graham R Irwin
CityScape Books
PO Box 158, Hertford SG13 8FA, UK
ISBN 0953333159, 7.49 British pounds, paperback, 128 pages
The struggle to find one's spiritual path has been simplified in Graham R. Irwin's Enlightenment
For
Beginners. Sharing the spiritual truths that have come to govern his own life, Irwin does not
subscribe to any particular religion. Instead, he encourages readers to define their own spiritual
goals
and makes suggestions for reaching them. Included are such topics as reincarnation, integrity,
forgiveness, ego and intuition. This succinct introduction provides a plethora of spiritual
principles
and practices that seekers of enlightenment will find useful, as Irwin encourages readers to open
themselves to the possibilities of the universe. By learning to set aside common fears, readers
come
to understand that the truths of enlightenment already lie within each of us. A remarkably
thoughtful
and inspirational resource, Enlightenment For Beginners comes very highly recommended.
Degrees Of Murder
Kevin P. Murphy
Booklocker.com
P.O. Box 2399, Bangor, Me 04402
ISBN 1929072767, $14.95, Paperback
Police Chief Joe Weiss of the Lackenby police department hires Dr. Matthew Shea as an
investigative consultant for a dollar a day plus expenses. Shea teaches a popular class at the local
university on "Socio-Emotional Origins of Crime". Weiss once served on the New York City
Police
Department. Shea brings extensive investigative work and a degree in behavior sciences. Together
they form an unbeatable team. Shea tells his students that all crimes have a pattern, if only you
closely enough. But Weiss can't find the pattern in a recent rash of murders; three people have
died
in two weeks, and Weiss hopes a fresh pair of eyes will help. Weiss assigns the nitty-gritty work
to
his department, thus freeing himself and Shea to examine the bigger picture. The victims of the
crimes have nothing in common. Different ethnic groups, male and female, economics and method
of
death separate them. Soon Shea realizes that the killer is staging the murders, making a victim
look
like she fought back, for example, when she was actually too drugged to do so. Then several of
Shea's students unexpectedly complicate the investigation when they try to use techniques taught
in
the classroom on the streets. An extraordinarily well constructed mystery, Degrees Of Murder
will
hold the reader's attention riveted as plenty of misdirection and suspects fill the tale with suspense.
The setting of a university for the class and many of the cast of characters lends the tale a touch of
authenticity, without pushing the envelope of possibility. Moreover, Murphy's background in
military experience in security and police work lends the narrative voice a complexity and depth
that
marks it as a classic. Degrees Of Murder is going on my keeper shelf. Very highly
recommended.
Wild
Lori Foster
Jove
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
ISBN 0515132292, $6.50, Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages
The words "I want you," transform sinfully sexy Zane Winston's life as intense awareness arcs
between himself and the mysterious Gypsy woman. Her words send his senses reeling with
possibility, echoing the passion of his erotic dreams. Before he met Tamara Tremayne, Zane
subtlety
controlled his relationships, cautious about how much he reveals or how much he gives. With
three
words, the Gypsy sends him careening out of control, filling him with desire and leaving him hot
and
resentful. Faced with selling her shop and moving, Tamara ventures across the street to visit
Zane's
computer shop determined to act on the advice of the journal she is reading. Tamara appears to be
Gypsy with long black hair, black eyes, flowing skirts, and all of the appropriate accouterments in
her shop for palmistry and tarot card reading. Behind the mysterious silences lies a talented
technical
writer, the responsible family woman who cares for her aging relatives, and blond hair. Wild by
Lori
Foster is a sizzling voyage of discovery. Tamara learns there is more to Zane than the sexy
heartthrob who dances topless on the tabletops of his brother's bar. Zane quickly comes to
appreciate the woman behind the mysterious fa‡ade who's remarkable strength matches his own.
In
addition to self-discovery, however, lies a very serious danger. Someone stalks the Gypsy lady,
breaking into her shop and following her on the streets. Now the very self-reliant Tamara must
not
only learn to trust her heart, but her safety to another. A sensual treat that combines fascinating
character development with a terrific plot, Wild will satisfy the most discerning readers. Not only
do
the main characters sparkle, but the secondary characters are likewise dazzling with nuance and
flavor. Tamara's unorthodox family, her employee Luna, and Zane's cousin Joe all come alive with
this masterful author's pen. A tantalizing and titillating delight, Wild lives up to it's title with flair!
Very highly recommended.
Touched By Fire
Kathleen O'Reilly
Jove
375 Hudson Street, Sew York, NY 10014
ISBN 0515132403, $5.99, Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages
The people of London love a good hanging and none more so than the sixteenth Earl of
Haverwood.
Perhaps he had good reason, as his wife had been one of Jack Cady's victims. While Cady had
raped
and then slit the throat of his victims, Mary had the misfortune of not only to survive her assault,
as
her husband witnessed her violation, but also to bear a son of the rape. At the age of nine that
child,
Colin Wescott, stands beside the Earl, witnessing his father's hanging. As the hangman grasps the
lever to release the platform, the child hears the words: "You've got his eyes, got that rutting
blackness festering inside you. You can't hide it though. I see it and so will everyone else."
Although
Colin eventually stops fearing the Earl, the legacy remains that he fears himself. As the son of Jack
Cady, Colin fears the dragon within that might harm others. But with the approach of his
twenty-eighth birthday, word comes that he must marry to retain stewardship of orphans at St.
George. It is unthinkable that the stewardship would pass to others -- St. George is Colin's means
of
atoning for the sins of his father. Worse, Colin fears marriage and the lust that accompanies it --
that
same lustful dragon which risks releasing the sins his father committed. From the first moment he
sees Sarah Banks, Colin's heart is captured, yet he mercilessly denies his passionate response.
Sarah
Banks runs a profitable gaming establishment that she inherited from her father. As a child, Sarah
spent her nights "haunting the gaming hells learning how to win, no matter the price." Her father
was gallant and brave, protecting her from the razor-sharp tongues of society. Unfortunately, her
father is also the reason that at twenty-three, she's never married. The few that might offer are
only
interested in her money, and no man has ever captured her heart. For years Sarah has dreamed of
a
man with sherry-colored eyes who would only want her heart. The night she sees Colin, she
knows
she's found the man of her dreams. Colin, however, intends to mrry another. He wants a marriage
as
cold and as sterile as possible, to protect his prospective mate from the fire within. As gossip and
rumor cast them together, Colin and Sarah find their fortunes thrown together, even as Colin is
determined to remain distanced. Despite the rebuffs and the damage to her pride, however, Sarah
is
equally determines that she will win, no matter the cost. The question remains, though, if Colin
can
be caught, and if she'll be able to pay the price. Touched By Fire is Kathleen O'Reilly's first novel,
but promises great things for this remarkable author. With the touch of a master, she lends the old
metaphor of the dragon a startling original power. Indeed, O'Reilly's tightly woven plot, balance
of
characterization, and attention to historical detail create a memorable novel that I regretted to
finish,
wishing to linger a bit longer with these wonderful characters -- including the very proper butler
with a heart of gold. I do hope that O'Reilly's pen has been busy, because I long to immerse
myself in
her words again soon. Very highly recommended.
Broken Honor
Patricia Potter
Jove
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014
ISBN 1587490773, $6.99, Mass Market Paperback, 416 pages
In the waning years of World War II, American soldiers stop a Nazi train bearing the stolen loot
of
art, gold and jewelry. The treasures vanish and the paper trail, some fifty years later, seems to
have
vanished with it. Now a Presidential Advisory Commission looking into the Holocaust assets
announces that three of its generals are among those suspected of the treasure's disappearance. All
three generals are deceased, but the implications threaten their grandchildren. Irish Flaherty has
made a career of remaining coolly aloof in his role in the Army CID as a lieutenant colonel. His
father and grandfather instilled his patriotic duty and belief in honor. He intends to prove that his
grandfather had nothing to do with the theft. Irish begins a quiet investigation, inadvertently
escalating the danger to himself and others. When his investigation leads to Amy, he vows to
protect
her, despite her rebuffs. Amy Mallory teaches advanced American history at prestigious Memphis
college. She's far more concerned with her upcoming tenure hearing than she is with the clipping
from the newspaper about her grandfather. She knows he would never have done something
unethical. Now someone wants her dead, committing arson to her home and shooting her when
she
goes to the university to retrieve several boxes of her grandfather's papers. She can't imagine what
those boxes could contain that someone would kill for. Assistant to the deputy Secretary of Sate
Dustin Eachan knew the story was coming, and hoped it would be lost or ignored. His fast track
career may easily be derailed by the actions of his grandfather. He warns his cousin Sally to hide a
painting they know was part of the treasure, and sends her into hiding as danger approaches.
Somewhat protected from danger by his governmental position, he know his weakness is Sally,
the
cousin he can never marry. Patricia Potter pens an addictive mystery in Broken Honor that is
impossible to put it down. Indeed, Broken Honor blends a carefully detailed mystery with a
heated
romance, makng perfect winter reading. As the suspense builds, readers will be left guessing as to
identity of the pursuer, but it'll be the end before the bad guy's identified. Further, Potter's
meticulous attention to detail ties off all the loose strings and leaves readers immensely satisfied
with
the conclusion. In addition, the secondary plot involving cousins provides strong friction, with
plenty
of intrigue and suspicion. With entrancing characterizations, this intriguing novel belongs on the
keeper shelf, and comes very highly recommended.
One Too Many Times
Diana Rubino
Domhan Books
9511 Shore Road, Suite 614, Brooklyn, NY 11209
1583456120 hardcover 224 pages $17.95
1583456139 trade paperback 280 pages $11.95 (Also available in Large Print)
When the usual psychic can't make it to act as medium for the annual s‚ance to summon the slain
King Richard's spirit, Annie Spooner steps in. She's the longest standing member of the Richard
III
Society. A scholar, she's published several books about him. Rather than summoning a ghost,
however, the s‚ance has the unexpected result of the real Richard's arrival. Actually, an amulet
given
by his brother brings him to the twenty-first century when his life is endangered. With no way
back
to his own time, Richard settles into exploring his new world, from peanuts at the market to
borrowed designer jeans that don't fit. Soon the Grand Wizbar sends his brothers, Ned and
George,
followed later by Elizabeth as she pursues Ned in a quest to fulfill true love. Richard soon learns
of
the filming of his story. Of course he steps in, first to correct history, but soon to rewrite it. He
lands
the part of himself, along with his brothers in appropriate roles. Combined with poltergeist
activity,
and women who shape each of three time traveling men's destinies, the result is a fabulous romp.
Past, present and future fuse in a hysterically inaccurate timeline that will keep readers in stitches
in
One Too Many Times. This revisionist history combines wizardry, windows 2000 and wondrous
impossibility in a marvelous original manner. Characterizations are believable, implausible, and a
touch ridiculous, and the plotting even more so. Yet the result is a mesh of the old with new, the
impossible with the improbable and a profound overlay of humor. Move over Mel Gibson and
Shakespeare for Diana Rubino's eclectic blend that will keep readers enthralled. Highly
recommended.
Michael's Temptation: Desire No 1409
Eileen Wilks
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 037376409X, $3.99, Mass Market Paperback, 186 pages
Devotion to the woman who treated them as a mother motivates three handsome bachelors to find
wives quickly in Eileen Wilks' Tall, Dark, & Eligible miniseries. Ada's experimental treatment is
exorbitantly expensive, but they'll do anything to prolong her life. To pay for her treatment, they
must fulfill the rules of their trust. Michael has selected the woman he plans to marry as a business
proposition, but must go on a rescue mission before they marry. That rescue mission changes
everything. Michael does not expect the minister he is rescuing to be a woman. The Reverend
Alyssa
Kelleher, who prefers the nickname A.J., came to the jungles on a teaching mission to fulfill her
late
husband's dream. She had put off their missionary trip for three years; coming after her husband
was
shot down in a senseless convenience store robbery. A.J. refuses rescue unless he also lends aid to
the nun with her. Fleeing gunfire, jumping off cliffs and tromping through the jungle provides a
bonding experience that neither wanted. Moral and ethical concerns separate them; passion draws
them together. And while they might set aside their differences for the sake of survival, return to
civilization means a return to enormous challenges. Eileen Wilks' Michael's Temptation delivers a
heart pounding tale of survival against incredible odds. The intensity of the plot serves to
underscore
the intensity of the connection between A.J. and Michael. These are believable characters that
suffer
both physical weakness and emotional wounds with grace. Michael's Temptation is a marvelous
read, though it does suffer from the restriction of being a series romance. With so many complex
motivations and challenges, many elements deserve far more development than space allows.
Nevertheless, Michael's Temptation comes highly recommended.
Baby, Baby, Baby: Intimate Moments No 1121
Mary McBride
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373271913, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 251 pages
Women like Melanie Spears who know the exact shade of yellow necessary to paint their nursery,
but have the color in their head and not a paint chip for an example, do not belong with over
protective, impatient ex-husbands like Sonny Randle. Especially when they want to have a baby
not
with said ex-husband, from a test tube. And women who thrives on lists, schedules and post-it
notes
do not belong with men who's chaotic lives negate the ability to make a date, an appointment, or
any
other schedule. So after a whirlwind courtship and a wedding a city hall, it seems inevitable that
Melanie Spears would walk out on her undercover-cop husband Sonny Randle and obtain a
divorce.
But Sonny's not giving up. Now he knows what he did wrong and he's prepared to fix it. He buys
the ramshackle house across the street from Melanie and begins his plan to win her back before a
test tube takes his place. And his planning blows Melanie's carefully scheduled life into chaos.
Ordinarily I would be skeptical of a plot bringing together ex-spouses, but author Mary McBride
pulls it off with aplomb. The clashing of opposites takes on ridiculously pleasing proportions as
the
battle between organization and chaos reigns. The added conflict provided by Melanie's plans for
procreations only add to the fun, making Baby, Baby, Baby a highly entertaining read guaranteed
to
relieve the winter blahs! Highly recommended.
Brand-New Heartache: Intimate Moments No 1117
Maggie Shayne
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373271875, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 251 pages
Wade Armstrong spends thirteen years proving himself to the small town of Big Falls, Oklahoma.
He won't be happy until he's the most successful businessman in town, and owns the biggest
house
on the highest hill so he can look down on them all. Too bad Wade procrastinated too long before
signing the contract for the house of his dreams. When he arranges to meet the real estate again,
Edie Brand shows up as well. His efforts to sandbag her purchasing the house backfires, and now
she's moving into the house he wanted. Edie left L.A. when her contract as a lingerie model was
fulfilled. Speculation abounds, but tabloids failed to trace Edie back to her hometown. She's kept
a
low profile, but the stalker that drove her out of L.A. finds her, leaving a "gift" of handcuffs in a
plain box in her mother's kitchen. She doesn't tell anyone of the numerous "gifts" and letters the
stalker sent, or just how threatening they have become. The threats drive her out of her mother's
house and into a place of her own so she can protect her family from lurking danger. And now
Wade
has taken it upon himself to protect her. Book two of The Oklahoma All-Girl Brands miniseries
continues the excitement with pizzazz in Brand-New Heartache. Maggie Shayne presents a vividly
realized, fast paced novel with extraordinary characterizations and a terrific plot. When opposites
clash, Edie and Wade find that have quite a lot in common, beginning with hidden interest
stemming
all the way back to high school. Secondary characters are likewise believable and enchanting,
including a mother who's never wrong and an empathic sister who sense energy flows. A fabulous
read, Brand-New Heartache comes very highly recommended.
Jack's Christmas Mission: Intimate Moments No 1113
Beverly Barton
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373271832, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 249 pages
Peggy Jo Riley worked hard to transform her life from victim to victor. She had traded the role of
the child of emotionally abusive parents, for the role of physical and emotionally abused teen wife.
Three and half years into the marriage, tragedy made Peggy Jo seek a different role. Now she's the
star of a successful talk show up for national syndication, and a published author of a self-help
book
that teaches women self-reliance. Unfortunately, someone resents her success and is stalking her.
As
threatening letters give way to more overt danger, Peggy Jo wisely hires a bodyguard. But with
Jack
Parker protecting her physical well-being, Peggy Jo best watch her heart. Jack is a lady's man,
loving
'em and leaving 'em satisfied. That is, until he meets Peggy Jo. Her caustic tongue and
determination
mask a vulnerability that he finds incredibly appealing. But Jack's seen the damage a woman can
inflict, and has no intention of risking his heart. Despite his caution, however, not only does Peggy
Joe slip past his defenses, but so does her delightful young daughter. As he reads fairy tales to the
child, and teaches her the magic of Christmas and Santa, Jack finds himself longing for things he
thought he'd never want. The trick is going to be keeping Peggy Jo alive long enough to explore
the
possibilities. With a dangerous psychopath leaving destruction and threats at every turn, Jack's got
his hands full. Beverly Barton's Jack's Christmas Mission delightfully blends the season with a tale
of
intrigue. The magic of Christmas wishes and the lurking danger create a juxtaposition that
heightens
the senses and keeps the plot moving quickly. Indeed, this carefully plotted tale will hold the
reader's
attention to the hair-raising finale. With memorable characters that bear scars of the past, a
wonderful child, and a matchmaking housekeeper, Jack's Christmas Mission is a keeper. Very
highly
recommended.
The Renegade And The Heiress: Intimate Moments No 1114
Judith Duncan
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373271840, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 250 pages
Fifteen years ago Finn Donovan killed the man who brutally raped his wife and was convicted of
manslaughter. A month after he went to prison, his wife died in a car accident. Eight years in
prison
changes a man, and although no one would say they know him, if there is trouble in the mountain
or
in the backcountry, the authorities call Finn for help. The best tracker around, his skills are put to
the
test when he finds a woman wandering alone, her wrists bound with duct tape in the beginnings of
a
blizzard. Her fierce determination and will to live saved her from hypothermia. Finn is determined
to
save her from her would-be killers. Heiress Mallory O'Brien doesn't know who wants her dead.
Kidnapped and drugged she was aboard a small plane when it down. The world of wealth and
privilege didn't exactly prepare her for survival in the Canadian backcountry, but she does have
riding skills, stamina, and a desire to live. Finn finds her to be honest, direct and untainted. She
becomes the light to Finn's shadows, bringing his life a forgotten dazzle that he's long given up on.
Over the years he's learned to shut his responses out, but Mallory slips right past his defenses and
makes him hyperaware. While he doesn't believe in second chances, he does believe in atonement.
He will keep this woman alive. Author Judith Duncan pens a memorable wilderness adventure in
The Renegade And The Heiress. The juxtaposition of wealth and Canadian backcountry, of a
renegade and an heiress, of light and shadow lend the novel depth that will hold the reader
transfixed. Duncan's mesmerizing voice weaves a spell that brings her words alive, transporting
the
reader to a different time and place with an intensity seldom matched. While superficially they are
opposites, beneath the surface Duncan and Mallory are evenly matched, which strikes sparks as
the
situation drives their nerves to the very frayed ends. A marvelous read, The Renegade And The
Heiress comes highly recommended.
Return Of The Prodigal Son: Intimate Moments No 1123
Ruth Langan
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 037327193X, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 249 pages
Burned-out ex-CIA operative Donovan Lassiter wants nothing more than to retreat alone into the
hills and write his book. A month after arriving, he's yet to unpack and put away when his old
friend
Champ Mackenzie calls needing his help. Champ's younger sister Andi Brady was married to
Adam,
who recently died along with his partner in a plane crash. While the authorities suspected foul
play,
nothing could be proven. Following Adam's death, bank and business records revealed Adam had
bilked his wealthy clients for millions. Champ and his sister don't believe Adam was a criminal,
and
want Donovan's help to prove it. In the meantime, Andi's children are suffering from the cruel
taunts
about their father, and Champ wants to get them away for the summer. He convinces Donovan to
rent Andi a nearby cabin. When Andi and her children move in, Donovan has immediate
misgivings
about letting them rent the nearby cabin. He likes solitude, working through the night on his book.
Children, however, have a way of turning up, and pulling others out of their self imposed shell.
Soon
he finds himself not only walking through the woods with nine-year-old Cory, or leaving food for
a
woodchuck with five-year-old Taylor, but also sincerely enjoying their company. He also finds
himself irresistibly drawn to their widowed mother. But with grief still fresh after only a year,
Andi's
not in a hurry to embark upon a new relationship even when passion threatens to erupt between
them. And the closer Donovan gets to the truth behind Adam's death, the more they are all placed
in
danger. Once again author Ruth Langan pens an intriguing romance in Return Of The Prodigal
Son.
When the prodigal son returns home, Donovan Donovan carries deep shadows left by the
dangerous
world he inhabited for ten years, and Andi and her children offer the much needed sunlight of
healing. Langan writes with a deep compassion for the blows the heart takes, not just in the
dynamics between men and women, but also in family relationships. The struggle with grief is
delictely portrayed as a prime motivator for Donovan, who lost his father as a child, mirroring the
loss of Andi's children and their father. Donovan finds redemption not just through the love of a
woman, but also through reaching out to grieving children. Return Of The Prodigal Son comes
highly recommended.
That Kind Of Girl: Intimate Moments No 1116
Kim McKade
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373271867, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 248 pages
Becca Danvers worked hard to transform both her looks and her inner self. After too many years
of
shapeless dresses and staring at her shoes, Becca's learned to keep her chin up and nails
manicured.
But when the town's bad boy Colt Bonner returns to town, she feels too much like that child she
tried to leave behind. Unfortunately, when she left behind the shapeless dresses, Becca also left
behind her dreams, her stories, and her fantasies. When they were kids, it was the imaginative
stories
that kept Becca and Colt going in spite of the pain inflicted by their respective abusive parents.
While Becca forgot those stories told long ago, Colt has never forgotten. Colt's first line of
defense
is his anger. If he were honest, his anger is really directed at himself for spending too many years
trying to overcome the legacy of the past. He heard of his father's death only minutes before
getting
on the back of a bull, and the subsequent accident threatens his ability to continue his career.
Another bad fall like this one could put him in a wheelchair. He damns his father for dying before
he
could see Colt break his record. He couldn't return three months ago for his father's funeral, and
now Colt plans to stay at his father's ramshackle house while he's still healing from the accident,
and
just long enough to spruce the house up so it will sell. Until both Becca and Colt can reconcile the
past, however, neither can have the future they each long for. Their struggle with inner demons,
learning to be angry and to handle justifiable and necessary anger, gives That Kind Of Girl a
special
pizzazz. While the plot is a bit slow getting started, the remarkable character growth in the second
half of the novel rescues it from mundane and pushes it toward extraordinary. As the heroine
wrestles with the past, gaining a fresh honest look at the mother she'd rather forget, the reader
can't
help but be caught up in her struggles. The mirror image, the hero's struggles with his father,
reveals
the incredible differences between the way en and women choose to remember and forget the
past.
Indeed, author Kim McKade's talent for characterizations makes That Kind Of Girl a wonderful
read. Highly recommended.
By Honor Bound: Intimate Moments No 1111
Ruth Langan
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373271816, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 248 pages
Security specialist Micah Lassiter finds himself in an ethical quandary when wealthy businessman
Alan Street hires him to protect his daughter, and Micah quickly finds his heart becoming
involved.
Allen owns one of the most successful software companies in the world, which now has made him
the target of threats. The man sending threatening letters is obviously brilliant, unbalanced and
dangerous. Concerned for his daughter, Alan wants someone to keep an eye on Prudence night
and
day to ensure her safety. But Micah must protect Prudence without her knowledge. She has
struggled hard to establish her independence from her father and won't welcome his intrusion
now,
however well meaning. Micah moves into the apartment across the hall from Prudence, using his
proximity to arrange quiet dinners and intimate moments. By necessity, Prudence believes he's
courting her, and is confused by his mixed signal when he kisses her on one day and then
emotionally distances himself the next. Micah is equally confused by his reactions, knowing that
emotional involvement can endanger her safety. Prudence becomes the cause of some real soul
searching, as their relationship takes a path he didn't expect. As danger escalates, Micah finds not
just her life in danger, but his heart. Further, she won't be tolerant when she finds out her father
hired him. Ruth Langan deftly combines danger and romance in By Honor Bound. Langan has a
gift
for creating wonderful characters. The direct confrontation of the ethical issues provides striking
characterizations with believable dilemmas. Her secondary characters likewise sparkle, from the
Lassiter family to the meddlesome sisters that live in the same apartment building as Alan and
Prudence. Unexpectedly delightful, By Honor Bound comes highly recommended.
Once Forbidden: Intimate Moments No 1115
Carla Cassidy
Silhouette Books
300 East 42nd Street, New York, New York, 10017
ISBN 0373271859, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 250 pages
Infidelity and poison words tore them apart when they were little more than children. On the
surface
Johnna Delaney and Jerrod McCain were direct opposites. She was the daughter of rich and
influential rancher; he was the son of drunk living in a trailer on the wrong side of town. Yet every
night while her father sleep, Johnna waited for Jerrod at the end of her drive, and would slip into
the
night for heated lovemaking and long talks of the future. Then something went horribly, tragically
wrong, and he left town nine longs years ago. When Jerrod approaches Johnna to ask her to
defend
Erin McCall, she refuses. Too bad she's the only defense attorney in Inferno, Arizona. Jerrod's
night
with Erin nine years destroyed her heart, and Johnna's not ready to resurrect the past. Erin had
made
it out of the same trailer park where Jerrod lived by marrying one of the most affluent
businessmen
in town. Everyone in town knew Richard beat Erin regularly, so no one was surprised when her
report came that he was dead. His skull beaten in, Erin claims someone else did while she lay
unconscious from yet another beating. Despite her best intentions, Johnna can't let an innocent
woman be convicted of murder, and takes the case. Danger quickly escalates from both her
professional and her personal life. Someone doesn't want her investigating the past and leaves
threatening notes on her car. The threats prove real when someone breaks into her house while
she's
there. Tenacious and undaunted, Johnna refuses to back away from the case. She does try to back
away from Jerrod, but he won't let her. He buys the house across the street and begins his new
position as a church minister. Despite Johnna's determination to keep the door to the past closed,
old
feelings reawaken. But there are things said and things unsaid that must be confronted if they
hope
to have a future. That is, if she survives this case. Author Carla Cassidy demonstrates the
overwhelming power of words in Once Forbidden Johnna's father had once forbidden her to see
Jerrod making him all that more attractive. It was the sharing of their pain, so similar despite their
disparate backgrounds that brought them together. And it was the words spoken and the silences
maintained that tore them apart. Johnna carries the deep-seated wounds inflicted by an
emotionally
abuse father whose words cut to the quick. Jerrod carries the wounds of a neglectful father still
mourning the past at the expense of his only son. Yet second chances allow them to discover the
true power of words in a passionate, fast paced tale of danger and healing. Very highly
recommended.
The Colonel And The Kid: Superromance No 1036
Elizabeth Ashtree
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710364, $4.99, Mass Market Paperback, 298 pages
Colonel Viktor Baturnov arrives in the United States prepared to spend a month learning supply
movement techniques at the Pentagon. He doesn't share his hidden agenda, which involves flying
his
son into the United States for heart surgery. His superiors would not appreciate his manipulations
that put him in the United States endeavoring to aid his son. He finds himself immediately drawn
to
the protocol officer acting as his escort, but Viktor cannot allow himself to be distracted. Perhaps
if
he keeps his actions professional and courteous, she'll aid him if he asks for help. Someone has
been
toying with Captain Natalie Wentworth's assignments, and, consequently, her career. She
ordinarily
deals with generals, ambassadors and heads of states, leaving assignments like this one to lesser
officers. Instead, she's currently assigned to a Colonel with a secret, and she wants to know what
that secret is. Sympathy, however, could easily compromise her career. Soon she finds herself
choosing between love and duty, requiring that she reevaluate both her priorities and her goals.
The
Colonel And The Kid by Elizabeth Ashtree will tug at readers' hearts. While a little slow in the
beginning, the pace increases in relationship to the pressures on these dynamic characters from
separate worlds. The pressure created by the child's illness, and the willingness to sacrifice
anything
to save him becomes a strong motivation to bring two military people from opposite sides of the
world together. Secondary characters are also vividly realized, with a well meaning mother whose
frequent phone calls seem timed to drive Natalie crazy. Another delightful secondary character
nicknamed Angel will likewise capture readers' hearts. Indeed, she deserves her own book with
her
infectious personality and daring. Ashtree's resolution to the conflict doesn't disappoint, making
The
Colonel And The Kid a terrific read. Very highly recommended.
Christmas In Whitehorn: Special Edition No 1439
Susan Mallery
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373244355, $4.99, Mass Market Paperback, 250 pages
Living in Montana, waitress Darcy Montague doesn't give Detective Mark Kincaid the same
response to his dark, scowling looks that he'd come to expect from the scum of New York.
Despite
the fact that she's his neighbor, Mark tries to avoid Darcy's cheer and maternal fussing. Then he
surprises himself by accepting her Thanksgiving Day dinner invitation. When all the other guests
cancel, Mark finds them dining alone. Perhaps his mind wants to distance from others, but his
body
needs human contact. Spontaneous combustion does the rest. Five years without a man's touch
leaves Darcy likewise with a need to connect. Selfless devotion to her brother's well-being
requires
nonstop effort to meet his costly tuition, leaving her little time or energy for her own needs.
Further,
experience has taught Darcy to keep her brother a secret. Usually when men learn of the boy,
realizing he will always be somewhat dependant on Darcy, they disappear. For once Darcy wants
to
treasure this delicate relationship without risking his disappearance. Unfortunately, her secrets
leave
the detective suspicious, reminding him of other deceptive secrets in the past. Susan Mallery
demonstrates her wonderful skill for creating dazzling characters in Christmas In Whitehorn. Dark
and brooding Mark suffers from betrayal and disillusionment. Having stared in the dark side of
human nature too long, Mark needs a heroine like Darcy, whose selfless giving and generosity of
spirit sharply contrast with his gloomy disposition. A sparkling Christmas story that brings light
and
love to all the cold winter months, Christmas In Whitehorn comes highly recommended.
Child of His Heart: Superromance No 1030
Joan Kilby
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710305, $4.99, Mass Market Paperback, 297 pages
A broken two year engagement and her grandmother's heart attack lead Erin Hanson to leave
Seattle
and return to her small hometown. She finds it comfortable to greet folks on the street she's
known
all her life, to settle into an assistant manager's role at the bank, and to live with her grandmother.
She still vaguely hopes for a reconciliation with her ex-fianc‚, but isn't overly concerned when he
never calls. Then the new fire chief Nick Dalton arrives in town and she finds herself avoiding
even
an introduction as she anticipates her responses to the town's sexiest bachelor. Something about
Erin
captures Nick's attention from the first glance. With a precocious twelve-year-old daughter he's
anxious to remove from a big city lifestyle, Nick looks forward to settling into his new home. At
least the kids in Hainesville don't sport eyebrow and bellybutton piercings like his daughter, or the
tattoos of the boys she preferred in LA. Nick's also troubled by the confession his wife made on
her
deathbed regarding the paternity of their daughter. So he doesn't react graciously when Erin
announces her pregnancy. But he can't just forget about her, either. Responding to Child Of His
Heart is a bit difficult for me. On the one hand, I grew impatient through the first half of the book.
While the necessity of the heroine's heart to be free to love another is obviously necessary for the
plot line, despite her pregnancy, Erin's feelings for the father of the baby seem a bit thin. After all,
they were engaged for two years; their child was conceived during the weekend they broke off the
engagement because he insisted upon another postponement; he's running for congress and
refuses
to acknowledge the child; and he's sleeping with the woman from his office that openly pursued
him
while he was engaged. At the least, I would expect some genuine anger and disillusionment.
Instead,
Erin holds out for the possibility of reconciliation, even when he blows her off after she announces
her pregnancy. And leaves for a date with the office bmbo. On the other hand, Nick's responses
are
genuine and convincing given the weight of his burden regarding his daughter. He handles the
news
of the pregnancy badly, as I would expect, but reconsiders over time. As he reconciles the
difference
between paternity and fatherhood, my heart couldn't help but reach out to him. His obnoxious
twelve-year-old daughter only adds to the fun as he struggles with raising a child/woman and all
that
inludes. These tangled and challenged relationships give Child Of His Heart a depth that makes it
an
engaging read that comes recommended.
Man With A Mission: Superromance No 1033
Muriel Jensen
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 037371033X, $4.99, Mass Market Paperback, 296 pages
Hank Whitcomb returns to Maple Hill, Massachusetts after a twenty-year absence and successful
career as a NASA engineer. Although his professional life was hugely successful, his personal life
was lacking. Now he's started a small business called Whitcomb's Wonders, offering a variety of
handyman services. When he relocates his business to City Hall, however, he quickly finds himself
confronting the past. Jackie Bourgeois still carries the scars of the past. Hank had been the love of
her life although she married someone else after he left Maple Hill twenty years ago. Now
widowed,
the mayor of Maple Hill, mother of two, and pregnant, Jackie scarcely has the time or energy to
deal
with old wounds, or so she tells herself. She needs what Hank offers: love, commitment and
family.
But she also carries a secret, the reason she refused to leave Maple Hill with Hank twenty years
ago.
That secret threatens both of their dreams. Author Muriel Jensen continues the Men of Maple Hill
miniseries with Man With A Mission. These marvelous characters sparkle; from the fierce
determination of the heroine to the snotty woman her father is dating. As political intrigue,
pregnancy and Jackie's entrancing daughters keep the plot moving steadily along, readers will
wish
to linger in this wonderful community much longer. Highly recommended.
Beneath A Texas Sky: Superromance No 1034
Rebecca Winters
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710348, $4.99, Mass Market Paperback, 297 pages
Captain Jace Riley of the Texas Rangers has just two months to track the killers who murdered
his
mentor during an armored car robbery. So far his undercover assignment as a summer relief driver
of
a parcel service has turned up nothing in the West Texas mountains. Now he only has two weeks
left
and no leads. Then a chance encounter with a stranger takes him to Dana Turner's rented trailer.
When she opens the door, Dana sees a man in uniform and fears he's there with an arrest warrant.
She spent seven months in prison for the murder of her sister until a judge overturned the
conviction. Although she was innocent, she knows many people will only see her prison record
rather than her exoneration. Worse, prison changed her. Her claustrophobia has gotten much
worse,
and she's learned to appreciate every little mundane freedom. Rather trust for her fellow man, she
is
now filled with suspicion. Dana came to West Texas to work at an isolated observatory and gaze
at
the stars. Now for the first time in a long time, Dana is attracted to a man. Conflicting emotions
lead
to alarming complications to her previously quiet existence. Worse, Dana and Jace come to
realize
that she's in danger from her landlord's grandson. And Jace can't decide if she's associated with the
cop-killers, or the woman of his dreams. I confess to having a weakness for bold characterizations
with an unconventional past. Author Rebecca Winters fills that type with flair, creating heroine
Dana
who tries to leave the pain of imprisonment behind her while embracing the newfound strengths
such
an experience produces. Her understandable distaste for law enforcement creates a delightful
conundrum since her soul mate happens to be an undercover Texas Ranger. Further, Jace's early
misgivings about her background create the perfect balance of tension and passion. Indeed, the
balance of strong characterizations and a fascinating plot makes Beneath A Texas Sky a terrific
read.
Very highly recommended.
A Long Hot Christmas: Temptation No 859
Barbara Daly
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 037325959X, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 216 pages
Their arrangement was simple. Marketer Hope Sumner wants to become the next vice-president
in
her company. Lawyer Sam Sharkey wants to become his firm's next partner. In a world where
appearances are everything, they each need "arm candy" to present the appropriate look at
seasonal
events. So they make an agreement; they will attend this season's parties together, looking
appropriately sappy and making lover-like comments without the emotional vulnerabilities that
accompany usual relationships. Then Sam suggests that they become lovers as well, since sexual
fulfillment is sorely lacking between the tightly booked schedules of their Palm Pilots. Meanwhile,
Hope's ready to make changes in her life. She hires an interior decorator to make her apartment
more livable. While Mavbelle Ewing brings feng shui to her apartment, she also surreptitiously
erases the sharp lines from Hope's life. Suddenly a carefully controlled schedule and work aren't
enough to fill Hope's existence. Sam likewise finds himself drawn to the very emotions he
professes
to avoid. With his law firm representing Hope's company in an upcoming lawsuit, however,
trouble
approaches on the horizon. Soon they will find themselves facing not only a personal crisis, but
also
a professional one that will leave them questioning their morals, their values, and their priorities.
Author Barbara Daly pens a delightful holiday romance in A Long Hot Christmas. The charm lies
especially in the details from the feng shui decorator who never seems to send a bill, to Hope's
creatively constructed Christmas star. The deeper issues of their professional lives never overtake
the narrative, but beautifully highlight the brittle and superficial appearances that conceal their
strong
personalities. The ending is especially wonderful in the way that Hope and Sam cheer victims of a
Christmas tragedy. A lovely read that shouldn't be confined just to Christmas, A Long Hot
Christmas comes highly recommended.
A Little Christmas Magic: Special Edition No 1438
Sylvie Kurtz
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373244363, $4.99, Mass Market Paperback, 251 pages
Combine the Grinch with Ebenezer Scrooge and the result lives next door to Beth Lannigen. The
widow and her son carefully observe their seasonal rituals in an effort to keep the memory of the
child's father alive and to give structure so Beth can survive her devastating loss. Her husband's
been
gone five years, and the fact that his memory has begun to fade worries Beth. This season she
needs
a project to get her through the holidays. Recognizing the pain in Logan Ward's eyes as kindred
grief, Beth decides to make Logan smile for the holidays. The sound of a child's laughter disturbs
Logan's solitude. When he tries to return the seven-year-old to his mother, one thing leads to
another, and he finds himself with unwanted attention. Sure, Beth's a wonderful cook, and he
enjoys
the casseroles she insists that he try, but Logan's carefully guarded grief is too painful to risk
letting
anyone close to his heart. Despite his prostrations, however, Logan finds himself drawn into the
community, adopted by a dog, and eating meals with Beth and her son. Logan better be careful or
he's going to regain his reputation as hero rather than a grump. Author Sylvie Kurtz pens a
delightful
holiday romance in A Little Christmas Magic. As these two grief stricken characters find the path
to
healing, readers best keep a tissue handy. Tragedy leaves both main characters wounded and
fearful
of risking love again. This warm tale will heat up cold winter nights, with not only believable and
sympathetic main characters, but also a wonderful secondary cast. Between the son and the mutt,
readers will find A Little Christmas Magic irresistible. Very highly recommended.
14 Valentine Place: Superromance No 1035
Pamela Bauer
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710356, $4.99, Mass Market Paperback, 299 pages
For thirteen years Dylan has carried a secret about his father that created distance between himself
and his family. Now Dylan arrives home, where he'll visit for six weeks while recovering from
surgery, not expecting the profound changes he finds. His mother is taking belly dancing lessons,
died her hair blond, got rid of her glasses and lost weight. The house has likewise been
transformed,
and Dylan isn't necessarily happy with all the changes. Worse, his mother's new job has her
working
as a "romance coach." Dylan blames the changes on the influence of his mother's boarder Maddie
Lamont. Dylan hasn't seen Maddie since she was fourteen, and her transformation is also
profound.
Dylan would like to be the advice-filled, world-wise big brother, but he hasn't been around enough
to nurture a relationship with his brothers. Indeed, he leaves his island paradise not so much to
reconcile with his family, as to flee a woman who wants to take their relationship to the next level.
Although he initially fights his attraction to Maddie, he finds himself quite challenged to get close
her. Maddie has been casually seeing someone else for six months, and she doesn't want a man
who's
not going to stick around. But then, she's never reacted to anyone the way she reacts to Dylan.
Pamela Bauer pens a character driven romance in 14 Valentine Place. In the beginning, readers
may
feel a bit ambivalent about Dylan as he initially presents himself as superficial. Dylan doesn't like
the
changes in his mother, his youngest brother's life altering decisions, or Maggie's influence. As a
result, he acts like a thirty-one-year-old spoiled, petulant boy until a brother reminds him that he's
the one who chose to absent himself from their lives. As he becomes honest with himself about his
feelings for Maggie, however, Dylan becomes the hero romance lovers expect. The key to 14
Valentine Place is honesty. As characters become honest with themselves about their feelings and
desires, and then with one another, the magic of love does the rest, wheter the magic occur within
a
romantic context or between family members. In addition, Maddie makes a captivating heroine
with
her charming stubbornness and determination. Further, secondary characters truly sparkle,
especially
Dylan's mother whether adorned in her belly dancing costume or giving love advice.
Recommended.
Sarah's Legacy: Superromance No 1037
Brenda Mott
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710372, $4.99, Mass Market Paperback, 297 pages
The new big city bank manger in Ferguson, Colorado has a reputation for a tough attitude, no
longer simply granting loans on a man's word and a handshake. Few townspeople have see the
vulnerable side of Bailey Chancellor, a woman who would over extend her generosity because a
man's family faces a crisis or take in strays. Even fewer would suspect her soft heart stems from
her
own years spent feeling like a stray as she was shuttled through foster care as a child. Such
experience has instilled a strong desire for a home filled with children - something her neighbor
Trent Murdock makes clear he does not want. Indeed, the only thing Bailey and Trent have in
common is a fear of risking devastating loss again. When his seven-year-old daughter Sarah died
two years ago, the pain isolated Trent from everyone. His wife had been unable to cope with their
daughter's cancer, leaving a few weeks before Sarah's death. Trent still feels empty, filled with
only
grief. When he sees the stranger at his daughter's grave sympathetically admiring ornaments, he
resents her presence. He planted a Christmas tree at his Sarah's grave, adding ornaments
periodically
as the mood suits him. Trent resents Bailey's intrusion into his life even as he finds himself wildly
attracted to her. Conversely, Bailey's had enough of shallow men who don't believe in love and
romance. Despite Trent's obvious resistance, she feels drawn to him, and wants to release some of
the pain haunting his eyes. Trent and Bailey find themselves at cross-purposes that eventually lead
to
healing in Sarah's Legacy. Trent wants to isolate; Bailey draws him from his reclusive shell. Trent
had a family and lost it; Bailey has never had a family and wants to create it. Such complexity of
characterization lends the novel realism and believability as the characters move toward healing
and
self-forgiveness. With a charming menagerie of pets, from a half blind horse to a dog that jumps
six
foot fences, Sarah's Legacy becomes a delightful blend of the poignant and the amusing, reslting
in
an incredibly touching tale. Do be certain to have a tissue handy, as the tears come from the
touching and from the joyful. Very highly recommended.
Acting On Impulse: Harlequin Blaze No 21
Vicki Lewis Thompson
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790252, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 250 pages
The only way single folks see any action in Virtue, Kansas is from their backseats in little country
lanes. With no hotels, no motels, and no privacy, the small town is simply unconducive to a
satisfying love life. So best friends Meg and Trudy made their plans for escape, destination: New
York. But her mother had another baby to add to her brood, making the total seven, and delaying
Trudy's departure by three and a half years. When she finally makes it to the big city, best friend
Meg is already married and pregnant, leaving Trudy to troll for sexy men to expand her sexual
repertoire on her own. Of course, that means a bit of matchmaking is in store. When she
purchases a
huge four-poster bed, Trudy's friends pitch in to help put it together. Meg and her husband bring
along his best friend, sexy Wall Street man Linc Faulkner. Linc has agreed to escort Trudy around
the city for a couple of weeks to point out hotspots and places to avoid. He expects a hayseed
without attraction. Instead, Trudy's impetuousness, enthusiasm, and spontaneity take him by
storm.
The bed proves to be too big to set up in her tiny bedroom; she asks that they set it up in the
living
room instead. That, combined with an accidental discovery of a box full of sex books, proves to
be
Linc's undoing. No matter how hard to tries, him imagination can't let go of that satin covered
haven. Both Trudy and Linc have sworn off marriage. They are young, single, and wildly attracted
to one another. So Trudy decides to use Linc to begin her adventurous discoveries of New York's
finest men. A bit of role playing, a lot of seduction, and they are both ecstatic. To preserve the
mystery, she never allows Linc to stick around long enough for a cuddle: no sleeping over, no
emotional entanglements. It seems like the perfect relationship. That is, until Linc suddenly starts
dreaming of white lace and wedding bells, while Trudy is still thinking back streets and forbidden
fantasies. Acting On Impulse by Vicki Lewis Thompson absolutely blazes! With a heated story
lne,
daring fantasies, and marvelous characterizations, Acting On Impulse will fulfill the most
demanding
reader's appetite for adventuresome liaisons. The characters are not only wonderfully developed,
but
reveal well-thought out motivation. Linc's shift from playboy to dreams of marriage is charming
and
convincing, while Trudy's reticence is understandable. The very sexy secondary plot likewise
sparkles with a very pregnant, happily matchmaking best friend. A sensual delight, Acting On
Impulse comes very highly recommended.
Lydia Lane: Superromance No 1032
Judith Bowen
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373710321, $4.99, Mass Market Paperback, 297 pages
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. While Zoey and Charlotte are planning wedded bliss, Lydia Lane doesn't
pursue
her first love; instead, he finds her. When ex-wife Candace Penelope Downing invites Lydia Lane
to
be a guest on her afternoon talk show, Sam Pereira immediately recognizes the long legged
beauty
as his best friend's sister. She'd had a crush on him when she was fifteen, but with her being five
years younger, Sam hadn't been interested. One look at this domestic goddess now, however, and
he's more than interested. So when Candace suggest that Sam give Lydia a call and hire her to put
his household in order, he places the call right away. Hawaiian pizza and soggy salad are getting
old,
and Sam's ready for a change. But he had best watch his step or Lydia may be organizing more
than
his closets and teaching him to sort laundry. Lydia Lane's great-aunt inspired her business called
Domestica, a service that organizes people's lives and teaches them household skills. For a hefty
price, she creates order out of chaos. But she finds her emotions spinning wildly out of control as
she spends time with Sam. He'd been the bad-boy with the motorcycle, and now he's making
good,
trading corporate life for working out of the office at his home and volunteering a third of his
services to the down-and-out. Nevertheless, he still prefers a motorcycle to a BMW.
Unfortunately,
with everyone telling them each how perfect they are for the other, both Lydia and Sam get a lot
of
heat from external sources that threatens to smother their own burning desire. Author Judith
Bowen
concludes the delightful miniseries Girlfriends with Lydia Lane. A character drivenromance that
never shirks the value of the domestic arts, Lydia Lane proves surprisingly entertaining. Well
meaning friends that think they are perfect for each other threaten Lydia and Sam's new
relationship,
as do the sticky ethical issues involved. Despite such complications, Lydia and Sam prove the way
to
one's heart is not limited to the kitchen. A delightful, romp with a terrific child propelling the
action
along, Lydia Lane comes highly recommended.
Millionaire's Christmas Miracle: American Romance No 899
Mary Anne Wilson
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373168993, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 248 pages
Widow Amy Blake experienced that once in a lifetime kind of love, and doesn't expect it come
around again. She delights in her daycare job that allows her to spend her days with her
two-year-old daughter. As grief fades, Amy is still reluctant to let go of her husband, feeling guilty
for the spark of attraction she feels for the millionaire that stumbles into her daycare center. Yet
circumstances conspire to bring them together again and again, from a lost wallet and an orange
juice stain, to a foundling left outside the daycare. Millionaire Quint Gallagher raised his son alone
when his wife decided she didn't want to be a wife and mother. With his son grown and out on his
own, Quint buries himself in his job, never taking holidays or vacations, nor marking the passage
of
birthdays or seasons. His son encourages Quint to find a woman, but the scars of the past make
the
millionaire reticent about women. When he meets the beautiful Amy, Quint tells himself that he's
too
old for young love. But a rat, two babies and the spirited young mother turn his life upside down,
proving that Christmas is indeed the season of miracles. Mary Anne Wilson pens the perfect heart
warming Christmas tale in Millionaire's Christmas Miracle. Gently confronting some of life's most
delicate and painful issues, Millionaire's Christmas Miracle overcomes a twenty-year age
difference,
grief and disillusionment to bring the miracle of new beginnings in this life affirming tale. Amy is a
believable heroine determined to assume responsibility, even when it proves to be overwhelming.
Quint is a wounded hero, needing the miracles of Christmas and new beginnings to heal old
disillusionment. Further, the touching ending can't help but bring a tear to even the most jaded
reader. A remarkably balanced tale of love and family, Millionaire's Christmas Miracle comes very
highly recommended.
All Tied Up: Harlequin Blaze No 24
Alison Kent
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790287, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 248 pages
Macy Webb is a good time girl more interested in partying today than worrying about tomorrow.
Her arrested adulthood looks like Peter Pan syndrome as she thrives on mayhem and chaos for the
creative spark that gives her work dazzle. Even her work is really play as she ponders editorial
content and design for the interactive e-commerce Web site and mail order catalog gIRL-gEAR,
iNC. wearing flannel pajamas in her living room "office." She uses her friends on "game night" to
test fun and advice columns for the Web site. Her latest game is an adult scavenger hunt that leads
to unexpected results. Leo Redding accompanies his friend after their soccer match, not realizing
what he's getting himself into. Participation is mandatory from all inside the loft of game night.
The
starch on his collar leaves Macy questioning how he can possibly play her game, but play he does
with explosive results. A sizzling passion ignites as they become partners competing against each
other in the scavenger hunt. Macy doesn't fit his preferred type, so Leo persuades himself he's
only
responding to the mystery of the unknown. Her wild child looks and playful approach to life clash
with his lawyerly, logical view of the world. Yet Leo is irresistibly drawn into the chaos of her
life,
even as he struggles against it. Alison Kent captures the unique entanglements facing modern
women in All Tied Up. With the sexual revolution has come permission to indulge one's fantasies,
to
pursue those delightfully erotic relationships that titillate and please. Unfortunately, demands on
time
by career and other concerns make pursuing the emotional sides of those relationships even more
challenging than ever before; a conundrum that Kent exploits with delightful results. Both the plot
and subplot explore sexual relationships and the accompanying emotional ramifications with
entertaining flair. Extremely erotic and daring, while tasteful and tantalizing, with a marvelously
subtle subtext of emotional complications, All Tied Up comes very highly recommended.
Daughter On His Doorstep: Special Edition No 1434
Janis Reams Hudson
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373244347, $4.99, Mass Market Paperback, 248 pages
When a lawyer delivers a two-week-old baby to his doorstep, bachelor Trey Wilder takes one
look
in his daughter's eyes and knows he's found what has been lacking in his life. The child is the result
of a wild weekend in Los Vegas with a showgirl that cried on his shoulder after a torrid weekend
together because she was in love with someone else. She didn't tell Trey about the baby because
she
knew he'd insist that they get married. Instead, she arranged an adoption that subsequently fell
through. So amid the diapers, baby books and crib, Trey falls in love with his new daughter. But
he's
going to need some help if he's going to raise his crops and his child at the same time.
Schoolteacher
Laurie Oliver, a divorced mother of two daughters, finds herself moving in with her parents and
younger brothers for the summer. Her ex-husband has forgotten the meaning of child support, her
apartment is being leveled for new construction, and her house won't be ready until August. Surly
siblings and arguing parents drive her to distraction, until an aunt suggest she spend the rest of the
summer in Wyoming lending Trey a hand with his new baby. The opportunity is a fantasy come
true
for Laurie, because she'd always dreamed of full time motherhood, having only gotten a teaching
certificate to ensure a much needed fall back plan. Bitter experience, however, makes her wary of
embarking upon other marriage even with a man like Trey. Daughter On His Doorstep by Janis
Reams Hudson explores the heart touching realm of love and family. The children are charming
and
believable, without overshadowing the tender love story. Trey is a natural father, taking easily to
caring a baby in a sling, and adapting to diapers and bottles. His instant acceptance and love for
his
child can't help but touch reader's hearts. Charming and tender Daughter On His Doorstep comes
highly recommended.
In His Wildest Dreams: Harlequin Blaze No 13
Debbi Rawlins
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790171, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 248 pages
Millionaire Nick Ryder talks his sister into giving him an extra turn at their Aspen place at
Thanksgiving in return for assistance to her friend. Emma Snow only needs one more person to
participate in her dream study so that she can complete her master's degree. As a nontraditional
student with a reading disability, the path to graduation has already been fraught with challenge.
When her last subject bailed at the last minute, it left her precariously close to loosing her
opportunity to graduate, which would relegate her to waitressing another year instead of
accepting
the professional position she's worked so long for. Nick arrives their appointment a few minutes
early, catching a glimpse of a divinely sensual woman dressed only in a thong. The substance of
fantasy seems to remain well concealed, however, and it's only a few days later that he realizes
from
his dream that the neat bun, thick glasses, and shapeless lab coat conceal the sensual woman who
has taken control of his imagination. Although he continues to dream about her, Nick finds it
increasingly impossible to confess the intimate contents of his dreams. When his dreams become
the
subject of her own fantasies, Emma finds herself equally challenged to resist the impulse to make
their dreams come true. Author Debbi Rawlins kicks fantasy into high gear with In His Wildest
Dreams. While the plot is a little thin, the action is hot with scintillating imagery and imagination.
Unfortunately, it is implausible for two people whose interaction has been primarily based on
dreams
to make the leap into marriage in only two weeks. Nevertheless, the interplay between Nick and
Emma proves to be a refreshing, sensual delight as most of their intercourse takes place in their
imaginations rather than a bed. Recommended.
Father Of The Year: Special Edition No 1433
Ann Roth
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373244339, $4.99, Mass Market Paperback, 249 pages
Entrepreneur Will Stoner was stunned to learn he'd fathered a son named Harry by Marie Landry.
They had only been together once, the night he graduated college and abandoned his
responsibilities
for once to go home with the pretty waitress. A few months later, when he tried to look Marie up,
she had moved. Now Harry is eight, and Marie only informed Will of his paternity because she is
dying following a car accident. Will had tried to raise his younger brother Mark after their father
died, and believes he failed. He doesn't believe he'll do any better by his son. So he hires a nanny
to
help. Dena Foster only made it half way through her child psychology degree before she had to
withdraw for financial reasons, though she still dreams of completing her degree. She became a
nanny following the break up of her marriage to a wealthy, controlling man who left her with
nothing. She easily recognizes Harry's need for his father's attention, attempting to bring the two
together every way possible. While Will depends on gifts and money to pave the way to love with
his son, Dena's perceptive influence shows him the true path to love. But Will had best guard his
heart carefully, or he'll find himself vulnerable to not just Harry, but Dena as well. Author Ann
Roth
pens a perceptive and tender novel in Father Of The Year. Harry provides the impetuous to bring
these two wounded hearts together, lending the novel a marvelous depth. These dynamic
characters
demonstrate the challenge of setting priorities and being willing to risk. Men always have such
difficulty identifying and demonstrating their emotions, and Will demonstrates these weaknesses
very
well. Dena and Will's passion and conflict result in a delightful read, making Father Of The Year
highly recommended.
You Sexy Thing: Harlequin Blaze No 15
Tori Carrington
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373790198, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 248 pages
A book signing tour brings opposites Dylan Fairbanks and Grace Mattias together. Dylan's book
advises that sex should remain between married partners, applying a logical, methodical approach
to
sexuality. Grace advises spontaneity and exploration before and after committing to a relationship.
But when Dylan accidentally enters the wrong room, catching Grace in the shower, one look at
her
sexy body throws Dylan into a tale spin. While he might be a conservative stick in the mud, the
eroticism Grace inspires has him ready to break out of all his self-imposed strictures. Grace lives
in
fear that someone will discover that she is a fraud. While she carefully researched her book,
drawing
from the experience of many other couples, her book is based on exactly that - the experience of
other people. She might not be a virgin, but she is not the wild and impetuous woman her
appearance suggests. Indeed, her sexual comments are designed to elicit responses and to cover
her
own inadequacies. When she meets Dylan, however, Grace decided it is time to put her research
to
work. The chemistry between them is explosive. But the question remains if they can walk away
after three weeks of intensity when the book signing ends, or if they can build something more
than
just sexual experience. You Sexy Thing by Tori Carrington sparkles with humor. Unfortunately, it
lacks the flow that marks Carrington's best work. On one hand, the plot of moving from city to
city
each day breaks the narrative flow as these characters jump from one conflict to the next. Or
perhaps the break neck speed of the plot doesn't allow the sincerity of their feelings for one
another
to truly develop as their sexual encounters escalate. I also find Dylan's hypocrisy troublesome. He
says sex belongs inside marriage, yet plans to marry one woman while sleeping with another. I
don't
see the extreme wrestling of conscious I would expect from such a man; or single minded
determination to reach his girlfriend quickly to resolve the situation. On the other hand, the
secndary
characterizations are marvelous with outrageous parents and a secondary love story that will keep
the reader smiling. Recommended.
Erotic Invitation: Harlequin Blaze No 17
Carly Phillips
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 037379021X, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 248 pages
Only a year away from her goal, Mallory Sinclair is the last woman to remain line for partnership
in
her male dominated firm. A good old boys network runs the firm, and she has not yet entirely
earned
their trust; perhaps a woman never can. But she has earned a reputation for hard work and
dedication. Further, Mallory's fierce control of her attraction to Jack Latham sets her apart from
the
other women in the office, although the no-office romance policy doesn't stop her from
fantasizing.
Now, as the only female associate in the firm, she is assigned to a very important divorce case to
aid
Jack. They will be spending an indefinite amount of time as the guests of their firm's biggest client
while he decides if he's going of hire them to hand his divorce. Mallory vows to focus on the work
at
hand as she and Jack head to resort for an informal 'get-to-know-you' session with their eccentric
client. Jack, affectionately known as the Terminator and the firm's best-looking partner, is so
named
for the end he puts to marriages. According to office gossip, he does not believe in the institution
of
marriage or the idea of commitment. He certainly does not suspect that sexy lingerie that lurks
beneath Mallory's power suits; consequently, he grossly misjudging her seductive qualities. So
when
he announces to Mallory that the firm's biggest client is sending them to a resort of the coast of
Long Island, he underestimates the damage Mallory can do to his libido. One look in her eyes
leaves
him stunned. One foolish comment, and destiny is set into motion. Now they are courting the
firm's
biggest client in a divorce action that requires that they play hardball. Soon Jack finds that he
would
much rather be doing other things with Mallory, despite the rules of the office. Jack longs to get
beyond the frigid mask Mallory displays to see the woman beneath. He doesn't understand the
conflicting emotions she inspires in him, and in his desperation to elicit a response, blurts his
thoughts aloud. Mallory can't help wondering how she cold be cold and frigid, as Jack accuses, if
her
taste runs to satin and silk. Perhaps he doesn't like the cold woman she created to survive in a
man's
world. But now they are away from the office, and ethics be damned. If he wants to see what
lurks
beneath the veneer of her exterior, then she has enough pride to show him. With all sorts of
tantalizing, intriguing possibilities coursing through her imagination, Mallory begins her seduction.
But perhaps the strongest lesson for both Mallory and Jack will not be in seduction, but realizing
that an erotic invitation isn't enough without fulfillment. Wow! Once again Carly Phillips creates
an
imaginative romp that really pumps the libido in Erotic Invitation. The tantalizing and intriguing
plot
delights the senses with its erotic overtones and subtle depths. In Phillips hands, mystery becomes
a
potent aphrodisiac, and seduction an art form. Her style is arousing, sultry. And the characters are
sexy and believably distracted in their willingness to see the seduction through and deal with the
consequences later. Not necessarily the most well thought out decision, but certainly the most
human. Bold, sensual and daring, Erotic Invitation comes very highly recommended.
One Hot Texan: Temptation No 854
Jane Sullivan
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373259549, $3.99, Mass Market Paperback, 217 pages
Bad boy Cole McCallum returns to the small town of Coldwater, Texas to seek a bride. It's Friday
night, and he has until midnight Saturday to produce a bride. When he originally learned of the
terms
of his grandmother's will, he shrugged off the loss. Then an arson set by his partner destroyed his
business, and without the capitol to begin again, he has nothing. Most of the women he knows
couldn't live a week without Neiman Marcus, so hopefully he can find a bride in Coldwater at the
local watering hole before closing time. Years of fierce domination by her mother have left Ginny
White without even her first kiss. A huge pile of bills and the funeral expenses were her mother's
legacy, along with a generous portion of inhibition and guilt. Three beers can give a girl a lot of
courage, though. When she asks Cole to dance, he only accepts to stop the other women's catty
comments. A kiss on the dance floor is followed by Ginny's reaction to too much alcohol and her
body's unfortunate response. Cole takes Ginny home, and the next morning, he proposes. So it's
off
to Vegas to fulfill his grandmother's conditions on the will. He should have thought ahead to the
consequences of his actions. First time author Jane Sullivan debuts with One Hot Texan. The
feisty
heroine sparkles from the pages, though her seriously inhibited background and lack of experience
is
a stretch in plausibility. Worse, the marriage of convenience plot fails to rise above clich‚
predictability: opposites fall together, marriage to gain property, fireworks during kisses, and
heroine who refuses sex on her wedding night. While One Hot Texan will leave most Harlequin
Temptation fans cold, the flaws are not uncommon for first time authors. However, with a
titillating
voice and a flair for characterizations, Sullivan definitely deserves another read with her next
work.
Naughty or Nerdy?/The Husband Hotel: Duets No 68
Elise Title and Darlene Gardner
Harlequin Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373441347, $5.99, Mass Market Paperback, 379 pages
Romance in hotels becomes the common theme in Duet #68, which includes Naughty Or Nerdy?
by
Elise Title and The Husband Hotel by Darlene Gardner. Both are comedic delights, offering
delightful distraction to readers who enjoy the necessary deceptions of the spy world to bring
hearts
together. Under cover work has never been more fun! A ten-year class reunion would be the
perfect
time for Private Investigator Judd Turner to reveal his transformation from college nerd to PI
hottie.
Unfortunately, his boss has other ideas, planning to send him to the reunion in retro nerdy to
investigate a money-laundering mobster. Too bad the girl of his dreams has gotten engaged to him
nemesis. Now he's got a padded butt and waste line, fake braces and thick glasses, not to mention
a
powder blue tux. His investigation only makes him long for Lucy to see beyond the nerdy to the
new
improved man within. But before he can reveal the truth, Judd's got to make sure of Lucy's
innocence, shake the class siren that wants to use her wiles to bring him into the mobster's fold,
and
stay alive long enough to complete the assignment. Tara Patterson holds a newly acquired degree
in
hotel management and has earned her first job as the hotel manager of the Reston Excursion Inn.
She enjoys the business travelers nearby Washington D.C. attracts, lightly flirting with the
gentlemen
guests while still maintaining appropriate professional distance. Indeed, she's a pro at managing
men,
having spent her life practicing on her father. Except this time she got a bit impatient with his
dithering, announcing she was using her degree at hotel manager to create a husband hotel where
she'll have her pick of her who to marry. Now her newly hired maintenance man is actually her
father's spy assigned to prevent her from getting married before she comes to her senses. And it
doesn't take maintenance man Jay Overman long to decide the best way to keep other man away
is
to keep her interested in himself. Undercover work in motels provides marvelous humor in this
due
selection, as questions of honesty and truthfulness lend powerful underlying themes to these to
these
lighthearted spy games. Title's shower scenes and seduction games lend Naughty Or Nerdy a
touch
of the risqu‚. Gardner's marvelous characterizations complete with Alley the cat, and an office
assistant that's better at fixing faucets than polishing her nails lend The Husband Hotel a
marvelous,
off-beat humor. Indeed, both authors' wonderful characterizations and touch of slapstick humor
make this duet selection a must read. Highly recommended.
Cheyenne's Lady: American Romance No 898
Mindy Neff
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373168985, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 248 pages
Shotgun Ridge's matchmakers strike in Mindy Neff's Cheyenne's Lady. The four geezers meddle
and
interfere in the love lives the town bachelors in an effort to prevent the small town from dying out.
Llyod, Henry, Vern and Ozzie might be unlike matchmakers, but they are successful. Their latest
attempt to bring Sheriff Cheyenne Bodine and surrogate mother-to-be Emily is very promising.
Ozzie switches addresses, resulting in Emily sleeping in Cheyenne's bed when he arrives home. He
remembers her reputation for trouble before her family moved away her senior year. He'd always
been drawn to her spirit, not to mention her perchance for creating scandal. Now a very pregnant
Emily lies in his bed, and his fantasies are slipping into overdrive. He's stunned to learn that Emily
carries his brother's children. For the sake of the twins, he insists that Emily marry him. They are
already bound by their love for the children, but events may conspire to make their binding even
deeper. When Emily agreed to be the surrogate mother for her sister's babies, her life changed
profoundly. In the beginning the pregnancy was wonderful as she shared each step with Debbie
and
Jimmy. But a fateful car accident has deprived the twins of their rightful parents, and Emily faces
parenthood alone. Since Jimmy was Cheyenne's brother, she came to him hoping for help in the
weeks ahead. As huge and uncomfortable as she is, he still makes her feel desirable. While she
didn't
expect marriage, she agrees. She recognizes an intangible connection that binds them as soul
mates.
The geezers' efforts at matchmaking and baby holding can't help but charm readers in Cheyenne's
Lady. Indeed, Neff creates a convincing blend of romance, pregnancy and newborns, without
glossing the inconvenience of wet shirts when milk leaks, late night feeds and exhaustion. While
Emily denies sainthood and freely admits her fears and insecurities, Cheyenne is humbled by the
sacrifices Emily makes with this pregnancy. His own honor and integrity, not to mention natural
ability wth children, sparkle as well. These are imperfect and loving characterizations that remain
with readers long after the last page is turned. Indeed, a character driven romance that explores
the
joy and pain of birth and death, Cheyenne's Lady belongs on the keeper shelf. Very highly
recommended and Winner of the WordWeaving Award for Excellence.
Baby Be Mine: Special Edition No 1431
Victoria Pade
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373244312, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 248 pages
Clair Fletcher takes her first vacation in eight years to go to Elk Creek, Wyoming and make
amends
to the past. While she was busy becoming Chicago's most recognized account executive, her
younger sister ran away from home. Kristen hadn't told Clair that she was pregnant when she
insisted on dropping out of high school during her senior year. Hitchhiking across the continent
had
taught her about the dangers on her own, and the fact she couldn't care for herself, never mind a
child. So Kristen agreed to a private adoption to Bill and Kim Miller, who would have adopted
her
as well, if she had let them. They helped her find college scholarships and make a good start after
the
baby was born. In their wills, they specified if something ever happened to them, Kristen be given
a
second chance at raising her son. An icy patch of ice took the Miller's lives, leaving behind
two-year-old Willy. When the lawyer attempted to fulfill their last request regarding their son, he
learned Kristen had perished in a fire. Assuming that she was still estranged from her family, he
notified the family of Kristen's death. Clair was shocked to learn that she had nephew. While her
father was uninterested, Clair insisted on gaining custody of the child. But when she arrives in Elk
Creek, Willy's guardian disarms her. Jace Brumley is a natural parent, easily handling the stubborn
two-year-old whether it is in a doctor's office or working the ranch. He makes pizza from scratch,
using his own home canned tomatoes. He had become daddy by default, since he was like a
brother
to Bill and made a solemn vow to raise the child in his place, should the worse happen. And it
won't
give the child up. Besides, there are far more pleasant things he would like to do with Clair than
fight a custody battle. As custody battles go, Baby Be Mine provides a rather light treatment,
handling the emotions without the legal battle. Author Victoria Pade provides rather interesting
and
unexpected characterizations. Clair is not a natural mother and is clueless as to hw to bond with
her
nephew. Her attitude that blood should supersede a currently stable home is gently, but effectively
challenged as she learns to cope with her guilt about the past. Jace is a marvelous father who
disregards his lawyer's advice because, while it might legally in the child's best interest, it is not in
the
child's moral best interest. His integrity and parenting skills make him an irresistible hero. Further,
at
no time does this stubborn two-year-old easily capitulate to the new strange woman in his life.
Instead, he behaves just like, well, a two-year-old. Very highly recommended.
The Nights Before Christmas: Temptation No 853
Vicki Lewis Thompson
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373259530, $3.99, Mass Market Paperback, 219 pages
Suzanne Tabot falls into one of the oldest mistakes of all when she believes the bad boy stories
that
have garnered a sexy reputation for maintenance man Greg Stone. Rumor has it that Greg
specializes in healing the broken hearts of many of the women in the building. Suzanne assumes,
from friend's comments, that his sexual process provides the necessary healing balm. Indeed, just
the
mention of Greg gives Suzanne a jolt of forbidden pleasure. She tries to convince herself that
Greg's
safe because he's temporary, thereby filling a specific need before moving on. Her best friend tells
she needs a rebound man: someone to spend wild, sexy nights with that she'd never dream of
making
permanent. The truth is that she wants a whole lot more than temporary with him.
Greg's been watching Suzanne the entire eighteen months she's occupied her apartment, and was
secretly pleased when her unappreciative boyfriend disappeared. He's put himself in a quite a
quandary regarding women. He refuses to go back to college for the degree everyone thinks he
needs to live up to his potential. He loves working as a maintenance man; work that leaves him
imagination free to roam the books he's read the night before. He loves the opportunity to talk to
women with breaking hearts; usually a bit of counseling and encouragement is all they need. Too
bad that most of the blue-collar girls of his acquaintance just don't have a lot to say after sex. The
classy, intellectual women of his apartment building would never settle for a man with less of a
paycheck than they earn. And they certainly wouldn't appreciate his toolbox in place of a business
suit. But he would certainly give Suzanne a chance, if she wanted it. Gossip and innuendo provide
illicit pleasure for both men and women, as Vicki Lewis Thompson so astutely observes in The
Nights Before Christmas. While it's traditionally been the woman who's been on the receiving end
of
blow to the reputation, Thompson deftly turns the tables and then provides a delightful outcome.
Although this heroine does fall into the trap of believing her friends, she does not fall into the trap
of
snobbery also observed by many women of her acquaintance. Greg's safe, they assume, because
he's
a maintenance man and therefore not on their social and economic level. And while his paycheck
may not match their paycheck, his zest for life and love of books clearly indicates his intellectual
prowess. Of course our heroine wins the guy; she's the only one in the building willing to look
beyond his reputation and appearance to the man beneath. Best of all, Greg does not compromise
his
identity to get the girl. Very highly recommended.
The Missing Heir: Special Edition No 1432
Jane Toombs
Harlequin Retail Inc.
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373244320, $4.50, Mass Market Paperback, 249 pages
Seven years ago Russ Simon preferred raising horses to following his father's dream of entering
his
law firm. So with law degree in hand, Russ parted ways with his father. Now he has an
opportunity
to heal the breach by
doing a bit of investigating for his father, who is the close friend and lawyer for Joseph Haskell.
Joe
seeks his estranged daughter, and believes Marigold Crowley to be his granddaughter based on a
photograph that reveals
Mari's unusually colored hair - the same color as her deceased mother's. Joe shares his father's
doubts, traveling to Nevada on the pretense of looking for a ranch for expanding his horse
breeding
service. Mari's genuine
goodness leaves him feeling disarmed, not to mention guilty for his deception. Bold, confident
Mari
always felt loved and needed by her aunt and uncle, easily accepting them as substitute parents.
She
knew little of her mother except she died in childbirth, accepting the story her aunt and uncle
provided. When her uncle hears Joe's televised appeal, the story fits what he knows of Mari's
mother, so he sends a letter and photo without telling his niece. Joe's response was to invite Mari
to
his home on MacKinac Island where he intends to perform DNA testing to confirm his suspicions.
Unfortunately, Joe's heart condition leads to his being flown to New York City for emergency
treatment just as she's flying to the island. She remains on the island awaiting his return, and
welcomes the chance encounter that reunites her with her newfound friend Russ. Jane Toombs
weaves a magic spell of lilacs and love in The Missing Heir. Rather than the typical identity crisis
most women would endure under such circumstances, Mari handles the changes in her life with
grace and ease.
Certainly she questions and reevaluates her identity, but she doesn't exhibit the struggle that so
often
accompanies such a plot. And perhaps therein lies the weakness of the book. She's such a strong
heroine that she's left little room for growth except in affairs of the heart. She cannot stand
duplicity
and has much to learn about the gray areas of life, where things are neither right nor wrong, they
simply exist. On the other hand, Russ is a wonderfully romantic hero who struggles with pleasing
his
father while also pleasing his heart. Old wounds make him vulnerable and give him plenty of space
to grow. While this plot offers little surprise, these are remarkably pleasing and delightful
characterizations, making The Missing Heir recommended.
The Mighty Quinns: Brendan: Temptation No 855
Kate Hoffmann
Harlequin Retail Inc
PO Box 1325, Buffalo, NY 14269
ISBN 0373259557, $3.99, Mass Market Paperback, 216 pages
As a child Brendan, in a time when there wasn't always enough to eat, dreamed of having enough
money to travel the world. He always hated to fight, preferring the power of words to the power
of
a fist. Sometimes life throws a punch, however, that has to be returned; like the night he
intervenes
in a fight to assist a pretty waitress. Something about the pretty blond doesn't fit the bar; maybe
she
moves with to much grace, maybe she is just too classy. Whatever that quality is, others notice
too
and like to manhandle her. Brendan's brothers had made the mistake of saving damsels in distress
and wound up married - a fate Brendan prefers to avoid. But ten minutes after he meets her,
before
he even knows his name, he wants to kiss her. At twenty-six, Amelia Aldrich Sloane ran away
from
home a week before her wedding. Tired of the strictures placed upon her by her family and their
position in society, Amy has spent the last six months avoiding private detectives and earning her
own way. Too bad the guy from the bar got her fired and cost her a place to live. When he
appears
in the late night fog, she accepts a bunk on his ship for the night. Soon she parlays it into a job as
an
assistant as Brendan completes his latest book. Born for adventure, Amy would enjoy an affair
with
Brendan -- which would be the greatest adventure of all. But the question remains as to what will
she do if an affair just not enough. The third Quinn falls to the powers of love in The Mighty
Quinns:
Brendan. While the heroine and hero come from radically different backgrounds, they share a love
for adventure. Bold and wild, Amy is an impetuous and bold heroine. While she's a bit immature
at
times with her silly blame game, she does use it to good effect. She also throws a mean punch,
proving her ability to protect herself in the world she's chosen to hide. The harder Brendan
protests
falling in love, the harder he seems to fall. A wild and unpredictable pleasure, The Mighty Quinns:
Brendan comes highly recommended.
The House In The Steeple
Jane Hollingsworth
Wings ePress
P. O. Box 726, Lusk, WY 82225
ISBN 1590889975, Download $6.00, Trade Paperback $11.95
The day she left him, Bedie Breckenridge's husband committed suicide. No one had believed
Doug
abused Bedie because he was a cop. After years of emergency rooms, broken bones and bruising,
Bedie's relief was incredible. During the subsequent three years, Bedie has not had a date or even
a
conversation with a man. Since renting an old Victorian house, she has begun hearing Doug's
voice,
and once again bears his bruises on her body. Bedie's not sure if a ghost stalks her or if she is
psychotic. But she does believe that the reappearance of her deceased husband has been triggered
by
her decision to take in a foster child. During her five years of foster, eleven-year-old June has
developed quite a reputation for being difficult. She caused more than seven thousand dollars
worth
of damage to the Parker's living room and kitchen before they gave up. The Morellis family held
out
longer than anyone before resigning care. The Forsythes refuse to discuss their reason for her
return,
only pointing her butchered hair and that of their biological children. After yet another foster
parent
rejected her after discovering her psychic gifts, June has kept her abilities carefully
concealed.Incredible temper tantrums, the use of profanity and absolute defiance keep June safely
away from people who might hurt or disappoint her. The ugliness of her previous foster homes
made
bearing them quite difficult for June. So the charm of the "olden" Victorian home immediately
entrances June, making her want to make it her home, whatever it takes. A gifted psychic, she is
very sensitive to the energies surrounding her. June convinces her new foster mother to let have
the
third floor that has been previously closed off. Although she chokes badly on the landing between
floors, June isn't deterred. After several weeks of hard work, painting, sanding, and wallpapering,
her new room is at last ready. Then a malevolent entity appears, terrifying her. But June won't
give
up her new home, defying a spirit who can cause physical home. Ghosts and psychicabilities give
Jane Hollingsworth's The House In The Steeple a powerful paranormal aspect. Secrets from years
past combine with painful emotional issues to force action and healing. The fascinating plot twists
and marvelous characterizations keep the plot moving quickly, although the ending is a bit
disappointing. Nevertheless, this is an eerie tale that will hold the reader's attention riveted. The
House In The Steeple comes very highly recommended.
The Fragile Egg
A.J. Russo
SynergEbooks
1235 Flat Shoals Rd, King, NC 27021
ISBN 0744302102 (pdf), ISBN 0774302110 (html), ISBN 0774302129 (lit),
Email Attachment $5.00, Print $16.95, 242 pages
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.
Son For All Seasons: A Story About A Mother, Her Son, And His Suicide
Patricia Spork
Writers Graphic Image
Rt. 1 Box 180-CC, Tatum, TX 75691
Copyright 2001, eBook/PDF format, $6.95
Raw grief is an unpalatable emotion, tearing through your life and devastating all the survivors.
And
if death is a painful, overwhelming reality, the death your child is even more so. After all, children
should outlive their parents. Moreover, the pain of suicide becomes even more magnified, pulling
the
surviving mother into a miasma of guilt and grief; just ask Patricia Spork, author of Son For All
Seasons. Spork's son committed suicide on December 26, 2000. In the days and weeks that
followed, she sought healing through words, penning chapters that move back and forth between
Casey's life as he grew up to her current grief. She records the bitterly honest pain of a mother
who
feels love, guilt, and remorse at the lost of her beautiful son. She also exposes the difficult teen
years, filled with volatile emotion and physical trauma as Casey struggled with various physical
challenges including a life changing near-death head trauma. No parent can raise a child without
scars, and Patricia takes full responsibility for her own mistakes, often second guessing decisions
that seemed right at the time. As tears coursed down my own cheeks, I wanted to comfort her
with
the assurances that she did the best she could with what she had to work with; it is never the
parent's
fault when a child, especially an adult child, makes the decision to end his own life. For parents
suffering the same grief, SON For All Seasons is a must read. Forgiveness comes so easily for
others, yet so difficultly for the self. But this isn't just a story of death; it is also an affirmation for
the
living. Even as the author contemplated taking her own life during those darkest days, she put pen
to
paper instead. Her strength, found in the solace of words, offers strength to all parents who
struggle
to raise their children. A powerful testament to the beauty of a life too soon ended, and a
remarkable
story of a mother who's love never ends, Son For All Seasons comes very highly
recommended.
Unlawful
Dorice Nelson
Novel Books
P.O. Box 661, Douglas, MA 01516
Historical Romance, January 2002, eBook/Multiple Formats, $6.00 download, $13.95 paperback
Bruic the Badger, age thirteen, stands horrified at the massacre of his fellow Gaels. He had been
stolen from the Gael seven years before and enslaved to a Norseman. Bruic's master makes him
pay
when he tries to hide a girl child who could have been sold. The child's mother Alma is kidnapped,
and over the years keeps the legends and language of his Gael heritage alive. Years later Bruic
feels
guilty for what he must do to his fellow Gaels. He must capture the An Dun Geata Fortress, but
vows the battle will be bloodless. His orders come from Olaf the White, who attempts to reclaim
Dublin from the Danes. Olaf holds Bruic's twin sons hostage to assure victory. Bruic hopes
locating
the coves of An Dun Geata will make the trade Olaf desires once he controls all of Gael. Perhaps
it
will be enough to secure the twins' release and help him find his long lost siblings. But Olaf will
not
want to loose Bruic's potency as a warrior nor his gift for finding ports in the lands that they
conquer. Only a minor queen, known as the Black Bride, rules An Dun Gael. Queen Kellach
grapples with a Dark Druid's curse, having laid four husbands to rest without the pleasure of
consummating any of the marriages. Only her kidnapped mother Alma holds the power to lay the
curse to rest. As invaders arrive, she realizes Ronan, her over-king Morfinn's stepson, has
betrayed
her. Despite his betrayal, Ronan vows to marry her, as he and his step-father force her to spy for
their cause. Her over-king orders her to make the Badger trust her, and in return, Morfinn will
find
her mother. Bruic would like to make an example of the Kellach with her defiance and fiery valor.
He plans to bend her to his will, even as she vows vengeance. She dares not soften to this man,
despite their electric attraction. The Northmen devastated her clan years ago, and now enslave her
clan. Until her high-king can rouse all of Gael, they risk their resources falling into Olaf and the
Northmen's hands. But Kellach suspects Bruic's personal reason for being in Gael, believin that he
holds his own secret motivation. She needs to know the underlying reasons for him being there,
and
what he wants both for her and for her country. Rising star Dorice Nelson once again displays her
dazzling mastery of atmosphere and description in the extraordinary historical novel Unlawful.
This
innovative storyteller creates a tale both memorable and remarkable in its recall of dangerous days
and threatening nights. The characters come alive with their foibles and daring, hatreds and
passions,
from the stunning hero and heroine to the loyalty of a canine, villagers and warriors are equally
vividly realized in startling array, capturing the deepest nuances of the era. Very highly
recommended.
Sins Of The Fathers
Joyce E. Eberly
London Circle Publishing
17315 Henning Court, Lake Shastina, Weed, CA 96094
Mystery, ISBN 1930677162, eBook/Multiple format, 244 pages, Download $4.95, Disk
$6.50
Rosemary and Gilbert Steinhagen take up temporary residence in a tiny western town in the
foothills
of the Rockies following an accident involving Gilbert's Uncle Tim. A retired highway patrol
officer,
Tim temporarily resides in a nursing home while recovering from a broken hip. His old friend
Sheriff
Anderson visits frequently, and together they have come to suspect a major drug operation in
their
small town. The local high school students seem to have an increased supply of illegal drugs, but
information remains elusive. Consequently, Tim persuades newlyweds Gilbert and Rosemary to
do a
bit of undercover work. Gilbert obstinately seeks timber for sale on private land, using the
opportunity to roam the countryside looking for meth labs. Rosemary becomes a nontraditional
student at the local university hoping that the much younger popular population might somehow
provide a lead to the drug trafficking. Meanwhile, Tim persuades her to also help with a project
recording town history, allowing her to interview nursing home residents under a hunch that the
drug traffic is actually related to something out of the past. As her university classes give way to
student teaching, Rosemary uses her students' writing assignments to investigate town history
following World War I, focusing on the prohibition. Eventually Rosemary begins to suspect that
what began as bootlegging during the twenties somehow ties to drug trafficking today. Joyce
Eberly's Sins Of The Fathers presents a fascinating mystery based on contemporary headlines
familiar to all readers. Unfortunately, the pace lags in places with far too many accounts of
vegetarian menus and repetitious praise of Rosemary's husband. Nevertheless, Eberly's talent for
bringing scenes vividly alive sparkles when the Rosemary rescues strays, struggles with the
euthanasia of other neglected animals, and confronts a minister in her classroom. Conflict with the
nursing home staff likewise is skillfully rendered, providing an entertaining mystery. In addition,
Rosemary comes across s a memorable and fascinating character who's married her high school
love,
maintains her independence, and isn't weighted down by the stereotypical demands of society such
as
making babies and traditional religion. Recommended.
The Final Solution
Walter Harmidarow
LTD Books
ISBN 1553160355, eBook/Multiple Formats, 471 pages
Over the pleasure of ushering the New Year of 1892 with a fine cigar and glass of port, Sherlock
Holmes announces to Watson that he's involved "in what could be the last investigation of my
career." Holmes believes Professor James Moriarty has been engaged in a perfectly orchestrated
series of crimes. Just as Holmes prepares to announce his breakthrough regarding his investigation
of the criminal genius, two large Oriental thugs burst into their rooms brandishing revolvers. Tired
of Holmes' interference, Moriarty kidnaps and frames Holmes for murder with Watson as a
witness.
Moriarty's tentacles reach from London's high society and Scotland Yard, and he's kidnapped
Watson's wife to ensure his cooperation. Cut off from family and friends, Watson must cooperate
with Moriarty until he witnesses Holmes' supposed crime. Without Watson's aid, Homes will be
hanged for murder and Moriarty's revenge will be complete. But Watson and Homes are not
without
resources, or above a jailbreak. Author Walter Harmidarow's displays of logical deduction and
fierce
loyalty characterize The Final Solution. Harmidarow's Holmes is not as infallible as the original
hero
created by Sir Author Conan Doyle. With Holmes controlled by the drugs injected by Moriarty,
logical deduction is sometimes outfoxed by sheer audacity. Consequently, be forewarned that
some
Holmes fans may be slightly disappointed to see their hero so weakened. Indeed, Moriarty seems
to
have the farther-reaching connections and complete knowledge of his nemesis, resulting in a
puzzling and challenging conundrum for Holmes. This absorbing, fast-paced narrative provides
delightful entertainment and a marvelous conclusion. Highly recommended.
The Last Flight Of The Arrow
Daniel Wyatt
LTD Books
200 North Service Rd W., Unit 1, Suite 301, Oakville, Ontario, Canada L6M 2Y1
ISBN Disk 155316041X, ISBN Rocket 1553169646, eBook/Multiple Formats, Download $5.00,
Disk $6.00
In 1940, Hitler had conquered continental Europe with little resistance, and the predictions were
that
Britain would be next. Under the command of Squadron Leader Stanley Croft, pilot Officer
Bogdan
Kapolski leads the Red Section across the skies of England. He becomes an Ace flier when he
takes
down his fifth plane. Indeed, a wizard in the air, Kapolski becomes one of the best fighter pilots in
the Royal Canadian Air Force. He brings those skills to the table again in the Korean War, and
then
during the Cold War when his government calls him to action to pilot the last flight of the Arrow.
In
1945 in the Mariana Islands, a guest reporter Ben Spencer, Canadian war correspondent for the
Vancouver Daily News, accompanies a mission to drop bombs on Tokyo. Hits to the plane's port
wing and leaking fuel force the crew and reporter to bail out and send a distress call for air-sea
rescue. The crew and reporter float in the water and wait for a sub to find them. Spencer's daring
to
accompany dangerous missions creates a solid reputation for him, later giving him free reign, in
his
column printed in the Toronto Tribune, to boldly attack policies and politicians that don't, in his
view, fulfill Canada's best interests, including the end of the Arrow program. His own
investigations
in the Arrow will fuel controversy and help bring about the public end of the aircraft. With the
advent of the missile age, heralded by the Russian Sputnik, manned interceptors become obsolete.
On February 20, 1959 the Canadian prime minister announces to the House of Commons the end
of
the CF-105 Avro Arrow supersonic fighter-interceptor program. Three hundred million dollars
had
already been invested in an aircraft, and its draining the economy. Further, Russia claims that the
Arrow is a threat to world peace, and promises to disband her own buildup of planes in return for
the end of the Arrow project. They do not fulfill their promise. Meanwhile, Canadian and
American
intelligence learns of their plans, and the Canadians pretend to end the Arrw program, staging an
end
to the Arrow program while they actually move bases to the far north. As politics, the media, and
espionage converge, it will be up to Kapolski to pilot the mission that prevents the advent of
World
War III. Espionage and intrigue abound in Daniel Wyatt's The Last Flight Of The Arrow. This is a
fictional tale based on the myth that some of the Arrows escaped destruction and were used to
preserve the free world. Originally published by Random House, where it sold 20,000 copies, the
novel has been revised to include more intrigue. Indeed, the cloak and dagger games of the CIA,
Canadians and Russians lend the novel amazing conviction. As international tension builds,
Wyatt's
plot moves at a fast clip, skillfully maintaining the pace and the reader's attention. Credible
characterizations bring the plot to life, interwoven with the technical jargon and avionic facts that
keep the novel firmly grounded in history. Yet the avionic facts never bog the narrative, keeping
the
tale fresh even for those who are not necessarily aviation buffs. Very highly recommended.
The Radicals
Alan M. Brooker
RFI West
#431 5515 N 7th Street, Suite 5, Phoenix AZ 85014
Suspense, Copyright 2000, ISBN 1586970518, eBook/Multiple Formats, $4.95
Tired of trout fishing, Al Brooks and his wife Jan go for a walk in the bush of New Zealand. A
bright flash of light catches their attention, and when they investigate, they discover an abandoned
mobile camper. Oddly, the engine had been stripped of all removable parts, but interior remained
untouched. Brooks notes the registration number, and reports to the Wellington Central Police
Station. When Chief Inspector Jim Gilliard sees Al, he knows something's up. They have a
running
joke for the trouble that seems to follow Al, and this promises to be no exception. Soon they
realize
that the camper ties to a string of gristly murders that leaves only unidentifiable bodies. Al
connects
missing persons as well as murder to a radical group called the Maori gang that has been
terrorizing
Wairoa for years. When Al aids the escape of one of their victims and later blows up a compound,
the group's leader's vendetta against Al becomes personal. A graphic account of a quest for
justice,
The Radicals by Alan Brooker will keep the reader's attention riveted. A fast paced plot and
graphic
horror will lead the reader through a lurid world of drugs, radicalism, and murder. The hero learns
just how a price he must pay as The Radicals spans the continents of New Zealand and Italy in his
quest for the return of his family. Highly recommended.
The Immaculate
Kate Hill
RFI West
#431 5515 N 7th Street, Suite 5, Phoenix AZ 85014
Dark Romantic Fantasy, Copyright 2001, ISBN 1586974025, eBook/Multiple Formats, $4.95
Rape left Mara scarred both physically and emotionally. Although shock seems to have deprived
her
of many details of the event, Mara's nightmares suggest that her attacker was not human. For the
last year she's spent her inheritance seeking answers in dusty libraries and across Europe in Spain,
London and Romania. When she drops a stack of books in a library, Adam assists her in gathering
them up, commenting on their content. Mara confesses to not being able to read one, so Adam
volunteers his assistance as a translator. The haunted look in Mara's eyes drew Adam to her. His
volunteering to aid in translating the ancient book could lead to trouble because he is a vampire.
His
sole mission in life to wait for the First Father to awaken, and to destroy him. To that end, he's a
master of many languages and martial arts. Born an Immaculate Vampire, a minister raised him.
Unfortunately, the minister believed him to be evil, inflicting cruel abuse even as the child trained
to
destroy the being that endangers both humans and other vampires. Kate Hill pens a thrilling
vampire
romance in The Immaculate. The fascinatingly original history for her vampires, dramatically
demonstrates Hills creative flair. Further, the dark story line is carefully balanced by amusing
asides
and sensual interludes, keeping the pace quick and the reading enthralling. Indeed, Hill's sizzling
style makes her one of the true masters of the genre. Very highly recommended.
Tharne's Quest
Alan M. Brooker
RFI West
#431 5515 N 7th Street, Suite 5, Phoenix AZ 85014
ISBN 1586970372, eBook/Multiple Formats
Alison's gift for perceiving auras allows her to seethe shapeless, smoky column that materializes
eventually into human form. A feeling of peace quickly replaces her fear as the entity begins
communicating his need. Tharne comes as an emissary for good in a fight against an ancient evil.
They need Alison's help because she's more open to occult experience than her scientifically based
boyfriend, NASA scientist Chad Tennyson. Together they must fight a dangerous reincarnated
megalomaniac. Chad is crucial to Tharne's quest because he works on a very important project
that
can bring great benefits to the world. Chad is working for NASA on a new type of computers that
will assume the functions of humans in space. Although still under human control, the new
computers can reason and make limited choices. The tests are initially successful, and now Chad
works to make them capable of reproduction and self-repair. Evil forces want to destroy the
project
because they intensely hate humans. A Satanic cult works to release those evil forces, thereby
threatening all life on the planet. Now Chad must locate and join the Satanic coven that plans to
release the forces of evil. Then he must find a way to prevent their plans from reaching fruition.
Otherwise, a black mass will allow the Devil's Envoy to enter our world establish his rule. Science
and the occult blend seamlessly in the horror novel Tharne's Quest by Alan M. Booker. While the
plot driven tale leaves little room for character development, the macabre and fascinating aspects
of
dark occultism keep the reader's interest at a fever pitch. Graphic sexual content is used with a
deft
pen, heightening depravity and evil. Caution needs to be given, however, that not all audiences
will
find the sexual content palatable, especially Anne's treatment. Recommended.
The Culpeper Chronicles: Book I - One Bitter And Deadly Harvest
Trace Edward Zaber
RFI West
#431 5515 N 7th Street, Suite 5, Phoenix AZ 85014
Copyright 2001 , ISBN 1586973274, eBook/Multiple Formats, $4.95
In 1860, as the inevitable winds of the Civil War approach, so does the battle of hearts also
approach, endangering loyalties and families. Two families, the Spauldings and Kingsburys,
coexist
in Culpeper County, Virginia, despite radically different views of slavery, politics and morality. On
one hand, while they still own slaves, the Spauldings educate their slaves, encouraging free
thought
and preparation for a free life. On the other hand, the Kingsburys are cruel taskmasters, imposing
a
rigid class system that shows no compassion for those who serve them. One Bitter And Deadly
Harvest begins with eldest son Josiah Spaulding's return home to Gilchrist Manor from West
Point.
Looking forward to freedom, Josiah soon finds himself burdened with the responsibility of his
family's plantation instead. After years of working side by side with his slaves, Josiah's father now
suffers from a heart condition that he valiantly struggles to conceal. As he passes the yoke of
responsibility for the plantation to his eldest son, Josiah finds himself likewise responsible for his
three younger brother and three younger sisters as well. Josiah's love interest is Northern woman
making a successful career on the stage in a time when such a career raises eyebrows. Sharply
contrasting Josiah, neighboring eldest son Heath Kingsbury likewise prepares for increasing
responsibility. Unfortunately, his father's business quickly requires the descent into the quagmire
of
the illegal slave trading. Heath is known in the region for his taste for prostitution and liquor.
Despite his nefarious reputation, Heath manages to convince the eldest daughter of the Spauldings
to marry him. His ultimate goal is to unite the Kingsbury fortunes with the Spauldings, insuring a
stead cash flow and solidity for a family business suffering a down turn. With the promise of war
lurking on the horizon, the Kingsbury plan to cash in on the promised need for uniforms and
supplies
for troops. To further strengthen the tie between families, his promiscuous younger ister likewise
plans a marriage, one way or another, to one of Josiah's younger brothers. Readers who enjoy
complexly woven, historically accurate sagas on the level of John Jakes will adore Trace Edward
Zaber's One Bitter And Deadly Harvest, the first of a seven book chronicle. Thought provoking,
One Bitter And Deadly Harvest records the years preceding the Civil War, acknowledging the
good
with the bad without the crass romanticism many authors fall into. As moral weaknesses are
exploited, sharp delineations between right and wrong become a blur of gray in the hands of this
gifted author. Indeed, Zaber's gift for character development sparkles, lending sympathy and
compassion to even the most notorious of people. One Bitter And Deadly Harvest likewise raises
issues of women's rights, state's rights, and the rights of slaves. Splendid reading! Very highly
recommended.
Pockets Full Of Joy
Judy Gill
Awe-Struck Books
2458 Cherry Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
Contemporary Romance, ISBN 1587490773, eBook/Multiple Formats, $4.50
Dr. Brent Bradshaw creates a whirlwind arriving at Elaina McIvor's home with a baby. In the two
weeks Elaina's lived there, her next door neighbor's two sons have disturbed her illustrations for a
new children's book unceasingly. This new disturbance is quite disconcerting as he informs her
that
he's from Mercy Hospital, where his patient Margo Lawrence lies terribly ill. Margo had
inexplicably
requested that Elaina care for her eleven-month old daughter Betsy. Since Elaina's never met
Margo
and Betsy, the news stuns her. In fact, the only thing that can match her response to becoming an
unexpected mother for an unspecified amount of time, is her profound reaction to Dr. Bradshaw
who prefers to be called Brad. Elaina hasn't a clue how to care for a small child. Potted plants,
bath
water and food become major challenges as she struggles with the beautiful baby. Brad, on the
other
hand, is marvelous with the child, and soon pitches in with his assistance. He's deeply affected by
the
remarkable children's book artist, and finds her amazingly supportive when he bends her ear
regarding the tragedies that cross his path daily in the emergency room. From the beginning he
warns her that he's divorced, and Elaina deserves more than he can give. Despite his warning, he
also teaches her a valuable lesson. His mother always told him to keep his hands out of his
pockets,
because that's where you keep joy. If you keep your hands in your pockets, you block joy. Once
again author Judy Gill presents a touching romance in Pockets Full Of Joy. A pocket full of joy
becomes a marvelous metaphor for getting out of the way so we can receive and enjoying life's
gifts.
Even temporary gifts are to be treasured as much as the permanent as this heroine learns parenting
lesson of letting go. Originally published as part of the Loveswept Line, and now reissued as an
eBook, Hennessey's Heaven would have been a regretful loss if relegated to oblivion rather
republished. A lively, light romance that brings a tear to the eye, Pockets Full Of Joy omes very
highly recommended.
Second Chance At Forever
Natalie J. Damschroder
Echelon Press
P.O. Box 1084, Crowley, TX 76036
eBook/Multiple Formats, $4.00 Download, $5.50 Floppy disk, $8.00 CD in Collector Case
Angie Detmer grew up with luxury and enjoyed fancy cars and beautiful houses when she married.
After seven years, she walked away from a trust fund and lost her business when she filed for
divorce. Unfortunately, her ex-husband didn't live long enough to learn he was going to be a
father,
nor did he keep the premiums on his life insurance current. During the two months since his death,
Angie has moved in a fog, unable to touch her emotions or connect with the world around her.
Her
friend Jazz offers her cheap rent, and other friends offer her a job, giving her a chance to start
over.
Cursing every stair to her third floor apartment while moving, Angie accepts help from the
building
superintendent Michael. Also one of Jazz's strays, he struggles to pay off the steep medical bills
left
by his wife's struggle with cancer. She had died pregnant, and the grief remains vivid despite the
two
years that have passed. In one several jobs, Michael works part-time as a male exotic dancer.
Despite the sizzle of attraction, however, Angie believes she should keep her interest to herself.
Too
bad considering that in the seven years of her marriage, her husband left as cold and Michael
makes
her hot.
Natalie Damschroder brings an evocative tale to life in Second Chance At Forever. Written with
her
characteristically poetic style, Second Chance At Forever weaves a beautiful tale of healing and
romance. Angie treasures her new found independence, and will be challenged to learn to accept
help and support from those who care for her. Michael struggles with letting go of grief and
allowing his heart to love again. As these wounded souls travel the path to healing, their
challenges,
struggles and self-discoveries make for a memorable tale. Highly recommended.
Cindy Penn, Reviewer
http://wordweaving.com
Harwood's Bookshelf
The Jesus Puzzle: Did Christianity Begin With A Mythical Christ?
Earl Doherty
Canadian Humanist Publications
PO Box 3769, Station C, Ottawa ON, Canada, K1Y 4J8
ISBN 0-9686014-0-5 , revised 2000, ppb, 380 pp, US $14.50, http://humanists.net/chp/
According to Earl Doherty, all early Christian Testament documents, such as Paul's letters, are
centered on a spiritual, metaphysical "Christ," whom they do not locate in any specific time of
place
in the real world. Not until the gospels is there any mention of Jesus as a Galilean preacher who
flourished only a generation earlier. As Doherty tells it (p.2), "If we had to rely on the letters of
the
earliest Christians, such as Paul and those who wrote most of the other New Testament epistles,
we
would be hard pressed to find anything resembling the details of the Gospel story. If we did not
read
Gospel associations into what Paul and the others say about their Christ Jesus, we could not even
tell that this figure, the object of their worship, was a man who had recently lived in Palestine and
had been executed by the Roman authorities with the help of a hostile Jewish establishment."
Doherty's arguments are well reasoned, and anyone unfamiliar with the evidence Doherty does not
mention could easily conclude that he is right. What Doherty ignores is the testimony that Jesus
was
a thoroughly unattractive person, ugly (Clement of Alexandria, Cyril of Alexandria), deformed,
("not
even of honest human shape," according to Tertullian), possessed of a body that was "so
contemptible, being subject to such numerous and considerable imperfections" (Origen, quoting
Celsus but, by offering no rebuttal, tacitly affirming that the description was accurate),
uneducated,
and so self-deluded that his own family tried to take him into custody in the conviction that he
was a
madman. Add to that, that he made a unilateral declaration of independence by disrupting the
temple
sacrifice for the emperor Tiberias on a Thursday, was arrested within ten minutes, and was
executed
the next day. Those are stories no creator of a mythical superhero would ever have invented.
Doherty makes an issue of the failure of the Pauline letters to make any reference to Jesus'
miracles
and lesser wonders, his last supper, Judas's betrayal, Peter's triple denial, or any mention of John
the
Immerser, and the failure of contemporary historians to mention Jesus at all. He discounts the
explanation that Jesus was an upstar
